IT’S JUST COFFEE!

Coffee people love science … but only when it agrees with them.

In this episode, we sit down with Christopher H. Hendon, computational chemist, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oregon, co-author of Water for Coffee, and one of the most recognisable voices in modern coffee science!

We talk about what makes good science, why the coffee industry is so vulnerable to pseudoscience, and how professionals can better separate useful evidence from confident noise.

Chris breaks down everything from freezing coffee beans and the Ross Droplet Technique to water chemistry, coffee extraction, cold brew, co-ferments, climate change, and why one experiment rarely proves what people think it proves.

This one is for the coffee nerds, the science-curious, and anyone who has ever heard a coffee claim online and thought: “Wait… is that actually true?”

If you're new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet, but we will always remind ourselves at the end of the day - It's Just Coffee!

Explore everything Chris here:

Insta @chhendon

https://pages.uoregon.edu/chendon/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-71526-5?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3

CHAPTERS

00:00 Coffee Science vs Coffee Myths
03:29 Meet Chris Hendon
05:21 Why Coffee Gets Science Wrong
13:00 Freezing Coffee Beans Explained
14:39 Ross Droplet Technique Explained
17:39 Better Coffee Experiments
21:24 James Hoffmann’s Long Black Theory
29:00 How to Spot Bad Coffee Science
36:46 Can Science Fix Bad Coffee?
41:32 Why Water Chemistry Matters
44:46 Water for Coffee 2
49:33 Why Coffee Tastes Different Everywhere
55:13 The Future of Coffee Education
01:03:33 Coffee Processing and Climate Change
01:08:40 Is Cold Brew Actually Bad?
01:10:02 Rethinking Coffee Equipment
01:12:47 One Coffee Belief to Challenge

Want more coffee content?

IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236

Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by:

Marco Beverage Systems: https://www.instagram.com/marcobeveragesystems/

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/

Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/

Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/

Thanks for listening!
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For the first time, specialty coffee has overtaken traditional coffee consumption in the U.S. We unpack this year’s Specialty Coffee Report, including the key trends behind the shift, where people are drinking coffee, who's driving growth, and what drinks are gaining the most momentum. Plus! – How can you apply these findings to your place in the industry?! 

00:00 – The 2026 Specialty Coffee Report

03:00 – Specialty Coffee Takes the Lead

06:10 – America’s Espresso Boom

09:15 – Cold Coffee All Year Round

11:10 – Who’s Driving Coffee Growth?

12:20 – The Flavours Consumers Love

16:20 – The Rise of Home Brewing

17:30 – What Coffee Businesses Should Know

18:50 – Coffee Market Update

21:00 – Final Thoughts

Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stories and gate kept coffee secrets.

Want more coffee content? 

IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236

Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by:

Marco Beverage Systems: https://www.instagram.com/marcobeveragesystems/ 

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/ Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/ 

 Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/

Thanks for listening!

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James Hoffmann claims that adding steamed water to your long black creates a better drink… so we put his theory to the test. In today’s Coffee Break we conduct a blind tasting to compare steamed water, boiler water, and water from a kettle. Our very own WBC judge decides–groundbreaking or gimmicky!?

CHAPTERS !

00:00 James Hoffmann’s Steamed Water Americano Theory

01:03 Why Long Blacks and Americanos Are So Inconsistent

02:35 Why Espresso Machine Water Could Be the Problem

03:52 Making the First Steamed Water Long Black

06:34 Blind Taste Test: Boiler Water vs Kettle vs Steamed Water

09:52 First Taste Test Results

10:52 Round Two: Retesting the Theory

12:38 Final Verdict on Steamed Water Coffee

15:12 The Bigger Problem With Long Blacks in Cafes

17:23 Does Crema Make Coffee Taste Worse?

19:14 The Problem With Macchiatos, Long Macs and Magics

21:39 Should Cafe Menus Be Simpler?

23:39 Final Thoughts: Is the Hack Worth It?

Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stories and gate kept coffee secrets.

James Hoffmann’s Theory: https://youtu.be/0HdzJz_evNw?si=rXDB4i12iRb7Klrg 

Want more coffee content? 

IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236

Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by:

Marco Beverage Systems: https://www.instagram.com/marcobeveragesystems/ 

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/ Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/ 

 Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/

Thanks for listening! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. That’s why we’re analysing the first 30 seconds of stepping into a cafe: What immediately sets the tone? What are the biggest greenflags… and redflags? We discuss the importance of soundscapes, coffee menus, and staff demeanor, telling you what to look for, and for cafe owners, what mistakes you might be making before the customer has even ordered. 

Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stories and gate kept coffee secrets.

Want more coffee content? 

IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236

Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by:

Marco Beverage Systems: https://www.instagram.com/marcobeveragesystems/ 

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/ Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/ 

 Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/ Thanks for listening! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey baristas… how much do you know about your coffee’s journey before it reaches the cafe? Not much? Dylan Siemens is here to change all that. 

Dylan Siemens is the Head of Coffee Education at Cafe Imports in Minneapolis. He joins us to share his latest coffee education program, ED+U, designed to bridge the gap between baristas and green coffee knowledge. Siemens also explains the value of extended training to reduce employee turnover, highlights the most effective modes for impactful education, and encourages all cafes and baristas to check out ED+U (fyi - it’s free!). 

Learn all about it - tune in! 

Huge thank-you to Dylan for joining the show! Find him at–https://www.instagram.com/pouraxial/ 

Cafe Imports: https://www.instagram.com/cafeimports/ 

Check out ED+U by Cafe Imports: https://edubycafeimports.thinkific.com/ 

If you're new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet, but we will always remind ourselves at the end of the day - It's Just Coffee!

Want more coffee content? 

IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236

Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by:

Marco Beverage Systems: https://www.instagram.com/marcobeveragesystems/ 

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/ Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/ 

 Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/

Thanks for listening!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices