clearlycoffee

In France, espresso is spelled expresso

by
Boissons Chaudes French menu with expresso spelling
Here’s an example of a French hot drink menu with the expresso spelling.

by Lars Hundley

Perhaps you’ve heard people mispronounce espresso as expresso and rolled your eyes, feeling superior that you know the true pronunciation. But if you take a trip to France, get ready, because it really is EXpresso there, and spelled with an x instead of an s.

In the world of coffee, few drinks are as internationally recognized as the humble espresso. This potent shot of coffee, originating from Italy, has been embraced by cultures worldwide, each adding their own nuances to its preparation and consumption. Interestingly, as the word has been adopted into different languages, variations in spelling have emerged. One such example is in French, where “espresso” is spelled as “expresso.”

Read more

I Tasted All the Dunkin Refresher Flavors – Here’s What I Thought

by
7 of 9 total Dunkin Refreshers in a group

by Lars H

If the weather is hot, I typically prefer an iced coffee. But I noticed these Dunkin Refreshers the other day and decided to try them all to see what they were like and review them for the site. Here’s what happened.

First of all, they thought it was a little weird when I asked for one of each Refresher. I thought I was ordering just three drinks, because there are three different flavor options: Mango Pineapple, Strawberry Dragonfruit and Raspberry Watermelon.

But guess what. Then he asked, “Do you want the green tea Refresher or the lemonade Refresher?” Now we were up to six drinks. Each small drink is $3.69, so now we’re at more than $22. But hey, I’m doing this for you guys and you’re all worth it, right? Right? You’d better be.

I agree to the six different drinks and he starts to ring it up and then he says, “Hey, what about coconut? There’s also coconut Refreshers.”

Unfortunately, as much as I care about you guys, I had to draw the line somewhere, and nine drinks at once was too much. I decided I’d just have ONE of the coconut flavors, because that would be enough to get an idea of what the coconut ones were like compared to green tea and lemonade.

Read more

Is Blonde Roast Stronger Coffee?

by

QUESTION: I recently drank some blonde roast coffee for the first time because they were out of dark roast and I didn’t want to wait for them to brew more. To my great surprise, I felt much more stimulated after them than after having the dark roasted Italian coffee I usually drink. Hence my question: Is blonde roast stronger coffee? – Ezra G

DARREN OLIVER AT CLEARLY COFFEE REPLIES: An experience of this type is not at all uncommon! Many people are surprised by the boost that light-roasted coffee gives them. Why? In my opinion, this is mainly due to the lack of a strict definition of what exactly “strong” coffee is. But before we talk about that, let’s briefly explain what a blonde roast is.

Read more

Over Extracted Coffee, Explained

by
DeLonghi manual espresso machine

by Darren Oliver

It has happened to each of us: you open a packet of freshly roasted, aromatic beans, brew them in your favorite brewer, pour it into a cup, take the first sip, and… something is wrong. Instead of rich, intense aromas, you feel only bitterness, an unpleasant aftertaste, and even dryness in your mouth.

What happened? Well, probably your coffee was over extracted. However, don’t worry! In this article, we’ll explain the science behind over extraction, its symptoms, and solutions to help you brew the perfect, flavor-balanced coffee.

Read more

What Is Special About Yemen Coffee?

by
Qamaria Yemen coffee beans

QUESTION: The last time I was in a coffee shop I came across beans from Yemen for the first time. Intrigued, I decided to buy a pack. However, my attention was drawn to the fact that being a coffee drinker for years, this was the first time I had come across coffee from Yemen. What is special about Yemen coffee? Why can it be seen so rarely on the shelves of coffee shops?

DARREN OLIVER AT CLEARLY COFFEE REPLIES: Beans from Yemen (and Yemen coffee in general) are indeed something amazing and special. I remember when I had the first opportunity to taste them myself. I was stunned by the taste, which I felt for the first time in my life. The coffee was chocolaty, earthy, and even a bit “spicy,” but at the same time it didn’t have a heavy character, it was refreshing, light, and delicious, with floral and berry notes being very palpable. So, why is it so special?

Read more

Does Folgers make Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee? I called to find out.

by
Dunkin' and Folgers coffees on the grocery store shelves

by Lars Hundley

If you’ve ever bought Dunkin coffee to make at home, maybe you’ve wondered where it actually comes from. Who makes it?

I was on the phone with Folgers coffee in June 2023 to get an answer about which of their coffees were 100 percent Arabica beans. As they were answering my question, they mentioned that they also make Dunkin’ coffee, and all of the Dunkin coffees are made of 100 percent Arabica beans. (You can confirm it about the beans on their FAQ page.)

Both the Folgers and Dunkin coffee brands (and also Bustelo) are owned by JM Smucker. It isn’t the same coffee though! Coffees have different bean recipes, different roasts and other ways to distinguish themselves and have a distinctive taste. So even if a coffee comes from the same roaster, the blend of the beans and the level of roasting would make it taste differently.

Read more

Coffee Explained: What’s a noisette in France?

by
iced americano, noisette and a cookie

by Lars Hundley

On a recent trip to Paris, I realized that there was a coffee option I kept seeing on the menu in various cafes that I was not familiar with — a noisette. What was it? I asked the waiter behind the bar in a cafe and then ordered a couple at different cafes to try it out and taste for myself.

First of all, if you speak some French, then the name of this coffee might confuse you and give you a misleading idea of what it actually is! The French word noisette means hazelnut.

But a noisette coffee has NO hazelnut or hazelnut flavoring in it. It’s called that because of the color of the resulting coffee drink, which is a brown color similar to the color of a hazelnut. Not because there is any actual hazelnut as an ingredient or flavoring.

Read more

Ristretto vs. Long Shot, Fully Explained

by
2 lungo coffees in a cafe in Paris
Two Lungo coffees at a cafe in Paris, also known there as an allonge

by Darren Oliver

During the first coffee training, every barista must master one basic art: brewing a good espresso. It is this beverage, which originated in Italy, that is the absolute foundation that allows you to make many other brews: lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites… all these coffees can be made once you fully understand what espresso brewing is all about.

However, by mastering this difficult art, you gain another option: after all, espresso has its variations, and two of the most popular are ristretto and long coffee. So today we’ll discuss how to brew both, discuss the particular characteristics that differentiate them from each other, and finally answer some questions that novice coffee drinkers may have.

Read more

What are the cleanest coffee brands?

by
coffee beans in a canister

QUESTION: What are the cleanest coffee brands? I am looking for coffee that’s free of pesticides, but also free of mycotoxins. In other words, I want the purest coffee, and I want it to be mold free coffee. – Jules F

CLEARLY COFFEE REPLIES: Coffee drinkers choose clean and/or organic coffee brands for many different reasons. Perhaps they want to know that their money is going towards sustainable coffee and an environmentally friendly product. Maybe they just enjoy the taste of organic coffees more than big corporate coffee. Or maybe it’s all about getting a clean, unadulterated product that you can trust. In your case we know you’re looking for organic and mycotoxin free.

I’ve gathered up a list for you below, and tried most of these coffees personally.

Read more