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K-Cups and Keurigs – What to know before you buy
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Beware, the Ides of March: Coffee Edition
The soothsayer spoke the truth, but Julius Caesar didn’t heed the warning. “Beware, the Ides of March!” Little did he know that he would be betrayed on that date, let alone at the hands of his friend, Brutus. “He is a dreamer; let us leave him.”, is Caesar’s response to the warning. Later, his wife begged him to stay home on the Ides, as she experienced a dream of his murder. Still, Caesar ventured to the Senate, where he met his demise.
Now, to relate this tragic story to coffee. It amazes me, that even when faced with the truth about what coffee is, how it is produced, and the facts about unethical sourcing, that the majority of consumers will still choose to drink the rancid, stale commercial brands. Here are the facts…
- Conventional coffee sourcing has been proven to sustain generational poverty
- Grocery store coffee was roasted several months ago
- Non-Organic coffee contains harmful chemicals
- Modern farming methods destroy habitat, alter the natural ecology, and contaminate water systems
- Ethically sourced, organic, shade grown, fresh roasted coffee, tastes better and is healthy!
What makes Camano Island Coffee different?
Aside from what is briefly outlined above, our business model is truly sustainable. “Sustainability” is getting to be a tired buzzword, but we don’t use this term to be trendy…we live and breathe it. I encourage you to watch this powerful video, read about our business philosophy, and learn about the profound impact YOU can have, by simply purchasing exceptional coffee from Camano Island Coffee Roasters!
What do you think?
We care about what our customers think! If you ever have a comment or question, please share it with us and we will be more than happy to provide you with a prompt answer. Have a great weekend!
The post Beware, the Ides of March: Coffee Edition appeared first on Camano Island Coffee Roasters.
Sumatra Dark Roast – Bean Profile
Full Bodied, Sumatra Dark Roast
Dark, Rich, & Deep, without the caffeine overload.
While we don’t condone the over-roasting of coffee as many other coffee companies approach their darker roasts, we’re in full support of a delicious, tasty dark roast. Especially when that roast brings in balance the darker tones of roasting with the nuances of the coffee bean we’re roasting.
Whenever we hear: ”I want your darkest roast!” or ”I like my coffee dark and rich,” there is only really one immediate conclusion – Sumatra Dark Roast. Now if you like coffee darker than this, we’re not the coffee roaster for you. Because our coffee is extremely good for you, we feel it’s our duty to keep the carcinogen levels to an extreme low.
One other benefit of the coffee we purchase from Sumatra is that, as a general rule, the Sumatra coffee we offer is our lowest in caffeine content – naturally. Many customers that previously couldn’t drink caffeinated coffee find that they are now able to enjoy a cup of fully caffeinated Sumatra (Dark or Medium Roast).
Sumatra Dark Cupping/Region Information:
Cupping Information:
- Body: Full/Syrupy
- Aroma: Dried Fruit, Nuts
- Flavor: Dried fruit tones with a Heavy Nutty Base
- Aftertaste: Lingering Deep Sweetness
- Sweetness: Semi-Sweet – Dried Fruit
Region Information:
- Country: Sumatra
- Farm: Mandheling (Gayo Mountain Region)
- Altitude: 1800 ft
- Harvest: October-March
- Soil: Volcanic Ash – High Nutrient
- Production Method: Natural, Dry Process
Cupping Notes:
Certified organic Sumatra has a rich syrupy body with a dried fruit tone (apricot, cherry, and fig) and nutty base (pecan-esque). Acidity is fairly mild and the finish leaves a semi-heavy coating in the mouth.
What is Coffee?
What is coffee?
Although coffee is referred to as a bean, it is actually the seed of a piece of fruit, known as a coffee cherry. They were termed ‘beans’, as they resemble the appearance of actual beans. The cherries are hand picked, and the seed is separated from the fruit. There are various methods of achieving this, with some allowing the fruit to dry first, and others removing the seed much sooner. By varying the amount of time the fruit is allowed to dry on the seed, these methods impact the flavor of the finished product. After the ‘beans’ are dried, the unroasted product is called ‘green coffee’.
Not all coffee is created equal
The two main species of coffee are Arabica and Robusta. Robusta coffee packs 50% more caffeine, and a sharp bitter flavor. Arabica is the more desirable of the two, as it possesses a smoother taste and enjoyable flavor characteristics. The terroir (ie elevation, soil, climate, humidity) plays a significant role in what the coffee tastes like. Seasoned coffee tasters can identify if a coffee was grown in Guatemala or Ethiopia, simply by taste. These variances in flavor are only evident in lighter roasts, and replaced with flavors derived from the roasting process when roasted to a darker degree. Green coffee is also classified into 5 different grades, the highest being termed “Specialty Coffee”. Most large corporate coffee companies use lower grade coffees, in order to be able to process the large amount required to fulfill their distribution. They will also source coffees from various origins, blend them, and roast them to such a degree, where practically none of the natural flavors are evident.
