Guides
Long reads for the slow cup.
Original, opinionated guides to brewing, tasting and ordering coffee — the kind of background reading that makes the shops on our Discover page taste better.
- 6 min read
What "specialty coffee" actually means
The word gets stuck on every chalkboard from Berlin to Brooklyn. Here is what it means in practice — and how to spot a shop that earns it.
Read guide - 7 min read
V60 vs Aeropress vs Chemex: which filter brewer is right for you?
Three classic filter brewers, three completely different cups. A practical guide to choosing the one that fits your kitchen, your beans, and your morning.
Read guide - 5 min read
How to taste coffee like a cupper
The professional tasting protocol, demystified. A simple at-home version of the cupping ritual that lets you actually describe what is in your cup.
Read guide - 5 min read
How to order coffee in Italy without embarrassing yourself
A short, opinionated guide to navigating an Italian bar — what to order, when to order it, where to stand, and what never, ever to ask for after lunch.
Read guide - 6 min read
Building a home espresso setup on a budget
What to buy, what to skip, and the order to buy it in. A realistic guide to getting café-quality espresso at home without spending five figures.
Read guide