For the Sake of your Health, Drink Coffee

According to a survey by the National Coffee Association, 64 percent of Americans drink a cup of coffee every day. That figure is up 2 percent from 2017. In the office setting, one of the first things an employee looks for is coffee. As one of the world’s most sought-after beverages, there are quite a few health benefits:

  • Improved energy levels – Caffeine tends to function as a “pick-me-up” when people are feeling tired. Studies have shown that coffee can help improve energy, memory and more.
  • Burns fat – Caffeine has been known to help burn fat and boost metabolism.
  • Improved physical performance – When you have improved energy, a higher rate of physical performance usually follows. When caffeine burns fat, it turns fatty acids into fuel.
  • Lowered risk of diabetes – Drinking coffee could reduce the risk for Type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that one cup of coffee per day can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes by up to 7%.
  • Offers liver protection – Drinking coffee may help protect the liver by preventing cirrhosis. Statistics show that people drinking 4 or more cups a day may lower the risk by 80%.
  • Helps fight depression – Coffee functions as a way to increase energy. When there are high levels of energy, the chances of being depressed are lessened.

Coffee has also been linked to lowering Parkinson’s disease, and may also offer protection from strokes, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Knowing how coffee can help the body protect itself while providing other beneficial results may be a primary reason why coffee is the beverage of choice for so many people.

BostonBeaN Coffee Company specializes in a variety of coffee selections for every palate, carrying the brands you know and love with choices like cold brew, fresh brew, Nespresso, Keurig, Fresh Cup Pod System, and more. We also have a wide selection of machines to brew coffee of any kind.

For more information on coffee as a healthy beverage and how the team can help you provide the best for your employees, contact an associate at BostonBeaN Coffee Company today at 1-800-HIT-BREW (800-448-2739).

The Coffee Story: The Journey from Bean-to-Cup

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.

Lovin’ Your Mug

Let’s be honest. Coffee aficionados love the bean, and with that passion comes a lot of emotion. It’s not just what you put in the cup, it’s the cup you put the coffee in that is also important. Everybody has a favorite. Keeping a favorite mug at work can add an extra layer of enjoyment to the ritual of that pick-me-up cup at break time. Drinking a cup of coffee from your favorite mug just seems to taste better too, doesn’t it? It turns out that sentiment may not just be all in your head.

Color of the Cup

The coffee lovers among us know in our bones that our coffee tastes different depending on the vessel we drink from. This is probably what leads us to develop an emotional attachment to our cup of choice.

A small study in Australia tested the influence of three different colored mugs – clear, white, and blue – on the drinker’s perception of various flavor points. Participants were asked to evaluate sweetness, aroma, bitterness, quality and acceptability. And guess what? The results found that the container color influenced the taster’s taste rating on their cup o’ joe.

Among the study conclusions was a suggestion that café owners, baristas and crockery manufacturers consider the cup color and the “potential effects that its color may exert over the multisensory coffee drinking experience.”

What they found was that that coffee drinkers experience the same coffee differently according to the color of the mug they drink it from. Significant difference was found between the white mug and the clear one, as participants sipping from a white mug reported a more intense or bitter tasting coffee and the clear glass, not as much. Those drinking from the blue cup reported more of an intermediate flavor. The drinkers also noted less sweetness when drinking from the white mug.

Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder

Growing up, blogger Gabrielle Pfeifer used to turn up her nose at the boring collection of mugs at her grandparents’ homes. Then, she recalls, she grew up. Once coffee became a part of her life, she began accumulating her own collection of cups.

On the weekdays we, like her, may find ourselves drinking our morning cup from a travel cup on the drive to work.

By the time the weekend rolls around, she is ready to indulge in the ritual of selecting the perfect mug to drink from on that day. Keeping a favorite cup at work helps elevate our 9-to-5 coffee experience.

But How Does It Make You Feel?

