Knowledge Base
Coffee & Tea Guides
Brew better and explore more — buying guides, how-tos, and explainers for every coffee and tea ritual.
Explainer
Coffee Vending Machines: Types and How They Work
What a coffee vending machine is, how it works, and how the instant, fresh-brew and bean-to-cup types differ in taste, cost and upkeep.
Buying Guide
Coffee Urn Guide: How to Choose and Use a Large Coffee Urn
How to choose and use a coffee urn for a crowd: size it by headcount, pick percolating or hold-only, dial in the ratio, and serve coffee that tastes fresh, not stewed.
Explainer
The Coffee Truck Business, Explained
A coffee truck is a mobile coffee bar on wheels. Here is what is inside one, where they trade, the realities of running one, and how it compares to a cart or a cafe.
Explainer
Coffee Syrups Explained: Flavors, Uses and How to Make Them
What a coffee syrup is, how flavored syrups are made, the flavors worth knowing, how to use them, plus an easy DIY recipe and sugar-free options.
Explainer
Coffee Shops for Studying: How to Find and Use Them
Coffee shops can be a great place to study — here's the science behind the focus, how to find a cafe with wi-fi and outlets, the etiquette for a long stay, and tips to actually get work done.
Explainer
Coffee Packets, Sachets and Pouches, Explained
A coffee packet can mean four different things: an instant sachet or stick, a 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 mix, a single-serve drip bag of real ground coffee, or the valve pouch your beans come in. Here is what is inside each, how to use it, and how the freshness and caffeine compare.
Buying Guide
Coffee Maker and Espresso Machine Combos, Explained
A combo coffee maker and espresso machine brews drip coffee on one side and espresso on the other, in one appliance. Here is what they suit, the honest trade-offs, and how to choose one.
Buying Guide
Coffee Machines with a Built-In Milk Frother, Explained
A coffee machine with a built-in milk frother makes lattes and cappuccinos in one appliance. Here are the three ways they froth milk, the trade-offs, and how to choose.
Explainer
What Is a Coffee Knock Box and Do You Need One?
A coffee knock box is the small bin baristas rap the spent espresso puck into. Here is how it works, the main types, what to look for, and whether you actually need one at home.
Explainer
Coffee Date Ideas: How to Plan the Perfect Coffee Date
A coffee date is short, low-cost, and built for conversation. Here is why it works so well, plus a generous list of ideas and practical tips for planning one.
Explainer
What Is a Coffee Cup Sleeve and Why Do We Use Them?
A coffee cup sleeve is the cardboard band that lets you hold a hot takeaway cup comfortably. Here is what it is, why we use it, its Java Jacket history, what it is made of, and the reusable and custom versions you will run into.
Explainer
Coffee Chains, Explained: The Big Global Coffee Brands
What is a coffee chain, and which brands rule the world's high streets? A plain-English tour of the big global coffee shop chains, what sets them apart from independent cafes, and what each one is known for.
Explainer
Coffee Capsules, Explained: Types, Pods and How They Work
Coffee capsules promise a fast, consistent cup with no grinder -- but the systems don't mix. Here's how Nespresso, Dolce Gusto, K-Cup and other pods work, and how to choose.
Explainer
Coffee Candy, Explained (Plus How to Make It)
What coffee candy is, the family it belongs to (hard sweets, chewy coffee caramels, toffee, fudge and bonbons), how it tastes, why some pieces carry caffeine, and two easy home recipes for coffee caramels and coffee fudge.
How-To
Coffee and Cream: How to Add Real Cream to Your Cup
A practical guide to adding real dairy cream to coffee: the types of cream, what each does to the cup, how much to pour, and how to avoid curdling.
Explainer
Chocolate Tea, Explained
"Chocolate tea" means a few different drinks: a cacao husk tisane, a chocolate-flavoured true tea, or a caffeine-free rooibos blend. Here is what each one is, how much caffeine it carries, what it tastes like, and how to brew a good cup at home.
Explainer
Chamomile Tea and Sore Throat: What to Know
Chamomile tea can soothe a sore throat with warmth, steam and hydration, but it comforts rather than cures. Here is how to brew chamomile tea for sore throat relief, when honey and lemon help, and the warning signs that mean it is time to see a doctor.
Explainer
Chamomile Tea, Explained: Bags, Flavour and How to Brew It
Chamomile tea is a caffeine-free herbal infusion made from dried chamomile flowers. Here is what it is, how it tastes, the German and Roman types, and how to brew camomile tea bags and loose flowers well.
Explainer
Celestial Seasonings: The Tea Brand, Explained
Celestial Seasonings, the Boulder, Colorado tea company behind Sleepytime, explained: who they are, their famous herbal, green and black ranges, the string-free round tea bags, and how to choose the right blend.
Buying Guide
Capsule and Pod Coffee Machines, Explained
Capsule and pod coffee machines are locked to their own pod system, so the system matters more than the model. Here is how Nespresso, Keurig, Dolce Gusto, Tassimo and Lavazza compare, and how to choose the right one.
Buying Guide
Cappuccino Sachets and Instant Cappuccino, Explained
What instant cappuccino sachets are, how to froth up a good cup, and how to choose between sweetened, unsweetened, decaf and flavoured mixes.
Buying Guide
Cappuccino Cups: Sizes, Shapes, and How to Choose
A clear buying guide to cappuccino cups: the classic 5-6 oz size, the rounded shape that holds a foam crown, porcelain versus double-walled glass, and a simple checklist for choosing the right cup and saucer.
Buying Guide
Camping Coffee Makers: How to Choose One
A clear, no-nonsense buying guide to camping coffee makers: the main types of portable brewer, what to look for, and how to match the right one to your trip.
Explainer
Caffeine in Soda: How Much Is in Coke and More
A clear, global look at how much caffeine is in soda, from a classic Coke to Diet Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper and Mountain Dew, with per-can milligrams, why diet versions can differ, which sodas are caffeine-free, and how soft drinks compare to coffee and energy drinks.