Blog

Every post from the barn, newest first: 95 coffee rankings, brewing and buying guides, coffee history and stories. Also on Coffee guides and the RSS feed.

The Ultimate World Coffee Ranking (From Vietnamese Egg Coffee to Norwegian Boiled Coffee)

A deadpan 50-point lab ranking of 17 world coffee traditions, from Turkish coffee and Vietnamese egg coffee to Norwegian boiled coffee.

The Ultimate Coffee Add-In Ranking (From Oat Milk to Butter)

A 50-point sensory evaluation of 17 coffee add-ins, from oat milk and honey to butter and egg. The top score may surprise you.

The Ultimate Coffee Roast Ranking (From Cinnamon Roast to French Roast)

A definitive 50-point sensory evaluation of 15 coffee roast levels, from Cinnamon and City to Vienna, French and Spanish. The winners may surprise you.

The Ultimate Coffee Origin Ranking (From Ethiopia to Colombia)

A 50-point sensory evaluation of 16 coffee origins, from Ethiopia Yirgacheffe and Panama Geisha to Brazil and Colombia. The winner may surprise you.

The Ultimate Coffee Maker Ranking (From Pod Machines to the Stovetop Percolator)

A 50-point sensory evaluation of 16 home coffee makers, from pod machines and espresso rigs to the moka pot and the stovetop percolator.

Arabica vs Robusta: Taste, Caffeine, Price and What 100% Arabica Means

Arabica is smoother with less caffeine; robusta is hardier, cheaper and more bitter. The numbers, the uses and what 100% arabica promises.

The Best Coffee for a Drip Coffee Maker (and How to Brew a Better Pot)

What roast and grind a drip machine needs, how much coffee per pot, and how to brew a better pot from the machine you own.

The Best Coffee for a French Press (and How to Use Ground Coffee in One)

What roast to buy for a French press, how much coffee to use for each press size, and how to brew pre-ground coffee in one.

The Best Coffee for a Moccamaster, and How Much to Use

What roast and grind suit a Moccamaster, and how much coffee to use for a full or half carafe, from a family roaster.

The Best Coffee for a Moka Pot, and How to Brew It Without Bitterness

What coffee and grind suit a moka pot, how to brew it step by step, and how to keep stovetop coffee from turning bitter.

The Best Coffee for Pour Over and Chemex, From a Medium-Dark Roaster

Roast, grind and a simple 1:16 recipe for pour over and Chemex, and when a light roast or a medium-dark suits you better.

Fresh Coffee Beans in the Milwaukee Area: A Farm Roaster 20 Miles North, and the Markets Where We Pour

Where to buy our cast iron roasted beans near Milwaukee: the Cedarburg barn, metro farmers markets, local shops and USPS delivery.

Coffee to Water Ratio: One Chart for Drip, Pour Over, French Press, Percolator, Cold Brew and More

About 1:18 by weight, or two tablespoons per 6 ounces. One chart for drip, pour over, French press, percolator, moka pot and cold brew.

What Is Colombian Supremo Coffee? A Roaster Who Roasts Only Supremo Explains

Supremo is a bean-size grade, not a flavor or a roast. What it means, how it compares to Excelso, and how we roast it.

What Does a Cup of Coffee Cost at Home? The Math, With Real 2026 Prices

The cost per cup of coffee at home, worked out with real 2026 prices: the grocery average, every size we sell and a restaurant cup.

Cowboy Coffee: How to Make It Over a Fire, on a Stove or at the Cabin

A plain cowboy coffee recipe for camp or the cabin: how much coffee, how long to steep and how to keep the grounds out of your cup.

Grocery Store Coffee vs Fresh Roasted: What Actually Changes When You Switch

What really changes when you switch from a grocery can to fresh roasted coffee: freshness, origin, roast and the honest price per cup.

The Best Ground Coffee for a Reusable K-Cup (and How to Stop Weak Cups)

How much coffee goes in a reusable K-Cup, which grind works, why pods brew weak, and what each pod really costs.

How Long Do Coffee Beans Last? Roast Dates, Opened Bags, Ground Coffee and Storage

How long whole bean and ground coffee stay fresh, sealed and opened, what roast and best-by dates mean, and how to store it.

How Long Does a 2 lb Bag of Coffee Last? A Chart for Every Bag Size and Habit

About 70 cups and 5 weeks at 2 cups a day. Cups and days for every bag size from a half pound to 20 lb, with the math shown.

How Much Caffeine Is in a Cup of Coffee? By Cup Size, Roast and Bean

Caffeine by cup size from the FDA range, what roast and bean really change, and why how much coffee you use matters most.

How Much Coffee for 12 Cups? (Plus 4, 6, 8 and 10 Cups)

24 tablespoons for a 12-cup pot of 6-ounce cups, 20 for 5-ounce cups. A chart for 4 to 12 cups in tablespoons, scoops and grams.

