Coffee Facts

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

Porto’s Coffee Revolution: 5 Cafés Defining the City’s Brew Culture

Porto’s Coffee Revolution: 5 Cafés Defining the City’s Brew Culture

Let’s talk about how Porto’s coffee scene has evolved from a niche curiosity to a global hotspot. Since 2019, the city’s specialty coffee shops have exploded—from six to over 50, a 40% surge. This isn’t just numbers; it’s a reflection of Porto’s cultural shift. Young professionals, Digital Nomads, and returning expats have fueled the growth, blending global influence with local pride. The result? A coffee culture that’s as dynamic as the Douro River. Porto’s transformation is visible in its festivals and pricing. Porto Coffee Week drew 3,606 visitors in 2025—60% more than 2024—proving the city’s coffee obsession. Meanwhile, specialty brews…
Read More
The 2025 Coffee Gear That Redefined Home Brewing

The 2025 Coffee Gear That Redefined Home Brewing

Here’s what your coffee gear cravings might look like in 2025: a blend of precision, simplicity, and unexpected elegance. As we wrap up the year, the most talked-about coffee equipment—from grinders to espresso machines—showed how innovation can turn routine rituals into moments of joy. These reviews didn’t just test gear; they redefined what’s possible in your kitchen. The Timemore Sculptor 078S Grinder stood out for its ability to adapt to every brewing method, from pour-over to espresso. Its design isn’t just about function—it’s a conversation between form and performance. When tested by Barista Magazine’s Vasileia Fanarioti, it proved that a…
Read More
Noma’s Greenhouse Brews a New Coffee Philosophy

Noma’s Greenhouse Brews a New Coffee Philosophy

Consider this your morning briefing: Copenhagen’s most revered restaurant, Noma, has transformed its culinary vision into a greenhouse where coffee isn’t just served—it’s studied, celebrated, and reimagined. Perched on a sliver of land between water and sky, the Noma Projects greenhouse is a lab for sustainability, a stage for minimalism, and a testament to how coffee can bridge the gap between earth and cup. Here, the air hums with the scent of roasted beans and the whisper of water vapor from Amager Bakke’s chimney, a reminder that eco-consciousness isn’t a trend—it’s a blueprint. The space is a masterclass in Scandinavian…
Read More
The Physics of Pour Height: How High You Pour Changes Your Brew

The Physics of Pour Height: How High You Pour Changes Your Brew

Real talk: The way you pour your coffee might be holding back its full flavor. A new study reveals that the height from which you pour water isn’t just about wrist comfort—it’s a physics-driven variable that shapes extraction. Researchers at the University of Colorado in Boulder found that higher pour heights create “avalanche dynamics” in coffee grounds, triggering more aggressive mixing and unlocking flavor in ways even seasoned baristas might not have considered. This isn’t just academic jargon; it’s a game-changer for anyone serious about brewing. The study’s focus on kinetic energy and granular flow explains why pouring from a…
Read More
Guar Gum Decoded: The Creamy Secret in Your Plant-Based Milk

Guar Gum Decoded: The Creamy Secret in Your Plant-Based Milk

Pour yourself a cup for this one: guar gum isn’t just a random ingredient in your oat or almond milk—it’s a silent hero in the fight for that velvety texture. But its role has sparked debates, from health concerns to ethical questions. Let’s cut through the noise. Guar gum, derived from the guar bean (a legume native to India), is a natural thickener, binder, and stabilizer. It’s gluten-free, vegan, and packed with soluble fiber. Studies suggest it may aid digestion, lower blood sugar, and even support heart health by reducing cholesterol. Yet its reputation is mixed. The FDA’s past bans…
Read More
**2026 Coffee Championships & Bold New Collaborations Shaking the Scene**

**2026 Coffee Championships & Bold New Collaborations Shaking the Scene**

Get ready to sip on this: The coffee world is pivoting fast, with rules for next year’s global competitions, high-profile sponsorships, and a hip-hop artist turning heads with a limited-edition brew. From Brussels to Dubai, the specialty coffee scene is evolving—and the stakes are higher than ever. The World Coffee Championships just dropped the 2026 rules for the World Coffee in Good Spirits and Roasting Championships, set to unfold in Brussels from June 25–27. These events, which blend technical skill with creativity, now have clearer guidelines for participants. For roasters and baristas, this means more focus on precision and sustainability.…
Read More
How Specialty Coffee Roasters Can Lead the Innovation Revolution

How Specialty Coffee Roasters Can Lead the Innovation Revolution

Specialty coffee’s early focus on quality is no longer enough. Market consolidation limits risk-taking, creating space for independent brands to lead meaningful change. As giants like Keurig Dr Pepper acquire JDE Peet’s in a $18bn deal, the industry’s power dynamics shift. Consolidation breeds caution, but it also opens a window for roasters to redefine what innovation means. The stakes are high: without bold moves, the sector risks becoming a commodity battleground. Real innovation in specialty coffee isn’t about flashy gimmicks—it’s about solving real problems. Partnering with producers to tackle overripe cherries through fermentation, as Mió and Coffee Sensorium did, turns…
Read More
Specialty Coffee’s Hospitality Shift: Why Service Matters More Than Ever

Specialty Coffee’s Hospitality Shift: Why Service Matters More Than Ever

The specialty coffee scene is undergoing a quiet revolution. As prices climb, consumers aren’t just paying for beans—they’re paying for experience. Brands like WatchHouse and Proud Mary are redefining success by treating every interaction as a curated moment. This isn’t just about coffee anymore; it’s about crafting an environment where guests feel seen, guided, and valued. The shift is clear: hospitality isn’t a perk—it’s the currency of the trade. At the heart of this movement is the barista, who now serves as both bartender and curator. From pre-warmed cups to meticulously maintained plants, small details add up to create a…
Read More
Indonesia’s Robusta Surge: A Coffee Market Shift in Motion

Indonesia’s Robusta Surge: A Coffee Market Shift in Motion

Consider this your morning briefing: Indonesia’s coffee industry is in the midst of a quiet revolution. Robusta production is surging, fueled by weather recovery and aggressive export strategies, while global demand for the bean continues to outpace supply. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) projects Indonesia’s output will hit 12.5 million 60-kilogram bags in the 2025/26 market year, a 18% jump from the previous cycle. This isn’t just numbers—it’s a seismic shift in the global coffee landscape. The rebound is most visible in lowland robusta regions of southern Sumatra, where Lampung, Bengkulu, and South Sumatra have seen trees recover faster…
Read More
Coffee Grounds and Plastic Bottles Turned Into Climate-Fighting Carbon

Coffee Grounds and Plastic Bottles Turned Into Climate-Fighting Carbon

This might just change your routine: imagine your morning coffee cup and a discarded water bottle becoming part of a solution to trap carbon emissions. Researchers at the University of Sharjah in the UAE have patented a method that transforms spent coffee grounds and PET plastic into activated carbon—a material capable of capturing CO₂ from industrial smokestacks. The process, called co-pyrolysis, heats a mix of coffee waste, plastic, and potassium hydroxide to around 600°C, creating a porous, charcoal-like substance with millions of tiny cavities. These cavities act like sponges, trapping gas molecules and impurities. The innovation isn’t just about repurposing…
Read More