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World Barista Champion Shares Genius Coffee Hack Only Experts Know

Coffee is an indispensable daily ritual for many of us, whether that’s picking up your order at your favourite cafe on the way to work or relaxing in the afternoon with a hot brew you’ve made yourself.

But just as there’s a big difference between a McDonalds’ burger and a burger from a Michelin-starred restaurant, there’s a big difference in results between different coffee-making methods – as well as a big price difference.

On one end of the spectrum, you have instant coffee, which is cheap but generally considered by even the least fussy coffee drinkers as pretty nasty. On the other end of the spectrum, you’ve got home espresso machines, grinders and scales – all of which can cost hundreds of dollars and require a reasonable degree of skill to get good results out of. Or you can just buy coffees, but then different baristas and cafes can have wildly different qualities of coffee. Buying coffee every day is an expensive habit, too.

One method of making coffee that’s considered somewhat of a middle ground is the French press. Also known as a cafetière, press pot or coffee plunger, it’s a cheap, easy-to-use way to make coffee that produces a better result than a Mr. Coffee or a percolator, but coffee aficionados would say it pales in comparison to other methods such as pourover coffee or using a moka pot.

Thankfully, one expert has come up with a genius hack that turns the French press into an instrument of black magic.

James Hoffman, a former World Barista Champion and co-owner of Square Mile Coffee Roasters in London, is one of the most popular coffee experts on social media. Back in 2016, Hoffmann uploaded a video to YouTube titled ‘The Ultimate French Press Technique’, which has since become his most viewed video with over 2.3 million views.

In recent months, the video has been recircling on Facebook, exposing a whole new audience to his simple yet groundbreaking way to make truly excellent coffee with only a few simple tools and tricks. The secret? Patience – and a willingness to mess with your coffee a little.

Hoffmann’s method addresses the key criticism most people have about French press coffees: that you tend to end up with grit or sludge at the bottom of your cup, which is rather unpleasant. Not only does his method virtually eliminate that problem, but it results in a strong, smooth brew that’s eminently drinkable.

Sure, his technique might be a little more time-consuming than most French press users might initially be comfortable with, but the simplicity and accessibility of the method mean that even the most novice coffee drinker can pull it off… Like myself.

I was initially sceptical that you could truly make a really good cup of coffee with a French press, but it really does. Even without weighing out my coffee grounds, using filtered waters and committing the cardinal sin of using pre-ground coffee, Hoffmann’s brewing technique really makes a big difference. Subsequently, I’ve used freshly ground coffee and filtered water, and the difference is miles better still.

The one downside I found with Hoffman’s hack was that if you like to have your coffee with milk, waiting so long for the coffee to brew means that once you add your milk at the end, your coffee’s too cold. But this is entirely a matter of personal preference; irrelevant if you don’t take milk with your coffee and a problem that’s easily avoided if you gently heat your milk before adding it to your coffee.

Is it as good as, say, an Aeropress coffee? No, not really. But the difference between this technique and many other coffee-making methods is that French presses are cheap and easy to find anywhere. Most offices will have a French press or two, and you can pick up one from Amazon or IKEA for $10 or less.

Of course, a nicer press and having all the other accoutrements – a water filter, a set of scales, a grinder and so on – all add up in terms of cost. But even without those and some Aldi coffee (which is actually pretty good), you can make quite a nice cup of joe.

Give it a go yourself – you’ll be surprised.

The Greek Islands

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Alana also shared with DMARGE a sneaky NSW destination that had @visitnsw saying, “You’d be forgiven if you thought this was a postcard from Greece!”.

Who needs Crete when you have this little known island near Port Stephens?

Polignano A Mare

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Who knew? This iconic Italian town (real version pictured above, with the photo being taken by @colourspeak_kerry_) can be (somewhat) replicated near Victoria’s Port Campbell.

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Tuscany

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Freelance writer Sangeeta Kocharekar, who is American but currently based in Australia, told DMARGE, “It’s not the Amalfi Coast, but I found this incredible bed and breakfast in Sydney’s The Hills District that’s an exact replica of a piazza in Tuscany.”

“It’s called Guestlands and is set next to a lake, gorgeous gardens and a beautiful pool. A stay here definitely scratched my Euro itch!”

Mykonos

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“I also love Bondi Icebergs,” Sangeeta told DMARGE. “An afternoon there really is like being in Mykonos!”

