The PuqPress Q2... is by far the most expensive tamper I've ever used. It's $1,080 price tag sets it apart from my trusty Pullman Big Step at a measly $165. Which is already pretty expensive for a tool used for such a simple task. But I never really sat down and thought that the tamper needs...
The rippled heart... is always a nice way to stay in touch with the basics, but adding a little style. Personally, I prefer to do the slow style versus the quicker tighter wiggles because it's easier to focus on symmetry. Plus, I just like the contrast between layers. If you're into the quicker style, all you...
The Café Cubano & Cortadito... are a mix of all things tasty. Think about mixing brown sugar, espresso, and half & half. I know, I know, you put them all together and you're going to have a good time (as long as you aren't lactose intolerant or vegan). In this video I'll go over how to...
It's time the Flair faces the Rok... in a head to head battle to see which hand pressed espresso machine will come out on top. To keep things fair I was able to get a standard group head for my Flair to make it more of an even competition with the Rok. I also crowed sourced...
Raw milk is illegal... in some places, included many states in the United States. It's believed to be because of the level of bacteria that is in the milk prior to pasteurization. The process in which cold milk is quickly heated, then quickly cooled to kill of any harmful bacteria. This process may have some effects...
To stir or to swirl... that is the question. This question has been plaguing espresso lovers since James Hoffman's video revealing the huge disparity in flavor and strength without stirring. Personally, I've always gone back and forth depending on the availability of a tea spoon, or if I just feel like looking fancy. I feel ashamed...
Being a home barista is tough... at times so having some hacks (or tips) is always a plus to help save time and waste. So I decided to put together a video of my three favorite home barista hacks that have helped me and I'm sure would help you. I should also preface this with these...
Steaming alternative milks... adds a whole new level of difficulty to the already difficult task of steaming milk in general. The fact is steaming alternative milks isn't rocket science, but there are a couple little nuanced tips that make whole process, including pouring them, easier. To share these tips and tricks I picked up my favorite...
The one and one... is a go-to order for me when going into a cafe for the first time. If you don't know what the one and one is, its a split double shot of espresso, one is served straight, the other is served as a macchiato. It can be made in a traditional way (dry...
Blooming espresso is all the rage... right now thanks to the outspoken coffee consultant Scott Rao and his involvement with the Decent Espresso machine. Since that machine has near endless controllability (for better or worse) he's found a way to max out extraction while also incorporating the use of Aeropress filters. So I decided to swap...
Inverted tulips are a... unique twist on a classic pour. They aren't extremely advanced either, but they do require some finesse that isn't all that common in latte art pours in general. By finesse I mean you have to turn the cup one hundred and eighty degrees to complete the inverted tulip pour. So the biggest...
Steaming milk is a tough skill... to master for any new or intermediate barista. For myself, I would go to work with a gallon of milk every weekend and be steaming milk alone in the shop through the morning. This helped build my understanding for what it takes to master the skill, but that said, even...
Brew ratios and recipes... are often in the forefront of specialty coffee conversations. It's a road, or maybe more so a rabbit hole, that I traveled down to a huge extent when I first dove into coffee. Espresso gets even more complicated once you start using fractions for ratios as well. I've been so focused on...
Summer has arrived... at least here in the United States, and having just passed by the 4th of July I wanted to do a quick video about one of my new favorite summer espresso drink featuring something quintessentially American. While everyone is talking cold brew (which I dont like) and I already did a Japanese Iced...
A rose by any other name... would smell as sweet as a delicious latte with some rose art. I think that's what Shakespear said. Either way its time for new Damn Fine Tutorial for a new (at least new to me) design. Personally I've never been huge on latte art pours that aren't symmetrical. But since...
Distribution is key to extraction... but are all distribution methods created equal? The answer is an unequivocal no, but it is far more complicated, and really the reason why is beyond my understanding. I've been hearing about distribution tools having negative effects on extraction, and more importantly (in my mind) taste. Finally, armed with the curiosity,...
Espresso without the tamp... seems like some kind of witchcraft to me. Since I started in my specialty coffee journey I've never heard of such a thing. The workflow and preparation was the way it is, and the way it has been for decades. With the rise of distribution tools it was only a matter of...
Dialing in is one of... the more challenging things about being a specialty coffee barista. We're dealing with a lot of factors, and it can be pretty frustrating chasing that perfect shot. Dialing in can even be more daunting as a home barista. We generally don't always have other professionals to bounce our ideas and questions...
