Journal

An espresso shot pouring into a small glass cup
No. 7 Praxis in a Breville Barista Express: settings that work
A dial-in plan for Guatemalan No. 7 Praxis on a Breville Barista Express: dose, yield, time and what to change when it tastes off. Read more...
Ground coffee on a kitchen scale beside a measuring cup of water
How much coffee for 12 oz of water?
Use about 22 g of coffee, 4 level tablespoons or 2 scoops, for 12 oz of water at 1:16. Chart and brewer notes below. Read more...
A French press brewer and mug on a kitchen counter
French press coffee too sour? Here is what to change
Sour French press coffee is usually under-extracted. Change water temperature, steep time, grind and dose, in that order, one at a time. Read more...
Two cups of black coffee on a kitchen counter next to a kettle
Ethiopian natural vs Guatemalan coffee: which one to buy
Choose our Sidama natural for fruit in a black cup, or our Antigua for chocolate and butterscotch that suits any method. Read more...
Render of the 12 oz bag of No. 1 Common Sense
Single origin coffee subscription: how ours works
Pick a single origin coffee, choose whole bean or ground and how often it ships. It is 11% off, and you can skip or cancel in one click. Read more...
Coffee-growing hillside in morning mist
What does altitude on a coffee bag tell you?
Altitude shows how high the coffee grew, and higher tends to mean denser, brighter coffee. Here is every altitude on our labels. Read more...
Cinnamon roll on a plate beside a steaming cup of coffee
What coffee goes with a cinnamon roll?
Pick a coffee that cuts the sugar or matches the spice. Here are three of ours and how to brew them. Read more...
Glass carafe filling with coffee under a drip machine on a kitchen counter
How much coffee for 1 liter of water?
Use about 62 g of coffee per liter of water, or 12.5 level tablespoons. Here is the chart for 0.5 to 2 liters. Read more...
No. 1 Common Sense 12 oz bag on a shelf in soft light
First specialty coffee to buy: which of our ten to start with
Start with No. 1 Common Sense, or use our table to match your taste to one of ten coffees. Free US shipping. Read more...
Small and large jars of whole coffee beans next to a scoop on a kitchen counter
12 oz vs 1 lb bags: which is better for your morning cup?
A 12 oz bag suits most homes, and a pound pays off at three or more mugs a day. Here is the table and our picks. Read more...
Drip coffee maker with a full pot beside an empty mug on a kitchen counter
Switching from dark roast to whole bean single origin: what to buy
Start with No. 6 Hegemony, a Medium Brazil with cocoa and smooth notes, then move on to Common Sense and Praxis. Read more...
Level tablespoon of ground coffee over a bowl on a kitchen counter
How to measure coffee without a scale
Use 3 level tablespoons per 8 fl oz of water. Here is the chart by size and how to adjust after your first pot. Read more...
Row of different sized mugs beside a pile of whole coffee beans
How many cups of coffee in a pound?
A pound is 454 g, about 91 level tablespoons or 45 scoops, which makes roughly 45 coffee maker cups or 30 eight ounce mugs. Read more...
Two mugs of black coffee beside a pour-over server on a kitchen counter
Ethiopian natural vs Peruvian coffee: which one to buy
Good Sense is the fruit-forward natural for black coffee. Folklore is the mild washed pot for the house. Label facts side by side. Read more...
Steaming mug of coffee next to a bowl of whole beans on a kitchen counter
Coffee beans for someone used to Starbucks: where to start
Start with No. 6 Hegemony: a Medium Brazil with cocoa and smooth notes. Compared with Position and Common Sense, with brew steps. Read more...
Espresso with a moka pot next to a pour-over server on a kitchen counter
Sumatran vs Tanzanian coffee: taste, roast and which one to buy
Position is earthy and built for milk and espresso. Optimism is bright and tea-like for pour-over. Here is the label comparison. Read more...
No. 9 Optimism 12 oz bag on a shelf in soft light
On the bag: the region of No. 9 Optimism (Tanzania), explained
Mbeya, Tanzania is the region line on No. 9 Optimism. Here is what it, and the lines beside it, tell you about the cup. Read more...
