Beans and Roasting is only half of the great-cup-of-coffee equation. The second half is Brewing and Drinking, which is what we’ll discuss in this category of blog posts.
I loath burn and bitter industrial coffee, i.e., anything from Charbucks and their ilk.
Everything about Lake City Coffee is about creating what I like. If you like what I like, then you’re going to love our coffee.
The bottom line is I love smooth coffee. By smooth I’m referring to coffee that has ZERO bitterness and ZERO burnt flavor.
I want smooth. If it ain’t smooth then feed it to the dog or your Charbucks loving friend.
Additionally, I don’t just want smooth, I want the natural flavor of the bean that God put in there in the first place. Some beans are spicy, others, citrus, or nut, or chocolate, etc.
We (More precisely, my beautiful wife Alisha and I), only drink coffee beans, roasting, and brewing that produces coffee that is:
Not all brewing methods are created equal. Below is a list of my top three brewing methods; based on my preferred taste profile listed above. My preference is for brewing methods that allow the grounds to steep in the water for a period of time.
In my humble opinion, all brewing methods relying on passing water through grounds, such as drip machines, slow drip, espresso, etc., produces a bitter cup of coffee.
Are you tired of brewing coffee that tastes like old sock juice? Fear not! Russell and Alisha from Lake City Coffee Roasters are ready to transform you into a barista wizard. Say goodbye to sludge and hello to delightful brews that’ll have even your great-grandma swooning. It’s time to sip in style!
Think homemade coffee blends are just for fancy baristas with lab coats? Think again. Grab a few bags of Lake City Coffee Roasters’ silky-smooth Tarrazú beans and turn your kitchen counter into a wild flavor playground. Mix light with dark, add a sneaky pinch of decaf — suddenly your mug is throwing the best tasting party in town.
Black coffee just got a serious glow-up. Lake City Coffee Roasters’ silky-smooth Tarrazú beans turn drinking it straight-up into a downright addictive experience — no milk, no sugar, just rich, low-acid flavor that hugs your tastebuds and high-fives your stomach. Who knew the dark side could taste this ridiculously good?
Tired of coffee that punches your tastebuds like a grumpy espresso goblin? We’ve got five delightfully quirky tricks to banish bitterness forever. Ditch the cheap beans, master the perfect grind, and discover why Lake City Coffee Roasters’ silky-smooth Tarrazú beans turn every cup into pure morning magic—no stomach drama, just happy high-fives from your tongue!
Turns out your coffee’s mood swings have nothing to do with Monday — it’s all about temperature. Too hot and it throws a bitter tantrum. Too cool and it tastes like lukewarm regret. Lake City Coffee Roasters cracked the code: the perfect sweet spot that delivers silky-smooth, low-acid bliss in every single sip. Your mug just thanked you.
Tired of black coffee that tastes like a dragon just gargled battery acid? We found the quirky heroes: silky-smooth, low-acid Tarrazú beans that actually taste incredible straight-up. No milk. No sugar. No drama. Lake City Coffee Roasters’ gently roasted gems turn drinking coffee black into a ridiculously delicious victory lap for your tastebuds and stomach!
Wine snobs, foodies, and coffee nerds — you’ve finally met your match. If you geek out over complex notes, perfect mouthfeel, and flavor that actually lingers, Lake City Coffee Roasters has your new daily obsession. Silky-smooth, low-acid Tarrazú beans that taste incredible black — no milk, no sugar, just pure palate party. Your tastebuds just joined the club!
Your morning cup should not taste like a sock soaked in yesterday’s regret. We rounded up the seven biggest brewing blunders — savage over-grinding, boiling-water rage, and the dreaded “one-size-fits-all” scoop — that turn great beans into sad mud. Dodge them all with Lake City Coffee Roasters’ silky-smooth Tarrazú beans and your mug will finally throw a proper flavor party.
