The Reading Room

Random thoughts on extraction
Thankfully I got in my order from PT's yesterday and I got the Burundi that is featured on the front of the website right now, along with their Flying Monkey Espresso. I have yet to take a taste of the...
How to Tell If You Have Fresh Coffee Beans

Fresh coffee beans beat any gadget on your counter. Use these 5 checks, from the roast date to the one-way valve to the bloom, to spot freshness before you buy.

Keeping it cool
I enjoy drip coffee year round. It's nice on a frosty fall morning and it's nice looking out over the ocean in a tropical location. Sometimes, when it's hot and humid out it's just too unpleasant to sweat through an...
American Coffee Trader Cloth Filters
There are passionate folks who believe in re-capturing old-school production methods. Often, these folks work in clothing. Raw denim sewn on ancient looms, articles stained with obscure dyes, hefty cotton enlisted in the service of the perfect T-shirt. American Coffee...
Entertaining with espresso.
I can't say that I entertain very frequently, but when I do, L'Anna (my espresso machine) quickly grabs everyone's attention.  People like shiny things and L'Anna is especially chromed out.  These days, it's also very different to walk into someone's...
I'd like some temperature control.
I have yet to own a single espresso machine with the ability to control brew temperatures.  For once, I'd like to have that option.  I would like to know that what I'm producing from my espresso machine's boiler to my demitasse is...
Spring for Coffee
On an assuming stretch of Spring St. in Downtown Los Angeles is Spring for Coffee. It's a tiny shop with a small stand-up bar, perhaps 7 feet long, and a couple of small tables outside. A writer for a men's...
Why I don't get coffee out.
I just wanted to talk about my morning experience at Peet's this morning, and what I am going to talk about is probably not going to surprise anyone. However, I have a feeling that I am being a little critical...
Vacuum Pot
I am the new and, until quite recently, perplexed owner of a vacuum pot of uncertain vintage. It's an old--who knows how old--tabletop Cona. It was a curiosity that I took home from one of the seemingly perpetual garage sales...
The coffee must flow...
http://thereifixedit.failblog.org/2012/05/23/white-trash-repairs-the-cof... Found this picture on a website I visit. Found it funny. It shows the lengths coffee drinkers will go for that daily fix! I also found it funny that it was a Gevalia coffee maker. A long time ago...
The Evolving Coffee
I think one of the things that really drives Deep Cello is that coffee allows us to experience other places, climates and cultures.  I think the move over the past five years towards single origin estate coffees is indicative of...
French Press Coffee: Classic Recipe and 4-Minute Method

French press coffee uses a full-immersion brewing method , grounds steep directly in hot water for 4 minutes before pressing. Here is the classic recipe, the right grind, ratio, and temperature, plus the 4 most common mistakes to avoid.

How to Make Espresso at Home: 5 Steps to a Better Shot

 Making espresso at home takes the right equipment and a consistent technique. This guide covers gear, grind, ratio, and how to fix a bad shot.

Battle of the Titans - 68mm Conical Burr Showdown!
The tale of the tape reads like a mirror image for the two contenders - both are 68mm. One has grown up in the luxury of electrical opulence with a large mansion to call home. Living on the penthouse floor...
How to Slurp Coffee and Taste More in Every Cup

Learn how to slurp coffee like a professional. A sharp inhale sprays coffee across your palate and sends aroma to your nose, revealing far more flavor in 5 steps.

Coffee to Water Ratio: How Strong Should Your Coffee Be?

Your coffee to water ratio decides whether the cup tastes rich or watery. Start at the golden 1:16, learn the ratios for every brew, and weigh instead of scooping.

"New Nostromo" and High Jump
Hi Everyone,  I know how many of you out there in CoffeeLand love to taste things that are new or slightly new. We are always tweaking our coffees because it keeps that experimental element alive and keeps our coffees from becoming...
Manual Brewing vs Automatic: Which Makes Better Coffee?

Manual brewing vs automatic: which really makes better coffee? A balanced look at 5 key differences, what each does well, and how to pick the right one for you.

Which Coffee Grinder Should I Buy?
A common question asked on coffee related message boards relates to "which grinder should I buy?" This is followed by a bit of filtering type questions as to what kind of coffee you want to make. When the word espresso...
PT's Burundi Kayanza
If form should follow function, then my current bottle of maple syrup is a study in good design. It is a slender flask of glass, slender enough to hold captive in one's breast pocket for the occasional discreet swig. Or,...
Able Brewing’s new website to officially launch this week
It’s been said before, but now I think they mean it: Able Brewing’s new website will officially launch this week at some point. For the moment, there’s just this nice-looking placeholder parked at the URL along with a link to...