Knowledge Base
Coffee & Tea Guides
Brew better and explore more — buying guides, how-tos, and explainers for every coffee and tea ritual.
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.
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 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
Davidoff Rich Aroma Coffee, Explained
Davidoff Rich Aroma is a premium freeze-dried 100% Arabica instant coffee with a full-bodied, aromatic cup. Here is what it is, how it tastes, where it sits in the Davidoff range, and how to brew it.
Explainer
Dairy Coffee Creamer Types, Explained
From whole milk and half-and-half to light cream, heavy cream, evaporated and sweetened condensed milk, here is every dairy coffee creamer type, organized by fat level and what each one does to your cup.
Buying Guide
Da Vinci Syrups, Explained: Flavors and Uses
Da Vinci syrups are a popular line of barista flavoring syrups used to sweeten and flavor coffee, tea, sodas and cocktails. Here is what DaVinci Gourmet makes, how the classic, sugar-free and sauce ranges differ, how baristas dose them by the pump, and how to choose the right flavor.
Explainer
Cute Cafes: What Makes Them Special
Cute cafes win you over with pastel palettes, plants, soft seating and charming little details. Here is what makes them special, where the look comes from, and how to spot one anywhere.
Buying Guide
Cup and Saucer Sets: How to Choose Them
How to choose a cup and saucer set for espresso, coffee or tea: the right cup size for each drink, what porcelain, bone china, stoneware and glass each offer, plus a how-to-choose checklist and simple care tips.
Buying Guide
Cuisinart PerfectTemp Electric Kettle, Explained
What the Cuisinart PerfectTemp cordless electric kettle is and how its preset temperatures work — plus a clear checklist for choosing any variable temperature kettle for tea and pour-over coffee.
Buying Guide
Cuisinart Coffee Makers: A Guide to the Range
Cuisinart's coffee makers span programmable drip, grind-and-brew, thermal carafe and single-serve Coffee Center units. Here's how the families differ, what each does well, and a plain checklist for choosing one.
Explainer
Crystal Boba, Explained
Crystal boba is the clear, springy bubble tea topping made from agar and konjac, not cassava starch. Here is what it is, how it differs from tapioca, how it tastes, and how to use it.
Explainer
Counter Culture Coffee, Explained
Counter Culture Coffee is a pioneering American specialty roaster known for transparency reports, direct-trade-style sourcing, single origins, and barista training. Here is who they are and how the model works.
Buying Guide
Copper Mugs and Kettles: A Guide to Copper Drinkware
A practical guide to copper drinkware: why copper mugs are tied to the Moscow Mule, the lined-vs-unlined safety point that matters, how copper kettles and teapots work, and how to choose and care for copper.
How-To
Cold Drip Coffee Ratio and Method, Explained
Cold drip coffee uses a roughly 1:8 to 1:12 ratio, a medium grind and a one-drop-per-second drip. Here is the method, a ratio table, and how it differs from cold brew.
How-To
Cold Brew Tea: How to Make Smoother Iced Tea
Cold brew tea steeps in cold water for a smoother, sweeter, lower-caffeine iced cup that never goes cloudy. Here is how to cold brew tea by type.
Explainer
Coffee and Tea Compared: Caffeine, Taste and Health
Coffee vs tea, compared fairly across caffeine, taste, health and daily ritual, with a side-by-side table to help you decide which one fits your day.