If you’re investing in quality coffee beans, it is crucial that you understand the best way to store your coffee beans as well. Just like wine, beer, or an original Van Gogh painting, it’s important to keep your coffee in a safe environment so that you can savor every bit of flavor that the roaster intended.  Luckily, there isn’t too much to know about the proper coffee storage, and we plan to teach you everything right here in these few paragraphs. So, let’s get right into it.  1. Buy Your Beans in Small Quantities Direct from the Roaster This is the first place where many people ..read more

Coffee is a beautiful and complex creature. It means something different to everyone and it has certainly changed over the last few years. The way we grow, roast, buy and consume coffee is evolving and as lovers of coffee, we've never had it so good. The specialty coffee revolution in Texas, is growing FAST and who wouldn't want to drink better-tasting coffee? But how did coffee get to taste so good? And why hasn’t it always been this good? Third Wave Coffee: The Three Waves It’s been a long and complicated journey for our friend the coffee bean. From i ..read more

Hey there, I’m Bud! I’m the Director of Coffee here at Creature. I’ve been in the specialty coffee industry since spring of 2014. I’ve been a barista at all of your favorite cafes across Texas, once won a Curtis Gold Cup brewer at a latte art throwdown, and have now had my mitts all over the US Coffee Competitions circuit, both as a Barista competition competitor and now Brewer’s Cup judge.      I spent the last weekend of January in Baltimore, Maryland with some of the best tasters on this side of the world: head roasters from acclaimed shops along the eastern seaboard, Colomb ..read more

The health effects of coffee has always been a hot topic with scientists and there’s a wealth of information out there. Depending on where Google takes you, coffee can be part of a healthy balanced diet or it can be an incredibly harmful and dangerous substance. Some think it’s good for you, some think coffee is bad for you. Let’s break the science jargon down, and take a look at the facts about your beans. THE 8 HEALTH BENEFITS OF COFFEE 1. COFFEE IS GOOD FOR YOU BODY Coffee is full of antioxidants and nutrients that help fight against free radicals. The average coffee drinker, who eats a ty ..read more

Coffee acidity refers to the tangy or bright taste that is often associated with high-quality coffees. This taste is caused by the presence of certain acids in the coffee beans, including citric acid, malic acid, and acetic acid. While some coffee drinkers may find acidity to be unpleasant, it is often considered to be an important aspect of a coffee's flavor profile.   Factors that Affect Acidity Acidity in coffee can be affected by a number of factors, including the type of coffee bean, the growing region, and the roasting process. For example, Arabica beans are generally considered to ..read more

Ethiopia is widely recognized as the birthplace of coffee, and the country has a rich and storied history and culture surrounding the beloved beverage. From the unique bean varietals and flavor characteristics to the diverse coffee processing methods, Ethiopian coffee is truly one-of-a-kind.   The History of Coffee in Ethiopia   According to legend, coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia over 1,000 years ago by a goatherd named Kaldi. Kaldi noticed that his goats became more energetic and playful after eating the bright red berries of a particular tree. Intrigued, Kaldi tried the b ..read more

Keep Your Beans Fresher for Longer There’s nothing better than opening up a bag of freshly roasted coffee beans for the first time. The caramel notes and the fruity fragrances warm your soul and deliver a rush of sensory pleasure that will live with you forever. At Creature HQ, we think about freshness a lot. Freshly roasted coffee beans taste better. Okay, maybe we’re a bit obsessive about the whole fresh thing but it really does matter. Especially as most bags of coffee are sat on grocery store shelves, going stale. Let me explain.   Coffee Beans are Years in the Making Coffee plants g ..read more

Finding the perfect gift for the coffee lover in your life shouldn’t be difficult. If anything, the issue is that there are simply too many options out there and you don’t know where to begin. Whether you’re looking for a complete coffee gift box, a subscription to some of the best coffee beans being roasted today, or trying to find the best tools for making top notch quality at home, this article will lay it out there for you so that everyone goes home happy. We know there are a lot of similar articles out there, so we wanted to lay this out in a slightly different manner than we usually see ..read more

Summer time. Swimming pools, bbqs, backyards and beaches. It’s synonymous with lemonade and ice cold beer. But for coffee drinkers, summer time means something else that is quite special - cold brew coffee. Ahhh yes, that smooth, delicious, burst of caffeine that sits so right on a sunny summer afternoon. I mean, really... is there something better than a walk down the beach on a warm morning with a refreshing, invigorating pint of icy cold brew? I can imagine the sound of the ice clinking against the inside of my insulated tumbler as I lift it to my lips. The perfect ratio of water to single ..read more

Beginner's Guide to Brewing Coffee  Want to make coffee as good as your barista? Want those single-origin pour overs at home? With a little bit of effort and minimal investment, you’ll notice a huge difference in the quality of your morning cup of coffee. Our Beginners Guide to Brewing Coffee will get you started.   GET GOOD COFFEE BEANS Firstly, ditch that huge tub of pre-ground stale grocery store coffee and get yourself a bag of quality, whole bean, specialty coffee from your local third wave coffee shop, or even better, get them delivered fresh to your door. You may find it diff ..read more