The Reading Room

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...

Siphon coffee uses vapor pressure and vacuum to brew a clean, rich cup. Follow this step-by-step guide to master the siphon coffee maker at home.

How to brew pour-over coffee step by step. Equipment, grind size, water temperature, pouring technique, troubleshooting, and the best beans for pour-over.

A moka pot brews strong, espresso-style coffee on your stovetop in 5 minutes. Here is the exact grind size, water level, heat setting, and five steps to a clean, bold cup with no bitterness.

French press coffee takes four minutes and produces a rich, full-bodied cup that most drip machines cannot match. Add coarse ground coffee, pour hot water, steep for four minutes, press slowly, pour immediately. Every detail below comes from the Blackout...

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...

Making espresso at home comes down to five variables: dose, grind, distribution, tamp, and extraction. Get these right and every shot improves. Here is where to start.

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”...

The Clever Coffee Dripper combines full immersion steeping with paper filtration. The result is a full-bodied, clean cup with no sediment and almost no technique required. Here is the exact recipe.

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...

AeroPress coffee takes 2 minutes and produces a smooth, concentrated, low-acid cup. This guide covers both the traditional and inverted methods with exact ratios, grind sizes, and step-by-step instructions.

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...

What Arabica coffee means: how it differs from Robusta, where it grows, flavor characteristics, popular varietals, and why specialty coffee is almost always Arabica.

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?...

What does coffee taste like beyond bitter? A guide to coffee flavor profiles covering sweetness, acidity, body, tasting notes by origin, roast level, and processing.

 

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 quality is determined long before water touches the grounds. From species and soil to shade and harvest method, here are the 8 factors that separate outstanding coffee from average.

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...

Coffee accolades fall into three basic categories: certifications, awards and label designations. Understanding what each of these designations means can help you make responsible decisions when you’re buying specialty coffee. Certifications A number of the labels that you’ll encounter signify...

If you’re confused about how to discuss or interpret coffee roast levels, you’re not alone. In fact, there are so many competing scales and lists of terminology that some experts are left shaking their heads. And let’s not even get...