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I recently started questioning whether mastering coffee in a year is even possible, but I've decided to push forward with this ambitious challenge anyway. In this episode, I open up about my goal to reach a level where I can grab any bag of coffee—light, medium, or dark roast, washed, natural, or anaerobic—and nail the perfect brew within two or three tries. I'm talking about understanding water chemistry, exploring the science behind cold brew, testing the limits of AeroPress, trusting my palate over refractometers, and diving deep into questions that most coffee enthusiasts gloss over.

But this isn't just about technical mastery. I'm documenting my struggles, victories, and aha moments throughout this journey because I want to share what truly works—not just for me, but for you too. I'll be challenging conventional wisdom, questioning why we follow certain brewing methods, and pushing past my comfort zone to extract the absolute best from every cup of coffee. You'll learn about my approach to deliberate experimentation, how I'm simplifying my setup to focus on the coffee itself rather than gear accumulation, and why I believe slowing down and staying present with each brew is the key to real improvement. This is about going deeper than surface-level knowledge and discovering what mastery really means in the world of coffee.

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In this episode, I dive deep into a brewing experiment that challenged my coffee preferences and taught me valuable lessons about knowing what you truly enjoy. I challenged myself to brew a medium roast coffee at 200 degrees Fahrenheit using a 1:17 ratio, pushing the boundaries of my usual brewing comfort zone. Through this experiment, I discovered that this weak brewing ratio simply doesn't work for my palate - it tastes like tea rather than the robust coffee experience I crave.

I share my honest thoughts about how the 1:17 ratio creates a muddy, unclear cup that lacks the personality and character I've come to love in coffee. I explain why I prefer the 1:15 ratio, which delivers the perfect balance of heaviness and clarity that allows me to actually taste what I'm drinking. By listening to this episode, you'll learn the importance of understanding your own coffee preferences rather than following what others say you should like, and how experimenting with different brewing parameters can help you discover your personal coffee sweet spot.

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In this episode, I share my ambitious resolution for the year: mastering coffee through intentional failure and relentless experimentation. I open up about what this journey means to me—pushing past comfort zones, questioning the status quo of specialty coffee, and discovering why certain coffees, roast degrees, and brewing methods work the way they do. I talk about my desire to understand everything from light roasts to dark roasts, from Brazilian coffees to exotic processing methods, and from basic Mr. Coffee machines to high-end ZP6 grinders. This isn't just about acquiring knowledge; it's about tearing down what I think I know and starting fresh with curiosity and wonder.

By listening to this episode, you'll gain insight into what it means to pursue coffee mastery as a personal challenge rather than a destination. I discuss the role failure plays in learning, why I want to test recipes for AeroPress and pour-overs, how I plan to use my palate and refractometer to push extraction boundaries, and why I'm inviting you into this journey. You'll learn about my plans to experiment with roast profiles, understand climate change's impact on coffee, question specialty coffee rules, and ultimately help you think differently about your own coffee routine. This is about breaking free from the rinse-and-repeat cycle and truly understanding the logic behind every brewing decision we make.

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In this episode, I dive deep into the engineering and geometry behind pour-over coffee brewers, drawing from my background as a drainage engineer to explain how water flow impacts extraction. I break down the science behind popular brewers like the Hario V60, Fellow Stagg, Deep 27, and the UFO dripper, examining how their cone angles and design features manipulate water flow to create different extraction profiles. I demonstrate how steep angles create faster flow rates, while gentler slopes allow for longer contact time between water and coffee grounds, ultimately affecting the flavor in your cup.

Listeners will learn how to think critically about their brewing equipment by understanding the relationship between brewer geometry, grind size, and extraction percentage. I share real-world experiments, including surprising results from using extremely coarse grinds on slow-draining brewers and explain why certain devices require specific grind adjustments. Whether you're using a V60, a flat-bottom dripper, or something more exotic, you'll walk away with a framework for mastering your brewing device by understanding its fundamental design principles rather than just following recipes.

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In this episode, I get real about something we don't talk about enough in specialty coffee: not every coffee is going to be special to you, and that's perfectly okay. I share my experience with a lightly roasted Kenyan coffee that smells divine but I just don't like, and reflect on a customer review that said my Brazilian coffee "wasn't special enough." I dive into why coffee preference is entirely personal and subjective, and why once a bag of coffee leaves a roaster's hands, it becomes yours to judge however you want.

I also open up about my own coffee preferences—I'm a medium to dark roast person who craves acidity balanced with sweetness, and I'm not big on natural process coffees or overly fruit-forward profiles. I explain my complicated relationship with Brazilian coffee: it's the most important coffee for introducing people to specialty, and it's my best seller, but I can only drink it for a couple hundred grams before I need something else. You'll learn why being honest with yourself about what you like and don't like is the most important skill in coffee, and I'll encourage you to write down your preferences so you can understand your palate better. This episode is about embracing your taste, welcoming feedback, and understanding that growth comes from knowing exactly why you like what you like.

