What do you mean when you say your coffee is clean? We mean that our coffee is free from pesticides, heavy metals and mold toxins (mycotoxins) as these are the 3 most common impurities found in coffee. The healthiest way to drink your coffee is brewed hot and black. One cup has virtually no calories or carbs, no fat, and is low in sodium. Organic coffee has been grown with only natural fertilizers and practices. No chemical or synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or GMOs are used, and farming is done in an environmentally responsible way. Although Folgers (J.M. Smucker) states on their website t ..read more

HOW TO DEVELOP SWEETNESS IN COFFEE? Well first you want to select your green beans carefully. African beans like Ethiopian and Kenya tend to be more acidic, with citrus notes (and wonderfully so) Burundi can be developed to be sweet. Central and south America coffees, Guatemala for example can develop a sweetness in the roast, albeit a very different kind than Burundi. So, origin matters. Microclimates matter. Perhaps even more so elevation (and thus weather conditions) can have a great effect on density of the bean. Dense beans have a capacity to develop sweetness through caramelization in th ..read more

Roasting Session in Progress! When initially picked, coffee beans are a striking green color. By the time you purchase either whole beans to grind or already ground coffee it is various shades of brown; so what happened in between? Roasting. It is the process that makes it possible for us to enjoy that wonderful cup of coffee. What all goes into it and why are there different levels? Let’s start at the beginning: roasting is the heating process that extracts oil from the green beans subsequently turning them into the fragrant brown beans with which we are familiar. The heat combined with the e ..read more

4 Minutes for Full Body   We have a challenge for you. Set a timer for 4 minutes and see how many tasks you can fully accomplish. I can see the look on your face now, one of bewilderment but probably more one of confusion. So there may not be a landslide of accomplishments but do you know what day-changing task you CAN do in 4 minutes? Brew a piping serving of French press coffee. We have primarily focused on traditional drip coffee so we’re going to take the opportunity to explore other brew methods for our wonderfully roasted coffee beans. Despite the name, one does not have to be a con ..read more

What’s a barista’s favorite morning mantra? Rise and grind! The finer things in life involve patience and precision; coffee is no exception. You can possess the most exclusive whole beans and the best coffee maker money can buy but that could be moot if you don’t pay as much attention to the grind size! If not properly calibrated an incorrect grind size can skew the whole process. How dreadful! We don’t want that to happen to you. In our previous newsletter we discussed the different types of brews; this issue we will take it back one step further and answer the question: “how does grind size ..read more

Happy New Year coffee junkies!   What are some of your intentions or resolutions? 2020 may have been a garbage year but the same fate doesn’t have to await your coffee grounds! If you drink coffee on the daily, you are fairly aware of the amount of grounds it produces. Natural properties present in coffee make it amenable to a variety of uses extending beyond just drinking. The grind doesn’t have to stop once the coffee is made. In the spirit of new beginnings, we’ll be checking out some new uses for the old grounds!   Around the Home & Personal Use 1.    &nbs ..read more

We have all been in line at our favorite coffee shop hearing an order and wondering, was that English?  In fact….The double ristretto venti half soy nonfat decaf organic chocolate brownie iced vanilla double-shot gingerbread Frappuccino extra hot with foam whipped cream upside down double blended, one sweet n’ low and one nutra-sweet and ice is the longest possible Starbucks order. But, outside of going for a Guinness world record, what is the difference between a cappuccino, a latte, and an americano? We’re here to help you navigate your favorite coffee shop’s menu like a barista! With t ..read more

Legend of the Coffee Berry   There is nothing quite like the smell of a freshly ground pot of coffee brewing in the morning. In the volume of one cup lies the power to transform one’s entire day. While enjoying that morning cup of Joe, have you ever wondered where it comes from? Here are a few fun facts to get you started: Second only to crude oil, coffee is one of the most traded commodities on the planet, and it is the third most consumed beverage after water and tea. Seventy countries produce more than 10 million tons of coffee annually! So what is the story of this magical berry? From ..read more

The leaves are changing from vibrant green to burnt oranges, golden yellows, and amber reds. There is a mild crispness to the air. Sweaters and beanies are gradually making an appearance; do you know what all of this means? Fall is upon us! And with cooler weather arrives the opportunity to spice up your coffee for the season.  While we are all familiar with the infamous PSL, there is more out there! Chai, caramel, clove, oh my! Ginger, hints of pepper, specs of chocolate or a curious note of rosemary or sage can all be incorporated with your preferred coffee blend. Possibilities abound a ..read more