Coffee Rambler
Explore more about all things specialty coffee with Coffee Rambler's past blog posts.
Coffee Rambler AI: what the Coffee Enthusiast tier actually doesLearn more about the Coffee Enthusiast features on Coffee Rambler AI and waht the app looks like.
Coffeeland: A Short Summary and ReviewCoffeeland is the story of El Salvador’s century-long development into a coffee plantation. The book zooms in and out on the family and life of the tireless autodidact, James Hill (1871-1951), a Manchester-born product of Britain’s late industrial revolution, to exemplify how El Salvador’s economy became debt-laden and reliant on ‘mild’ coffee exports for cash. This had grave consequences for the people of El Salvador and their ability to feed themselves.
A Guide to How Coffee is TradedAnyone who drinks coffee knows its price fluctuates over time. Investors and traders can profit from these price movements by knowing how this agricultural commodity is traded.
Acrylamide – Beware the Californian coffee cancerIn the wake of a judge ruling that all coffee must come with a cancer warning in California, we look at why. Acrylamide is indeed a carcinogenic but is any fear warranted?
Snobbery in Specialty CoffeeThere is a perceived snobbery in Specialty Coffee. Many of us have entered a coffee shop and felt either a little out of our depth, the staff are rude or that we’re amongst a bunch of pretentious bum heads.
The Geisha Variety – What’s the big deal?The specialty coffee market appears to be flooded with companies flaunting their high quality, Geisha (also spelt Gesha) variety coffee. Even Starbucks are plastering pictures and painting it in their shops. The price is high, its aromatic/floral flavours big, and it is treated with great reverence
What is the World’s best coffee?I am frequently asked this question and you may not be surprised that I don't believe there is an answer. I would never make such a judgement on a single coffee myself, knowing that coffee is highly subjective and that the brew method, roast level, processing and mood all play a part.
Roast Definitions - From Light to DarkWe regularly hear people speaking about light, medium and dark roasted coffee. This article will cover what is meant by these terms without going into the science of roasting.
The Health Benefits of Coffee - Is coffee good for Me?The Health Benefits of Coffee Drinking coffee daily in moderation is heathy and something to relax about (sorry baristas, 7 espressos when dialling in the machine is not in moderation). Before we get scientific, I’d like to say I use coffee as a cure-all, a panacea. Got a headache? Have a coffee. Can't sleep? Have a ..
Caffeine Content and CoffeeThere is some confusion regarding the caffeine content of certain roasts and beans. In this article we will cover why coffee is caffeinated, what happens when coffee is decaffeinated, the taste of caffeine and the affect roasting has on the bean’s caffeine content.
V60 Brew Ratios - A GuideChoosing the right brew ratio and recipe for a v60 pourover can be confusing at first. This article outlines where your baseline should be and how to experiment.
Process Knowledge and Brewing CoffeeIt’s been argued that technology comes in three components; the ‘stuff’, the accompanying written information (Intellectual Property) and the Process Knowledge – knowhow held by people.
A Whole New Water World - A Peak Water ReviewI haven’t been this excited about a home brewing tool for a long, long time. The Peak Water jug has arrived and it has handed greater control to the coffee brewer. This article is a short review of using the product without going into too much depth about the science of water and extraction.
Coffee with CovidI’ve recently suffered Covid-19 and it got me thinking about the sensory side of coffee, given the taste buds and olfactory system have decided to pack up and die. As of writing this, it is 10 days since my flavour and scent perception faded and 14 since the first symptoms started, those being fatigue, headaches and brain fog.
Coffee and Consciousness – How coffee can aid our general awareness and personal developmentThrough learning more about coffee we can come to learn more about ourselves. My experience has lead me to a greater consciousness of many aspects in my life to which I find transferable, particularly relating to the sensory analysis of coffee.
Tasting Extraction – An easy experiment for understanding balanceWhen drinking a badly brewed coffee with nothing to compare the taste with, it can sometimes be difficult to identify if it’s under or over extracted. With little experience of what these taste like, bitter and sour are easy to confuse. This test is helpful for knowing the difference.
Instant Coffee Production – A Summary of BBC’s Inside the FactoryHow do they make instant coffee? On the 17th of august the BBC show, Inside the Factory, gave us an insight into the manufacturing of instant coffee. It was an incredibly interesting watch and revealed the vast scale and energy required to make such a product in vast quantities. Read more here...
The Dry Process - An Introduction to Natural CoffeesNatural processed coffees (also called dry) are capable of beautiful tropical fruit, dried fruit and rum cocktail like flavours. They are relatively low in acidity (compared with the washed process), fuller in body and are perceived as sweeter. It was a natural processed coffee which really kicked off ...
The Journey of Coffee – From Seed to CupTaking the journey of coffee for granted is understandable. We pay to receive a latte at the local shop or just add water to granules at home. Some are even unsure of what coffee is, unaware it is the fruit of a tropical tree. Here we’ll look at the journey of coffee seed to roasted bean.
Yerba Mate – Recipe for a summer refresherYerba Mate Not quite coffee, not quite tea, Yerba Mate is a caffeinated drink of its own. Mostly enjoyed in South America and Lebanon (biggest importer), it’s definitely another beverage for coffee and tea lovers to try.
Making Arabic Coffee – An exciting change to your coffee through adding cardamomSometimes a change in our daily coffee is appreciated. Although single origins can be varied and very delicious, craving for a different experience can take over. So why not make an Arabic coffee and have fun with an unfamiliar brew method?
Coffee Cheesecake - Simply LovelyCoffee Cheesecake Just like the tiramisu, this is another delicious, creamy, coffee dessert that’s so easy to make. Double cream thickens out the coffee and mascarpone, creating a smooth and satisfying mousse. This contrasts and balances nicely with the spiced biscuit base, with cinnamon and nutmeg adding a lively ...
City Café Guide - Coffee in BristolBristol, the tenth largest city in the UK, has a laid back attitude with a lively independent streak. There are plenty of excellent restaurants, great places to party and a multitude of events to experience (your writer went during Upfest, a large Street Art Festival). Naturally then, there is a vibrant ...
City Café Guide - Coffee in LondonLondon is an incredibly varied city for coffee. There are countless high street commercial coffee shops, independent cafes serving big Italian brands and then there's the specialty scene. Even within the specialty sector there is a great selection of different styles, from the darker caramel roasts of ...
City Café Guide - Coffee in WuhanThe Yellow Crane Tower Wuhan’s coffee scene has grown rapidly in the last couple years. Where it was almost impossible to find specialty coffee, there are now oases popping up with surprisingly good espresso. This is what stood out most in my last visit to Wuhan.
