Answers
One question, one straight answer
380 questions, each on its own page, each answered in a few hundred words rather than buried at the bottom of a listicle. Where the honest answer is "your grinder", it says so.
Extraction
Why a shot tastes the way it does, and which lever changes it.
- Can a moka pot make espresso?
- Does anything I do during a shot change it?
- Does preheating the brewer matter?
- Should I stir my coffee while brewing?
- Does tamping pressure matter?
- How does water hardness change extraction?
- Does water temperature matter more than grind size?
- How do I brew a very light roast?
- How do I scale a recipe up for two?
- How do I dial in a new bag of coffee?
- How do I make my coffee taste sweeter?
- How do I tell sour from bitter in coffee?
- What grind size for a drip machine?
- How hot should the water be for coffee?
- How long should an espresso shot take?
- Is espresso stronger than filter coffee?
- Should I preheat the cup?
- Should I flush the group before pulling a shot?
- Should I use pre-infusion?
- Paper, metal or cloth filter — what changes?
- Does brew time actually matter?
- Should I weigh my espresso shot?
- What size basket should I use?
- What does 9 bars mean in espresso?
- What does a bottomless portafilter actually tell me?
- Do I need a refractometer?
- What is blonding in an espresso shot?
- What does flow rate on a coffee scale tell me?
- What is the bloom, and why does it matter?
- How much water should I use for the bloom?
- What is a brew recipe?
- What is a lungo, and is it just a long espresso?
- What is a doppio?
- What is a coffee refractometer for?
- Ristretto, normale or lungo — which should I pull?
- What is turbulence in brewing, and is it good?
- What is a turbo shot?
- Can pour-over channel like espresso?
- What is channelling in espresso?
- What is extraction yield?
- What is flow rate and does it matter?
- What is over-extraction?
- Percolation or immersion — what is the difference?
- What is puck prep?
- What is pre-infusion?
- What does TDS mean in brewed coffee?
- What temperature should espresso be brewed at?
- What water temperature for light roast?
- What is the brewing control chart?
- What is the difference between strength and extraction?
- What is the golden ratio for coffee?
- What espresso yield should I aim for?
- What is the right espresso ratio?
- What is under-extraction?
- Which brewing variable should I change first?
- What temperature for French press?
- Why are my espresso shots inconsistent?
- Why does the same recipe taste different each day?
- Why does espresso taste better in a good café?
- Why does my coffee taste dry and astringent?
- Why does my coffee taste different every day?
- Why does coffee taste different as it cools?
- Why does my coffee taste hollow or empty?
- Why does my coffee taste salty?
- Why does my espresso machine choke?
- Why does my espresso pour too fast?
- Why is every espresso shot different?
- Why does my espresso taste watery?
- Why does my French press taste muddy?
- Why does my first espresso of the day taste different?
- Why does my moka pot coffee taste metallic or bitter?
- Why does my pour-over taste weak?
- Why is my espresso puck wet and soupy?
- Why does my espresso taste different in milk?
- Why is my AeroPress inconsistent?
- Why does my coffee have no body?
- Why is my cold brew bitter?
- Why is my espresso bitter?
- Why is my espresso puck wet or soupy?
- Why is my espresso sour?
- Why is there no crema on my espresso?
Grinding
Grind size, burrs, retention — the variable behind most bad coffee.
- Can I grind coffee in a blender or food processor?
- Can one grinder do espresso and filter?
- Burr grinder or blade grinder?
- Can I grind spices in my coffee grinder?
- Can a hand grinder do espresso?
- Can I use pre-ground coffee for espresso?
- Steel or ceramic burrs?
- Do grinder burrs wear out?
- Do I need a separate grinder for espresso and filter?
- Does freezing coffee improve the grind?
- Does grind size affect caffeine?
- Does grinder heat affect the coffee?
- Electric or hand grinder?
- Flat or conical burrs — which is better?
- How do I adjust my grinder?
- How do I clean a coffee grinder?
- What grind size for cold brew?
- How do I know if my grinder burrs are aligned?
- Where do I start when grinding for a new method?
- Why do different beans grind differently at the same setting?
- How often should I clean my grinder?
- How often should I replace grinder burrs?
- Is a blade grinder ever acceptable?
- Flat or conical burrs for filter coffee?
- Can I grind coffee the night before?
- Should I sieve my coffee grounds?
- Should I single dose my grinder?
- What is burr alignment and does it matter?
- What are fines, and are they bad?
- Is RDT safe for my grinder?
- What grind size for an AeroPress?
- How coarse should cold brew grind be?
- What grind size do I need for espresso?
- What grind size for a French press?
- What grind size for a moka pot?
- What grind size for a percolator?
- What grind size for Turkish coffee?
- What grind size for a V60?
- Stepped or stepless grinder adjustment?
- What is a dosing funnel and do I need one?
- What makes a grinder good for single dosing?
- Why does grind uniformity matter more than grind size?
- What is grinder retention, and does it matter?
- What is grind particle distribution?
- What is popcorning in a grinder?
