Start Here — A Beginner Guide to Espresso and Filter Coffee

Three curated paths through the most useful Baristalog guides. Pick the track that matches where you are — espresso, filter, or buying better beans — and follow the steps in order.

Espresso from scratch

Start here if you have an espresso machine and want to understand what you are doing and why. These seven guides cover the fundamentals in the order that makes most sense for a beginner.

  1. What is espresso? — Understand what espresso actually is before adjusting anything.
  2. Why the grinder matters — The single most important piece of equipment.
  3. Brew ratio explained — The foundational number behind every espresso recipe.
  4. Puck prep guide — Distribution, tamping and getting the puck right.
  5. How to dial in espresso — The systematic process for finding the right grind.
  6. Why espresso tastes sour — Fix under-extraction.
  7. Why espresso tastes bitter — Fix over-extraction.

Filter coffee basics

Start here if you brew with a V60, AeroPress, French press or want to explore manual brewing. These guides cover the core concepts and the most popular methods.

  1. V60 vs Chemex vs AeroPress — Find the method that suits you.
  2. What is bloom? — Why the first pour matters.
  3. Filter vs espresso grind — Why filter needs a coarser grind than espresso.
  4. French press method — Full-immersion brewing step by step.
  5. AeroPress extraction variables — Time, temperature and pressure in the AeroPress.
  6. Cold brew method — No heat, 12-24 hours, naturally sweet.

Understanding your coffee

Start here if you want to make better choices when buying coffee. These guides explain what is on the bag, why freshness matters and how to use tasting notes as a practical tool.

  1. What is specialty coffee? — What the term actually means.
  2. How to read a coffee bag — Roast date, origin, process — what each label tells you.
  3. How to read tasting notes — What the notes mean and how to use them.
  4. Resting coffee after roast — Why fresh-from-the-roaster is not the same as ready.
  5. How to store coffee beans — Keep beans at their best for longer.
  6. Washed vs natural processing — The processing method shapes the whole cup character.

Once you have worked through a track, browse all 98 coffee guides or look up terms in the coffee glossary.