Ever wonder why your espresso machine never quite runs like the one at your favorite café even though you swear you clean it? I get it. I’ve always said I don’t run a coffee shop. I’m more of a home barista kind of guy. But a couple of my close friends do run actual cafés,…
Ever wondered why Sweden takes its coffee breaks so seriously? I’ve written about the coffee culture from several countries. From Italy, France, Portugal (me being Portuguese). All of them have their unique drinks and traditions. However, out of all, I’d say Sweden is the most surprising. I have a friend from Uppsala who once told…
Do you need all those buttons to make good espresso? I sure thought so. A few years back, I got swept away by the sleek design, flashing lights, and promises of “café-quality coffee at home.” I won’t even mention the brand, let’s just say it rhymed with “Regret-presso.” It looked amazing on my counter, but…
Did you know that some Nespresso machines can brew a better-iced latte than your neighborhood café? No kidding. Recently, I’ve found myself way more into Nespresso than I expected. I think it’s the whole summer vibe creeping in. You know warm mornings, slower pace, a little laziness in the air. I didn’t want to mess…
Did you know espresso can have up to 12% dissolved solids in your cup? That means nearly one-eighth of what you’re sipping is actual coffee compounds and not just water. I was scrolling through Reddit’s r/coffee one night, totally lost in the brew nerd rabbit hole when I kept seeing people talk about “TDS.” I…
Are you just pressing down your espresso puck and hoping for the best? When I bought my Barista Express a few years back, I was excited to pull shots at home. I seriously had no clue what I was doing. One thing that really tripped me up was when a friend of mine (he’s a…
Ever wonder why your espresso still tastes off even after dialing in the grind? For a long time, I’ve been a flat tamper guy. It’s usually the first kind you run into when you start getting into espresso, and for good reason: it works. But after one too many uneven extractions and a few late-night…
Are you struggling with energy crashes or caffeine jitters? Or you’re simply curious about better-for-you sips? Today, we’re doing something a bit different. I usually talk about coffee, I mean, it’s called Coffee Voilà for a reason. But here’s the thing… as much as I love a bold espresso or a slow pour-over, sometimes coffee…
Ever sipped your usual coffee and thought, “Why doesn’t this taste like the stuff from that little café downtown?” Most people don’t realize they’re drinking blends. Often a mix of Arabica and Robusta. That was me for years. I’d grab whatever was on sale, toss it into the machine, and go about my day. But…
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,…