https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news.atom Fresh Roasted Coffee - Blog 2024-07-24T14:39:10-04:00 Fresh Roasted Coffee https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/stay-fresh-with-fresh-roasted-coffee-llc 2024-07-24T14:39:10-04:00 2024-07-24T15:05:51-04:00 Stay Fresh With Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC Katelinne Harner How fresh is Fresh Roasted Coffee? Fresher than that first slice of watermelon on a hot summer day!

Roast To Order

At FRC, we roast to order, which means we don’t roast it until you order it! This guarantees that you are getting the freshest coffee possible by the time it finds its way to your doorstep. But what exactly does that process look like?

Let’s walk you through it from start to finish, one step at a time.

It All Starts With A Bean

Wooden, ringed, barrel and burlap bag used to ship unroasted coffee. Barrel says "Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee / Product of Jamaica.

We are devoted to hunting down the best coffees from farms all over the world. By developing personal relationships with the farmers, and seeking out fair trade and direct trade coffees where ever possible, we ensure that your coffee is not only the very best quality, but sustainably sourced from origins that need our support the most. Once we have chosen a quality coffee, green (or unroasted) coffee arrives to our facility in burlap bags or even wooden barrels.

Ready To Roast

When you place an order at freshroastedcoffee.com, your coffee selection will be picked from our green coffee and loaded up into one of our Loring® Smart Roasters to be roasted that very same day. Thanks to these innovative roasters, you can rely on the consistency of the roast for any given coffee. That’s because Roastmaster Dave programs his finalized roast profiles into the roasters, greatly reducing the chance of variance. That means that the Bali Blue Moon that you ordered last month should look and taste exactly the same as the one you receive this month!

Photo of production floor at Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC, depicting 3 silver Loring Smart Roasters. Two FRC employees in production surrounded by machines, large plastic bins, and fresh roasted coffee bags

Seal In The Freshness

Woman with hair net and blue shirt, surrounded by chrome machinery, using a bag sealing machine to nitrogen flush and seal a fresh roasted coffee bag.

After roasting, the coffee is transferred to our bagging machine, where it is bagged and nitrogen flushed, before being sealed. Nitrogen is used, because unlike Oxygen, it doesn’t contribute to staling. During the flushing process, oxygen is forced out of the bag. Flushing continues as the bag is sealed, and then with one final flush, the bag is closed.

But we aren’t done yet. As any good coffee roaster knows, coffee beans need to be allowed to expel carbon dioxide after roasting. Sealing a bag with no way for this gas to release can cause quite an explosion. That’s why our bags are fitted with one-way valves that allow carbon dioxide out without letting anything else back in.

Time to Embark

A small cardboard shipping box with a blue Positively Tea logo, sitting on it's side in front of a larger cardboard shipping box standing upright, with a black Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC logo on it.

In just a few hours after ordering, your coffee has been roasted and bagged. The whole process takes just about 20 minutes! Now, your special brew is ready to be boxed up and shipped directly to your door. Our shipping department works tirelessly to make sure that this step happens quickly and with no mistakes. They may even throw a few stickers in your box for good measure!

If ordered between Monday and Thursday before 2pm, your coffee should ship out the very next day. Coffees placed between Friday-Sunday will ship out Monday morning.  From farm to roaster to your cup – your coffee is guaranteed to arrive fresh and ready to enjoy! Don’t settle for coffee that’s been sitting on the shelf for months. Choose Fresh Roasted Coffee instead - for coffee so fresh, we named our company after it.

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https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/anatomy-of-a-coffee-bean-coffee-bean-basics 2024-07-03T08:22:05-04:00 2024-07-09T10:44:05-04:00 Anatomy of a Coffee Bean: Coffee Bean Basics John Helwig So you’re interested in learning about the anatomy of a coffee bean? Well, let me start by blowing your mind - coffee beans aren't really beans at all!

They are actually seeds found inside a coffee cherry. Coffee trees grow these cherries, and when they are ripe, they turn a bright red* color, signalling that they are ready to be picked. When you think of coffee beans, you probably imagine the small brown ones you see when you open your latest delivery from Fresh Roasted Coffee! But those beans are just a tiny part of a bigger fruit.


The Outer Layers

Let's start with the outside of the coffee cherry. There are three layers:

1. Exocarp: This is the outer skin of the cherry. It's thin and green at first but turns red as the fruit ripens.

2. Mesocarp: Underneath the skin is a layer of sweet, edible pulp. It starts out firm but gets softer as the cherry ripens.

3. Endocarp: The innermost layer surrounds the coffee bean, also known as the parchment. It's made up of tough cells that protect the bean as it grows.

The Inner Layers:

Now let's talkImage showing the anatomy of a coffee cherry. From outer layer inward  - shows Exocarp, Mesocarp, Endocarp, Silver Skin, Endosperm, and Embryo layer. Photo Credit to Katelinne Harner about the coffee bean itself. Inside the cherry, there are three layers:

1. Silver Skin: This is the outermost layer of the bean. It's thin and covers the bean as a protective coat

2. Endosperm: Most of the bean is made up of this layer. It's where all the flavor and aroma come from

3. Embryo: This is the tiny part of the bean that has the potential to grow into a new coffee tree.

Life Cycle of Coffee Beans

Growing coffee beans is a long process that starts with planting a seedling. It takes about five years for a coffee tree to produce fruit. The fruit goes through several stages, from flowering to ripening, before it's ready to be harvested. Once the cherries are picked, they go through a process to remove the outer layers and reveal the beans inside. Then, the beans are roasted to bring out their flavor. Finally, they're ground to make the coffee grounds you use to brew your morning cup.

A cluster of small white flowers, each with five thin petals, against dark green leaves of a coffee tree. Photo Credit to Alexandre Trouve

Two soil coated hands lifting a pile of coffee cherries that range from red to orange to yellow to green, out of a woven bowl. Photo Credit to Rodrigo FloresClusters of green coffee cherries on a brown coffee tree branch with green leaves. Photo credit to Max Letek

Choosing the Right Grind

The way you grind your coffee beans can affect the flavor of your coffee. There are different levels of grind, from extra-fine to coarse, depending on how long you want to brew your coffee. Espresso requires a fine grind, while cold brew needs a coarse grind. Read more about coffee grinder types here in our previous blog!

A white bowl full of brown coffee beans and a silver, metal spoon sits in front of a fresh roasted coffee breakfast blend brown coffee bag with a red and white label, lying on a cream surfaceSo the next time you enjoy a cup of coffee, take a moment to appreciate all the hard work that went into growing and roasting those beans. From the cherry on the tree to the grounds in your cup, each step plays a part in creating the perfect brew.

 *Ripe coffee cherries are usually red though some yellow and even pink varietals exist!

 

 

 

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https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/save-the-grounds-how-to-use-coffee-grounds-in-the-garden 2024-06-14T08:29:31-04:00 2024-06-20T10:06:07-04:00 Save The Grounds! How to Use Coffee Grounds in the Garden John Helwig From Cup to Crop: Turn Coffee Waste into Garden Gold

We all know that a cup of coffee can give you a morning boost, but did you know coffee grounds can also perk up your plants? While used coffee grounds can be tossed into compost with great results, putting them directly on the soil might not be the best idea. So let’s dig into the burning question - are coffee grounds really good for your garden?

Coffee is the world's second most traded commodity after crude oil. So, it's natural to ask if all those spent coffee grounds can be reused in some way. Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, which is a vital nutrient for plants. Nitrogen helps them grow, photosynthesize and bear fruit. Despite the nitrogen content, coffee grounds are generally too acidic to be added directly to the soil. In fact, researchers found that when spent coffee grounds are directly applied to city vegetable gardens, they can even reduce or inhibit plant growth.

There is a safe way to get nitrogen from your coffee grounds to your plants, however. Let's delve into how you can make the most of your coffee grounds in the garden.

The Coffee Ground Breakdown

If you're keen to use coffee grounds in your garden, composting is a great way to go. Many gardeners make their own compost in compost heaps or bins in their backyard. Composting coffee grounds is easy and nutrients like nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous make it very beneficial for your soil. Too much of a good thing can have unwanted effects though, so no more than 20-35 percent of the compost pile material should be made up of coffee grounds. Too much can prevent the whole pile from decomposing. Composting your grounds is as easy as throwing them into your compost pile. Don’t’ forget to toss those used coffee filters in with them. They’ll break down too!

The Ground Rules for Coffee Based Fertilizer

Just piling spent grounds under your plants isn't a great idea. Coffee grounds, whether fresh or used, can stop moisture and air from getting into the soil because of their fine texture. They can also compact readily, making it hard for plants to grow. However, when smaller amounts are blended thinly into the soil, they can improve its texture. Experts suggest adding a nitrogen fertilizer as you do this. Microbes in the soil will help break down the coffee grounds, making nitrogen more readily available to the plants. Another easy way to use your grounds safely, is to make a tea by soaking spent coffee grounds with water overnight and using it as a liquid fertilizer. This is a plant tea though; we don’t recommend drinking it.

Don’t Get Fresh: What About Unused Coffee Grounds?

While not always recommended, using fresh coffee grounds on plants can work in some situations. You can sprinkle them around acid-loving plants, such as blueberries, ferns, or hydrangeas. They can also be mixed into the soil for root crops, such as potatoes, carrots, or parsnips, which all thrive on slightly acidic conditions. Fresh coffee grounds may also be used as an effective weed barrier as they suppress both unwanted plants and certain fungal pathogens. 

Coffee Grounds Unfiltered: More FAQ

Should I use coffee grounds as mulch?

● Spent coffee grounds aren't ideal for mulch as they can create a barrier, preventing water from penetrating the soil. If you want to amend the soil, apply a thin layer to an empty plot and cover it with a layer of wood chips.

How else can I use coffee grounds in the garden?

● Coffee grounds can also deter pests like slugs and snails. Some claim they repel cats from using your flower and veggie beds as a litter box. Additionally, coffee grounds can be used as worm food in vermicomposting with a worm bin.

Spent coffee grounds are so much more than just remnants of your morning brew. To safely unlock their benefits in your garden, just remember to follow these simple rules: use in moderation, compost when possible, and know your plants’ pH preferences. Coffee grounds are a versatile and sustainable resource for enhancing your garden’s health and productivity. So the next time you brew your morning coffee, don’t toss the grounds! Instead, take a minute to raise your mug and toast a greener gardening journey fueled by coffee waste!

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https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/coffee-grinders-blade-vs-burr-vs-hand 2024-05-16T08:23:24-04:00 2024-06-04T10:03:30-04:00 Coffee Grinders: Blade vs. Burr vs. Hand John Helwig Grinding coffee is about achieving the ideal particle size based on the extraction method, and different grinders create different sizes.

