Fresh Coffee Info

Starbucks Nostalgia

Starbucks, known for its exponential number of milk, syrup, chocolate, chai, and oh yes, espresso combinations, is going back to basics with the release of its Pike Place Roast ™.

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Coffee-aficionados have done wonders for bi-lingual education. Double-mocha-con-panna por favore mean anything to you? We can choose from an unprecedented selection of coffee drinks, but do we really know how to drink coffee? It’s not all fancy names and beaker-worthy concoctions; the act of drinking coffee is an art unto itself. Let’s dive in!...

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Mom and Pop Coffee Shops - No Small Beans

Take a second glance at any busy street and you're sure to find at least one - oftentimes two - major chain coffee shops. As many as four Starbucks can be found within one square mile in some cities. McDonalds has even launched a plan to feature a barista at each of its locations. With the oversaturation of big business coffee sites, how do those smaller, mom & pop coffee stops stay in business? ...

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Rating Coffee Ratings

What’s green, malformed, broken and sometimes referred to as a stinker? A defective coffee bean, that’s what. Actually, a flawed coffee bean could fit anyone of those descriptions. This model of determining defective beans was created by the The Specialty Coffee Association of America (or SCAA) in an attempt to start an internationally recognized grading model that sets best practices for growing, roasting, and brewing. Considering the complexity that can occur in a cup of coffee, a grading system must be multifaceted enough to assess every detail good and bad, stinker and robust while taking region, subjectivity, and international norms into account. The SCAA model applies to specialty beans, however, commercial beans are not evaluated to nearly the same extent. With the growing number of independent reviews clouding the industry's vision of creating a universal grading, is it too late for the SCAA and other coffee organizations to lay down the coffee rating law? ...

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The Freshest in Lids

Considering the abundance of coffee available – beans and drink combinations alike – it’s no wonder even local gas stations will likely offer the same selections as the nearest gourmet shop. The varieties of coffee drinks offered at chain stores are even more remarkable. Starbuck’s alone offers 87,000 types of drink combinations. While the types of coffee drinks available are infinite – or so vast few people will ever try them all – other products directly related to serving coffee has evolved as well. Coffee cup lids in particular have advanced as industrial designers continuously address their functionality and comforts. For the 50 billion cups of coffee served annually in the US – a proper lid is necessary. How about a temperature reading, ergonomically correct lid? Even better. ...

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How to Make a Great Tasting Cup of Coffee - It's Not Rocket Science

There is good coffee and absolutely abysmal coffee. Both may start with the same elements, but one cup can taste completely different to another. Freshness is the key......