What Is Milk Texturing – An Introduction to Texturing Milk for Coffee Drinks

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Latte texture milk frothing process with steamer.

Milk texturing is crucial in creating coffee beverages like cappuccinos and lattes. First appearing in the late 19th century, milk texturing gained greater popularity later, with latte art. Milk texturing alters the coffee’s mouthfeel, flavor, and visual appeal through techniques like steaming for a velvety texture or frothing for a lighter feel. This article delves into the history, roles, and science of milk texturing, and its role in the coffee industry.

The Best AeroPress Filters: Enhance Your Coffee Brewing Experience

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AeroPress coffee maker kit including after market metallic filter and custom filter cap.

The secret to an exceptional AeroPress cup: the filter. If you are looking for the best AeroPress filter, you might be faced with a problem: the choice. Paper, metal, or cloth? Each one is a master key to an array of flavors, from the deep intensity of espresso to the lively notes of drip coffee. If you already know which type of filter you want, you will then need to choose a brand.
In this exploration, we focus on how these filters shape your coffee’s character, then we show you which brands are the best for each type. The best AeroPress filter is a combination of personal taste, environmental values, and practicality. Let’s delve deep and find not just a filter, but your partner in crafting the ultimate coffee experience.

AeroPress Review – Why The AeroPress Is One Of The Best Coffee Makers

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brewing inverted aeropress

The AeroPress is very popular for its ability to make top-quality coffee. Its versatility and affordability make it suitable for home and professional use. The device’s unique brewing method, combining steeping and pressure, results in a smooth, less acidic taste. With options for customization and additional accessories available, the AeroPress offers a convenient and portable coffee brewing solution.

What Is a Manual Espresso Machine

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la pavoni lever operated manual espresso machine

Manual espresso machines, often underrated, offer benefits like portability and control over the brewing process. The lever-operated machines, the precursor to semi-automatics, require skill but provide control over pressure. Portable manual machines, like hand pump espresso makers, cater to on-the-go enthusiasts. Hobbyist machines, like lever-operated ones, demand dedication but deliver exceptional shots.

Gaggia Babila Review – Super Automatic Espresso Machine

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gaggia babila review

I’ve spent a ton of time behind the counter at coffee shops, slinging espressos and getting that perfect foam on lattes. It’s pretty cool, but let’s be real—not everyone’s got the time to geek out over pulling the perfect shot with a semi-auto machine. That’s where this bad boy, the Gaggia Babila, comes in. It’s … Read more

Jura X8 Review

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jura x8 review 2

As someone who’s spent years behind the counter of coffee shops, I’ve had my hands on all kinds of espresso machines. While I have a soft spot for semi-automatics, I get it—not everyone has the time to make espresso a full-blown hobby. That’s where super-automatic machines like the Jura X8 come into play. They offer … Read more

What is a Super-Automatic Espresso Machine? Buying Guide

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various superautomatic espresso machines

Super-automatic espresso machines provide coffee lovers convenience, consistency, and customizability with the push of a button. They automate the entire process from grinding to extraction and often milk frothing. Features like integrated grinders, precise temperature control, and programmable settings make them popular for home and commercial use. Yet, they may offer less control over brewing for coffee aficionados, have a higher cost, and require meticulous maintenance. Ultimately, the choice between super-automatic and other espresso machines depends on individual needs for convenience, control, and budget considerations.

Brewed Espresso – What Is It and How Can You Make it at Home?

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espresso shot in demitasse

Espresso… is synonymous with the pinnacle of coffee brewing, and holds a unique place in the world of coffee. Often misunderstood as a concept, and confused, espresso is the pillar of the coffee shop menu. Can you brew espresso at home, though? This is the subject of this article, to explain what is a brewed … Read more

Oily Coffee Beans – Are They Good Or Bad?