The French Riviera

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“Every time I take the ferry over to Manly, that always feels like a little getaway too,” Sangeeta added. “Some spots there feel like you’re in the French Riviera.”

What are the challenges for travellers in 2021, and how are they improvising to make the best of things?

“While I miss my family overseas (I’m American),” Sangeeta told us, “I’m embracing the fact that I have no choice but to stay put. I’m now working a full-time, stable job and finding beauty in the mundane. Things like coastal walks, home cooking and Pilates class – stuff I missed when I was constantly on the road. I haven’t been on a flight since March 2020 and I don’t have a single upcoming trip planned!”

Australian influencer Sean Birley also spoke to DMARGE recently about how improvisation can help turn the worst-dashed plans into the trip of a lifetime.

Australians have not been permitted to travel overseas since March the 25th, 2020, when a coronavirus-driven ban took effect from midday. This has led to Australia’s relative success in containing the virus, but has also sparked debate over the potential for us to become a “hermit kingdom.”

In any case: it seems until our international borders open once more, we’ll have to continue making do, and arguing about the pros and cons of moving to Byron Bay (along with the rest of Sydney)…

In This Story…

How To Wear Green Blazers
How To Wear Red Blazers
How To Wear Bright Blue Blazers
How To Wear Purple Blazers
How To Wear Pink & Salmon Blazers
- Rules To Follow When It Comes To Colourful Blazers

How To Wear Green Blazers

Let’s start by jumping straight into the deep end: greens. Right now you’re probably grumbling that green has no place in tailoring, but take one look above and you’ll know you’re wrong. From bottle greens, to sage, to jewel tones, to pastels, it’s entirely possible to rock a green blazer and look slick. Keep it simple everywhere else (think grey trousers, black Oxfords) and you’ve got smart-casual look that will see you through the day and into evening.

How To Wear Red Blazers

Red offers plenty of opportunities for experimentation, depending on how wild you’re willing to get. A deep burgundy shade is easy to wear (just ask guys like Robert Pattinson and Ryan Gosling, who have sported it on the red carpet) and surprisingly elegant. To make more of a statement, try a vivd Crayola crayon red or touchable fabric like velvet. And don’t fret that your red blazer is a summer-only purchase – as you can see above, it will work equally well over a chunky knit in winter.

How To Wear Bright Blue Blazers

Navy is a no-no, but you don’t have to bid the blues farewell entirely. Instead, opt for anything else in the blue family – aqua, pastel, cobalt, turquoise, teal, etc. If you’re concerned about it being too much, you can anchor a bright blue blazer with khakis or dark denim. If, on the other hand, you’re looking to push a boundaries, take a chance on a monochromatic blue outfit or coloured trousers in a different hue entirely.

How To Wear Purple Blazers

It’s impossible not to notice a strong choice like a purple blazer. While it may seem intimidating to style at first, confidence is your best friend (and it shouldn’t be hard to find once you realise how cool you look against the endless sea of dull jackets). Dress it down with neutrals or dress it up with more colours underneath. Remember that purple is a royal colour, and as monarch you can wear whatever you damn well want and make it look good.

How To Wear Pink & Salmon Blazers

No, we’re still not suggesting a head-to-toe neon extravaganza. What we are suggesting is a more muted shade of pink, which is almost universally flattering on all skin types. A pastel or other softer hue is a perfect compromise for the gentleman who wants to experiment with colour but isn’t prepared to dive head-first into rainbow waters. Finish off the dapper look with a natty pocket square and an attitude that says “Yes, real men do wear pink.”

Rules To Follow When It Comes To Colourful Blazers

Choose colours carefully. Make sure you complexion works well with the blazer colour.
Avoid shiny fabrics. They look cheap. You’re not cheap.
Match your blazer with complimentary colours.
If you’re unsure what to make your colourful blazer with, then keep it simple. Blue jeans is always safe.

RELATED: Best Blazers Brands For Men

The post How To Wear A Colourful Blazer In Any Season appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Black Suit, White Shirt & Grey Tie

Shirts in sky blue are very much corporate cool these days. And, in more recent years, light pink too. The best news? Both these pastels are the official colours for 2016. Which is why we’ve selected the two hues for this article. Let’s start by wearing pale pink or light blue shirts – using contrast tie colours.

