Whether you’re trying coffee for the first time or you’ve been at it for many years, it’s important to know the details about your favorite coffee roasts. Many myths surround the caffeine levels and flavor profiles of different varieties of coffee, so we’re here to give you the facts you need to determine the roast that best fits your tastes and lifestyle.
Contrary to what the name might suggest, light roasts actually have the most
caffeine out of any coffee on the light-to-dark scale. Because the beans in this
variety of coffee are lightly roasted, they spend less time in the roasting machine,
leaving more moisture within the bean, thereby making it denser.
This density means that more caffeine remains present in the bean, but less of its
flavor is brought out through the roasting process. When a light roast is ground and brewed, it makes for more delicate, nuanced flavors like caramel and hazelnut. The milder taste, as well as the coffee’s thinner consistency, might trick you into thinking there’s less caffeine in a cup of light roast. But don’t be fooled; it actually contains more!
Some examples of light roasts include New England Roast, Half City, Cinnamon
Roast, and Light City.
A bit more full-bodied, medium roasts sit for a longer spell in the roaster, sucking out more moisture and bringing out more of that coffee flavor in the beans. The longer roasting process makes these beans less dense than those of the light roast variety, meaning that less caffeine is present in brews such as Breakfast, City, and American roasts.
Medium flavors tend to be richer, if a bit less complex, than those of light roasts, and the coffee’s texture tends to be a bit thicker. Think of it like a red wine: a Pinot Noir is a thinner wine with more delicate flavors, whereas a Cabernet is a thicker, more full-bodied alternative that tends to have more of a bold, one-note flavor. So too as coffee progresses from light to dark.
Following the pattern, medium-dark roasts are roasted for an even longer period,
and consequently result in a thicker brew with a stronger flavor, shading into bitter
territory in its aftertastes.
As the name would seem to indicate, medium-dark roasts offer flavor profiles that
are pretty squarely in the middle of medium and dark roasts, and their caffeine levels fall between those two varieties, as well. You’ll typically see medium-dark roasts on menus as Full City, After Dinner, or Vienna Roasts.
And finally, we come to the dark roasts. These roasts still contain plenty of caffeine – just not as much as the others in the line-up – and their coffee flavor is the strongest of all the brews because of their long roasting sessions at high heat.
If you’re a fan of that smoky, charred taste lingering on your tongue, dark roasts are probably the brew for you. You may need one more cup to hit your energy high than you would by drinking a light roast, but that full-bodied flavor will come through strongly as you sip. If this is your roast of choice, look for French, European, Italian, and Continental roasts on shelves and in coffee shops.
The great thing about a Keurig coffee maker is its convenience. Just pop in your favorite flavor of coffee and in minutes, you’ve got a steaming hot cup of your favorite brew to enjoy. But even the most convenient of devices comes with its drudgery, and if you want your Keurig to be working at its highest possible level of efficiency, eventually, you’ve got to clean it.
Fortunately, deep cleaning your Keurig coffee maker is not a difficult task. Here are some easy steps to take when it’s time to deep clean your Keurig.
There are a number of signs that it’s time to clean your Keurig. First, there’s the eye test. If you see the machine getting especially grimy, then it’s time to clean. There’s also the smell test. If your Keurig reservoir smells funky, it’s definitely ready for a cleaning.
Perhaps more importantly, if the Keurig is not working properly—the water isn’t getting through or it comes through without brewing the coffee—then deep cleaning your Keurig should be your first step. Regardless of the signs, for optimal use, you should be cleaning your Keurig about four times a year on average.
The most important part of the Keurig cleaning process is called descaling, but let’s not get to that right away. First, take off any removable parts, including the reservoir, and wash them with warm, soapy water. Clean the tank filter as well to clear any debris that may be blocking it.
Then, clean any grinds stuck to the K-Cup holder with a wet sponge. While you’re at it, you can wipe down the exterior of the machine. Finally, clean the needles that pierce the K-Cup. This is important because if those needles get clogged, it can prevent the flow and stop your machine from working. Use a paperclip to clear any debris out of the needle holes. Now you’re ready to descale.
Descaling is the process of removing minerals that build up in your machine over time - minerals that can seriously interfere with the machine functioning. While it may sound like a complicated process, it is actually incredibly easy to do and can make a real difference.
To descale your Keurig machine, all you need to do is fill the reservoir with about 10 ounces of white vinegar, and start a brew cycle without a K-Cup. Make sure you still have a mug to catch the liquid as it flows through. Do this cycle twice, then fill the reservoir with 10 ounces of fresh water and do it one more time.
That’s all it takes! This simple process that takes only a few minutes to complete can be the difference between a machine that doesn’t work, works slowly, works noisily, or produces a sub-par cup of coffee, and one that makes the quick, delicious Keurig brew you’ve come to rely on.
If you’ve never descaled your Keurig coffee machine and you’ve had it in your kitchen or office for a while, give it a try today and see what a difference it makes.
What could be better than sitting and relaxing, sipping on a fresh cup of your favorite coffee? Ohhh… maybe sitting and relaxing, sipping on a fresh cup of your favorite brewed coffee while learning about coffee. With the world of podcasting exploding over the last few years, lovers of coffee can now learn all about their favorite beverage from the biggest experts on the subject.
With coffee-related podcasts, true aficionados can now learn about everything from coffee cultivation, coffee trade, coffee history, coffee roasting, coffee blending, coffee preparation, coffee drinks, coffee traditions, and pretty much everything coffee – all while sipping a fresh hot cup of your favorite brewed coffee.
At Coffee For Less, we’ve found the coffee podcast experts for you, and by clicking through the various links embedded below, you can pull them into your life to teach you about everything coffee wherever, whenever, and as often as you want. We now present to you, the best in coffee podcasts for your listening-while-drinking coffee pleasure.
If you’re just getting into coffee culture and are interested in picking up a little more anecdotal knowledge about the history of coffee cultivation, coffee drinking traditions from around the world, and the latest in coffee trends right here in our own backyard, then you’re in luck.
Nowadays, there are several podcasts available, with many hosted by people just like you. Further, you’ll find several podcasts out there that are produced by professionals in the coffee business, focusing on the wide, wide world of coffee from a fan’s perspective. Some of our favorites include:
A talk show devoted to coffee, hosted by a coffee professional and a coffee journalist. Coffee Lovers Radio is meant to be enjoyed with a cup of coffee. Hosts Joseph Robertson and Jess Nelson cover what’s happening in the coffee world, how to make and enjoy the best coffee you’ll ever have, and the people who make the coffee world go around.
Straight out of the coffee capital of the Americas, Boise Coffee combines a love for history with a love for coffee in a direct storytelling format that goes down easy with a cup of your favorite brew. Host Colin Mansfield has covered everything from the role of coffee in the US Civil War to Dutch coffee culture and the role of the Dutch in the spread of coffee cultivation worldwide.
Something for those of you who only want to focus on brewing techniques for the home coffee devotee, I Brew My Own Coffee is designed and delivered by hosts Bryan Schiele and Brian Beyke, to offer listeners quality content on all things home coffee to beginners and coffee veterans alike.
There are also several terrific podcasts produced and hosted by coffee professionals specifically for people in the coffee industry. Coffee Jobs Podcast, Tamper Tantrum, Keys to the Shop, the SCA Lectures series (produced by the Specialty Coffee Association), and many others can entertain the least coffee-savvy of us while still delivering valuable information to coffee professionals from the seasoned barista to the newbie coffee entrepreneur.