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shiny coffee beans texture background

I’ve heard different opinions on oily coffee beans throughout my love affair with coffee. Some people love their beans to look oily, some never buy beans that have oil on them, but most people couldn’t tell me why they didn’t like the oily beans. There is sometimes a negative association with a shiny coffee bean, … Read more

Mantis Espresso WDT Tool Review

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espresso wdt tool

As an espresso geek, I’m always on the lookout for ways to make the perfect cup of coffee. The WDT tools I owned were okay, but I never owned one to get me excited. I know… It’s a raking tool, and you only use it for a few seconds a day. Well, I like beautiful … Read more

Bottomless Portafilter – Why Do You Need One and Where To Buy It?

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Pulling an espresso shot with a bottomless portafilter

The pursuit of the perfect espresso shot is a non stop race.  Professionals and enthusiasts alike try to improve the extraction down to the finest details. No wonder there are so many tools and accessories for espresso brewing, espresso lovers are truly passionate. One of these espresso tools is the bottomless portafilter. In this page … Read more

Decoding Espresso Roasts: Finding the Perfect Match

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Espresso coffee beans light to dark roast

Making espresso is half science half art. You use science to guide your extraction, and use intuition to improvise, and create unique experiences, beyond the rigor of science. One of the most asked questions when I was working as a barista was: “Which roast is best for espresso?” And the question makes sense because espresso … Read more

Lavazza Dek Decaffeinato: A Complex and Affordable Decaffeinated Coffee Blend

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lavazza dek decaf espresso beans

Lavazza Dek Decaffeinato is one of the best decaffeinated coffee blends for those who look for a flavorful decaf option for their espresso shot. As a big roaster, Lavazza has more resources than small artisan roasters.  This is why they can decaffeinate their beans in a healthy way while maintaining a great flavor. If you … Read more

What Is Single Origin Coffee and Why Is It Better?

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woman harvesting coffee beans

You may have heard the term “single origin” being used by your favorite barista while they’re whipping up your creamy cappuccino, and you might not have paid much mind to it. But what does it mean? And should you care? The coffee industry has become increasingly complex as more and more baristas are taking their … Read more

The Best WDT Tool on the Market

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distributing coffee grounds with fusedline wdt

If you are looking to improve your espresso shot and get consistent results every time, you need a WDT tool. It’s not even a debate, there is concrete evidence that the Weiss Distribution Technique slightly improve the overall quality of your shots, but more importantly, it brings consistency from shot to shot. You might have the … Read more

The Best Coffee Canisters for Coffee Storage

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coffee beans in airtight glass jars

Storing coffee properly is one of the best things you can do to improve the taste of your espresso, or coffee. There is nothing worse than a flat shot of espresso, especially when you paid a decent amount to get great quality beans. So to pay for that single origin, and to end up with … Read more

How To Store Coffee Beans for Great Espresso Shots

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coffee storage container

Storing coffee is probably one of the least understood topics. Yet coffee storing is equally important, especially when we buy the stuff in 2 pounds bags. If roasting, grinding, and brewing have evolved into great sciences, storing is still debated and there is a lot of bad information and a lot of half information. In … Read more

Espresso-Based Beverages – Affogato

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affogato coffee pouring espresso over ice cream

Affogato is an Italian dessert prepared by pouring a shot of freshly brewed hot espresso over a scoop of vanilla gelato (ice cream). The result is a delicious, smooth drink. The Italian name of this coffee drink, or dessert, is affogato al caffè. The magic of an affogato is that you mix two pleasures in … Read more

What Is Cold Brew Espresso? Is It Really Espresso?

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cold brew espresso nitro coffee drink in a glass with a consistent foam

Cold brew espresso is a method of brewing coffee that uses cold water to steep coffee grounds for an extended period of time. Coffee prepared this way is a strong, concentrated beverage, with a high caffeine concentration. This coffee can be consumed as is, in small servings, much like espresso, but is served cold. This … Read more

Weiss Distribution Technique – Is It Improving Your Espresso Shots?

