Pu’er Coffee

 While ordering a straight espresso isn’t all that common in many coffee shops in China, the scene looks very different abroad—especially in Europe. There, starting the morning with a single espresso is almost second nature. If you pay close attention, you’ll notice that an espresso is almost always served with a small glass of water and a spoon. This pairing has become an unwritten standard in cafés around the world. Today, let’s talk about why such a small cup of coffee comes with a glass of water and a spoon—and what roles they actually play. The Role of the Glass of Water Let’s start with the water, which is relatively easy to understand. No matter what kind of coffee you order, a glass of water is often considered an essential part of good café service. Beyond simply quenching your thirst, its most important function is to cleanse your palate. Espresso is intensely aromatic and concentrated. Taking a sip of water before your first taste helps wash away lingering flavors fro...

 Chugging an iced Americano while rushing to catch the subway, hoping it’ll jump-start your day—only to end up with shaky hands and a racing heart by 10 a.m. Or slumping over your desk in the afternoon, desperately sipping a latte, yet somehow feeling even sleepier, your head heavy like it’s filled with lead. Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Coffee has never been a “drink whenever you want” life-support liquid. It’s a timing-sensitive productivity accelerator . Drink it at the right moment, and it sharpens your thinking and fights fatigue. Drink it at the wrong time, and you not only waste its benefits—you may also upset your body. Here are three golden time windows that help you get the most out of coffee. 9:30–11:30 a.m.: Clear Morning Fog and Lock in Focus Many people reach for coffee the moment they wake up, thinking it will instantly shake off sleepiness. In reality, this is a bit counterproductive. Between around 8 and 9 a.m., your body naturally releases cort...

 You bought beans with a great reputation — so why does your coffee taste off when you brew it at home? Don’t blame the beans first. Most likely the problem is in the brewing steps. Drip-bag coffee looks simple — just pour boiling water, right? There’s a lot more to it. Those drips that come out creamy and smooth with bright fruit or nutty notes weren’t made by chance. Here are four of the most common brewing mistakes, each with practical fixes. Follow them and your next drip-bag brew will taste noticeably better. Mistake 1: Judging water temperature by feel? Boiling water kills the flavor Pouring boiling water straight onto the grounds is a common habit. You might think hotter water brings out more flavor, but the result is often bitter, burnt-tasting coffee that feels harsh on the throat. That’s not the beans’ fault — the high temperature is extracting the “bad” compounds. There are two key groups of compounds in coffee grounds: one group contains the aromatic and fruity/aci...

 The moment you open your eyes in the morning, you might not even head to the bathroom first—you head straight to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Sounds familiar, right? But standing in front of your coffee shelf, you might suddenly freeze: pour-over feels ceremonial, instant is super convenient, and drip bags strike a nice balance. But after drinking them long enough, that nagging thought pops up: Which of these is actually the worst for your health? 1. The Three Coffee Brothers — Which One Do You Pick? Let’s meet the “three brothers” of the coffee world: pour-over, instant, and drip bags. Same family, totally different personalities. Pour-over coffee is like the picky eldest brother. You need gear—dripper, kettle, fresh beans. Grind, pour, wait. The aroma is beautiful, the flavor is layered, but the process takes patience. Perfect for slow mornings. Instant coffee is the impulsive middle child. Scoop, hot water, boom—done in 3 seconds. It’s made by extracting and dryin...

 For many people, that first cup of coffee in the morning is the switch that turns the brain on. But more and more coffee lovers are noticing a frustrating change: You used to handle three or even four cups a day without breaking a sweat. Now? Half a cup and your heart is pounding, your chest feels fluttery, and you start wondering: “Is something wrong with my heart?” “Am I really just getting old?” The good news: you don’t need to panic. Coffee-induced heart flutters are usually not a sign of disease. They come from how your body interacts with caffeine. Today, let’s break it all down clearly—so you can keep enjoying your coffee with peace of mind. 1. Heart palpitations after coffee = caffeine doing its job First, let’s get one thing straight: feeling a bit jittery or noticing a faster heartbeat after drinking coffee doesn’t usually mean something is wrong. It’s simply caffeine doing what caffeine does. The main effect of caffeine is activating your sympathetic nervous s...

