Pu’er Coffee

 Have you ever found yourself standing in front of a shelf of coffee beans, staring blankly at all the different packages? Or maybe when a friend asks what kind of coffee you like, all you can say is, “Uh… anything that smells good”? Don’t worry—every seasoned coffee lover started out just as confused. Today, let’s walk through six key tips for getting into coffee, helping you avoid detours and find your perfect cup faster. 1. Get to Know Coffee Beans Coffee beans are actually the seeds of the coffee cherry. Globally, they’re mainly divided into two categories: Arabica and Robusta . Arabica beans are delicate and bright, with higher acidity, while Robusta beans offer a stronger, more intense flavor and higher caffeine content. When you’re shopping, start by trying Arabica—after all, it makes up more than 70% of the world’s coffee production. A coffee’s flavor largely depends on its origin—much like wine. Ethiopian beans often have floral and fruity notes, while Brazilian bea...

 The world of coffee never lacks innovation. We’re constantly seeing new and creative combinations made from familiar ingredients. Take coffee and coconut, for instance — this pairing alone can produce countless variations: coconut water + espresso becomes a refreshing coconut Americano ; thick coconut milk + espresso makes a creamy coconut latte ; and coconut + cold brew creates a tropical iced drink. All of these drinks take simple ingredients and layer them into something new and interesting. But just yesterday, I stumbled upon another “experimental” crossover — brewing coffee with coconut water . And no, I don’t mean adding coconut water to already brewed coffee, nor using it to mix with instant or freeze-dried coffee. I mean replacing regular brewing water entirely with coconut water when making pour-over coffee. At first, I frowned at the idea — it sounded a little crazy. But then I thought, if we can boil chicken in coconut water for soup, why not brew coffee with it? Plus...

 When it comes to flannel filters, many coffee lovers may have only seen them in Japanese movies or through videos by Japanese baristas. Compared with the common paper filter and dripper combo, the flannel filter is far less popular outside of Japan. Most people’s first encounter with it comes from Japanese coffee culture itself. That naturally raises the question: why do Japanese people love brewing coffee with a piece of flannel cloth? What makes coffee brewed with flannel so different from coffee filtered through paper? What’s Special About Flannel Filters? If you’ve read my posts before, you’ve probably seen me mention this: flannel filters produce coffee that’s richer and more aromatic . The reason is simple — flannel doesn’t filter out oils and insoluble compounds as thoroughly as paper does. Flannel is a soft, fuzzy fabric that originated in Wales, England. Since its invention, it’s been used in countless applications thanks to its versatility. As a coffee filtration tool,...