For example, because it's extracted quickly under high pressure, espresso requires a fine particle size. On the other hand, drip filter coffee uses a medium grind since it brews for a several minutes. Cold brew requires the longest steep time (up to 24 hours) and the coarsest grind. While large grinders can grind coffee faster and often more accurately, they tend to be expensive, heavy and less portable.

There are three main ways to grind coffee, blade grinders, burr grinders (both flat and conical) and a good old fashioned manual grinder. Read on to find the pros and cons of each coffee grinding method.

What's the Difference Between Blade Grinders and Burr Grinders?

Looking down at a blade coffee grinder with beans inside and white background

Blade Grinder: A blade grinder is a machine that chops up your fresh coffee beans and is often used for spices as well. Blade grinders utilize a blade that looks like a propeller, similar to the ones you see in blenders or food processors. This grinder is powerful and grinds quickly, but makes the coffee grounds uneven in size.

How does uneven particle size affect coffee flavor?

When the grounds are uneven, it can affect coffee taste because you'll get different flavors from the same coffee. For example, you might taste bitterness from over-extracted fineWholesale pet supplies. TEA provide quality pet products at affordable prices. Our aim is to become the leading wholesale supplier of pet products.,Soft-sided airline-approved dog & cat carrier bag,good quality,and kinds of colors for your choice. mixed with the weaker flavor of under-extracted larger pieces. To make the best cup of coffee with a blade grinder, we suggest pulsing the grinder instead of keeping it running continuously. Pulsing means turning the grinder on and off in short bursts. This allows the beans to move around and get chopped more evenly. It also prevents the beans from getting too hot which can affect the flavor of the coffee as it makes the grounds more soluble and can lead to over-extraction.

Closeup of burr from burr coffee grinder
Close up of white burr coffee grinder featuring grind size selection
White Encore burr grinder with a mason jar of beans and a measuring spoon on a white marble counter

Burr Grinder: Flat burr grinders have two circular burrs - flat rings with sharp, angled teeth - that face each other. This grinder has a horizontally-fed setup and typically results in a better, more consistent grind. Conical burr grinders use two cone-shaped burrs, one inside the other. They are fed vertically and are often cooler and quieter than flat burr grinders. Flat burr grinders have a stronger tendency to overheat when used often, such as in a café setting, and use more energy, which can make them less suitable for commercial or home use. However, the burr grinder offers a better grind, which creates a consistent flavor profile, giving baristas more freedom to experiment with different water temperatures and extraction times.

What About Hand Coffee Grinders?

Person using hand coffee grinder to grind coffee beans. Wearing a sweater with print and painted nails

Hand coffee grinders, which are often just small conical burr grinders without an electric motor. They are reliable tools that create evenly sized coffee grounds, which as we've established, is crucial for achieving a well-balanced and tasty cup of coffee. They can maintain this consistency across various grind sizes, from coarse for French press, to fine for espresso. However, they may offer fewer options for adjusting the grind size in very small increments and often have a very small capacity.

One noticeable feature of manual coffee grinders is their compact size. Most of them are small enough to be held in one hand while you use the other hand to turn the crank. If you value portability, especially for brewing coffee while traveling, then manual grinders are a great choice. You may also find that manual coffee grinders feel sturdier compared to electric ones. This is because hand grinders are straightforward machines that typically consist of no more than a small hopper to hold beans, a pair of burrs to grind the beans as they pass through, and a chamber at the bottom to collect the grounds. All these parts are connected by a single rod that rotates the burrs and attaches to a handle.

The downside, however, is the obvious one - they are manual! While grinding shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes and is not overly difficult to do - it's still more of a workout than pushing a button. If you're making your early morning coffee whilst tired and desperate for a caffeine hit, the thought of grinding by hand might be too much for you!

Coffee beans, coffee grounds, and portafilter with coffee grounds on a wooden rustic cutting board on a wooden table

So, What's The Best Way To Grind Coffee?

You guessed it: there is no overall winner! As with a lot of coffee related things, it comes down to what type of coffee you're making, what beans you're using, and of course, personal preference. Hopefully this guide has helped point you in the right direction, and our experts here at Fresh Roasted Coffee are always on hand to help if you have more questions - contact us today!

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https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/roast-showdown-exploring-the-bold-flavors-of-dark-vs-light-coffee 2024-05-01T16:20:42-04:00 2024-05-01T16:20:42-04:00 Roast Showdown: Exploring the Bold Flavors of Dark vs. Light Coffee John Helwig Are you team light roast or team dark roast? The battle between these two coffee roasts has been brewing for years, and coffee enthusiasts everywhere have strong opinions on which is superior. Let's dive into the heart of the matter and uncover the answers to some burning questions about light roast and dark roast coffee.

A bag of Seriously Dark coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee with freshly brewed coffee being poured into a FRC Mug

Which coffee is stronger: light or dark roast?

When it comes to caffeine content, many assume that dark roast coffee packs a stronger punch. However, the truth may surprise you. During the roasting process, dark roast beans receive longer exposure to heat, which can cause some caffeine to burn off. So, contrary to popular belief, light roast coffee actually contains slightly more caffeine than dark roast. In other words, if you are looking for a stronger caffeine kick, you might want to opt for a light roast.

A bag of FRC Light coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee surrounded by dishware, a mug of coffee, and a brew station

Does light roast coffee taste better?

Taste is subjective, and preferences vary from person to person. Light roast coffee tends to highlight the unique flavors of the beans, offering a brighter, more acidic profile with fruity and floral notes. On the other hand, dark roast coffee often boasts a bolder, richer flavor with hints of caramel, chocolate, and even smokiness. The answer to this question ultimately depends on your personal palate and the flavor experience you seek in your cup of joe.

Coffee being made by pour over method in cafe

Is light or dark roast better for filter coffee?

When it comes to filter coffee, both light and dark roast beans can produce excellent brews, but they offer different flavor profiles. Light roast coffee tends to shine in filter methods like pour-over or drip, allowing the subtle nuances of the beans to come through. Meanwhile, dark roast coffee can be a great choice for filter coffee enthusiasts who prefer a stronger, more robust flavor profile. Ultimately, the best roast for filter coffee comes down to your taste preferences and brewing method.

Which roast of coffee is healthiest?

In terms of health benefits, both light and dark roast coffees offer similar perks. Coffee is rich in antioxidants and has been linked to various health benefits, such as improved cognitive function and a reduced risk of certain diseases. However, it's essential to consider factors like acidity and potential compounds formed during the roasting process. Light roast coffee tends to be slightly more acidic, which may be a concern for individuals with sensitive stomachs. Meanwhile, some studies suggest that darker roasts may contain higher levels of certain beneficial compounds. Ultimately, moderation is key when it comes to reaping the health benefits of coffee, regardless of the roast.

Coffee Beans roasting in a coffee roaster

Light or Dark? It's up to you!

The battle between light roast and dark roast coffee continues to brew among coffee enthusiasts worldwide. Whether you prefer the bright, acidic notes of a light roast or the bold, rich notes of a dark roast, there's no right or wrong answer. It all comes down to the flavor experience you crave with your morning cup of coffee. If you still aren't sure, why not explore both ends of the roast spectrum and discover the nuances each has to offer? After all, the possibilities are endless and life is too short for mediocre coffee.

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https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/botanical-harmony-a-natural-approach-to-comprehensive-health 2024-04-11T15:23:49-04:00 2024-04-15T09:21:37-04:00 Botanical Harmony: A Natural Approach to Comprehensive Health Torin Reese Whether you’re just beginning your journey into the world of botanicals, or a seasoned vet looking for a refresher, this guide will highlight some of the essential functionalities that botanicals may bring into your life, from stress management to immune support. Explore some of the practical ways you can incorporate these botanicals into your lifestyle for a more holistic approach to your health.

More

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Whether you're just beginning your journey into the world of botanicals, or a seasoned vet looking for a refresher, this guide will highlight some of the essential functionalities that botanicals may bring into your life, from stress management to immune support. Explore some of the practical ways you can incorporate these botanicals into your lifestyle for a more holistic approach to your health.

How Might Botanicals Improve Health?

Meet adaptogens, a type of herb that may help the body combat stress and fatigue. Two great examples of this are Ashwagandha and Tulsi, botanicals that are thought to help balance and restore the body, making it easier to adapt to, and resist, stress. Both are often steeped into teas, used as tinctures, or used in various cooking recipes.

Nurturing your skin health through botanicals is a cornerstone of holistic care. Incorporating Lavender into your daily routine, whether through teas, oil infusions, or even face masks, exemplifies this approach, soothing the skin at a cellular level with its natural anti-inflammatory properties which may help reduce wrinkles.

Boosting your focus and daily energy are crucial in today's fast-paced world. Eleuthero Root, often made into teas and extracts, is associated with enhancing stamina and endurance and potentially boosting cognitive function. For those looking to meet each day with a renewed sense of vigor, this botanical is an excellent choice.

Fortify your body's natural defenses through botanicals like Echinacea and Elderberry. Whether mixed into a smoothie or seeped as a tea, both of these botanicals are often acknowledged for their potential immune-boosting properties. With both containing antioxidants, Echinacea is associated with boosting the body's immune response, while Elderberry is linked to enhancing overall resilience.

Now, let's put theory into practice with a recipe that utilizes one of the wonderful botanicals mentioned so far: The Elderberry Serenity Soda!

Elderberry Serenity Soda

Total time: 40 mins. | Servings: 1

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup dried elderberries
  • 2 cups water
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • Sparkling water
  • Lemon slices and mint leaves for garnish

Preparing the Syrup:

  1. In a pot, combine dried elderberries, water, and sugar
  2. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 25-30 mins
  3. Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on berries
  4. Let the syrup cool

Assembling the Drink:

  1. Fill a glass halfway with ice cubes
  2. Pour in about 2 tbsp of the elderberry syrup over ice
  3. Add lemon juice
  4. Top up the glass with sparkling water
  5. Gently stir to combine
  6. Lemon Slice garnish
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https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/central-american-coffee-an-experts-guide 2024-02-06T12:00:02-05:00 2024-02-27T09:59:05-05:00 Central American Coffee: An Expert's Guide John Helwig Central America boasts a rich coffee culture, offering a diverse array of specialty brews. As coffee connoisseurs, we're excited to share insights into the main coffee-producing countries in the region, their unique histories, and the exceptional beans they cultivate. Join us on a journey through the heart of Central American coffee excellence.

What is Central American coffee?

Central American coffee refers to coffee beans cultivated in the countries located in the Central American region, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. These countries boast fertile soil, ideal climate conditions, and rich coffee-growing traditions, resulting in a diverse range of high-quality coffee beans.

What is the best coffee in Central America?

