Many chain coffee brands offer discounts for bringing your own cup, but the actual usage rate is not as high as expected. Is it because the discount is too small, or is there more to the story? This article delves into the reasons behind consumers' preference for disposable cups, analyzing the challenges of promoting reusable cups—from convenience and time costs to practical difficulties—and offers practical suggestions to help both shops and customers find a balance. [more…]

In the golden pairing of coffee and milk, the quality of milk determines the flavor layers of a latte. The Japanese brand Asahi Weipin has recently launched a revolutionary product, “Clear Milk,” achieving industrial-scale production of hand-clarified milk for the first time. This nearly transparent dairy product combines the visual clarity of water with a rich mouthfeel, completely rewriting the process of crafting specialty coffee beverages. This article delves into the technical principles, flavor characteristics, and practical impact on baristas’ work. [more…]

In recent years, the El Niño phenomenon has occurred frequently, significantly affecting agricultural regions around the world. Vietnam, one of the world’s major producers of Robusta coffee, is facing its most severe drought in nearly a century, with the Mekong Delta region suffering particularly heavy agricultural damage. This article will delve into how the drought is dragging down Vietnam’s coffee output, driving up Robusta prices, and take you through the latest developments in water conditions across the Mekong River Basin and China’s emergency water diversion efforts. [more…]

Explore how Kenya's Thika Region showcases the delicate flavors of the SL28 and SL34 varieties through its unique K72 washed processing method. This article delves into the region's geographical environment and processing techniques, and provides practical pour over recommendations to help you fully appreciate the sweet-acid balance and fruity layers of this African specialty coffee. [more…]

Aged coffee beans develop unique rich flavors through long-term storage, making them highly favored by dark roast enthusiasts and single-origin coffee lovers. This article delves into the origins of aged beans, storage conditions, and processing techniques. Taking classic aged Mandheling as an example, it guides you through key steps from wet-hulling processing to three-year maturation, as well as the actual flavor changes such as reduced acidity and enhanced sweetness—helping you master selection and brewing essentials. [more…]

The Devil Brew method is an extraction technique refined by World Brewers Cup champion Tetsu Kasuya based on the classic 4:6 method. It combines drip and immersion techniques, enhancing the layered flavors of coffee through segmented water temperature control. This article delves into the core principles of this method, providing a complete step-by-step guide, grind size and water temperature parameter settings, and teaching you how to fine-tune the balance of acidity, sweetness, and body through water distribution. Even beginners can easily master it and brew professional-grade coffee with a Clever Dripper. [more…]

Once a representative of China’s specialty coffee scene, Seesaw announced the opening of franchise partnerships on its 12th anniversary after going through a wave of store closures. Facing fierce competition from brands like Manner and Luckin, its tally of fewer than 100 stores seems insufficient. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the background, challenges, and potential benefits of Seesaw’s franchising strategy, and offers key reference indicators for specialty coffee franchising to help readers understand how franchising can be an option for brand breakout. [more…]

In recent years, the demand for barista positions has been rising, but the recruitment requirements have become increasingly astonishing. Beyond basic brewing skills, some shops now expect baristas to know photography, photo editing, social media management, or even play musical instruments and understand Traditional Chinese Medicine? This article breaks down these baffling hiring criteria and helps you understand what a barista’s real day-to-day work involves—assisting job seekers in making more informed career choices. [more…]

With the EU strictly implementing the Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR), Costa Rica has taken the lead in launching the first batch of specialty coffee that meets the new standards. 275 sacks, each weighing 60 kilograms, of high-quality beans have departed from the Tarrazú Cooperative, heading directly to the Italian market. This green initiative, jointly promoted by the United Nations Development Programme and the Costa Rican Coffee Institute, not only demonstrates a commitment to sustainable production but could also become a key strategy for small and medium-sized producing regions to tackle climate change and international competition. [more…]

The Kochere sub-region of Ethiopia's Yirgacheffe is renowned for its high altitude and washed processing method, producing coffee beans with distinct floral, citrus, and tropical fruit notes. This article delves into the geographical conditions and processing characteristics of the area, and analyzes the actual flavor profile and brewing recommendations of a washed Kochere bean, providing a comprehensive reference for readers interested in understanding the terroir of specialty coffee. [more…]