Whether you’re new to specialty coffee or have been drinking cortados since way before it was cool, you’re sure to find something of interest and of value in these podcasts. If you’re an industry insider, no matter how much you already know, you can always find something new worth learning. So pop a pod in your Keurig and pop in your earbuds, because with podcasts like these out there, it’s definitely coffee time!
]]>The days are heating up, so it’s time to grab one of these delicious iced beverages so you can cool down. But it’s not quite summer yet! With rainy days ahead too, you can also cuddle up with one of these warm coffee drinks for a flowery pick-me-up that matches the blooming of the season all around us. This spring, amp up your classic coffee with these fun and fresh espresso drinks.
With that in mind, these amazing spring-time coffee drinks are perfect for sunny and rainy days, and all the beautiful blossoming of the new season. Read on and discover the perfect flavor and style of coffee for the new season today.
This light, spring-season drink is super popular among baristas this season. The subtle, flowery lavender offers a modern spin on a classic espresso drink.
Café con Miel is a Spanish coffee drink that features ingredients like milk, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Talk about delicious! Try it with blueberry extract for an extra spring season taste.
Spring means the weather is warming up and our drinks are cooling down. This classic warm weather coffee drink is simple and solid. Espresso lovers will opt for an iced Americano over an iced coffee, and this spring, we recommend doing the same.
Mint is a refreshing and crisp way to vitalize your mocha. We love mint and chocolate, but if you don’t, consider a raspberry mocha instead.
This classic drink has made springtime coffee lists for years, and probably will for years to come. Caramel, coffee, milk, and ice are blended into a delicious Frappuccino that will keep you cool and get you going.
Thick and creamy, Vietnamese Iced Coffee is made with condensed milk and is rich and delicious. It tends to have a stronger, darker taste that when mixed with the thicker consistency makes it truly special.
Using a sea salt syrup, your iced coffee can be quickly revolutionized. The salt cuts the coffee flavor, combining to make an unlikely but awesome cup of Joe.
This year is all about taking care of yourself, so treat yourself well with a specialty rose cappuccino. By mixing rose water into the milk before steaming, the whole drink becomes invigorated with the lovely taste of roses in the garden. The kiss of rose in this classic, light espresso drink makes it an easy springtime favorite.
Combining chocolate, coconut, and coffee sounds great enough, but this drink really takes it to the next level. With just a dash of seltzer water, this drink becomes bubbly and, honestly, revolutionary. We loved this fresh spin. Try it out and let us know what your think!
The days are getting longer, which means summer nights are almost upon us. For an evening pick-me-up, try a bit of Bailey’s Irish whiskey in your iced coffee. This drink is great to wake you up and get your evening started right.
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One of the easiest ways to help boost your immune system is to drink plenty of green tea! Recognized as one of the healthiest drinks on the planet, green tea is loaded with antioxidants, bioactive compounds, and other nutrients that not only help improve the immune system, but also aid the body in many other important ways.
Want to adopt a healthier lifestyle? Then you truly need to make green tea a part of your daily intake. This incredible drink is rich in polyphenols that reduce inflammation and prevent cell damage. In fact, green tea is a natural cancer-fighter because it reduces the formation of free radicals in the body. Those same free radicals are also what accelerate the aging process, so by drinking green tea, you’ll simultaneously be fighting the signs of aging from the inside!
Another benefit of green tea is that it can make you smarter. Because it contains caffeine, green tea helps block an inhibitory neurotransmitter called Adenosine. By blocking this neurotransmitter, green tea increases the firing of neurons and the concentration of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine. This can result in measurable improvements in mood, brain function, memory, reaction time, and vigilance.
Green tea also contains the amino acid, L-theanine, which has been shown to increase the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which reduces anxiety.
Still not convinced you should be drinking green tea? Then you might want to know that green tea can also:
K-Cups make for the easiest and most convenient way to get in your daily dose of green tea, and it just so happens that we have a lot of excellent green tea varieties to choose from. Here are some of our favorites:
Who knew staying healthy and free from colds and sickness could be so delicious? That’s exactly what you’ll discover if you start drinking green tea on a regular basis. There’s no easier (or tastier) way to fill your body with the antioxidants it needs to help keep colds and illnesses at bay this winter. Stock up on green tea K-Cups from your favorite brands at Coffee For Less and save.
*As always, it's best to consult your physician for health and dietary advice.
]]>But with the pacific gyre patch growing and climate change in the headlines on an almost daily basis, you will probably want to take that coffee to go in something a little more sustainable than a disposable paper (or even worse – Styrofoam) cup with a non-recyclable plastic lid. Instead, you’ll want a more sustainable and stylish solution to bringing your coffee along for the walk or ride. With that in mind, here then are eight top choices for reusable coffee tumblers that are both sustainable and stylish.
The JOCO reusable coffee cup holds up to a pint of your favorite hot or cold beverage (coffee!) in style, keeping it warm or cold as the occasion and conditions demand. It’s made of glass, so it won’t absorb intense flavors, allowing you to switch up what you drink out of it without wondering why you’re tasting hints of something you shouldn’t be tasting in your coffee.
It’s also beautiful and comes in borosilicate glass that is both durable, as well as dishwasher and microwave safe. Plus, it has a silicone band and lid to help you keep your grip and save your lips on those particularly rough mornings.
Looking for something a little more durable than a glass cup with a silicone lid? Try the Klean Kanteen insulated tumbler. It comes in steel, so it’s practically indestructible and easy to clean. Plus it has a splash-proof lid, an optional straw, and it’s free of toxins like BPA.
Another option for fans of glass, the SoL reusable coffee cup is hand-blown for a touch of extra sophistication and old-world charm. This tumbler further sports both a silicone lid and a silicone wrapper to help keep you and your coffee safe.
An option for fans of stainless steel who are looking for more of a hot beverage storage solution than a straight-up reusable cup, the Hydro Flask Leak Proof Stainless Steel BPA-Free Thermos keeps your hot liquids hot (and your cold liquids cold) in great style. It comes in a variety of colors and looks nothing like your Grandpa’s Stanley thermos.
For a terrific combination of the stainless steel thermos and the stainless steel tumbler, check out YETI’s Rambler. It’s a sleek and stylish tumbler that combines insulated protection with a cup you’ll want to bring to your lips as long as it keeps your beverage at the perfect temp. Plus it fits in most car cup-holders!
Another Australian product (like the JOCO cups mentioned above), KeepCup reusable coffee cups are a smaller version of the standard reusable coffee cup. They have rapidly become a favorite of barristas because their wide mouths make practicing the art of the latte a joy!
Looking for something a little more design-forward in a coffee cup? This award-winning reusable coffee cup from Frank Green is so sleek, so modern, and so minimal, that you might just be mistaken for a designer while drinking from it yourself.
Lastly, another beautifully designed reusable coffee cup, the Mirr Travel Tumbler, is vacuum-insulated and the only entry on this list with a flip lid.
No matter what reusable coffee tumbler you choose, you can rest assured that you’re doing something good for the planet by ending your dependence on unrecyclable, plastic-lined, plastic-covered, garbage cups. And you can do it while keeping your coffee either hot or cold in style!
]]>For the true coffee devotee, what better way to express your love for the bean than by wearing it on your skin? Buy them here.
If you know anyone who works in a cold, drafty home office, then you have to get this handy mug warmer. You’ll help to improve their quality of life, one lukewarm-resistant cup of coffee at a time. Take a look here.
This attractive poster serves double duty as wall art and a handy coffee guide! Snag it here.
Get these comfy fleece-lined slippers for that special coffee-loving someone who is always feeling a little bit too cold. Buy them here.
Improve someone’s coffee-drinking experience with this elegant scooper that also doubles as a clip to keep coffee fresh and delicious. Buy it here.