There can be a strong emotional bond between us and our coffee cups. They’re kind of like lunch boxes for grownups. Remember sitting in the school cafeteria munching sandwiches and snacks from home but being more concerned about the sense of comfort and independence the Scooby Doo or Munsters graphics on your lunch box brought you between pop quizzes and your least favorite subjects? A little bit of security to hold onto.

Fast forward to the mug in your hand and how it makes you feel. Your feel-good mug might feature a picture of your child or spouse; have an inspirational quote calligraphed on it; or for some of us, it may still feature The Munsters or Scooby Doo. (Don’t worry your secret is safe with us – coffee lover to coffee lover.)

According to a Heinz survey, 60 percent of the participants admitted to having an emotional attachment to their favorite mug. Of those, 40 percent reported their chosen favorite was “irreplaceable” and a third said they would be “devastated” if it broke. Which is a good reason to buy at least two when you find the one.

Whatever color, sentiment or picture is on your favorite mug, it all comes down to how they make us feel while drinking a cup of coffee.

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 good coffee! And invite them to bring their favorite mugs to the office. We listen to your unique breakroom needs to provide breaktime treats and beverages that match what your staff is looking for in a good cup of coffee and a treat to go with it. Give us a call today at 1-800-Hit-Brew (800-448-2739) to learn more about our many product and machine options.

 

The Shortest Journey: Bean-to-Cup

Over 20 years ago, single-cup coffee brewers revolutionized our ability to make a nice cup of java in our kitchen and at work. The DeJong Duke Virtu series of bean-to-cup machines now bring barista-level, custom coffee drinks into your breakroom. Bean-to-Cup – it’s the shortest journey to great coffee!

Upping the Coffee Game

As the American coffee palate has evolved, manufacturers have had to up their machinery game to make a better cup of coffee. The latest trend for providing a bean-to-cup brewer has elevated the coffee experience to a new level that can be experienced right in your office break room.

In March, a round table of coffee experts weighed in at the National Automatic Merchandising Association’s Coffee, Tea and Water conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Karalyn McDermott from Bunn-O-Matic attributed the rise in bean-to-cup coffee to a demand for freshness. The shortest journey, from ground Bean-to-Cup, decreases the chemical reactions that occur following grinding, brewing and even holding a brewed beverage in a cup.

Our Virtu Bean-to-Cup Coffee Brewer

Contact us today to schedule a bean-to-cup demonstration with our state-of-the-art DeJong Duke Virtu machine, at your office. Featuring a grinder, two bean hoppers, adjustable bar pressure, and three specialty product canisters for creating things like hot chocolate, frothy cappuccinos and flavorings – this amazing technology with a multi-function touch screen for creating customized beverages is the closest you will find to making a barista-style beverage outside of your local café.

Virtu provides the freshness you yearn for, the variety of drinks and options for customization that can satisfy an office full of diverse people and taste preferences.

And its environmental impact is minimal, with no pods or additional container waste. Maintenance is streamlined, too. It’s a sustainable machine you can feel good about having on site.

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 good coffee, including our fresh Bean-to-Cup options! We listen to your unique breakroom needs to provide breaktime treats and beverages that match what your staff is looking for in a good cup of coffee and a treat to go with it. Give us a call today at 1-800-Hit-Brew (800-448-2739) to learn more about our many product and machine options.

How Much Do Americans Love Their Coffee?

In the last couple of decades, a cup of coffee is no longer just a cup of coffee and it sure isn’t your momma’s coffee! Americans have taken to coffee and embraced it like residents in other countries that revere the bean, including the Scandinavians and Europeans in Germany, France and Italy. The United States, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, imported $8.8 billion in annual coffee imports.

Millennials in particular are not satisfied with the standard cup of brewed coffee their parents indulged in, with over a third of them indulging a gourmet coffee palate with a preference for barista-style drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. Younger coffee drinkers in general, from 18 to 39, are more likely to purchase their coffee of choice outside their home. Overall, 34 percent of Americans who opt to go out for coffee head to premium cafes, while 29 percent get their cup o’ joe at lower-price venues.

