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Sustainable Wines and the Ethical Winemaker: A New Book Explores Climate Leadership

Sustainable Wines and the Ethical Winemaker: A New Book Explores Climate Leadership

In a world increasingly attuned to environmental responsibility, a new book titled Rooted in Change is reshaping the narrative around wine production by spotlighting the intersection of sustainability, ethics, and innovation. The publication, which debuted on Decanter, delves into the journeys of pioneering winemakers and industry leaders who are redefining what it means to be an "ethical drinker" in the face of climate challenges. At its core, the book argues that the future of viticulture hinges on balancing ecological stewardship with the cultural and economic traditions of wine-making. Central to the book’s thesis is the idea that sustainability is not…
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The World’s Best Coffee Shops 2026: A Global Ranking of Excellence

The World’s Best Coffee Shops 2026: A Global Ranking of Excellence

This is worth savoring: The World's Best Coffee Shops 2026 have been unveiled, and the results are as bold as the brews they serve. The ranking, unveiled at CoffeeFest Madrid 2026, celebrates specialty cafés that push boundaries in quality, innovation, and sustainability. The U.S. dominates with nine spots, but Australia, Peru, and Spain also shine, proving coffee culture is a global phenomenon. Among the standout entries: Onyx Coffee Lab in Arkansas, a pioneer in technical precision and solar-powered roasting, claims the top spot. Its philosophy—“Never Settle for Good Enough”—drives everything from bean sourcing to barista training. Second place goes to…
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Where Coffee Meets Community in Rural Wisconsin

Where Coffee Meets Community in Rural Wisconsin

In the heart of rural Wisconsin, a small coffee roastery is redefining what it means to belong. Redwood Street Roasters in Edgar isn’t just a café—it’s a chemical experiment, a cultural hub, and a lifeline for a town where small businesses are the heartbeat. Founded by Francisco Guerrero and his wife, Crystal, along with her sisters, the shop blends the precision of winemaking with the warmth of local connection, proving that even in the Midwest, coffee can spark something bigger. Guerrero’s journey from Chilean winemaker to Wisconsin roaster began with a simple realization: coffee and wine share the same alchemy.…
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The Ultralight Roast Conundrum: Nailing Precision with Ethiopian Beans

The Ultralight Roast Conundrum: Nailing Precision with Ethiopian Beans

Real talk: Ultralight roasts are the holy grail of coffee, but getting them right? That’s where the real work begins. You’re staring at a Kaffelogic Nano 7e, armed with a question about 6% dev time and curve selection—sounds like a puzzle, but it’s also a gateway to unlocking flavor profiles that feel almost alchemical. Small-batch high-altitude Ethiopians? They’re a wild card, but with the right approach, they can deliver brightness, acidity, and floral notes that scream “light roast, please.” Let’s cut through the noise. Dev time is your compass, but 6% isn’t a magic number—it’s a starting point. Ethiopian beans,…
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The Community That Brewed Success

The Community That Brewed Success

There’s something brewing in the backstreets of Brooklyn—literally. A small coffee cart that started as a dream and became a testament to the power of community. Behind its success? A Reddit forum where a roaster learned to transform from a stovetop newbie to a Bullet R2 wizard. This isn’t just a story about coffee—it’s about how shared knowledge can turn passion into profit. Eight months ago, the founder was fumbling with a Stovetop Ceramic Roaster, sipping lukewarm brews and chasing perfection. Reddit’s coffee sub became their lifeline, offering insights on development time, preheat temps, and blend ratios that turned average…
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The Cinnamon Roast: Unlocking Coffee’s Brightest Notes

The Cinnamon Roast: Unlocking Coffee’s Brightest Notes

Here's what you need to know about the cinnamon roast: it's not just a roast—it's a revelation. This lightest roast profile reveals coffee’s most vibrant, unfiltered character, often bordering on the delicate. Yet its appeal lies in its paradox: it’s a niche that’s both rare and rewarding, demanding precision to avoid vegetal tones or underdeveloped acidity. For roasters, it’s a high-stakes gamble, but one that pays off with complexity and profit. Cinnamon roasts are the lightest possible, often hovering around 10-12% weight loss. This minimal roast time preserves the bean’s original terroir, letting grassy, peanutty, and floral notes shine. Daniel…
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A Direct Line to Costa Rica’s Finest Coffee

A Direct Line to Costa Rica’s Finest Coffee

This might just change your routine: A van loaded with 2,000m of Geisha and SL28 is descending from Costa Rica’s highlands today, bypassing brokers entirely. I’m the guy in the backseat, sweating through the drive with a micro-lot of washed Geisha and high-altitude SL28 clamped in plastic bags. These beans didn’t just sit in a warehouse—they were harvested yesterday, depulped tonight, and now they’re on their way to Los Angeles. The journey began at a farmer’s cabin, where we broke bread and swapped stories over coffee brewed from the same lot. This isn’t a gimmick; it’s a shortcut to purity.…
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Scaling Roasts: From Sample to Full Batch with Aillio

Scaling Roasts: From Sample to Full Batch with Aillio

There's something brewing in the world of coffee roasting—literally. For those transitioning from sample roasts to full batches, the Aillio roaster isn't just a tool; it's a gateway to scaling with precision. But scaling up isn't just about bigger batches; it's about rethinking every step of the process. Take Roger Morse, who swapped a 200-250g roaster for the Aillio's 600-700g capacity. Suddenly, his green bean orders needed a rethink. Where he once bought 1kg of coffee for four roasts, he’s now splitting 2kg into three 666g batches. The question isn’t just about quantity—it’s about how to translate a 150g sample…
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The Sulawesi Wet Hulled Toraja Pango Pango: A Roaster’s First Impressions

The Sulawesi Wet Hulled Toraja Pango Pango: A Roaster’s First Impressions

This is worth savoring: The first roast of a Sulawesi wet hulled Toraja Pango Pango is a masterclass in patience and precision. With a Behmor 1600 in hand, the process unfolded like a carefully choreographed dance—300 grams of beans, a 5-minute preheat, and a delicate balance of heat and timing. The wet hulled profile, a hallmark of Indonesia’s Toraja region, promises bold flavors, but the true test lies in how the roaster navigates the curve between underdevelopment and over-roasting. The roast began at P5, a high heat that quickly brought the beans to life, their surfaces glistening with the promise…
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The Grind Between Two Powerhouses

The Grind Between Two Powerhouses

There’s something brewing in the world of mobile coffee carts—literally. As a new player in this space, the choice between two high-end grinders isn’t just about specs; it’s about matching tool to task. The Eureka W75 and Fiorenzato F64 Pro are both legends in their own right, but which one fits the rhythm of private events? With 20-50 shots per hour on the table, the decision isn’t just about speed—it’s about consistency, noise, and the kind of precision that turns coffee into an experience. The W75’s appeal lies in its versatility. A dual-purpose grinder that handles both fine and coarse…
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