Everyday Beans Podcast - Mostly About Coffee and Other Stuff

Send us a textIn 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.Support the showFor good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.comFor tips, tricks and still trying to figure it out: https://www.youtube.com/@everyday-beans

Send us a textIn 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.Support the showFor good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.comFor tips, tricks and still trying to figure it out: https://www.youtube.com/@everyday-beans

Send us a textIn 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.Support the showFor good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.comFor tips, tricks and still trying to figure it out: https://www.youtube.com/@everyday-beans

Send us a textIn 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.Support the showFor good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.comFor tips, tricks and still trying to figure it out: https://www.youtube.com/@everyday-beans

Send us a textIn 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.Support the showFor good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.comFor tips, tricks and still trying to figure it out: https://www.youtube.com/@everyday-beans