The Editor Lab
How we test every coffee brand we review. Four brewing methods, blind tasting, and a scoring framework built on fifteen years of industry experience.
Why we built The Editor Lab
Most coffee review sites taste a single cup and write an opinion. We wanted something more rigorous. Every brand that appears on Balance Journal goes through the same structured process in our dedicated testing studio in Shoreditch, London.
The result is a transparent, repeatable framework that lets readers compare brands on equal footing. No brand pays to appear. No brand provides free samples or editorial input. We buy every product at full retail price.
Four brewing methods, every time
Different brewing methods extract different characteristics from the same bean. To give a fair, complete assessment, we brew every coffee four ways:
Sage Barista Pro
Espresso extraction at 93 degrees Celsius. Tests body, crema quality, and how well the roast translates under pressure.
Hario V60
Pour-over at a 1:16 ratio. Reveals clarity, acidity, and individual tasting notes that espresso can mask.
AeroPress
Immersion brewing with a fine paper filter. Tests sweetness, mouthfeel, and how forgiving the coffee is with different techniques.
Cafetiere
Full immersion with a metal mesh filter. The most common home method in the UK. Tests how the coffee performs in everyday conditions.
Scoring framework
Every coffee is scored across seven categories, each weighted equally out of 10. The total score out of 70 determines the final rating. This framework is applied consistently across all reviews.
| Category | What we assess | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour profile | Complexity, balance, and distinctiveness of taste across all four methods | 10 |
| Roast quality | Consistency of roast, absence of defects, development level | 10 |
| Freshness | Roast date transparency, packaging quality, degassing valve | 10 |
| Value for money | Price per gram relative to quality, subscription discounts | 10 |
| Packaging and presentation | Design, sustainability, information clarity, resealability | 10 |
| Versatility | Performance consistency across espresso, filter, AeroPress, and cafetiere | 10 |
| Overall experience | Ordering process, delivery, brand story, customer service | 10 |
| Total | 70 |
Who runs the tests
All testing is led by James Bellis, editor-in-chief of Balance Journal. James has over fifteen years in the speciality coffee industry, including a decade with Sanremo, one of the world's leading commercial espresso machine manufacturers. He has been featured in Forbes and is the founder of Balance Coffee.
Editorial independence
No brand paid to appear on Balance Journal. No brand provided payment, free samples, or editorial input. We purchase every product at full retail price using our own funds.
Some reviews contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This never influences our scores or recommendations. Our full editorial policy is available on request.