Archive for category: Coffee

“Without my morning coffee, I’m just like a dried-up piece of roast goat.” —Johann Sebastian Bach

If you think coffee makes you smarter, you might not have the scientific chops to prove it without a few cups of Joe. Enjoy a hot cup of “brain juice” while learning about a few famous caffeine aficionados from the past.

Let’s start with…

1. Voltaire

The coffee drinker’s real name was François-Marie Arouet, but he wrote under the pen name Voltaire. In his day, coffee was considered a luxury and the famous writer reputedly downed up to 50 cups of coffee and chocolate every day. His doctor warned him that the expensive habit threatened his health, but the philosopher lived for 83 productive years.

2. Soren Kierkegaard

Kierkegaard also liked to soften coffee’s bitter taste with something sweet. He put up to 30 sugar cubes in each cup. Kierkegaard had 50 coffee cups and often ask the secretary to choose a separate one for each serving. The creative secretary had to provide a philosophical reason for choosing a specific cup.

3. Ludwig van Beethoven

The meticulous composer counted out 60 beans every morning for his cup of coffee. Whether this was to attain a specific strength or a fun numbers game remains a mystery.

4. Theodore Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt was the 26th U.S. president. He consumed a gallon of coffee every day, dumping five to seven lumps of sugar in each serving. His son likened his father’s consumption volume to a bathtub.

5. Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood lent her name to a roaster that raised money for the Pelee Island Bird Observatory in Canada. Atwood has coffee for breakfast, typically with steamed milk or cream. As a bonus, she sometimes adds espresso to strengthen the brew.

Serious coffee drinker and humor columnist Dave Barry had this to say about coffee:

“It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity. I bet this kind of thing does not happen to heroin addicts. I bet that when serious heroin addicts go to purchase their heroin, they do not tolerate waiting in line while some dilettante in front of them orders a hazelnut smack-a-cino with cinnamon sprinkles.”

How does your daily cup count compare with famous coffee drinkers in history?

Contact BostonbeaN today regarding our products and how we can ensure your employees never revolt over an empty pot of coffee.

How do you like your coffee? Here in America, we drink it hot or iced, at cozy coffee shops, homey diners, in our own snug kitchens, and on-the-go (yay cupholders!). We have even started brewing it cold ever since the cold brew coffee trend swept the United States a few years ago. We are fairly new to the whole culture part of coffee, however. As a Boston coffee company, we know that it wasn’t so long ago that a good old cup of joe was a dishwatery mug of instant grounds and boiling water, slugged down before a hard day’s work. The now-ubiquitous rush of the espresso machine and frother, fair-trade and locally roasted beans, and blends savored with a scone was unheard of just two decades ago.

Americans are nothing if not enthusiastic adopters. We dive right in and make traditions our own. At BostonbeaN Coffee Company, we strive to provide our customers with a wide variety of beverages representing the best of traditional coffee styles from around the world and from the United States. But where do the styles of coffee in the United States today stem from? Why do we order an Americano or Macchiato from our neighborhood hangout where tattooed teenagers add creative flourishes to the foam in our lattes? How are people in other places drinking their daily dose of caffeine? Let’s take a quick trip around the world to see how our foreign counterparts measure out their lives with coffee spoons, to paraphrase the poet T.S. Eliot.

When in Rome (or, really, any part of Italy)

We are, perhaps, most familiar with Italian coffee traditions here in the States. Italian immigrants brought with them their dainty cups, stovetop percolators, and pastry pairings. Italians take their espresso very seriously, and ritualistically. In the morning, Italians drink their coffee with milk, whether as cappuccino, macchiato, or latte. But they never, ever order those after 11 a.m. And it would be incredibly tacky and in poor taste if you did (but, you do you). In the afternoons, Italians take their coffee quickly but socially, standing at the counter of their favorite cafe. An espresso shot is the typical choice, served with a twist of lemon peel, which brings out the vibrant taste of the strong roast.

Nobody’s Business but the Turks

Turkey is a country of two continents, at once very European and steeped in the mysterious wonders of the East. Traders and travelers have frequented this land for thousands of years, and many traditions have been invested at this cultural crossroads. Turkish coffee is quite strong, as it is unfiltered. To prepare it, the beans are simmered in a distinctive little pot called an ibrik. Sugar and exotic cardamom are added during the brewing process, but never milk or cream. It is served in a demitasse cup, as in Italy. When you have taken the last sip, the remaining grounds can be used to divine your future, if you wish to see a glimpse of your fate.

Your New Favorite Trend from Sweden

Fika encompasses so much more than coffee. It is both a noun and a verb, and it is baked into the everyday life in that country. In Sweden, community and friendships are very highly valued, and so is fika, a break from the busy day. It means taking a moment to slow down, have a good cup of coffee and a bite to eat. You can practice fika alone, at home, but it is imperative to savor the experience, to not scroll through social media, or take work emails. Fika is respite from the day’s obligations.

