It's far too easy... and also extremely common for folks in the specialty coffee scene to dunk on Starbucks, but today I want to give you some reasons why they actually deserve a little respect. Of course, this isn't a "we should all love them" kind of video, and they most definitely have their flaws. I...
Four years ago this week... I became the proud owner of a brand new, crispy white, La Marzocco Linea Mini. In that time it has given me endless hours of entertainment, content for videos, increased my barista skills, and also helped motivate me to create not one, but two businesses. So I do generally look at the...
Life is full of milestones... like getting your drivers license, moving out on your own, and of course your 100th YouTube video. The latter being what we'll be celebrating today. Putting together videos like this isn't something I'm used to doing as its pretty far outside of my normal program, but these more candid videos are...
La Marzocco has a habit... of making Mini versions of their commercial machines. I'm sure you've heard of the Linea Mini, but in case you haven't, its pretty epic. Their newest addition to the Mini line up for home baristas is the La Marzocco Swift Mini. The full-size Swift is a cafe workhorse that you'll find...
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...
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...
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...
It may be hard to imagine... the Linea Mini needing some changes. It's true that it's a dream machine. Waking up and making my morning cappuccino on it is part of my daily routine that never gets old. But no matter how perfect it may seem, using it day in and day out for years you'll...
I've talked a lot... about how to make the best espresso, but not a ton of attention has been given to the best milk for coffee. I did talk a bit about raw milk awhile back, but I guess the universe realized this and dropped this article from Barista Magazine in front of me twice in...
ONA Coffee has dropped the OCD V3... and it's time to find out if its a step forward, or just more of the same. For those who have been following along with my personal love-hate relationship with the OCD (ONA Coffee Distributor) tool you know that I've been both a huge proponent of the tool, and...
The Cortado is one of my... go to espresso drinks. Theres nothing better than a little espresso beverage and not spending a fortune. Especially when you're like me and usually hit at least three coffee shops when I go out. It's easy to get over-caffeinated and up feeling a little wonky. So keeping things small and...
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...
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...
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...
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...
I love my Linea Mini... it's one of my most prized possessions, which I'm sure was obvious in my year one review. So when I sat down to write this two year update on my ownership experience, I really dug deep. Thinking about the times I was frustrated, or annoyed with the machine trying to leave...
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...
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...
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...
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...
The Leva truly is a piece of art... the hundreds of photos I've seen since its announcement really don't do it justice. My initial thoughts when I first saw it in person where that of intrigue and an excitement. The Leva marries together a very raw, visceral look, with also a very classic beautiful simplicity that...
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...
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...
To celebrate Valentines Day I found it appropriate to start out with the heart design... Which is coincidently one of the most basic, but foundational designs in latte art. Even as a basic design, there is a lot going on in a short period of time. I felt a video would be a better representation than just...
It’s been a year since the Linea Mini graced my kitchen... I threw out an entire kitchen table and chairs to make space. No regrets. Having the ability to make café quality espresso in your kitchen is every coffee enthusiasts dream. Once that dream becomes a reality, the possibilities are endless. For example, I drink a...
Balance isn’t just for tightrope walkers... It’s also an important factor in specialty coffee. What it means is no single aspect overpowers the others. Instead they help make each other better in contrast. For example, this is why salt and caramel is so good together. They are complimentary, they balance each other, and together they create...
A cup is just a vessel... that holds a liquid, and you drink out if it. Some are short, some are tall, some are glass, and some are ceramic. Its not until you think about it as another tool of the craft of making, and enjoying coffee, that you start seeing them in more specific terms....
As a coffee enthusiast born out of the third wave... I tend to cringe at the term “Italian Espresso”. It’s not that it can’t be good, it’s just not on the flavor spectrum that I usually go for. Generally Italian’s roast quite a bit darker for their espresso than most of the modern specialty coffee roasters...
