Month: October 2019
The coffee farmer crisis
Henry Calvo screamed into a megaphone as he led a protest outside a Bogota Starbucks in September to demand better prices for coffee growers, like himself.
Wearing a straw hat and a T-shirt depicting the famous Starbucks mermaid as a skeleton, Calvo led angry chants against “imperialist” companies that he accuses of ripping off coffee farmers.
With $6 lattes now the norm at places like Starbucks, it may not seem like coffee is getting cheaper. But the price that most farmers around the world get for their coffee beans has dropped by half over the past five years, and is forcing many to switch their crops, migrate to other countries, or continue to produce their beans under belt-tightening circumstances.
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Best gifts for coffee lovers in 2019
You might still be riding the Third Wave coffee movement if you can discuss the aromatic nuances and mouthfeel of your preferred region of coffee bean, or maybe you’ve made your own cold brew at home. But even if you’re not a proud coffee snob, we know you jones for your java — and to a lesser extent, your leaves. That’s why we’ve compiled our picks of the best gifts for coffee lovers.
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Coffee Makes 3D Printing Better
While we know some 3D printer operators who need coffee, Washington State University is showing an improved PLA material that incorporates used coffee waste. Regular PLA is not known for being especially strong, though It isn’t uncommon for vendors to add things to their PLA to change its characteristics.
The new material containing about 20% coffee waste showed an over 400% increase in toughness (25.24 MJ/m3) versus standard PLA. Why coffee waste? We aren’t sure. They didn’t add grounds, but rather a dry and odorless material left over after coffee grounds are processed for biodiesel production.
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Coffee bean extracts alleviate inflammation, insulin resistance in mouse cells
When coffee beans are processed and roasted the husk and silverskin of the bean are removed and unused, and often are left behind in fields by coffee producers.
Food science and human nutrition researchers at the University of Illinois are interested in the potential of inflammation-fighting compounds found in the silverskin and husk of coffee beans, not only for their benefits in alleviating chronic disease, but also in adding value to would-be “waste” products from the coffee processing industry.
A recent study, published in Food and Chemical Toxicology, shows that when fat cells of mice were treated with water-based extracts from coffee beans skins, two phenolic compounds—protocatechuic acid and gallic acid—in particular reduced fat-induced inflammation in the cells and improved glucose absorption and insulin sensitivity.
How Much Caffeine Does Tea Have Compared with Coffee?
Caffeine’s popularity as a natural stimulant is unparalleled.
It’s found in over 60 plant species and enjoyed across the globe, especially in coffee, chocolate, and tea.
The caffeine content in a beverage varies depending on the ingredients and how the drink is prepared.
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Coffee accessories you never knew you needed
A “good” cup of coffee means something different for everyone, ranging from a cup of dark, almost chewy truckstop coffee to a lighter-bodied pour over made with meticulous timing and measurements. Even if you feel satisfied by your usual go-to cup of joe, there are products and the best coffee accessories out there that can take your coffee to the next level. If you’re willing to step (or even tiptoe) outside the comfort zone around your tried-and-true favorite brewing process, you may find that an even better cup of coffee is within reach.
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If You Liked White Claw, You’ll Love Hard Cold Brew
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It seemed like it would never end, but White Claw summer 2019 is slowly coming to a close. Many of us, of course, will still be found knocking back cans of hard seltzer later this year alongside cranberry sauce or Christmas ham, but in a drastic pivot in terms of taste and marketing, alcohol companies have quietly laid the groundwork for the next break-the-internet trendlet: hard coffee.
Mixing coffee and booze is admittedly a centuries-old pairing. The saccharine White Russians and espresso martinis often made with coffee-flavored liqueur came and went; more recently, the craft beer revolution has unleashed a slew of stouts and porters that cribbed their roasted, almost chocolate-like tasting notes from coffee beans.
But following the second coming of flavored malt beverages, and fueled by the double-digit growth of chilled coffee consumption, companies like MillerCoors and Pabst Brewing have begun to look to those refrigerated Illy cans for inspiration. Now, they’re answering a question few other than the second-wave coffee cognoscenti have thought to ask: What if bottled Starbucks Frappuccinos, but with an alcoholic bent?
For those of you still sipping on your iced lattes without the other buzz, here’s a breakdown of the hard coffee wave.
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The 6 Best Coffee Mugs of 2019
What makes a good coffee mug? There are few objective truths, but some combination of heat insulation, ergonomics, aesthetics and (occasionally) technology usually does the trick. We scoured the web for the best of the best in these categories so you don’t have to.
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Switch Things Up With These Spiked Coffee Cocktails
For many people, a nice cup of coffee is the only way to start the day. Even attempting to have a rational conversation before you’ve had your pumpkin spice grande latte with a double shot of espresso, can result in someone’s feelings getting hurt. Because we’re so used to using coffee drinks to pick us up, we rarely ever give it a chance to be our go-to when we need to wind down after a long day.
Spiked coffee cocktails are a great way to switch things up and add a sexy evening vibe to your favorite day time drink. And just like regular brews, there’s a blend for everyone from whiskey to vodka enthusiasts.
United States-based Stronghold Games — a maker of “best of breed” games that immerse players in the specialized subject or theme of each game, according to Board Game Geek — is now taking pre-orders for a new version of the three-year-old Japanese game “Coffee Roaster.”
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How To Make Your Morning Coffee Ritual More Sustainable
When you throw away coffee grinds and filter paper on a daily basis, you miss an opportunity to make a small dent against your disposable lifestyles. Sustainable systems and methods can apply to the sacred daily coffee ritual. For those who have embraced manual brewing, I want to focus on one resource intensive, yet indispensable component – the filter. While filter paper can be composted, it’s not practical in a city, and the sheer volume of filters used is staggering.
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