Skip to content

Search Site

Sprometheus.com

  • Home
  • On Bar
  • Connect
  • About
  • Coffee Glossary

Category: Education

Compound Chilling
EducationEspresso
March 10, 2023 Post a Comment

Coffee Science – Compound Chilling: Gimmick Or Genius?

I've seen a lot of espresso trends come and go... but one recent thing that seemed to make a quick re-emergence, and then subsequent disappearance, is the idea of compound chilling. The name itself may not ring a bell, but the image of syrupy espresso running over frozen steel whiskey ball seems to have made its...

Continue reading
Brew Pressure
EducationEspresso
December 2, 2022 Post a Comment

Espresso Anatomy – Exploring Brew Pressure

The perfect espresso brew pressure... doesn't exist. That's just the truth, but if you search for it that online, you'll quickly find a lot of opinions. Many of those opinions are based on the tradition of a 9 bar extraction, but the source of this number is widely debated. Some say it dates back to some...

Continue reading
Wet Weiss
CoffeeEducation
October 28, 2022 Post a Comment

The Wet Weiss – I Can’t Believe I Didn’t Think Of This

When brewing a pour over... there's really no debate about the benefits of agitation, especially during the all important bloom. Getting the entire bed of coffee thoroughly saturated with water and releasing any gases built up produces not only a better extraction, but a better cup of coffee. Much like many other techniques in coffee brewing...

Continue reading
Blooming Espresso
EducationEspresso
September 30, 2022 Post a Comment

Espresso Anatomy – Blooming Espresso

After the latest espresso anatomy... episode featuring the Slayer shot there was quite a few comments asking for the next entry to be a deep dive into blooming espresso. So, ask and you shall receive. Of course, the concept of blooming coffee isn't brand new, but when it comes to doing it with espresso, that is...

Continue reading
Grinder Speed
CoffeeEducation
August 5, 2022 Post a Comment

Coffee Science – How Grinder Speed Effects Extraction & Taste

When it comes to brewing coffee... there are a handful of standard variables that all baristas spend their time working within, but one has been relatively untouchable until recently: grinder speed. Over the last few years more and more grinders have hit the market with adjustable speed capabilities. So when I was in the market for...

Continue reading
Slayer Shot
EducationEspresso
July 8, 2022 1 Comment

Espresso Anatomy – The Slayer Shot

It may sound intimidating... but the Slayer shot is actually surprisingly gentle since it utilizes a considerable amount of low-pressure pre-infusion, and when I say considerable I mean essentially half the shot time; but I'm getting ahead of myself. As you may already be aware there are many different forms of espresso, the classic double, the...

Continue reading
Grinder Seasoning
CoffeeEducation
April 22, 2022 2 Comments

Fact Or Fiction – Do New Burrs Need Seasoning?

Getting a new coffee grinder... is often a joyous and exciting experience for every coffee lover, but one thing tends to always hang over our heads as we prepare to grind our first batch; burr seasoning. If you haven't heard of seasoning your grinder burrs you wouldn't be alone, as its not something that everyone has...

Continue reading
Espresso Distribution
EducationEspresso
April 8, 2022 1 Comment

Espresso Anatomy – Which Distribution Tool Is Most Effective?

When it comes to espresso... there is one variable that I think is undeniable in its importance, and that is an even distribution. Having a puck of coffee grinds that is not only uniform in depth but also in density ensures that when the water pressure is applied the flow rate is equal as it travels...

Continue reading
Espresso Tools
EducationEspresso
March 11, 2022 Post a Comment

Top Three – Must Have Espresso Tools (2022)

If this title looks familiar... its not just your imagination, its not deja vu, I did a video of the exact same title almost exactly three years ago.  In that time not only has my espresso game evolved, but so has the whole industry along with most of baristas (home and cafe) use on a daily...

Continue reading
Tamping
EducationEspresso
March 4, 2022 Post a Comment

Espresso Anatomy – Does Tamping Matter?

In the world of espresso... there are very few things that the majority of baristas agree is a necessity, but one of those things I thought we could was tamping, or at the very least adding pressure to your grinds in one way or another. But after a short video of mine exploring one of the...