Making espresso is fraught potential mistakes... that can and will effect the outcome of your drink. Most of the common mistakes are easy to avoid, and just require a bit more focus, or breaking a bad habit or two. The three mistakes I cover here are simple fixes, but in my experience are prolific with baristas...
Hearts are great... but let's face it, a winged heart is better. On the last latte art tutorial I walked you through creating a rippled tulip. This is basically the same, in terms of the base, but instead has just a happy little heart on top. When you're pouring this design think of yourself as the...
Dialing in espresso... is a skill, but it's not rocket science. Once you figure out the basics on manipulating the time and output (basically just grind size) you can dig into flavor. Of course you'll never be able to change a coffee's overall flavor profile. If you have a darker roasted Colombian coffee, it'll never taste...
I saw this all over... Instagram this week. Both coffee consultant Scott Rao, and notable coffee scientists Socratic Coffee brought this interesting process to light. It definitely seems counterintuitive to that adding an Aeropress filter or two to your portafilter when pulling shots of espresso would increase total dissolved solids (TDS) and in turn increase the...
https://youtu.be/8wiPsXWs7QA Having the right tools... is key for any job, even making great espresso. Of course you need an espresso machine, but along with that there are espresso tools that make the job easier and more consistent. As I'm sure you know consistency is the key to success in coffee making. If you aren't consistent you'll...
The rippled tulip... is by far one of my favorite latte art pours. There is so much freedom in this pour in terms of both the base, the center, and the top of the design. You can really utilize the space and play around. With the rippled tulip, more so than any of the others, as...
Latte art in to go cups... is a totally different beast than your average porcelain pour. Outside of the fact that I think coffee is best enjoyed in for here cups, having the option for to go is non-negotiable. Especially in Westernized societies that are always on the go. At work we even switched our till...
The great portafilter debate... has raged for as long as I can remember. Or at least as long as I've been in the specialty coffee industry. Which is a paltry four years. Yet, I've had my love affair with the bottomless portafilter. It was just a fling though. It was short, passionate, and messy. It splattered...
Counter Culture is a veteran... in the specialty coffee industry. Born out of North Carolina in 1995 this wholesale juggernaut has always put a main focus on quality coffee, education, and sustainability. Their story is full of breakthroughs and pushing the industry as a whole forward. Before it was the industry standard, they put their money...
When teaching latte art... I've noticed that regardless of the persons previous exposure to it, ranging from some to none, most tend to have one or more of these three issues. Pouring too fast or too much to start, not pouring with enough velocity, or not lifting prior to the pull through. Don't let these get...
Elixir is one of those... roasters that you hear about pretty often if follow the specialty coffee industry as closely as I do. Personally and professionally I have a ton of respect for them. For a roastery that is relatively young (established in 2010) they've really managed to create a name for themselves. They're a highly...
The KB90 dropped... out of nowhere. It gets its namesake from Kent Bakke, former La Marzocco CEO and current Board Chairman. He is also the pioneer of the newest and most exciting feature of on the KB90, the 'Straight-In' portafilter. It's something he's wanted to develop for years, as part of his continued vision to make...
When I get my hands on... some new coffee toys I can't help but put them to the test. So when I got the Pullman Big Step tamper I decided to see how it compares to the La Marzocco Convex tamper. When I say compares I don't mean in looks, because lets face it, that Pullman...
In the spirit of full disclosure... I've had Linea Caffe's coffees a couple times before and have really enjoyed them. The man at the helm of Linea Caffe is Andrew Barnett, master roaster and longtime coffee aficionado. He began Linea Caffe with the goal of wanting to "turn people onto the flavors of the world's finest...
As a coffee professional... I'm ashamed to admit I've never been to Portland. Considering the sheer amount of amazing coffee in that town it is most definitely on my must-go list. As part of that pilgrimage visiting the fine folks at Dapper & Wise will be on the itinerary. Since I've already had a couple of...
The debate has raged on... for as long as I can remember, or at least the time I've been in specialty coffee. Which granted, isn't that long. But since I began my career I've heard, read, and contemplated all of the definitions for the differences between the beloved cappuccino, and the rising star, the flat white....
Australia's espresso game... is top notch. Considering drip coffee is a relatively new beverage there, the espresso market has had a lot of time to mature. With big names making the move across the pond, like Toby's Estate, and Proud Mary, Campos Coffee didn't want to miss out on North America's exploding coffee culture. Based in...
