The Difference CoffeehouseMay 243 minRoad Test: Compostable Coffee BagsWhen it comes to storing roasted coffee; how do compostable bags compare with the bags we've been using? The environmental benefits of...
Martyn SmithApr 192 minNext Level Espresso (Part 1)When your barista experience expands to include different beans and roast profiles, you might be surprised at the flavours you extract....
The Difference CoffeehouseFeb 23, 20211 minTake me to Tanzania2021 sees us make a small, but significant, coffee origin change. Southern Kenya has become northern Tanzania. You probably won't taste...
Martyn SmithFeb 10, 20202 minThe truth will set you freeHands down if you’ve ever put off going to the dentist, the mechanic…the accountant. They’re only going to tell you things you don’t want...
The Difference CoffeehouseJan 4, 20192 minTest drive: Hario Mizudashi potIn a world of bewildering complexity, simple solutions can be a refreshing change. And I'm only talking about coffee! The Hario Mizudashi...
The Difference CoffeehouseOct 24, 20181 minConquering coffee confusionIs a flat white just a latte, but with less froth? Is a cappuccino the same the world over? And why does a piccolo latte look so much...
Martyn SmithMay 4, 20182 minMy embarrassing espresso secretIn 2009, I had the opportunity to be coached by a World Barista Judge. I learnt something that day that was so controversial that I kept...
The Difference CoffeehouseFeb 7, 20182 minCrystal balls and cold, dark summersIf the US market is anything to go by, SA is facing an invasion of cold brewed coffee. Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts report that 24% of...
Martyn SmithSep 18, 20172 minBack to school: An assignment on FairtradeLast week, I received an email request to help with a high school assignment on Fairtrade in Food and Hospitality. I've included Shanise'...
Martyn SmithMar 7, 20173 minTest drive: IKAWA Pro sample roasterI came across the IKAWA Pro when looking for something to roast bean samples. The UK-based website announced a starting price of 850...
Martyn SmithJan 14, 20171 minSeparation anxiety?Are you like me - a vague sense of inadequacy at having never travelled to a coffee growing region? Don't you wish you could tell others...
Martyn SmithOct 28, 20161 minMay I be excused? My brain is full.I'm indebted to Ross Quail and Andy Todd of Sensory Lab, Melbourne. These guys have dived very deeply into their subject matter. I prefer...
Martyn SmithSep 30, 20161 minDon't let me explainRecently, one of our customers told me that he thought our coffee had changed. And so, like an armored knight of old, the logical part of...
The Difference CoffeehouseSep 5, 20161 minOut with the old, in with the oldWhen we took over the 41-year-old Ricca Coffee Company this year we expected to do some updating. There was the customer database –...
Martyn SmithJul 22, 20162 minBreak all the rulesWhich is the more effective (long-term) management strategy? The lion-tamer approach with cracking whips, or a cheerleader with colourful...