Continue reading
Water For Espresso
EducationEspresso
January 21, 2022 Post a Comment

Coffee Science – The Best Water For Espresso

I'm sure you have heard... how important water quality can be to your coffee, and unless you're new here you've most likely you've heard it at least a few times from me. Now its something that I understood on a very surface level. For example, too many minerals can create a bitter cup, and too few...

Continue reading
staccato
EducationEspresso
October 22, 2021 Post a Comment

Espresso Anatomy – The Staccato Shot

Just when you thought espresso... can’t get any more intricate and labor intensive something else crawls out of the depths of coffee forums, so today let’s talk about the staccato shot. The word staccato translates from Italian to English as "detached". Which in this case means each grind size are detached, or in other words separated...

Continue reading
No Bloom Pour Over
CoffeeEducation
September 17, 2021 Post a Comment

Pour Over – The No Bloom Method

If you’ve been making pour overs... in the last decade or so you’ve likely been trained, taught, or told that a bloom is an absolute necessity for a quality cup. The reasons for the process are sound, as it gives the coffee time to expel C02 built up in the roasted coffee’s cell structure, which can repel...

Continue reading
Turbo Shot
EducationEspresso
September 10, 2021 Post a Comment

Espresso Anatomy – The Turbo Shot

As you may already know... espresso comes in many different shapes and sizes. Its an ever-changing, ever-evolving beverage, and now things that were once considered mistakes have become something we aim for. In the not so distant past a fifteen second shot of espresso would go right down the drain, but today we call it the...

Continue reading
Planning A Home Espresso Bar
EducationEspresso
August 27, 2021 Post a Comment

Top Three – Mistakes In Planning A Home Espresso Bar

Are you ready to take the plunge... into the world of espresso at home? Well, incase you haven't noticed I've done that myself, and I get a lot of questions from folks looking to do that exact same thing. I personally made some mistakes myself, and since then I've talked many friends and viewers through the...

Continue reading
Allonge Espresso
EducationEspresso
August 13, 2021 Post a Comment

Espresso Anatomy – Scott Rao’s Allongé Shot

Thinking about espresso... is what I do with a good amount of my time, and if you're reading this its fair to say it may be something you spend time doing as well. There is a wide array of espresso options out there, and in my espresso anatomy series I've covered a lot of them. The...

Continue reading
C70
CoffeeEducation
July 30, 2021 Post a Comment

The C70 – Do Steeper Angles Brew Better Coffee?

There is a wide variety... of pour over drippers out there, and they come in many different shapes and sizes. Also a pretty good number of them look nearly identical, and the differences can be pretty subtle; like a mere ten degrees for example.  In fact that's what we're looking at today. If you're reading a...

Continue reading
precision basket
EducationEspresso
July 23, 2021 Post a Comment

Espresso Anatomy – Do Precision Baskets Matter?

When it comes to espresso... experimentation is half of the fun, at least to me it is, and since you're here reading about some seriously nerdy coffee stuff you likely feel the same way. So in the spirit of experimentation and my own personal curiosity I decided to test something I've been wondering about for awhile....

Continue reading
Espresso Rules
EducationEspresso
June 11, 2021 Post a Comment

Top Three – Espresso Rules You Should Be Breaking

The internet is full of... articles, blog posts and videos talking about all the espresso rules you should follow for the best possible shots, but I'm here to tell you; the rules were made to be broken.  In the world of espresso, and all of specialty coffee for that matter, there are very few rules that...

Continue reading
Shower Screens
EducationEspresso
May 7, 2021 1 Comment

Espresso Anatomy – Do Shower Screens Matter?

Now well into the... fourth year of this humble coffee blog we're really starting to dig into the minutia of brewing, and in terms of espresso talking about shower screens is really getting into the weeds. Otherwise known as dispersion screens, these little discs of metal and mesh play a surprisingly vital role in the espresso...

Continue reading
pour over tips
CoffeeEducation
April 16, 2021 1 Comment

Top Three – Easy Tips For A Better Pour Over

For most people... whether they are just a daily, passive interest coffee drinker, or a budding home barista, the humble filter coffee is where we generally start the adventure into brewing at home. It's one of the simpler forms of coffee to make by hand, and offers endless control. It also makes for a nice morning...