Three mugs of different sizes beside a drip coffee maker with a full pot
How many cups of coffee in a 12 oz bag?
A 12 oz bag is 340 g, which makes about 34 coffee maker cups, 22 eight ounce mugs or 15 twelve ounce mugs at 1:16. Read more...
French press with a kitchen scale on a wooden counter
French press coffee too bitter? Here is what to change
Grind coarser first, then shorten the steep, then check the dose. Here is the order, and which of our coffees forgives a heavy hand. Read more...
Coffee beans, dark chocolate and a ceramic mug on a wooden board
Coffee beans that taste like chocolate: our four picks
Four of our coffees list cocoa or dark chocolate on the label. Here is how they differ, and which one to buy first. Read more...
Green coffee beans drying on a wooden bed in sunlight
What does wet-hulled (giling basah) mean?
Wet-hulled (giling basah) means the parchment is removed while the bean is still wet, then the bean is dried. It tends toward earthy, heavy cups. Read more...
A mug of coffee on a kitchen counter next to a small calendar
Subscription vs one-time order: which is better for coffee?
Subscribe if one bag is your daily cup; order once when you rotate coffees or drink little. Here is how to decide. Read more...
A drip coffee pot with a stack of mugs on an office counter
Cinnamon roll flavored coffee at the office: No. 5 Canela
No. 5 Canela works in an office drip pot at 1:16, about 111 g for a 12 cup maker. Here is the recipe and when to pick another bag. Read more...
A stainless steel coffee urn with a row of white cups on a table
How much coffee for a 30 cup coffee urn?
A 30 cup urn of 5 oz cups needs about 277 g of coffee, 55 level tablespoons or 28 scoops, at 1:16. Read more...
No. 3 Position 12 oz bag on a shelf in soft light
Sumatra coffee beans: our Aceh wet-hulled bag
No. 3 Position is a wet-hulled coffee from Aceh, Takengon with dark chocolate, dried fruit and earthy notes, shipped free in the US. Read more...
Paper coffee filters beside a cone dripper and a carafe
How to choose paper filters
Pick paper filters by brewer shape first, then size, then color, and always rinse them with hot water before brewing. Read more...
Single-serve coffee maker and steaming mug on a kitchen counter
How much coffee in a reusable K-cup?
Fill a reusable K-cup with about 10 g of medium-fine coffee, 2 level tablespoons or 1 scoop, and weigh your own pod once. Read more...
Two coffee urns and rows of mugs on a banquet table
How much coffee for 100 people?
For 100 eight ounce cups use about 1,480 g of coffee at 1:16, which is 296 level tablespoons or 148 scoops. Read more...
Pour-over dripper mid-pour with two cups on a counter
Ethiopian natural vs Kenyan for pour-over: which to buy
Good Sense is the sweet, fruity pick and Conjuncture is the bright, citrus one. Label facts and a pour-over recipe for each. Read more...
No. 6 Hegemony 12 oz bag on a shelf, render of the 12 oz bag
Smooth coffee beans that are not bitter: what to buy
Our smoothest bag by label is No. 6 Hegemony: Brazilian, pulped natural, cocoa notes, $28 for 12 oz with free US shipping. Read more...
Coffee urn and rows of mugs on a table
How much coffee for 50 people?
For 50 eight ounce cups use about 740 g of coffee at 1:16, which is 148 level tablespoons or 74 scoops. Read more...
Pouring hot water into a glass French press
French press coffee too weak? Here is what to change
Weak French press coffee almost always means too little coffee. Change the ratio first, then grind, steep time and temperature. Read more...
French press and kitchen scale on a wooden counter
French press coffee ratio for every size
A 17 oz French press takes about 34 g of coffee at 1:15, which is 7 level tablespoons or 3.4 scoops. Read more...