And the trend for pursuing coffee that is ethically sound continues to drive sales with the most certifications accounting for: 25% organic; 18% fair trade; and 16% rainforest alliance.

On the Job

Coffee at work is a particular passion for those who find the caffeine not only keeps them alert but helps them focus on the tasks at hand – which can be a big benefit for employers. On average, American workers enjoy 4 cups of coffee or tea during the workday.

Fun Coffee Facts

Wondering just how near and dear to American hearts coffee is? Here are some stats that demonstrate that bond. Warning: It’s a more serious relationship than you probably thought!

  • 55% of coffee lovers would rather gain 10 lbs. than give up coffee for life.
  • 52% of coffee aficionados would prefer to forego their morning shower rather than their morning cup of java.
  • 49% of coffee fans would opt to give up their cell phone for a month than go without coffee.

Boston BeaN 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 good coffee! We listen to your unique breakroom needs to provide breaktime treats and beverages that match what your staff is looking for in a good cup of coffee and a treat to go with it. Give us a call today at 1-800-Hit-Brew (800-448-2739) to learn more about our many product and machine options.

 

Great Coffee That’s Good for the Environment

Coffee is big business in the United States, and businesses that provide coffee drinks for their employees have become more concerned with providing not only premium products but products that are environmentally conscious and sustainable.

By dealing with companies who implement business practices like the direct trade model, you can also be confident about the ethics of how your coffee is sourced and bought. At Boston BeaN we offer a wide variety of coffee and tea products that are produced with environmental sensitivity and ethical awareness.

Intelligentsia

Intelligentsia, known for its coffee bars in the country’s biggest cities, provides distinctive coffee to many of the best restaurants, cafes and companies, and is one of many companies Boston BeaN does business with. Intelligentsia has been at the forefront of the direct trade model in the United States, so your company can feel its environmental considerations are in good hands when stocking its product for your employees.

Our Brewing Machines

Boston BeaN provides a selection of single-cup brewing machines, including Newco’s CX3 and Fresh Cup 3, that use pods to brew barista-caliber coffee drinks in your office. Both brew a custom cup of coffee in under a minute with amazing varieties you find a first-rate cafe.

Choosing coffee and tea pods is a big environmental win over the popular K-Cups. Ironically the wildly popular K-Cup was never intended for widespread use, but that is exactly what happened. They were designed for office use. But pods are a newer, more environmentally friendly, and economic option for single-cup brewing.

Here are a few good reasons to choose pods for your single-cup office brewing:

  • Environmentally friendly and toxin free
  • Pods are compostable
  • Pod coffee smells better
  • Pod coffee tastes better
  • Supporting environmentally friendly companies
  • Pods require less energy to produce
  • K-Cups don’t always get recycled

Our Cold Brew Coffee & Tea

Our cold brew coffee and tea products are from Barismo, a local roaster that sources, roasts and delivers premium tea and coffee. It also has sustainable and transparent relationships with top coffee growers, millers, exporters and importers, around the globe. When you use its products, you are assured of product that is sustainable, of direct trade and single origin.

Boston BeaN Coffee Company in Woburn, Massachusetts, sources the best products to stock your company break room with quality coffee, tea drinks and snack products We have sourced great tasting products produced with environmental awareness, so your company can feel good about providing them in your employee break room. We listen to your unique breakroom needs to provide breaktime treats and beverages that will keep your employees happy and motivated. Give us a call today at 1-800-Hit-Brew (800-448-2739) to learn how we can create a better breakroom together.

Coffee Supplier Spotlight: Intelligentsia

To provide our customers with quality coffees and a superior break-room experience, Boston BeaN seeks out and works with superior suppliers. Among the extraordinary companies we work with is Intelligentsia, a leader in ethical importing and innovative coffee development practices.

Founding Intelligentsia in 1995 in Chicago as a coffee bar and retail establishment, Doug Zell and Emily Mange began their coffee education by doing their own roasting and honing their craft as baristas. Over the years, not only did they open more shops in major cities across the country, but they began importing their own coffee, striving for what they view as perfection in taste, aroma, and mouth feel. As the business grew, they increased their roasting capacity and began distributing their extraordinary coffees at wholesale.