Continue reading
Latte Art
CoffeeEducation
March 26, 2021 1 Comment

Latte Art – How Does It Affect Taste?

If you ask a barista... latte art isn't just an art, it's a lifestyle. It's also the quickest way to break a barista's heart, just stir it up right in front of them. As you become more and more versed in specialty coffee culture it becomes clear that the skill of steaming and pouring velvety milk...

Continue reading
double shot
EducationEspresso
March 12, 2021 2 Comments

Espresso Anatomy – The Double Shot

When it comes to espresso... and my series of videos taking deep dives into the many forms of this beloved beverage, I feel like one very important option is missing. Whether you call it the double, the normale, or embrace your inner Italian and call it a doppio, it's time I dive into the most common...

Continue reading
Top And Tail Brewing
CoffeeEducation
February 26, 2021 1 Comment

Top & Tail Brewing – Ditching The Bloom

The fact is tea has been... around way longer than coffee. A quick online search will tell you tea goes back some five thousand years, as compared to coffee's paltry five hundred. I'm not here to tell you one is better than the other, I actually appreciate both immensely. What can I say, I'm a beverage...

Continue reading
The Dead Shot
EducationEspresso
February 12, 2021 Post a Comment

Coffee Opinion – The Dead Shot Must Be Stopped

If you've worked in a cafe... you've likely heard the term "dying" or "dead shot" in reference to a pull of espresso that sits on the bar for a certain period of time. It's rumored that this trend came from Starbucks training, who gives a shot only 10 seconds after its completion before it's considered dead. Other...

Continue reading
Osmotic Flow
CoffeeEducation
January 29, 2021 Post a Comment

Pour Over – Osmotic Flow Vs. Full Saturation

Many of us... at least in terms of modern day, western specialty coffee culture, have been trained from day one how to brew a pour over by creating a slurry of water and grounds. But the fact is there is no end to the amount of brewing methods and recipes you can find online. There's one that...

Continue reading
Sifting Coffee
CoffeeEducation
January 22, 2021 1 Comment

Sifting Coffee – Does It Make A Better Brew?

Making better coffee... is a strange and complicated journey. Many of us put so much effort, time, and money into it that those on the outside looking in think we're insane. That I think is a good introduction into the wildly time consuming act of sifting coffee. By that I mean grinding coffee, placing it into...

Continue reading
Flat White
EducationEspresso
January 15, 2021 1 Comment

Espresso Anatomy – The Flat White

If you're a coffee lover... you're also likely a lover of arguing the semantics and definitions of certain coffee drinks. One of those hotly debated espresso based beverages is the globally popular flat white. Some claim it is all about the addition of the legendary ristretto shot of espresso. Others say it is just a basic...

Continue reading
Hot Buttered Latte
CoffeeEducation
December 25, 2020 Post a Comment

Coffee Recipes – The Hot Buttered Latte

Just a few short days ago... winter officially began and I feel a bit torn about it. I do really love the Holiday season, but I'm not a big fan of cold weather. Yeah, I do live in San Diego, so winter isn't nearly as "wintery" or "cold" as other places, but I still crave those...

Continue reading
Coffee Cupping
CoffeeEducation
December 4, 2020 Post a Comment

Coffee Cupping – Increasing Your Coffee Tasting Skill

Lately there has been... a lot more interest in coffee cupping and tastings, even within those who are more casual coffee drinkers.  For quite some time cupping was something that most casual coffee drinkers had never heard of and looks pretty odd from a distance. It was mostly reserved more for coffee roasters, barista competitors, and...

Continue reading
layers of espresso
EducationEspresso
November 27, 2020 Post a Comment

Espresso Anatomy – The Three Layers of Espresso

Many of us enjoy... a nice shot or two of espresso on a daily basis, and spend a lot of our time and hard earned money trying to get the good shots. Yet, how many us can name and break down each of the three layers of espresso?  We all already know a shot is pulled...