Nothing to hide
At Camano Island Coffee Roasters, we have nothing to hide. We purchase the top 1% of the World’s coffee, and roast it so that the quality of the coffee speaks for itself where it’s most important…in your cup! Not only do we select the best coffee, but we also value the farming communities where it is grown, and the environment in which it originates. CICR does this by engaging in ethical trading practices and sustainable farming, which you may read more about here. We offer our coffees at various roast levels, but all of the roasts will still exhibit the coffee’s unique flavor profiles. Whether you already enjoy drinking specialty coffee, or you drink any coffee you can get your hands on, we invite you to try our unique coffees. We’ll even give you the first pound for free!
Any questions?
If you still have questions about what coffee is, or any coffee related questions, we would love to answer you in the comments below.
By Nathan Smith
The post What is Coffee? appeared first on Camano Island Coffee Roasters.
Mocha Affogato with Stovetop Espresso
A Tillamook Mocha Affogato (made with espresso perc’ed on a stovetop)
So far, the theme of our “Coffee Recipes” has been dessert. We will start adding non-dessert items soon, but this really isn’t going to change that theme… it was just too good to not post!
I’m a BIG fan of ice cream (not quite rivaling my coffee love… but definitely closer than most things). Coffee AND ice cream (the simplest definition of an affogato) is just a small mixture of heaven. Wikipedia describes an affogato as…
An affogato (Italian, “drowned”) is a coffee-based beverage. It usually takes the form of a scoop of vanilla gelato or ice cream topped with a shot of hot espresso.
This last friday, my wife, myself, and my kids had the pleasure of enjoying dinner at one of our friend’s house. After what could only be described as an amazingly delicious meal with homemade quiche, it was time for dessert. As friends, there was only one brand of coffee they were actually allowed to have in their home (I kid… but really).
Ingredients:
Oreo Truffle Brownies with Espresso Ganache
I have no idea why there are strawberries in this photo… really.
My wife’s newest creation – Oreo Truffle Brownies with Espresso Ganache – comes courtesy of a friend. Rather than retype the instructions, I’m going to paste them directly from the email. There is something fun in they way they’ve been laid out – you can tell the sender was drooling over the thought of her own recipe as she typed it. I did bold and underline an amazing part of the recipe however!
AeroPress Instructions :: Camano Island Coffee Roasters Brewing Guide
AeroPress Instructions, By the Numbers
Dampen the black, rubber piston, then insert it about a quarter of an inch into the brewing chamber- Invert the AeroPress, and place it onto a sturdy surface
- Measure 20g of coffee and grind it to your preferred setting (I used a grind, just finer than drip)
- Pour the ground coffee into the brewing chamber
- Begin timing, and slowly add water, heated to 195° F
- Carefully, pour the water being careful to saturate all of the grounds
- Continue pouring, in a circular motion, until the water level is above the number “1″
- Stir for about 10 seconds
- Place your metal filter onto the top of the brewing chamber. If you are using the paper filter, rinse it with boiling water to remove the paper flavor and bleach.
- When the timer is at 1:00, carefully pick up the AeroPress and turn it right side up, over top of your mug
- Push down squarely on the top of the brewer, as if you were giving someone a giant coffee ‘shot’
- Stop pushing when you can here air escaping
- Remove the AeroPress from your mug, then extract the remaining liquid into another cup. Push down as hard as possible to aid in cleanup.
- If using a metal filter, remove it now. If using paper, leave it on the puck, but remember to remove the black screen.
- Push the used grounds into the waste basket or into your garden. (Makes great fertilizer)
- Rinse the remaining coffee from the piston, prior to disassembling the AeroPress.
- Enjoy!
The AeroPress creates a concentrated coffee beverage. Some people enjoy adding hot water or heated milk to dilute the brew. These AeroPress instructions, use the ‘inverted method’. The reason for this is due to liquid tending to escape, prior to the completion of the brewing process. It only takes a few drops of under-extracted coffee to affect the beverage negatively. Inverting the brewer eliminated this from happening.
I always measure my coffee by mass, rather than volume. The density of the beans can vary, and measuring by volume creates an inconsistent product.
Your opinion is valued!
I want to know if you enjoyed this method. Please comment below.
Have you tried the AeroPress? What are your thoughts on this unique brewer?
Have you tasted the difference between using a metal filter, compared to the paper ones?
