Modernist potions

The Best Brews from Around the World
Is Aeropress Worth It?

Is Aeropress Worth It?

Welcome to my very first product review! It is purely my opinion and earns me nothing of monetary value! (I discovered – purely by accident – how to make the ™. It will be used liberally.) I received the Aeropress™ (see?) as a gift many years ago and was not impressed...
What is the Fourth Wave of Coffee?

What is the Fourth Wave of Coffee?

Time for some coffee history! Coffee moved from being a commodity to an experience. Though there is some overlap, each wave has its own unique characteristics. The question on many people’s lips: What direction is the 4th wave of coffee going to take us? Waves of the...
How To Make Cheap Coffee Taste Better

How To Make Cheap Coffee Taste Better

Tell me if this sounds familiar: your well-intentioned family and friends know you’re into coffee, so they make a point of gifting you some coffee-like beans. Though, in their well-intentioned goodness, you now have some low-quality, preground matter that resembles...
V60 Pour Over vs French Press

V60 Pour Over vs French Press

If you’ve been paying attention to coffee over the past decade, you’ll have noticed the rise of pour over coffees. They’re often more expensive and touted as being better than other methods. Hell, there are even competitions to see who can make the best cup by using...
How to Like Black Coffee

How to Like Black Coffee

As it turns out, this is asked frequently enough, and I believe my background in psychology and coffee will be able to shed some light. Many of the following strategies will probably make a purist winge about how you’re “ruining the coffee”, but I see it more as...
Is French Press Better Than Drip?

Is French Press Better Than Drip?

Word’s starting to get around that I am writing about coffee, so questions about how I make my daily brew have become common. As the title implies, I use a French Press to make my coffee most mornings, and I grind just enough for each cup. So, what’s the best way to...
How Long Does Coffee Take to Stain Your Teeth?

How Long Does Coffee Take to Stain Your Teeth?

As an avid coffee drinker, I’ve had people ask me Doesn’t coffee stain your teeth?, and the answer is: it can – if handled carelessly. What causes tooth stain, and how long would it take? Stains to your teeth can come from acids and dyes. Coffee is acidic and contains...
How Is Espresso Stronger than Coffee?

How Is Espresso Stronger than Coffee?

Since I’m on the topic of caffeine, I might as well address a question that plagues coffee drinkers and causes arguments among coffee newbies. It’s been confusing over the years, so let’s put it to bed: What coffee has the most caffeine? How much caffeine do different...
How Does Coffee Wake You Up

How Does Coffee Wake You Up

In the US, 90% of people drink at least one caffeinated beverage per day. I don’t know about you, but that sounds slightly low to me.  Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world and seems to only grow in popularity as time passes. But...