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wdt tool

The Weiss Distribution Technique is one of the ways we can improve an espresso shot, beyond the run-of-the-mill shot.  The technique uses one or more needles to stir the ground coffee, for obtaining a perfect distribution of the grounds, with the aim to improve espresso extraction.  In this article we are going to discuss the … Read more

The Best Home Cappuccino Maker – How to Choose a Cappuccino Machine

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cappuccino

Learn how to choose your home cappuccino maker. We review the best home cappuccino machines, De’Longhi, Mr. Coffee, Nespresso and Breville from all price ranges. I enjoy from time to time a frothy cappuccino, even though my daily habitual coffee is a neat espresso with a tiny bit of sugar. I prepare my cappuccino using … Read more

Espresso Beans and Equipment Reviews

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Pulling espresso shots with automatic machine

If you want to start making espresso at home, or just complete your espresso bar with some equipment, this page is a great start.  This is a compilation of most of our reviews on anything espresso related: coffee beans, espresso machines and guides on how to buy them, tools and equipment and coffee grinders.  Check … Read more

Best Home Espresso Grinder – Rancilio Rocky Vs Baratza Vario Vs Eureka Mignon

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baratza sette espresso grinder

Best Home Coffee Grinders Compared Choosing a home espresso grinder for your daily espresso coffee brewing needs is not that complicated. If your budget is flexible, and you are trying to get the best bang for your buck, you might be stuck in a dilemma. We hope we can make it easier for you by showing what … Read more

How Espresso Machines Work

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schematics how espresso machines work

Espresso machines are a popular choice among coffee lovers due to their ability to produce rich, flavorful coffee in less than a minute. But how exactly do these machines work? Why the fuss around them, and why can we use a regular coffee maker to brew espresso. In this article we will explain how the … Read more

Espresso Knock Box – The Best and the Cheapest

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espresso knock box line up

The espresso knock box is one of those devices that you never miss if you haven’t used it before, but once you get used to it you can’t live without. OK, it’s a trivial plastic box, you might say, what’s the fuss about it. Yeah, you are right, a cheap plastic bin to dump your … Read more

Delonghi EC155 Espresso Machine Review – The Cheapest Great Espresso Machine

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delonghi ecc155 espresso machine

Whenever home brewed espresso is mentioned, the De’Longhi espresso machines are normally what spring to mind. De’Longhi is one of the most popular domestic espresso manufacturers on the market, and for good reason. They provide user friendly machines that produce consistent coffee. The Delonghi espresso machine EC155 is a perfect example. In this review you … Read more

Delonghi EC9335 La Specialista – Espresso Machine Review

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delonghi la specialista espresso machine review

DeLonghi La Specialista is relatively recent on the the market. The resemblance with the Breville Barista Express, stirred up some heated discussions. Some felt that the uncanny resemblance was blatant, some others thought that it’s great thing to have some serious competition on that niche. I will discuss more about this in a moment. I … Read more

Semi Automatic Espresso Machines

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Faema E61 Legend semi-automatic espresso machine

One of the most sold types of espresso machines is the semiautomatic espresso machine. This is the perfect choice for espresso enthusiasts who aim to learn and experiment with coffee – it allows them to play with different recipes to create their favorite popular espresso drinks. There is also the inexpensive semiautomatic, which is the … Read more

What Is the Best Espresso Extraction Temperature?

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espresso machine displaying the water temperature in the boiler.

extraction is a precise process, where multiple brewing variables are finely adjusted in order to obtain a great cup of . Brewing temperature is one of the important variables, and if we don't handle it properly our espresso might be ruined, or just average.

In this post we are going to look at how the brewing temperature can change the flavor of the espresso, and how ca we teak the temperature in order to perfect our shot.

The information in this post is intended for the advanced barista, who wants to finely tune their shots.

Lelit espresso machine with PID showing 94 degrees Celsius - 201 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Rancilio Silvia vs Gaggia Classic Pro – A Classic Review Comparison

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rancilio silvia vs gaggia classic pro

If you are looking for a mid-range semi-automatic espresso machine, for your morning coffee fix, there are a lot of options. However, the Gaggia Classic and Rancilio Silvia are a lot of times compared. There are other machines within the same price range, however, these two coffee machines are the best rated by customers. This … Read more