The pour height in pour over coffee isn't just a matter of technique detail — it directly affects the water stream’s penetration power, cooling rate, and vertical stability, which in turn influence the evenness of extraction and flavor expression of the coffee. Whether you prefer a high pour or one closer to the coffee bed, understanding the principles behind different heights can help you adjust based on your kettle type and pouring method, avoiding common issues like uneven extraction or flavor imbalance, and achieving a more balanced and consistent specialty coffee. [more…]

Understanding the freshness grading of green coffee beans helps you choose the best beans for pour over or other brewing methods. This article delves into the definitions, moisture content changes, and time-based criteria for fresh, old, aged, and vintage beans, debunks common misconceptions, and offers practical storage advice—so you can master optimal flavor from bean selection to brewing. [more…]

This unique steel wire spring filter cup relies on a single structure to support the filter paper without interfering with the water flow. It is portable and affordable, but users may encounter issues such as overly slow flow rate or unbalanced flavors during use. This article provides a practical pour over experiment to analyze its characteristics, identify causes of uneven extraction, and offer suggestions for adjusting parameters and techniques—helping you use the right method to brew coffee with balanced flavors. [more…]

Manner Coffee is known for its minimalist white design, but recently, multiple outlets have been reported to have visibly stained tables and chairs and inadequate hygiene maintenance. The single-person staffing model further strains cleaning efforts. This article delves into how white décor can amplify visual hygiene issues, analyzes the impact of single-person operation on customer service, and provides practical advice for consumers to assess store environments—helping you balance efficient service with a pleasant dining experience. [more…]

At the end of 2023, Nestlé USA urgently recalled more than 440,000 metal-coated Starbucks mugs due to the risk of the product cracking under high temperatures, which could lead to burns or cuts for users. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the cause of the recall, the scope of the affected products, reported injury cases, and offers a detailed return and refund process to help consumers respond appropriately and protect their rights. [more…]

Recently, major coffee-growing regions in southeastern Brazil have been hit by rare storms. Key production areas such as São Paulo and Minas Gerais have borne the brunt, with rainfall exceeding 100 millimeters and wind speeds reaching up to 100 kilometers per hour. The timing coincides with the critical berry development phase, which could severely impact this year’s harvest. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the actual effects of the disaster on yields, the current situation in the affected areas, and potential future challenges, helping coffee professionals and enthusiasts stay updated on the latest developments in the producing regions. [more…]

An in-depth exploration of the 'Bird of Paradise' Typica coffee beans produced at the Sigri Estate in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea. This guide covers the region’s geography, microclimate, cultivation history, washed processing method, and roasting performance, offering a comprehensive analysis of this specialty coffee hailed as the 'Little Blue Mountain.' Readers will learn about its unique flavor profile, ideal brewing methods and parameters, as well as how to identify high-quality Papua New Guinea coffee. [more…]

Three lactose-intolerant consumers in California, USA, have filed a lawsuit against Starbucks for charging extra when switching from dairy milk to plant-based milk. They argue that this practice constitutes discrimination and violates civil rights laws, seeking damages of up to $5 million. This article delves into the reasons behind the lawsuit, the arguments from both sides, examines the cost and market status of plant-based milk, and provides practical purchasing advice to help coffee lovers make more suitable choices. [more…]

M Stand has launched a limited-edition Combo featuring a medium-roast Ethiopian blend paired with an edible cup. The black-and-white oatmeal cups separately hold hot Americano and latte, touted as "one bean, two ways." However, this creative product, meant for on-site enjoyment, has sparked polarized discussions due to the texture of the cup itself. This article analyzes the actual experience of the oat fiber cup, highlights the flavor profile of the coffee beans, and offers tips for enjoying it on-site to help readers decide if it’s worth trying. [more…]

The European Union's deforestation regulation (EUDR), originally set to take effect by the end of 2024, has been postponed and will now adopt a 'country risk classification' management system. This regulation requires all imported products to prove they are not linked to deforestation after 2020, having a profound impact on major coffee-producing countries such as Vietnam and Brazil. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the new classification logic, industry feedback, and the potential cost and compliance challenges facing the coffee supply chain. [more…]