Ever had coffee that made you feel more wired than focused? Though I love coffee and I mean love it, I’ll admit, some days it just didn’t love me back. The jitters, the midday crash, the weird feeling in my stomach… it wasn’t every time, but enough to make me start hunting for something smoother….
Which grinder will actually keep up with your café’s rush hours? I asked myself that while sipping an over-extracted espresso one hectic Monday morning. It’s a simple question, but if you’ve ever worked behind the bar during a morning rush, you know how important it is to get it right. Once again, just like with…
Ever looked at an espresso machine and thought, “Whoa… that’s a bit much”? I remember the first time I saw the Lelit Bianca V3 in a local specialty coffee shop. It was perched on the counter like a showpiece. Gleaming stainless steel body, those wooden knobs catching the light just right. I wasn’t even shopping…
Ever walked into a café and wondered what kind of espresso machine is working its magic behind the counter? I remember when I first started exploring commercial machines; the number of options was overwhelming. I mean dual boilers, group heads, pressure profiling—it felt like learning a new language. But after plenty of research (and a…
Ever tried sipping hot coffee out of something totally wrong? Years ago, I used to pour mine into a plastic water bottle. Yup, I didn’t have a travel mug or thermos. Just a plain, old plastic bottle. I didn’t think twice about it… until one morning on the road, I took a sip, the bottle…
Ever feel like learning coffee is like decoding a secret language? When I started learning about coffee, I thought I’d just learn how to make a decent cup. Instead, I ended up down a rabbit hole of forums, YouTube channels, and contradicting advice. One person swore by a 1:15 brew ratio, and another insisted on…
Tired of digging through a drawer of scattered Nespresso pods just to find your favorite flavor? I never used to think pod storage mattered much either. I’m more of a Barista Express guy. So my poor little Nespresso pods mostly just sat around collecting dust (and cobwebs if we’re being honest). That is, until last…
Are Nespresso pods really worth it? I’ve had my Nespresso CitiZ for years, and honestly, it’s been great for quick and delicious coffee. But after a while, I started realizing just how much I was spending on those little pods. One morning, I did the math (not my favorite activity before coffee), and let’s just…
Are You Missing Out on the Perfect Cup of Coffee? For a long time, I stuck with the usual coffee blends. I mean, those classic mixes of Arabica and Robusta that get the job done but never really wowed me. Honestly, I didn’t think much of it until one day, curiosity got the better of…
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…