Better coffee 2 of 6: Pour-over, weighed

Better coffee 6 of 6: Your house coffee

Settle it: one coffee, one recipe, one way of buying. Then you can stop thinking about coffee and just drink good coffee.

Better coffee 3 of 6: Espresso at home without the frustration

If you have an espresso machine, most bad shots are grind and dose. A method to get to a good shot in five tries instead of fifty.

Better coffee 1 of 6: Taste three, say why

You cannot make better coffee until you can say what better means. Three coffees side by side, and words for what you taste.

A high tea at your place

Set up a cosy high tea with finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, and a lovely tea selection.

Make a creamy iced latte at home

Cold, creamy and ready in minutes. The perfect coffee for a warm day, straight from your own kitchen.

A better eye 8 of 8: Print ten, keep five

A photo on a screen is a maybe. On paper it is a decision. Print the best of this series and hang or give away five.

Better coffee 5 of 6: Visit a roaster

See the beans go brown. An hour at a local roastery, a tasting if they offer one, and a conversation about origin and roast.

Better coffee 4 of 6: A coffee walk to three bars

Ninety minutes, three coffee bars within walking distance, one drink each. Compare and talk to the person behind the machine.

From Arabica to Excelsa: learn to taste the coffee bean

Where your bean comes from determines how your cup tastes. Discover four varieties and instantly drink much more mindfully.

A better eye 6 of 8: Editing with a light hand

Thirty minutes in a free editor. Exposure, contrast, crop, and then stopping. The best edit is the one you cannot see.

Espresso, filter or French press: get to know your coffee makers

Four ways to brew coffee, each with its own flavour and character. Discover which one suits you before you choose.

Choose the coffee machine that fits your morning

Before you order anything: map out what you really want from a cup. That way you pick a machine you'll be happy with for years.

A better eye 2 of 8: Exposure by hand

Aperture, shutter and ISO are three taps on the same pipe. Learn them by turning them, not by reading about them.

A better eye 1 of 8: Light before camera

Photography is looking at light. Twenty minutes at home to see where it comes from, how hard it is and what it does to a face.

Learn One Magic Trick Well Enough to Perform It

Pick one beginner trick, drill it until it is smooth, and leave someone genuinely amazed. An hour is all it takes to start.

Washing your car yourself, thorough and efficient

Wash your car at home in the right order: wheels first, then top to bottom, and dry it off to prevent streaks.

Making arretjescake, no oven required

The classic Dutch chocolate cake that you don't bake but let set. A treat for chocolate lovers.

Pressure canning your harvest, preserved for months

Keep your harvest, soup, or sauce for months with pressure canning. Here's how to do it safely, from jars to sealing.

A fresh lunch for a day on the water

A day out on the boat calls for a lunch that stays cool and is easy to eat. Here's how to get it ready before you cast off.

Packing a lunch bag for on the go

Before you hit the road, pack a lunch bag that stays fresh and nutritious all day. Here's how to do it smart.

Set up your first small aquarium

From empty tank to a lively little underwater world. Step by step, even if you've never kept fish before.

Seven breakfast ideas for every day of the week

Never eat the same breakfast twice. Seven simple ideas to flavour your whole week, from oatmeal to French toast.