How Norwegians Make Coffee: Kokekaffe, Filter Coffee and the Coffee Table

Kokekaffe step by step, the filter coffee Norwegians drink every day, and how Norway roasts, from a Wisconsin family with Norwegian roots.

How to Choose Coffee Beans: What Every Line on the Bag Tells You

A plain checklist for choosing coffee beans: what each line on the bag means and what to look for, from roast date to price per pound.

How to Make Iced Coffee at Home That Isn't Watery

Brew it strong or straight onto ice, then pour it over fresh ice. Simple methods and ratios from a family roaster, no gadgets needed.

Is a Coffee Subscription Worth It? A Plain Answer From a One-Coffee Roaster

Who a coffee subscription suits, what ours costs per delivery, how the two-delivery minimum works, and when to buy one bag at a time.

Is Dark Roast Less Acidic? Coffee Acidity, Plainly Explained

How roast level, origin and brewing change how acidic coffee tastes, and what the words low acid on a bag do and do not mean.

Is Der Hoffskeller Coffee Good? What It Is, What Buyers Say, and Who It Is Not For

What Der Hoffskeller coffee is, what 300 reviewers say, who it is not for, what it costs and where to buy it.

Kaffee und Kuchen: What It Means and How to Host a German Afternoon Coffee

What Kaffee und Kuchen means, when Germans have it, the classic cakes and how much coffee to brew for 4 to 12 guests.

What Is Medium-Dark Roast Coffee? Roast Levels, Taste and Caffeine, From the Roaster

Where medium-dark sits between medium and dark, what it tastes like, whether dark roast has more caffeine, and how to brew it.

Scandinavian Egg Coffee: How to Make the Church Basement Classic

The church basement classic: an 8-cup stovetop recipe, the 40-cup church pot method and why a raw egg makes coffee clear.

Single Origin vs Blend Coffee: What the Words Mean, and Why Our One-Origin Coffee Is Called a Blend

What single origin and blend really mean, which suits you, and why our all-Colombian coffee is named for a blend of roast levels.

What Does Colombian Coffee Taste Like? Strength, Acidity and Roast, Answered

What Colombian coffee tastes like and why, how roast changes it, and whether it is strong, acidic or bitter.

Why Is Coffee So Expensive Right Now? What a Small Roaster Sees From the Barn

Weather, tariffs and record bean prices, explained in plain words with dated numbers from a family roaster in Wisconsin.

Why Is My Coffee Bitter? The Real Causes and the Fix for Each Brewer

What bitter, sour and burnt coffee are telling you, and simple fixes for each brewer, from the hot plate to water temperature.

Bed and Breakfast Breakfast Ideas: A Simple Menu and the Coffee Guests Remember

A simple B&B breakfast menu, local touches guests remember, and how much coffee a small inn pours in a week.

Coffee for Country Clubs and Golf Courses: Every Station, How Much, and How to Order

Where a club pours coffee, how much a country club or golf course goes through each week, and what it costs per cup.

Coffee Station Ideas for Events, Banquets and Conference Breaks: Setup, Flow and How Much to Brew

How much coffee to brew for a break, a station layout that keeps the line moving, and when to swap in fresh coffee.

Golf Course Menu Ideas: The Grill, the Halfway House and the Beverage Cart, Starting With the Coffee

A golf course menu built around how golfers move, from the first tee to the 19th hole, and how much coffee it takes.

Golf Outing Food Ideas: Breakfast, Food Holes, the Awards Dinner and How Much Coffee for 72 to 288 Golfers

Breakfast, food hole and awards dinner ideas for a golf outing, and how much coffee to brew for a field of 72 to 288 golfers.

Golf Tournament Gifts Players Will Actually Use: Coffee Tee Gifts Under $20 and Under $50, Plus Prizes

Coffee tee gifts and prizes by budget, what they cost for a 48 to 288 player field, and how to order more than 60.

Wedding Coffee Bar: Ideas, Cost, When to Serve It and How Much Coffee to Order

Setup ideas, typical costs, timing and how much coffee to order for a wedding reception, plus the math for venues and caterers.

What Coffee Do Hotels Use? And What Independent Hotels, Lodges and B&Bs Pour Instead

What chain hotels pour, why hotel coffee tastes flat, and how much coffee an independent hotel, lodge or B&B needs each week.

What to Serve at a Funeral Reception: Simple Food, Good Coffee and How Much for 50 to 150 Guests

A simple menu for a visitation or funeral luncheon, and how much coffee to brew for 50, 100 or 150 guests.

How Many Cups of Coffee in a Pound? (Chart for 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz Cups)

About 35 standard 8 oz cups per pound, up to 64 at diner strength, plus cost per cup and the math for a week or an event.

