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Filter Stories Love coffee? Love podcasts? Filter Stories is a documentary podcast revealing the untold stories hidden in your cup of coffee.

How do we actually measure acidity in coffee? ☕️🔬pH? Titration? Turns out, none of these fully explain why two coffees c...
26/02/2025

How do we actually measure acidity in coffee? ☕️🔬

pH? Titration? Turns out, none of these fully explain why two coffees can taste equally acidic but feel completely different in the mouth. Our current tools just don’t capture acidity the way we experience it.

My latest podcast episode, Hot vs. Cold: The Science Behind Temperature and Taste, explores the weird ways our brains shape flavor perception. 🎧 Link in bio to listen!

Huge thanks to Professor Paul Breslin (Monell Chemical Senses Center) and Professor Bill Ristenpart (UC Davis Coffee Center) for helping me wrap my head around this!

Peter Giuliano () also recently wrote a great blog on the topic; link in bio!

New episode is out! When I first started making cold brew, I treated it like slow filter coffee. But no matter how I twe...
18/02/2025

New episode is out!

When I first started making cold brew, I treated it like slow filter coffee. But no matter how I tweaked the grind or brew time, the flavor barely changed.

Then it hit me: cold brew isn’t just a slower hot brew—it plays by its own rules.

In this episode, I speak with leading coffee researchers to break down why, and I share the brewing secret that can turn your cold brews from fruit juice to nutty creaminess.

Tap the link in bio to hear it!

It‘s almost here…!From cup to farm,bean to brain,and back again.The Science of Coffee returns in just a few weeks.Stay t...
23/01/2025

It‘s almost here…!

From cup to farm,
bean to brain,
and back again.

The Science of Coffee returns in just a few weeks.
Stay tuned.

Back in the early days of Filter Stories, I took on some extra work as an extra on film sets. And I was awful! If you’ve...
16/01/2025

Back in the early days of Filter Stories, I took on some extra work as an extra on film sets. And I was awful! If you’ve seen The Queen’s Gambit (episode 3), you’ll spot me as this supposed “important dude” walking around. Watching it back, I thought, “Wow, that is bad acting.”

Since then, I’ve been working on it—not to become an actor, but to push myself creatively. That’s where improv theatre came in.

Over the past year, I’ve been performing with a Berlin based improv group (.theatre), and it’s hands-down the hardest thing I’ve ever done!

Improv has taught me to get out of the hyper-analytical mindset I use to craft Filter Stories. With improv, you can’t plan or overthink—you have to be fully present and spontaneous.

And this December, I had my first ever public performance with my Scratch troupe—a sold-out show here in Berlin! Of course, there are a hundred things I wish I’d done differently….BUT there was one moment I’m really proud of: stepping onto stage as a h***y silverback gorilla locking eyes with a female gorilla mid-mating dance. The audience went wild 😳

If you’re in Berlin, I’d love to see you at a future show (details TBC). For now, here’s a little glimpse of the silverback gorilla in action! 🦍

Alvaro’s family has poured generations into their coffee farm—but war, historically low prices, and climate change have ...
30/12/2024

Alvaro’s family has poured generations into their coffee farm—but war, historically low prices, and climate change have made coffee farming increasingly unsustainable. 🌱💔

What’s his plan to keep the dream alive? Listen to the full story on my podcast. Link in bio. 🎧☕

Roasting automation is reshaping the coffee industry!These are my top three predictions for on how fully automatic elect...
11/12/2024

Roasting automation is reshaping the coffee industry!

These are my top three predictions for on how fully automatic electric roasters will upend the cafe and roasting market.

Do you agree? I want to hear your thoughts in the comments below :)

Also, the technology that powers a fully automated electric roaster is also super interesting. Follow the link in bio to hear the episode where I open up the ROEST P3000 and get geeky.

In 1860, Sri Lanka was one of the world's largest coffee producers. But 10 years later, it all collapsed. And many other...
09/12/2024

In 1860, Sri Lanka was one of the world's largest coffee producers. But 10 years later, it all collapsed. And many other coffee producing countries are also at risk.