So, you want strong coffee? Well, hold onto your mugs! Lake City Coffee’s beans are all about that smooth, chocolatey goodness, not the bitter brew most consider “strong.” Our buddy Grant thinks it’s potent, but defined “strong” before you dive in! Proper beans, the right roast, and a fine grind are key. Go ahead and steep long, but be warned—too much might taste like a chocolate cherry explosion! Lastly, sediment is part of the real coffee experience. Embrace it, my friend!
Your alarm screams and you lunge for coffee like it’s a life raft. Adorable. Your body is already throwing its own wild cortisol rave — adding caffeine right then is like bringing a megaphone to a dance party. Wait 90 minutes. Then let Lake City Coffee Roasters’ silky-smooth, low-acid Tarrazú beans steal the show. Morning magic unlocked.
Stop playing “guess the scoop” roulette with your morning mug — your tastebuds deserve better. A simple coffee scale turns every brew from “meh” into magic with perfect ratios every time. Pair it with Lake City Coffee Roasters’ silky-smooth, low-acid Tarrazú beans and suddenly you’re a backyard barista legend. No more weak, bitter disasters. Just pure joy in a cup.
How to Make Instant Coffee from Fresh Roasted Beans (Homemade Method) Author: Russell Volz • Published: October 12, 2023 • Updated: August 28, 2026 Store-bought instant coffee usually tastes flat, bitter, or just plain dull. That’s not an accident — it’s almost always made from low-grade beans and processed for shelf life and profit rather … Read more
The debate between French Press, Moka Pot, and AeroPress highlights the unique characteristics and brewing techniques of each method. French Press offers pure, unfiltered flavor, while Moka Pot delivers strong espresso-like shots with a learning curve. AeroPress stands out for its smoothness and ease of use. Each brewing method caters to different taste preferences, from bold and gritty to silky and mellow, with recommendations for using quality beans to enhance the experience.
We’re going to discuss the pro’s and con’s of the “Latte vs Coffee” debate. More importantly, if you’re looking to consume your morning, noon, or evening comfort food AND enjoy it with more satisfaction, then you’re in the right place. Coffee or Latte Comfort Food Ahhh… there are just times when you’re craving something to … Read more
If drinking mold free coffee is important to you, then you’re going to love this article. I (Russell – Owner of Lake City Coffee) will help you to stay healthy and really enjoy your mold free coffee with zero fears. Spoiler Alert – The key is using Super Fresh Roasted Coffee. [presto_player id=11584] What Is … Read more
Hello, I’m Russell Volz, owner of Lake City Coffee. This article focuses on my personal and professional experience concerning the Best AeroPress Accessories. [presto_player id=11459] Coffee Professional If you found this page through an internet search of “Best AeroPress Accessories” or something like that, you’ll find nearly all of the entries on the search engine … Read more
Why would you want Decaf Coffee Concentrate? There are many times when we just don’t have the time to make fresh brewed coffee. Decaf coffee concentrate is also a great flavoring option when making a protein shake, or baking a coffee cake, or mixing a cocktail. There are dozens of applications where decaf coffee concentrate … Read more
It takes me several hours to finish 16 ounces of coffee. So, I used to pre-heat my double insulated Thermos mug with boiling water. Sure it was still hot 4 hours later, but that first hour, the coffee was so hot, that I couldn’t taste the coffee. Which got me to thinking what is the … Read more
I’m going to show you how to make black coffee that you’ll love so much, that you’ll want it every day. Making the best black coffee isn’t rocket science. It doesn’t take much time. And it takes no special skills. And here’s the part that’ll really surprise you. What I’m going to show you, you’re … Read more
Imagined that you just brewed the best tasting coffee of your life. To say that your cup of Joe was divine would be an understatement. The next morning, you start thinking, “Wow, that coffee yesterday was sooooo darn good, that I’ll reuse those coffee grounds and do it again!” Seriously? Can you reuse coffee grounds? … Read more
Two out of three American’s drink coffee daily. But there are still a lot of people that have never drank coffee. So, that still leaves millions of people that are wondering, “What does coffee taste like”. I think the real question here is, “What does good coffee taste like”, or “How to make coffee taste … Read more
Which is better, dark roast vs light roast coffee? In truth; Vienna Roast, French Roast, Italian Roast, and Full City Roast, are all just different names for different shads of burnt. On the other hand, light roast or commonly called white coffee, is figuratively speaking, an entirely different animal, . If you want to compare … Read more