Continue reading
Dialing In A Light Roast
EducationEspresso
September 25, 2020 Post a Comment

Five Tips – For Dialing In A Light Roast

With the ever growing popularity... around the world of specialty and third wave coffee, light roasts are becoming more and more common in cafes and kitchens. With lighter roasts  come not only more unique flavors that can really showcase the coffee's origin and the roaster's skill, but they can also be somewhat tricky to brew well. Not...

Continue reading
How To Read A Coffee Label
CoffeeEducation
September 18, 2020 Post a Comment

Buyer’s Guide – How To Read A Coffee Label

Making your own coffee... at home can be a humbling experience, even just picking the right coffee can be tricky.  Knowing how to read a coffee label is one of those skillsets that's as niche as knowing how to juggle.  The amount of information on the label can vary widely from one roaster to another roaster,...

Continue reading
Macchiato
EducationEspresso
August 28, 2020 Post a Comment

Espresso Anatomy – The Macchiato

Long before the days of caramel and whip... the macchiato was a mainstay on espresso bars around the world, and in most cases it still is.  Yet like many drinks in the world of specialty coffee there are multiple ways to make it, and of course some debate. This small but mighty espresso based drink not only carries...

Continue reading
Lungo Espresso
EducationEspresso
July 24, 2020 Post a Comment

Espresso Anatomy – The Lungo Shot

When it comes to espresso... there is one brew type that tends to be forgotten.  The lungo espresso garners very little interest over the standard shot, and the notorious ristretto. Personally I rarely if ever see it on a menu, and when I asked about them on an Instagram poll many people mentioned having never had...

Continue reading
Espresso Machine Pour Over
CoffeeEducation
July 17, 2020 Post a Comment

Coffee Hack – The Espresso Machine Pour Over

As the saying goes... "necessity is the mother of invention", and this week's post is born purely out of my love for a simple and delicious cup of coffee. But I should back up just slightly and give a little context as to what I'm talking about. As you may of guessed I'm a big lover...

Continue reading
Roasting Coffee at Home
EducationRoasting
July 10, 2020 1 Comment

Roasting Coffee – Learn At Home On A Budget

Roasting coffee at home... is a pretty highly requested topic, and I've only covered it in one video awhile back. But now, in this world where many of us are spending more time at home, it may be a good time to dig in a bit deeper. So in this video I'm breaking out one of...

Continue reading
Starbucks Undertow
EducationEspresso
July 3, 2020 Post a Comment

Coffee Recipes – The Starbucks Undertow

There are few words... that strike as much anger, post traumatic stress, and caffeinated rants in specialty coffee circles as Starbucks.  It brings up a lot of feelings. For some its memories of our first barista job while being berated by angry Karens. For others it's the frustration of explaining to someone that a macchiato is actually...

Continue reading
Cold Press Espresso
EducationEspresso
June 19, 2020 Post a Comment

Cold Press Espresso – Brewing The Contradiction

Cold press espresso... sounds nice in theory. As the weather warms up the idea of an iced drink for espresso lovers sounds pretty amazing.  I've heard whispers about a thing called cold press espresso, and it sounds like the perfect option.  But is it really possible? The answer to that is actually a bit more complicated...

Continue reading
Single Shot Espresso
EducationEspresso
June 12, 2020 Post a Comment

Espresso Anatomy – The Single Shot

The single shot of espresso is one of the rarest... if not the rarest espresso drink in all of modern coffee and cafe culture.  Ever since I began learning about and working in the specialty coffee industry (which is a paltry five years) a single shot has been a split double. That basically means you're likely...

Continue reading
Espresso Myths
EducationEspresso
June 5, 2020 Post a Comment

Top Three – Espresso Myths Busted

Espresso myths are made to be busted... and that's what I'm going to do in this video.  Of course there are far more than three myths about espresso.  Yet the myths I decided to bust in this video are the ones that are pretty persistent and should really be put to rest once and for all....

Continue reading
Aeropress Recipes
CoffeeEducation
May 29, 2020 2 Comments

The Aeropress – Six Lessons From The Champions

There are countless Aeropress recipes... online, which isn't surprising, it's been out for the last fifteen years.  But very few of these aeropress recipes are from literal world Champions.  Now I've had my Aeropress for years, but I retired it quickly because it just couldn't stand up to my V60 or espresso brews.  They often tasted...