Listen to my podcast episode “Coffee’s Ticking Time Bomb” to hear this incredible story told in vivid detail. Link in Bio.

A few weeks ago, I visited , one of the world’s oldest coffee roasting manufacturers. Over two days, I delved into the s...
22/11/2024

A few weeks ago, I visited , one of the world’s oldest coffee roasting manufacturers. Over two days, I delved into the science of coffee roasting, exploring their sophisticated roasting models, and got a mind-blowing tour of the factory. They build their machines from literal sheets of raw metal and then turn them into massive roasters, some capable of producing four or five tons of roasted coffee an hour! I stood on one roaster that was literally the size of a small ship!

This deep dive into roasting science will form the backbone of an upcoming episode in The Science of Coffee series. I uncovered some fascinating insights that have reshaped how I think about flavor formation during roasting, and I can’t wait to share it all with you. Stay tuned!

✨ Throwback to one of my very first Filter Stories episodes! ✨ is a Kenyan coffee legend. 10 years ago, he had a dream t...
14/11/2024

✨ Throwback to one of my very first Filter Stories episodes! ✨

is a Kenyan coffee legend.

10 years ago, he had a dream to win the World Barista Championship and inspire his country to realize just how exceptional their own coffee is.

But his WBC journey was wild. A rollercoaster of mishaps and dogged determination!

If you want to hear this topsy turney journey in all its glory, check out the episode “Berries and Lemon” on my Filter Stories podcast. 🎧 Link in bio!

My first BBC documentary is live!! Listen to it now by following the link in bio!In April I visited Brazil’s Pantanal, t...
09/11/2024

My first BBC documentary is live!! Listen to it now by following the link in bio!

In April I visited Brazil’s Pantanal, the largest tropical wetland on Earth and investigated how this UNESCO World Heritage Site might dry up and burn if the government dredges the Pantanal’s major river.

This documentary is incredibly personal to me; I’ve poured everything I’ve learned from crafting Filter Stories into this project. It’s a true “movie for your ears,” and I hope it raises awareness about the agro-industrial forces threatening this unique environment.

But don’t worry - my focus remains squarely on Filter Stories and I’ve got lots of great episodes for you coming soon.

What an incredible experience at the first-ever ! 🎹 I had the honor of presenting a special extended version of my Filte...
28/10/2024

What an incredible experience at the first-ever ! 🎹 I had the honor of presenting a special extended version of my Filter Stories episode on Smell and Taste. And the organisers even managed to set up a piano on stage for me to play so it really felt like a Filter Stories episode!

The audience was amazing—so engaged and enthusiastic—it really made the whole experience unforgettable.

…which is a relief, because when I arrived that day the venue seemed quiet. “Oh no! The first ever Brussels coffee show is going to flop” I thought to myself.

But oh how wrong I was! But by the time I took the stage at the stunning Gare Maritime, the place was absolutely packed. It was incredible to see so much support and excitement from the Belgian coffee community.

Brussels, you have something special here, and I can’t wait to see this festival grow. Until next time! ☕🎶

I’m honored to have been part of .Berlin! 🎉 It was an absolute pleasure to give a live version of my Filter Stories epis...
24/10/2024

I’m honored to have been part of .Berlin! 🎉 It was an absolute pleasure to give a live version of my Filter Stories episode on Smell & Taste to some of the most passionate and engaged coffee lovers in Berlin.

Huge thanks to .cc for trusting me to moderate the day, keeping things on track, bringing great questions from the audience. We had some brilliant talks, from ’s sourcing models to rethinking specialty coffee business strategies with .

Coffee Week Berlin feels like a much-needed rallying point for our community. I really felt its absence when COVID slammed the brakes on it. I’m excited to see our Berlin coffee community continue to innovate, collaborate, and push the boundaries of specialty coffee. Can’t wait for next year!

Ever wonder why you and your friends can taste the same coffee, but you can’t agree on the flavour notes?Turns out there...
17/10/2024

Ever wonder why you and your friends can taste the same coffee, but you can’t agree on the flavour notes?

Turns out there are many reasons we may not taste the same things, from our genetics, how the environment affects us and our background.