If you know someone with blank walls, give them some coffee-themed art to stare at while they sip their coffee. See it here.
Every coffee lover deserves his or her own personal mug to sip their morning brew! Get it here.
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But what about Keurig K-Cups? Do K-Cup coffee pods expire? Do they actually go “bad” after the expiration date? Read on to discover the truth about expiration dates and K-Cup coffee pods.
Before asking the question of whether or not K-Cups expire, let’s address the obvious. Do K-Cups have an expiration date? If you are an average K-Cup user, there is a good chance you have never noticed whether they do or not. The answer is that they do have a date, but this is actually a “best used by date” rather than an expiration date.
The date can be surprisingly hard to find, however. If you really want to know the best used by date of your K-Cup, just check the side of the cup. It’s a small impression on the side, but it’s there. You may want to hold it under a bright light and/or a magnifying glass to see it clearly. You can also find it on the bottom of the box the pods came in.
So, the next question is, what do these dates actually mean? Do the K-Cups “go bad” after this date? Are they undrinkable? Can they hurt you?
The truth is, as long as the integrity of the seal and packaging of the pod are intact, these pods generally won’t go bad for at least eight months to a year, no matter what the date on the package says.
K-Cup Pods are flushed with nitrogen and sealed tightly against oxygen, light, and moisture. They are specifically designed to preserve the product for a very long time.
While this date is probably just a rough estimate, it is the date before which you can be assured that your coffee will taste as fresh as possible. That does not mean that after that date, your coffee will not still taste fresh.
You may not notice a difference even after the pod has been sitting in your pantry for months. When it comes to how long K-cups last, it usually comes down to your own personal taste. You will not get sick just from drinking a K-cup that’s a few months past the expiration date.
However, you may want to make note of the date just in case you feel there has been a decline in taste. If you taste a noticeable difference, you have probably exceeded your personal threshold for how far beyond the date you want to keep your coffee pod.
The most important thing to take away from the fact that K-Cups do not expire is that there are few if any disadvantages to buying K-Cups in bulk. In fact, there are many advantages.
For starters, you can get a much lower price than you would when buying individual boxes of K-Cup Coffee pods, and you can be sure that you will almost always have a pod handy when you need it. To buy quality coffee pods in bulk right now, contact CoffeeForLess.com.
]]>But what most people don’t know is that drinking coffee first thing in the morning is actually less than ideal, especially if you’re looking to cash in on coffee’s caffeine content and its ability to invigorate and awaken. Read on for a quick primer on why and how to schedule your coffee drinking to make the most of coffee time.
Your body has a rhythm. Even if you are rhythmically challenged to the point that you can’t tap your toe to the beat of a Sousa march, your body still has an innate rhythm. The processes that happen within you, every day, happen according to this rhythm, known as circadian rhythm. This rhythm is attached to the cycle of the day and the amount of sunlight at different times of day, and is one of the factors that governs your cortisol production and levels.
Cortisol is a naturally occurring hormone that does a great many things in your body. It’s also closely tied to your general level of alertness. The higher your cortisol level, the more alert you will be.
Your cortisol level naturally spikes between eight and nine in the morning, and between one and five in the afternoon, depending on your diet, stress level, and several other factors. So – “Great,” you might be thinking. “If I time my coffee intake to coincide with my natural cortisol spike, then I should get a double pick-me-up.”
Actually, the opposite is true. Research has shown that high cortisol levels diminish caffeine’s effects. According to scientists, you’re better off consuming coffee when your cortisol levels are slacking off in the late morning and early evening.
Drowsiness, alertness, and quality of sleep are all affected by caffeine in human beings. You’ve most likely had an experience where you drank coffee a little too late in the afternoon or evening, and then suffered a bad night’s sleep as a result.
Caffeine intake in the extreme can disrupt your general sleep cycle and lead to sleepless nights and drowsy days. The key is knowing when and how much caffeine your body can deal with.
Coffee is good for you in moderation, and listening to your body should give you a clear understanding of when and how much you can get away with.
It’s hard to think of coffee as anything other than a constant companion and faithful friend. Making sure to time your intake correctly will go along way toward making coffee time good for your sleep cycle, your work cycle, and your life cycle.
]]>That’s right! Your favorite beverages will soon be available for home brewing in the fantastic K-Cup packaging that you’ve come to know and love, only now that packaging will be easy and convenient to recycle! So, you can sit back and enjoy your favorite hot and cold Keurig-brewed beverages, assured that you’re not contributing to the waste stream filling the local landfill.
Keurig K-Cup Pods are already in transition to an easy-to-recycle format that will be ready to go by the end of the year. Many of your favorite beverage K-Cups may already be available in recyclable pods. You just have to look for the green recyclable symbol on the website, or keep an eye out for the recyclable flag on boxes of K-cup pods.
#5 Plastic for Easy, Convenient, In-Demand Recycling of Keurig K-Cups
There have been a few problems that have come to light in recent years when it comes to recycling. These days, it seems that certain plastics just aren’t in as high demand by the companies that do the actual recycling. Now, entire countries that used to perform the majority of recycling are turning away shipments of plastic, making it tempting to think that recycling is not as important as we once considered it to be.
Thankfully, the #5 plastic that Keurig’s K-Cup pods are transitioning to is in very high demand. More and more recycling programs and companies that handle recycling materials are specifically seeking out #5 plastic. The truth is that #5 polypropylene has always been in high demand, and you’ve likely been recycling pill bottles, butter containers, and yogurt tubs made out of it for some time now.
Please don’t think that Keurig brewing is just now becoming environmentally friendly! In fact, there have always been ways to enjoy the ease, convenience, and terrifically consistent beverages available from your Keurig while reducing your environmental impact. Reusable K-Cup filters have been around for years, and Keurig has been incrementally converting K-Cups to a recyclable format since back in 2016.
It’s also important to note that, aside from the K-Cups inside, K-Cup packaging has always been recyclable in nearly every community in North America. The wrapping and boxes you’ve been receiving your K-Cups in are most likely recyclable where you live, even if the K-Cups themselves may not be for a little bit longer.
Keurig K-Cups, the easiest way to brew the beverages you love conveniently and
consistently, are transitioning to a recyclable format all across North America. The #5 plastic that the recyclable K-Cups are made from are in high demand, and even if they aren’t recyclable in your community at the moment, they likely will be soon. Regardless, all K-Cups will be recyclable by the end of 2020.
The convenience of popping in a K-Cup is a great way to save time during your
morning routine, but tossing the used coffee pod in the trash on your way out the door has environmental consequences you may not consider.
Consider this: you’re throwing away materials that could have a great second life! If you’ve got both a coffee habit and DIY-inclined mind that’s prone to crafting, check out these six handy ways that you can feel good about your caffeine consumption and get your craft fix too!
K-Cups are the perfect size to start growing little seedlings in your kitchen, before
planting them in your spring garden! You can mix your used coffee grounds into the soil as extra fertilizer, then plant two or three seeds in each cup, watering as needed.
Soon, you’ll see little sprouts start to spring up! Once your plants get too big for the K-Cups, you can transfer them to a larger container, like a washed out sour cream tub, and start over with new seeds. This way, you have a use for the coffee grounds and your K-Cups, and fresh ingredients for your next meal.
K-Cups aren’t just great for growing greens – they’re also great for storing them! If
you’ve got fresh herbs left over from your last recipe, freezing them can be the best way to maintain freshness, and K-Cups are the perfect size to keep them in.
Simply use a pair of kitchen shears to snip up your extra thyme, basil, or other herbs over the K-Cup, and pop them in the freezer for later use. When you find another recipe that calls for those ingredients, you’ll have them at your fingertips!