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For good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.com

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In this reflective episode, I share my birthday thoughts about what really matters in the coffee journey. I talk about how I've accumulated so much coffee gear and knowledge about brewing techniques, but I realized I've been missing the forest for the trees. I discuss how we often get caught up in the latest grinders, brewers, water recipes, and extraction methods, but forget to truly understand the coffee itself. I use the Hario V60 Switch as an example of how even when trying to talk about coffee fundamentals, we slip into gear talk. I emphasize the importance of knowing which coffee varieties we actually like, understanding why certain flavor profiles resonate with us or turn us off, and learning how to make simple adjustments to bring out the best in each coffee.

By listening to this episode, you'll gain a new perspective on your coffee journey and learn why focusing on understanding the actual coffee—its origins, varieties, roast levels, and flavor profiles—matters more than accumulating equipment. I'll help you think critically about your own coffee preferences and inspire you to develop a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the coffee you brew every day, regardless of which method or equipment you use.

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For good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.com

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In this episode, I dive deep into the world's most controversial brewing device - the AeroPress. I share my honest journey from initially thinking it was garbage to learning to appreciate its unique capabilities. I discuss a thoughtful comment from a listener about AeroPress techniques, exploring both the traditional and inverted brewing methods. I break down the common leakage issues with paper filters versus metal filters, and why I've come to prefer the metal filter for its consistency and reusability.

I also explore how the AeroPress community is beautifully divided in their opinions and techniques, which actually drives innovation and improvement in brewing methods. I discuss how manufacturers like AeroPress and Prismo have created accessories to solve common brewing challenges, showing how user feedback shapes product development. By listening to this episode, you'll gain insights into different AeroPress brewing techniques, understand why this device sparks such passionate debates, and learn how to approach coffee brewing with an open mind focused on personal preference and continuous improvement.

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For good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.com

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In this episode, I'm diving into coffee grinder recommendations—specifically why I don't recommend the Baratza Virtuoso despite owning it for years. I share my honest experience with this popular $250 grinder, explaining how it performs flawlessly mechanically and looks great on your counter, but ultimately falls short in what matters most: the cup quality. I talk about how the Virtuoso produces a muddy, concentrated flavor profile where all the tasting notes hit at once and then dissipate, making it difficult to distinguish the nuanced characteristics that make each coffee unique. I explain why this becomes more apparent as your palate develops and you start seeking clarity and separation in your cups.

I also provide practical alternatives that deliver better value and cup quality. I recommend starting with the Baratza Encore, which offers the same grinding capability as the Virtuoso but costs $70-100 less, making it a smarter entry point into quality grinding. For those ready to explore hand grinding, I discuss the Timemore K6 as an excellent option that provides noticeably better clarity and separation in the cup at around $80-100. By listening to this episode, you'll learn how to make smarter purchasing decisions that align with your coffee journey stage, understand why grinder profiles matter as much as grind settings, and discover when it's time to upgrade as your palate evolves.

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For good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.com

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In this episode, I dive into my latest obsession: perfecting Japanese milk bread. But this isn't just about bread—it's about how pursuing mastery in one craft can transform your approach to another. I share my journey of deliberately choosing to make Japanese milk bread once a week, experimenting with different flours, ratios, techniques, and baking methods, all while staying intentionally naive to outside influences. I explain why I'm avoiding extensive research and instead learning through trial and error, letting my own curiosity guide the way. Drawing parallels to my experience mastering pork ribs and comparing it to the meticulous dedication shown in "Jiro Dreams of Sushi," I explore how the mindset of perpetual studentship applies to everything we pursue.

What you'll learn from this episode: You'll discover how exploring a craft outside of coffee—whether it's bread making, barbecue, or any other pursuit—can sharpen your coffee brewing and roasting skills in unexpected ways. I'll show you why pushing yourself toward perfection in parallel pursuits creates mental frameworks that translate directly to understanding coffee better, from dialing in your brewer to tasting nuances in your beans. Whether you're in a coffee rut or riding high, this episode will inspire you to find that "other thing" that makes you a better coffee enthusiast.

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For good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.com

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In this episode, I share my weekend revelations about coffee brewing that completely shifted my perspective. I realized that it's not about the brewer—it's about the recipe and understanding the coffee itself. I tested different recipes with various devices, including the Hario V60 and Mugen Dripper, and discovered something profound: we often lose sight of what really matters in our coffee journey. I talk about the "holy trinity" of coffee brewing and why getting yourself out of the way is crucial to making better coffee.

By listening to this episode, you'll learn how to simplify your coffee routine and find more joy in your daily brewing ritual. I'll help you understand why having multiple brewers might be holding you back, and how focusing on just one or two devices can actually deepen your connection with coffee. You'll discover that you're already enough with what you have, and that the real magic happens when you truly understand your palate, your coffee, and your brewing device.

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For good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.com

For tips, tricks and still trying to figure it out: https://www.youtube.com/@everyday-beans