The best coffee in Central America is subjective and can vary depending on personal preferences. However, some of the most highly regarded coffees from the region include Costa Rican Tarrazu, Guatemalan Huehuetenango, and Salvadoran Finca Hungria. These coffees are renowned for their exceptional quality, distinct flavor profiles, and aromatic characteristics.

What is the difference between Central and South American coffee?

The main difference between Central and South American coffee lies in their flavor profiles, growing conditions, and processing methods. Central American coffees, including those from Costa Rica, Guatemala, and El Salvador, are often characterized by their bright acidity, medium body, and nuanced flavors. They tend to have cleaner, more balanced profiles compared to South American coffees and are typically described as slightly less sweet with a more subtle chocolatey aroma.

On the other hand, South American coffees, such as those from Colombia, Brazil, and Peru, are known for their fuller bodies, lower acidity, and rich, chocolatey flavors. These coffees often undergo different processing techniques, such as the washed process in Central America and the natural or pulped natural process in South America, contributing to variations in taste and aroma.

Which Central American Countries Produce Coffee?

Costa Rica Coffee

Costa Rica, blessed with nutrient-rich volcanic soil, holds the distinction of being the first Central American country to cultivate coffee on a commercial scale. Coffee, alongside bananas, dominates its export industry.

Coffee cultivation in Costa Rica traces back to 1729, when it was introduced from Cuba. Today, the country boasts approximately 400 million coffee trees, yielding about 1,700 kilograms per hectare. This thriving industry contributes significantly to Costa Rica's economy, comprising around 25% of its earnings.

Renowned for its exceptional quality, Costa Rican coffee, particularly from the Tarrazu region, delights with its light, clean flavor profile and captivating aroma. Only Arabica beans grace Costa Rican soil, with the cultivation of Robusta strictly prohibited.

The finest beans thrive at altitudes exceeding 1,500 meters above sea level, earning the designation "SHB" or Strictly Hard Bean. This label signifies a slower maturation process due to cooler air, resulting in intensified flavors.

El Salvador Coffee

Despite being one of Central America's smallest nations, El Salvador boasts a vibrant coffee culture. Its coffee, characterized by its light body, aromatic essence, and subtle acidity, mirrors the region's quintessential flavor profile.

Similar to Guatemala and Costa Rica, El Salvador categorizes its coffee based on altitude, with higher altitude beans often associated with superior quality. Notably, El Salvador is celebrated for producing the Finca Hungria variety, a roast known for its full-bodied yet balanced cup.

Guatemala Coffee

Introduced by Jesuit priests in 1750, coffee cultivation flourished in Guatemala, particularly in the southern regions surrounding the Sierra Madre mountain range. This fertile terrain yields coffees revered for their vibrant, spicy notes and intricate flavor profiles.

Guatemala's SHB coffee, renowned worldwide for its full-bodied richness and harmonious acidity, captivates the palates of coffee aficionados. Noteworthy is the "Elephant" bean, prized for its substantial size and exceptional quality.

Prime coffee-growing regions, such as Antigua near Lake Atitlan and Huehuetenango, produce beans of unparalleled excellence. Volcanic eruptions in these areas, occurring roughly every three decades, enrich the soil, further enhancing coffee quality.

Honduras Coffee

Honduras, influenced by neighboring El Salvador, boasts a burgeoning coffee industry renowned for its notable acidity and commendable quality. Like its Central American counterparts, Honduras classifies its coffee based on altitude, with higher altitudes yielding superior beans.

Despite challenges posed by coffee rust, Honduras continues to prioritize innovation in disease-resistant cultivation techniques to safeguard its coffee crops.

Mexico Coffee

As the fourth largest coffee producer globally, Mexico's coffee industry thrives, primarily driven by smallholder farmers. While single estates are less prevalent than in the past, Mexico remains a prominent player in the coffee market.

Chiapas, situated in southern Mexico, stands out as a coffee-growing region, alongside Oaxaca, renowned for its exceptional beans.

Mexican coffees tend to lean towards sweetness, offering hints of citrus, vanilla, berries, and caramel, attributes enhanced by their elevated growing conditions. We take our Organic Mexican to both a medium roast to highlight its inherent flavors of pear and nuts, and a dark roast for a bolder profile that is complemented with subtle undertones of brown sugar for added depth.

Nicaragua Coffee

Despite facing political upheavals, Nicaragua's coffee industry perseveres, producing noteworthy beans prized for their quality. The regions of Matagalpa, Jinotega, and Nuevo Segovia yield some of Nicaragua's finest coffees, showcasing the country's resilience amidst adversity.

Explore Central American Coffee

Central America's rich coffee heritage offers a myriad of flavors and experiences for discerning coffee enthusiasts like ourselves! From the lush plantations of Costa Rica to the volcanic slopes of Guatemala, each cup tells a story of passion, tradition, and unparalleled quality. Embrace the journey and savor the essence of Central American coffee excellence here at hallyumartFresh Roasted Coffee.

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https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/new-brutrek-camp-hand-coffee-grinder 2023-11-20T08:30:01-05:00 2023-11-29T11:52:46-05:00 New Gear: BruTrek Camp Hand Coffee Grinder Christopher Cizek Coffee is all about repeatability, and there's nothing more repeatable than cold, hard numbers. If you nail your extraction and your cup is perfect, you're going to want to replicate that. Unless winging it is your thing, putting yourself at the mercy of guesstimates, taking careful notes and keeping track of numbers is the best way to ensure your coffee is on point every time. We've talked about the importance of measuring by weight instead of volume, so we're going to dive into the next step: grinding. Specifically, we're talking hand grinders and the level of control they afford.

A Brief History of Coffee Grinders

Grinding has been a thing since coffee was a thing, dating all the way back to before 1000 AD. Mortar and pestle, spice mills, and that boxy mill that grinds your beans into a little drawer, with many variations between and certainly beyond. In its infancy, coffee grinding was efficient at best. If nothing else, the coffee got ground, but uniformity was tough to come by. Fast forward to today, where there's no shortage of fully automated sleek, stylish, and sometimes insanely expensive options on the market. It's 2023, after all. While these do-it-all grinders are cool, they don't necessarily keep the process mindful.

Hand Grinders Keep Coffee Mindful

Say you're a pour over fan. You weigh the beans, you prep the brewer, you pour the water, you enjoy the coffee. You're putting all your attention and physical effort into your brew. Automatic grinders kind of disrupt that tactile flow. Enter hand grinders. They take up less space than a drinking glass, are packable and durable, feel good to hold, give you a little workout, are precise, and, more than anything, keep you in the coffee zone. Using a hand grinder feels like what lo-fi hip hop sounds like. It's relaxing and pleasantly repetitive. A solid hand grinder is honestly unlike any experience you've ever had.

We were lucky enough to get in a lovely hand grinder from BruTrek. All blacked out with a steel handle and wooden knob, this grinder is a stone-cold stunner. Grinding is a breeze, the screw-on grind cup holds up to 40g of grounds, the handle is easy to remove and reattach, and the adjustment clicks are music to our ears.

Brutrek Grind Settings By Number Of Clicks

  • Fine = ~25 clicks (espresso)
  • Medium-fine = ~30 clicks (pour over)
  • Medium = ~40 clicks (drip)
  • Coarse = ~50+ clicks (cold brew, French press)

Speaking of which, the clicks are key to dialing in your grind. If you take nothing else from this article, remember the clicks.

How To Use the Brutrek Hand Grinder

  1. Start by unscrewing the grind cup. Underneath the grinder body will be the adjustment dial. The COARSE and FINE text are really only there to tell you which way to turn the dial. Don't rely on them.
  2. Place the handle on top and hold it in place, as the dial will not turn without it.
  3. Turn the adjustment dial all the way clockwise until it no longer turns. We'll call this zero (0).
  4. Starting from zero (0), turn the dial counterclockwise, counting each click. (As you turn the dial, the grind will get coarser.)
  5. If we're grinding fine, count 25 clicks. Once you hit 25, stop, and screw the cup back on.
  6. Remove the handle and load your pre-measured coffee.
  7. Replace the handle and turn clockwise until there's no more resistance.
  8. Unscrew the cup and make your coffee.

Hand grinding your coffee may take a little extra time, but it serves as an important reminder to slow down and enjoy what you're doing. You love drinking coffee, so why not make every aspect of making it feel even more real.

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https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/11202023 2023-11-20T08:00:00-05:00 2023-11-20T08:00:00-05:00 Medium > Light Roasts, Coffee Cherry Sorting, and 3D Coffee Christopher Cizek
  • Your Nose Smells Coffee In 3D

    By Zac Cadwalader for Sprudge

    “All of our senses come through in stereo. Except smell, arguable the most important one for drinking coffee. Our ears tell us which direction sounds come from, our sense of touch does the same with sensations, and we can tell what part of our tongue is lighting up with different flavors. Even the two little cameras that are our eyes work together to create a three-dimensional image. So why then, not our nose?”

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  • Light roasted coffee is out, medium roasts are in

    By Jordan Montgomery for newGround

    “In the early days, specialty coffee was closely associated with light roasted coffee; so much so that it became deeply ingrained in its ethos. Today, many in the industry are turning away from light roasts. Does this say something about the direction specialty coffee is headed? In some ways, specialty coffee favoured light roasted coffee as a response to the dominant presence of dark roasts across the industry. It offered a way for brands to differentiate themselves from large, commercial coffee companies that adopted traditional roasting styles.”

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  • Royal Coffee Releases World History & Geography of Arabica Coffee Cultivars Poster

    By Zac Cadwalader for Sprudge

    “The history of coffee is, well, complicated. We generally understand it to have originated in Ethiopia and making a rather prodigious stop in Yemen before proliferating around the world. But how, exactly, did it go from Africa to Western Asia to spanning the Coffee Belt and beyond?”

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  • Why cherry sorting is essential to improving coffee quality

    By Zoe Stanley-Foreman for Perfect Daily Grind

    “Growing high-quality coffee requires great skill and attention to detail. Beyond implementing farming best practices, harvesting and sorting cherries are essential parts of the process. Many farms choose to manually pick and sort cherries, with some even having no option but to harvest them by hand. These methods, however, can be laborious and time-consuming, and often lead to higher costs for producers. As a result, some coffee farmers are turning to mechanised solutions to harvest and sort cherries - and thereby improve coffee quality.”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/on-the-recent-kona-coffee-lawsuit-ruling 2023-11-13T12:30:27-05:00 2023-11-29T11:46:36-05:00 On the Recent Kona Coffee Lawsuit Ruling Christopher Cizek Four years and over $33 million in settlements later, Kona coffee farmers have finally won the suit against 20+ defendants for misleading labeling and advertising of “Kona” coffee. Retailers were accused of using the Kona name on ground and whole-bean coffee products that, according to lab tests, “contained little or no such coffee.” Alongside Jamaica (another oft-mislabeled coffee), Kona is viewed as a source of impeccable coffee. Hawaiian coffee is rarer than other coffees, meaning that not a lot is harvested annually. Unlike Brazil, which produces roughly 7 billion pounds of coffee a year, Kona grows 2.7 million. When you look at how much “Kona” coffee is sold at retail, the numbers don't add up. The motion, filed with the State of Washington district court, cites a discrepancy of approximately 17 million pounds. “That is physically impossible,” says the document.

