5 Things ordinary people should know about coffee

I was reading a forum today that was asking baristas what 5 things ordinary people should know about coffee and the specialty coffee industry, heres what I thought of:

1. A macchiato has nothing to do with caramel and vanilla and is not what starbucks tell you it is so please stop asking your baristas for one.
2. A dark roast coffee does not equal more caffeine.
3.  Espresso is not a bean but a method of extraction
4. Enjoying a lighter roast coffee allows you to experience the true flavors of the region the coffee is grown in.  This is one of my favorite things about coffee and is a major part of what I spend my time doing.
5.  All coffee shops and types of coffee are not the same and are not all equally made.  There are good and bad coffee shops all over the place find the good ones and frequent them often.  Never buy folgers or any other pre-ground coffee its robusta which is gross, and bad for your palate, as well as for the earth.

Other things people should know but are not on my top 5:

6.  There is no 'x' in espresso
7.  Fraps will kill you
8. Being a barista is not just a job to get someone through college but is an art and good baristas are made that way by years of practice and passion and a continued hunger to learn as the industry changes. (so please tip the good ones well they rarely make what they should, the good ones that is)


Hit me up things you think people should know about coffee and the specialty coffee industry.