Coffee Knowledge
Latest articles, industry insights and brewing guides
How to Balance Coffee Ratios in Specialty Cafés
Find the ideal espresso-to-milk ratios for classic café drinks like flat white, latte, and cappuccino, based on flavor profiles.
Do You Really Need a Coffee Spoon When Drinking Coffee?
Coffee spoons are for stirring only—not drinking. Learn why most specialty cafés avoid them, and how to properly use (or skip) them.
Key Terms in Specialty Coffee Extraction Explained
Learn what blonding, channeling, and crema mean in espresso brewing, plus golden rules, over- and under-extraction signs, and how pre-infusion helps.
How to Choose a Coffee Grinder for Specialty Beans
A quality grinder matters more than your brewer. Choose a burr grinder with 70–150 watts for fast, even, cool grinding.
How to Brew Coffee with a Chemex Filter
Learn how to use a Chemex to brew clean, pure coffee with no bitterness—plus alternatives like Hario and Bodum variants.
What Is Cafestol? The Cholesterol-Linked Compound in Coffee
Unfiltered coffee like Turkish or French press contains cafestol, a compound linked to raising serum cholesterol. Learn where it comes from and how brewing method affects levels.
Workplace Coffee Etiquette: Black Coffee Basics
Learn the essential rules of drinking black coffee in professional settings, including whether to add sugar and how to use a coffee stirrer properly.
Why Coffee Tastes Less Flavorful Than It Smells
Your brain processes coffee aroma differently when you smell it versus when you taste it. Here’s why your cup tastes weaker than it smells.
What Is White Coffee? Malaysian Specialty Coffee Explained
White coffee isn’t pale—it’s a lightly roasted Malaysian brew with reduced bitterness. Learn its origins, roast style, and flavor profile.
Why Every Cup of Black Coffee Deserves Respect
Learn why your daily coffee involves years of growth and craftsmanship — and why drinking it black shows true appreciation.
How to Make Your Coffee Taste Better: Basic Tips
Learn practical steps to keep your coffee beans fresh, brew better-tasting coffee, and avoid common mistakes for a great cup every time.
SCAA Brewing Ratios for Specialty Coffee Explained
Learn the standard SCAA coffee-to-water ratios and how they affect your pour-over, French press, or drip brew. Clear guidelines for beginners.
Common Types of Coffee Brewers Explained
Learn the six main types of coffee brewers used worldwide, from moka pots to French press, and how each affects flavor and caffeine.
How Much Caffeine Is in Your Daily Coffee?
Find out the safe daily caffeine intake and how much is in coffee, cola, energy drinks and more—down to the milligram per 100ml.
Dry vs Wet Cappuccino: What’s the Real Difference?
Dry cappuccinos have more foam and less milk, highlighting coffee flavor. Wet cappuccinos use more milk, tasting closer to a latte. Find out which suits your taste.
Why Warming Your Coffee Cup Actually Matters
Yes, preheating your cup improves flavor. Here’s how temperature loss impacts your brew—and how to do it right.
Understanding Coffee Tasting Terms: Dry, Wet, Acidity & More
Learn the key sensory terms used in specialty coffee tasting—dry aroma, wet aroma, acidity, body, aftertaste, and flavor—and what they really mean.
How Caffeine Improves Long-Term Memory, According to Johns Hopkins
A 200mg dose of caffeine taken after learning boosts long-term memory recall by at least 24 hours, a Johns Hopkins study found.
How Coffee Grounds Grow Mushrooms and Fund Community Projects
Used coffee grounds can cultivate edible mushrooms and support low-income households—here’s how Shanghai students turned waste into income.
How to Cup Coffee According to SCAA Standards
Follow SCAA guidelines for ideal roast level, grind, dose, water temp, and timing to conduct professional coffee cupping.