Holiday Coffee

All you need to do to add a holiday twist to your coffee can be summarized in two words:

Egg Nog.

Substitute creamer with Egg Nog and go easy on the sweetener.  You can even throw a mint in the bottom or crush half a peppermint into rice krispies size bits to add that peppermint flavor.  I've noticed coffee shops putting mint pieces topped on a little whipped cream as well.

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

God is Great, Coffee is Good...

Are you with me? Every time I drink a cup, I feel deep satisfaction, like an answer to prayer.

Coffees for the Good

When shopping around for coffee that not only makes you feel awake but also makes you feel good in your soul, look for these icons to point you in the "right" direction:

 

Environmentally Responsible Certifications

• EcoLogo is North America’s most widely recognized and respected certification of environmental leadership. By setting standards and certifying products in more than 120 categories, EcoLogo helps you identify, trust, buy, and sell environmentally preferred (“green”) goods and services.
• EPA allows safer products to carry the Design for the Environment (DfE) label. This mark allows consumers to quickly identify and choose products that can help protect the environment and are safer for families. These products are formulated from the safest possible ingredients and, in 2007, reduced the use of "chemicals of concern" by 80 million pounds, up from 59 million pounds in 2006.

Socially Responsible Certifications

• Rainforest Alliance certification is a comprehensive process that promotes and guarantees improvements in agriculture and forestry. Their independent seal of approval ensures that goods and services were produced in compliance with strict guidelines protecting the environment, wildlife, workers and local communities.
• Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
• The National Organic Program (NOP) develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products. The NOP also accredits the certifying agents (foreign and domestic) who inspect organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet USDA standards.

all information in this post was copied from Capitol Coffee Systems' website at http://www.capcoff.com/index.php/products/capitol-coffee-is-going-green/

Organic Coffees

The ever-growing distinction "Organic" on the front of coffee bags and coffee shops is one of the great evolutions of coffee.  At least, since the de-evolution of quality coffee.  Originally, the production of coffee worldwide was monitored  and restricted from 1962 to 1989 by the I.C.O., a committee represented by many nations including the United States.  After the organization and its regulations dissolved by lack of American support, coffee farmers were pressed to produce more and more.  Trees were cut down to clear land to yield larger farms.  The coffee tree starved for shade, now being grown in the hot open sun of the Latin Americas.  In order to keep the plants alive, fertilizers were introduced to the crops to keep up the yield.  With fertilizer came bugs (who are not attracted to coffee naturally) and fungus, forcing the farmers to use pesticides and fungicides with no regulation on how much or how often, potentially harming people and the environment.  In an attempt to grow more coffee, traditional practices were abandoned and replaced with the kind of careless practices we have seen in the harvest of so many products that we consume.

Now the label "Organic" is given to a coffee farm that has used no pesticides, fungicides, or other harmful chemicals in the past six years.  The cost of organic coffees is certainly more to the coffee buyer and consumer.  My prediction is that this cost will lower (not considering economic inflation) because more and more farms which eliminated such chemicals several years ago will begin to emerge with the "Organic" label over the next few years.  This, along with a growing knowledge of personal health by consumers worldwide, can create a tipping point for all major coffee brands to have organic offerings, if not become exclusively organic.

There are 400 billion cups of coffee consumed globally every year.  Buying organic will keep your sharefrom poisoning you and the environment.

Coffee for the Greater Good

I hear a lot these days about "Fair Trade", "Sustainable", "Green" and "Organic".  Most of what I have learned and heard was through word of mouth.  My perception is that is true for you, too:  you've heard of these campaigns and are confident they are inherently good, though you don't really know the details.  I'll be creating four respective posts on these relatively new yet extremely popular initiatives to the coffee world, and I'd love your feedback.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

Recently I visited Green Mountain Coffee Roasters' main roasting facilty in Waterbury, Vermont. It's a great facility that will give tours, so check it out if you are ever in the area and learn from one of the most well-known roasters in the country.  The slow-paced scenic town is also home of Ben and Jerry's, so pack your sweet tooth!

Vessel of Taste

What is your favorite container for drinking coffee?

The container actually can change the flavor of your coffee for a number of reasons. The best way to illustrate this is with a metal travel mug. You will actually experience a "metal taste" when drinking coffee this way.

So what is your favorite vessel of taste? Do you prefer paper, foam, ceramic, a travel mug, or straight out of the coffee pot? Tell us what and why!