Whether you like your coffee milky or strong, sweet, savored with a donut or a dear friend, we have got your caffeine needs covered. Contact an associate at BostonBeaN today!

The United States is enjoying its love affair with coffee and basking in a caffeinated glow, or buzz, so to speak! No longer are we willing to settle for a mediocre cup that was ground and brewed a while ago and has been sitting idle in a pot. It’s now all about the beauty of the brown little bean and the alchemy that happens on its way to your cup and taste buds. We may have become bean snobs in our coffee culture evolution, but the bean’s journey starts way before it hits your cup.

A 10-Step Journey

The National Coffee Association outlines 10-steps from seed to cup.

1. Planting
2. Harvesting the cherries
3. Processing the cherries
4. Drying the beans
5. Milling
6. Exporting
7. Cupping
8. Roasting
9. Grinding
10. Brewing

Coffee is planted in tropical and sub-tropical climates known as the bean belt. After about nine months, the plant bears fruit (called cherries) that is ready to be harvested. The coffee cherries are processed and undergo milling and polishing to separate the husk from the bean. Green coffee is bagged and loaded into bags and then placed into containers and loaded on ships to make their journey all over the world.

Harvesting and processing are labor-intensive steps, most of which is done by hand. It is this labor that has resulted in the development of policies and procedures that guarantee “fair and ethical” practices and pricing to protect and value the growers.

Upon arrival, an inspector, or cupper, evaluates the beans by sight, smell and taste. Then they are roasted, during which time they are transformed from green coffee into the prized brown bean we have come to think of as sacred.

If you are a coffee aficionado, this is pretty much where you enter the story – taking the brown bean through a blending of alchemy, magic and technology to produce your idea of a perfect cup of coffee. The beans now undergo your custom ritual, of probably a good 10 to 15 minutes depending on the method you implement, to turn the bean into a rich brown beverage that can make your day.

Although bean-to-cup coffee is the ultimate coffee experience, brewed for peak freshness just after it has been roasted, there are some good single-serve coffee pod and capsule options too.

What’s the difference between Bean to Cup, coffee pod, and K-Cups?

Let’s talk packaging. Bean to Cup coffee machines grind, then brew, fresh whole bean coffee for every cup. Coffee sold in capsules, such as K-Cups, are typically sealed after roasting, locking out moisture while locking in oxygen for freshness. K-Cups are not limited to coffee; they can contain tea, hot chocolate, cider, and other beverage options. Coffee pods, on the other hand, are typically a round pad that contains coffee wrapped in biodegradable filter paper. The coffee pods are sold wrapped in foil or loose in a resealable bag – depending on the brand you buy.

Here are 5 key benefits to Bean to Cup, coffee pods, and K-Cups:

Bean to Cup Benefits:

• Amazing coffee flavor every time – the closest you will find to your favorite local barista
• Bean to Cup coffee machines grind, then brew, fresh whole bean coffee for every cup
• No wasteful filters, leaving only 100% compostable grounds
• Bean to Cup machines offer lots of different coffee and drink options. These include coffees, cappuccino, latte, espresso, hot chocolate, mocha, Americanos, and flavorings at the touch of a button
• Paperless brewing system means less time spent maintaining the brewer and equates to lower cost per cup

K-Cups Benefits:

• K-Cups are convenient in a self-contained capsule
• K-Cups are in-market and sold at local grocery stores
• Competitive brands now offer lower priced K-Cups
• They offer a large variety of coffees, roasting options, and other beverages
• The company aims to have all K-Cups recyclable by 2020

Coffee pod Benefits:

• By design, there is more surface area for water to contact the pod, yielding a higher coffee extraction
• The coffee filter allows for more coffee aroma during the brewing process
• Price range is affordable
• Coffee pods can easily be purchased online
• Ecological – less product waste

Whether you like Bean to Cup, coffee pods, or K-Cup coffee there are options for every lifestyle and coffee lover!

Contact BostonbeaN Coffee Company  to learn about our bean-to-cup coffee options, including the DeJong Duke Virtu system, Starbuck’s Serenade, Flavia/Mars and the CX Touch Brew. We have just the right way to brew a high-end, café quality cup of coffee that will make your employees happy at break time.

BostonbeaN Coffee Company in Woburn, Massachusetts, sources the best products to stock your company break room with quality coffee, tea drinks and snack products. Keep your employees happy, alert and motivated by providing great coffee, tea, soft drinks and the perfect snack foods. We listen to your unique breakroom needs. Give us a call today at 1-800-Hit-Brew (800-448-2739) to learn more about our many product and machine options.