drink a better story.
drink a better story.
Thanks for stopping by our blog! Here you’ll find stories about our award-winning coffee beans, roasting, sourcing, farmers, who we are, and more. What does it mean to drink a better story? Read on & you’ll see!
Latte Art Tips & Tricks
One of our most frequent questions in our BonLife cafe is “how did you do that?!” in reference to latte art. Often the question comes from home baristas who genuinely want to learn more, so today we’re sharing some tips and tricks that will help you improve the quality of your latte art no matter your skill level.
Spring Cleaning—Specialty Coffee Version
It’s that time of year when we all start to feel the need to do a little spring cleaning. The weather is changing, the flowers are blooming, and the houses are getting cleaned out! But what about your at-home coffee set up? What are the best cleaning practices to keep your equipment running well and your coffee tasting amazing? Let’s break it down!
New Hario V60 Products!
You probably know by now that we love the Hario V60 here at BonLife. Today we’re super excited to announce that we are carrying some beautiful new Hario V60 merch at BonLife!
How to Make a Traditional Italian Macchiato
We’ve shared before how to make a third-wave specialty-coffee macchiato, but maybe you’re curious about how to make a traditional Italian macchiato. Today we’re sharing the recipe and steps for how to make one of those!
How to Dial in Coffee for the Perfect Extraction
We talked about extraction and how to taste for it in our last two blog posts. But what if a coffee isn’t extracting right and you need to dial it in? Once you know a coffee isn’t tasting right, how do you change it? We’re going to cover that in this blog post!
How to Taste for Extraction
This is our second installment in a blog series about the weighty topic of coffee extraction. Today’s subject is arguably the most important part: how to taste for extraction. After all, the whole point of extraction is finding the sweet spot where a coffee tastes the best.
What is Extraction?
A very commonly used term in the specialty coffee industry, extraction is extremely important to the taste of your coffee. But what is extraction in relation to coffee? It can be a complicated subject, but we’re going to break it down for you in a short blog series over the next few weeks.
Fall Coffee Inspiration
Our seasonal fall menu at the BonLife cafe is sooo good this year & we thought we’d share some of the inspiration with you all here!
What is a Cappuccino?
Originating in Italy, the cappuccino is one of the most tried and true espresso beverages out there. Its combination of espresso, velvety milk, and pillowy foam make a good cappuccino irresistible. But if you’ve ever wondered what exactly constitutes a cappuccino or more about its history or how to order one in a cafe, read on!
Tips for Improving Workflow as a Barista
Have you ever wanted to be faster or feel more efficient on bar? We’ve assembled some our favorite tips from pro BonLife baristas. Follow these helpful hints and you’re sure to feel faster and more empowered in your specialty coffee workflow!
Five Easy Ways to Elevate the Taste of Your Coffee at Home
Specialty coffee is an art form… which is a nice way to say it’s a finicky beast. The taste of coffee is affected by so many factors! Today we’re sharing five ways to quickly elevate the taste of your coffee at home. Pay attention to these factors that influence the taste of coffee, and you’ll start to see a huge improvement.
Water Temperature: Why Does it Matter so Much When Brewing Coffee?
You’ve probably noticed in all of our brew guides and recipes that we specify the temperature of water. Why is that? Hot water is hot water right? Not in the world of specialty coffee, it isn’t.
Fourth of July Coffee Recipes
It’s almost the Fourth, friends! Need some coffee inspiration for the big day? We’re sharing some summery coffee recipes on the blog today that are perfect for this holiday.
How to Brew Flash Brew Coffee
Flash brew coffee is a barista favorite, a quick and tasty way to brew iced coffee! Read on for details on what makes this brew method special and a guide on how to brew it.
How to Steam Milk
Steaming milk with beautiful microfoam is the first step to perfecting latte art. Not only that, but specialty coffee drinks taste better when the milk is steamed correctly. Why? Read on to find out!
All About Cold brew
Just in time for warm summer weather, here is your complete guide to cold brew!
What Not to Do: Specialty Coffee Edition
By popular demand we are blogging about a few common mistakes in specialty coffee! Read on for some pro tips on what not to do and take your at-home barista practice to the next level.
Flat White, Latte, Cappuccino: What’s the difference?
All milk-based espresso drinks are not created equal! Let’s talk about what makes a flat white, latte, and cappuccino different!
Coffee Pairing Suggestions
Chances are if you love coffee, you probably love food too! Let’s talk about some fun ways to pair different coffees with foods!