    With Fresh Roasted Coffee, you don't have to worry about your Kona being legit. Our Hawaiian 100% Kona comes from Hala Tree Coffee, where it is carefully cultivated by Jean Orlowski and his wife. What started as a six-acre plot (only two of which had coffee trees growing) turned into a thriving coffee operation. For the Orlowskis, however, it wasn't just about producing Kona coffee, it was about producing the best possible Kona coffee. Hala Tree's mission is to improve coffee production throughout Kona, supporting and managing farms on behalf of other Kona producers. You deserve Kona coffee exactly as it should be: 100% true to origin.

    We bring our 100% Kona to a medium roast to highlight its coconut and zesty citrus notes, underscoring them with rich molasses. Hala Tree uses wet processing to deliver a clean cup with bright acidity, and then combines sun and mechanical drying before hulling the beans to prevent a burnt taste while roasting. Our Kona selections are not blends. 100% of the coffee in each Kona bag or coffee pod is Kona coffee. If you want truly 100% Kona coffee, FRC is the way to go.

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/11132023 2023-11-13T08:00:07-05:00 2023-11-13T08:00:07-05:00 Lactic Fermentation, Evening Coffee, and It's Okay to Add Sugar Christopher Cizek
  • Lactic fermentation: What roasters need to know

    By Thomas Wensma for Perfect Daily Grind

    “For some coffee producers, experimental processing methods are a useful way to elevate coffee flavour and quality. At the same time, more roasters and consumers are increasingly being drawn to these advanced processing techniques, and in turn are being exposed to new ways of experiencing coffee. One of these methods is lactic fermentation: a process championed by the innovative La Palma y El Tucán in Colombia. Classified as anaerobic fermentation, the process involves creating an ideal environment for the growth of lactobacillus cultures. This usually results in a creamier mouthfeel, as well as more yoghurt-like flavours.”

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  • Is evening coffee becoming more popular?

    By Ashe Samuels for newGround

    “For quite some time, the way that people drink coffee has been changing. It seemed inevitable, then, that it would cease to be limited by the daytime, and break into the night. Historically, traditional 8am to 4pm operating hours haven't given cafés much time to generate sales. However, the industry has evolved in recent years in a way that allows businesses to extend this window, and serve evening coffee. For example, as a more health-conscious, younger demographic enters the consuming market, many are shifting away from alcohol and seeking spaces that provide an alternative to bars. In some cases, an evening coffee has become a popular choice - whether in a coffee shop, or at home.”

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  • Actually, A Little Sugar In Your Coffee Isn't The End Of The World

    By Zac Cadwalader for Sprudge

    “The healthful side effects of consuming coffee normally come with one qualifier: it can't be sugary coffee. Excess sugar in one's diet has been shown to have a litany of adverse side effects, so it stands to reason that those extra pumps of vanilla in your daily latte would add up. But a new study states that, actually, you can have a little sugar in your coffee, as a treat. As reported by Medical News Today, researchers from Denmark and the Netherlands found that adding sugar to coffee and/or tea didn't have any appreciable effects on a person's health.”

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  • CoE updates rules for the first time in over two decades - what does it mean for specialty coffee producers?

    By Tasmin Grant for Perfect Daily Grind

    “Out of all the green coffee competitions in the industry, Cup of Excellence (CoE) is arguably the most recognisable and influential. Designed to acknowledge exceptional coffees and promote more transparent pricing, since 1999, the competitions (and their ensuing auctions) have helped shape specialty coffee as we know it today. On 23 October 2023 - for the first time in 24 years - CoE updated its rules to now include three distinct categories: dry process, wet process, and experimentals.”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/11062023 2023-11-06T08:00:01-05:00 2023-11-06T08:00:01-05:00 Coffee Substitutes, Tea Emojis, and Superautomatic Espresso Machines Christopher Cizek
  • A Brief History Of Alternative Coffee Substitutes

    By N.C. Stevens for Sprudge

    “It turns out, coffee can be a bit of a loose concept once we develop a taste for it. For nearly 200 years, scarcity, austerity, and ingenuity have all helped coffee drinkers drink coffee that, well, isn't coffee. Now, 21st century health concerns and a booming beverage market drive entrepreneurs to launch new coffee substitute products using some old school recipes and some new tricks. But what exactly are these drinks substituting? And why are we faking our coffee in the first place?”

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  • What Emoji Tell Us About the History of Tea

    By Charlene Wang de Chen for Smithsonian Magazine

    “When searching for a tea emoji on most text messaging apps, a range of options appear. One shows what looks like green liquid in a white bowl. Another features a saucer and a cup filled with a darker liquid that doubles as coffee. These emoji's designs allude to the long history of tea, tracing how this centerpiece of a cherished Asian tradition grew into a global beverage. For most of recorded history, the word 'tea' referred to green tea from China and later Japan—illustrated by the emoji officially called 'teacup without handle.'”

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  • Is specialty coffee starting to embrace fully automatic espresso machines?

    By Jordan Pulley for Perfect Daily Grind

    “There's a reason why both businesses and consumers invest in fully automatic coffee machines: unparalleled convenience. These machines can grind, tamp, and extract coffee at the touch of a button, with some even able to foam and dispense milk to make a range of drinks. To add to this, the precision of fully automatic machines is only improving. Now more than ever, users are able to control different variables - ranging from grind size to extraction time to how much microfoam is dispensed. However, the argument still remains that these machines can diminish the 'craft' of making coffee.”

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  • Study: Coffee Consumption Associated with Reduced Frailty Later in Life

    By Daily Coffee News

    “Adults who regularly drink coffee in their midlife adult years may have significantly reduced physical frailty later in life, according to a new study involving 12,000 participants. Led by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) using data from the Singapore Chinese Health Study, the study found an association between increased caffeine intake through coffee or tea and decreased incidence of physical frailty in aging.”

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  • Is there a universal way to approach roast profiling?

    By Daniel Lancaster for Perfect Daily Grind

    “Any roaster will tell you that every coffee is different. Whether it's different origins (or even regions), varieties, processing methods, or bean densities, there are many factors which influence how you roast coffee. It's ultimately a roaster's responsibility to bring out the best characteristics of each coffee - and potentially highlight more of its nuanced qualities. So bearing in mind that no two coffees are exactly the same, roasters will need to develop different roast profiles for each one to get the best results. But is there a universal approach to roast profiling that coffee professionals can follow - and then tweak accordingly for every coffee? Or is it best to take a different approach every time?”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/10302023 2023-10-30T08:00:00-04:00 2023-10-30T08:00:00-04:00 Coffee Tattoos, AI Assessing Coffee, and How Steam Affects Milk Christopher Cizek
  • Bean Ink: Why Coffee And Tattoos Just Might Be The Perfect Pairing

    By Jenn Chen for Sprudge

    “When she learned that Mahlkönig had a tattoo artist in their booth at Expo this year, Kat Padlan, operations manager at Lucky's Coffee Roasters, immediately signed up. It was past due time and seemed like a sign from the universe. 'I thought, 'Well damn, if there isn't a better time to get a coffee tattoo in the coffee city of Portland, at the biggest coffee convention in the world, I don't know what better timing it is,'' she told me.”

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  • Does steam injection affect the nutritional value of milk?

    By Ashe Samuels for newGround

    “Milk proteins play a central role in creating microbubbles during the foaming process. Before heat is introduced to milk, the proteins are in 'clusters'. As the temperature increases, these clusters unravel into a different structure. This process is known as denaturation - a chemical change where the structure of the milk's whey proteins alters permanently. This is what allows milk to 'stretch'. As this happens, the proteins begin to form around the air being injected into the liquid.”

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  • Will AI set a new standard for green coffee quality?

    By Jordan Montgomery for Coffee Intelligence

    “In recent years, standardised systems like the SCA Arabica Cupping Form have been developed to assess coffee quality. These methods score features like acidity, balance, body, and flavour profile to determine cup quality and overall value. The SCA cupping protocol and others like it have become universally recognised across the industry. However, while these tools have been honed over decades, they fail to address a problem at the heart of human-led sensory assessment: individual bias. The protocols are structurally sound - but no matter how hard we try to be impartial, human involvement in the process cannot be unbiased.”

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  • Should World Barista Championship competitors use more ingredients from producing countries?

    By Vasileia Fanarioti for Perfect Daily Grind

    “Over the years, we've seen many competitors opt for additions like cryodessicated milk and lacto-fermented fruits. While it's true that such ingredients have helped to elevate the signature beverage round, many aren't sourced from coffee-producing countries. But considering that competitors focus so heavily on coffee origin and processing methods, there is an argument they should also extend the same level of attention to detail to their signature beverage ingredients. Moreover, should WBC participants also try to incorporate more ingredients from producing countries in their routines?”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/10232023 2023-10-23T08:00:00-04:00 2023-10-23T08:00:00-04:00 Pour Over's Future, Nordic Coffee Fest, and Young People in Coffee Christopher Cizek
  • What's the future for pour over coffee?

    By Thomas Wensma for Perfect Daily Grind

    “In recent years, we have seen some major changes in how coffee shops and competitors prepare pour overs - largely with an overarching focus on controlling as many extraction variables as possible. In line with this, a much wider range of manual and automatic pour over brewers are now available - with some models designed to impact brewing variables in different ways. So it's clear that pour over coffee is changing. But what might the future hold?”

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  • Nordic Coffee Fest: A Sustainable Celebration of Nordic Coffee Culture

    By Vasileia Fanarioti for Barista Magazine Online

    “The Nordics will soon see the arrival of a brand-new coffee festival: Nordic Coffee Fest is set to take place February 24-25, 2024, at Gothenburg, Sweden's waterfront venue, Eriksbergshallen. The event—which aims to become the largest and most sustainable coffee festival in the world—will offer a variety of activities, including tastings, lectures, master classes, and competitions. Nordic Coffee Fest is organized by Ordna Event Agency, a creative event and marketing firm known for producing events within the coffee industry, including The Barista League, an international barista competition that promotes accessibility and community.”

