Frequently Asked Questions

What is coffee?

Coffee is a drink prepared from roasted coffee beans. It can bitter and slightly acidic.  Coffee is a stimulant because it contains caffeine.

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What are the types of coffee beans?

The two most typical coffee plants that produce coffee beans are Arabica and the Robusta.

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What are the types of coffee roasts?

• Roasting coffee beans transforms the green coffee bean into the roasted coffee products used today.  How the bean is roasted produces the flavor characteristics. 

• Light Roast (Cinnamon, New England, Half-City): Roasted least amount of time and tend not to have oils on them. Light roasts have the most caffeine and the most acidity and can have a lemon or citrus tone.

• Medium Roast (House, Breakfast, American):  Roasted until 1st crack but before 2nd. Flavor profile has more body and less acidity than light roast.  Provides a more balanced flavor and what most Americans are used to.

• Medium-Dark Roast (Viennese, Continental, Light French, Light Expresso): Roasted to 2nd crack and will start showing oils on the bean surface. Flavor profile is richer, fuller and less acidity. 

• Dark Roast (French, Espresso, Turkish, Italian, Dark French):  Roasted at the highest temperatures to a dark color and oils are visible. The flavor profile is sweater because the sugars have developed producing a buttery finish. Dark roast coffee beans have the least amount of acidity and least amount of caffeine.

 

Where are coffee beans grown?

Brazil produces approximately 45% of the world’s total coffee exports. There is what is known as the “bean” belt where the beans are typically grown.  The countries in the bean belt are: Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Peru, India, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Uganda, Nicaragua, Ivory Coast, Costa Rica, Philippines, El Salvador, Cameroon, Venezuela, Tanzania, Madagascar.

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How much coffee should I use to make a pot of coffee – 8 cups?

You should use 14 tablespoons of coffee to make an 8 cup pot of coffee at regular strength.

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Are whole beans better than ground coffee?

Yes, grinding your own coffee beans is cheaper and pre-ground coffee can have a stale flavor.

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What is the best way to store coffee?

The best way to store coffee is in an airtight and lightproof container.  If you are planning on storing long term use the freezer.

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How can I brew stronger coffee?

To brew stronger coffee you can increase the coffee to water ratio, use a slightly finer grind, change your brewing method to espresso or French press.

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How can I make coffee weaker?

To brew weaker coffee reduce the coffee to water ratio and use a coarser grind, change your brewing method to a drip or poor over method.

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What is a coffee subscription?

A coffee subscription is a purchase of coffee on a reoccurring schedule usually for a discounted price.

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How is coffee decaffeinated?

The most-common methods of decaffeination involve chemical solvents, usually ethyl acetate or methylene chloride. In the direct method, the coffee beans are steamed and then rinsed repeatedly with the chemical solvent to flush away the caffeine. In the indirect method, the chemical agent never touches the beans but treats the caffeine-laden water in which the beans have been soaked for hours.

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What are coffee brewing options?

Coffee brewing can be broken into 5 categories: Brewing with gravity, immersion or steeping, pressure, boiling water or pods.

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What is the difference between coffee pods, k-cups and capsules?

The main difference between coffee pods, k-cups and capsules is that coffee pod has a paper package, k-cups have plastic package and coffee capsule has an aluminum or plastic package. A coffee pod is a round pod placed into a filter to have a brewed coffee. Coffee pods also have their own filter.

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What are the types of filters to use when making coffee?

The types of filters used for coffee depends on the brewing method.  Different types are: paper coffee filters, metal filters and cloth filters.

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What are the types of coffee bean grinders?

There are four main types of grinders for coffee: burr, blade, manual and automatic.

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What is a latte?

A latte is a type of coffee made with espresso and hot steamed milk, milkier than a cappuccino.

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What is cappuccino?

A cappuccino is an espresso-based coffee drink that originated in Italy and is traditionally prepared with steamed milk foam