If you like to indulge in life’s little luxuries, you probably love a good bath bomb.
Store-bought ones can break the bank, though, so why not make your own – in a K-Cup pod!
There are thousands of recipes out there for every scent, so pick your
favorite and whip up a batch of bath bombs, using your washed-out K-Cups as the molds. You’ll have saved money and keep plastic out of a landfill – a true win-win!
Looking for inexpensive options for mood lighting? Grab some twinkle lights and a
simple paint set, and you’re halfway there. The other half? Your K-Cups, of course!
Paint the K-Cups with your desired color(s), wait for them to dry, and then stick the lights through the small hole in the bottom of the K-Cup. String them up, plug them in, and you’ll get instant ambiance!
Earrings, bobby pins, sewing needles and thread – you’ve got endless tiny things
that could be easily lost without proper storage. Enter K-Cups! Invest in a second K-Cup rack, and place it on your dresser or desk where you can easily sort and store the little things you use every day without adding to your daily waste.
Take some of the hassle out of making Jell-O shots by reusing your K-Cups! You
won’t need to go out and buy more plastic, so you’ll save money and throw fewer
things in your city dump. Cheers to that!
Sipping on an afternoon cappuccino in the afternoon sun is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Once upon a time, such pleasure was only available to those willing or able to shell out the money for a trip to Italy. The rise of the gourmet coffee shop brought that pleasure to cities all over the U.S., and now, getting your cappuccino is as easy as taking a trip to your local cafe.
But, suppose you don’t feel like venturing out into the world, and you still want to enjoy an excellent cup of coffee under a cloud of frothy white milk? Well, you’re in luck. The rise of the home milk frother can bring the pleasure of cappuccino right into your home or office. When it comes to home milk frothers, you have multiple options available to you.
When it comes to achieving results on a budget, your options are generally limited to frothers that operate on human power and don’t heat the milk for you. Or you might find a few types that insulate your milk froth to keep it at the ideal hot or cold temperature.
The truth is, as long as you’re only frothing enough milk for one or two drinks at a time and have access to another means to heat the milk before you froth it – if you’re looking for hot foam – a hand frother will work just fine.
A hand frother is typically a carafe of some sort with a tight-fitting lid and a plunger with a frothing tip. You put your dairy or nondairy milk of choice in the carafe, and agitate manually until the desired froth has been achieved. A couple of high quality, manual frothing options include the Norpro Glass Froth Master, and the stainless steel HIC Milk Creamer Frother.
The next level up in frothing your milk at home takes the manual labor out of getting the perfect hot or cold dairy or nondairy foam, but still won’t help you achieve the perfect foam temperature. This level of milk frother also will not generally hold your foam at the ideal temperature, and they don’t typically come with their own carafes. In our opinion, the best electric handheld models include the Aerolatte Handheld Milk Frother and the PowerLix Handheld Battery Operated Milk Frother.
For frothing luxury, you can move up to an all-in-one electric frother that heats, froths, and holds your milk of choice at the perfect temperature. Some of them are even insulated, so you can move them off the stand and keep your foam at ideal temps. Full service models include the Keurig Milk Frother, the Breville Milk Cafe Milk Frother, and the Secura Automatic Electric Milk Frother.
Cappuccinos, lattes, flat whites, and all of the other kinds of cafe drinks that require some sort of milk foam are now easier than ever to produce at home, thanks to the wide range of home milk frothers available for purchase. Whether you choose to go with a basic manual model, a high-end all-in-one option, or something in between is up to you.
Now, you can make your favorite frothy, milky, delicious beverages in the comfort of your own home or office, and sip life’s simple pleasures without take a trip to Italy or your local café!
]]>If you take your coffee and other hot and cold beverage enjoyment seriously (and you know that you do or you most likely wouldn’t be reading this!), then you need to show that seriousness by investing in a real reusable coffee cup. Beyond just moving in the direction of reusable containers, you also want to look for one that’s insulated enough to keep your hot beverages hot and your cold beverages cold. Here’s how to do just that.
This is a verifiable fact. Every food and beverage that you enjoy has an ideal temperature for consumption. Heat increases your ability to taste foods, which is why coffee has more flavor at high temperatures than it does when it’s closer to room temperature. This is also why the bitterness of coffee eases up as it cools down below room temperature. Because of this, you need a coffee thermos that keeps your hot coffee hot and your cold brew or iced coffee cold, so it tastes better.
Paper to-go coffee cups aren’t made exclusively from paper. If they were, you’d be in a race to drink your coffee before it soaked through the bottom of the cup! Paper coffee cups are actually lined with a thin layer of plastic. This makes them next to impossible to recycle in most locations nationwide. This also ends up creating more waste in landfills and more carbon-sequestering trees being cut down to make paper coffee cups. Lastly, having a reusable coffee cup means no more pile of paper cups on the floorboards of your car!
Look Let’s face it: holding a paper coffee cup does little for your overall aesthetic. Thermally insulated coffee cups come in a near staggering variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. You can literally stock up with an entire wardrobe’s worth of looks to accentuate your mood, the theme of the day, or whatever you happen to be wearing just by purchasing a few different designs.
Most big coffee chains and many independent coffee shops offer customers a discount for using their own cup. Some will even fill a reusable mug of any size for a flat fee. This will likely only save you a nickel or a dime per trip to coffee nirvana, but those nickels and dimes add up over time. Soon enough, you’ll likely see laws popping up taxing single-use coffee cups like the ones that are currently taxing plastic shopping bags.
The plastic in a to-go coffee cup lid and the plastic lining the cup itself affects the flavor of the beverage inside. As a result, coffee simply tastes better out of ceramic, glass, or high-quality stainless steel. Don’t believe us? Try a blind taste test with your favorite coffee. If you like the flavor of plastic coffee better, you could probably find an old plastic insulated, reusable cup in a thrift store and do your bit for the environment that way.
So with all that in mind, it’s definitely time to get yourself a thermos. They’re reusable, so they create less waste and use less resources. They’re also stylish, and they keep your beverages fixed at just the right temperature. They save you money over the long haul, and they won’t make your coffee taste like plastic. While there is an initial investment, that goes for just about everything that’s worth having in this life!
]]>So much changes so quickly in the world of specialty coffee and specialty tea that it can be difficult to keep up with the latest developments, no matter how much coffee you consume. It seems that just when you think you have tried every possible coffee or tea brewed or blended in every conceivable way, something new comes in and catches your attention.
One of the hot new trends sweeping through coffee and tea shops the world over is the beverage cascara – or coffee cherry tea. But to the uninitiated, this beverage can cause a little bit of confusion. In this post, we’ll demystify this terrific new beverage, telling you where it comes from, what it tastes like, and how to brew and enjoy it for yourself.
To understand what cascara is, it’s wise to first consider the word “cascara” itself. In Spanish, cascara means “husk” or “peel,” referring to – in this case – the husk or peel of the coffee fruit, or coffee cherry. You may not realize this, but coffee beans aren’t actually beans. Instead, they are actually the seeds of a fruit that grows on coffee bushes.
When these fruits or cherries are harvested, the seeds are extracted, leaving behind a husk that is generally just discarded. But it doesn’t have to be! The coffee fruit peel or husk, the cascara, can be dried and used to brew a rather tasty tea.
Though the cascara surrounds a coffee bean prior to the harvest, the tea made from it doesn’t taste anything like coffee. Nor does it taste anything like true tea. Tea, whether black or green, is brewed from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant. The flavor of cascara “tea,” on the other hand, has more in common with herbal teas like hibiscus, or rose hip tea, and has notes of tobacco or cherry flavor in it.
