Coffee Facts

Expert guides on coffee brewing, roasting, beans, and equipment. Master your coffee journey with in-depth articles.

Mastering Latte Art: A Breville Barista Express Journey

Mastering Latte Art: A Breville Barista Express Journey

Consider this your morning briefing: After four months of relentless practice, I finally cracked latte art—sort of. My fiancée gifted me a Breville Barista Express for my birthday, and since then, I’ve been obsessed with turning mediocre coffee into something resembling art. The machine’s built-in grinder delivers consistent results, though it struggles with ultra-fine grinds for certain beans, which I’ve since supplemented with a hand grinder. The real test? Steaming and pouring. Oat milk, my preferred choice, is a stubborn beast—its earthy notes clash with the coffee’s aroma, but I’ve learned to embrace the balance. Full-fat milk steams easily, but…
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The Dark Roast Dilemma: When Your Brew Feels Like a Mystery

The Dark Roast Dilemma: When Your Brew Feels Like a Mystery

You’re grinding dark roast, brewing with a French press, and calling it a day—but what if your ritual is hiding a deeper mystery? The Reddit user’s confession—of mistaking personal preference for expertise—mirrors a broader tension in the coffee world: the gap between tradition and trend. Dark roast, once a symbol of simplicity, now faces scrutiny from a culture obsessed with single-origin purity and pour-over precision. Yet, the user’s method—hand-ground, boiled water, a dollop of honey—suggests a refined process that’s been dismissed as “ignorant.” Is the problem the brew itself, or the expectations we project onto it? The French press, with…
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Why Your Freshly Ground Coffee Is Sour (And How to Fix It)

Why Your Freshly Ground Coffee Is Sour (And How to Fix It)

Listen up: If you’re grinding your own beans and ending up with astringent, sour brews, you’re not alone. The issue isn’t always the beans or your setup—it’s often how you’re handling the grind. Pre-ground coffee feels effortless, but freshly ground beans demand precision. The key lies in balancing grind size, outgassing, and extraction. Astringency isn’t a flaw—it’s a signal. It happens when too much tannic acid is extracted, usually due to over-extraction or a grind that’s too fine. Your current setup—grinding with a ~$70 manual grinder—might be part of the problem. While it’s rated well for its price, low-quality grinders…
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The Espresso Dilemma: Finding the Perfect Machine for Lungo and More

The Espresso Dilemma: Finding the Perfect Machine for Lungo and More

The verdict is in: your Ninja isn’t just outdated—it’s holding you back. After years of reliable service, it’s finally giving up the ghost, leaving you stranded between a boyfriend’s convenience-driven lungo ritual and your own espresso obsession. You’re not looking for a gimmick; you want a machine that respects your coffee ritual while adapting to your partner’s needs. The Breville at the office set a high bar, but its price tag is a barrier. Now you’re hunting for something that bridges the gap between espresso finesse and lungo versatility, all without breaking the bank. The key lies in dual boiler…
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Nordic Coffee Fest 2026: A Global Brew of Innovation and Culture

Nordic Coffee Fest 2026: A Global Brew of Innovation and Culture

The coffee world is about to get a shot of Scandinavian precision. From February 28 to March 1, 2026, Gothenburg’s waterfront Bananpiren will host the Nordic Coffee Fest, a celebration where global roasters, baristas, and enthusiasts collide. With 60+ exhibitors from 16 countries, this year’s edition isn’t just about beans—it’s a crossroads for ideas, traditions, and the future of specialty coffee. At the heart of the fest is the Global Roasters Showcase, a rare gathering of powerhouses like Differente (Colombia), Onyx Coffee Lab (North America), FRITZ (South Korea), and Blue Tokai (India). These brands, rarely seen together, offer a sensory…
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Spain’s Coffee Awakening: How Late Bloomers Are Shaping the Specialty Scene

Spain’s Coffee Awakening: How Late Bloomers Are Shaping the Specialty Scene

Consider this your morning briefing: Spain’s coffee world is finally catching up to its European neighbors. After decades of dark, sugary “torrefacto” dominance, the Iberian Peninsula is now a hotbed of specialty coffee innovation. With 2,215 branded coffee shops and 3% annual growth, Spain has leapfrogged Poland to rank seventh in Europe. Yet its journey to specialty isn’t about speed—it’s about redefining what coffee means. The country’s coffee history is a tale of two eras. Torrefacto—dark, bitter, and sweetened during roasting—has long been Spain’s default. But as World Coffee Portal data shows, 75% of consumers now crave premium options that…
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Nuova Simonelli’s Appia Viva: A New Era of Simplicity in Espresso Tech

Nuova Simonelli’s Appia Viva: A New Era of Simplicity in Espresso Tech

Pour yourself a cup for this one: Nuova Simonelli isn’t just updating its Appia line—it’s redefining what commercial espresso tech should look like. The Appia Viva machines and Viva Grinder aren’t just sleek; they’re a masterclass in bridging complexity and usability. With C-Automation technology linking the grinder and machine via a wired connection, Nuova Simonelli is turning espresso preparation into a choreographed dance of precision. The Viva Grinder, for instance, learns from each shot—adjusting grind size in real time based on flow and timing. It’s not just smart; it’s intuitive. This isn’t about gimmicks. The Appia Viva XT model’s touchscreen…
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Ultimate Guide to the 15-15-15 Coffee Rule for Better Brewing

Ultimate Guide to the 15-15-15 Coffee Rule for Better Brewing

Just as every great cup of coffee starts with quality beans, your brewing process can greatly benefit from the 15-15-15 rule. In this comprehensive guide, you will discover how this simple framework-15 grams of coffee, 15 days of freshness, and 15 ounces of water-can transform your daily coffee ritual. By understanding and applying these principles, you'll enhance the flavor and quality of your brews, ensuring that each cup is not only enjoyable but also consistent. Dive into the details and elevate your coffee experience.Understanding the 15-15-15 Coffee Rule The 15-15-15 Coffee Rule is a brewmaster's approach that outlines the optimal…
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Bambino Upgrade Dilemma: Basket, Portafilter, or Tamper?

Bambino Upgrade Dilemma: Basket, Portafilter, or Tamper?

The verdict is in: Your Bambino’s upgrade path hinges on one question—basket, portafilter, or tamper? You’ve got a used machine, a mismatched tamper combo, and a laundry list of questions. The stock basket’s tapered design is already a battleground for your aftermarket metal tamper, which gets stuck and scratches the sides. The 51mm plastic one from D’Elonghi Dedica is a relic, while the 54mm metal tamper’s size mismatch is a red flag. You’re caught between fixing what’s broken or trading up. The stock portafilter’s single-serve double-wall basket is functional but limited. If you’re splitting duties with a partner who uses…
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Mastering the Grind: A Coffee Enthusiast’s Journey

Mastering the Grind: A Coffee Enthusiast’s Journey

Coffee lovers, wine enthusiasts, tea devotees—here’s what you need to know about the grind. The path to a perfect cup isn’t just about beans or water; it’s about precision, patience, and the right tools. Recently, I dove deeper into the world of coffee, experimenting with French Press, Cold Brew, Pour Over, and AeroPress before landing on espresso. The journey wasn’t smooth. A Bambino Plus and Mazzer Mini with WYS Doserless Mod became my allies, but mastering them required more than just purchase—they demanded practice. The Mazzer, for all its promise, proved frustrating. Its retention issues initially felt like a chore,…
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