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  • How young coffee consumers are changing the industry

    By Jordan Montogomery for newGround

    “For many years, specialty coffee charted its own course - not indifferent to the preferences of its consumers, but sure of its path. However, a certain demographic is emerging that's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Gen Z and young millennials have a purchasing power valued at over $360 billion globally. Looking at recent changes in the specialty coffee sector, it is clear to see that many businesses are responding to this. Of course, the impact of young coffee consumers on the industry varies across different markets. For instance, the younger generation's preference for convenience is driving substantial changes within the industry, but the nature of these changes differs from region to region.”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/a-facility-walkthrough-in-pictures 2023-10-17T08:00:01-04:00 2023-11-29T11:46:36-05:00 A Facility Walkthrough in Pictures Christopher Cizek Exterior photograph of Fresh Roasted Coffee.

    First Impression

    Fresh Roasted Coffee (located at 1136 Walnut St. Ext., Sunbury) is nestled in the Susquehanna Valley in the former Sunbury Textile Mill, an hour's drive from Pennsylvania's capitol. Pulling up to the espresso-and-tan behemoth that is our building, you have your pick of parking space, but we recommend the ones closest to the door on the right. They're reserved for you, after all.



    A round garment rack in the middle of a store with coffee bags, brewers, filters, and accessories on other shelves.

    We've Got So Much In Store

    Your first look at the innerworkings of Fresh Roasted Coffee (and Positively Tea and Positively Botanicals) is our storefront. Racks on racks of almost everything we sell sits beneath a matte black, exposed ceiling. Though you'll find all your essentials here—including in-store-only deals—we can always track down what you're looking for. We have it all: whole-bean coffee, pods, tea bags, sachets, cold brew filter packs, espresso capsules, merch, filters, brewers, botanicals, envipods, and probably more. To the general public, this is where the Fresh Roasted experience ends, but really, the journey has only just begun.



    Tables full of coffee and tea bags in a shipping department.
    Four-tiered shelves full of coffee pod boxes beside a woman folding a cardboard box.

    Ship It Real Good

    A set of double doors open on the shipping department, which is always buzzing with activity. At the front, you have tables brimming with fresh orders and several people filling boxes and bubble mailers with the good stuff. This is where labels are printed, tape guns screech, kraft paper crinkles, grinders grind, sealers seal, and dreams come true. At the back is “The Cave.” Not as ominous as it sounds, The Cave is a U-shaped arrangement of shelves that all our fresh coffee pods chill on. Nearby are our espresso capsules and envipods.



    Human coffee roaster walking away from a line of non-human coffee roasters.

    Coffee Is The Powerhouse Of The Cell

    From there, we enter the mighty mitochondria of Fresh Roasted Coffee, more commonly known as production. Four gleaming Loring Smart Roasters churn out over 1.5 million pounds of freshly roasted coffee each year, which makes it way to different machines around the facility. Closest is our Viking frac pack machine, which makes both fractionally packaged coffee and cold brew filter packs. Then we have our six-lane pod machine, which not only individually and bulk packages envipods, but it also packs classic coffee pods in boxes. The machine folds the boxes. It's insane. The future is now. Beyond that, we have our espresso capsule, sachet, and original coffee pod machines.



    Pallets of upright burlap coffee sacks in a coffee production facility.

    Exploring Green Country

    Welcome to Green Country! While we have more green coffee in reserve than you can imagine, this is where we keep the coffee sacks we're currently picking from. That's right, we don't sell any pre-roasted coffee—fresh is the only way we do it. Our roasters truck state-of-the-art Loring Bean Carts over, weigh out what they'll need to fulfill orders, and get to it. If you're used to store-boughtWholesale pet supplies. TEA provide quality pet products at affordable prices. Our aim is to become the leading wholesale supplier of pet products.,Soft-sided airline-approved dog & cat carrier bag,good quality,and kinds of colors for your choice., chances are you've never seen a whole coffee bean, let alone one before it's roasted. Bet you didn’t know that not all green coffee is green. Check out Indian Monsoon Malabar. It's gorgeous.



    Industrial racks of burlap coffee sacks stacked nearly to the ceiling.

    Trillions Of Beans

    Moving on, we get into our green storage. At any time, we have about a million pounds of green coffee on hand from all over the world. What you see here isn't even a fraction of it. What? Did you really think we’d give everything away? If you want to see everything, you’ll just have to watch out for behind-the-scenes stuff on our socials.



    Coffee's Journey

    The most important thing to keep in mind is that the coffee you love went through so much before it came to you. Heck, even before it came to us. Coffee plants mature 3 - 4 years after planting. Once they're perfectly ripe, the cherries are picked, sorted, fermented, washed, dried, milled, exported, imported, cupped, evaluated, test roasted, reevaluated, production roasted, bagged, nitrogen flushed, sealed, shipped, received, ground, brewed, and enjoyed.

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/10162023 2023-10-16T08:00:01-04:00 2023-10-16T08:00:01-04:00 True Life: Pink Bourbon, Cappuccino Makes a Comeback, and the Cold Foam 411 Christopher Cizek
  • One Lie And A Truth: Pink Bourbon's True Origin

    By Zac Cadwalader for Sprudge

    “What's in a name? Would not a rose by any other name smell just as sweet? Have Geshas lost their price-fetching nuance now that we've done away with that problematic 'I'? (Most of us anyway.) A name is a name is a name, a collection of sounds and letters signifying an unchanged referent. But what if the name is… wrong? Thus is the case with the Pink Bourbon. There were two things we thought we knew for certain about one of the hottest varieties on the planet right now: its cherries were pink and it was a Bourbon. Turns out, one of these is wrong. In an article published today, Cafe Imports finds that Pink Bourbon isn't a Bourbon at all, but an Ethiopian landrace variety.”

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  • What's the best way for cafés to make cold brew coffee?

    By Matt Haw for newGround

    “Unlike extraction methods that use hot water, cold brew coffee methods struggle to effectively extract the volatile compounds linked to more complex flavour profiles. Despite these challenges, the global cold brew coffee market was valued at over $400 million in 2021 and is expected to grow annually by 23% over the next five years, reaching approximately 1.3 billion by 2027.”

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  • Plant milks at the Swedish Latte Art Championship: Is this a step forward for specialty coffee competitions?

    By Tasmin Grant for Perfect Daily Grind

    “When the Specialty Coffee Association announced that plant milks could be used during the milk beverage course at the 2023 World Barista Championship, many in the industry had been anticipating this rule change for some time. Over the past few years, several national Barista Championship competitors had openly defied the prior rule which stipulated they could only use cow's milk. Ultimately, these competitors' decisions to willingly score zero in the milk course round played a key role in changing the format of the WBC - and many would agree for the better.”

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  • The return of the traditional cappuccino

    By Jenna Gottlieb for newGround

    “It goes beyond a source of caffeine; it represents a tranquil moment to savour before the day begins. Coffee shops in Italy are also social hubs. The act of grabbing a cappuccino often means catching up with friends, discussing the latest news, or simply watching life go by. As such, the cappuccino is often emblematic of the Italian pace of life - unhurried and enjoyed. In an era of instant gratification, it stands as a symbol of taking time to enjoy life's simple pleasures. Furthermore, just like pizza and pasta, the cappuccino is seen as a testament to Italian culinary prowess. Its global popularity is a source of pride as it showcases the country's influence on international food culture.”

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  • What Is Cold Foam?

    By Liz Clayton for Sprudge

    “If you think froth is 'so 2020,' be assured it's still cool. Cold foam is here (and here, and here) to prove it's a lasting trend. Cold foam is a fluffy, frothy topping of aerated (but not heat-steamed) milk that floats atop cool beverages like one of Bob Ross' happy little clouds. It is usually prepared with skim milk, and it's often slightly sweetened.”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/what-is-black-tea-grading 2023-10-11T11:17:37-04:00 2023-11-02T12:10:45-04:00 What Is Black Tea Grading? Christopher Cizek Getting into specialty tea is an exciting journey full of new flavors and options. Say goodbye to the “tea” you were choking down before. Most tea names are generally straightforward, but there is one sore point of confusion: tea grades. Just as coffee is assessed for quality, so is tea, but the “language” is far less universal, varying greatly by origin. Also, teas are graded after they've been processed and only by look. Beauty may be in the eye of the tea-holder, but that doesn't mean it will taste good.

    How Is Whole Leaf Black Tea Graded?

    Black tea grades are denoted by series of letters (sometimes ending in numbers) that begin specifically and end generally. For example, SFTGFOP stands for Special Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe. To a newbie, this means nothing. At the very least, it could be interpreted that this tea tastes like flowers and oranges, is fancy, and whatever a pekoe is. Fancy is sort of correct, but there's much more to unpack here, so let's break it down in reverse order.

    1. Orange Pekoe = This is the foundation upon which higher tea grades are built. Though Orange Pekoe isn't the highest-quality tea, its name still means it's a quality grade. It's like pizza. Lackluster pizza can still be good pizza.
    2. Flowery = This refers to the presence of buds—called “tips”—which are sweet, unopened tea leaves that are harvested by hand.
    3. Golden = In addition to looking golden, Golden refers to a higher-than-usual concentration of tips.
    4. Tippy = Means the tea contains a high ratio of fine tips.
    5. Finest = Indicates impeccably high quality.
    6. Special = Is of even higher quality.

    Each addition to a grade's acronym demonstrates an increase in quality. Thankfully, SFTGFOP is as fine as it gets without adding numbers into the mix. Nowhere will you find Super Ultra Mega Special Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe.

    How Is Broken Leaf Black Tea Graded?

    Broken tea leaves tend to be stronger when brewed than whole leaves and are still considered high-quality. The only difference between whole- and broken-leaf grading is a B is added after Orange Pekoe (OP) in the name.

    Are There Any More Tea Grades?

    Are you kidding? With how granular whole-leaf grading gets, of course there are more black tea grades. Though they don't sound as appealing—Fannings and Dust—they aren't necessarily low-quality teas. Like we said before, tea grading is all about looks, not taste. Fannings and dust are tea leaves crushed and cut into teeny-tiny particles. They're often used in tea bags and iced tea mix, as they release all the goods much faster than leaf tea since more particles are directly in contact with the water.

    Positively Tea only sources high-quality, organic whole-leaf teas, so you'll never receive a bag of Dust. If you're a fan of Fannings, though, I bet we have your favorite tea in a broad, beautiful leaf. Not trying to brag, but you might just like it more. You'll just have to taste and see.

    Should I Care About Tea Grades?

    If your tea tastes good, the grade shouldn't matter. Understanding the grade, however, can be a means of more closely connecting with the tea you're enjoying. After all, SFTGFOP1 and the like are gorgeous teas that required so much care to cultivate. A little applause is warranted. The same goes for Dust tea. Really, all tea is beautiful. Whether or not it tastes as good as it looks is a whole different article.