Cascara is brewed much like herbal teas, with a quantity of the coffee cherry husks being added to water just off the boil and then steeped. The more cascara to water parts in the cup (and the longer it is brewed), the stronger the flavor of the resulting beverage will be. Cascara is best enjoyed much in the way that herbal teas are, with one exception – it does contain caffeine.
Much like the coffee beans that the coffee cherries contain while still on the bush,
cascara contains a bit of caffeine, though not much in comparison to either coffee or black or green tea. Brewing a very strong cup of cascara for a very long time will only result in a beverage with roughly one quarter the amount of caffeine found in a typical cup of regular coffee. That said, cascara should probably be avoided for those sensitive to caffeine, as it may still prove to be a bit too strong.
Where once coffee cherry husks were composted or discarded after the coffee harvest was complete, cascara is now finding its way to the market in its dried form for use as a beverage alternative to coffee, tea, and herbal tea. Lightly caffeinated with a terrific if slightly astringent taste, cascara tea will likely be making appearance in specialty coffee or tea shops near you. Make sure to keep your eye out for it, especially if you are one who enjoys trying the latest new or exotic flavor in coffee and tea!
]]>There are countless medical myths out there about caffeine and sugar in general,
and about coffee and chocolate in particular. But it’s a cold, hard fact that these
foods can be great for your health, both individually and when combined!
Whether they’re a morning snack or an afternoon pick-me-up, chocolate-covered
espresso beans can give you the energy boost you need while satisfying your sweet tooth at the same time. Check out all the ways this chocolate-coffee combo can improve your health in this article.
Both ingredients – chocolate and coffee – are great sources of antioxidants, which fight against any free radicals trying to get into your system. Free radicals, such as cigarette smoke or exhaust, are unhealthy substances from the outside world that can cause inflammation and other forms of harm to your body.
Antioxidants like those found in coffee and chocolate (called flavonoids, in the case of chocolate) help beat back these free radicals and preserve the health of your body’s tissues. Chocolate made up of 65% or more cocoa offers the most flavonoids, so try to get dark-chocolate-covered espresso beans rather than milk chocolate, if available.
Coffee and chocolate don’t just help shield your body from environmental factors,
they can also battle internal ailments, too. Just like with red wine, both dark
chocolate and coffee have been linked to a decreased chance of heart disease.
Further, dark chocolate can also help lower your levels of bad cholesterol too.
Some studies have even shown that consuming six cups of coffee per day – about 48 chocolate-covered espresso beans, with 8 beans approximately equalling the amount of caffeine in your average cup of coffee – can reduce the likelihood of fatal prostate cancer in men.
If you work 9-5, that’s 6 beans every hour of the workday, or 1 bean every 10
minutes. Additionally, despite the sugar present in the chocolate, cocoa-covered
beans can actually lower your risk of diabetes as well. This is because the caffeine speeds up your metabolism so it can process the sugar more quickly, keeping your blood sugar levels from getting too high.
Instead of reaching for that candy bar when the 2:30pm slump hits you at work,
grabbing a handful of chocolate-covered espresso beans is an energy boost you can feel good about. The caffeine from the coffee beans fires up the dopamine receptors in your brain, generating endorphins that flood your body with a happier, more productive energy.
And of course, you’ve got the sweetness of the chocolate as an extra bonus to put a smile on your face. That extra oomph might prompt you to bike to work instead of driving, or to hit the gym on the way home, since a happy mindset often nurtures healthier habits.
Bearing all these benefits in mind, it’s important to note that, like any substance you choose to put into your body, chocolate-covered espresso beans should be
consciously consumed. Make sure you limit your intake levels to between 250 and 800 milligrams (at the absolute most) each day, and try not to eat too many of these too close to bedtime, as lacking proper sleep is a quick road to compromised health.
Enjoy this amazing treat in moderation!
]]>Coffee bitters are a way to combine coffee and alcoholic drinks to make a delicious concoction that combines coffee flavor with the taste and effects of your favorite cocktail. It takes some time to prepare good coffee bitters, but you’ll probably find that the effort is well worth it.
Sure, you can dump your coffee into alcohol as is, or vice versa. Irish Coffee and Kahlua drinks are famously popular coffee cocktails. But most of the time, the bar atmosphere doesn’t lend itself to brewing great coffee to mix with your drinks. You’ll often find that bar coffee uses old, stale beans, is poorly brewed, or is otherwise substandard. In addition, coffee in its traditional form often only mixes well as a hot drink; coffee bitters are much more versatile.
While there are different recipes for making coffee bitters, here’s one you’re likely to love. Grind up 24 grams of the coffee of your choice with a mortar and pestle. Combine it in a jar with one star anise, two medium-sized orange peels, 2.5 grams of orris root, and 750 ml of 151 rum. Let all the ingredients steep together in a jar for at least four days, then taste each day to see if the concoction is ready. When it is, pour it through a strainer and then into a bitters bottle.
You can really use coffee bitters with just about any alcoholic cocktail, so don’t be afraid to experiment with your favorite spirits. Coffee bitters seem to go especially well with darker liquors like whiskey and brandy, so you’ll find you can make a tasty Brandy Alexander or Old Fashioned with coffee bitters. Other drinks that go well with coffee bitters include Manhattans and Boulevardiers. If you’re not sure if a drink will be a good mix with coffee bitters, give it a try anyway. The worst that can happen is you know to try a different mix next time around.
Once you learn the joy of coffee bitters, you will want to experiment a lot. As mentioned, there are a multitude of coffee bitters recipes, some using different coffees, different types of steeping alcohol, different levels of ingredients and different added ingredients. Try different recipes to see which one really speaks to you – you’ll know when you’ve found the perfect coffee bitters recipe. Then of course, you’ll want to find the perfect drink to mix with it, which can be just as much fun.
Use these recommendations as a guide, but again, your perfect coffee bitters drink will be one where the bitters mix well with a drink you already love, enhancing the flavors of both for a whole new taste sensation. Once you’ve started exploring the magic of coffee bitters, a night of cocktails will never be the same.
]]>Coffee is currently being grown everywhere that it can be, the world over. It was originally discovered where it evolved, in Ethiopia in the 11th century. Initially, it was used for its medicinal properties, with the leaves of the coffee plant boiled in water and the rest discarded. From there, coffee first spread to Yemen and eventually to the capital of the Ottoman empire, Istanbul, where the beans were first plucked from the coffee cherries, roasted, ground and brewed with hot water, much like it is still done in modern Turkey and Greece.
From Turkey, coffee spread to Europe and the rest of the world, with entrepreneurial types quick to try cultivating the bean with the growing international popularity everywhere they went the world over. It turns that out coffee can only be cultivated at certain altitudes in a relatively narrow band that straddles the equator and circles the globe.
Coffee is now grown in more than 70 countries worldwide, and is the world’s second most traded commodity (after oil) and its second most consumed beverage (after water). These days, we get our coffee online, at the grocery store, or at our local independent or chain coffee shop and we don’t may not think too much about what goes into its cultivation, or where it’s grown and harvested.
Of course, that is, unless we’re comparing the flavor profile of single-origin coffee grown in one are to that of another. In this post, we’ll take a look at the major coffee growing regions the world over and what they produce.
It should probably come as no great surprise that coffee is still cultivated in the East African nations of Ethiopia and Uganda. After all, as mentioned above, Ethiopia is largely considered to be the birthplace of coffee consumption by food. Currently, Ethiopia is fifth in the world in coffee production and Uganda is eighth.
