The Reading Room

Somewhat tied into my previous post on social media is a current pet project of mine. You see, I'm a graduate student currently, having tried and failed to obtain a job after earning my undergraduate degree in New Media Design(recession?)....

A reusable coffee cup cuts daily waste and often earns a discount. Why people switch, the hygiene question, and how to use one well.

/files/u2252/coffee_con.jpg" align="right" height="242" width="320" /> What are you doing Saturday, February 25th this year? I am going to CoffeeCon 2012.  CoffeeCon will offer attendees many special guests, surprises and live entertainment planned for the First Consumer Coffee Event – Ever. The...

A dark roast pulls a bold, low-acid espresso and shines through milk. Why it works, how to pull a great shot, and why looks deceive.

Back from the other side Wow, 24 hours without coffee and feeling horrible is behind me and suddenly feeling bad has never felt so fantastic.  I guess this shows that all things are relative.  I would normally be unhappy about...

There are a lot of things that go into making espresso, but the general idea is to brew a small amount of coffee under pressure for about twenty five seconds. The pressure at which that coffee is brewed matters a...

This is not what I had in mind. I have had a busy week or two and thought I would finally get a chance to make a few shots of espresso instead of a single shot as I sprint out...

One of the questions friends and family ask me a lot is how to clean a grinder, usually because it's something I might have mentioned doing, that hadn't occurred to them. The truth is, though, most grinders aren't very good...

A drip coffee maker is easy, but the cup varies. Dial in the grind, ratio, and water, and skip the mistake that ruins most pots.

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llqr86z26f1qgoe09.jpg" title="Handsome Tyler" align="middle" height="299" width="500" alt="Handsome Tyler" /> In 2011, three staffers from Intelligentsia - Tyler Wells, Chris Owen, and 2010 World Barista Champion Michael Philips - left the company to start their own coffee business. The move drew...

Coffee has always brought people together, and the coffee community keeps that going online. Why coffee is social, and how to join in.

 

Today is Thursday, which means it’s the first day for Starbucks of introducing their “Blonde” roast with free tasting starting today through Saturday.I have a Starbucks just on the way to my campus so I went out earlier than usual...

Coffee bean freshness fades within weeks. Learn how long beans last, how to store them, and how to buy for peak freshness.

Resting coffee for a few days after roasting turns a sour espresso into a smooth one. Why fresh beans need a rest, and how long to wait.

Suspended coffee is a small act of kindness: buy a cup for a stranger to claim later. Where it came from, how it works, and how to join in.

http://www.coffeebreak2day.com/images/coffee-prescription.jpg" align="right" width="300" vspace="5" hspace="5" height="300" border="10" title="coffee beans in spoon in front of prescription bottle" alt="coffee beans in spoon in front of prescription bottle" />As someone with a family history of type 2 diabetes, I've loved hearing that coffee...

Parting is sweet sorrow. I am shipping off my trusty old (well, not so old) Elektra Semiautomatica.  The machine served me well for two and a half years.  It is an amazing espresso machine.  It is one that most people...

I wrote in my introduction here that I had become quite the coffee fiend after living in Portland, OR for a while and last night I couldn't help but think about it a little bit. I had been out to...

Burnt coffee tastes ashy and smoky, usually from over-roasted or stale beans. Why it happens, how it differs from bitter, and how to avoid it.

True confession time -- despite living in a modern world and making my living using a computer, I am a low-tech kind of person. I like roasting my coffee the way my grandmother did, in an open  frying pan on...