 For many people rushing to early shifts, a cup of coffee isn’t just a pick-me-up — it’s the “life-support system” that starts the day. But what you may not realize is that some of your coffee-drinking habits are quietly putting stress on your stomach. Today, let’s talk about three ways of drinking coffee that are most likely to hurt your stomach — and the first one might be something you do every single day. 1. Chugging Black Coffee on an Empty Stomach — Your Stomach Is “Crying” Silently Many people are short on time in the morning, so they skip breakfast and drink black coffee straight away, thinking it gives the fastest boost. But this is basically like delivering a sudden attack on a stomach that hasn’t fully “woken up.” Caffeine stimulates gastric acid secretion. When your stomach is empty and there’s no food to buffer the acid, large amounts of stomach acid come into direct contact with the stomach lining, causing discomfort. Over time, this increases stomach burden and m...

 Stir it a bit and let it soak for a while, and you will get a highly concentrated coffee that can be used to make a latte! Yesterday, while I was selling beans in the shop, a customer friend suddenly turned his head and asked me, “Do you know that it’s trending to brew coffee in reverse recently?” “Brew… in reverse?” Only after I asked in total confusion did I learn that this so-called reverse brewing refers to a method where you first put the coffee grounds and water into a container to complete the extraction, and then use a paper filter and dripper to filter out the coffee grounds. Through this method, you can get a highly concentrated coffee that can be used to make a fragrant milk coffee. Then I searched and found that this method is indeed quite popular recently. But honestly speaking, this method is no longer in the category of “brewing,” but soaking. In this method, the paper filter and dripper simply serve as filtering tools, and the extraction is mainly completed ...

 Have you ever felt completely lost standing in front of a shelf full of coffee beans? With all the different origins, processing methods, and flavor notes, it’s easy to get overwhelmed—only to end up bringing home a bag that tastes nothing like what you expected. Choosing coffee beans isn’t as mysterious as it seems. Just remember three key points: origin, processing method, and roast date. The origin determines the backbone of the flavor, the processing method gives it personality, and freshness is the soul of the cup. Generally, coffee tastes best within one month after roasting. Don’t stock up too much—fresh is always better. Enough talk—let’s get straight to the good stuff. These five beans are tried-and-true “power players.” Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned coffee lover, you can pick any of them with confidence. 1. Ethiopia Yirgacheffe — Washed Process If you enjoy clean, bright flavors, this one won’t fail you. It’s like stepping into an early-summer orchard, wit...

 Numerous studies have confirmed that coffee is not a “health killer.” In fact, it contains beneficial components such as caffeine and chlorogenic acids, and when consumed in moderation, it can help boost energy and support metabolism. But drinking coffee is an art — it’s not just about how often you drink it or when, but also about the correct way to consume it. Failing to follow the right steps can not only waste the benefits of coffee but may also add extra strain on your body. These 5 healthy coffee tips will help you enjoy both great taste and health benefits! 1. Drink a Glass of Warm Water Before Coffee Coffee has a natural diuretic effect that accelerates fluid loss in the body. If consumed on an empty stomach or without proper hydration, it can lead to dry mouth, thirst, and dehydration. To prevent this, it’s recommended to drink 200-300 ml of warm water before your coffee. This helps replenish fluids and reduces the risk of dehydration from coffee’s diuretic effect. It al...

 An Americano is one of the simplest black coffees you can make—just add a certain amount of water to a shot of espresso. No rare ingredients, no complicated steps. It’s so easy that many people think there’s nothing to it. And honestly… they’re not wrong. But if you want your Americano to taste good —balanced, flavorful, and enjoyable—then there are a few things that matter. Everything from your ingredients, to how you brew, to how you mix them affects the final cup. Each choice may look small, but it can make or break the taste. Today, let’s break down the three key things you need to pay attention to when making a great Americano. 1. Choose the Right Ingredients Most people assume that the only thing that matters is the coffee beans. And yes, beans are incredibly important. But when it comes to an Americano, water matters just as much . Water may look and taste neutral, but not all water is created equal. You’ve probably noticed that different bottled water brands have diff...