Asia produces a great deal of the world’s coffee as well, and is home to three of the top ten coffee-producing nations. Indonesia is fifth in the world in coffee production, which may surprise you if you don’t remember that both Sumatra and Java are islands that are a part of this nation that straddles the border between t he continents of Southeast Asia and Oceania.
It may also surprise you to find out that Vietnam is second in the world in coffee production, and that India is also on the list of the top ten coffee producing countries.
Lastly, the coffee producing countries of the Western Hemisphere are among the biggest producers in the world. Tiny Guatemala and Honduras are in the top ten at numbers ten and six, respectively. Mexico is the ninth biggest coffee producer on the globe, while Columbia (no surprise) is number three. Brazil rounds out the Western Hemisphere, and remains the top coffee producing country in the entire world.
Coffee is one of the world’s most popular beverages and is currently cultivated just about everywhere it can be, given the set of ideal circumstances that must come together for the crop to flourish. Chances are that if you’re drinking coffee that doesn’t come from a specific place, it is blended for flavor out of coffee produced in a variety of countries or even multiple regions. Coffee truly is an international beverage!
]]>Those who are passionate about coffee already know that the finest cup of coffee comes from freshly ground beans. But grinding your own beans and turning it into a great-tasting cup of coffee can be a lot harder than it looks.
If you’re new to grinding your own coffee, or you’ve been at it for a while and just haven’t been able to get your perfect cup of coffee nailed down, then here’s a helpful guide to get you there.
Besides the quality of coffee you’re using, the most important part of grinding your own beans is getting the grounds right. If the grounds are too coarse, then the brew is going to be weak because coarse grounds are harder to extract flavor from. The coffee may also taste acidic, slightly salty, and even a little on the sour side.
On the other hand, if the grounds are too fine, then you run the risk of over-extracting flavor. While this might not seem like a bad thing, the truth is over-extracted coffee can be overpowering and unpleasant. It will often result in the coffee tasting bitter with no discernable coffee bean flavors present.
There are several mediums you can use to brew your coffee, from automatic drip coffee makers to French presses to espresso machines and more. Perhaps more importantly, the brewing medium you choose will dictate how fine or coarse you’ll want your grind to be. Here’s a basic guideline:
Coffee grinders come in two styles – blade and burr. Whichever one you use will also impact the flavor and texture of your coffee. While blade coffee grinders are among the most popular, they don’t produce the same level of quality grind as burr grinders. The reason is because while the blade spins, it creates heat and friction that actually start to cook the coffee. As a result, the coffee can sometimes taste overcooked. Plus, blade grinders produce inconsistent grounds, which are usually a mix of fine and coarse grounds.
A burr grinder, on the other hand, uses uniform pressure and rotation to crush the beans into a consistent ground. Burr grinders also work at lower speeds, so no heat is produced. The combination of consistent grounds and no applied heat makes for a better tasting cup of coffee.
Now you know what goes into making the perfect cup of coffee fresh from the bean. If you need a fresh bag of coffee beans, a new brewer, or coffee grinder, then Coffee For Less has everything you need to up your coffee making game. Don’t settle for another lackluster cup of coffee – master the grind today, and you’ll always enjoy a great tasting and fully satisfying cup of fresh-brewed coffee.
]]>Pumpkin spice may be your ultimate jam in life when autumn rolls around, and of course, that’s fine. But for every five pumpkin spice superfan out there, we’re pretty sure you can also find at least one absolute hater. Surely, as the saying goes, haters are going to hate.
The good news is that for fans and foes of pumpkin spice alike, there are fall alternatives to the seasonal flavor that will most certainly make for a refreshing break from the time honored tradition. After all it’s fall, and you want to get into the spirit of the season, so here are some ways to do so without succumbing to The Great Pumpkin. In other words, here we present you with a few ways to add a little variety to your latte diet from September through the New Year.
Wait! Wait! Hear us out. If you’re a holiday purist and can’t imagine touching eggnog before Black Friday, that’s great! Fall lasts three more weeks after Thanksgiving, so feel free to wait. But with eggnog making its appearance felt as early as mid-September in grocery store coolers this year, you can get your eggnog on for a solid three and a half months.
Remember: eggnog has nutmeg and all spice, and maybe even a little cinnamon or clove, so it’s not that far from the pumpkin spice bull’s-eye. But at least you won’t look like you’re jumping on the bandwagon when you order one at your local coffee counter.
A complete left turn from the road to pumpkin spice will land you in the delicious world of the Mexican mocha. For those who don’t know, chocolate in Mexico is sometimes mixed with spices and ground chilies to make a delicious concoction that is complex in flavor, subtly spicy, and absolutely delicious when mixed with espresso or coffee. Plus, chocolate!
While you may find some coffee bar out there trying to mix pumpkin spice with chocolate, you might be better off trying one of these mochas instead.
If you’re looking to get into the spirit of the season but want a different take on fall flavor than the one note offered by The Great Pumpkin, consider a maple nut coffee of some sort. The deliciously rich, complex, and sweet flavor of maple pairs divinely with coffee and nuts, whether we’re talking about pecans, filberts (hazelnuts), or almonds.
Another fall favorite that doesn’t include a pinch of squash puree, the caramel apple latte can transport you to a time that’s been nearly forgotten, when apples were bobbed for before they were skewered and dipped in caramelized sugar. A treat for the kid in all of us, the caramel apple latte soothes and satisfies like nothing else really can.
You know what has all the spice of pumpkin spice but absolutely no pumpkin? Chai! For bonus points and bonus caffeine, you can get your chai with a shot or two of espresso. Make it dirty, and make it delicious!
One of the problems with the pumpkin spice latte is that it’s basically an entire pie’s worth of calories stuffed into a sixteen or twenty ounce cup. Well, if you want all of the amazing flavor without the unfortunate pounds that often come with it, then consider getting regular old coffee with a pump or two of pumpkin spice flavor instead.
What’s wrong with coffee? Nothing! That’s what! When was the last time you sat down and actually just had a good cup of coffee, and really tasted it for what it is. Remember? Coffee is simple yet complex, bold, and delicious – a true expression of the labor and talent of the many hands that went into making it!
So, if you’re tired of pumpkin spice everything, or never jumped on the bandwagon in the first place, you’re in luck this fall. There are alternatives to tradition, it seems – even when that tradition is the hallowed pumpkin spice.
Even if you’re firmly in the PSL camp and are dreading the end of the season already, you can still consider diversifying your portfolio to make the eventual crash a bit more palatable. You might just find something you could drink all year, seasonal squash or not.
]]>If you care about the environment and want to work on reducing your impact on the planet and its various ecosystems, but still want the ease and convenience of Keurig brewing, finding a way to reuse your K-Cups may have struck you as being a wonderful idea. Well, you’re not alone! Many artists, craftspeople, and others have been dreaming up ways for you to put your K-Cups to good re-use. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the more popular ideas when it comes to recycling K-Cup pods for arts and crafts projects.
K-Cups® are the perfect size for seed starts when it comes times for planting in the winter or spring. You don’t need a greenhouse or have to go buy expensive seedlings to get a head start on your garden next year. You just need a window with good light, as many used K-Cups® as you want for your vegetable or other annual starts, and packets of seeds.
Used K-Cup® pods also make terrific little planters – complete with the little hole in the bottom – for a gardening or houseplant activity for kids. All you need is potting soil, as many spoons as you have kids, plant starts or seeds, and a tray to catch any excess water as it drains out.