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/10092023 2023-10-09T08:00:00-04:00 2023-10-09T08:00:00-04:00 Coffee Tops Water, Typica Mejorado, and 3D Printing with Coffee Grounds Christopher Cizek
  • This hill tribe is teaching coffee-making to travellers in northern Thailand

    By Justin Meneguzzi for National Geographic

    “A hands-on farming day with the Lahu hill tribe offers travellers a unique insight into how remote communities are working towards a more sustainable future. Like a finely brewed macchiato, roasting your own coffee beans is a layered affair. Standing at the bench of a makeshift mud-brick hut deep in northern Thailand's fertile forests, coffee farmer Lo-Ue Jayo is about to guide me through my first coffee-making lesson using a 72-year-old Probatino roaster.”

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  • New study claims coffee is more popular than water in the US - but what about specialty coffee?

    By Tasmin Grant for Perfect Daily Grind

    “It's something of an understatement to say the US loves to drink coffee. For almost as long as the country has existed, US Americans have been consuming coffee - and the amount only continues to increase. On 19 September, the National Coffee Association (NCA) published its autumn 2023 National Coffee Data Trends Report, which monitors the biggest evolving trends in US coffee consumption over the past seven decades. The report found that coffee remains US Americans' ‘favourite' beverage - with 63% of those surveyed drinking coffee every day.”

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  • A Conversation with the Authors of the 2023 Coffee Barometer

    By Nick Brown for Daily Coffee News

    “As it has in past editions, the Coffee Barometer made a massive splash throughout the coffee industry upon its latest release two weeks ago, as it outlined some of the largest failures (and opportunities) related to corporate sustainability in coffee. The report and its companion interactive website read something like a counterpoint to typical corporate sustainability reports in which companies conveniently ignore the fact that they are contributors to — or beneficiaries of — the very problems that they are claiming to solve.”

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  • What is Typica Mejorado & will it become more popular in coffee shops?

    By Thomas Wensma for Perfect Daily Grind

    “At the 2023 WBC, […] several of the top six competitors chose to use lesser-known varieties - including winner Boram Um with Pink Bourbon and second runner-up Jack Simpson with Ombligon. Representing Hong Kong, fourth runner-up Dawn Chan also used a more exclusive variety called Typica Mejorado. Dawn sourced the coffee from Finca Soledad in Ecuador. Not much is known about the origins of Typica Mejorado, nor its market potential.”

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  • How much do coffee and wine actually have in common?

    By Jordan Montgomery for newGround

    “They are also both ritualistic beverages linked to people's habits. This could be associated with the caffeine and alcohol content of each drink, and how our brains and bodies react to them. The ‘energy boosting' quality of caffeine and its association with improved productivity has led to its habitual consumption during the day. On the other hand, alcohol increases serotonin levels and other neurotransmitters in the brain, which can induce feelings of relaxation, sociability, and confidence. As such, people drink it to unwind, often in the evenings and paired alongside food.”

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  • Don't throw out those used coffee grounds—use them for 3D printing instead

    By Jennifer Ouellette for Ars Technica

    “Most coffee lovers typically dump the used grounds from their morning cuppa straight into the trash; those more environmentally inclined might use them for composting. But if you're looking for a truly novel application for coffee grounds, consider using them as a sustainable material for 3D printing, as suggested by a recent paper published in DIS '23: Proceedings of the 2023 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference.”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/10022023 2023-10-02T08:00:01-04:00 2023-10-02T08:00:01-04:00 AC1, David Lynch and Coffee, and What Specialty Coffee Means Around the World Christopher Cizek
  • What does specialty coffee mean to different people around the world?

    By Matt Haw for Perfect Daily Grind

    “Objectively, we define 'specialty coffee' by a score of 80 points or above on the Specialty Coffee Association's 100-point scale. Alongside quality, there are a number of more holistic defining characteristics of specialty coffee, such as sustainability, traceability, transparency. But given that consumption is increasing across the globe, it's also fair to assume that the definition of specialty coffee is evolving. Now influenced by many different social and cultural factors, industry professionals and consumers alike have started to develop their own personal relationship with specialty coffee.”

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  • David Lynch, “Mulholland Drive” And The Meaning Of Specialty Coffee

    By Jackson O'Brien for Sprudge

    “It would be reasonable to think that I would relish the opportunity to meet Mr. Lynch and serve him a cup of coffee, given how much he loves it and how I've dedicated my professional life to it. This is not the case, however. That's because I have seen Lynch's 2001 film Mulholland Drive, and therefore the idea of serving coffee to David Lynch terrifies me.”

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  • What is the AC1 coffee variety & could it become more popular?

    By Vasileia Fanarioti for Perfect Daily Grind

    “It's clear that specialty coffee sees plenty of potential with the quality of these varieties. In turn, the market for high-quality low-caf coffee is slowly but steadily growing. Another coffee variety which is naturally low in caffeine is AC1. First discovered in Ethiopia, the Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC) has carried out extensive research on this coffee to better understand its market potential. And there have been some promising results, too.”

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  • When will we see more robusta in coffee shops?

    By Jenna Gottlieb for newGround

    “It's been recognised as a species capable of withstanding the impacts of climate change - able to survive warmer temperatures and resist pests and diseases. As the availability of land suitable for growing arabica diminishes, it is increasingly regarded as a viable long-term alternative. […] Once disregarded as an inferior species by the specialty coffee community, robusta is now being hailed as the industry's potential saviour. This conversation has been loud and difficult to ignore in recent times.”

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  • WCR's largest collaborative breeding programme disseminates over 5,000 seeds - what could this mean for specialty coffee?

    By Tasmin Grand for Perfect Daily Grind

    “We wouldn't have some of these unique varieties without extensive research and breeding programmes. One example is World Coffee Research's (WCR) Innovea Global Coffee Breeding Network, which first launched in November 2022. Through the network, WCR and its partners have created new and improved breeding populations. These will be available to producers in several coffee-growing countries. On 30 August 2023, WCR announced that the first 5,000 'genetically unique' seeds developed by the Innovea Global Coffee Breeding Network were sent to seven partner countries. This marks a major milestone in the world's largest collaborative coffee breeding programme in 50 years. Potentially, it could also lead to substantial change in the global specialty coffee sector.”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/09252023 2023-09-25T08:00:02-04:00 2023-10-05T08:39:07-04:00 Coffee May Help Depression, Co-Roasting Spaces, and Cooking with Coffee Christopher Cizek
  • The association between coffee consumption and risk of incident depression and anxiety: Exploring the benefits of moderate intake

    By Jiahao Min et al., published in Psychiatry Research, for ScienceDirect

    “Mental disorders contribute greatly to the global health burden, with depression and anxiety disorders being the leading causes of disability worldwide. […] In view of the high level of coffee consumption, the impact of coffee intake on health outcomes has attracted considerable research attention.”

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  • Will co-roasting spaces become more popular in the specialty coffee sector?

    By Daniel Lancaster for Perfect Daily Grind

    “Now more than ever, home roasters, coffee shop owners, baristas, and producers are more interested in roasting their own coffee. While it can certainly be an exciting new venture - or even a natural career step - for many industry professionals, starting a roastery or small-scale roasting operation can also be a daunting task.”

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  • 8 Creative Dishes Showcasing Coffee

    By Aly Walansky for Forbes

    “There's nothing like a hot cup of coffee in the morning, but what about trying that coffee on a plate? From espresso-rubbed steaks to decadent desserts, there's some sublime dishes perfect for the coffee lover.”

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  • Who Gets To Call It “Coffee”?

    By Jenn Chen for Sprudge

    “Sitting down and writing out a definition of coffee is much like one of those exercises of 'describe milk' and 'describe meat.' It is surprisingly difficult, and in both of those industries, the very nature of naming a product has been expensively battled out in the US courts (with legal proceedings that continue today). I have never considered myself a coffee purist; I will die by my love of espresso tonics and espresso-based non-alcoholic drinks. But then I was presented with a drink that looked like coffee, tasted like coffee, but contained no ingredients derived from the coffee shrub. This experience confronted me with an unexpected question: 'Is this still even coffee?'”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/09182023 2023-09-18T08:00:01-04:00 2023-09-18T08:00:01-04:00 Roasting Blends, Coffee Printers, and the Pros of High-Altitude Coffee Christopher Cizek
  • Breaking down how to roast coffee blends

    By Ashe Samuels for newGround

    “Blends weren't avoided for so long for no reason. They can be challenging to work with and can lack the clarity of flavour found in single origin coffee. So has the specialty coffee community reverted backwards, or has the way we roast blends developed? A roaster must first choose blend components - typically including a base note, a mid-palate note, and a high note. Following that, they need to establish a ratio that will create a balanced profile. However, certain factors can make this hard to achieve. For example, blending two or more coffees that have different bean sizes or densities could result in uneven roasting - with at least one component either under or over-roasted.”

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  • Why are digital coffee printers becoming more popular?

    By Zoe Stanley-Foreman for Perfect Daily Grind

    “It's fair to say that most customers expect baristas to pour latte art for their milk-based coffee drinks - and rightly so. Not only do crisp, high-contrast latte art designs add to a beverage's aesthetic appeal, they also showcase the barista's skills and passion for specialty coffee. In line with this, latte art will always serve an important role in coffee shops. However, in recent years, the industry's growing reliance on automation and push for innovation have led to the development of more unique beverage technology. This includes digital printers - also known as latte art printers.”

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  • How to measure the carbon footprint of coffee production

    By Jordan Montgomery for Coffee Intelligence

    “The coffee industry has an opportunity to lead by example. The Paris Climate Agreement set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5 degrees. However, global temperatures continue to climb - the need for sustainable action is more urgent than ever. As well as being a contributor to climate change, the coffee industry is also one of the most vulnerable to its effects. Some believe the environmental vulnerability of the coffee sector provides the greatest incentive to undertake carbon reduction projects.”

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  • Why does high-altitude coffee taste different?

    By Matt Haw for newGround

    “The longer the coffee takes to develop, the more complex sugars it produces. This extended maturation process results in sweet profiles with greater flavour clarity. This is also why high-altitude coffees have higher bean density. […] Additionally, higher elevations typically offer better drainage for crops than lower areas of the watershed. This means that less water is retained within the beans, leading to a higher concentration of sugars within the fruit.”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/09112023 2023-09-11T08:00:01-04:00 2023-09-11T08:00:01-04:00 Optimal Roast Batch Size, Whole Bean > Ground, and Q Grader Recertification Christopher Cizek
  • Why is whole bean coffee better thanWholesale pet supplies. TEA provide quality pet products at affordable prices. Our aim is to become the leading wholesale supplier of pet products.,Soft-sided airline-approved dog & cat carrier bag,good quality,and kinds of colors for your choice.?

