Coffee Facts

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

Roasting Coffee Comfortably: Sitting vs. Standing and Ergonomic Solutions for Your Wellbeing

Roasting Coffee Comfortably: Sitting vs. Standing and Ergonomic Solutions for Your Wellbeing

Spending countless hours roasting coffee can take a toll on your body, especially if you're stuck in a bad posture like I was, sitting in an uncomfortable chair with a laptop at the wrong height. This predicament has led me to ponder – do professional roasters stand for the whole day, multiple days a week? And more importantly, what are some ergonomic solutions that can alleviate neck and back pain while keeping me productive during long roasting sessions? First off, let's address the age-old question: sitting or standing while roasting coffee? The answer might not be as straightforward, but understanding…
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Unraveling the Mystery of Diner-Like Coffee Roasts on an SR800

Unraveling the Mystery of Diner-Like Coffee Roasts on an SR800

You've corrected your roasting errors, but now your coffee tastes like a cup from a diner—burnt and lacking complexity. Even though you've tried different beans, Nicaragua and India, they all taste the same, with varying aromas being the only difference. Let's dive into this conundrum and explore potential solutions together. You may wonder if your first crack occurring at 410/420 degrees is causing the issue, since other roasters mention their first crack happening closer to 450. However, it's essential to remember that roasting profiles can vary significantly based on factors such as bean variety, machine, and personal preference. Let's examine…
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A Deep Dive into Indoor Grown Coffee: Part 2 – Roasting and Brewing

A Deep Dive into Indoor Grown Coffee: Part 2 – Roasting and Brewing

The wait is over. After months of nurturing our indoor-grown coffee tree, the cherries are finally ready for the next phase. In this post, we'll delve into the process of roasting and brewing your home-grown coffee beans, with a few insights on cascara tea along the way. The Roast: Once the cherries were dry enough after a few weeks in the food dehydrator, it was time to remove the husks and beans. The beans were then sorted by size and quality before being roasted using a DIY popcorn popper contraption. The roasting process brought out the coffee's unique acidity, toasty…
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Unraveling the Espresso Roast Conundrum: What to Buy for Your Perfect Cup

Unraveling the Espresso Roast Conundrum: What to Buy for Your Perfect Cup

You're on a mission to find the perfect beans, but the coffee roaster shops near you only offer medium and light roasts. And you've heard that espresso roast might be what you need, but is it really necessary? Let's dive in and demystify this conundrum together. First things first, freshness matters. Look for whole beans with a visible roast date to ensure you're getting the freshest cup possible. As for the roast level, espresso roast is indeed darker than most, but it's not always necessary for a great espresso. Espresso beans are typically roasted longer and darker to develop robust…
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Mastering Home Espresso: Achieving a Stunning Latte Art with Casabrews CM5418

Mastering Home Espresso: Achieving a Stunning Latte Art with Casabrews CM5418

Mastering the art of espresso at home can be an exhilarating journey, and it's been about 1.5 years since I embarked on this exciting adventure. Consistency and practice are indeed the keys to mastery in any pursuit, and espresso is no exception. Today, I am thrilled to share one of my best latte art attempts at home using the Casabrews CM5418 machine, despite its imperfections, I am incredibly proud of this creation! First off, the machine – the Casabrews CM5418 is a reliable workhorse that produces consistent results. However, the art of latte art lies not just in the equipment…
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Brewing Espresso with a Flea Market Grinder and Dumpster Scale

Brewing Espresso with a Flea Market Grinder and Dumpster Scale

If you find yourself in a bind without your usual coffee gear, don't panic. Even a humble 5€ grinder from a flea market and a rescued dumpster scale can produce an espresso shot. As demonstrated by /u/OpexReddit [link], it's all about getting creative with what you have on hand. First things first, the grinder. It may not be the Kingrinder K6, but this budget-friendly option is worth a try. Grinding coffee beans evenly is crucial for a quality espresso, so it's essential to adjust the grind settings to ensure consistency. A bit of experimentation might be required to find the…
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Mastering Home Espresso with Delonghi Stilosa: A Personal Journey

Mastering Home Espresso with Delonghi Stilosa: A Personal Journey

Delve into the world of espresso at home, a journey I've recently embarked on, and let me share my initial foray with the DeLonghi Stilosa. The coffee beans, hailing from Torra in Portugal, present as a medium/light roast that has piqued my interest. The DeLonghi Stilosa offers versatility, allowing me to bypass the pressurization feature on its original baskets for a more traditional extraction method. Although it doesn't come with an IMS basket, adjusting the pressure manually has proven rewarding. Pairing the original tamper, a homemade WDT tool, and a Kingrinder K6 grinder, I've found a sweet spot with 14-15g…
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Mastering Latte Art with the Sage Barista Express

Mastering Latte Art with the Sage Barista Express

Achieving barista-worthy latte art can feel like a lofty goal, but it's not an unattainable dream. As a relative newbie, I've found success in honing my skills with the Sage Barista Express espresso machine. First things first, let's talk about the equipment. The Sage Barista Express isn't the most high-end espresso machine on the market, but it certainly serves its purpose well. Its built-in grinder, pressure profiling feature, and automatic milk frothing capabilities make it a reliable choice for both beginners and enthusiasts alike. Now, onto the art part. Achieving beautiful latte art is all about technique and practice. To…
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Solving Shot Coning in Your Vibiemme Domobar Junior Espresso Machine

Solving Shot Coning in Your Vibiemme Domobar Junior Espresso Machine

You've been struggling with an unusual issue – your espresso shots are turning cone-shaped after a few seconds, and you're at a loss as to how to fix it. We're here to help. First off, let's clarify what shot coning is: when the crema on top of your espresso begins to separate and form a cone shape. This can be caused by several factors, including grind size, tamping pressure, water temperature, or distribution of the coffee grounds. Beginning with grind size, it's crucial that you find the sweet spot for your Domobar Junior. Too fine of a grind can lead…
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The Unprofessional Roaster: When Customer Service Goes Awry

The Unprofessional Roaster: When Customer Service Goes Awry

You order premium coffee beans, expecting a rich, aromatic brew. But what you get is a bag filled with more chaff than beans, and a taste that's anything but delightful. That was my recent experience with Redber's Guatemala Antigua, a bitter, woody concoction that left me questioning the quality of their roasting process. I had high hopes for this direct purchase, having encountered stale coffee from other sellers on Amazon. I even emailed Redber ahead of time to ensure freshness. But what arrived was a bag full of beans mixed with an excessive amount of chaff. The coffee tasted extremely…
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