Alana Jay

Alana is a freelance writer by trade and a coffee enthusiast by passion. From San Francisco to London to Sydney, she traveled the world while discovering quirky cafes, making friends with baristas, and tasting excellent coffees.

barista pouring latte art

Is a Latte Hot Or Cold: What Is the Perfect Temperature?

You enter your favorite coffee shop and ask the barista for a delicious latte. But then, they throw a question back at you: “Would you like it hot or cold?” This might take you by surprise, especially if you’re a fledgling coffee lover. And then things get even more confusing when you hear about iced lattes. So which is it — is a latte hot or cold? Read on and learn about the ideal serving temperature for a latte. You’ll […]

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traditional cafe touba recipe

Café Touba Recipe: 3 Ways to Make Senegalese Spiced Coffee

Coffee beverages are beloved all around the world. However, each country adds its own twist, so trying a unique coffee drink can be a way to travel without leaving your house! What Senegal contributes to global coffee culture is Café Touba, a sweet and spicy coffee beverage. Read on for a Café Touba recipe that you can use to try this treat at home! What is Café Touba? If you’ve come to love a pumpkin spice latte or dirty chai,

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cooling down coffee in a cup

How to Cool Down Coffee Fast: 19 Simple Hacks

It takes time to cool coffee to a drinkable temperature, never mind one for making a chilled drink. But what if you are in a hurry and need to figure out how to cool down coffee fast? No matter what you do, you can’t turn coffee cold with a snap of your fingers. But there are several easy methods to speed up the chilling process significantly. Read on to learn some cool hacks for chilling hot coffee fast. 1. Add

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pour over espresso coffee and beans

How to Make Pour-Over Espresso

Espresso is the basis of many excellent coffee drinks. But an espresso machine can be expensive and take up a lot of counter space. So you may consider compensating for lacking the right brewing equipment using another method, like pour-over. Read on to find out how you can make pour-over espresso at home! Can you make espresso using a pour-over? You might think you can replace an espresso machine with a pour-over coffee maker. After all, both use hot water,

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aeropress not sealing

Why Is Your AeroPress Not Sealing? 5 Quick Fixes

An AeroPress coffee maker is a clever and simple way to brew a single cup of coffee at home, in the office, or on a trip. However, the rubber gasket at the bottom of the plunger is key to making the process happen. If you discovered that you have an AeroPress not sealing, fixing the leak is an urgent priority! Reasons your AeroPress is not sealing An AeroPress may seem easier to operate than other ways to make espresso-like coffee.

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two mason jars of decaf cold brew coffee

Decaf Cold Brew Coffee: How to Make It At Home

Cold brew coffee is a delicious base for many drinks, but there’s probably a limit to how much caffeine you can consume before you get jitters. So you may wonder, “Can cold brew be decaf?” Yes, making cold brew coffee decaf is possible, so you don’t have to spend a fortune buying it. In fact, it is super easy to make tasty decaf cold brew coffee at home! Best coffee for decaf cold brew Cold brew is made with coarse-ground

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using flair lever espresso maker outdoors

6 Best Lever Espresso Machines For the Home Barista

There’s no better way to start your day than with a good shot of espresso. Manual lever espresso machines have a charming old-school touch but aren’t always as simple as they sound. These gadgets require the user to pull a lever to force hot water through coffee beans, allowing for greater control over the brewing process and the ability to customize the espresso to their liking. Here, you will find the best lever espresso machines reviewed and compared so you

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moka pot leaking

Why Is Your Moka Pot Leaking And How to Prevent It

Operating a Moka Pot seems simple: you add ground coffee and water, pop it on the stove and enjoy nice strong coffee a few minutes later. But then, one day, you witness a bubbling, dripping mess on your stovetop. If you notice a Moka Pot leaking, it’s one of the most obvious signs that your coffee maker requires some attention. Why is my Moka Pot leaking? The most common places a Moka Pot leaks are at the threads joining the

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woman trying to determine aftertaste of coffee

Aftertaste Of Coffee: What It Is And How to Describe It

Have you heard baristas and coffee enthusiasts talking about the aftertaste of coffee? You might also have noticed the tasting notes described on specialty coffee bags. Would you like to get in on the tasting fun yourself but are unsure how? Analyzing coffee flavor isn’t as hard as you might think. Read on to find out what coffee aftertaste is and how you can describe it. With a bit of practice, you’ll be tasting coffee like a seasoned barista! What

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glass of milk in front of keurig

Can You Put Milk In a Keurig? (Read This Before You Do)

You are craving a cup of creamy hot chocolate or a delicious latte, but you don’t have much time to prepare it. That’s when the thought strikes you. Your Keurig always makes you a quick cup of coffee. So can you put milk in a Keurig water reservoir to make milky drinks? You might think you’ve had a stroke of genius, but is it really so? Read on to learn what will happen if you try pouring milk into your

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