    By Lauren Loudon for newGround

    “PurchasingWholesale pet supplies. TEA provide quality pet products at affordable prices. Our aim is to become the leading wholesale supplier of pet products.,Soft-sided airline-approved dog & cat carrier bag,good quality,and kinds of colors for your choice. offers clear benefits. For those without a grinder, and for those that prioritise a quick and uncomplicated brew method at home, it's the obvious choice. Outside of these factors, however, there are convincing reasons to buy whole bean coffee - and it starts with the roasting process. During roasting, coffee develops chemical compounds that give it flavour and aroma. After the roast is finished and the coffee is exposed to air, it begins to lose these compounds. This process is inevitable, but what we can control is what happens after - when the coffee is ground. Essentially, grinding coffee increases its surface area, accelerating this process.”

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  • Balancing Efficiency and Quality: Identifying the Optimal Batch Size for Your Roast

    By Kat Melheim for Roast Magazine

    “Many variables go into creating the perfect roast profile—equipment, the green beans, charge temperature, development time and more. One variable often overlooked is batch size. Batch size is just as it sounds—the size of the batch of coffee you are roasting, or how many pounds (or kilos) of green coffee you load into your roasting machine at a time. Roasting machines come in various sizes, and they are typically named to reflect drum capacity, or maximum batch size.”

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  • Learn To Taste Coffee At Home With A New Book By Jessica Easto

    By Zac Cadwalader for Sprudge

    “Now, Easto has turned her attention to the art of tasting coffee with her new book How To Taste Coffee. Releasing October 24th by Agate Publishing, How To Taste Coffee takes the same approach of Craft Coffee and applies it to tasting. In her well-researched second outing, Easto breaks down the science, terminology, and practice of cupping coffee and packages it for an audience that probably hasn't had formal palate training, which of course she provides exercises for that as well.”

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  • How often do Q graders need to recertify?

    By Rodolfo Zanin for Perfect Daily Grind

    “Many coffee professionals choose to become Q graders for a number of reasons. Whether it's to know more about sourcing green coffee or achieving more defined roast profiles, the Q grader certification programme can be a useful - or even necessary - tool to progress in your specialty coffee career. In light of this, certifying as a Q grader has become something of an industry standard. But like many other certifications across the coffee supply chain - ranging from carbon neutral to organic - maintaining a Q grader license requires regular recertification. So how often do coffee professionals need to retrain as Q graders and why?”

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  • ]]>
    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/what-are-cold-brew-filter-packs 2023-09-08T08:00:01-04:00 2023-11-29T11:46:37-05:00 What Are Cold Brew Filter Packs? Christopher Cizek Just when we thought cold brew coffee was the best it could be, the FRC R&D team went and made it better.

    In 2022, we crafted a brand-new blend brewed best on the rocks and put it in our Cold Brew Filter Packs. Cold brew coffee is already super convenient. Put in minimal work the day before and reap the benefits 'til it's time to brew another batch. That minimal work, however, can suck sometimes. Coarse-grinding medium and light roasts creates silverskin, which sticks to your grinder's dosing up (RDT helps); cold brewer filters can have slim necks, so you're spilling ground goodness all over the place; it's easy to overshoot your ratio and end up with a watery brew; some cold brewers can't steep at room temp because they're not airtight, which reduces extraction potential. Cold Brew Filter Packs make it even easier.

    All you need are two Filter Packs, a sealable container, water, and patience. The waiting is the hardest part, but you don't want to rush perfection.

    How To Make Cold Brew Using Cold Brew Filter Packs

    1. Find the biggest sealable container you can (please, no pickle jars, unless you're into gherkin cold brew).
    2. Place two Filter Packs, saturate with 4 cups (960g) filtered water, seal, gently agitate, and let brew for 14 - 20 hours (longer = stronger).
    3. Carefully remove and compost the Filter Packs.
    4. Decide if you want to keep your cold brew as concentrate or add 3 more cups (720g) water for a ready-to-drink brew.
    5. Serve over ice.

    What Coffees Come In Cold Brew Filter Packs?

    We've got FRC Cold Brew Blend, FRC Decaf Cold Brew, and our newest, Frostbite.

    We started with FRC Cold Brew Blend, a coffee that flourishes in the fridge, featuring notes of silky milk chocolate, caramel, and almond butter. An all-around crowd pleaser, this coffee gives you that coffee coffee vibe you're looking for. Dress it up how you like, FRC Cold Brew retains its nutty-chocolate baseline throughout.

    We don't gatekeep, so our natural next step was to create a decaf version with a similar flavor profile. FRC Decaf Cold Brew is a bit bolder. It's rich with notes of malt and dark chocolate, which play exceptionally well with a splash of oat milk and simple syrup. We love our decaf drinkers, so we sourced the finest water-decaf beans to give you the truest-to-origin taste possible. For real, though, you won't even notice it's decaf.

    The newest brew on the block, Frostbite is our most eclectic cold coffee yet. It's a blend of Fair Trade Organic Central and South American and African beans with prominent notes of dark chocolate and nougat that transform into lavender as it warms up. Cooler still, Frostbite comes in a fully printed, blue-monochrome bag adorned with icicles, snowdrifts, and a yeti grinning its pick-sharp teeth from horn to horn.

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/09042023 2023-09-04T08:00:02-04:00 2023-09-04T08:00:02-04:00 Plant Milks Ghost Dairy, Coffee Strengthens Concrete, and Sri Lankan Coffee Christopher Cizek
  • Plant milks take centre stage in the coffee sector - but what happened to dairy?

    By Jordan Montgomery for Coffee Intelligence

    “The plant milk sector has undergone a substantial amount of investment in recent years. As such, it is understandable that it is perceived as 'overshadowing' dairy. The coffee sector has certainly played a role here. In the early days, major plant milk brands targeted coffee shops to establish their product as the best alternative to dairy. These efforts have contributed to dramatic changes in consumer habits. Recent surveys show that 60% of consumers have tried plant milks in coffee shops, and the New York Times reports that in 2022, Generation Z bought 20% less dairy milk than the national average.”

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  • Does drinking from a wine glass change the flavour of specialty coffee?

    By Thomas Wensma for Perfect Daily Grind

    “Most specialty coffee shops serve drinks in ceramic cups or wide-mouth, thick-rimmed glasses. With wine, however, most sommeliers or bartenders use stemware glasses which consist of three parts: the bowl, stem, and foot. According to world-renowned sommelier Aldo Sohm, the type and shape of a wine glass has a huge impact on sensory perception. In his book Wine Simple, Sohm explains that a well-designed wine glass helps concentrate the aromas which are specific to a certain type of wine. This means the aromatic compounds 'hit' your nose and tongue in the right way, which helps to elevate the flavours.”

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  • Study: Coffee Grounds Can Make Concrete 30% Stronger

    By Daily Coffee News Staff for Roast Magazine

    “A group of Australian engineers have devised a method to make concrete 30% stronger by adding spent coffee grounds that might otherwise be destined for landfills. For the research project, a team at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University) turned to pyrolysis, a process that involves heating organic waste in the absence of oxygen. Spent coffee grounds were converted to biochar through a low-energy, oxygen-free environment at 350°C (662°F), then added to concrete mixtures. The team found that the biochar additive actually strengthened the concrete.”

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  • Could Sri Lanka produce more specialty coffee in the future?

    By Bhavi Patel for Perfect Daily Grind

    “Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is an island nation in South Asia situated off the southern tip of India. As far back as the late 1800s, Sri Lanka was a prominent producer of coffee. In fact, it was one of the biggest coffee-growing countries in the world during the 1860s. Sadly, however, production volumes began to decline shortly after for a number of reasons. Today, although the country is not widely recognised for its coffee, its unique tropical climate is well suited for coffee production. Moreover, as a result of climate change, coffee cultivation is becoming more widespread in Sri Lanka.”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/08282023 2023-08-28T08:00:01-04:00 2023-08-28T08:00:02-04:00 Olive Oil Coffee, Ombligon, and Coffee Puck Distribution Christopher Cizek
  • Does olive oil coffee have a place in specialty coffee?

    By Janice Chinna Kanniah for Perfect Daily Grind

    “Over the years, specialty coffee has embraced many different flavour combinations and signature beverages. These include the espresso tonic and pumpkin spice latte. However, for now, it's unsure whether the same can be said for olive oil coffee. While high-quality olive oil can taste sweet, fruity, and herbaceous, most people only associate it with savoury cuisine. In line with this, it may take some time for olive oil coffee drinks to become more popular.”

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  • What puck distribution means for espresso extraction

    By David Phillips for newGround

    “Puck distribution plays a crucial role in achieving balanced and even espresso extraction. A good grinder with sharp burrs will certainly help deliver a consistent grind seize, which helps to deliver even extraction. However, this can be made redundant by poor puck preparation. With good puck prep, each coffee particle has the best chance of being extracted the same as the one next to it. This will give more balanced flavour profiles and more clarity in the cup. Despite this, the coffee puck does not extract evenly. Typically, water passes through the puck at different flow rates and temperatures during extraction, and therefore extracts the particles at different rates.”

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  • What is Ombligon coffee & could it become more popular?

    By Thomas Wensma for Perfect Daily Grind

    “'Ombligon has similar characteristics to Caturra, such as wide leaves, cherries which grow close together, branches which grow vertically, and high yields,' [Juan Pablo Campos, founding partner of Lojas Beans,] tells me. 'However, many Colombian coffee professionals agree that Ombligon could be a natural mutation of other varieties like Pacamara, Bourbon, or even Castillo - mostly because of the high yield potential and resistance to coffee leaf rust.' Producers in Huila, Colombia grow Ombligon at different altitudes, but between 1,600 and 1,800 m.a.s.l. tends to work best.”

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  • World Coffee Research Launches Public Database for Arabica Fingerprinting

    By Daily Coffee News Staff for Roast Magazine

    “World Coffee Research (WCR) late last week announced the launch of a publicly available database designed to make genetic fingerprinting of arabica coffee varieties more accessible. The database is freely accessible to private and public labs for coffee variety verification using 'SNP markers,' molecular genetic markers that can be analyzed more quickly and at a lower cost than other genetic markers, according to the nonprofit group.”

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  • How have specialty coffee consumers changed in recent years?

