Guides
Steaming Milk for Microfoam: The Two Sounds That Matter
A practical guide to steaming silky microfoam at home, from the stretch to the whirlpool, with notes from my Breville Barista Pro.
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Guides
Pre-Infusion: The Gentle Soak That Settles Your Espresso
What pre-infusion does, why a few seconds of low pressure tames channeling, and how to try it on a home machine.
Guides
Coffee Brewing Methods Compared: Which One Suits You
A plain guide to the main coffee brewing methods, from espresso to cold brew: how each one works, its pros and cons, and why the cup tastes the way it does.
Guides
Affogato: Hot Espresso Meets Cold Gelato in a Glass
An affogato is Italy's two-ingredient treat: a shot of hot espresso poured over cold gelato. Here's the ratio, why the contrast works, and how to get it right.
Guides
Pour-Over Coffee: A Complete Guide to a Better Cup
A complete pour over coffee guide: the gear, the ratios, water temperature, and a step-by-step recipe, plus fixes for sour, bitter, and stalled brews.
Guides
WDT Puck Prep: The Needle Tool That Fixed My Espresso
How the WDT puck-prep technique stops channeling, why needle thickness matters, and the simple routine that makes shots more consistent.
Guides
Dialing In the Breville Barista Pro: My Working Method
A repeatable way to dial in the Breville Barista Pro 878 that fits the Barista Express, Touch, and Impress too: grind, dose, yield, and shot time.
Guides
Sour or Bitter? Reading What Your Espresso Is Telling You
Sour espresso usually means under-extraction; bitter usually means over-extraction. Here's how to taste the difference and what to change.
Reviews
Clever Dripper Review: The Immersion Brewer I Reach For Most
A long-term, first-person review of the Clever Dripper: how the valve works, my everyday recipe, where it beats the French press, V60, and AeroPress, and who should skip it.
Reviews
Baratza Encore ESP: The First Espresso Grinder I'd Actually Recommend
A close look at the Baratza Encore ESP, the under-$200 grinder that finally makes home espresso dialing approachable for beginners.
Guides
Your Water Is Most of Your Coffee
A brewed cup is about 98% water, and its minerals shape extraction. Here's how calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate work, plus the SCA target numbers.
Guides
Coffee Grind Size, From Espresso to French Press
A plain-language map of grind size across brewing methods, why it matters more than almost any other variable, and how to dial it by taste.
Guides
Why Coffee Puffs Up: The Bloom, Explained
What the bloom actually is, why fresh coffee releases CO2, and how a 30 to 45 second pause makes your pour-over taste better.
Guides
Why I Brew My Iced Coffee Hot
Flash brew makes bright, aromatic iced coffee in about four minutes by brewing hot straight onto ice. Here is how to do it on a Clever Dripper.
Notes
The Afternoon Switch: Why I Trade Coffee for Tea After Two
Caffeine has a long half-life, which is why the afternoon cup can cost you sleep. A look at the science, and the case for an afternoon tea break.