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El Salvador’s Coffee Pulse: Where Roasters, Producers, and Innovators Collide

El Salvador’s Coffee Pulse: Where Roasters, Producers, and Innovators Collide

There’s something brewing in San Salvador. The 11th edition of Producer & Roaster Forum (PRF) lands in El Salvador on 26–27 March 2026, merging coffee’s most elite competitions with a rare chance to connect producers and roasters at origin. This isn’t just another trade show—it’s a seismic shift in how the global coffee industry operates. By hosting the event in a key coffee-producing country, PRF dismantles the outdated model of trade shows centered in consuming nations, creating a platform where buyers and sellers meet face-to-face, bypassing intermediaries. The event’s impact is already measurable. Over 4,200 visitors and 350 international buyers…
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Diedrich DR-280: The New Benchmark for Industrial Roasting

Diedrich DR-280: The New Benchmark for Industrial Roasting

This is worth savoring: Diedrich Roasters has just upped the ante in industrial roasting with the DR-280, a machine that redefines what a four-bag roaster can do. For years, the company has been a go-to for commercial operations needing scale, but the DR-280 isn’t just bigger—it’s smarter. With a capacity of 280 kilograms per batch and throughput hitting 2,156 pounds per hour, it’s built for roasteries that outgrew 35- or 70-kilo machines but haven’t yet reached commodity-scale volumes. The upgrade isn’t just about numbers; it’s about precision. At the heart of the DR-280 is a redesigned drum and airflow system…
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How to Open a Wine Bottle Without a Corkscrew (No Mess, No Drama)

How to Open a Wine Bottle Without a Corkscrew (No Mess, No Drama)

Here’s something to stir your curiosity: What if your corkscrew is missing and you’re mid-wine night? You’re not alone. From mountain peaks to city apartments, emergencies happen. The good news? There’s a toolkit of hacks to save your pour—and your dignity. Push the cork in with a screwdriver, wooden spoon, or butter knife. This method forces the cork deeper, making it easier to manage. Once pushed, use a straw or chopstick to keep it out of the way while pouring. Or pour directly into a decanter to avoid the glugging of the cork getting stuck. It’s a workaround, but it…
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Global Coffee Awards 2025: US & Canada’s Best Roasters Revealed

Global Coffee Awards 2025: US & Canada’s Best Roasters Revealed

This is worth savoring: The 2025 Global Coffee Awards in Houston crowned the top roasters in the US and Canada, blending excellence in craft with a commitment to transparency. The competition, judged by industry experts, spotlighted roasters who elevated their skills through rigorous feedback and global exposure. Beyond accolades, the event redefined how coffee is evaluated, prioritizing real-world relevance over traditional cupping. The GCA’s approach is refreshingly direct. Roasters submitted their most exceptional coffees across categories like Filter, Espresso, and Flat White, with judges blind-testing samples to eliminate bias. Each entry received numerical scores and detailed critiques on flavor, balance,…
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Coffee Quality Isn’t What It Used to Be

Coffee Quality Isn’t What It Used to Be

Time to spill: Coffee quality isn’t what it used to be. For years, specialty roasters positioned themselves as the artisanal alternative to mass-market brews, selling scarcity, complexity, and “flavor profiles” as their secret weapon. But now, even the most coveted single-origin beans and experimental processing methods have lost their edge. The market has matured, expectations have spiked, and roasters are scrambling to find new ways to stand out. The problem? Quality alone isn’t enough. Once, sourcing auction-winning lots or using techniques like anaerobic fermentation made a coffee feel exclusive. Today, those same methods are staples in high-end cafes and competitions.…
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The KALDI WIDE 300g Roaster’s Secret Weapon: Blower vs. Extractor Setup

The KALDI WIDE 300g Roaster’s Secret Weapon: Blower vs. Extractor Setup

There’s a quiet battle happening inside every gas roaster: the war between blowing air in and pulling it out. For the KALDI WIDE 300g, this isn’t just about smoke management—it’s a strategic choice that shapes the roast’s outcome. Some setups push air back into the drum, others pull it out. Which one wins? The answer lies in control, consistency, and how well you can tame the chaos of heat and humidity. Blowers, like the DIY builds referenced, force air into the roaster, creating turbulence that can accelerate cooling. This works well for rapid temperature drops, but it risks uneven heat…
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Fixing the Skywalker Roaster’s Heat Shutdown: A Thermal Break Solution

Fixing the Skywalker Roaster’s Heat Shutdown: A Thermal Break Solution

If you're battling overheating issues with your Skywalker roaster, you’re not alone. A growing number of users report thermostats shutting down during long, high-intensity roasts—especially on the V1 model. The problem? Heat distortion causing false shutdowns. But there’s a fix that’s simple, effective, and worth trying. The solution hinges on a clever workaround: inserting a mica sheet between the thermostat and the roaster’s interior wall. This creates a thermal break, severing the direct heat transfer path. Mica, a naturally occurring mineral, acts as a heat-resistant barrier while allowing the thermostat to “see” only the air temperature inside the drum. Without…
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Slow Feeding the Philos: A Surprising Espresso Revelation

Slow Feeding the Philos: A Surprising Espresso Revelation

This is worth savoring: What if the way you feed your espresso beans could reshape your shot? A simple tweak to your routine—slowing the pour into your Philos grinder—unlocked a dramatic shift in extraction, proving that even small adjustments can rewrite the rules. The experiment began with a hunch: slow feeding espresso beans to the grinder might alter how they interact with heat and pressure. The results? A 45g shot in 8 seconds versus the usual 41g in 32. The numbers don’t lie. The method was deliberate. Every variable stayed locked: dose, grind, equipment, even the water spray. Only the…
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The r/espresso Coffee Bean Database: A Shared Brews Library for Baristas and Curious Coffeeheads

The r/espresso Coffee Bean Database: A Shared Brews Library for Baristas and Curious Coffeeheads

Listen up: Coffee geeks and casual sippers alike have been begging for a place to swap beans, recipes, and brew wisdom—and now there’s one. The r/espresso community has launched a database where users can submit their favorite espresso blends, brewing methods, and equipment specs. Think of it as a living, breathing encyclopedia of coffee knowledge, built by enthusiasts for enthusiasts. This isn’t just a list of beans; it’s a toolkit for experimentation. Submit your brews with details like roast date, dose, yield, and shot time. Pair that with your gear (pump, grouphead, grinder) and voilà—your recipe becomes a reference point…
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How to Cut To-Go Waste Without Breaking the Bank (Real Examples Inside)

How to Cut To-Go Waste Without Breaking the Bank (Real Examples Inside)

Here’s what you need to know: Small coffee shops are stuck between a rock and a hard place—compostable cups are better than plastic, but they still pile up. What if there was a way to slash waste without draining your budget or complicating your operations? The answer lies in customer participation, not just corporate greenwashing. Across the country, cafes are testing deposit systems for reusable jars, glass bottles, and mugs—proving that reducing to-go waste is possible without turning your counter into a logistics nightmare. The key isn’t forcing customers to change habits but creating frictionless incentives. Take the “payback” model:…
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