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State of Coffee

The Best Espresso Machine

The most common question we get at CoffeeGeek, finally answered: what is the world's best consumer espresso machine? We have two picks.

Welcome to the 2024 Version of CoffeeGeek

The CoffeeGeek website gets a complete overhaul and design update for 2024, making the site faster, more responsive, and more accessible.

Coffee Gear Acquisition: The Silly Season

More big ticket coffee and espresso gear is bought in the last 40 days of a year, than the rest of the year combined. How do you come ahead?

A Business Model of Care: Kyra Kennedy

With Kyra Kennedy retiring from the company she co-founded, Baratza, we look at her impact and legacy in specialty coffee.

An Espresso Glossary

A detailed glossary of terms and words used in the world of espresso. Often updated, and will soon be part of CoffeeGeek's Masterclass on espresso.

Moving Towards a New CoffeeGeek

Some ten years in the making, we finally overhauled the CoffeeGeek website and have had to make some difficult changes doing so.

The Idea of Coffee as a “Luxury”

Some expanded thoughts on "coffee as a luxury", and cases where it definitely is a luxury, and other ways it's a bargain in the quality beverage world.

Announcing a Major Change for CoffeeGeek

Announcing major changes to the CoffeeGeek Website, coming soon.

Coffee Brewers / Pour Overs in 2017

2017 Saw lots of innovation in the automated coffee brewing world, with many more devices meeting SCA standards. Pour Overs? Not so much innovation. Let's look back!

The Sette Grinder – A(nother) Potential Game Changer from Baratza

We take a detailed look at the consumer grinder market since the early 1990s, and detail why 2016 is poised to be "the year of the grinder".

State of Coffee Columnist

Mark Prince

Mark has certified as a Canadian, USA, and World Barista Championship Judge in both sensory and technical fields, as well as working as an instructor in coffee and espresso training. He started CoffeeGeek in 2001.

Column Info

The State of Coffee column covers everything from the controversial to the commonplace in the world of coffee and espresso. We’ll look at current trends, techniques, technologies and methodologies. We’ll also explore the cultural aspects of coffee and espresso.

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State of Coffee Archives

Real Espresso Myths that Need Busting

September 9, 2015

Inspired (sort of) by some questionable myth busting in an espresso education series online, we tackle some real, genuine espresso myths, including caffeine levels, bold coffee and more.

Can These Filters Change Espresso?

April 29, 2011

A strong development in one of the key elements in what helps to brew espresso -- the filter -- finally gets some major overhauling. Find out more in this exclusive look at VST's new espresso filters.

Less Throw Downs, More Spro Downs!

September 20, 2010

The barista communities in many parts of the world love the latte art throwdown; but maybe it's time to up the game a bit and start loving the Spro Down a bit more, for the benefit of quality and the pursuit of espresso happiness (and winner take all prizes!)

State of Espresso in 2010

August 15, 2010

More observations on the State of Espresso in 2010, including pressure and temperature profiling, more on single origins, consumers vs pros, and trends in espresso.

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Battle Espresso: N. America vs Italy

October 8, 2007

In the third (and last, for now) article in a series, we finally get down to brass tacks as it where, and put some of the best major market coffees out of Italy against some of the best that the US and Canada has to offer in this Battle Italy vs. North America Espresso shootout. It ain't over by a long shot.

Establishing an Espresso Evaluation Process

September 29, 2007

Taking a fresh look at a recent espresso ranking article on a popular coffee website, Mark Prince talks through the process of evaluating espresso, setting up CoffeeGeek's first ever major espresso blend review, coming in the next State of Coffee column.

Peets, Baskets and Italian vs. N. American Blends

September 1, 2007

State of Coffee this week has a look at the legacy of Alfred Peet, a huge call out for manufacturers to improve filter baskets and dispersion screens, and some discussion about the recent Italian vs. US blends reviews on Coffee Review.

Kickstarting the Rant and Rave Column

August 20, 2007

After some time of neglect, the senior editor for CoffeeGeek works on revitalizing his main column on the website, and calling it The State of Coffee.

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CoffeeGeek has been online for 22 years now, educating, entertaining, and connecting the specialty coffee loving public. This is the sixth version of our website, and is a work in progress, with our new Featured Guides and Newsletter. More community features coming soon.