speciality coffee updates
A Smoked Rosemary Macchiato? The Role of the S. American Barista
Jervis, one of La Floresta’s many trendy cafes La Floresta is Quito’s version of your favourite only-locals-know-about-it neighbourhood: a combination of trendy restaurants and …
Dukunde Kawa Cooperative, Rwanda: Enabling 1400+ Farmers to Double Their Income
Dukunde Kawa Cooperative in Rwanda reminds us that coffee is about more than that delicious taste or caffeine buzz. It’s also about changing lives. …
Step-by-Step Guide to Milk Texturing & Pouring Technique for Latte Art
Most baristas I encounter want to run before they can walk when it comes to latte art. They think attempting to pour something pretty with …
What’s Coffee? How a Producer Travelled the Globe to Find Out
If someone were about to ask me who I am and how I came to be involved in specialty coffee, I’d say that I …
How to Grow a Socially Responsible Specialty Coffee & Cycling Culture
Like any business venture, opening a café can be risky. In Quito, where specialty coffee culture is nascent, the risk is even higher. While …
Hario V60: The History & Brewing Guide
They say the soul of the perfect cup of coffee is in the brew, and the V60 dripper really does make a beautiful brew. …
The World Latte Art Championship: What Does It Take to Compete?
South Africa is a relative newbie to latte art. While in the U.S. it emerged in the nineties, it’s only in the last few years …
Evolution of Thai Coffee Culture: Traditional vs Specialty
I had my first sip of coffee back in 1990 when Thailand was dominated by Kafae Boran: a rich, sweet, and cheap drink. Twenty-five …
How a Specialty Estate in Ecuador Transformed a Community
In 2010, Magda Zabala traveled from La Perla, a tiny community in the Northwest of Quito, to the Ecuadorian capital. The trip was about …
Should We Allow Customers to Dictate How Coffee Is Served?
“Who ordered the extra hot skinny Ethiopian Albino? Extra hot skinny Ethiopian Albino? Oh, here you go.” “Thanks, mate.” “You’re welcome.” You’ve just read …