I love my coffee hot; real hot. So cold brew just didn’t seem right for me. Then one day, I thought, “What the hell. What if I make cold brew, then nuked it in the microwave?” And WOW – HOLY COW BATMAN!!! Nuked cold brew absolutely rocks! It’s so easy, naturally sweet, and even smoother … Read more
Two out of three Americans drink coffee daily, which equates to 400 million cups every day. With that much coffee being consumed, it’s worth knowing the pros and cons of coffee. Even if coffee was a miracle drug, but it tasted like burnt and bitter dirty socks, would you drink it? Probably not. So, not … Read more
So, when answering my own question, does cold brew coffee have more caffeine, the short answer is; “Yes”. The truth is, the darker the roast, the less the caffeine; the lighter the roast the more the caffeine. I’m not sure you’re aware that white coffee has almost double the amount of caffeine than dark roast. This is because dark roasted beans have had the oils, caffeine, bioflavonoid, antioxidants and flavor roasted out of the beans.
As a coffee roaster, often I am asked, “Does dark roast have more caffeine?” or “Does light roast have more caffeine?” Typically, I return the question with, “Why are you asking?” I ask this because there are a lot of variables when it comes to coffee and caffeine. Caffeine Variables Bean origin (which country/region)? Dark, … Read more
How to Like Black Coffee (No Sugar, No Cream) Author: Russell Volz • Published: May 27, 2020 • Updated: September 4, 2026 I’ve lost count of how many people have told me they “just can’t drink coffee black.” Most of them think it’s their fault. It’s not. Nine times out of ten, the problem is … Read more
I detest bitter coffee, yet people drink it by the gallon. Go figure! Often, I’m asked, “I just wanted to know why is my coffee bitter”. Then they want to know how to make a perfectly smooth cup of coffee. I had the same problem many years ago. I hated coffee, but while visiting a … Read more
Finding the best decaf coffee is really tough; especially if you’re looking for the best dark roast decaf coffee that is also smooth, i.e. not bitter. Typical Industrial Decaf Before you even open the bag of decaf coffee, those poor decaf beans have been bent-folded-and-mutilated. Take a regular green coffee bean and put it … Read more
This is a really good question; because if you’re trying to loose weight, how you start your day is really important. The quick answer to, how many calories in coffee or how many calories in a cup of coffee is about 5 calories. Karen Lost 60 Pounds My sister Karen is one smart lady; because … Read more
The AeroPress Coffee brewing method is quick, fast, cheap, and produces the smoothest coffee know to mankind. Below is my how to make Perfect AeroPress Coffee step-by-step instructions. I will only tolerate smooth, i.e. non-bitter coffee. That’s why my company, Lake City Coffee, is dedicated to uncompromising, brutally honest, coffee beans and home brewing methods … Read more
If you want to drink coffee AND loose weight, then the best coffee creamer for weight loss is this. None. It’s that simple. If you counted the calories in coffee with cream and sugar, you’d be surprised. So, don’t use any creamer. Now, don’t stop reading this post just because you currently think that you … Read more
Two thirds of Americans drink coffee every day. The other third is wondering, “How to start drinking coffee?”, which by the way is easy to answer. The tougher and more important question to ask is, “Why should I start drinking coffee?” Short Answer – How to start drinking coffee? Let’s begin with the short answer … Read more
Brewing coffee via the cold brew method unquestionably produces the smoothest, least bitter, coffee on the planet. But how long does cold brew last? More specifically, how long does cold brew coffee last in the refrigerator? Simple Answer The simple answer is 3 to 7 days. That being said; there are several variables, which can … Read more
It always amazes me how many people believe that coffee must taste bitter and burnt. Did you know that your great-grandmother knew how to make coffee less bitter. Great-Grandma’s Coffee In fact, your Great-Grandmother never made coffee that was bitter. In her day, coffee was naturally sweet, smooth as silk, never burnt, never ever bitter, … Read more
My sister, Karen, has lost nearly 60 pounds in the last year. I’m going to show you one very important part of what made her successful. She started by looking at the number of calories in coffee with cream and sugar and switched to black coffee, no sugar, no cream. Karen’s Secret Of course she … Read more
As a professional coffee roaster, I’m often asked, “How long does coffee last”. Before I answer your question, let’s assume that you love coffee. In fact, let’s assume that you only love really good coffee; coffee that’s as smooth as silk, with an aroma that would tame a wild beast, and flavor that would make a marine cry. If that’s what you’re looking for, then let’s delve in and answer this very important question, “How long does coffee last”.
