The Reading Room

I just managed to finish off an entire 12-oz. bag of Counter Culture’s Finca Mauritania all by myself. Well, unless you’re counting the 80 grams or so that I froze at 4 days post-roast for future enjoyment, but I have...

We’ve previously covered the phenomenon of the “cat café” in Japan, where about 100 of the feline friendly establishments have developed. Some of your comments reflected disbelief that such places exist. Well, Japan is another world, another culture, but now...

A follow up on Velton’s Bonsai Blend.  I have now been pulling the Bonsai blend for a few days.  It has continued to improve each day that I have used it.  It is still what I would consider a big...

A metal coffee filter brews a fuller cup and lasts for years, but only with care. Learn how to rinse, deep clean, and handle a metal filter.

The standard coffee ratio for most brewing methods is 1:15 to 1:17 , one gram of coffee for every 15 to 17 grams of water. But each brewing method has its own target. Espresso uses 1:2. Cold brew uses 1:4 to 1:8. French press uses 1:12 to 1:15. This guide gives you the correct coffee ratio for every method and explains how to adjust for stronger or weaker coffee without guessing.

First it was Canada’s Tim Horton’s Coffee, and then Starbucks, but both were used to scam Facebook users into providing personal information. Writer Michael Woods of The Star posted that last week notices started appearing on Facebook offering free coffee....

The basics of pourover are well known. You can find some basic techniques on BrewMethods.comI thought that I'd write about some things that are not as well known.Pourover size. It's best to match the size of the pourover dripper with...

I no longer use a vacuum pot--I prefer the quality and simplicity of pourover--but I understand its appeal. To get the most out of the unit with minimal fuss, here's how I would proceed. A nice upgrade is a two-part...

I'm currently drinking Los Lobos, a Costa Rican bean that was roasted by Barismo, a small-batch roaster located in Arlington, MA. They distribute to a number of cafes in the Boston area, such as Simons and Hi-Rise, and you can...

Grinding for a lever.  I often read people who suggest that when grinding for a lever machine the key is to grind especially fine and tamp lightly.  I agree that on any machine lever or not you can get away...

Blue Bottle, Blue Bottle, Blue Bottle, oh how the people adore you. I am very fortunate to live in the backyard of one of the biggest roasters in gourmet coffee, Blue Bottle. What I find so interesting about Blue Bottle...

A hand grinder produces better coffee than a blade grinder at any price. The manual burr grinder wins on grind consistency, price-to-quality ratio, portability, and quiet operation. This guide covers the 4 reasons to choose a hand grinder for coffee, what to look for when buying, and how to get the most out of it.

Coffee brewing and the art of pulling espresso are both marked by curious methods, techniques, and rituals. Lately I've been questioning and revisiting some widely accepted coffee brewing practices that have worked their way into my morning ritual. First I'll start with...

Accidental glory – a blend of blends I have two really good coffees for espresso at home right now.  One is Velton’s Bonsai Blend and the other one is Klatch’s World Best Espresso blend.  Neither one is quite ready yet...

Maybe it’s the cooling weather, but magazines are again picking up the idea that coffee in recipes not only packs health benefits, but added flavor. This is nothing new for CoffeeKind fans, as we had a very well-received recipe contest...

Caffe Pronto Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Kochere District What I am drinking now might be a bit of a misnomer.  In some sense this is more what my wife is drinking now.  I drink much more espresso than brewed coffee, but my...

How Much does your Espresso shot weigh? If you are not weighing your shots then the correct answer is "I have no idea." A less correct answer is "I have no idea and I do not care."  Why should you care?...

Gourmet coffee is a marketing term with no legal definition. Here is what the label actually means, what the specialty coffee grading system says instead, and what actually separates quality from mediocre.

Now after I had made that last post about my not so clever dripper I figured that I needed to pick one of these up as I have wanted one for the longest time and people keep raving about them....

The Hario Mini Mill is the most recommended entry-level hand grinder for a reason: ceramic conical burrs, 24 click grind settings, 24g hopper capacity, and a price under $40. It handles French press, drip, pour over, and AeroPress at consistent grind quality. This guide covers what it does well, its 4 grind setting targets by brew method, and who should upgrade past it.

It’s been a long time since I’ve had coffee prepared anywhere except by me at my house. This morning, I had to make a long road trip to attend something for school and so I found myself away from all...