With 2024 just around the corner, we reminisce about our most-viewed articles of the last year, which include some blasts from the past.
STAFF REPORTSBARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured photo by Rodion Kutsaiev
Wow, it’s the end of 2023 already! We can hardly believe it’s here, but time marches on.
It’s been a year full of coffee events, new inventions, city café guides, and interviews with coffee people from all over the world. We’ve gathered up the biggest hits of the year, counting down from number six to the top spot.
Read on to discover what you, our beloved readers, were really into this year (hint: our “Test Drive“ articles)!
#6. Misunderstood Coffee Drinks: The Cortado
The cortado originated in Spain’s Basque region and continues to be a popular espresso-based drink. But there can be conflicting information about its exact specifications, such as size and milk-to-espresso ratios. It’s also called by different names in different places. In this article (which was published in 2022 but read by many in 2023), Eddie Gomez gets into the details of what makes a cortado, with some history and input from coffee experts.
#5. Test Drive: The New AeroPress Flow Control Filter Cap
The AeroPress is always a crowd favorite, and for good reason! In this “Test Drive,“ Senior Online Correspondent Tanya Nanetti tries out the AeroPress Flow Control Filter Cap, which uses a pressure valve to eliminate drip-through. This allows even more versatility with the popular brew method.
#4. Test Drive: The Olson Brewer from Simply Good Coffee
Here, Josh Taves invites the reader to join him on a test run of Simply Good Coffee’s Brewer. The brand’s founder, Laura Sommers, has been creating great coffee products for a long list of companies for 30 years, so you know this one is worth looking into. The Olson Brewer is engineered to simplify home brewing with its sleek, budget-friendly two-button design. It even has an optional bloom feature!
#3. Test Drive: The Linea Micra Espresso Machine from La Marzocco
Senior Online Correspondent Vasileia Fanarioti tries out the Linea Micra, La Marzocco’s home espresso machine, for this popular story. The Micra can be connected to a water supply or powered by its water reservoir. It has a small footprint but a powerful output, and functions with the La Marzocco Home app. Check out her take on the home machine for more.
#2. Learning About the Magic Behind Freeze Distilled Milk
Vasileia Fanarioti is at it again with this explanation of how freeze distilled milk is made, and its purpose: to intensify the flavors and creaminess in milk by reducing the amount of water in the finished product. Freeze distilled milk is popular in coffee competitions, starting with Ben Put’s debut of the concept in 2017.
This video by James Hoffmann summarizes coffee static and using water mist to minimize it.
#1. Spraying Your Coffee Beans
First published in January of 2021, this article has seen a resurgence in popularity, as the topic has gained attention on the internet once again; even Tasting Table and CNN have jumped on covering this method. One reason? Researchers at the University of Oregon have conducted a study putting the water spritz method to the test. The results are definitely interesting, and now we have scientific evidence that James Hoffmann’s original video (see above) is worth a second view.
With 2023 on its way out, it’s time to start looking ahead. We can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store!
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