All these countries couldn’t consistently have better coffee than we do? But they do. Why? In a nut shell, it all comes down to freshness. In other countries, they only brew coffee that was roasted within a week or so if not a day or so. But here in the states, a vast majority of coffee sits in warehouses or on store shelves for months if not years. That’s the difference.
If you’re a Lake City Coffee drinker, then you’re not the average American coffee drinker. American Coffee Drinkers The following statistics come to us from the recently released National Coffee Association’s 2018 report on coffee trends. Overall, most of the numbers have been on a small but steady increase since 1999. 64% of Americans drink … Read more
What is the number two-traded commodity in the world? Coffee. What is the most consumed drink in the world? Coffee. What do two thirds of Americans drink every day? Coffee. What is one of the most popular trade school option in the world? Culinary Arts. And guess what is not taught in these culinary arts … Read more
When I tell people that I’m a coffee roaster, often people tell me, “When I was on vacation, I had the most amazingly smooth coffee, but I just can’t get good smooth coffee here in the US.” Then they go on to ask how to make smooth coffee.
Oh my gosh! What’s the point of decaf coffee? Man, I understand that question better than most people. I love coffee. No, more specifically, I love really good coffee. So again, what’s the point of decaf coffee? Why Decaf? Surprisingly, over 10% of coffee drinkers drink decaf coffee. All I can say is that they … Read more
Have you every made campfire coffee? Unfortunately, it’s often not near as good as the coffee that you make at home and often it’s down right pretty nasty stuff. It’s doubly disappointing when you’ve become accustomed to Lake City Coffee’s fresh roasted, naturally sweet, whole bean coffee. Let’s face it. After hiking, camping, playing all … Read more
Is too much coffee bad for you? Well that depends on who you listen to. Scientists, Researchers, & Doctors Scientists report that 90 minutes of direct sunlight in the Mohave Desert in August may cause sunburn. Furthermore, researchers have proven that Hawaiian surfers with open bleeding wounds may attract sharks. Not surprisingly Doctors also tell … Read more
Your friends say that you make really bad coffee. They tease you. Your family laughs behind your back. You’ve even seen social media posts poking fun at your coffee. Determined to prove them all wrong, you decided to do whatever it takes to shake this rap. I know, what you’re thinking, “How tough can this … Read more
Hold the phone! Salted Caramel, Chocolate, AND Coffee? This sounds like heaven; and it is! Here is the best coffee cake ever recipe, which Alisha made for my birthday. Not surprisingly, as Coffee Roasters, we at Lake City Coffee come across a lot of coffee recipes. This recipe is to die for. For the cake: … Read more
As a coffee professional I know this truth. When brewing a cup of coffee you can do everything wrong, yet produce a pretty darn good cup of coffee, IF the roasted beans are fresh. By fresh, I mean that the beans were roasted less than 30 days ago. At Lake City Coffee, we roast and ship via FedEx every Tuesday. That way you’re guaranteed the best tasting fresh roasted coffee within 24-48 hours anywhere in the country.