    By Thomas Wensma for Perfect Daily Grind

    “While convenience has always remained important to consumers, demand for higher-quality coffee and more innovative beverages are also key drivers of rapid change in the sector. As out-of-home coffee consumption recovers in many major consuming markets following the pandemic, coffee businesses need to ensure they meet the ever-changing needs and demands of consumers.”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/08212023 2023-08-21T08:00:01-04:00 2023-08-21T08:00:01-04:00 The Future Is Female in Uganda, Cold Coffee, and Your Brain on Coffee and Music Christopher Cizek
  • How the female coffee farmers of Uganda are building their livelihoods

    By Amy Fallon for National Geographic

    “From farming stock, Mary [Butsina] first went to work with her father at the age of 10. Profits from his coffee crop paid her school fees. She married into coffee, too, with her husband giving her 100 trees as a wedding present. But Mary's since planted more than 300 herself and joined a women's cooperative. 'The aim was to reduce the dependence of women on men in coffee,' she says. She's one of around 100 women members, although husbands have been allowed to join too — as they tend to own the coffee plantations and support their wives in the business — which has brought the total membership to 200. And the collective has inspired others, too. 'More women have started to plant their own coffee,' Mary says.”

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  • Cold coffee sales hit record highs for big brands - is specialty coffee on the same track?

    By Tasmin Grant for Perfect Daily Grind

    “In many countries around the world, a growing number of consumers are drinking more and more cold coffee beverages. These purchasing decisions can even transcend seasons - with cold coffee drinks becoming more popular all year-round, too. In line with this, it comes as no surprise that in its 2023 third quarter financial report, Starbucks stated that cold drinks now represent 75% of sales in the US. In recent years, we've also seen similar growth in the cold coffee market segment for other large chains as well. Ultimately, this shows that coffee consumer behaviour is evolving - and this change is likely to be permanent.”

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  • Coffee And Music Make Your Brain Work Better

    By Zac Cadwalader for Sprudge

    “The cognitive ramping-up effect of coffee is not a new phenomenon. Hell, it's not even new to the investigatory eye of the scientific community. You don't really need at this point for any new research paper to tell you that coffee has a way of increasing brain functioning, it is at this point a known commodity, but still, maybe it's sometimes nice to hear it anyway? And if you are so inclined toward such words of affirmation, then good news! A new study has scanned people's brains and found that drinking coffee can boost your brain power.”

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  • What is green coffee rehydration & could it help specialty coffee roasters?

    By Peter Gakuo for Perfect Daily Grind

    “According to the International Coffee Organisation, the ideal moisture content for green coffee is between 8% and 12.5%. This ensures roasters can get the best results from their coffees, as well as allowing customers to experience the full spectrum of flavour and aroma. As a general rule, during transit and storage, there should be as little exposure to moisture as possible to protect the integrity of green coffee. However, if packaged or stored incorrectly, moisture levels can fluctuate - effectively meaning quality can slip. Coffee beans can also become stale and age more quickly.”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/08142023 2023-08-14T08:00:01-04:00 2023-08-14T08:00:01-04:00 Why the Jitters, German Espresso Extraction Research, and Single Origins > Blends? Christopher Cizek
  • Are single origin coffees actually “better” than blends?

    By Matthew Hill for Perfect Daily Grind

    “Specialty coffee's fixation on single origin coffees has become more and more pronounced. As well as the perception of higher quality, transparency and traceability have become increasingly important for consumers - people now want coffees which have a “story” behind them. However, in recent years, blends have made something of a comeback. At previous World Barista Championships, we have seen more and more competitors use blends as part of their routines.”

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  • German Coffee Association Completes Espresso Extraction Research

    By Daily Coffee News

    “The German Coffee Association (Deutscher Kaffeeverband) and a prominent German food science nonprofit have published initial results of a three-year research project on espresso extraction. While currently only published in German, the results have led to a new 'Espresso Brewing Control Chart.'”

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  • Why does drinking too much coffee cause caffeine “jitters”?

    By Melina Devoney for Perfect Daily Grind

    “It's an all too familiar experience for those of us who have drank too much coffee: shaky hands, a rapid heart rate, and an underlying sense of anxiety. These side effects are often the result of consuming high levels of caffeine - hence the term caffeine 'jitters'. For many industry professionals (and even consumers), drinking and tasting coffee is part of their daily routines, making it somewhat unavoidable. However, many people also want to regulate their caffeine consumption - especially those who are particularly sensitive to this stimulant.”

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  • How Chinese coffee consumption is driven by technology

    By Matt Haw for newGround

    “China's coffee market has been growing rapidly over the last few years and is now considered a benchmark for any emerging coffee-consuming country. In that time, Chinese coffee consumption has gone through many phases. 'In the nineties, coffee was marketed in China as an affordable luxury,' says Stuart Eunson, managing director of Arabica Coffee Roasters in Beijing. This continued into the 2000s, as global coffee brands entered the Chinese market and began to establish a coffee-drinking culture. From 2006 to 2016, Chinese coffee consumption grew at an annual average of 22%.”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/08072023 2023-08-07T08:00:00-04:00 2023-08-07T08:00:00-04:00 Carbon Offsetting, Vienna's Coffee Culture, and World of Coffee 2024 Christopher Cizek
  • Road to net zero: Is carbon offsetting the best option for coffee businesses?

    By Matt Haw for newGround

    “One of the most significant contributions to the coffee industry's carbon footprint occurs towards the end of the supply chain. Roasting typically involves burning fossil fuels, leading to the emission of greenhouse gases. On average, 1kg of coffee produces 5kg of carbon dioxide. Once roasted, coffee then needs to be packaged, shipped, ground, brewed, and disposed of. According to research, this final stage accounts for over one-third of the coffee industry's total carbon footprint. As such, many coffee shops and roasters are exploring ways to reduce their carbon emissions.”

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  • Why is Vienna's coffee house culture so influential?

    By Tasmin Grant for Perfect Daily Grind

    “Between the late 1860s and early 1910s, Vienna was the capital of the Austro-Hungarian empire - making it something of a cultural melting pot in Europe. At the turn of the 20th century, coffee houses became important meeting places for intellectuals and artists to discuss social and political issues, among other topics. For the price of just one coffee, customers could stay for as long as they wanted without being disturbed. In fact, some people even used to have their post delivered to coffee houses - a clear indication they served as a third place for many people at the time.”

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  • Announcing World of Coffee 2024 in Copenhagen, Denmark!

    By the World of Coffee Community for Specialty Coffee Association

    “As the world's foremost hub for culture, quality of life, sustainability, and the arts, Copenhagen's distinguished reputation extends to its specialty coffee culture. The city's progressive approach to business, technology, design, and trade further amplifies its standing as a global leader, making it an ideal destination for coffee enthusiasts and professionals to gather at Europe's premier coffee trade show.”

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  • Why didn't more people use plant milks at the 2023 World Barista Championship?

    By Tasmin Grant for Perfect Daily Grind

    “For many, it's unexpected that so few competitors used plant milks at the 2023 World Barista Championships. Around the world, plant-based milks - particularly oat milk - have become immensely popular in coffee shops. In 2022, sales of refrigerated oat milk increased by 37% to US $512 million - evidence that the market continues to grow year-on-year. Some specialty coffee shops, in fact, claim that oat milk is ordered just as much as cow's milk at some of their locations.”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/07312023 2023-07-31T08:00:01-04:00 2023-07-31T08:00:01-04:00 Best Latte Art Milk, Espresso and Alzheimer's, and Maca Coffee Christopher Cizek
  • Which milk is best for latte art?

    By Janice Chinna Kanniah for Perfect Daily Grind

    “Alongside the creamy texture and natural sweetness, latte art is a huge part of why milk-based drinks are so widely consumed. The aesthetic appeal of latte art, as well as the well-textured microfoam used to pour it, add to the overall beverage experience. However, with an ever-growing range of milks now available on the market - including plant-based options - it can be challenging to know which types of milk are most suitable for latte art.”

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  • Time to switch from drip coffee? Shot of espresso shown to 'treat Alzheimer's' in lab study

    By Xantha Leatham for Daily Mail

    “Coffee lovers may be benefiting from more than just a caffeine boost, as research shows that compounds found in a shot of espresso may help to prevent the development of Alzheimer's. A study shows that a shot of coffee can inhibit a process believed to be involved in the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Although the exact mechanisms that cause Alzheimer's and dementia are still unclear, it's thought that a protein called tau plays a significant role.”

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  • What Is Maca Coffee? Benefits, Safety And Sources

    By Lenore Cangeloso and Reviewed by Jessica Cho, MD, for Forbes

    “Some herbal alternatives can enhance energy levels without the residual jitteriness some individuals experience after drinking a beverage containing caffeine, such as coffee or tea. Research suggests that maca coffee, a caffeine-free herbal beverage made from powdered maca root, may help increase energy and stamina, as well as potentially support other body systems, such as reproductive and sexual health.”

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    https://www.randomgospelthoughts.com/blogs/news/07242023 2023-07-24T09:22:21-04:00 2023-07-24T09:22:22-04:00 Coffee and Meteorites, Engineering Espresso, and Technology's Role in Good Cafés Christopher Cizek
  • Woman Struck By Meteorite While Drinking Coffee Now Surely Has Super Powers

    By Zac Cadwalader for Sprudge

    “The report of this harrowing tale first came via French newspaper Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace. In it, the woman, who asked to remain anonymous—presumably to hide her secret identity—states that she was sitting out on her terrace in the Schirmeck commune in the northeastern part of the country, enjoying a nice cup of coffee and a chat with a friend, when she felt a strike to the ribs.”

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  • Three Questions With 'Engineering Better Espresso' Author Robert McKeon Aloe

    By Howard Bryman for Daily Coffee News

    “For some science-minded people, espresso can be a never-ending trip down the rabbit hole, where aspects like fines migration, flow rates, TDS, extraction yield and water chemistry beg far more questions than answers. One of those people is Robert McKeon Aloe, author of the new book Engineering Better Espresso: Data Driven Coffee. Although not a professional barista, Aloe has posted hundreds of journal-style scientific articles over the past five years […] examining nearly every variable at play in pulling a shot.”

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  • How is educational content for specialty coffee evolving?

    By Melina Devoney for Perfect Daily Grind

    “Education plays a crucial role in the specialty coffee sector. Without the focus the industry has had on education in recent years, we arguably wouldn't see anywhere near as much innovation as we do today. Over the years, as research and development has evolved in the industry, we have seen a growing interest in education about specialty coffee. In turn, it seems a growing number of companies have also started to invest in educational resources - which has several benefits for coffee professionals and consumers alike.”

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  • How Technology Empowers Coffee Shops to Deliver Consistent Quality

    By Anne Mercer for Fresh Cup Magazine

    “What defines success at a coffee shop? It's not the cafe's aesthetics or the number of Instagram followers—it's a shop's ability to deliver a consistently high-quality experience. On top of superior customer service, loyal customers expect the same great-tasting coffee every time they visit. But how do you control beverage quality as your coffee shop adds new coffees to the menu, hires employees, and experiences increases in customer traffic? As a coffee business grows and changes, inconsistencies in coffee quality can pop up, leading to unhappy customers and damage to a shop's reputation.”

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