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Field notes on coffee from the iCoffee team.

Overhead view of an espresso in a small white cup on a saucer, with a thick layer of golden crema, a silver spoon, and an amaretti cookie on the side.

How to Make Espresso at Home: Recipe + Fixes

How to make espresso at home: the recipe, the four numbers that shape a shot, what to adjust first when one is off, and what to do without a machine.

Taissa Conde

Co-founder of iCoffee

·13 min read

A three-panel collage: a gooseneck kettle pouring water through a paper filter into a V60-style pour-over dripper with steam rising, a French press sitting on a digital scale in front of wooden window blinds, and a person pressing the plunger of an AeroPress positioned on top of a clear glass vessel.

Pour over vs French press vs AeroPress

Pour-over vs French press vs AeroPress: a direct guide to picking the right brewing method for your taste, skill level, and routine.

Vanessa Simões

Co-founder of iCoffee

·13 min read

A home kitchen counter with two stovetop moka pots on a gas hob, beside jars and a tiled wall

Why Does My Coffee Taste Bitter? 7 Causes

Why does my coffee taste bitter? Here are the 7 real causes, from grind size to water quality, the exact fix for each, and how to diagnose your own cup.

Vanessa Simões

Co-founder of iCoffee

·12 min read

Four burr coffee grinders lined up on a kitchen counter, ranging from budget to premium models.

Is Your Grinder the Problem? How to Tell Before You Upgrade

Before you spend money on a new grinder or espresso machine, here's how to use your own brew data to confirm which one is actually your bottleneck.

Taissa Conde

Co-founder of iCoffee

·10 min read

Two-page notebook spread. Left page lists general extraction rules and taste-correction notes. Right page shows a numbered grinder log with seventeen entries tracking bean type, dose, and time.

Consistently Good Espresso at Home: The Notebook That Started iCoffee

What 60 espresso pulls in a beginner's notebook taught me about the only variable that actually matters at home, and how that notebook became the iCoffee app.

Taissa Conde

Co-founder of iCoffee

·10 min read

A home pour over coffee brewing setup with a gooseneck kettle, dripper, and scale on a kitchen counter.

Why your coffee tastes bitter, sour, or weak (and how to fix it)

A practical diagnostic guide to figuring out what went wrong with your home coffee, and how to fix it without buying new gear.

Vanessa Simões

Co-founder of iCoffee

·9 min read