What do you do when you get down or depressed? Some people take a walk, others eat, and some drink alcohol. The best depression therapy is coffee. That’s right! When I’m a little down, I brew up a pot of the best fresh roasted coffee beans that money can buy. This is basically a self-imposed … Read more
I like coffee and I really like BBQ. I can’t think of a better thing than to combine the two. Below is my sister Karen’s coffee BBQ rub. This is great on anything you put on the grill. Here’s the weird thing, the meat doesn’t taste anything like coffee. But what the meat does taste … Read more
Tiramisu is the king of easy coffee desserts. What makes tiramisu so great is that it’s light and not too sweet. It practically melts in your mouth and doesn’t take up much room in your stomach. Tiramisu has several wonderful complimentary flavors. And best of all it’s Italian. My sister Karen is one of Wisconsin’s … Read more
How you drink your coffee might say something about you. There’s no shortage of coffee statistics. If you’re an American, you’re most likely a coffee drinker. In fact, 54% of American’s drink coffee daily. As a coffee drinker, you probably make your own coffee, since only 1/3 of American coffee drinkers regularly frequent a coffee … Read more
I often meet people that say, “I can’t drink coffee. It gives me indigestion.” Or they say, “The acid in coffee bothers my stomach.” If coffee is so acidic, then why does it bother some people and not others? Is coffee acidic? Is Coffee Acidic? As a master coffee roaster, I can say with authority, … Read more
We’ve all seen the panhandlers with signs, “Will Work For Food.” But have you seen the sign “Will Work For Coffee“? I know a lot of people that aren’t worth squat until they have their coffee. They seem to get up, get dressed, and dive to the coffee shop and don’t wake up until after … Read more
Have you ever wanted to sit down to some soul satisfyingly good coffee? Real gourmet coffee? When your heart is just craving a relaxing smooth moment between you and that cup of coffee. You take one sip, pucker up, and start looking for a spittoon. You just want to scream “Help! My Coffee Sucks!” Help! … Read more
I love gourmet coffee. No, seriously, I do. And I’ll bet that you do too. I mean real soul satisfyingly smooth fresh roasted coffee beans, like they used to make 100 years ago. Back then; coffee was smooth, naturally sweet, with subtle flavors. The coffee was so good, that you’d never even think of buying … Read more
Everyone talks about beans, roasting, brewing, etc., but no one talks about the coffee grinder. Yet using a good coffee grinder and using the best coffee grinder settings is perhaps one of the most important steps in making a truly great cup of gourmet coffee. Good Grinder First of all, you want a burr grinder. … Read more
Normally when making coffee, the stronger the coffee, the more bitter it becomes. So, what’s the trick behind making stronger coffee that’s also smooth with no bitter taste? That’s what we’ll talk about in this post. Defining Terms What is strong coffee? You’d think that would be obvious, but it’s not. I’ll admit that what … Read more
Best Way Of Making Coffee Brewing a great cup coffee starts with figuring out what is a great cup of coffee. Some people like bitter coffee. Some like burnt coffee. Some don’t care. Yet others think a great cup of coffee should be smooth, never bitter, never burnt, with real coffee flavor, and subtle hints … Read more
Cold Brew Coffee Who’d guess that cold brew coffee could help me to lose over 30 pounds. You see, I love coffee. Ever since those late night study groups in college, I have been thoroughly committed to the coffee experience. But truth be told, over the years the ratio of cream and sugar to coffee … Read more
What is real coffee? That’s what I ask you today. As a Master Spokane Coffee Roaster, I’m a bit passionate about this, so please forgive me, because I’ve been putting this post off long enough. My wife Alisha, God bless her pea picking soul, drinks what I call a Liquid Candy Bar every morning. We’re … Read more
Why drink bad coffee when it’s so easy to drink great gourmet coffee? There’s only a few tricks to making great coffee.
It’s “O-Dark-30” and you NEED coffee and you NEED it NOW, preferably before you strangle someone. You might be tempted to grab some instant coffee. DON’T DO IT! You know Instant Coffee is going to be BAD coffee, but you need your fix and you need your fix quick. I get that. But instant coffee … Read more
