Knowledge Base
Coffee & Tea Guides
Brew better and explore more — buying guides, how-tos, and explainers for every coffee and tea ritual.
How-To
Tea Biscuits: What They Are and How to Make Them
Tea biscuits are two different things: British dunkers like rich tea and digestives, and soft, scone-like quick breads. Here is what each one is, which dunk best, and a simple recipe to bake at home.
How-To
Sparkling Tea: What It Is and How to Make It
Sparkling tea is simply tea made fizzy — in two forms. Learn the difference between an easy homemade brewed-tea-plus-soda cooler and craft bottled sparkling tea, plus a foolproof method for making bright, fizzy tea at home.
How-To
Pumpkin Spice Syrup Recipe (Homemade for Lattes & Coffee)
A simple homemade pumpkin spice syrup recipe: simmer sugar, water, real pumpkin puree and warm spices into a smooth or clear syrup for lattes, coffee and cold brew.
How-To
How to Use a Bosch Tassimo Pod Coffee Machine
A Bosch Tassimo brews single drinks from barcoded T DISC pods that the machine scans and brews automatically. Here is how to use one, from first fill to milk drinks, cleaning and descaling.
How-To
How to Use a Nespresso Machine: A Beginner's Guide
A plain-language, step-by-step guide to using a Nespresso machine: fill the tank, insert a capsule, press brew, froth milk and keep it clean, with OriginalLine and Vertuo both covered.
How-To
How to Make an Iced Matcha Latte
A simple, five-minute method for an iced matcha latte at home: sift and whisk matcha with warm water, then pour it over iced milk. Includes amounts, temperatures, a plain no-milk version, and troubleshooting tips.
How-To
French Vanilla Coffee: What It Is and How to Make It
A french vanilla coffee is a sweet, creamy vanilla drink, made famous by the Tim Hortons French Vanilla. Here is what it is, what french vanilla means, and three easy ways to make a french vanilla latte, cappuccino or iced version at home.
How-To
Dried Chamomile Flowers for Tea: How to Use Them
A practical how-to for using dried chamomile flowers: the right ratio, water temperature and steep time, how to dry your own, how to store them, and easy variations.
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.
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.
How-To
Brown Sugar Syrup and Demerara Syrup: How to Make and Use Them
Brown sugar syrup and demerara syrup are simple liquid sweeteners that dissolve instantly in cold drinks and add caramel, toffee and molasses depth. Here is how to make, flavour, use and store both at home.
How-To
The Best Coarse Grind for French Press Coffee
French press needs a coarse, even grind. Here is what coarse looks like, why a burr grinder beats blade and pre-ground, and which beans suit a cafetiere best.
How-To
What Is a Pumpkin Spice Latte? Plus a Cafe-Style Recipe
The pumpkin spice latte explained, from its 2003 origin to the warm spice blend that defines it, plus an easy cafe-style PSL recipe for hot and iced versions at home.
How-To
How to Make Pumpkin Spice Coffee at Home
Make real pumpkin spice coffee at home with a homemade spice blend, a quick pumpkin-puree syrup, and easy hot and iced lattes, no syrup pump required.
How-To
Coffee Percolator Guide: How It Works and How to Brew
What a coffee percolator is, how the perking cycle works, stovetop vs electric models, a step-by-step brew, and why percolated coffee tastes bolder than drip.