For anyone aspiring to become a barista, learning how to identify high-quality coffee beans is one of the most valuable skills you can develop. Whether you’re selecting beans for a pour-over, dialing in espresso, or curating a coffee menu, your ability to choose the right coffee starts with knowing what makes a bean “specialty.” High-quality … Read more
Understanding the difference between Arabica and Robusta coffee beans is fundamental for anyone who wants to become a barista. These two species dominate global coffee production and directly impact flavor, quality, and customer experience. If you plan to work in a specialty coffee shop or simply want to brew better coffee at home, knowing how … Read more
One of the most important elements in specialty coffee — and often the most misunderstood — is the roast profile. It’s the moment when raw, green coffee beans are transformed into the flavorful, aromatic coffee we all love. For baristas, understanding roast profiles is not just a technical skill — it’s essential to unlocking the … Read more
Great baristas don’t just make coffee — they talk about it with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re recommending a pour-over to a customer, judging a cupping session, or describing espresso notes to a fellow professional, having a strong flavor vocabulary is a powerful skill. A well-developed flavor vocabulary helps you identify, describe, and communicate what … Read more
In specialty coffee, one of the most powerful factors influencing a coffee’s flavor isn’t just the origin, altitude, or varietal — it’s the processing method. This crucial step happens between harvesting and drying, and it directly shapes the sweetness, acidity, mouthfeel, and overall complexity of the final cup. For baristas and coffee professionals, understanding processing … Read more
Behind every cup of specialty coffee is a long journey that begins far away from the café. As a barista, understanding the stages of coffee production helps you appreciate the craft, value the work of producers, and explain the origin of the coffee you serve. From the moment a seed is planted to the final … Read more
In the world of specialty coffee, cupping is more than just a tasting ritual — it’s a structured method used by professionals to evaluate the quality, flavor, and characteristics of coffee beans. Whether you’re a barista, roaster, or enthusiast, learning how to cup coffee like a pro helps you develop your palate, understand different origins, … Read more
When you step into the world of specialty coffee, it doesn’t take long before you hear words like Bourbon, Typica, Geisha, and SL28. These aren’t brand names or blends — they’re coffee varietals, and they play a massive role in how your coffee tastes. As a barista, understanding coffee varietals can give you deeper insight … Read more
In the world of specialty coffee, altitude is one of the most important factors influencing flavor. If you’re training to become a barista or already working in a café, you’ve probably seen labels that mention the elevation where the coffee was grown — but why does that matter? The truth is, altitude isn’t just a … Read more
When we think about brewing specialty coffee, we often focus on the beans, the roast, and the equipment. But there’s another element that makes up more than 98% of your cup — and it’s often overlooked: water. Water isn’t just a medium that passes through the coffee grounds. It’s a chemical agent that extracts flavors, … Read more