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 certifications, awards, and label designations all promise different things. Here are 8 labels explained, from Fair Trade and Organic to micro-lot.
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...
It’s a term that has invaded coffee culture and permeated it completely: Third Wave. Anyone in the specialty coffee industry has an opinion about what it means. Often the term relates to coffee as an artisanal beverage, independently procured and...
How much coffee should I use? Does grind size really matter? What temperature should the water be? Here are direct answers to the 10 most common coffee questions.
I really enjoy trying new coffees because I can justify using all the coffee tools that occupy my kitchen. So today I'll be writing about my efforts with AJ Coffee Co's Fazenda Rodomunho Natural Brasil. I don't think I've had...
You can make coffee shop quality coffee at home with 6 simple steps: fresh beans, good storage, a fresh grind, the right water, a balanced ratio, and a clean brewer.
Restoring a vintage lever espresso machine starts with a clean disassembly. Learn what to inspect, what to clean, and what to replace when taking apart a home lever machine for the first time.
So I'm just starting on my bag of AJ Coffee Co's Fazenda Rodomunho Natural Brasil and was really in the mood to do some experimenting in the espresso realm tonight. At three days post roast it is still a little...
This is an update about the condition of the Olympia Cremina 67 that I recently acquired through ebay. I had disassemble and clean its grouphead as well as descaling last week because the espresso I produced from it is much less...
Beehouse is a Japanese company that is perhaps best known for their ergonomic ceramic teapots. They also make ceramic coffee drippers, in a small and a large size. The drippers are wedge shaped and have two small holes in the...
A few days ago, I hit up a big order from Espresso Vivace Rosteria on two of their well know and well reviewed blend from Roaste and was very excited for its delivery. The order was placed on the 14th...
When brewing espresso there is one critical element to the puzzle, and it is grinding it fresh to a nice grainy powder. To do that obviously you need to have a grinder in your home, the problem being most grinders...
Natural coffees can be funky, as can Sumatras. So one might expect a naturally-processed Sumatra to be particuarly funky. It might be, but the one I have from PT's is remarkably clean. PT's tasting notes are rather involved, as if...
A worn group head kills espresso quality no matter how good your beans or grind are. Learn how to disassemble, clean, and rebuild a lever espresso machine group head step by step.
So here on the east coast the heat index is in the upper nineties and even though I'm sitting at home in an air conditioned environment I really wanted something iced tonight. I came across this post on HB this...
So, someone asked me a while back to post my current Aeropress method, and I’m just now getting around to it. This is the method that I use to make my coffee in the morning. There are some (marginally) better...
Guatemalan coffee is grown in 6 distinct regions across volcanic highlands and lake-side valleys. Each region produces a different flavor profile. Here is what separates them and why Guatemalan coffee earns its reputation.
Light roast coffee tastes bright, fruity, and tea-like. Learn why light roasts shine, how to brew one in 6 pour-over steps, and how they behave as espresso.