There are literally hundreds if not thousands of ways you can reuse your used K-Cup® pods for arts and crafts activities. For starters, they make nice little paint pots, once you close the hole in the bottom with glue or tape. They also can be filled with dried beans or rice and recovered to make little shakers. For the holidays, they can be dressed up with craft paper and a glue gun to make seasonal decorations.
Used pods are also extremely useful in the kitchen. You can use them to freeze portioned quantities of chopped fresh herbs or garlic – really, any ingredient that you want to prep ahead when in season to save money – even herbed butters.
Once frozen, dip your K-Cup® pod molds into hot water to pop your portioned quantities out, and keep them in the freezer in bags or other containers. They also make excellent molds for ice pops, juice pops, and frozen yogurt treats you can make yourself.
K-Cup® pods also make terrific little organizers for everything from coins to office supplies and buttons to beads. Anything small can easily be sorted and made ready to use by employing your used pods. Because of this, used K-Cup® pods can be repurposed to serve as educational tools to teach young children sorting and matching activities.
Speaking of young children, used pods can make wonderful little building blocks, which can then be employed to make towers, bridges, or whatever they imagine. And because they nest, your used K-Cup pods are easily stacked and stored when not in use.
Keurig K-Cup® machines have made brewing excellent tasting, fresh, hot and cold coffee and tea beverages at home and the office a convenient and mess-free snap. Finding a use for your used pods so they stay out of the landfill and have a prolonged life only takes a little bit of imagination. Once you start, we at Coffee For Less are absolutely sure that you’ll find scores of new ways to put them into business.
]]>In this post, we’ll take a look at three brand new coffee additions or enhancements that are currently trending. You may not want to try all of them, but there may be one idea in here that changes your coffee consumption for life. Trying something new in your coffee isn’t exactly a risk, after all – you’ll still have a cup of coffee, regardless. Read on to learn more about the latest and greatest when it comes to spicing up your morning (or afternoon) cup of coffee!
Butter is one of the world’s absolute best foods, and it’s full of sweetness and umami. Coffee, on the other hand, is perhaps the world’s best beverage. But, if the idea of melting a pat or two of butter in your coffee sounds like putting a float of oily mess on the surface of your favorite brew, you wouldn’t be alone. Good thing that isn’t what we’re suggesting.
What people are doing these days is adding rich, golden, grass-fed or pasture butter one tablespoon at a time to their coffee, and then whirring it into a frothy awesomeness in their blender. Try it and you may never buy half and half again. (Psst – it doesn’t have to be grass-fed butter, but if you want to maximize your EFA (essential fatty acid) intake, then be sure to reach for the pasture.)
Another health trend that’s spreading rapidly involves adding coconut or another medium chain triglyceride to your coffee. It may not change the flavor of your coffee much, or at all, depending on your palate, but research has shown that MCT oils can lower your cholesterol, help with weight loss, and enhance your mood. And, they have other health benefits as well.
If you’re looking for a powerful way to incorporate more protein into your breakfast routine without adding more cholesterol or fat, consider jumping on the collagen bandwagon. Collagen powders mix fantastically well with hot coffee (again, reach for the blender for maximum emulsification), and they support joint and bone health as well as muscle building and retention.
For bonus points, try “bullet-proof” coffee, blending all three of the above into your brew for a breakfast replacement (or enhancement) that packs a triple punch.
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is an active ingredient naturally found in cannabis. But rather than having an intoxicating effect, it helps to relax you without impairment, tastes delicious, and has a tremendous variety of scientifically proven health benefits.
That’s right, egg. Before you go running for the hills, no one is suggesting that you crack a raw egg into your hot coffee or cold brew and down it, Rocky-style. Traditional in the Scandinavian countries and in many parts of the American Midwest, mixing a raw egg into your coffee grounds and then boiling with water isn’t exactly a new idea.
The resulting brew, nearly acid-free, amber in color, and crystal clear, is definitely worth trying out once – even if it turns out it’s not for you.
Activated charcoal isn’t just first aid for poisoning victims, as it turns out. These days, plenty of people are putting it right in their coffee. While this may be a hot trend, adding this flavorless, odorless powder, associated with cleansing to your coffee may not have any health benefits whatsoever. The verdict is still out. One thing is sure though, taking too much charcoal can bind you up, and it just may keep the caffeine in your coffee from doing its magic in your body.
For as long as people have been drinking coffee, they have been working on ways to make it better tasting and better for you. Time will tell if any of today’s coffee enhancing trends become time-honored classics like the egg coffee mentioned above. Try one or two out, or make up something new for yourself – and continue to enjoy the most loved beverage around!
]]>After all, that donut you’re about to eat just wouldn’t be quite as wonderful without a steaming cup of Joe to dip it into, right?
You know what we’re talking about: the way the coffee fills all the nooks and crannies and melts the glaze on the donut just a little bit… the sugary sweetness that dances with the crema on the surface of the cup. Coffee and donuts go together perfectly.
But donut shop coffee is a special breed. It doesn’t need to be overly sweet, because technically speaking, that’s what the donut is for. No, donut shop coffee has a special role. The perfect companion coffee to your favorite fritter, Old Fashioned, or chocolate cake donut should be simple, bold, fresh, and robust: the perfect counterpoint to the confection’s sugary sweetness.
So what do you do if you’re in the mood for that sweet and savory harmony, but you don’t want to schlep down to the donut shop? Just pick up some donuts on your way home and pop a K-Cup of the Original Donut Shop Coffee into your Keurig. It’s the perfect solution!
It’s sealed for freshness, medium-roasted to perfection, and ready to make your morning something special, whether that morning routine involves a donut or not! Coffee People Original Donut Shop coffee is made from the finest quality Arabica beans, so you know it has plenty of smooth, delicious flavor. And now that you can brew it up individually by the K-Cup, there’s really no reason not to make it a part of your daily routine.
]]>If you’re a fan of high-end coffee, you probably get most of your favorite drinks at a gourmet coffee shop. But those gourmet coffees can eventually start to get pretty expensive when you’ve got a daily habit, so you may opt to save money by buying your own high-end coffee beans and making your gourmet coffee at home instead.
It’s a simple matter to grind coffee beans and put them into a coffee maker to make coffee, and the savings can be substantial. But if you really want to make the perfect cup of coffee – the one that tastes just right to you – you’re going to have to roast your own coffee beans at home.
In the dark ages, people roasted their own coffee beans the way you cook anything else: they put them in a pan and held them over heat. Today, home roasting methods are a little more sophisticated.
In fact, there are home roasters that enable you to get the maximum amount of flavor out of your bean, and allow you to adjust the roasting process to get the flavor you’re looking for from those high-end beans. Some of the options on the market include the following items.
This roaster looks like a coffee maker, with a visible drum so you can watch the beans as they roast. While it is a nice-looking machine that can be fun to use, it is fairly loud, and you can’t adjust it to a special setting to accommodate for high-end beans. You simply have to know how long you want to roast your beans.
This roaster actually resembles your toaster, but inside, rather than a grill for your bread, lies a rotating drum and chaff collector. The nice thing about this machine is that you can set it for high-end beans and your favorite type of roast, and it will heat the beans for just the right amount of time.
You’ll want to pre-heat the machine, but only for a minute or it will get too hot to load the beans. Once the coffee beans are roasted, just press the cool button to cool them down inside the oven so you can take them out for grinding.
If you’re working with very high-end beans and are looking for the ultimate coffee flavor, you may want to invest in a Hottop. These roasters, which look sort of like rotisseries and are in fact modeled after large commercial roasters, consist of an electric coil-heated rotating drum.
You can set it to auto roast and allow the machine to manage the heat levels, or you can program it manually, controlling how long your beans are heated at each level and how fast the fan exhaust runs. You can even watch the beans through the glass window as they change color, as well as see the temperature live throughout the process.
