What Is Coffee? The 5 Faces of Our Favourite Drink
Coffee: it’s an intrinsic part of our world. For many people, it starts their day. It appears at business meetings and lunch breaks, first dates...
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March 20, 2023
How does the timing of capital affect coffee farmers?
As with any agricultural commodity, capital and access to finance are essential for coffee farmers. Moreover, access to capital becomes even more important when we consider that some producers have been facing financial challenges for many years. Coffee is a seasonal product, which means that it is harvested at a certain time every year. In turn, coffee producers are usually paid in a lump sum once a year when they… read more
As with any agricultural commodity, capital and access to finance are essential for coffee farmers. Moreover, access to capital becomes even more important when we consider that some producers have been facing financial challenges for many years. Coffee is a… read more
Barista Basics: How to Make an Espresso in 14 Steps
Espresso: roughly 30 ml of coffee goodness. An amazing espresso can be complex, full-bodied, and sweet. It can be the best thing about your day....
Coffee Wars: Should You Drink Instant or Whole Bean?
Almost 50% of the world’s population prefers instant coffee to fresh, according to a 2014 Euromonitor report – and our love for soluble coffee is...
Coffee Quality & M.A.S.L.: How Important Is Elevation REALLY?
Pick up any bag of artisanally roasted specialty coffee and have a look at the label. You’ll notice it tells you a few things: the...
In Defense of Blends: Coffee’s Most Underrated Offering
When we think about a truly exceptional specialty coffee, it’s always a single origin that comes to mind. Often it’s even those tiny little micro...
What Does “Direct Trade” Really Mean?
Direct: without intervening factors or intermediaries. Trade: the act of buying and selling goods and services. But direct trade represents far more than just its...
Bitterness in Coffee: What Is It & Is It Always Bad?
Bitterness has become a dreaded word in the specialty coffee industry. We all “know” that good coffee should be sweet and well-balanced, maybe a little...
How to pull a perfect shot of espresso
If you’re an experienced barista, you may sometimes struggle to pull a perfect shot. If you’re a newbie, you’re definitely going to find it difficult....
Making Coffee at Home: What’s The Best Beginner Brewing Method?
There’s no better feeling than sipping on an amazing specialty coffee in your favorite café – but what if you could enjoy that same cup...
Coffee guide: what is body & how do I brew & roast for it?
Body: what actually is it? Coffee-lovers like to talk about it and we include it on cupping forms. But do we know what body really...
Baristas Debate: What Is a Specialty Barista’s Role?
“Barista” is more than a word: it’s a profession. Working in a coffee shop can be a career filled with opportunities for progression, meaningful goals,...
What Is Parchment Coffee? A VIDEO Guide
Coffee beans are bought and sold as parchment, but do you actually know what it is? What it looks like? And how to recognise quality...
What Is Agitation & How Does It Make My Filter Coffee Better?
Filter coffee is great, isn’t it? The calming drip of the brew, the elegance of the pour-over process, and the coffee itself – a smooth...
RoR: A Guide to Understanding Your Roast’s Rate of Rise
Scroll through enough articles on coffee, and you’ll come across a mysterious term called RoR (Rate of Rise) complete with multi-line graphs that are frustratingly...
Brewing Methods Compared: How Should You Make Coffee at Home?
Looking for a new coffee brewing device? You’ve got a lot to choose from. And every single one will produce a different coffee taste, not...
The Great Paper Coffee Filters Debate: Bleached vs Unbleached
Coffee filters: they’re small, humble, and critical for great-tasting coffee. But if you – like the majority of coffee brewers – use paper filters, should...