https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/fellow-stagg-ekg-review-roundup 2026-08-17T12:53:52-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-17837368.jpg?v=1786985632 Fellow Stagg EKG: what the owner record actually says Stainless steel gooseneck kettle resting on a warm wooden kitchen counter https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/comandante-c40-review-roundup 2026-08-17T12:53:53-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-6205730.jpg?v=1786985633 Comandante C40 MK4: the rare consensus buy Hands grinding fresh beans with a stainless steel manual coffee grinder https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/fellow-opus-review-roundup 2026-08-17T12:53:55-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-4509577.jpg?v=1786985635 Fellow Opus: good filter grinder, oversold espresso claim Sleek electric burr grinder in a dim, cozy coffee bar https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/timemore-black-mirror-review-roundup 2026-08-17T12:53:55-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-6858134.jpg?v=1786985635 Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2: the budget scale that ended the debate Digital coffee scale weighing a glass pot during a slow brew https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/hario-v60-review-roundup 2026-08-17T12:53:56-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-35710567.jpg?v=1786985636 Hario V60: buy the plastic one Barista carefully pouring hot water through a V60 cone dripper https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/aeropress-review-roundup 2026-08-17T12:53:58-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-7421212.jpg?v=1786985638 AeroPress: the brewer nobody returns Hands pressing an AeroPress to brew coffee into a glass carafe https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/chemex-review-roundup 2026-08-17T12:53:59-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-6660455.jpg?v=1786985639 Chemex: the beautiful, breakable clean-cup machine Chemex carafe of freshly brewed coffee on a warm wooden surface https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/kalita-wave-review-roundup 2026-08-17T12:54:00-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-18963456.jpg?v=1786985640 Kalita Wave 185: pour over without the choreography Flat-bottom Kalita dripper brewing coffee in a cozy cafe corner https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/baratza-encore-esp-review-roundup 2026-08-17T12:54:01-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-5192029.jpg?v=1786985641 Baratza Encore ESP: entry espresso's honest workhorse Portafilter filled with freshly ground espresso beside the grinder https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/how-to-dial-in-espresso 2026-10-05T16:31:23-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/La_Marzocco_Espresso.jpg?v=1788897724 How to dial in espresso (without wasting a bag) Espresso extracting from a La Marzocco machine while dialing in https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/sour-espresso-fix 2026-08-17T13:06:43-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-30899953.jpg?v=1786986403 Sour espresso: what it's telling you, and the order to fix it Espresso extraction dripping from a bare portafilter mid-shot https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/bitter-espresso-fix 2026-08-17T13:06:45-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-9052283.jpg?v=1786986405 Bitter espresso: what it's telling you, and the order to fix it Dark espresso shot with heavy crema brewing into a shot glass https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/how-to-clean-a-coffee-grinder 2026-08-17T13:07:27-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-13695995.jpg?v=1786986447 How to clean a coffee grinder (and how often it actually needs it) Coffee grinder with leftover grounds on a dark wooden surface https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/espresso-machine-cleaning-schedule 2026-08-17T13:07:28-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-13735825.jpg?v=1786986448 The espresso machine cleaning schedule (daily, weekly, monthly) Barista wiping down an espresso machine with a soft cloth https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/how-to-descale-espresso-machine 2026-10-08T10:22:44-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-6271316.jpg?v=1786986449 How to descale an espresso machine, and when you shouldn't Gooseneck kettle heating water over a low open flame https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/water-for-espresso-machines 2026-08-17T13:07:30-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-6032817.jpg?v=1786986450 Water for espresso machines, without the chemistry degree Clean water poured from a carafe into a clear glass https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/first-espresso-setup 2026-10-06T11:05:50-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-28935723.jpg?v=1786986454 A first espresso setup you won't replace: $700, $1,500, $3,000 Complete home espresso corner with machine, grinder, and beans in sunlight https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/coffee-scales-what-money-buys 2026-08-17T13:07:35-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-31269253.jpg?v=1786986455 Coffee scales: what $25, $55, and $250 actually buy Espresso pouring into a measuring cup on a digital coffee scale https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/upgrade-the-grinder-first 2026-09-15T11:27:27-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-36263977.jpg?v=1786986459 Grinder First: The Honest Upgrade Order Burr grinder hopper filled with freshly roasted coffee beans https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/linea-mini-cost-of-ownership 2026-09-17T10:08:27-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-19651262.jpg?v=1786986402 What a La Marzocco Linea Mini actually costs to own Espresso machine settled into a wooden home kitchen counter https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/espresso-sour-or-bitter-fix-by-taste 2026-10-05T16:30:47-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-4350305.jpg?v=1786986406 Espresso Sour or Bitter? Fix Your Shot by Taste Person pausing to taste a fresh espresso in a quiet cafe https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/coffee-extraction-vs-strength 2026-10-05T16:30:47-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-19114060.jpg?v=1786986407 Coffee Extraction vs. Strength: The Two Dials Behind Every Cup Two coffee cups side by side on a dark wooden table https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/espresso-ratio 