Coffee School
Getting Started
Everything you need to know before pulling your first shot at home.
13 lessons
- The Economics of Home EspressoIs it really cheaper to make espresso at home? We do the math for you.
- Make Better Espresso at Home With Clive CoffeeAn introduction to how Clive helps you go from unboxing to pulling a shot you're proud of.
- Day 1 vs Day 100 as a NEW Home BaristaAn honest look at what changes over your first hundred days behind a machine, and what stops mattering.
- Better Espresso Starts Here: Invest in the Grinder, Not Just the MachineWhy your grinder does more for shot quality than your espresso machine, and how to budget accordingly.
- How to Choose A Single Boiler Espresso MachineThe most affordable, compact route into real home espresso, and the one trade-off to know.
- How to Choose a Heat Exchange Espresso MachineHow heat exchangers pull and steam at once, the ins and outs of temperature control, and how the lineup compares.
- How to Choose a Dual Boiler Espresso MachineExplains what sets dual boilers apart and walks you through Clive's lineup to match a dual boiler to your lifestyle.
- Lever Machines: Why They're GreatThe case for manual lever machines, and what you gain by giving up automation.
- The Importance of a Coffee Scale Why weighing coffee is the fastest path to consistency and easier troubleshooting.
- Making Café Quality Drinks at HomeEvery common café drink is just espresso and milk in different ratios; here's the clear roadmap to deliciousness.
- What Exactly Is Coffee Extraction?A clear explanation of what water pulls out of coffee and why timing changes the flavor.
- Can Puck Prep Close the Gap Between a Budget Grinder and an Endgame One?We test whether careful puck prep can make an entry-level grinder punch above its weight.
- Doing Everything WRONG (to Make Better Coffee)We break the rules on purpose to find out which espresso conventions hold up and which ones you can safely ignore.