Continue reading
Ristretto Shot
EducationEspresso
May 15, 2020 6 Comments

Espresso Anatomy – The Ristretto Shot

The ristretto shot has had a wild ride... over the past ten to twenty years in the specialty coffee industry.  In the early 2000's it was called the future of espresso.  You'd find it in many cafes, and some who were even pushing the envelope and innovating in the industry. Espresso Vivace is the first that...

Continue reading
Egg Coffee
CoffeeEducation
May 8, 2020 Post a Comment

Coffee Recipes – Vietnamese Egg Coffee

I'll be happy if... I never see the Dalonga coffee ever again.  As a fan of all things coffee I was open to it. Yet the constant inundation of something that became popular via a platform as cringy as Tik Tok just isn't something I can get behind.  Plus pumping out videos about it purely to...

Continue reading
Morning Routine
EducationEspresso
April 24, 2020 4 Comments

Coffee Time – My Morning Routine

Since it's quarantine season... and I'm spending 99.9% of my time at home. So I figured there is no better time to do a video that's been highly requested, for some reason I don't fully understand. Yet, here I am and I'll be going over my morning routine.  As a bonus, not only will I be...

Continue reading
Bean Temperature Extraction
CoffeeEducation
April 17, 2020 Post a Comment

Coffee Science – Bean Temperature & Extraction

Extraction is a dense topic... and this experiment may lift off a bit of that density.  It will provide some answers, depending on how you feel about my scientific methods, or in some peoples views, lack thereof.  Armed with an idea, a refractometer, and two bags of the same coffee I decided to dig in to...

Continue reading
Traditional Cappuccino
EducationEspresso
April 10, 2020 Post a Comment

Espresso Anatomy – The Traditional Cappuccino

The traditional cappuccino... tends to have a bad reputation in specialty coffee.  For the life of me I don't really understand why.  Maybe its the distinct lack of latte art.  Or maybe its the perception that it doesn't take much skill to make one.  Well, today I'm going to set the record straight on this espresso...

Continue reading
Easy Home Brew Methods
CoffeeEducation
March 20, 2020 Post a Comment

Top Three – Easy Home Brew Methods

Brewing coffee at home... can be a daunting adventure to embark on for those who don't look at coffee as a hobby or a passion, but more as a daily necessity.  Considering we're all in the same boat right now, and making coffee at home appears to be something we'll be doing regularly for some uncertain...

Continue reading
Flat vs Conical Burrs
EducationEspresso
March 6, 2020 Post a Comment

Espresso Anatomy – Flat Vs Conical Burrs

There are many debates within the coffee industry... and one of those debates that has been raging for years is flat vs conical burrs.  The passion each group carries about their burr preference is up there with the Montagues and Capulets (yeah that's a Shakespeare reference, deal with it). Of course I have my preferences, and...

Continue reading
Espresso Brew Temperature
EducationEspresso
January 10, 2020 1 Comment

Espresso Anatomy – Espresso & Brew Temperature

Not all brew temperatures... are created equal.  I feel like this topic is something that isn't talked about very often, but it can be hugely beneficial to your final cup flavor.  For example, have you ever wondered why cold brew and hot coffee from the same beans taste so incredibly different?  Well, that's down to a...

Continue reading
espresso machine misconceptions
EducationEspresso
December 20, 2019 Post a Comment

Top Three – Espresso Machine Misconceptions

It's time I clear up... all these rampant espresso machine misconceptions.  Okay, maybe rampant is a bit aggressive, but they are surprisingly common. I mean, there are a few things I see at cafes, in homes, and get questions about regularly that should be straightened out.  So with those things in mind I figured making a...

Continue reading
Freezing Coffee
CoffeeEducation
December 13, 2019 1 Comment

Coffee Science – Drinking One Year Old Coffee

The debate of freezing coffee... is still raging both inside and outside of the specialty coffee industry.  If you ask coffee legend and roaster extraordinaire George Howell he will tell you that freezing coffee is great way to store it.  Even so much that he does it to a lot of the coffees that come from...

Continue reading

Posts navigation

Older posts→
2022 © Sprometheus.comTheme by SiteOrigin
 

Loading Comments...