Specialty Coffee Beans
Latest articles, industry insights and brewing guides
What Is Non-Washed Coffee? Natural Process Explained
Non-washed or natural coffee is dried with the fruit still on the bean. Learn how this impacts flavor stability and cup quality.
Espresso Brewing Ratio: What Every Coffee Drinker Should Know
Learn the standard espresso brew ratios, how they've evolved, and why they matter for flavor, texture, and crema. A must-read for baristas and home brewers.
What Is Lungo Coffee? More Than Just a Long Espresso
A Lungo is not an Americano — it’s an espresso extracted with nearly double the water for 50–60ml over 60 seconds.
Choosing the Right Coffee Grinder: Types & Key Features
Find out which coffee grinder suits your brewing method best. We compare blade, hand, and burr grinders with key specs and pros and cons.
How to Grind Coffee Beans for the Best Brew
Learn the 4 key principles of coffee grinding, ideal grind sizes for different methods, and why grinding fresh matters for flavor.
Blend First or Roast First? Which Coffee Method Works Better?
Roasting beans individually before blending gives more flexibility for testing, but roasting a pre-blended mix is simpler for fixed recipes.
Understanding Coffee Brewing Ratios for Better Extraction
Learn the ideal coffee-to-water ratios for balanced extraction and how to adjust them for your preferred brew style.
What Is Coffee Cupping and Why It’s Both Skill and Fun
Coffee cupping is a professional tasting method and a casual hobby. Learn how to assess aroma, flavor, acidity, and more in 8 simple steps.
How to Judge Coffee Bean Freshness by Appearance
Learn how to assess coffee bean freshness through shape, color, sound, and extraction signs. Spot defects and choose quality beans visually.
Five Coffee Brewing Methods and the Right Water Temperature
Learn how water temperature and brewing method affect coffee flavor. Explore five techniques, ideal grind sizes, and best practices for each.
How to Taste Coffee: Tongue Taste Map Explained
Learn where your tongue detects sweetness, bitterness, acidity and salt—key for evaluating coffee flavor. Quick tips based on the classic taste zone map.
10 Surprising Facts About How We Taste Coffee and Food
Taste isn’t just about where it hits your tongue. Discover the truth behind taste maps, the fifth taste, super tasters, and more flavor science.
What Is a Pump? How Mechanical Pumps Move Fluids
A pump uses mechanical motion to move fluids by creating pressure. Learn the three main types—reciprocating, rotary, and centrifugal—and how they work.
What Cupping Reveals About Specialty Coffee
Cupping lets you compare coffees directly by removing brewing variables—here’s how pros taste the true character of beans.
How to Cup Coffee Like a Certified Q Grader
Learn the professional coffee cupping method used by Q graders, from grind size to scoring acidity and sweetness.
Al's Rule: The Espresso Sweet Spot Formula Explained
Discover Al Critzer’s espresso extraction formula—how to adjust time and yield for a balanced shot between 30 and 60cc using grind size.
Low Molecular Weight Sugars in Coffee Beans Explained
Learn how low molecular weight sugars in coffee beans, especially sucrose, glucose, and fructose, impact flavor and roast development.
Standard Coffee-to-Water Brew Ratios Explained
Find the standard and specialty coffee ratios in ounces, grams, cups, and milliliters for 1 to 12 cups, plus how to calculate your own.
How to Cup Specialty Coffee Like a Pro
Learn the 10-step cupping process used by specialty coffee pros to evaluate aroma, flavor, and aftertaste in freshly roasted beans.
What Is the SCAA Coffee Tasters Flavor Wheel?
The SCAA Coffee Tasters Flavor Wheel helps identify coffee flavors with precision. Learn what it is, how it’s used, and where to find it.