- What is the water trick when grinding coffee?
- What grind for a Clever or steep-and-release dripper?
- Mill or grinder — is there a difference?
- Is moka pot grind the same as espresso?
- What grind size for a Chemex?
- My grounds look uneven — is that normal?
- Why does my grinder clump?
- Should my grinder get hot?
- Why does my grinder jam?
- Why does my grinder keep grounds inside?
- Why does my grinder give a different dose each time?
- Why does my grinder spray grounds everywhere?
- Why does my grinder give different amounts each time?
- Why does my grinder keep clogging?
- Why is my grinder so loud?
Milk
Foam, temperature, plant milks and the drinks people mix up.
- Can I froth milk without a machine?
- Can I reheat steamed milk?
- Can I re-steam milk I already heated?
- Can I froth milk without a steam wand?
- Can I use condensed milk in coffee?
- Does lactose-free milk work in coffee?
- What is the difference between a latte and a flat white?
- What is the difference between a cappuccino and a latte?
- Should I use the frother if I have a steam wand?
- Which plant milk is best for latte art?
- How do I clean an automatic milk system?
- How do I clean a steam wand?
- How do I pour a heart in latte art?
- How do I steam milk properly?
- How much milk for a flat white?
- How much milk goes in a cappuccino?
- Is lactose-free milk good for coffee?
- Do I need a milk thermometer?
- Does milk need to be cold before steaming?
- Does milk freshness affect foaming?
- Does cup shape affect coffee?
- What is a macchiato, really?
- What are the milk-to-coffee ratios for each drink?
- What is cold foam and how do I make it?
- What should textured milk look like?
- What is microfoam?
- What is microfoam actually?
- What size milk jug should I buy?
- Cappuccino or cortado — what is the difference?
- Foam or froth — is there a difference?
- Which milk alternative is best in coffee?
- Which milk fat percentage is best for coffee?
- What milk is best for latte art?
- Why does overheated milk taste bad?
- What temperature should steamed milk be?
- How hot should a milk drink be?
- Why can’t I pour latte art?
- Why does my latte art sink?
- Why does my milk curdle in coffee?
- Why does my milk separate after pouring?
- Why does steaming make a screeching noise?
- Why does my steamed milk taste burnt?
- Why does my steamed milk taste eggy or cooked?
- Why does my plant milk curdle in coffee?
- Why does oat milk not foam properly?
- Why is my cappuccino foam flat?
- Why does my steamed milk not taste sweet?
- Why is my milk foam stiff and bubbly?
- Why does my machine have no steam pressure?
- Why will my milk not foam?
Machines
How the hardware works, what fails, and what the jargon means.
- Does portafilter size matter — 58, 54 or 51 mm?
- Are expensive espresso machines worth it?
- Are manual espresso makers any good?
- Bean-to-cup or manual espresso machine?
- Can I use a moka pot on an induction hob?
- Can I use tap water in my espresso machine?
- Do capsule machines make good coffee?
- Is a PID worth adding to my machine?
- Do I need a pressure gauge on my espresso machine?
- Do I need a PID on my espresso machine?
- Do I need a plumbed-in machine?
- Do I need pressure profiling?
- Should I use the water filter in my machine?
- Do I need a water softener for my coffee machine?
- Feature-rich or simple — which machine philosophy?
- How do I clean a moka pot?
- How do I clean an espresso machine?
- How do I descale a coffee machine?
- Why does my portafilter leak?
- When should I replace my coffee machine?
- How do I store a machine I am not using?
- How do I store a coffee machine I am not using?
- How long should a coffee machine last?
- How long should an espresso machine last?
- How long should I warm up my espresso machine?
- How much does making coffee at home cost?
- How often should I descale my coffee machine?
- Should I spend more on the grinder or the machine?
- Is a standalone milk frother worth buying?
- Removable or sealed brew unit — does it matter?
- Is a cheap espresso machine worth buying?
- Are combined machine-and-grinder units any good?
- Should I buy a used espresso machine?
- Can I descale with vinegar?
- Should I leave my espresso machine on all day?
- Single boiler, heat exchanger or dual boiler?
- What does “15 bar” on a machine mean?
- What does flow control do?
- What do coffee machine error codes mean?
- What is a blind basket for?
- What is a bottomless portafilter for?
- What is a dual boiler espresso machine?
- What is a heat exchanger espresso machine?
- What is a lever espresso machine?
- What is a lever espresso machine like to use?
- What is a pressurised basket?
- Should I use the pressurised basket?
- What is the safety valve on a moka pot?
- What does a puck screen do?
- What is a saturated group head?
- What is a thermoblock?
- What accessories are actually worth buying?
- What is a three-way solenoid valve?
- Thermoblock or boiler — what is the difference?
- What is an E61 group head?
- What is the OPV and should I adjust it?
- What is flow control on an espresso machine?
- What espresso machine should a beginner buy?
- Is a filter machine the same as a pour-over?
- What maintenance does a bean-to-cup machine need?
