Blog

San Antonio’s Coffee Festival Unveils 2026’s Best Roasters and Must-Try Brews

Jan

LifestyleAgroforestry, Alessandro, Antonio, benefits of coffee, Father

San Antonio’s Coffee Festival Unveils 2026’s Best Roasters and Must-Try Brews

Pour yourself a cup for this one: The San Antonio Coffee Festival is back, and this year’s lineup is a masterclass in specialty coffee. Returning to Hemisfair’s Civic Park on February 7, the event promises 80+ coffee varieties, live music, art installations, and workshops that’ll make you rethink your relationship with the bean. For coffee purists and casual sippers alike, it’s a chance to taste, learn, and connect with the city’s thriving roastery scene. This isn’t just about the coffee—it’s about the stories behind it. Pulp Coffee Roasters, the OGs of San Antonio’s specialty scene, bring decades of craft roasting…

Unlocking the Citrus Notes in High-Altitude Colombian Coffee

Jan

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

0 Comments

Coffee FactsFather, High, Narino, Patron, Reserva

Unlocking the Citrus Notes in High-Altitude Colombian Coffee

Get ready to sip on this: High-altitude Colombian coffee is a flavor paradox—its citrus and fruity brightness is a fleeting, almost elusive quality that demands precision to replicate. Yet for roasters chasing that vibrant profile, the struggle is real. The challenge isn’t just about technique; it’s about understanding how altitude, microclimate, and roast profiles conspire to shape a cup’s character. When you’re roasting beans like Reserva del Patron Narino, the goal isn’t just to preserve flavor—it’s to coax out the terroir’s signature brightness without scorching it away. The key lies in balancing light roasts with controlled heat. Your latest attempt,…

Temperature Targets on the SR800? Here’s What the Bean Corral Revealed

Jan

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

0 Comments

Coffee Factsacidity, Alessandro, Father, Logging

Temperature Targets on the SR800? Here’s What the Bean Corral Revealed

Here’s something to stir your curiosity: The SR800’s temperature targets are as unreliable as a coffee bean’s fate. A recent exchange with the Coffee Bean Corral community hinted at a deeper truth—most home roasters, including the SR800, display wildly inconsistent intake temperatures. One machine can show 50°F or more variance than another of the same model. It’s a revelation that undermines the promise of temperature-based profiles, even with probes installed. But here’s the twist: the conversation didn’t end there. The SR800’s variability isn’t a dead end—it’s a call to rethink how we approach roasting. Logging becomes your secret weapon. By…

Espresso and High-End Audio: A Parallel Obsession

Jan

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

0 Comments

Coffee Factsacidity, Both, But, Father, Legato

Espresso and High-End Audio: A Parallel Obsession

This is worth savoring: Two years ago, I was a Keurig-dependent caffeine addict. Today, I’m staring at a Legato V2 espresso machine, convinced it’s the missing piece to a life of refined taste. But here’s the twist—this journey mirrors another obsession: high-end audio. Both are about chasing perfection, and both are riddled with shiny gadgets promising miracles. The shift began with a French press. I bought one on a whim, filled it with pre-ground beans, and waited 10 minutes for “more coffeeness.” It was better than instant, but only after adding chocolate and milk. For two years, I clung to…

The Naked Portafilter’s Secret Role in Perfecting Your Espresso

Jan

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

0 Comments

Coffee Factsacidity, California, Father

The Naked Portafilter’s Secret Role in Perfecting Your Espresso

Real talk: The naked portafilter isn’t just a stylistic flourish—it’s a diagnostic tool. When you pull a shot, the absence of a portafilter basket forces you to confront the reality of your puck. It’s not about aesthetics, though that’s a nice side effect. It’s about honesty. A naked portafilter reveals channeling, uneven tamping, and inconsistencies you’d otherwise overlook. The moment you place the portafilter under the grouphead, the truth is laid bare. If the espresso flows unevenly, you know your tamp was off. If the water channels through the puck, you’ve got a problem. This isn’t guesswork—it’s feedback. The naked…

