Guides
Start with the question you have now
Twelve short guides on what changes a cup beyond the recipe. Each takes a few minutes to read and pays off on the next brew.
Getting started
What do I need, and how much do I use?
- 8 min read Coffee Brewing Glossary and FAQ The useful coffee words, translated into plain language, plus quick answers to common brewing questions.
- 6 min read How Much Coffee per Cup? Start with 15g of coffee for an 8-ounce cup. Here is what that looks like in tablespoons and scoops, and why a spoon can only get you close.
- 5 min read What to Buy for Your First Coffee Setup Four things make most of the difference: fresh coffee, one brewer that suits you, a scale, and a burr grinder. Almost everything else can wait.
Dial in and fix
Why does my cup taste wrong?
- 4 min read Calibrating the Grind Grind size is the single most powerful dial on your coffee. Here is how to read it, set it, and correct it without guessing.
- 4 min read Fix Sour, Bitter, or Weak Coffee Start with what you taste, find the most likely cause, and make one controlled change on the next brew.
- 5 min read How to Dial In Espresso Espresso moves on different levers than filter coffee. Here is the model that makes those levers make sense.
Beans and water
What goes into the cup?
- 4 min read Coffee Flavor Profiles Why one bag tastes like blueberries and another like dark chocolate, and how to read a label before you buy.
- 5 min read What Water Is Best for Coffee? Coffee is mostly water. Learn when tap water is fine, when a filter helps, and why a single TDS number never tells the whole story.
- 4 min read How Long Does Coffee Stay Fresh? Coffee is at its best for a few weeks after roasting, and ground coffee fades much faster. Here is how long each kind lasts and how to store it.
Drinks and your health
What am I actually drinking?
- 5 min read Which Coffee Has the Most Caffeine? Espresso is the strongest coffee by the ounce but rarely by the cup. How much coffee you use decides your caffeine far more than the brewer does.
- 5 min read How to Make a Latte at Home A latte is strong coffee and plenty of hot, lightly foamed milk. An espresso machine helps, but a Moka Pot or AeroPress and a French press will do the job.
- 5 min read Filtered vs Unfiltered Coffee A paper filter changes more than texture. It holds back the coffee oils that give French press its body, and a compound in them that raises cholesterol.
Want a recipe instead? Compare brewing methods, or let a tool make the next call.