Coffee Culture
Latest articles, industry insights and brewing guides
Why Do Some Coffee Cups Look So Strange?
Strange-shaped coffee cups affect taste and temperature. Here’s how cup design influences your coffee experience, based on real tests and specialty insights.
How Gabriel Mathieu de Clieu Saved Coffee
Discover how a French naval officer smuggled coffee to the Caribbean in 1723, sparking global cultivation. This is the true story behind modern coffee’s spread.
Korean Designer Turns Coffee Bag Into Multi-Use Straw
A South Korean designer created a coffee pouch that unfolds into a large straw, doubling as a stirrer and drinking tool after pouring.
What Is the WBC and How Does It Work for Baristas?
The World Barista Championship (WBC) began in 2000 and has been held annually in different cities. Discover how winners are chosen and how China competes.
How Espresso Flow Rate Affects Taste
Espresso flow rate—how fast or slow the shot pulls—affects flavor balance. Learn how speed impacts extraction, taste, and quality.
How Italian Espresso Machines Were Invented
From steam pressure to 9-bar pumps, trace the century-long evolution of espresso machines and the birth of crema.
How Coffee Beans Spread from Africa to the World
Explore how coffee traveled from Ethiopia’s highlands to global plantations, via wars, monks, and colonial trade routes over 1,400 years.
What Is the Fair Trade Coffee Movement?
Learn how the Fair Trade movement ensures fair wages for coffee farmers and improves coffee quality through ethical sourcing practices.
Where the Word 'Coffee' Really Comes From
The English word 'coffee' traces back to Ethiopia’s Kafa region, where the drink was first discovered. Learn how it evolved globally.
How European Coffee Culture Evolved Over Centuries
Explore how coffee spread through Europe, survived bans, and grew into a cultural force — with modern shifts toward quality and sustainability.
The Best Times of Day to Drink Coffee for Health
Drinking coffee after meals supports digestion and may help prevent allergy attacks. Avoid it on an empty stomach to protect your stomach lining.
Why Italians Drink Espresso Standing Up
In Italy, espresso is meant to be drunk quickly while standing — here’s why that’s the norm, how it started, and what you should (and shouldn’t) order.
How to Make Ginger Coffee: A Spiced Home Brew
Learn how to make a simple ginger coffee at home with black coffee, fresh ginger, and sugar. A warming blend with traditional roots.
How to Make Mint Coffee with Cold Cream Float
Learn how to make a classic American-style mint coffee: layered hot espresso with cold cream, white mint liqueur, and fresh mint leaves.
Best Sugars to Use in Coffee: White, Brown, and Beyond
Discover how white sugar, brown sugar, and other sweeteners change your coffee’s flavor—plus which to choose for taste and health.
How Caffeine Benefits Your Body: What Science Says
Caffeine boosts brain function, muscle performance, and digestion — but only in moderation. Here’s what the evidence really shows.
Key Moments in Coffee History: From Discovery to Modern Brewing
From 6th-century Ethiopia to 1970s Brazil, explore 20+ pivotal events in coffee’s global journey, including its first medical use and the birth of espresso machines.
Arabica vs Robusta Coffee Beans: Key Differences
Learn how to tell Arabica and Robusta coffee beans apart by shape, caffeine content, and flavor. Arabica has 50% less caffeine and an S-shaped center cut.
What Is Cuban Crystal Mountain Coffee (Cubita)?
Cuban Crystal Mountain Coffee, or Cubita, is a rare, smooth, and balanced single-origin coffee often compared to Jamaica Blue Mountain.
Climate Change Threatens Wild Coffee Survival
Wild coffee species face extinction due to climate change, with 2/3 of Arabica habitat projected lost by 2080, risking global coffee supplies.