You can buy the freshest beans in the world and still end up with a disappointing cup if the grind is wrong. Here is how to match your grind to your brewer, and how to fix a cup that tastes off.
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Brewing guides, coffee education, and practical tips from our roaster in Palmyra, Virginia.
Roasting Coffee at Home: What to Know Before You Try It
More people are roasting coffee at home these days. Here’s what green coffee is, why the trend is catching on, and what to know before your first batch.
Read more2 Ways to Take Your Coffee Dark
Not all dark roast is the same dark roast. Here’s how Lake Anna Monster and Lake Anna Life compare, and how to pick between them.
Read moreWholesale Coffee Beans for a New Coffee Shop: What to Look For
Getting ready to open a coffee shop and searching for wholesale coffee beans? Here’s what to look for in a wholesale roaster — samples, small minimums, no contracts, and honest pricing — from Makin’ Smiles Coffee in Palmyra, Virginia.
Read moreLight, Medium, or Dark Roast: A Complete Guide to Choosing Your Coffee
Light, medium, or dark roast? Roast level is one of the first choices you’ll make when picking a coffee, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Here’s what each one actually means, how they taste different, and how to pick the right one for you. Roast level is about time, not bean type A […]
Read moreHow to Store Coffee Beans to Keep Them Fresh Longer
You’ve got a bag of fresh roasted coffee, now what? Here’s how to store coffee beans at home so that fresh flavor actually sticks around, plus a few common habits that quietly work against you. The three enemies of fresh coffee: air, light, and moisture Coffee is negatively affected by time, moisture, and oxygen. Every […]
Read moreWhat Makes Fresh Roasted Coffee Different From Store-Bought Coffee?
Fresh roasted coffee vs store bought coffee — if you’ve only ever had coffee from a grocery store shelf, you may not realize just how much flavor you’ve been missing. The difference isn’t subtle, it’s a completely different drinking experience. Here’s why. Coffee has a freshness window, just like bread Coffee begins losing its unique […]
Read moreThe Process – Creating a high quality specialty coffee
Small-batch specialty coffee, roasted to order in Palmyra, Virginia. Here’s what small-batch actually means, and what happens between placing your order and your coffee reaching your door.
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