2026-10-05T16:31:23-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/hf_20260922_151219_3652ef92-8fde-4dfa-bbb5-69117d82d0f3.png?v=1790091262 Espresso Ratio: The Number That Runs Your Shot Portafilter pouring espresso into a shot glass on a scale, illustrating weighing an espresso ratio https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/espresso-grind-size 2026-09-25T07:00:09-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/hf_20260922_151219_17205aa3-b00b-42a9-ae62-92ff68157414.png?v=1790090718 Espresso Grind Size: The Only Setting You Touch Every Day Five piles of coffee grounds arranged from coarse to fine, showing the espresso grind size progression https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/best-coffee-grinder-for-espresso 2026-10-01T07:00:07-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-4349797.jpg?v=1786986460 The best coffee grinder for espresso, by budget and temperament Grinder dosing freshly ground coffee straight into a portafilter https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/best-coffee-scale 2026-10-08T07:00:06-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-8742029.jpg?v=1786986456 The best coffee scale: what matters, what doesn't, what to buy Coffee scale under a glass carafe and dripper mid-brew https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/best-beginner-espresso-machine 2026-10-06T09:02:03-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-14764710.jpg?v=1786986461 The best beginner espresso machine, honestly Compact espresso machine brewing a morning shot at home https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/coffee-to-water-ratio 2026-10-06T11:05:52-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-7125706.jpg?v=1786986462 Coffee-to-Water Ratios Without the Dogma Moody close-up of a manual pour over brew in progress https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/dial-in-a-new-bag-in-three-shots 2026-10-05T16:30:34-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-24902944.jpg?v=1786986463 Dial In a New Bag in Three Shots, Not Ten Fresh roastery coffee bag beside brewing gear ready for dialing in https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/how-to-store-coffee-beans 2026-10-05T16:30:34-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-13787585.jpg?v=1786986464 How to store coffee beans (and when the freezer wins) Glass jars overflowing with dark roasted coffee beans https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/resting-coffee-beans 2026-10-05T16:30:34-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-16615074.jpg?v=1786986466 Too fresh? Why resting coffee matters Rustic bags of roasted coffee beans resting after the roast https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/best-water-for-coffee 2026-10-05T16:30:42-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-36941164.jpg?v=1786986452 The Best Water for Coffee, Minus the Chemistry Degree Fresh water poured into a glass mug in warm low light https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/v60-recipe 2026-10-05T16:30:42-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-29619149.jpg?v=1786986467 A Written V60 Recipe You Can Actually Follow Red V60 dripper brewing a recipe onto a digital scale https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/when-to-descale-espresso-machine 2026-10-05T16:30:42-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/small-hours-espresso-shot-dark-kitchen.jpg?v=1788897722 You May Never Need to Descale (Read Before You Do) Espresso pulling into a glass on a home machine in a dim kitchen https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/how-to-make-cold-foam 2026-10-05T16:30:42-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/small-hours-holding-latte-at-the-bar.jpg?v=1788897721 How to Make Cold Foam at Home (and Why It Works) Hand holding a latte topped with foam in a glass at a cafe bar https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/why-grinding-finer-can-make-espresso-worse 2026-10-05T16:31:22-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-36343662.jpg?v=1789486593 Why Grinding Finer Can Make Your Espresso Worse Macro close-up of finely ground espresso showing particle texture https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/wdt-tool 2026-09-17T10:08:27-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-14770388.jpg?v=1789486449 The WDT Tool: What It Fixes (and the $1 Version) Loose coffee grounds in a portafilter basket before stirring and tamping https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/reading-a-naked-portafilter 2026-09-17T10:08:27-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-15138581.jpg?v=1789486454 Reading a Naked Portafilter: What the Spray Is Telling You Espresso extracting from a portafilter into a glass on a scale mid-shot https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/cold-brew-ratio 2026-10-05T16:31:22-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-16284351.jpg?v=1789486456 Cold Brew Ratios, and the Acidity Myth Cold brew concentrate poured from a pot into a glass https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/turbo-shot-espresso 2026-09-21T09:42:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-9050522.jpg?v=1789486459 Turbo Shots: Fast Espresso Is Allowed A fast espresso stream pouring from the machine into a glass https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/rdt-coffee 2026-10-05T16:30:42-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-30444140.jpg?v=1789997789 One Spritz of Water Before Grinding (the Static Trick) Macro close-up of roasted coffee beans with small water droplets on their surface https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/coffee-bloom 2026-10-05T16:30:47-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/pexels-photo-32536993.jpg?v=1789997802 The Bloom, Explained in 60 Seconds and 6 Minutes Overhead view of hot water being poured over fresh coffee grounds in a pour over brewer https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/light-roast-espresso 2026-10-05T18:00:49-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/small-hours-light-roast-espresso-journal.png?v=1791237649 Light Roast Espresso Is a Different Sport An amber stream of espresso pouring into a clear glass beside light-roast coffee beans. https://drinksmallhours.com/blogs/journal/v60-slow-drawdown 2026-10-05T18:01:11-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0826/7736/7023/articles/small-hours-v60-drawdown-journal.png?v=1791237671 Why Your V60 Stalled: A Drawdown Diagnosis Saturated coffee grounds and pooled water inside a paper-lined clear pour-over dripper.