Coffee Knowledge
Latest articles, industry insights and brewing guides
What’s Actually Inside a Coffee Bean?
Learn the 9 key components of coffee beans — from caffeine and tannins to fat, sugar, and aroma compounds — and how they shape flavor.
Why Coffee Drinkers Tend to Be More Successful
Science shows coffee drinkers are more energized, healthier, and earn more. Here’s what research really says about coffee and success.
13 Things Specialty Coffee Professionals Should Never Do
Avoid misleading claims, poor ethics, and bad service. Here are 13 common mistakes specialty coffee professionals must stop making.
What Is Espresso? The Italian Coffee Tradition Explained
Discover what espresso really is—from its origins in Italy to how it’s brewed, blended, and transformed into milk-based drinks like cappuccino.
Understanding Coffee Roast Levels and Their Impact
Learn how roasting transforms green coffee beans into complex flavors and what different roast levels mean for acidity, sweetness, and bitterness.
How Coffee Beans Are Processed: From Harvest to Export
Learn how wet and dry processing methods shape the flavor and quality of coffee beans, with steps like fermentation, drying, and hulling.
How Coffee Beans Are Harvested and Processed
Learn how coffee cherries are picked and processed, including selective vs strip harvesting and wet vs dry methods, with harvest seasons and labor details.
How to Visually Inspect Raw Coffee Beans by Hand
Learn how to assess green coffee bean quality using your hands and eyes—check color, shape, scent, and defects like black or insect-damaged beans.
How Coffee Beans Are Graded and Labeled by Country
Learn how coffee beans are graded by altitude, processing, and origin, including key export grades like SHB and common labeling practices.
Coffee Bean Varieties and How They're Graded
Learn how coffee beans are classified by species and graded by quality, including key differences between Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica.
How Coffee Beans Are Graded by Size and Density
Coffee beans are graded first by screen size and then by density. Most are uniform in shape, but exceptions like peaberry and maragogype fetch higher prices.
Grind Size Guide for Every Coffee Brewing Method
Find the right grind size for French press, pour-over, siphon, Moka pot, and more — with exact settings from a specialty roaster.
How to Buy Coffee Beans: 5 Essential Tips
Get fresher, better-tasting coffee by asking your roaster the right questions about roast date, brew method, and flavor preference.
David Schomer: The Godfather of American Espresso
Discover how engineer-turned-barista David Schomer revolutionized espresso and latte art in the U.S., creating what many call America’s best espresso.
Deep vs Light Roast Coffee: What’s the Real Difference?
Understand how roast level changes flavor: deep roast builds body and sweetness, light roast highlights origin character. Here’s how and why.
Why Does Coffee Taste Bitter? Understanding Acidity, Sweetness & Bitterness
Coffee’s bitterness is natural—but not all bitterness is equal. Learn how to identify and balance sour, sweet, and bitter notes in your cup.
How Baristas Adjust Coffee Acidity and Bitterness
Learn the 3 key methods baristas use to boost acidity or bitterness in coffee, based on grind size, water temperature, and extraction time.
How to Store Coffee Beans for Maximum Freshness
Learn the best way to store coffee beans to preserve aroma and flavor. Avoid air, heat, and moisture for the freshest cup.
3 Key Rules for Consistent Coffee Quality
Learn the three essential factors—water, brew ratio, and temperature—that keep your coffee tasting the same every time.
5 Big Coffee Questions You’ve Always Wondered About
Get clear answers on coffee cravings, caffeine timing, productivity hacks, gender effects, and daily intake limits based on science.