Ever feel too hot to function, let alone brew a decent cup of coffee? Yeah, same. As I said before, I was never really a “Nespresso person.” I’ve always leaned more toward manual brewing—my trusty Chemex, a scale, the whole ritual. But when summer rolls around and the heat kicks in, my motivation just melts….
Ever looked at your coffee creamer and wondered what’s actually in it? I’ve always enjoyed splashing creamer into my morning brew. Sometimes more than I probably should’ve. But one day while grocery shopping, I randomly flipped over the bottle to read the label. Let’s just say… I couldn’t pronounce half the ingredients, and the other…
Ever wonder why espresso just hits different in Italy? I’ve always been drawn to the Italian espresso culture. The slow mornings, the tiny cups, the smell of freshly ground beans floating out of cafés on cobblestone streets. Over the years, I’ve tried machines from Germany, the U.S., and even a few hyped-up newcomers. Some were…
Ever wondered what would happen if you threw your coffee beans in a smoker? I did, though not exactly on purpose at first. See, I’m not really the outdoorsy, camping-for-fun type. The mosquitoes always seem to think I’m the main course, and I spend half the night doing a weird half-dance trying to swat them…
Is servicing your espresso machine really just about calling in a tech? That’s what many folks think including me, at first. But after chatting with a few of my coffee shop owner friends, I realized there’s way more to it. They told me that most of the real “servicing” happens daily. For instance, simple tasks…
Ever feel overwhelmed trying to pick the right commercial espresso machine for your café? I’ve got two friends who own coffee shops. One runs a cozy, slower-paced spot with a loyal morning crowd, and the other? He’s pulling shots non-stop from open to close. We sat down over coffee (naturally), and they both shared what…
Ever wonder why your espresso shots suddenly start tasting off? Even when the beans are fresh? I don’t own a coffee shop myself (as I’ve mentioned over on Coffee Voilà), but I’ve got a handful of close friends who do. Over countless late-night chats and behind-the-bar hangs, they’ve generously shared their real-world cleaning routines. The…
Ever feel like your coffee betrays you instead of boosting you? I’ve been a coffee lover for as long as I can remember. But man caffeine has given me a rough ride sometimes. There were nights I’d toss and turn in bed, staring at the ceiling like it owed me answers, all because I had…
Ever looked at your espresso machine and thought, “What are all these parts actually doing? Yeah same here. When I first got my Barista Express, I was pumped to pull my own shots at home. But once I unboxed it and took a look at everything: the portafilter, the basket, the group head. I realized…
If you’re getting into home brewing, chances are you’ve asked yourself this: Do I really need an espresso machine, or can my pour-over setup do the job? It’s a question I hear all the time, especially from coffee lovers who already have a V60, Chemex, or French press. After all, if you’re happy with your…