Flash Brew Coffee, Explained, with Photos

barista making flash brew iced coffee
Making flash brew coffee iced pour over with Ethiopian beans at a Wayward coffee shop in Dallas.

by Lars H

I thought I had heard of most kinds of coffee. But strangely, I had never heard of flash coffee before, also known as flash brewed coffee. Flash coffee is a Japanese pour over coffee method that makes a cold, iced coffee.

It seemed interesting, but also confusing as to how it was different than regular pour over ice coffee. So I did some searching and found a coffee shop in Dallas that makes flash brew pour over coffee and drove their to check it out for myself. I asked the barista some questions about it and even took some photos so you can see for yourself how it works.

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Merit Coffee Shops in Dallas, My Review with Photos

Merit Coffee Dallas coffee shop exterior in Highland Park
Merit Coffee shop exterior in the Highland Park neighborhood of Dallas

by Lars H

Are you into the third wave kind of specialty coffee taste, with lots of sour and citrus notes? If so, you will love Merit Coffee! If you like more mainstream coffee notes like chocolate and nuts, you might not be as fond of the coffee there.

When I visited, I ordered a decaf Americano, a macchiato (the true Italian style that’s a shot of espresso with a spoon of milk foam), and a drip coffee. They are into the “coffee snob” notes and everything has a very sour taste. The drip coffee was described as Honduran with vanilla, rose and anise notes. The Americano had some citrus or fruit notes, but compared to the drip coffee it was more mainstream. Lots of people were buying bags of coffee beans that morning, which I rarely see at other shops. 

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McDonald’s McCafe Colombian Roast Bagged Coffee, Reviewed, Taste Tested with Photos

McCafe columbian ground coffee

by Nigel Ong

McCafe is part of McDonald’s but focuses on serving espresso-based coffee instead of regular fast food. Aside from serving great coffee in their cafes, you can also purchase their roasts in bags at your nearby grocery aisles.

However, how good are these roasts? Do they taste as good as served fresh from their cafes, or is it nothing but a poorer substitute? I set out to find this out. 

In this post, I will brew the McCafe Colombian Roast and sample its taste. I then try to flavor it with popular flavorings to see if they improve the taste of the coffee. Finally, I compare the coffee with other medium roasts and also other McCafe roasts.

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Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino: Ready Made Bottle vs. Barista-Prepared at a Starbucks, Taste Tested

Mocha Frappuccino from starbucks and from the bottle

by Nigel Ong

The Mocha Frappuccino may be one of the most popular drinks in Starbucks today. It is ice cold, slushy, and full of chocolatey-coffee goodness. Add some cream on top… oh yeah. 

It sold so well that Starbucks introduced a Ready-To-Drink (RTD) version of the drink. This way, you can enjoy your Mocha Frappuccino anytime you like. Just pick one from your grocery aisles. 

However, do these RTD versions taste the same as the Mocha Frappuccino your barista makes at Starbucks? To answer this, I got onto a bit of an experiment myself. I compare the RTD Mocha Frappuccino and the hand-made drink version in this post.

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Bodum Caffetiera vs IKEA Upphetta: an Owner’s French Press Comparison with Photos

Bodum Caffetiera vs IKEA Upphetta french presses side by side

by Nigel Ong

French press is a popular way of brewing coffee since it is easy and simple. However, the issue is to get the French press that suits your style and needs – there are tons of French press makers out there to choose from. 

I enjoy brewing with French presses and have tried many over the years. In the end, I settled with two, the Bodum Caffettiera and the IKEA Upphetta. I think they offer the best balance between value and performance.

However, how do you choose from one? In this post, I will try to compare the two. I list their characteristics and differences before sharing who should own which French press. 

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Wacaco Minipresso GR portable mini espresso machine: my review, tips and photos

Wacaco Minipresso GR unpacked

by Nigel Ong

I can be a bit of a coffee addict, and I want to enjoy my coffee whenever I like it. However, good coffee can be hard to access when I go on trips. I finally solved the issue with an espresso brewer that does not require electricity access.

Enter the Wacaco Minipresso GR. I bought this tool with the idea that if I can make espresso anywhere I want, I can easily turn the espresso into Americano or other coffee drinks too. 

So far, I enjoy using this tool, especially on the road. There are, of course, parts I do not enjoy. 

In this post, I will review my Wacaco Minipresso GR in depth. I will explain the full range of Wacaco’s products and the parts in the Minipresso GR. Then, I discuss what I like and don’t like about my Minipresso and if you should get one for yourself. 

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IKEA Uphetta French Press Coffee Maker, My Review with Photos

IKEA uphetta french press coffee maker pouring fresh coffee

by Nigel Ong

French presses are a popular way to brew coffee, and many coffee equipment makers have also created their own version of it. IKEA is not an exception to this and offers several French press models. 

The IKEA Upphetta is the most affordable and possibly the best-selling of these French presses. However, how good is the IKEA Upphetta? Can it stand up against more premium makers such as Bodum?

In this post, I will review the IKEA Upphetta and share my experience using it regularly for the past two years. I also talk about what I like and don’t like about the French press. Finally, I try to determine who should get the IKEA Upphetta.

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IKEA Produkt Milk Frother Review: Can Cheap be Any Good? (with Photos)

by Nigel Ong

Sometimes, the inner barista in us just wants to steam some milk and pour our own cup of Latte, Cappuccino, or Cortado. However, it may be expensive to purchase an espresso machine, especially those with milk steamers.

What about a much cheaper solution instead? Please pick up a milk frother such as IKEA Produkt, and then froth your warm milk with it. Unlike espresso machines that cost hundreds, the Produkt costs a measly… $7. That’s pocket spare change for many of us.

I have been using one on and off for the past 2 years, and I thought I would share my experience using the frother. I’ll talk about why I like it, why I don’t like the IKEA Produkt, and who should get it.

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My Review of the Bodum Caffettiera French Press Coffee Maker, with Tips & Photos

bodum french press pouring coffee

by Nigel Ong

The French press is a very popular way to brew coffee. Fans of them enjoy how simple it is to brew with one and the strong, flavorful coffee it makes. 

I regularly make my coffee with a French press, and my regular go-to is the Bodum Caffettiera, the original French press. It is one of those rather premium French presses; some people may not see the need to use one. Is it really better than other French presses?

In this post, I review my personal Bodum Caffettiera French press. I also discuss what I like and don’t like about it. Finally, I share some tips on using the French press better, based on my own experience.

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History of the Original Starbucks Clover Machine – Specialty Individual Drip Coffees

Two Clover coffee machines side by side at a Starbucks Reserve store in Dallas.

by Lars H

Way back in the early 2000s, there was a new high end drip coffee machine in town, called the Clover. The Clover machine made drip coffees one at a time, and allowed amazing detail and precision for brewing a coffee. You could choose the exact water temperature and extraction time, allowing you to really dial in exactly how you wanted a coffee to taste.

The Clover was a breakthrough drip coffee machine, and only a few speciality coffee shops had them. They cost around $11,000 at the time, and were designed for commercial use and not really intended for individuals to own as a home coffee maker.

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