The Reading Room

You do not have to be a barista to make Starbucks’ signature drink – the caffé latte. The latte, which means ‘milk’ in Italian, is by far the most popular espresso-based drink offered by any coffee bar. Yet, although the...

Espresso is coffee intensified. To put the drink in perspective: a few ounces of creamy nectar are extracted from a brewed mug’s worth of grounds. Furthermore, this happens under the same atmospheric pressure you’d experience if you dove to 300...

Partake in this ancient coffee-making tradition if you enjoy a thick, frothy cup. Need: Ibrik Coffee nerd options: Turkish coffee grinder, scale, timer, thermometer Recipe basics: Brew time: 1-2 minutesTemperature: Almost boilingGrind setting: Extra fineRatio:  5 g of coffee (1...

Popular again, and for good reason: we’re hard-pressed to imagine a more temperature-stable home brewing device. Your reward for the extra work? Especially clean, rich coffee with disproportionate body. Need: Siphon, heat source, cloth or paper filtersShop our selection of...

Another simple, classic device for brewing clean, sediment-free drip coffee. Pourover is a general category of devices in which water is poured through the brewer and coffee continuously drips down. The devices include the Hario V60 (shown here), Beehouse, Kalita...

Make hearty, full-bodied coffee on your stovetop. We recommend simply filling the basket (to the top unless otherwise indicated; some have fill lines) and then adjusting to taste. Easy peasy! Need: Moka pot, gas stove or other heat source Coffee...

A simple, classic device that brews a full-bodied cup characterized by essential oils and fine sediment. The French press has become a staple in many homes around the U.S. It’s simple to use and requires little effort on the brewer’s...

Cappuccino is named after the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, whose monks are known for their white-topped frocks. Just like these Capuchini, the drink has a brown body, a white top, and a charming Italian accent… The Italians have four...

Coffee intensified. It would be impossible to condense all of the wisdom necessary to extract espresso properly into a brief, straightforward guide due to the number of variables involved and the extent to which these are conditioned by your espresso...

Because sometimes we don’t want our coffee hot. What follows is an easy way to make smooth, potent coffee concentrate. If you prefer cold coffee with the flavor profile (and increased acidity) of hot coffee, please see the “for further exploration”...

Essentially a pourover cone with a stopper allowing you to control steep time. This is one of the most approachable ways of brewing coffee and can easily be turned into a pourover. Need: Clever Coffee Dripper, #4 filters Coffee nerd...

Think of this as a French press minus the plunge, yielding a cleaner cup with less sediment thanks to the innovative pour-through filter assembly. Need: Eva Solo Café Solo Coffee nerd options:Grinder, pourover kettle, scale, timer, thermometer Recipe basics: Brew...

The little brewer that could: light and compact enough to travel with unmatched versatility. Need: Aeropress, Aeropress paper, metal, or cloth filter Coffee nerd options: Grinder, pourover kettle, scale, timer, thermometer Recipe basics (traditional): Brew time: 2 minutesTemperature: 205 deg FGrind...

The Basics of Blending Coffee Why would you blend different varieties of coffee together? Well, have you ever sipped a Costa Rican coffee and wished that it had just a little more body and richness to it? Do you love...

For centuries, coffee has played a far more important role in the world than most people realize. Of course, it’s one of the most popular beverages in disparate cultures around the globe. Coffee is also a valued commodity and a...

When it comes to freshness, coffee is a remarkably volatile product. Once your beans have been roasted, they rapidly lose the flavor qualities that make coffee so enjoyable. Storing coffee properly can help preserve its freshness, extending shelf life significantly....

If you like an Ethiopian Harrar, are you likely to enjoy a Costa Rican Tarrazu? Are you trying to choose a coffee gift for a friend but unsure about whether she would prefer a Brazil Santos or a Tanzanian Peaberry?...

The journey of coffee from plant to beverage is a long one fraught with peril at every stage. Before they reach you, coffee beans must be planted, harvested, processed, dried and milled, rested, roasted and packaged for shipping to you....

Have you ever stood at the counter in a coffee shop staring at the chalked menu and wondering if you should order a macchiato, a lungo or a breve? You’re not alone. Given the considerable variety of espresso drinks available...

Coffee seems deceptively simple to prepare. Simply soak ground coffee beans in hot water and, voilà, you have coffee – or something that approximates it. However, coffee is remarkably delicate and finicky, both as a plant and as a beverage....

Pacamara. Catuai. Bourbon. SL-28. Geisha. If you’re a fan of specialty coffee, chances are you’ve seen at least a few of those names on coffee labels or menus. Until recently, though, few people outside of farms and labs paid much...