The Forgotten Coffee Trail: Why Puerto Rico’s Beans Are Flying Under the Radar

Jan

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

0 Comments

Tea FactsAfrican, Caribbean, Father, Puerto, Yet

The Forgotten Coffee Trail: Why Puerto Rico’s Beans Are Flying Under the Radar

If you’ve ever wondered why Puerto Rican coffee feels like a secret whispered between beans, you’re not alone. This Caribbean island, known for its vibrant culture and sun-soaked beaches, quietly cultivates some of the world’s most complex coffee. Yet, it’s rarely mentioned alongside Colombia, Ethiopia, or Java. Why? The answer lies in a mix of history, geography, and a stubborn underdog spirit. Puerto Rico’s coffee story is written in its soil. Volcanic rock, limestone, and coastal breezes create a terroir that’s both fierce and forgiving. Farmers here grow Arabica at elevations above 3,000 feet, where cool nights and sunny days…

The Milk Wand Whirlpool Dilemma: How to Master Microfoam Without a Mess

Jan

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

0 Comments

Coffee FactsCalifornia, Father, Infuser

The Milk Wand Whirlpool Dilemma: How to Master Microfoam Without a Mess

If you’ve ever stared at a milk jug, wondering why your latte’s turning into a science experiment, you’re not alone. The whirlpool effect—those swirling, frothy wonders that elevate a basic milk texturing into an art form—is both a marvel and a menace. For every barista who nails it, there’s another battling milk that climbs the jug’s sides like a determined toddler, spilling before the temperature even hits its sweet spot. The problem isn’t just about technique; it’s about physics, precision, and a dash of patience. The key lies in the angle. Most beginners tilt the jug too aggressively, creating a…

Does Bloom Control Really Elevate Budget Drip Coffee?

Jan

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

0 Comments

Coffee FactsAromaboy, Benefits, Cactussy, Father, Moccamaster

Does Bloom Control Really Elevate Budget Drip Coffee?

If you’ve ever wondered whether the buzz around bloom control and temperature settings is worth the extra cost, you’re not alone. The debate between budget drip machines and premium brewers like the Moccamaster has raged for years, but the rise of mid-tier options like the Cactussy complicates the equation. This machine, priced around $80–90, promises features typically reserved for pricier models: adjustable water temperature, a 30-second bloom phase, and a rotating water distribution system. Yet, its limited global presence and vague marketing make it a wildcard. The Aromaboy, your average budget drip machine, is a minimalist tool—basically a timer and…

Why Your City’s Humidity is Sabotaging Your Coffee—and How to Fix It

Jan

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

0 Comments

Coffee FactsAchieving, Father

Why Your City’s Humidity is Sabotaging Your Coffee—and How to Fix It

Real talk: If you’ve ever wondered why your city’s coffee tastes flat compared to your mountain hometown, you’re not imagining it. The same beans, the same grind, but a dramatically different result? It’s not magic—it’s science. Altitude and humidity play a sneaky role in how coffee extracts, and if you’re in a low-lying, moist environment, your brew might be missing that bold, bright complexity you crave. The truth? Lower altitude means higher atmospheric pressure, which raises water’s boiling point. In cities near sea level, water temp hovers around 200°F (93°C), but in high-altitude regions, it drops to 195°F (90°C) or…

Anzhelika Rybak’s Coffee Revolution in Ukraine

Jan

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

0 Comments

Coffee FactsBolgheri, Rybak, Ukraine, Ukrainian, World

Anzhelika Rybak’s Coffee Revolution in Ukraine

This is worth savoring: Anzhelika Rybak’s story isn’t just about espresso shots or latte art—it’s about resilience, identity, and the quiet power of a cup of coffee in wartime. As Ukraine’s coffee culture evolves under relentless bombardment, Rybak has become a symbol of how passion and purpose can transform a beverage into a lifeline. From a street-side barista to a national champion, her journey reflects a nation redefining itself through coffee. Rybak’s career began in Poltava, where she traded ballroom dancing for barista training, eventually leading her to found KoHo, a coffee chain that evolved from takeaway shops to curated…