Knowledge Base
Coffee & Tea Guides
Brew better and explore more — buying guides, how-tos, and explainers for every coffee and tea ritual.
How-To
How to Make Sage Tea (Fresh or Dried), Step by Step
Make sage tea in minutes: steep fresh or dried sage in just-boiled water for 5 to 10 minutes, strain, and finish with honey and lemon. A caffeine-free herbal cup, done right.
How-To
How to Make Rooibos Tea: Steps, Tips, and a Rooibos Latte
A simple guide to making rooibos tea: how much loose leaf or how many bags to use, how hot and how long to steep this caffeine-free South African red bush, plus a rooibos latte and an iced version.
How-To
How to Make Peppermint Tea (Fresh or Dried Leaves)
Learn how to make peppermint tea from fresh or dried leaves in a few easy steps — the right amount, water temperature, steep time, and how to serve it hot or iced.
How-To
How to Make Turmeric Tea (Ground or Fresh)
To make turmeric tea, simmer ground or fresh turmeric in water for 8 to 10 minutes, add black pepper and lemon, then strain. Here's the simple, caffeine-free method step by step.
How-To
How to Make Fennel Tea: Easy Fennel Seed Tea Recipe
Learn how to make fennel tea from seeds, a tea bag, or fresh fennel. A simple step-by-step recipe, steep-time table, flavor ideas, and a light, non-medical note.
How-To
How to Make Cinnamon Tea (Stick or Ground)
To make cinnamon tea, simmer a cinnamon stick (or steep ground cinnamon) in just-boiled water, then strain. Here is the full step-by-step method, a brewing chart, and tips for a stronger cup — served hot or iced.
How-To
How to Make Lemongrass Tea: Fresh, Dried, or Bags
To make lemongrass tea, steep fresh stalks, dried leaf, or a bag in just-boiled water for 5 to 10 minutes, then strain. Here is the full method, steep times for every form, and easy ways to flavor a bright, caffeine-free cup.
How-To
How to Make Lavender Tea (Easy 5-Minute Recipe)
Lavender tea is easy to make at home: steep a small amount of culinary lavender in just-boiled water for about five minutes, then strain. Here is the full method, the right ratios, and how to keep it from turning soapy.
How-To
How to Make Chamomile Tea
A simple, foolproof method for making chamomile tea from a tea bag, dried flowers, or fresh blooms — with a steep-time table, fresh-vs-dried tips, and how to brew it stronger.
How-To
How to Store Loose Leaf Tea
To keep loose leaf tea fresh, store it in an airtight, opaque container somewhere cool, dark and dry, away from strong smells. Here is a simple step-by-step method, a decoder table of tea's five enemies, and why some teas keep far longer than others.
How-To
How to Tamp Espresso: A Level, Even Puck Every Time
Tamping espresso means pressing the grounds into a firm, level puck before you pull the shot. Here is how to tamp espresso evenly, how hard to press, and how to stop channeling.
How-To
How to Brew Herbal Tea: Steps, Temperature and Steep Time
Herbal teas are the most forgiving brew in the kitchen. Here is how to brew herbal tea properly — fully boiling water, a generous scoop, and a long, covered steep — plus a temperature-and-time table for flowers, leaves, roots, and berries.
How-To
How to Brew Pu-erh Tea: The Rinse-and-Re-Steep Method
Pu-erh loves near-boiling water and a quick rinse, then rewards you with many short steeps. Here is how to brew pu-erh tea, from breaking off the cake to knowing when to stop.
How-To
How to Brew White Tea: Water, Time & Temperature
White tea is delicate, so brew it gently — cooler water, plenty of fluffy leaf, and a longer 4-7 minute steep. Here is a simple, step-by-step way to brew (and re-steep) white tea at home.
How-To
How to Brew Black Tea: Water, Ratio, and Steep Time
Near-boiling water, about a teaspoon of leaf per cup, and a timed three-to-five-minute steep: the simple method for brewing black tea that tastes clean and brisk, never bitter.
How-To
How to Dial In Espresso: The Pull, Taste, Adjust Routine
Dialing in espresso means tuning grind, dose and shot time to a balanced 1:2 shot. Here is the simple pull-taste-adjust routine, plus a troubleshooting table for sour and bitter shots.
How-To
How to Make Matcha Without a Whisk
You do not need a bamboo chasen to make good matcha. Here is how to make matcha without a whisk using a shaker jar, a milk frother, a fork, or a blender — plus the two fixes that keep every cup smooth and lump-free.
How-To
How to Brew Oolong Tea: Gongfu and Western Methods
Oolong is made to be re-steeped. Here's how to brew it two ways — an easy Western mug and the many-steep gongfu method — with the right water temperature for green and roasted styles.
How-To
Cortadito: How to Make Cuba's Sweet Espresso and Milk
A cortadito is a small, sweet Cuban espresso 'cut' with an equal splash of warm milk, built on a whipped-sugar espuma. Here is what it is, how it differs from a cortado, and how to make one at home.
How-To
Coffee Granita: Sicily's Icy Coffee
Coffee granita is Sicily's semi-frozen coffee dessert — sweetened strong coffee scraped with a fork into light, flaky ice crystals. Here's what it is and how to make it at home without a machine.
How-To
How to Brew Espresso Without a Machine: 3 Methods That Work
True espresso needs about nine bars of pressure, so you can't make it without a machine — but a moka pot, an AeroPress or a strong manual brew gets you a close, concentrated espresso-style shot. Here's how to pick the method, grind and ratio.
How-To
How to Make Iced Coffee With a Nespresso
The fastest way to make iced coffee with a Nespresso is to brew a short, strong shot straight over a full glass of ice, then top it with cold water, milk, or foam. Here is the concentration trick, the step-by-step method, and which Original and Vertuo pods work best over ice.
How-To
Condensed Milk Coffee: Sweet, Creamy, Global
Condensed milk coffee uses one syrupy spoonful of sweetened condensed milk to do the work of sugar and cream — the sweet, creamy base behind Vietnamese, Cuban, Thai and Spanish coffees. Here is how it works and how to make it hot or iced.
How-To
Espresso Tonic: The Sparkling Coffee Drink and How to Make It
An espresso tonic is a chilled, fizzy coffee drink — tonic water and ice topped with a fresh shot of espresso. Here is what it is, why the bittersweet flavours work, and an easy method to layer one at home.