Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Here you'll find honest answers to the questions we are most frequently asked at the Coffee Coaching Club. We are a coffee roastery and equipment specialists with showrooms in Bern and Zurich. What you read here is our perspective, one of many in the coffee world. There is no ultimate opinion, no right or wrong. Everyone has to find out what works for them. The only thing that matters: The coffee has to taste good to you.

Choose a topic or use our interactive consultation tool for a personalized recommendation.

Buying Guide: Machines and Grinders

Which machine suits your lifestyle? Which grinder brings you joy? What does your everyday life need? Here you'll find guidance that doesn't start with specifications, but with the question: What kind of coffee moment do you want to have? To the Buying Guide

Preparation and Troubleshooting

There are no espresso laws. No right, no wrong. Just coffee that tastes good or doesn't. Here we share how we think about extraction: extraction chemistry, the biology of perception, and why no shot is ever replicable. Plus practical solutions when the espresso doesn't taste the way you want it to. To Preparation and Troubleshooting

Sensory: Understand what you taste

We are scientists and we roast coffee every day, and at some point, we started asking ourselves: Why does it actually taste like that? Why does an espresso sometimes feel thin, even though it has a lot of body? Why does sweetness suddenly appear when you only reduce bitterness? The answers lie in sensory research – and they have changed how we think about coffee. Here we share what we have learned. To Sensory 1×1

Interactive Simulators: Try it yourself

Some things are better understood when you interact with them. Our two simulators are based on current sensory research, our own experiences, and allow you to experience the connections between brewing parameters, grinder physics, and taste in real-time. No video, no article — you adjust the sliders and immediately see what happens.

The Extraction Simulator — Temperature, dose, ratio, grind size, and puck screen: how they change body, sweetness, aroma, bitterness, and acidity. Including product recommendations that adapt to your settings.

The Grinder Simulator — Conical or flat? Classic or modern? How RPM, burr size, and alignment determine particle distribution and thus taste.

Brands and Products

Every brand in our assortment tells a different story. La Marzocco and Arkel stand for refined sensory experience. Flair Espresso for the conscious ritual. Weber Workshops for design aspiration. Comandante for the joy of craftsmanship. Here you'll learn why we carry them and what makes them special. To the Brand FAQs

Service, Shipping and Showrooms

Delivery times, payment methods, financing, barista courses, and our showrooms in Bern and Zurich. Everything so you know what to expect from us, whether online or in person. To Service and Shipping

Comparisons and Guides

Want to dive deeper? Our detailed comparisons, technical deep dives, and interactive tools help you truly understand the differences.

Single Boiler vs. Heat Exchanger vs. Dual Boiler — How the heating system influences your espresso

Brew Group Technology Compared — E61, saturated groups, hybrids explained

La Marzocco Micra vs. Mini vs. GS3 — Which one is yours?

Varia VS3 vs. VS4 vs. VS6 — Grinder comparison for every need

Weber EG-1 vs. Lagom P80 vs. Lagom 01 — The endgame of home barista grinders

Home Grind-by-Weight Grinders — Comparison of GBW grinders for home

Coffee Water Quality — Compose your own water for optimal extraction

Sensory 1×1 — Body, sweetness, aroma, and why they influence each other

Extraction Simulator — Interactively test brewing parameters and puck screen

Grinder Simulator — Particle physics: conical vs. flat, bimodal vs. unimodal

Is your question not listed? Use our consultation tool or visit us in our showroom in Bern or Zurich.