But one way you can become a better coffee taster is by practicing identifying flavours.

The good news is that you don’t need expensive training kits nor huge amounts of time. Learn my top three fun and easy tasting tips in my episode Smell and Taste in the Science of Coffee podcast (link in bio).

Greetings from the annual Specialty Coffee Association of Japan (SCAJ) show! Here are some fun innovations I saw:I found...
13/10/2024

Greetings from the annual Specialty Coffee Association of Japan (SCAJ) show!

Here are some fun innovations I saw:

I found a futuristic Chinese-made home roaster with wings that open like a DeLorean from Back to the Future—so space-age!

But right behind it was a hand-held roaster resembling an prehistoric tool from a long-lost island. It’s basically a metal net wrapped in aluminium with a few thermometers here and there. But it works great, because this roaster came second in a Panama roasting competition!

I discovered a super-cool ceramic pourover brewer that had no bottom hole! The ceramic has coarse microscopic holes that allows the liquid to filter through while keeping the grounds trapped. There’s no need for wasteful filter papers!

I also saw a bit of the Japan Hand Drip Championship; a uniquely Japanese competition! One of the most memorable moments was watching an elderly brewing master, Kenji Uno. He eschews modern coffee tech like particle sifters in favour of a simple measuring scoop. He’s the oldest competitor I’ve ever seen, and it was hypnotic watching him methodically and gracefully prepare coffees.

It gives me hope that when I reach my senior years I’ll still be able to compete in coffee competitions!

🚨 Japan coffee friends! 🚨 I’ll be at the Specialty Coffee Association of Japan conference this Saturday, October 12th. S...
04/10/2024

🚨 Japan coffee friends! 🚨 I’ll be at the Specialty Coffee Association of Japan conference this Saturday, October 12th. Super excited to explore what’s brewing in the Japanese coffee scene and meet up with the amazing people shaping it! ☕️🇯🇵

If you’re around, let’s catch up, say hi! I’m here to learn more about Japanese coffee culture and would love to connect. See you there! 🙌

👉

I’m excited to announce that I'll be presenting at .berlin  next Monday, 30th of September at Acht.Berlin in Mitte!Coffe...
26/09/2024

I’m excited to announce that I'll be presenting at .berlin next Monday, 30th of September at Acht.Berlin in Mitte!

Coffee Week is a city-wide celebration of Berlin's vibrant coffee community, and I'm honored to be part of this incredible lineup of events!

I'll be hosting a live Filter Stories episode all about how to become a better coffee taster – complete with live demos and plenty of time for your questions. Plus, I'll be managing the stage for an afternoon packed with other amazing talks, including discussions on cascara, canephora, creative coffee drinks, and even how to build a better coffee business in Berlin.

It's going to be an inspiring, fun-filled day, and I can't wait to meet you all! See you Monday afternoon, September 30th – don’t miss it! 🌱☕

Just wrapped up an amazing trip to Mondsee, Austria, where I had the chance to visit the global HQ of BWT, one of the le...
20/09/2024

Just wrapped up an amazing trip to Mondsee, Austria, where I had the chance to visit the global HQ of BWT, one of the leaders in water filtration. 🚰 It’s all for an upcoming episode of The Science of Coffee, and let me tell you – I was blown away by what I saw!

I went there to check out their new product, Best Barista. It’s a water filtration system for cafes that strips out all the minerals, while the other infuses a mineral recipe back in that’s optimized for brewing high-quality coffee.

What really amazed me was the level of detail and testing that goes into making this equipment.

The very smart Katharina Pixner (BWT’s Head of R&D) showed me how they test everything, from the uniformity of ion exchange resin balls, the quality of the brass fittings, and, of course, the minerals in any sample of water.

I came across two new industrial chemical measurement machines I’d never heard of before (one looked like an LP player, the other a giant fridge) that tell you the EXACT mineral content in water. It’s way more precise than anything we coffee pros usually work with (I’m looking at you, refractometers).

I can't wait for you all to hear the full story in Season 3 of *The Science of Coffee*, coming early next year! 🎙️

Stay tuned!

11/09/2024

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