The post AeroPress Instructions :: Camano Island Coffee Roasters Brewing Guide appeared first on Camano Island Coffee Roasters.
AeroPress Instructions :: Camano Island Coffee Roasters Brewing Guide
AeroPress Instructions, By the Numbers
- Dampen the black, rubber piston, then insert it about a quarter of an inch into the brewing chamber
- Invert the AeroPress, and place it onto a sturdy surface
- Measure 20g of coffee and grind it to your preferred setting (I used a grind, just finer than drip)
- Pour the ground coffee into the brewing chamber
- Begin timing, and slowly add water, heated to 195° F
- Carefully, pour the water being careful to saturate all of the grounds
- Continue pouring, in a circular motion, until the water level is above the number “1″
- Stir for about 10 seconds
- Place your metal filter onto the top of the brewing chamber. If you are using the paper filter, rinse it with boiling water to remove the paper flavor and bleach.
- When the timer is at 1:00, carefully pick up the AeroPress and turn it right side up, over top of your mug
- Push down squarely on the top of the brewer, as if you were giving someone a giant coffee ‘shot’
- Stop pushing when you can here air escaping
- Remove the AeroPress from your mug, then extract the remaining liquid into another cup. Push down as hard as possible to aid in cleanup.
- If using a metal filter, remove it now. If using paper, leave it on the puck, but remember to remove the black screen.
- Push the used grounds into the waste basket or into your garden. (Makes great fertilizer)
- Rinse the remaining coffee from the piston, prior to disassembling the AeroPress.
- Enjoy!
The AeroPress creates a concentrated coffee beverage. Some people enjoy adding hot water or heated milk to dilute the brew. These AeroPress instructions, use the ‘inverted method’. The reason for this is due to liquid tending to escape, prior to the completion of the brewing process. It only takes a few drops of under-extracted coffee to affect the beverage negatively. Inverting the brewer eliminated this from happening.
I always measure my coffee by mass, rather than volume. The density of the beans can vary, and measuring by volume creates an inconsistent product.
Your opinion is valued!
I want to know if you enjoyed this method. Please comment below.
Have you tried the AeroPress? What are your thoughts on this unique brewer?
Have you tasted the difference between using a metal filter, compared to the paper ones?
The post AeroPress Instructions :: Camano Island Coffee Roasters Brewing Guide appeared first on Camano Island Coffee Roasters.
Low Sugar White Chocolate Mocha Pie
Ok, I have to be honest… not many of the crew here got to enjoy this white chocolate mocha pie. *shhh… don’t tell*
My wife had this waiting for me when I ran home for lunch a couple days ago. I ate lunch, was getting ready to run back to work… then she said “Oh, hey! I have something special for you to try.” That was all that was needed to get me to hang out a few minutes longer!
I gotta say, not only did it look SUPER good… but it tasted amazing! As I was finishing my first piece, I started cleaning up my dish and silverware to start my journey back to work.
Then she stopped me again… (she knows how to keep me around longer!)
“So, I made this with sugar-free white chocolate pudding and fat-free cool whip. I hope it tasted ok?”
Ok? It was delicious! I enjoyed a second piece (funny how that logic worked out for me). Anyhow, enough of the story, here’s the how-to.
Ingredients:
- 1 chocolate pie crust (8-inch)
- 1 1/4 cups cold milk
- 2 tablespoons of double strength Honduras Dark Roast (from Camano Island Coffee of course)
- 2 packages of 4-serving, sugar-free, white chocolate flavor instant pudding
- 8 oz. Cool Whip, divided
- 2 Pinches of Cinnamon powder (for the top)
Instructions:
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together milk and double strength Honduras Dark Roast coffee; add pudding mix and 1/2 (4oz) of the whipped topping. Beat until creamy and mixture becomes thick, about 1 minute. With a spatula, spread mixture in a prepared crust and top with the remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Just prior to serving, add the cinnamon lightly to the top.
Is Coffee Bad For You?
Bad coffee may be bad for you – Good coffee is always good for you!
While Andrew was *ahem* working the other day, he came across this awesome video from Business Insider titled “Is Coffee Bad For You?”. It only touches on a few of the health related aspects of coffee because it focuses on the product as a whole and not on specific low or high-quality coffees.
Not only is Camano Island Coffee not bad for you, but it’s actually quite good for you. Visit our “Coffee and Your Health” section if you want to learn more.
Want to be sure your coffee is not bad for you? Grab a free pound below to start enjoy healthful, certified organic coffee with amazing flavor!
The post Is Coffee Bad For You? appeared first on Camano Island Coffee Roasters.
Is Coffee Bad For You?
Bad coffee may be bad for you – Good coffee is always good for you!
