A Nice Cuppa

Considering a coffee cupping? If you’ve never been to one before, like me before last weekend, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

First, leave your self-conciousness at the door. There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to your tastes and perceptions, but it’s easy to feel unsure and intimidated by […]

During these cold winter months is there really anything better than a nice hot mug of your favorite coffee or tea to warm up with after coming in from outside?  Sometimes though I get tired of drinking the same old thing day after day, and I just want some variety, some way to spice things up (pun […]

I steer clear of most flavored coffees, as the flavorings tend to greatly overpower the subtleties of a really good coffee.  However, on occasion, it’s nice to amp up flavors in your coffee just for a change of pace.  But, rather than buying flavored coffee, why not just make your own, in small batches that […]

I love trying new recipes, and it’s true that my must-try stack is piled far too high.  Honestly, there’s no way I will ever get through all of them, definitely not if I keep adding to the pile, which I will.  But I discovered a recipe for Mulled Raspberry Tea while looking through several old […]

Dark Chocolate, meet espresso.  Espresso, meet dark chocolate.  I knew you two would get along.
The key to making great espresso infused truffles is the quality of the espresso you are using.  The beans should be impeccably fresh and very finely ground.  I’d also recommend staying away from super-dark roasts, such as French or Italian.  These […]

I don’t know about where you are, but here in North Carolina it’s finally getting cold, and in a hurry.  It’s not something I’m particularly happy about, but it was bound to happen, right?  Well, with the cold weather I look for ways to keep warm and cozy, which often means drinking something warm and […]

As part of your regular cleaning ritual to make sure you have the best tasting espresso and coffee at home, don’t forget to include your grinder.  Oils and stale coffee bits build up after weeks of use and can start to taint your brew.  If you’ve ever ground flavored coffees or just notice that your […]

The holiday season is approaching at what feels like the speed of light, and that often adds chaos to our already busy lives, right?   With all the extra activities we find ourselves a bit more stressed and a little more tired than usual.  And, if you’re like me being stressed and tired can lead to […]

When you think chocolate, the tea isn’t the first thing that will likely pop into your mind.  Recent trends in chocolatiering might be changing that with tea-infused chocolate truffles and bars but I’m betting when you think about sitting down for a cup of tea, your mind wanders to floral and fruity rather than bittersweet.  […]

Coffee is a well-loved drink in Spain. Its popularity is, perhaps, second only to ???anything with alcohol.??? A Spaniard will drink a coffee for breakfast, at mid-morning break, after lunch and, quite often, after dinner.
Nearly every Spanish home has a chrome, art deco-style, stovetop coffee maker, but coffee is best ??? and most […]