Intelligentsia has partnered with fine restaurants, cafes and companies around the country to bring distinctive coffee to guests and employees. They are dedicated to sustainable sourcing, roasting and delivery of the finest coffees the world has to offer to “elevate your coffee program from the conventional to the exceptional.”

Direct Trade Model

The company has been at the forefront of the direct trade model of importing, establishing relationships with farmers, paying them higher than fair trade rates, and working with them to establish cultivation and land stewardship practices that are sustainable and that produce superior beans. Intelligentsia buyers are in the field every day of the year, advising, listening, collecting input, and gathering data to find what works best for the growers and for the coffee in the consumer’s cup.

Black Cat Project

Among Intelligentsia’s recent initiatives is the Black Cat Project. Recognizing that espresso is “just another form of brewing coffee,” the company is seeking to elevate the brew to its highest level ever, sourcing in micro-lots and exploring new tastes and technologies to create “impeccable espresso.”

From Field to Cup

From the field, through the roasting process, to a professionally crafted barista coffee drink, Intelligentsia knows what makes a cup of extraordinary coffee. Boston BeaN loves working with a company committed to such high standards of product quality and ethical practice, and we love bringing  their remarkable coffees to your company’s break room.

An inviting break room is an important perc for the employees of any business and a key element in maintaining company morale and productivity. Boston BeaN Coffee Company in Woburn, Massachusetts, stocks break rooms throughout the Boston area with quality coffees, teas, cold beverages, snack products, drinks technology and breakroom supplies. Call us at 800-Hit-Brew (800-448-2739) to learn how we can create a better breakroom together.

 

Cold Brew Coffee FAQs

Coffee lovers who want some variety from their usual steaming cup of joe are gravitating toward cold brew coffee drinks. Those who are unfamiliar with cold brewing might think it’s just about sticking their regular coffee in the refrigerator, but there’s a lot more to it. Cold brew coffee needs to be made in a certain way and the result is a brew that is less acidic, more mellow, and perfect over ice on a hot day or any time. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about cold brew coffee and their answers.

Q: Why Does it Take Longer to Cold Brew Than Hot Brew?

A: Cold brewing involves steeping coffee grounds at room temperature or colder for at least 12 hours. The grounds can be fully immersed in water or a slow drip may be set up to brew the coffee, but either way the water must be much cooler than in a drip machine, pod machine, press-pot, urn, or percolator (remember those?) to achieve the right results. After the grounds are done brewing, they are then filtered out and the liquid concentrate can be drunk straight like a shot of espresso or diluted with water or milk.

Q: How Long Does Cold Brew Coffee Last?

A: Cold brew can be stored for up to two weeks in the refrigerator after it’s made. Store it at full strength, and don’t dilute it with water or milk until you’re ready to drink it.

Q: What Types of Coffee are Best for Cold Brew?

A: Course-ground coffee generally produces the more mellow flavor that is the hallmark of cold brews. Light roasts are usually preferred over darker roasts because – perhaps counterintuitively – they have higher acidity. But cold-brewing eliminates much of that acidity, resulting in a bright, floral flavor that tastes great over ice. Arabica coffees from Central and South America are the most common coffees sourced for Cold Brew.

Q: What is the Best Equipment for Cold Brew?

A: Many cold brew enthusiasts enjoy making the drink in their own homes and there is a wide variety of brewers that produce excellent results. However, the length of time it takes to cold brew often leads people to get their cold brew at coffee houses or to contract for a cold brew coffee service at their offices. Cold brew services can deliver kegs of cold brew to the workplace that are ready to drink with no time-consuming preparation.

Cold brew is an excellent way to enjoy coffee in any season. For complete coffee and break-room services throughout greater Boston, including cold-brew kegs and dispensers, contact BostonBeaN Coffee Company today. Call 800-Hit-Brew (448-2739).