Both use water for extraction, have antioxidant properties, have been used for medicinal purposes and neither is considered addictive (although I don't know what half the baristas here would do without there cup of coffee). Coffee and tea are the two most widely consumed beverages in the world.
The processing for each is very different and while both contain caffeine, coffee has more than twice as much than tea. So if you would like more bang for your buck. Coffee is the way to go.
All About Coffee Knowledge; Evelyn Sinclair
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Coffee Tip #2: Brewing the Perfect Cuppa Joe
The first step starts out with picking the right type of bean. What coffee fits you? Are you a French roast type of guy or gal? Or more of an organic Mexican chica or chico? Or do you seek a complex blend of varietal coffee beans, combining the best of all flavor profiles?
Next, grinding. If you purchase whole bean coffee, always grind your beans as close to the brew time as possible as it will help the aroma and flavors be at their best. A burr grinder is preferable because all of the coffee is ground to a consistent size. A blade grinder is less preferable because some coffee will be ground more finely than the rest. If you normally grind your coffee at home with a blade grinder, try having it ground at the store with a burr grinder. You may be surprised at the difference! If you cannot grind immediately before you brew, make sure your grind fits your machine. If you have a french press, make sure your beans are ground for a french press -- not a paper filter. This will allow you to get as much flavor out of your coffee as possible. Just tell our barista what type of machine you have and we will be happy to grind it for your machine.
Third, be sure the coffee container you are using is clean! Just because you are putting the same thing in it that you did the day before does not mean you don't need to clean it. You should remove any coffee oils before brewing.
Another key is using fresh water that is not too hard and has enough minerals in it to add to the flavor. Proportion of coffee to water is subjective. It varies, but the National Coffee Association of America suggests a general guideline is 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water.
The last tip to the perfect cuppa joe is coffee should not be kept heated or reheated. Coffee always taste better fresh; after all, it is a food product!
Next, grinding. If you purchase whole bean coffee, always grind your beans as close to the brew time as possible as it will help the aroma and flavors be at their best. A burr grinder is preferable because all of the coffee is ground to a consistent size. A blade grinder is less preferable because some coffee will be ground more finely than the rest. If you normally grind your coffee at home with a blade grinder, try having it ground at the store with a burr grinder. You may be surprised at the difference! If you cannot grind immediately before you brew, make sure your grind fits your machine. If you have a french press, make sure your beans are ground for a french press -- not a paper filter. This will allow you to get as much flavor out of your coffee as possible. Just tell our barista what type of machine you have and we will be happy to grind it for your machine.
Third, be sure the coffee container you are using is clean! Just because you are putting the same thing in it that you did the day before does not mean you don't need to clean it. You should remove any coffee oils before brewing.
Another key is using fresh water that is not too hard and has enough minerals in it to add to the flavor. Proportion of coffee to water is subjective. It varies, but the National Coffee Association of America suggests a general guideline is 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water.
The last tip to the perfect cuppa joe is coffee should not be kept heated or reheated. Coffee always taste better fresh; after all, it is a food product!
Coffee Tip #1: Arabica vs. Robusta
Which coffee is better and why? We only roast Arabica beans at Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company. These beans are indigenous to the highlands of Ethiopia and have traveled around the world, able to thrive at high altitudes. Arabica starts to produce fruit after five years and remains productive from 15 to 30 years.
Robusta thrives at lower altitudes and in warmer tempertures than Arabica. It begins to produce fruit after only two years and are more disease resistant than Arabica. Robusta also produces more but less flavorful coffee beans. It is often used to create commercial blends that make both instant and decaf coffee. Robusta beans are less expensive and are used when flavor distinctions are not important-instant coffee and commercially sold blends. These were first introduced by the Japanese chemist-Sartori Kato-who developed soluble coffee at the Pan-American Exposition of 1901. Instant coffee later became successful G. Washington Refined Coffee and later by companies such as Maxwell House who began to freeze dry coffee in 1964.
All About Coffee Knowledge; Evelyn Sinclair
Robusta thrives at lower altitudes and in warmer tempertures than Arabica. It begins to produce fruit after only two years and are more disease resistant than Arabica. Robusta also produces more but less flavorful coffee beans. It is often used to create commercial blends that make both instant and decaf coffee. Robusta beans are less expensive and are used when flavor distinctions are not important-instant coffee and commercially sold blends. These were first introduced by the Japanese chemist-Sartori Kato-who developed soluble coffee at the Pan-American Exposition of 1901. Instant coffee later became successful G. Washington Refined Coffee and later by companies such as Maxwell House who began to freeze dry coffee in 1964.
All About Coffee Knowledge; Evelyn Sinclair
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Recycle at the Roasting Company!
If you are like our business, you probably have some used ink cartridges lying around, and if you are like almost every other person, you probably have a few old cellphones hanging about the house.
Get a jump start on spring cleaning and clear out your used ink cartridges and cellphones. Next time you are grabbing a cuppa joe or a pound of coffee at our shop, pick up a Recycling Factory envelope. They are free and the proceeds benefit our local Boys & Girls Club.
We also have a container where you can drop off your used batteries.
Recycling and coffee. It has a certain ring to it, doesn't it?
For more information, visit: therecyclingfactory.com
Get a jump start on spring cleaning and clear out your used ink cartridges and cellphones. Next time you are grabbing a cuppa joe or a pound of coffee at our shop, pick up a Recycling Factory envelope. They are free and the proceeds benefit our local Boys & Girls Club.
We also have a container where you can drop off your used batteries.
Recycling and coffee. It has a certain ring to it, doesn't it?
For more information, visit: therecyclingfactory.com
Friday, February 20, 2009
Jamaican Blue
Back by popular demand, we have Jamaican Blue Mountain! We will only be offering it for a limited time, so get it while it is fresh! We will be offering it for $50.50/lb. If you have yet to try the delicious coffee, stop by our JavaMan and purchase it by the cup.
Jamaican Blue Mountain is considered to be one of the most desired coffees in the world and we love to offer it while we can. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Check out their website: bluemountaincoffee.com
Jamaican Blue Mountain is considered to be one of the most desired coffees in the world and we love to offer it while we can. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Check out their website: bluemountaincoffee.com
We're Keeping It!
Our Cupid's Blend was a hit! Thank you all and 20% of the proceeds will be donated to the St. Helena Resource Center.
We loved the Cupid's Blend so much, we decided to keep it and add it to are list of blends and varieties. So, just because Valentine's Day is over, it does not mean your coffee can't be chocolaty and fruity. It just means you will call it by a different name--Grapevine Blend.
Enjoy!
We loved the Cupid's Blend so much, we decided to keep it and add it to are list of blends and varieties. So, just because Valentine's Day is over, it does not mean your coffee can't be chocolaty and fruity. It just means you will call it by a different name--Grapevine Blend.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
We Love Our Locals!
Just when you thought living in the Napa Valley couldn't get any better...Ever run out of coffee and need it quick? Did you know we offer a "locals" discount to our friends and neighbors for shipping? Yep! Simply type "local" into the promotional code box while ordering, and you will receive free shipping for all your online purchases.
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