by Pete Licata | Sep 2, 2016
This month we had our first ‘Themed Rating’ here at Roast Ratings. For this inaugural session we wanted to taste coffees from Africa, as they are fresh in season and a great representation of high quality coffees.
by Pete Licata | May 19, 2016
Whether wandering into the coffee aisle at the grocery store or popping into your local cafe, it seems that buying coffee can be an overwhelming task, especially when trying to find the perfect beans that suit your specific tastes. Companies have not been much help to the normal coffee drinker, especially when it comes to the […]
by Pete Licata | May 13, 2016
It is no secret that we recommend grinding your coffee fresh to get the best flavor experience. The investment in a quality burr grinder comes with a little learning and a few surprises along the way. One of the surprises that we are asked about often is “What are these light brown flakes when I […]
by Pete Licata | May 6, 2016
Whether wandering into the coffee aisle at the grocery store or popping into your local cafe, it seems that buying coffee can be an overwhelming task, especially when trying to find the perfect beans that suit your specific tastes. Companies have not been much help to the normal coffee drinker, especially when it comes to the […]
by Pete Licata | Jan 25, 2016
Kansas City is our hometown, and it is sometimes overlooked as both a destination as well as a place to get a great cup of coffee. Unbeknownst to many, the cafe scene is growing quickly with new cafes and roasters popping up all over. The SCAA USCC Qualifier competition is coming to KC in just […]
by Pete Licata | Jan 7, 2016
As Barack Obama and family recently spent a little vacation time around the island of Oahu last week, we figure it would be useful for you (or any presidents who might read this) to know the best places to get a cup of coffee around Honolulu. It can be tough to go on vacation and […]
by Pete Licata | Jan 4, 2016
Recently we encountered an interaction on social media about Batdorf and Bronson‘s Holiday Blend. This interaction was regarding a specific review performed by an acquaintance of ours named Drew, who also runs a reviewing website. Drew came to the conclusion that this particular coffee was over roasted and rather unpalatable. While Batdorf and Bronson commissioned his […]
by Pete Licata | Dec 28, 2015
OXO is a brand you may have seen in your local kitchen supply store over the past decade or two. Known for durable plastic and metal kitchen utensils, they have recently delved into the realm of electronic gadgetry with their new line called “OXO On“. In this line there are initially three products for coffee, […]
by Pete Licata | Dec 21, 2015
While stars help give a quick snap shot of overall quality, what does it really mean in the grand scheme of tastes? In this summary piece, we’ve boiled each rating level down to its essence for you.
by Pete Licata | Dec 2, 2015
Recently I visited Hawaii for the 45th annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, an event where farmers come together to share their coffees and, of course, spend time talking shop and making friends. For me it was an opportunity to taste some of the best coffees that Hawaii has to offer, as well as to catch […]
by Pete Licata | Nov 6, 2015
Cold brewed and iced coffee have been making some waves lately, reflected in our own articles here on Roast Ratings. With the beginning of fall, it may seem like we should be focusing on pumpkin lattes and graham cracker coffee milkshakes, but we still have a lot to discuss about cold coffee options. You may […]
by Pete Licata | Oct 19, 2015
A look at Ethiopia cold brew and El Salvador cascara tea offerings from Slingshot Coffee Co.
by Pete Licata | Sep 25, 2015
If you read my last look at bottled cold brew options you may have noticed that Stumptown’s Cold Brew was featured, but was not deemed incredibly “chug worthy”. The bottle that was tasted for review was purchased on a trip to Chicago, and while it was distinct in flavor this bottle was not particularly amazing. […]
by Pete Licata | Aug 27, 2015
Welcome to part two of our guide to buying coffee equipment on a budget. If you missed part one, make sure to check it out here, as these lower priced items will not be covered in this article. Making great coffee at home has become more and more of an undertaking in recent years. Coffee […]
by Pete Licata | Jul 9, 2015
Today we are taking a look at buying coffee brewing equipment with a specific budget of $50 in mind. This list covers many manual brewing methods, their price, and why you might want them.
by Pete Licata | Jun 10, 2015
The ready-to-drink coffee trend has been growing over the past few years, with more and more brands finding avenues to get their versions to the masses. Let’s take a peek at what we consider “Specialty” (indicating a higher quality standard) bottled iced coffee.
by Pete Licata | Jun 2, 2015
As you may have seen, we recommend a specific coffee brewer, the BonaVita 1900TS, if you are looking for an auto brewer at home. This is also the standard that we use here at Roast Ratings for all of our brew evaluations (to learn more about our full rating process look here). We are often asked […]
by Pete Licata | May 26, 2015
For the second part of our iced coffee feature we are looking at the ‘Ready to Drink’ category (If you missed Part I check it out here). In searching out options we immediately realized that there is a huge range, even within simply bottled coffee drinks at a store.
by Pete Licata | May 13, 2015
Coffee and water are the two ingredients (before you might add sugar or cream) that make brewed coffee or espresso. While we often focus on equipment or the beans themselves, it is important to recognize water as a crucial ingredient.
by Pete Licata | May 8, 2015
Despite all of the efforts to get my mother a better brew (my father doesn’t have coffee as often), she still sticks by her tried and true method of measuring the quality of what is in her cup.
I call it the “Chocolate Test”
by Pete Licata | May 1, 2015
If you are like me, you have probably at least heard the term “bulletproof coffee” in passing. I knew it was something mysterious that people were talking about, especially in paleo and low carb diet circles.
by Pete Licata | May 1, 2015
Traditional knowledge when buying coffee has been to make sure you are buying “100% Arabica beans”. We are told that Arabica is the good stuff and Robusta is the bad stuff. As usual things are not quite that simple, but this is a good rule to follow if you could ever find a coffee labeled as containing robusta.
by Pete Licata | Apr 25, 2015
On a bright and lovely Tuesday morning I decided to go get some tasty donuts for “breakfast” at the Licata house. A plan was made to visit the local shop in my neighborhood and get fabulous Fluffy Fresh Donuts before they sold out at about 8am.
by Pete Licata | Apr 24, 2015
Coffee is a beverage that is easily identified, though often misunderstood. You might think of it as “bitter”, “bright”, or “earthy”, but one thing that coffee drinkers can almost always agree upon is that they get pleasure from it in some way whether it be an aroma, flavor, a jolt of caffeine, or even simply nostalgia.