I've never been to Denmark... but if I go I know I'll feel right at home at the Coffee Collective. In 2007 they opened in Copenhagen with a great mission. To create "exceptional coffee experiences in a manner that gives better living conditions to coffee farmers across the globe". This practice is common within the third...
The classics are... classic for a reason. The Rosetta is an uncontested classic, and you’ll find a variation of it in nearly every craft cafe you walk into. Like all of the standard designs it’s also a building block to more complex pours. For me the Rosetta and I have a love-hate relationship. When I get...
In Los Angeles the options... for a place to grab a cup of coffee are near boundless. To become a standout cafe among hundreds of others requires more than just good coffee. A great location helps, a knowledgeable staff is of course a staple, but a unique style and culture is what pushes you past the...
Milk steaming consistently... is by far one of the skills that took me the longest to grasp. It's also a skill that I've found is somewhat challenging to teach. As a visual learner I've found videos and watching long-time baristas more helpful than anything else. With that being said practice make permanent, so prepare yourself to...
Many great companies start in garages... and Equator Coffee is one of those companies. Founded in Marin County in 1995 by Brooke MacDonnell and Helen Russell Equator started with a goal of building a coffee company focused on quality, sustainability, and social responsibility. As they've grown from a garage based roaster, to a company that touts...
Like most coffee professionals... my Instagram feed is chalk full of some of the best latte artists. There is something so oddly satisfying about watching a skillful latte pour. Thats why I am always challenging myself and trying to add new pours to my playbook. As of late I've fallen in love with the slosetta. The...
I've never been to Philadelphia... but I hear its Always Sunny, and the cheesesteaks are to die for. Yet, apparently the City of Brotherly Love is also the home of the growing coffee company La Colombe. My first experience with their coffee was visiting my sister in Chicago. It was June, it was humid, and I...
This isn't my first foray with Sweet Bloom... just a few short months ago I picked up a bag at a local shop that is a multi-roaster. I was immediately drawn to the bag. There is something about the black and white coffee shrub with the colored tag that really was magnetic to me. These bags...
Dialing in espresso is a fundamental skill... for any barista, home or professional. Being able to understand how grind size effects your brew time, flavor, and consistency is hugely important. Even though coffee is very much subjective about whats good, bad, or downright undrinkable, it's important to me to do my best to recreate the flavor...
One year, and twenty-four bags of coffee later... the first year of the La Marzocco Home Espresso Subscription has come to an end. If you aren't familiar with this subscription, here are the deets. The La Marzocco Cafe in beautiful downtown Seattle has a "Roaster In Residence" every month. These residents apply with their unique story,...
It's been rumored that Cuvee Coffee... was the first company to successfully keg and tap cold brew. Whether thats a fact or not is besides the point, but a company that is looking to innovate in the industry is a company that I respect. Cuvee, like many specialty coffee companies, is developing relationships with farmers to...
As an industry legend, and pioneer… George Howell began the coffee company that would take on his namesake in 2004. By this time he had already been in the industry since 1974. George sold his first café, The Coffee Connection, along with its other 23 locations, to Starbucks in 1994. As a visionary in the industry of...
Since Spring is always associated with the blooming of flowers... It's only appropriate to pour some sick tulips. The tulip is one of the simplest designs, but also has so many great variations on the original. You can do the standard three stack tulip, or endlessly add more stacks, wiggles, and even a swan if you're...
Onyx is a killing the coffee game in all forms... Whether its their baristas rocking competitions, their roaster knocking out fantastic coffees on the daily, and their amazing aesthetic online and off. They really are shaping up to be one of the most prolific brands in specialty coffee today. On top of all this they remain...
I really like the folks at Manzanita Roasting… They are always excited to take part in our community events, assist and collaborate with other coffee professionals, and are just all around good people. When Weston (the head roaster) invited me up to their roastery and new café build-out, I absolutely had to take them up on...
Just like many other things in life starting with a solid foundation is vital... and coffee is no different. So lets start with the basics of pulling a shot of espresso like a pro. In this tutorial I'll go over the items step-by-step. As I'm doing this from home I've excluded a few of the Specialty...
Espresso is complex beast… And it’s hard to nail it down to a one-size fits all program. Of course the standard espresso extraction these days is using 18 to 21 grams of coffee, 9 bars of pressure, for 25-30 seconds. Yet, I recently read an article from the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) about a survey given to...
