The Reading Room

Briel Chamonix - What Does It Mean?
I am not sure what this French sounding word translates into, but a recent visit to the espresso machine graveyard also known as my local Goodwill Outlet (where stuff that regular Goodwill stores can sell ends up) turned up this...
And The Nuova Simonelli Oscar Goes To:
It goes to spraying water when I turn it on and hit the pump.  Let me back up for a moment.  This blog is a continuation of my experience with a second hand Nuova Simonelli Oscar espresso machine. The machine...
All or nothing
I have found coffee to be a demanding mistress. She does not arrive prepared; you have to prepare *her" with fastidious attention, lest she present you with off-putting astringency or straight-up blandness. And when she's gone, she's not--you still feel...
2 Surprising Finds about Coffee and Water Temperature
 Conventional wisdom is to brew coffee hot and drink it hot like a cowboy.  Fresh off the campfire. Have you experimented with temperature? We have at ROASTe and here's what we've found: /wp/wp-content/uploads/files/uploads/best-electric-kettle-capresso-h20-plus.jpg" alt="That's Too Hot" title="That's Too Hot" align="left"...
Regular Coffee: Why Simple Brews Still Matter

Specialty coffee gets plenty of attention, but regular coffee still has a place in everyday routines. Here is why simple brewing continues to work.

Australians Would Rather Drive on Gourmet Coffee
Like many a US state highway department, Australia’s Northern Territory offered free coffee to the area’s highway drivers since 2003. Drivers were invited to pull off the freeway and pick up a free coffee from participating roadhouses in the hopes...
New Study Shows Coffee Lessens Skin Cancer Risk
We’ve seen the studies that show how many cancers are fought by coffee: prostrate, breast, uterine, liver and colon. A US study published Monday and reported by Newsmaxhealth.com showed that caffeinated coffee can cut the risk of another cancer, that...
Coffee for Skin: What the Research Really Says

Coffee has found its way into skincare products and home routines. Here is what research says about caffeine, skin, and what coffee cannot replace.

The Gold Standard of Permanent Coffee Filters

Permanent coffee filters can change how coffee oils and sediment reach your cup. Learn what to consider when choosing one for your brewing setup.

Need Fiber? Have Coffee with That Oatmeal
As you watch the enticing brown brew fill your coffee pot as it also fills the air with heavy aroma, the rich brown liquid looks deceptively clear. But hidden in that delicious cup is a surprising nutrient that even amazed...
Is There a Coffee Car In Your Future?
A high octane muscle car it’s not, but it just might be the most powerful use of recycled coffee grounds ever. We’ve seen, if not smelled, the vegetable oil-fueled car, and now comes a coffee-fueled design. Called the Expresso car,...
How To Survive a Coffee Filter Crisis
A coffee filter crisis occurs when you realize too late that you’ve used and tossed your last coffee filter and your to-do list is too long to allow you to run down to the store to buy replacements so you...
On Ice: How to Make Better Iced Coffee

Ice is more than something that makes coffee cold. Learn how the right ice and brewing approach can help you make better iced coffee at home.

A Coffee Brewer Four Me
Back in the late eighties drip coffee was hitting full stride with over fifty percent of the market but pour over and press still represented about fifteen percent of the market.  The final push for these customers began in earnest...
Black Tie™ Roast Finalist in Blind Tasting
Oregon is serious coffee country.  With so much rain (drizzle...actually), Oregonians take their warm cups in little cafes with utter gravity.  In fact, it's safe to assume that Portland is perhaps the most important coffee city in America right now,...
Check it out: an iced coffee contest within a contest!
I’ve been reluctant to recruit my fairly large network on Facebook in order to accumulate “likes” of my iced coffee recipe and thereby make it onto ROASTe’s leaderboard by Sunday night. Honestly, I didn’t want to “spam” my friends too...
Why Coffee at Home Still Makes Sense: 5 Benefits

Brewing coffee at home gives you control over your beans, brewing method, and daily routine. Here are five reasons home coffee remains a smart choice.

Hawaii’s Tribute to Coffee This Week
Today the Hawaiian coffee industry kicks off a week-long tribute to coffee and the industry in the state. Hawaii is not just the only US state in which coffee grows, but it’s the source of some of the most spectacular...
How About Those Ethiopians!
A day or two ago our news story featured the Brazilian trend toward mechanization. Today we go to the other side of the world and the opposite side of the issue, to Ethiopia, where the farmers pride themselves on hand...
Keurig’s Explosive History
Keurig, maker of the top-selling single serve coffee maker, had a few bumps in its road to success. Author Daniel McGinn calls Keurig’s development “a tale unlikely, ultra-caffeinated and sometimes explosive”. You have no idea what sacrifices the company’s inventors...
Brazilian Coffee Co-op Helps Farmers Mechanize
What’s been called “an industrial revolution” is occurring in Brazil’s coffee sector, as farmers respond to several labor conditions pushing them into mechanical harvesting. The resulting changes may help Brazil increase production to meet future demands as they help farmers...