Coffee School
Getting Started
Everything you need to know before pulling your first shot at home.
20 lessons
- The Economics of Home EspressoIs it really cheaper to make espresso at home? We do the math for you.
- 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 an Espresso MachineThe questions to answer about your drinks, space, and budget before you buy.
- 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.
- Everything I Wish I Knew as a New Home BaristaFresh coffee, a capable grinder, a scale, and solid milk steaming: the fundamentals we wish we'd known on day one.
- The Do's And Don'ts Of Home EspressoWhich habits actually improve your shots, and which espresso myths, like 40 pounds of tamp pressure, you can drop.
- What Exactly Is Coffee Extraction?A clear explanation of what water pulls out of coffee and why timing changes the flavor.
- What is Espresso Crema?Where that golden foam comes from, and why it tells you more about roast and freshness than about flavor.
- Coffee GlossaryDefinitions for the espresso and coffee terms you'll run into everywhere.
- What is a Double Shot?Why "double shot" means different things in different cafés, and what to standardize on at home.
- Making Café Quality Drinks at HomeEvery common café drink is just espresso and milk in different ratios; here's the clear roadmap to deliciousness.
- 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.
- 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.
- How Clive's Phone Dial-In Consultation WorksHow Clive's coffee experts walk customers through finding their dream setup, dial-in help by phone, to pulling the best shots of their lives.
- Clive Coffee Rewards: Perks for Repeat CustomersHow to earn and redeem Clive Rewards points, plus the support perks that come with being a valued Clive customer.
- Your Coffee Bag Can Help You Be a Better BaristaThe information on your coffee bag is a treasure trove that can help you dial in your coffee properly and gain a deeper understanding of coffee.