Coffee is Big Business, and so our best advice to folks who want to participate in making coffee a more sustainable industry is simple: think Small, think Specific, and think Local. Here are ways we can all pitch in, without having to sacrifice better mornings. Economic Sustainability Choose local coffee roasters, to bolster local economies and small businesses Favor roasters who conduct “direct trade” with farmers Opt for microlot, specialty coffees over inexpensive commodity beans Social Sustainability Remember that economic sustainability = social sustainability for farmers Seek out roa ..read more

Written by Mary Sheely, Communications Director at the Northwest Center Seattle, WA – November 1, 2021 – The Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment (GCDE) has announced Bean Box as the 2021 recipient of the Governor’s Award for Small Private Employer. The annual awards ceremony recognizes employers for exemplary work recruiting, hiring, retaining, and promoting people with disabilities. Bean Box earned this accolade for its commitment to hiring people of abilities. Since 2020, the coffee subscription company has hired nine employees with intellectual and developmental disabil ..read more

The Cup of Excellence's mission is to continuously expand the discovery and recognition of exemplary coffees and high-quality farmers. The non-profit organization does this through the Cup of Excellence® competition, sensory education training, testing, research projects and other activities designed to level up the appreciation of world-class coffees.   The Cup of Excellence Competition Let’s start with the Cup of Excellence competition, a contest for a country’s best coffees. Some call it the 'Olympics for Coffee' or the 'Oscars for Coffee.' The level of scrutiny that Cup of Excellence ..read more

Fun Fact: The London Fog was not invented in London! Instead, it was invented in Vancouver, Canada, by a pregnant woman named Mary Loria. Because she was pregnant and abstaining from coffee, she requested an alternative at her neighborhood coffee shop, the Buckwheat Cafe. There, the baristas concocted a tea-based drink, coining it the London Fog.  What Is a London Fog Drink?  The London Fog is a hot drink that combines Earl Grey tea, vanilla syrup and steamed milk, and creates a cloud-like appearance (hence the name). Sometimes referred to as a London Fog Tea Latte, it’s sweet and s ..read more

In 2003, Starbucks launched the Pumpkin Spice Latte, forever changing the way we order our coffee drinks, but even more so, the way we think about fall. Today, fall is synonymous with the pumpkin spiced latte; it’s (almost) impossible to enjoy one without the other. While we love ordering a pumpkin spiced latte at our favorite coffee shop (and then picking pumpkins or shopping for fall decor while we sip our PSL, of course), we also like to make our own at home (especially because we can stay in our pajamas). Next time you want a pumpkin spiced latte and don’t feel like leaving the house, try ..read more

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a coffee maker to make a good cup of coffee. In fact, the best coffee makers are inexpensive by default! Think about it: people have been brewing coffee in a simple pot over the stove for centuries. And while coffee gear has evolved to make brewing better, the basic concept behind every coffee maker—filtering ground coffee beans through hot water—remains the same.  If the goal is better coffee, start with fresh beans and a quality burr grinder. Then focus on the coffee maker, keeping in mind that a high-priced machine won’t necessarily lead to a b ..read more

Like the record player and mom jeans, the Moka pot has made a serious comeback in recent years, specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic. When restaurants and cafes closed, many people re-discovered the classic coffee maker along with the joys of drinking specialty coffee at home. Bialetti—the pioneering company behind the Moka pot—almost went bankrupt in 2018 when it struggled to compete with the popularity of pod coffee makers. Today, it's found in 90 percent of Italian households.  Read on to learn more about this storied coffee maker, from our best Moka pot recipe to how it comp ..read more

Ever heard the fancy phrase, “coffee bloom,” and wondered what it means in reference to brewing? Read on to learn what causes a coffee bloom, what it says about your beans, and what it means if your coffee doesn’t bloom at all.  What Is a Coffee Bloom? A coffee bloom occurs when hot water comes in contact with coffee grounds, releasing carbon dioxide and causing the mixture to expand and bubble up. The release of CO2 is a good sign, as it means your coffee is fresh; without carbon dioxide, coffee beans will oxidize and become stale.  Coffee can bloom with any brew method, from the c ..read more

As the demand for vegan products continues to rise—be it for sustainability purposes and/or health reasons—so, too, does the list of options for non-dairy milk. In fact, the newest milk alternative, potato milk, is said to be the most sustainable yet.  While we haven’t tried potato milk in our coffee just yet, we can certainly recommend some other non-dairy milks that make the perfect addition to any cup.  The Best Non-Dairy Milk for Coffee When it comes to non-dairy milk for coffee, not all are created the same. For example, rice milk is slightly watery and therefore not as ideal f ..read more

Frothed milk can turn a basic cup of coffee into a cafe-quality treat in seconds, and is a nice way to switch up your morning ritual. Plus, you can froth milk using kitchen utensils that you already own!  Read on to learn everything you need to know about frothing milk, including how to froth milk with plant-based alternatives and our recommendations for the best milk frothers. What Is Frothed Milk? First, let’s define frothed milk. Frothed milk is the layer of foamy bubbles you often see atop coffee drinks. It is milk that’s been aerated with a tool, such a milk frother. Milk frothers t ..read more