Contrast colours sit opposite each other on the colour wheel. So for blue, look to orange, red or yellow but in a muted versions (not tangerine, please) so the shades are more like burned orange, burgundy and mustard or gold.

Pink? Well, the pastel shirt is feminine no-more with a masculine navy tie (pink’s contrast colour on the wheel). Go on, add some sass to your workplace style.

Blue Suit, White Shirt & Blue Tie

Keeping with the blue shirt theme, finding a complementary, tonal or analogous colour option in a tie is an office win. Green is a complementing colour to blue. A forest green tie makes a refined and effortless statement at work, while basic neutrals – charcoal and brown – are ideal for men sporting a pattern jacket – be it, windowpane or chalk stripe.

Violet or purple (always in a deep shade) are tonal options for pink shirting. Just avoid red (to clashy) and pink-on-pink, which looks a little sickly sweet. Trust your aesthetic instincts with pink, and if you’re too saccharine, change it tout de suite.

Khaki Suit, Check Shirt & Purple Tie

Texture – in fashion – is designed to take a mediocre block colour and give it some much needed depth. Knit ties are the prima madonnas of texture, starring front and centre; upstaging even the most colourful and print shirt with their grainy kick.

Paired with a striped or gingham check shirt, neutral knit ties seem to work best; their graininess bearing an earthen, organic feel adding a natural element to the noise of the pattern underneath. Opt for green, navy, black or brown for a sure fire win in the office – especially if the shirt is already playing the coloured card well.

Knitted ties make a refreshing change from pervasive silk styles and will add a welcome lift to tailoring. For extra bang, go for a pure silk variety with two-tone knit; it will look interestingly flecked up close (great for client meetings) and coolly blended from far (toned down enough when presenting to the boardroom).

Cream Suit, Blue Shirt & Green Tie

Printed shirts are where things can get tricky. Striped shirts are more versatile and can usually be paired with a bigger or smaller patterned tie without the tie becoming lost. However, check shirts look better with a bigger patterned tie.

For the guy who wants to go bold, look to paisley and geometric prints. The key is sticking to the standard colour rules as stated above – complementary or contrast – and it’s a nice look when a portion of the shirt colour features in the tie print.

Stripes look great on check shirts too. Just keep the tie stripe big and bold stripe – to hold its own against the check shirt and ensure one of the colours on the tie used (somewhere) on the shirt. The same applies to polka dots.

Like any time you dress, be sure to check yourself before you commit to the look. If it feels awkward, too busy or forced, added a block coloured tie instead. And walk out the door.

#5 Pattern Perfect

Matching prints – stripes on stripes or checks on checks – despite that familiarity, can be just as complicated as conflicting prints. Let’s start with checks.

Window pane check is more open to being match with another check, due to the scale being so large and the pattern so subtle. Small gingham check shirts are the most traditional and casual in the business world but don’t work well a checked tie.

Instead, opt for a block coloured tie and complements one of the check colours in your shirt.

Stripes are much easier to double-up. Just by changing up the direction. A vertical striped shirt looks great paired with a horizontal or diagonal striped tie. There’s a stark contrast between the two piece, which sees the two amicably take you into your office week, in style.

#6 Casual & Clean

For the minimalist, looking neat and clean will keep you feeling confident at work. Crafting a tonal and textural look is the style path to take here.

Select a block coloured shirt – blue, green, grey or your favourite pastel hue – a tie. Shunning a patterned shirt, opt for a grenadine silk tie – made in a solid colour with the visual interest being the unique weave – finer than regular silk knit tie, but grainier than flat tie.

Monochrome shirt and tie combinations work – light blue shirt with navy tie – especially when the jacket is loud in print, colour or is textural masterpiece such as tweed.

Finally, your casual Fridays style arsenal needs a denim shirt – one with a cutaway or straight collar to retain business style. Rich in texture and in an array of indigo hues, all the cotton shirt needs now is neutral flannel tie – to align with the heritage denim shirt and rustic tweed coat.

Final Word

Don’t be always be white shirt bore. By playing around with contrast and tonal colour mixing – and pattern on print – you’ll soon learn what works and what doesn’t.

The idea is to uncover a few go-to combinations that suit your skin tone and personal style, making getting dressed Monday morning, just that little bit easier. The one golden rule? Your tie should always be a darker shade than your shirt, without exception.

The post Shirt & Tie Combos That’ll Get You Noticed appeared first on DMARGE Australia.