Lifestyle

The Bitter Truth: When Tradition Outshines Craft

The Bitter Truth: When Tradition Outshines Craft

If you’ve ever wondered why your favorite brews feel so... perfect, you’re not alone. The beer world’s obsession with microbrews often masks a simple truth: lagers, the backbone of mass-produced beer, are harder to master than any craft style. Major breweries like Budweiser and Heineken didn’t just stumble into success—they spent decades refining recipes, hiring scientists to dial in consistency. Their lagers are engineered for reliability, not experimentation. Meanwhile, microbreweries, for all their hype, often lack the infrastructure to replicate that precision. So when you’re handed a lager, you’re getting a product that’s been tested, tweaked, and perfected. The same…
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London’s Coziest Christmas Coffee Stops: A Festive Guide

London’s Coziest Christmas Coffee Stops: A Festive Guide

If you’re craving a Christmas that feels like a warm cup of coffee, London has five cafés that turn the season into a slow-brewed ritual. From the glittering chaos of Covent Garden to the quiet charm of Shepherd’s Bush, these spots aren’t just places to sip—they’re anchors for moments that linger long after the last drop. Here’s how they craft magic in a city that thrives on spectacle. WatchHouse in Covent Garden is where the festive energy peaks, but the café grounds it. A short black paired with dark chocolate tart becomes a quiet rebellion against the noise of holiday…
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Vermouth Substitute Survival Guide: What to Drink When You’re Out

Vermouth Substitute Survival Guide: What to Drink When You’re Out

Get ready to sip on this: If you’re out of vermouth and craving a Martini, you’re not doomed. But here’s the kicker—there’s no easy swap for this fortified wine. The good news? A few alternatives can rescue your cocktail, though they’ll demand a little creativity. Start by thinking like a bartender: vermouth is a fortified wine, so you need another fortified wine to mimic its depth and sweetness. Dry vermouth? Try dry sherry or Lillet Blanc. For a sweet Martini, Cocchi Americano or Questions & Answers Can I use dry vermouth instead of sweet vermouth? Yes, dry vermouth can substitute…
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The Filter-Only Coffee Cart: Can It Beat the Competition?

The Filter-Only Coffee Cart: Can It Beat the Competition?

If you’ve ever wondered why filter coffee carts are rare in high-traffic zones, you’re not alone. The idea of a cart selling just black or white coffee—no frills, no froth—sounds basic, even boring. But here’s the twist: this simplicity might be the secret to cutting through the noise of espresso-heavy markets. The math is clear: filter coffee is cheaper to make than espresso-based drinks, which rely on complex machinery, trained baristas, and premium beans. Yet, the question remains: can a filter-only cart survive in a world where coffee is often a performance? The appeal lies in affordability and speed. Imagine…
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How a Sri Lankan Cafe is Brewing a Specialty Coffee Revolution

How a Sri Lankan Cafe is Brewing a Specialty Coffee Revolution

Pour yourself a cup for this one: In the heart of Kandy, Sri Lanka, a small cafe is rewriting the country’s coffee story. Dilshan “Arty” Ranaweera, founder of Cafe Secret Alley, started with zero coffee knowledge in 2017—Sri Lanka’s coffee culture was nonexistent, reduced to bitter brews for studying or staying up late. But his vision wasn’t for locals; it was for tourists. After the 2009 civil war ended, backpackers flooded the island, and Kandy, with its colonial charm and misty hills, became a hotspot. Yet, no cafes existed there. Arty saw a gap. “We started with smoothie bowls and…
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Holiday Brews That Brewed Joy: Barista Magazine Readers’ Best of Season

Holiday Brews That Brewed Joy: Barista Magazine Readers’ Best of Season

The verdict is in: holiday coffee isn’t just about warmth—it’s about reinvention. Barista Magazine readers turned their seasonal cravings into bold, inventive drinks that blend tradition with unexpected twists. From smoky spices to sweet, creamy indulgences, these creations redefine what a “classic” holiday beverage can be. Olympia Coffee’s Mulled Coffee and Ginger Spice Latte are proof that nostalgia and innovation can coexist. The former marries filter coffee with cranberry juice, mulling spices, and a citrus garnish, while the latter layers ginger, baking spices, and orange bitters into espresso. Both drinks capture the essence of winter without leaning on clichés. The…
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Supermarket Coffee Is Evolving – But Roasters Face a Tough Battle

Supermarket Coffee Is Evolving – But Roasters Face a Tough Battle

The supermarket coffee aisle is no longer just a graveyard of dark roasts and instant brews. It’s evolving, but the path for specialty roasters is anything but easy. While demand for higher-quality, diverse offerings is rising, competing with giants and navigating shelf space limitations remains a hurdle. For roasters like North Roast and Upper Left Coffee Roasters, the grocery store is a double-edged sword: a chance to reach millions of consumers, but also a battlefield where freshness, pricing, and brand identity are constantly tested. The shift is undeniable. Once dominated by low-end, mass-produced blends, supermarket shelves now host whole bean…
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Gluten-Free Coffee: The Real Story Behind the Label

Gluten-Free Coffee: The Real Story Behind the Label

This might just change your routine: Coffee isn’t the enemy of gluten-free diets, but the label often is. The market is flooded with “gluten-free” coffee brands, each vying for your attention with promises that feel more like marketing fluff than facts. Let’s cut through the noise: Gluten-free coffee isn’t a scam, but its marketing is. For those with Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, the stakes are high. Yet, the confusion around what truly qualifies as gluten-free has turned coffee into a battleground of misinformation. Here’s what you need to know to navigate it with clarity. Coffee beans themselves are naturally…
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Washington’s Cafés Are Leading the BYOC Movement—Here’s How You Can Join

Washington’s Cafés Are Leading the BYOC Movement—Here’s How You Can Join

Coffee lovers, wine enthusiasts, tea devotees—here’s a movement reshaping your morning ritual. Across Washington state, independent cafés are uniting under the Bring Your Own Cup (BYOC) Campaign, a grassroots initiative turning reusable cups into a catalyst for environmental change. Six coffee shops—Amazonia Café, Dubsea Coffee, FIT BAR Superfood Cafe, Farmer’s Union Coffee Roasters, Cafe Dulzura, and Mighty Mugs Coffee—have abandoned competition to embrace collaboration, using their platforms to spotlight the hidden cost of disposable cups. The campaign isn’t just about reducing waste; it’s about redefining how communities engage with sustainability. At its core, the BYOC Campaign thrives on shared purpose.…
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Compact Coffee Unveils Its First Brick-and-Mortar Cafe in Salida, Colorado

Compact Coffee Unveils Its First Brick-and-Mortar Cafe in Salida, Colorado

In the heart of Salida, Colorado, a quiet revolution is brewing. Compact Coffee, the mobile service company known for its wrenches and portafilters, has opened its first brick-and-mortar cafe, redefining what a coffee shop can be. Tucked into an alley between a ceramics workshop and a vintage clothing store, this space isn’t about speed—it’s about slowing down. The result? A Slow Bar where pour-over rituals and espresso artistry take center stage, far from the frantic pace of traditional cafes. The menu is a masterclass in intention. Decent Espresso machines hum alongside Filter 3.0 drip baskets and Solo Brewers, the latter…
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