While Andrew was *ahem* working the other day, he came across this awesome video from Business Insider titled “Is Coffee Bad For You?”. It only touches on a few of the health related aspects of coffee because it focuses on the product as a whole and not on specific low or high-quality coffees.
Not only is Camano Island Coffee not bad for you, but it’s actually quite good for you. Visit our “Coffee and Your Health” section if you want to learn more.
Want to be sure your coffee is not bad for you? Grab a free pound below to start enjoy healthful, certified organic coffee with amazing flavor!
The post Is Coffee Bad For You? appeared first on Camano Island Coffee Roasters.
Is Coffee Bad For You?
Bad coffee may be bad for you – Good coffee is always good for you!
While Andrew was *ahem* working the other day, he came across this awesome video from Business Insider titled “Is Coffee Bad For You?”. It only touches on a few of the health related aspects of coffee because it focuses on the product as a whole and not on specific low or high-quality coffees.
Coffee Cookies: Flakey Jake’s Chocolate Mocha Chip
Delicious Coffee Cookies – Perfect for dipping!
Who is Flakey Jake? We may never know. He is known, however, for these amazing coffee cookies!
We enjoyed a batch of these delicious mocha coffee cookies at the roasting facility yesterday (and some of us, at home). These cookies are not just great on their own, but they shine when dipped in a cup of coffee. Personally, I french pressed some Ethiopian Reserve and dipped the coffee cookies in it. It was a delicious, mouth-watering experience. I even ate a second but stopped myself short of a third and held off well for about an hour before giving in.
Coffee Statistics – an Infographic
This info-graphic was made available by the (unfortunately) now defunct website, coffeemash.com. It doesn’t have a lot of details but the graphic provides a fun way to present a few coffee statistics on our favorite hot beverage.
The post Coffee Statistics – an Infographic appeared first on Camano Island Coffee Roasters.
How to increase memory with free coffee!
What were you doing three weeks ago, on Wednesday, at 12:00? Can’t remember? Do you want to know how to increase memory? What we discovered is some pretty exciting research.
Studies have shown that coffee can help aid in short and long term memory. Coffee can help increase memory because caffeine, in moderate doses, has recently been found to increase the size of the hippocampus (1). The hippocampus is a small part of the brain that aids in the storage of short and long term memory. This not only helps you better remember what you did last week, but can also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, moderate levels of caffeine in coffee reduce the level of amyloid-beta, or Abeta (2). Abeta is an abnormal protein that makes up amyloid plaque buildup in the brain. Amyloid plaque buildup is thought to be one of the causes of Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition, coffee can aid in the prevention of Parkinson’s disease. Recent research indicates that drinking just 2-3 cups of coffee per day can lead to a 24-32% decrease in risk of Parkinson’s disease.
(1) G Perlaki et al, (2011). “Coffee consumption may influence hippocampal volume in young women.” Brain Imaging and Behavior, June.
(2) Arendash, G.W., Cao, C., “Caffeine and Coffee as Therapeutics Against Alzheimer’s Disease.” The Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Tampa, FL. U.S.A.
(3)Costa J et al (2010). Caffeine exposure and the risk of Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. J Alzheimers Dis;20 Suppl 1:S221-38.
How about a FREE pound of our Organic, Shade Grown and Fairly Traded Coffee to help increase your memory?!
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Coffee and Headaches
Coffee and Headaches. What is the relation between these two? Well, we all know that coffee contains caffeine. But caffeine does more than help us wake up, it can also aid in pain relief. For instance, pain relievers such as Anacin and Excedrin, contain 120mg of caffeine to aid in pain relief. That’s about one cup of coffee. You can use caffeine to help pain relievers increase their effectiveness. By doing this, you can decrease the amount of medication you take, running less risk of side effects and any addictions. So the next time you get a headache, remember the relationship between coffee and headaches, and think about downing a cup of coffee.
Reference: http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/triggers-caffeine
Problems with headaches? How about a FREE pound of our Organic, Shade Grown and Fairly Traded Coffee to help kick those headaches?!
The post Coffee and Headaches appeared first on Camano Island Coffee Roasters.
How to increase memory with free coffee!
What were you doing three weeks ago, on Wednesday, at 12:00? Can’t remember? Do you want to know how to increase memory? What we discovered is some pretty exciting research. Studies have shown that coffee can help aid in short and long term memory. Coffee can help increase memory because caffeine, in moderate doses, has [...]
Coffee and Headaches
Coffee and Headaches. What is the relation between these two? Well, we all know that coffee contains caffeine. But caffeine does more than help us wake up, it can also aid in pain relief. For instance, pain relievers such as Anacin and Excedrin, contain 120mg of caffeine to aid in pain relief. That’s about [...]