benefits of coffee

The Chefs Who Brew the Best Coffee: A List of Their Trusted Roasters

The Chefs Who Brew the Best Coffee: A List of Their Trusted Roasters

Consider this your morning briefing: The world’s top chefs are treating coffee like a fine wine, curating roasters that match their culinary vision. From Copenhagen to Los Angeles, chefs are ditching generic brews to partner with specialty roasters, ensuring every cup aligns with their philosophy. At Noma, chef René Redzepi and Tim Wendelboe crafted a “nomacano”—a hybrid of Americano and pour-over—to complement their tasting menus. This isn’t just coffee; it’s a deliberate act of storytelling, where the bean’s origin and roast profile mirror the dish’s intention. In Los Angeles, Be Bright has become a staple for chefs like David Chang…
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Coffee Agroforestry and a Bold Merger Shake Up the Specialty Scene

Coffee Agroforestry and a Bold Merger Shake Up the Specialty Scene

The coffee world is shifting faster than ever. From groundbreaking sustainability projects to mergers redefining community values, the industry is rewriting its playbook. This week’s headlines reveal a mix of innovation, cultural transformation, and bold bets on the future of coffee. Coffee Watch’s new agroforestry database is a game-changer. By pooling decades of research from across the globe, the nonprofit has created a one-stop resource for growers, scientists, and policymakers. This isn’t just about trees and beans—it’s about rebuilding ecosystems while preserving livelihoods. The collaboration with CATIE highlights a growing consensus: sustainable farming isn’t optional, it’s foundational. Meanwhile, Thump Coffee’s…
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Savoring the Moment: Grant Garry’s ‘Room for Cream’ Invites You to Slow Down with Coffee

Savoring the Moment: Grant Garry’s ‘Room for Cream’ Invites You to Slow Down with Coffee

Listen up: Coffee isn’t just a drink—it’s a ritual, a conversation, a quiet rebellion against the rush of modern life. Grant Garry’s new web series Room for Cream isn’t about brewing techniques or bean origins. It’s about pausing, sipping, and letting coffee be the spark for something deeper. Launching in early February, the series invites viewers to trade speed for presence, turning each cup into a moment of connection. Garry’s inspiration came from a simple act: turning off the TV and savoring his morning coffee. “I needed to follow my curiosity,” he says. That curiosity became Room for Cream, a…
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East Asia is Redefining Barista Excellence

East Asia is Redefining Barista Excellence

Time to spill: East Asia isn’t just brewing coffee—it’s redefining what it means to be a barista. From Shanghai’s 9,000+ cafés to Taiwan’s meticulous rituals, the region is setting global standards for skill, service, and innovation. Coffee, once a niche curiosity in tea-centric cultures, now thrives here thanks to brands like Luckin Coffee and Starbucks, which sparked a seismic shift in consumer habits. The result? A market growing three times faster than the global average, driven by a middle class eager to pay for quality and experience. At the heart of this transformation is a relentless focus on hospitality. East…
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Coffee’s New Raleigh Roastery Triples Production Capacity

Coffee’s New Raleigh Roastery Triples Production Capacity

Get ready to sip on this: 321 Coffee’s new 5,000-square-foot roastery in Raleigh isn’t just about scaling up—it’s about redefining what it means to brew inclusivity into every bean. The company, which began as a farmers market stand in 2017, now roasts over 100,000 pounds of coffee annually, with plans to open a sixth location by year’s end. This expansion isn’t just about meeting demand; it’s a statement. By tripling production capacity, 321 Coffee is proving that purpose-driven growth can outpace even the most ambitious business plans. The new facility, anchored by a Loring S35 roaster alongside its existing Loring…
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The Best Espresso Beans for a Perfect Shot, According to a Coffee Expert

The Best Espresso Beans for a Perfect Shot, According to a Coffee Expert

This is worth savoring: The best espresso beans aren’t just about darkness—they’re about balance, complexity, and the right roast for your palate. Espresso isn’t a one-size-fits-all game. While darker roasts dominate traditional shots, modern roasters are redefining the category with lighter, more nuanced profiles. The key lies in understanding how roast level, origin, and freshness shape the final cup. Espresso brewing relies on pressure to extract intense flavors, but not all beans are built for this method. Dark roasts often deliver bold, bitter notes, but they can lack the brightness and depth that lighter roasts provide. Medium and light roasts,…
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The Best Coffee Subscriptions for Fresh, Flavorful Beans

The Best Coffee Subscriptions for Fresh, Flavorful Beans

This is worth savoring: coffee subscriptions are the ultimate shortcut to fresh, flavorful beans. If you’ve ever stared at an empty coffee jar at 8 a.m., you know how quickly a caffeine drought can derail your day. Subscriptions solve that by delivering freshly roasted beans to your door—no grocery runs, no last-minute panic. But with so many options, how do you pick? The best subscriptions balance convenience, quality, and the thrill of discovery. Freshness is non-negotiable. Most supermarket beans sit on shelves for weeks, their flavor muted by age. Subscriptions, however, ship within days of roasting, locking in brightness and…
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The Ultimate Espresso Bean Guide for Every Coffee Lover

The Ultimate Espresso Bean Guide for Every Coffee Lover

Real talk: If you’ve ever wondered why your espresso feels like a missed shot, you’re not alone. The quality of your beans is the unsung hero of every perfect sip. Over the past three months, I’ve tested a dozen espresso blends—from budget-friendly staples to high-end gourmet picks—to uncover what makes a shot truly stand out. The results? It’s not just about roast or price—it’s about how the beans interact with your machine, your palate, and your morning routine. Lavazza is the Goldilocks of espresso. If you crave a balanced, sweet bean that’s not too dark or bitter, this is your…
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Las Vegas Coffee Scene: A Curated List of Must-Visit Brews

Las Vegas Coffee Scene: A Curated List of Must-Visit Brews

Here’s something to stir your curiosity: Las Vegas isn’t just about neon and slot machines anymore. The city’s coffee scene has evolved into a vibrant tapestry of flavors, from the artsy to the avant-garde, each spot offering a unique brew to match its vibe. Once defined by chains and sparse options, Vegas now boasts a renaissance of specialty cafes, where baristas craft drinks as obsessively as locals curate their neighborhoods. Whether you’re chasing Instagrammable aesthetics, cult-classic brews, or a quiet corner to power through a workday, the city’s coffee culture has something for you. The transformation began in the late…
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San Antonio’s Coffee Festival Unveils 2026’s Best Roasters and Must-Try Brews

San Antonio’s Coffee Festival Unveils 2026’s Best Roasters and Must-Try Brews

Pour yourself a cup for this one: The San Antonio Coffee Festival is back, and this year’s lineup is a masterclass in specialty coffee. Returning to Hemisfair’s Civic Park on February 7, the event promises 80+ coffee varieties, live music, art installations, and workshops that’ll make you rethink your relationship with the bean. For coffee purists and casual sippers alike, it’s a chance to taste, learn, and connect with the city’s thriving roastery scene. This isn’t just about the coffee—it’s about the stories behind it. Pulp Coffee Roasters, the OGs of San Antonio’s specialty scene, bring decades of craft roasting…
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