How Much Coffee for 100 People (Plus 25, 50 and 200): Pounds, Gallons and Urn Chart

Pounds, gallons and an urn chart for 25 to 200 guests, for church coffee hours, funerals, weddings, fundraisers and school events.

Office Coffee Without a Contract: How Much Your Team Needs and What It Costs

How much coffee your team drinks, what it costs per cup, and recurring delivery with no account, lease or machine contract.

Coffee for a Waiting Room: Setting Up a Customer Coffee Station

Brewer choices, how much coffee a waiting room uses, cost per cup and a checklist for salons, dealerships, clinics, gyms and banks.

What Coffee Do Restaurants Use? Choosing a House Coffee for a Restaurant, Diner or Supper Club

What most restaurants pour, how much coffee a busy dining room needs, and what a better house coffee costs per cup.

Where Do Coffee Shops Buy Their Coffee? A Small Cafe's Guide to Buying Beans

How coffee shops, bakeries and food trucks buy their beans, and how to order ours with no account, no application and no minimum.

Wholesale Coffee for Milwaukee and Ozaukee County Businesses, Roasted in Cedarburg

How Milwaukee-area businesses order our Cedarburg coffee with no account, the full price list, and where to taste it first.

Christmas Gifts for Coffee Lovers (2026): A Wisconsin Roaster's Gift Guide

The right coffee gift for everyone on your list, with prices from $15 and the dates to order by for Christmas 2026.

The Best Coffee for a Percolator (and How to Perk It Without Bitterness)

The best coffee for a percolator is smooth, bold and fresh. Why percolators turn coffee bitter, real customer reviews, and how to perk a better pot.

Whole Bean vs Ground Coffee: Which Should You Buy?

Whole bean vs ground coffee: which should you buy? A simple guide to freshness, grind size for every brewer, and real reviews from our customers.

The Best Coffee Gift for Coffee Lovers (That They Will Actually Use)

Looking for a coffee gift for coffee lovers? Real reviews of our cast iron roasted coffee in glass Mason jars, and which size to give for the holidays.

Coffee You Can Drink Black: Why Cream Drinkers Are Skipping the Cream

Looking for coffee you can drink black? Real customer reviews on our smooth, cast iron roasted coffee, why it needs no cream, and how to brew it at home.

History of Wisconsin Immigration

Wisconsin was, for a stretch of the nineteenth century, the most foreign-born state in the United States, and it is now one of the least. In 1850 more than a…

Why Wisconsin Farmers Market Coffee?

We call ourselves Wisconsin's Farmers Market Coffee because we have attended over 250 farmers markets, are based on a farm, have our shop in a barn, and have a…

What Is Cast Iron Roasted Coffee?

This article covers our cast iron coffee roasting technique which tastes just like classic stovetop roasted coffee

Roasted in Cast Iron

Der Hoffskeller roasts coffee in cast iron like 17th-century Europe. Read quoted customer reviews about our old-world German Norwegian blend in Mason jars.

Fresh Roasted Coffee Online

When you're looking for fresh coffee, ordering online is actually a much better bet than any grocery store. Coffee often sits in warehouses, and then on…

What Makes Der Hoffskeller Coffee Different?

When we set out to make the highest quality, best tasting coffee we could, there were a few key points we knew we had to hit. We looked around at the modern…

The Wisconsin Coffee Barn

A free cup of coffee in a century-old barn in Cedarburg, WI. Read real quoted reviews from visitors to Der Hoffskeller's coffee barn and farmers market…

German Norwegian Blend Coffee

We call our only roast style a "German Norwegian Blend" because Germans traditionally prefer darker roasts while Norwegians prefer a lighter variety. Our…

What is the Mother Coffee Tree?

Coffee likely originated in Ethiopia, where there are over 120 coffee species growing naturally. Ethiopia is also home to the “mother coffee tree” in the Kaffa…

What is the Coffee Bean Skin?

The silverskin is a thin film directly surrounding the coffee bean that contains minerals and is high in caffeine. Most roasters filter it out of the beans…

What Does ‘Der Hoffskeller’ Mean?

A hoffskeller is a repurposed farm basement combining the Old Norse word "Hoff" for farm and the German word "skeller" for basement or cellar.

Dutch Mason Coffee

Dutch Mason coffee is a classic method of coffee production coined by Der Hoffskeller in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. We built our own custom Dutch oven coffee…

Mason Jar Coffee Storage

Most coffee is stored in bags and coffee tins, but is there a better way? It turns out, yes, and it's been around for over a hundred years: Mason jars. It has…

Exploring Ethiopia’s Unknown Coffee Species

Ethiopia is where coffee began. Legend says a goatherd named Kaldi found it when his goats got lively after eating red coffee cherries. That was ages ag...

