There’s something special about autumn in Portugal. The air cools down, the mornings feel crisp, but then out of nowhere, we get these random warm weeks that we call “Verão de São Martinho.” It’s that in-between season where one day you want a steaming cup of coffee, and the next, something iced and refreshing. That’s…
There’s something about the mix of sweet caramel and a pinch of salt that does it for me. It takes me back to those chewy salted toffees I used to love as a kid. But only now, I get that same flavor in my coffee. Add a bit of chocolate and espresso, and suddenly you…
There are two seasons I look forward to the most spring and autumn. Usually, I find Summer too hot, winter too cold, but fall? Fall feels just right. The air turns crisp, the mornings slow down, and suddenly, I have the perfect excuse to pull out all the spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, clove. They find their…
Tired of iced coffee that tastes more like watered-down leftovers than a refreshing drink? For the longest time, I brewed iced coffee by dumping hot coffee into a random glass jar, tossing in some ice, and hoping for the best. It worked… kind of. But the first time I decided to use my French press…
You know what used to drive me crazy? Back in the day, I only had this old kitchen scale that barely registered small amounts. Anything under 10 grams? Forget it! It only blinked at me like, “good luck, buddy.” So when it came to brewing French press coffee, I’d scoop, guess, and pray the ratio…
Ever brewed a cup in your French press only to wonder why it tasted bitter or smelled a little funky? I definitely did plenty of things wrong at first. When I first bought my press (long before Coffee Voilà existed), I was living with roommates and thought it was meant as a quick coffee maker….
Ever take a sip of your French press coffee and get a mouthful of grit at the end? That was me when I first started brewing with my press. I loved the bold, full-bodied flavor it gave compared to my drip machine. But every time I got near the bottom of the cup, I’d hit…
Should you bother with French press blooming? The short answer: yes, especially if you’re using fresh beans. When I first started brewing with my French press, I had no clue about blooming. I’d simply dump in the water, wait, plunge, and wonder why my coffee sometimes tasted sharp or flat. The first time I actually…
Are you sure you’re brewing your French press the right way? Even though I love my Barista Express, I can’t deny my love for French press coffee. It’s a totally different ball game! Simple on the surface, but full of little tricks that make or break your cup. I’ve learned the hard way that a…
A few years back, I was staying in a hotel that had one of those tiny drip coffee machines in the corner. Great for a plain cup, sure, but I was missing my favorite foamy cappuccino-style drinks. And buying an espresso machine was out of the question (imagine hauling that through an airport for a…