Two cups of coffee side by side next to a pour-over dripper
Ethiopian natural vs Costa Rican coffee: which one to buy
Our Sidama natural leans fruit and chocolate, our Alajuela Costa Rican leans apple and honey. Here is how to choose between them. Read more...
No. 2 Good Sense 12 oz bag on a shelf in soft light
Ethiopian natural coffee beans: what you get in our Sidama bag
No. 2 Good Sense is a natural Sidama coffee with milk chocolate, fruit and caramel notes, in a 12 oz bag shipped free in the US. Read more...
Coffee cherries drying on a raised bed
What does natural process mean on a coffee bag?
Natural process means the coffee cherry is dried whole, with the fruit on, before the seed is taken out, which usually gives a fruitier cup. Read more...
Copper cezve on a stove with a small cup beside it
How much coffee for Turkish coffee?
Use 7 to 8 g of extra fine coffee, about 1.5 level tablespoons, for each 3 oz demitasse of water in a cezve. Read more...
Drip coffee maker with a full glass carafe of coffee
How much coffee for strong coffee?
For strong coffee use about 16 g of coffee per 8 oz mug, roughly 3 level tablespoons or 1.5 scoops, at 1:14 to 1:15. Read more...
No. 6 Hegemony 12 oz bag on a shelf in soft light
Brazilian coffee beans: our Parana and Sao Paulo bag
No. 6 Hegemony is a medium roast pulped natural from Parana and Sao Paulo, Brazil, with cocoa and smooth notes. $28, free US shipping. Read more...
Two bowls of whole coffee beans on a kitchen counter
Arabica vs robusta: which is better for your morning cup?
Arabica is the better pick for most morning cups on taste. Robusta wins if you want more caffeine, a bitter edge or thick crema. Read more...
Steamed milk poured into an espresso cup
Latte ratio: how much espresso and milk?
A latte is a double shot, about 18 g of coffee making 36 g of espresso, with 6 to 8 oz of steamed milk. Read more...
A glass carafe being rinsed under a kitchen tap
How to clean a Chemex
Rinse after every brew, wash with mild soap and a soft brush once a week, and lift stains with baking soda. Read more...
A jar of coffee beans, a small scale and a mug on a counter
How long does a 12 oz bag of coffee last?
A 12 oz bag is about 340 g, which lasts roughly 15 days at one mug a day and 5 days at three. Read more...
Two mugs of black coffee on a wooden table
Colombian vs Tanzanian coffee: taste, roast and which one to buy
Colombia is the everyday cocoa cup, Tanzania is the bright floral pour-over. Here is the side by side from our two labels. Read more...
No. 1 Common Sense on a kitchen shelf in warm light
Single origin ground coffee for a drip machine: which bag
Three of our single origin bags suit a drip machine: No. 1 Common Sense, No. 7 Praxis and No. 8 Consent, each $28 for 12 oz. Read more...
A pour-over dripper on a glass mug mid-pour
How much coffee for a single pour-over cup?
One pour-over cup takes about 15 g of coffee, 3 level tablespoons or 1.5 scoops, for 8 fl oz of water at 1:16. Read more...
Two cups of black coffee side by side on a wooden table
Kenyan vs Peruvian coffee: which one should you buy?
Kenyan coffee is bright and loud, Peruvian is mild and round. Here is a label-by-label comparison of our two bags and who should buy which. Read more...
A large coffee urn beside a stack of paper cups
How much coffee for a gallon of coffee?
A gallon of coffee takes about 237 g, 47 level tablespoons or 24 scoops at 1:16, roughly 70 percent of a 12 oz bag. Read more...
A glass pour-over carafe and a mug on a kitchen counter
Chemex coffee too sour? Here is what to change
A sour Chemex is under-extracted. Grind finer first, then raise the water temperature, then slow the pour, then add coffee. Read more...
Whole coffee beans in a scoop beside a mug on a linen cloth
Guatemala Antigua coffee beans: what is in our bag
No. 7 Praxis is a fully washed, medium roast coffee from Antigua, Guatemala. Here is the label, a comparison and how to brew it. Read more...