Do you think Robusta coffee is too bitter to enjoy? I used to think the same! For the longest time, I avoided Robusta coffee entirely, assuming it was harsh and lacked the smoothness I loved in my usual cup. One day, though, a friend handed me a shot of espresso without telling me it was…
Ever wonder if a Lelit espresso machine is actually worth the hype?Recently, I’ve been testing out a bunch of Lelit machines and let me tell you, a few of them seriously impressed me. I wasn’t expecting to find this much pro-level control and build quality at such reasonable price points. Whether it was the smart…
Did you know there are over 87,000 different drink combinations at Starbucks? No wonder it can feel overwhelming staring at the menu when all you want is something that tastes good and wakes you up. Honestly, even as someone who runs a coffee blog, I find myself at Starbucks more often than I’d like to…
Are you on a tight budget but still craving delicious Nespresso coffee? I get it. And I’ll admit if you’ve been following my blog for a while, you probably know Nespresso machines aren’t exactly my thing. I’m usually that person grinding fresh beans by hand, pulling shots on a semi-automatic espresso machine, or getting overly…
Have you ever been out in nature, ready to enjoy a peaceful morning, only to be disappointed by a terrible cup of coffee? I learned this lesson the hard way. My first camping trip, I grabbed the first instant coffee package I could find at home, thinking, “It’s just coffee, how bad could it be?”…
What’s the one thing most home baristas overlook that can make or break your espresso? One thing that saved my coffee years ago was learning how to test my water. I had spent months adjusting grind size, changing beans, even questioning my espresso machine. But nothing seemed to fix that dull, sometimes bitter shot. Well,…
Ever dialed in everything… and your espresso still tasted off? When I got my brand new Barista espresso machine, I was pumped. It looked gorgeous on my counter like a mini café setup just for me. But the taste? Total letdown. I mean, the beans were freshly roasted, my grinder was calibrated, the tamp was…
Ever tried tamping espresso with a shot glass or a jar lid? About a week ago, I was cleaning out my kitchen drawer and found the old “tamper” I made when I first got into home espresso. Just a stack of coins wrapped in a paper towel held together with a bottle cap. I actually…
Not sure what pod to choose? Though Nespresso isn’t exactly my thing. I’m more of a manual brewing guy. But sometimes you’ve gotta make a few sacrifices for the greater good. Well, I can’t say it was a huge sacrifice, since I was sipping espresso after espresso for this guide. But still, testing over 30…
Ever wondered what would happen if you mixed honey and cocoa into your espresso? Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved adding honey to my tea especially when I wasn’t feeling well. But these days, I’m more of a coffee guy. One afternoon, I was watching this French barista on YouTube. Couldn’t catch a…