Pu’er Coffee

 Every time you walk into a café and stare at the menu — “SOE Latte,” “Classic Blend Americano” — do you suddenly get hit with decision paralysis? Should you pick a bright, distinctive SOE, or stick to a familiar, no-fail blend? The truth is simple: it all depends on whether you’re craving steady comfort or fresh exploration . Let’s start with the basics. SOE stands for Single Origin Espresso , meaning the espresso comes from one specific region. After James Hoffmann won the 2007 World Barista Championship using an SOE, this terroir-driven style slowly became a trend. Today, you can find it in almost every specialty café. Blend coffee , on the other hand, is made by mixing 2–4 types of beans from different origins. It’s the traditional choice for espresso. Why Blends Are the Safe Bet The biggest strength of blends is their reliability . Before specialty coffee became mainstream, blends were usually dark-roasted to mask defects and create a smooth, full-bodied cup. Even if one...

 By splitting a single espresso extraction into two or three portions and turning each one into a different type of drink before serving them together, cafés have created one of today’s most popular formats — the Coffee Combo . This trend has taken off because it allows customers to experience multiple “dishes” made from the same coffee bean, while each cup remains small and easy to enjoy without feeling too full. As a result, more and more coffee shops have begun offering Combo sets. But while it looks simple on the surface, many people find that one of the drinks in their combo doesn’t taste quite right — maybe it’s too bitter, too bland, or lacks aroma. Some even ask, “Did I use the wrong coffee beans?” The truth is, any coffee bean can technically be used to make a Combo , because as I mentioned, it’s simply a matter of dividing one espresso into multiple portions and crafting different drinks from it. In fact, most espresso-based drinks are made this way. However, if you wa...