The Coffee Drinker's Guide

In this final episode of the season, I take off my roaster’s apron and put on my consumer hat as I explore the supermarket coffee aisle to see how much the labels on coffee bags really tell us. Armed…

In this episode we’re exploring the impact of time on every stage of your coffee’s journey from bush to brew. From the slow development of the coffee cherry to the fleeting window when a roasted bean…

This week we’re continuing our exploration of the fringes of the specialty coffee world as we dip our toes into the delightfully divisive world of flavoured coffee. Is adding syrup to your espresso a…

In a detour from our usual deep dives into specialty coffee we are taking a look at one of the more fringe coffee trends out there as we investigate the curious case of white coffee - and no, it’s no…

Is it finally cool to freeze your coffee? In this episode, we explore the surprising shift in expert opinion on storing roasted beans in the freezer. Once frowned upon, freezing might just be your se…

Coffee beans in adverts are usually shown as dark and glossy but in this episode we discover why  shiny  - or in other words, oily - coffee beans are not actually likely to taste that great and why t…

In this episode we dig into the OG of coffee processing - AKA natural coffee. Find out how natural coffees are the comeback kid of the specialty coffee world and what sparked their renaissance when t…

In this episode we are on a side quest to explore an intriguing little round coffee bean known as a peaberry or caracol. What is behind this coffee's name, is it in fact a ‘novelty coffee’ and is it …

In a fact-packed episode we take a deep dive into the filter brewing method. Discover the herstory of filter brewing, why it’s the best way to taste the best quality coffee and practical tips to impr…

Just about everyone knows coffee contains caffeine but how much do you know about the actual caffeine level of your daily brew? Listen to find out how brewing methods, coffee bean type and roast leve…

Welcome back to Season Four! Today we launch straight in with a deep dive into the crema on your espresso. Listen for the skinny on the ‘Stir it in or skim it off’ debate and how the crema’s appearan…

In this very special bonus episode I am celebrating the launch of my new puzzle book “Wordsearch For The Coffee Curious’. Listen to find out about the puzzles I included in the book and why each puzz…

The coffee in your cup takes quite the journey to get from growing on a bush in the subtropics to being served in your local cafe. In the final episode of Season Three we are celebrating the network …

By now, most people probably appreciate that to get coffee from the bush where it’s grown to your coffee mug involves a lot of manual work by many different people across the globe. But you may not b…

Following on from last week’s episode about coffee habits, this week’s episode hones in on an important habit that we should all cultivate. This week’s FACQ tackles the knotty question of how often w…

Happy New Year! New Year's resolutions are not for everyone and coffee habits are hard to break. But if you are feeling in a bit of a coffee rut this episode has some actionable tips to help nudge yo…

If you find yourself twiddling your thumbs this Twixtmas this bonus episode is packed with suggestions for fun things to do with coffee. Put the Quality Street tin down and hone your brewing skills, …

It may appear to be a glamorous job but in reality the life of a professional coffee roaster is very routine and repetitive. That is not to say that it doesn’t have its moments. In this special episo…

If you have never given any thought to it at all, you may be surprised to learn that coffee beans come in different sizes. And if so, you may perhaps be even more surprised to hear that bean size can…

Buying a great coffee as a gift for a coffee loving friend or relative will score you brownie points and gold stars, but can be a stressful process if you are not into coffee yourself. In Part 2 of m…