- Should I buy the grinder or the machine first?
- What makes a good filter coffee machine?
- How do I know which basket fits my machine?
- What portafilter sizes exist and does it matter?
- Why are espresso machines so expensive?
- Why does my machine say fill water when the tank is full?
- Why is my bean-to-cup coffee weak?
- Why does my coffee machine trip the electrics?
- Why is the first shot of the day always bad?
- Why does my machine produce watery liquid instead of espresso?
- Why does my portafilter leak during a shot?
- Why is my espresso machine leaking water?
- Why is my espresso machine loud?
- Why does my machine still say descale after descaling?
- Why does my coffee machine smell burnt?
- Why does my espresso machine take so long to heat up?
- Why does my machine turn itself off?
- Why does my bean-to-cup machine make weak coffee?
- Why is my coffee not hot enough?
- Why does my machine trip the RCD?
- Why is my filter machine coffee weak?
- Why is my espresso machine not building pressure?
- Why is my coffee machine so loud?
- Why is there no steam from my wand?
Water
Hardness, filtering, limescale and what water does to the cup.
- Can hard water make coffee bitter?
- Can I use bottled water in my coffee machine?
- Can I use softened water for coffee?
- Can I use softened water in my coffee machine?
- Does altitude affect coffee brewing?
- Does boiling water soften it?
- Does filtered water really change how coffee tastes?
- Does water matter as much for espresso as for filter?
- Does water pH matter for coffee?
- Does water temperature matter for cold brew?
- Should I change water temperature for different roasts?
- How do I know if my water is hard?
- How do I make coffee recipe water?
- How do I test my water at home?
- How often should I change a water filter?
- Is jug-filtered water good enough for coffee?
- Is distilled water good for coffee?
- Spring water or filtered tap water?
- Is spring water good for coffee?
- Do I need filtered water for pour-over?
- Can I use one water for both espresso and filter?
- Which bottled water is best for coffee?
- What does alkalinity do to coffee?
- What does chlorine do to coffee?
- What happens if I brew with distilled water?
- What is a coffee water recipe?
- Should I use reverse osmosis water?
- What is the SCA water standard?
- What minerals should coffee water contain?
- Which minerals should I add to brewing water?
- What TDS should brewing water have?
- What's a good TDS range for brewing water?
- What water should I use for coffee?
- Why does alkalinity matter so much?
- Why does limescale kill coffee machines?
- Why does coffee taste different in another city?
- Why does my kettle fur up so quickly?
- Why does my coffee taste of chlorine?
- Why does my water taste metallic?
Beans
Freshness, roast level, origin and how much to use.
- What is the difference between arabica and robusta?
- Does coffee go bad?
- Does coffee lose caffeine as it ages?
- Does decaf coffee taste worse?
- Does the roaster matter more than the origin?
- How do I choose a coffee roaster to buy from?
- How do I choose coffee for espresso?
- How do I read a coffee bag?
- How do I taste coffee properly?
- How long do coffee beans stay fresh?
- How long does a bag of coffee last?
- How long should coffee rest after roasting?
- How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee?
- How much coffee should I use per cup?
- How should I store coffee beans?
- Is a coffee subscription worth it?
- Is decaf real coffee?
- Is expensive coffee worth it?
- Light roast or dark roast — what is the difference?
- Should I buy coffee in bulk?
- Should I buy light or medium roast?
- Whole bean or pre-ground coffee?
- Should I freeze coffee beans?
- What do coffee tasting notes actually mean?
- Does “100% arabica” mean good coffee?
- Why does altitude matter in coffee?
- What does fair trade coffee actually mean?
- What do experimental process names mean?
- Is organic coffee better?
- What does the roast date on coffee mean?
- Single origin or blend — which is better?
- Does terroir matter in coffee?
- How are espresso blends put together?
- What are coffee defects?
- What is the coffee flavour wheel?
- What is a coffee varietal?
- What is Cup of Excellence?
- What is a microlot?
- What is anaerobic fermentation in coffee?
- Why does fresh coffee bubble when I add water?
- What is coffee cupping?
- What is coffee leaf rust?
- What is direct trade coffee?
- What is honey processed coffee?
- What is an omni roast?
- What does single origin mean?
- What does specialty coffee actually mean?
- What is Swiss Water decaf?
- What coffee should I buy as a beginner?
- What is the coffee belt?
- Should I buy from a roaster or a café?
- Is there a difference between filter and espresso roast?
- Are espresso beans different from coffee beans?
- What is the difference between washed and natural coffee?
- What are first and second crack in roasting?
- Why does cheap coffee taste burnt?
- Why can I not taste anything special in expensive coffee?
- Why can’t I taste the notes on the bag?
- Why does cold brew taste better after a day in the fridge?
- Why does my coffee taste worse than the café’s?
- Why does my coffee taste flat and boring?
- Why does my coffee taste like cardboard?
- Why does my coffee taste woody or papery?
- Why are my coffee beans oily?
- Why does my coffee taste sour?
- Why is my cold brew weak?