Top Norwegian Coffees

When you think of the world's great coffee capitals, your mind might immediately wander to the bustling espresso bars of Rome or the misty, high-altitude farms…

Top 10 German Coffees

When you think of European coffee, Italy and France might be the first countries that spring to mind, but Germany actually boasts one of the oldest, richest…

Top 10 Dark Roast Coffees

When I wake up, I want coffee that tastes like actual coffee. I want a dark roast. I want it bold, I want it rich, and I want it to kick me right in the teeth…

The Top 20 Coffees of 2026

Welcome to the ultimate exploration of the world's finest, most reliable, and deeply satisfying coffee varieties. Whether you are a dedicated home barista…

The Smoothest Coffee They’ve Ever Had: Why Customers Say Our Coffee Has No Acid and No Bitterness

Customers call Der Hoffskeller the smoothest coffee they've ever had. Read real quoted reviews about our low-acid, no-bitterness cast iron roasted coffee.

That Is Not A Hair In Your Coffee

Once in a while someone finds a thin fiber in their beans or grounds and thinks the worst. Fair question, so here is the answer.It is almost never a hair. It…

The Ultimate Coffee Ranking Guide (From Cold Brew to Irish Coffee)

Explore the ultimate coffee guide with our ranked list of 22 iconic brews. From the precision of a V60 pour-over to the indulgence of an Affogato, discover the…

Wisconsin Coffee

Discover the definitive guide to the best Wisconsin coffee. From the unique cast-iron Dutch Oven roasting methods at Der Hoffskeller in historic Cedarburg to…

Comments and Reviews of Der Hoffskeller Coffee

Reviews and comments on Der Hoffskeller coffee from our facebook posts. Click the image to view the post and read all public comments.

Der Hoffskeller Coffee Comments and Reviews on 𝕏

The aroma is amazing! As a Swede, I haven’t been this excited over coffee for a while!! 😬🫡

The Most German Gifts In The World

This article lists luxury goods of German origin, characterized by precision engineering, historical significance, and high price points. It covers porcelain…

The Best Coffee for Brewing Coffee Beer

This article describes the coffee attributes that matter most in brewing and explains why the coffee produced by Der Hoffskeller, a family roastery in…

The French Press, Its History, And How It Works

The French press is a testament to the idea that newer is not always better. From its accidental, folklore origins in the mid-19th century to its meticulous…

Der Hoffskeller’s Signature German Norwegian Blend

The name of our coffee, the German Norwegian blend, refers to a unique combination of roast levels. Historically, Germans have traditionally preferred a…

Looking for Coffee That Tastes Like It Did in Germany?

If you've been searching for coffee that tastes like it did in Germany, you weren't chasing a ghost. German coffee is genuinely different, smoother, richer…

What Makes German Coffee German?

The answer isn't a single bean or a secret recipe. It's a few hundred years of history, trade, war, engineering, and ritual all stacked on top of each other…

The Ultimate Local Gift for the Wisconsin Connoisseur: Discover Der Hoffskeller’s Historic Coffee

Find the perfect local gift: Der Hoffskeller's smooth, no-bitter coffee. Roasted in a historic Cedarburg, WI barn, it's a unique, authentic taste of Wisconsin.

The Best Coffee for the Office

The person responsible for buying it faces a different problem than an individual coffee enthusiast. They are not optimizing for one palate; they are trying to…

Herr Hoffskeller: The Folk Hero and Legend Behind Der Hoffskeller Coffee

Herr Hoffskeller (c. 1600 - unknown) is a legendary German-Norwegian figure, agriculturist, inventor, orator, engineer, business magnate, and explorer, widely…

The Best Coffee to Stock in Your Airbnb

Coffee is one of the cheapest upgrades you can make to your rental and one of the highest-leverage. It's the first thing your guest reaches for on their first…

The Best Coffee for Cold Brew

Cold brew is one of the easiest, cheapest, most rewarding things you can make at home, and the only real way to mess it up is to use the wrong beans. Skip the…

The Best Coffee for Acid Reflux

Cutting through all of it, here's the honest answer. The best coffee for acid reflux is one that's been roasted slowly and deeply, with steady even heat, dark…

From Ratskeller to Hoffskeller

A Ratskeller (German: "council's cellar"; plural: Ratskeller; historically also spelled Rathskeller) is a type of bar, tavern, or restaurant traditional...

A Complete History of Coffee

Coffee, for many, is more than just a beverage; it's a ritual, a cultural touchstone, and an essential fuel for daily life. Its rich aroma and stimulating…

Coffee Plant Botany Overview

Coffee is more than just a morning pick-me-up, it’s a botanical wonder with a fascinating history and an evolving future. Whether you’re sipping a latte or…