Knowledge Base
Coffee & Tea Guides
Brew better and explore more — buying guides, how-tos, and explainers for every coffee and tea ritual.
Explainer
Dreams Tea, Explained
Dreams tea is an umbrella name for two ideas: calming bedtime blends for restful sleep, and folklore herbs linked to vivid dreaming. Here is what goes in it, how to brew it, and how to enjoy it sensibly.
Explainer
Dragon Tea (Dragon Well / Longjing), Explained
"Dragon tea" almost always means Dragon Well (Longjing), China's famous pan-fired green tea. Here is what it is, how it tastes, and how to brew it.
Explainer
Dragon Pearl Jasmine Tea, Explained
Dragon pearl jasmine tea is hand-rolled green tea scented with fresh jasmine that unfurls as it steeps. Here is what jasmine dragon pearls are, how they are made, how they taste, and how to brew them.
Explainer
Dolce Gusto Pods and Capsules, Explained
What Dolce Gusto pods are, why some drinks need two capsules, how intensity ratings work, what fits which machine, and how to choose and recycle them.
Explainer
Dog Cafes and Dog-Friendly Cafes, Explained
A dog cafe can mean two things: a dog-friendly cafe that welcomes your dog, or a themed cafe where you visit resident dogs. Here is how both work, the etiquette, and how to find one.
Explainer
Does Tea Contain Caffeine? How Much, and Which Teas Are Caffeine-Free
Yes, all true tea contains caffeine because it comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, while most herbal teas are naturally caffeine-free. Here is how much caffeine sits in black, green, white and oolong tea, what changes it, and how to drink less.
Explainer
Does Chocolate Have Caffeine? How Much Is in Each Type
Yes, chocolate contains caffeine, but only a little, and theobromine is its main stimulant. Here is how much caffeine is in dark, milk and white chocolate, plus cocoa, hot chocolate and caffeinated bars.
Explainer
Disposable Coffee Cups, Explained
What disposable coffee cups are actually made of, the paper, foam and compostable types, sizes and lids, the recycling reality, and how to choose one when you need it.
Explainer
Dirty Chai Latte, Explained
A dirty chai latte is a spiced chai latte with a shot of espresso stirred in. Here is what makes it "dirty," how it differs from a filthy chai, and how its flavour and caffeine stack up.
Explainer
Dilmah Tea, Explained
Dilmah is a family-owned Sri Lankan brand built on single-origin Ceylon tea grown, picked, blended and packed at origin. Here is who founded it, what it makes, how it tastes, and how to brew it well.
Buying Guide
DF64 Coffee Grinder, Explained: A Single-Dose Buyer's Guide
The DF64 is the cult single-dose espresso grinder built around 64mm flat burrs. Here is what it is, how Gen 2 improved it, how it compares to the DF54 and DF83, and how to choose the right version.
How-To
How to Descale and Clean a Coffee Machine
Descaling clears limescale from the water path; cleaning removes coffee oils from the brew path. Here is how to do both, on the right schedule, for any machine.
Explainer
Demitasse Cups, Explained: The Small Cup Behind Every Espresso
A demitasse is the small 2-3 oz cup made for espresso and other short, strong coffees. Here is what it is, how it is sized, what it is made of, and how to choose one.
Buying Guide
Delonghi Nespresso Machines, Explained
De'Longhi is one of Nespresso's licensed machine makers. Here's how its Original, Vertuo and Lattissima models differ, and how to choose the right one for the drinks you make.
Buying Guide
Delonghi Magnifica S, Explained
A clear, no-hype guide to the Delonghi Magnifica S: what this beginner-friendly bean-to-cup machine does, how the S, S Smart, Evo and Start versions differ, and how to pick the right one.
Buying Guide
Delonghi La Specialista, Explained: How to Choose
A clear guide to the Delonghi La Specialista line of manual espresso machines with a built-in grinder, from the compact Arte to the top Maestro, with a model comparison table and a how-to-choose checklist.
Buying Guide
Delonghi Dedica Arte Espresso Machine, Explained
The Delonghi Dedica is a very slim, 15-bar manual espresso machine for small kitchens. Here is what the Dedica Arte (EC885) and the older Dedica EC685 are, how they differ, how to get the best espresso from them, and how to keep one running.
Buying Guide
Delonghi Bean-to-Cup Coffee Makers, Explained
A plain-English buying guide to Delonghi's bean-to-cup range: what fully automatic machines do, how the Magnifica, Dinamica, Eletta and PrimaDonna families differ, and how to choose.
Explainer
Decaf Tea, Explained
Decaf tea is real tea with most of its caffeine removed, not all of it. Here is what decaffeinated tea is, how it is made, how much caffeine remains, and how decaf differs from naturally caffeine-free herbal tea.
Explainer
Decaf Green Tea, Explained
What decaf green tea actually is, how it is decaffeinated, what happens to its antioxidants, and how to brew a mild, low-caffeine cup well.
Explainer
Decaf Espresso, Explained
Decaf espresso is a real espresso shot made from decaffeinated beans, with only a trace of caffeine. Here is how it tastes, how to dial it in, and why people order a decaf shot.
Explainer
Decaf Earl Grey Tea, Explained
Decaf Earl Grey is decaffeinated Earl Grey tea: a black-tea base with the caffeine removed, then scented with bergamot. Here's how it's made, how it tastes, why people drink it, how to brew it well, and the truly caffeine-free rooibos alternative.
Buying Guide
Decaf Coffee Pods and Capsules: A Buyer's Guide
Decaf coffee pods and capsules now exist for nearly every machine. Here is how Nespresso, Vertuo, K-Cup, Dolce Gusto, Lavazza and other systems compare - and how to choose the right decaffeinated pod for your brewer.
Explainer
Decaf Coffee Beans, Explained
Decaf coffee beans are real beans with at least 97% of their caffeine removed while still green. Here's how decaffeination works — Swiss Water, CO2, sugarcane EA and solvent — and how to buy, store and brew decaf for the best flavor.