The only real downside to this machine, other than the cost, is that it generates a lot of smoke, even with the fan running. While this may make your home smell entirely like great coffee, you may find the smoke a bit overpowering, so run this machine near an open window. You may also want to have a powerful fan at the ready to blow the smoke away.
Mastering the roasting of your own coffee may not happen for you the first time out, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll love being able to create your ideal flavor consistently at home, for a lot less money.
]]>When it comes to investing in a good coffee travel mug, there are actually a lot of things you need to think about. For instance, is the cup tall enough to hold all the coffee you need to get through Monday morning rush hour and the first morning staff meeting? Is the mug narrow enough to fit in the cup holder of your car? Does it have a leak-free lid that is still easy to sip out of while you make that crazy left turn through three lanes of traffic?
You don’t want to purchase the wrong mug and end up with a lap full of hot coffee before you’ve even gotten to work. But fear not. This list reviews the top coffee travel mugs on the market that are under $25, so you can make an educated decision on which one you should buy.
Hydro flask customers rave about their coffee mugs. They’ll keep your coffee hot, even in extreme cold temperatures, and to the same degree, they’ll keep your cold beverages freezing cold. The lids are generally very durable and reliable, so coffee won’t be leaking out into your car.
The BPA-free stainless steel exterior will not dent or break when dropped, so this coffee mug works for urban commutes and mountain adventures alike.
Klean Kanteen has long been a reliable name when it comes to travel coffee mugs. The 16oz insulated tumbler is a great option for the affordable price of 23.95. The insulation keeps beverages both hot and cold, so you can stay satisfied no matter the temperature of your drink.
Hot beverages will stay hot for up to four hours, so this mug works best if you are just looking to drink your coffee over the longer span of an entire morning. Last but not least, the wide mouth is easy to clean.
The Contigo Autoseal is great for a coffee drinker with a more active lifestyle. The thermal insulation will keep your drink hot for up to five hours. The autoseal technology is perfect for bike commuters as the cup itself is narrow enough to fit in most standard bottle cages.
Be careful when putting this coffee mug in backpack or briefcase, because despite the autoseal lock, some liquid still occasionally leaks.
This sleek travel coffee mug is simple and streamlined. That the mug is also 20oz allows you to load up on coffee and be set for the whole morning and beyond, while still being narrow enough to hold comfortably in one hand. The flip-top lid is easy to maneuver while commuting and multitasking.
Your daily cup of Joe is really no joke. When you’re on the go, you want an affordable travel mug that keeps your coffee hot and stays in the cup without leaking or dripping. Choose one from this list of reviews, so that you don’t need to find out the hard way that the mug you were thinking about buying, just isn’t the right one for you.
]]>Enjoying your morning while in the eye of that storm can make the rest of the day seem less challenging, for sure. But wouldn’t it be nice if there were ways you could make the storm more manageable? Thankfully, there are. One way to make mornings more manageable that you may not have considered involves a shortcut on the way to breakfast. A Keurig K-Cup® brewer can make the start of your day much tastier, and much easier.
One of the challenges involved in getting the whole family ready and out the door in the morning is that not everyone wants the same thing for breakfast. Some people prefer oatmeal, some want toast, and some may even want a full diner-style breakfast. A Keurig can’t really help you turn yourself into a short order cook, but it can help you with the variety of beverages that your family needs to get them going in the morning.
Some want coffee, some want tea, some may want hot cocoa, or even other hot and cold drinks. This means, someone ends up making a full pot of coffee, several cups of tea, great tasting hot chocolate, or even iced tea. On top of that, some may want flavored coffee or tea, decaf coffee or tea, different roasts, etc.
Well, with a Keurig K-Cup ® brewer, you can make excellent tasting beverages with no mess and no fuss, cup by cup. One piece of equipment can take the place of several and satisfy your whole family in just seconds – that’s the beauty of having a Keurig coffee maker in your kitchen at home.
Another wonderful aspect of brewing with a Keurig K-Cup® brewer is that it gives you a consistently higher level of quality in your coffee, tea, cocoa, and other beverages that you may never have experienced outside of a fancy coffee shop or restaurant, and at much less of the cost and hassle.
When you have a Keurig on the kitchen counter, you can enjoy fresh hot and cold beverages without having to leave your home, wait in line, or pay those high coffee shop prices for your morning beverages. K-Cup® pods are designed to lock in the freshness and brew with just the right ratio of water to coffee, tea, or whatever. That way, you get super fresh, wonderful beverages at home, in seconds, and at a major savings.
Because you’re not brewing one type of coffee for one person and another for someone else, a pot of tea for another person, and hot chocolate for another, you’ll also have much less to clean up on your way out the door.
With everything else that goes into getting your family ready for the day and on their way each and every morning, less clean up is a win and one way to start the day off right. So this year, treat yourself and your whole family to terrific back to school gift, and buy a Keurig coffee maker for your home!
]]>If an island destination vacation, complete with white sand beaches, palm trees, and turquoise waters, just isn’t in the cards for you this summer (or it’s so many weeks off that the wait is driving you a bit mad), then why not let Green Mountain Coffee’s Fair Trade Island Coconut flavored coffee transport you to the island of your imagination’s choice, one sip at a time?
This wonderfully flavored coffee has all the charm of a destination vacation with none of the expense. And because it comes in a twenty-four count box of K-Cup® pods, it’s a lot less hassle than actually going anywhere beyond your kitchen or office.
If the heat of summer has you pining for a destination that’s just a little bit cooler, say something in the mountains featuring a tent, a bubbling brook, and maybe a campfire, we’ve got you covered as well. Green Mountain Coffee’s Toasted Marshmallow Mocha packs all of the joy of a S’more-packed mountain adventure into a single cup.
Thanks to the ease and convenience of Keurig K-Cup brewing, you can go back for S’more over and over again, without the mess. Plus, no smoke will get in your eyes – we promise!
Maybe you’re not looking to get away from it all this summer so much as you’re looking for the perfect complement to summer, available by the glass. Celestial Seasonings’ Perfect Iced Tea Southern Sweet Black Tea brings the full cooling potential of a front porch swing under a ceiling fan on a quiet summer evening directly to your frosty glass.
You may not be lucky enough to have lightning bugs around in the summer where you live, but you can get lightning in your jar on K-Cup® at a time with this product.
If you’re looking for a perfect iced tea that doesn’t pack that southern charm by the teaspoonful, try Snapple’s Lemon Iced Tea K-Cup® Pods, available in a twenty-two count box. This one represents all the glory of a cold glass of iced tea without the sugar, but with a touch of lemon instead.
If you’re looking to go the other way and double-down on the southern charm, then you’ll have to consider stuffing an entire Georgia peach into your glass of sweet (sugar optional) tea. Snapple’s Peach Tea Iced K-Cups® take the hassle out of brewing iced tea and add in loads of peach flavor for your sipping enjoyment.
Sipping the perfect hot or cold beverage, depending on your mood and the desired effect, can pull you out of the dog days of summer and transport you to whatever special place you desire. Or it can at least help to take a bit of the edge off the heat. Enjoy any one (or all) of our favorite K-Cup beverages this season!
]]>Iced coffee, cold brew, iced Americano, even coffee blended with ice – cold coffee, it seems, has taken the US by storm, and its popularity has only grown over the last decade. If the selection of bottled, canned, and coffee brands that come in a carton in your grocery store’s beverage cooler can be taken as any indicator, cold coffee will soon be more popular than even hot coffee.
Cold brew, these days, seems to sit unchallenged at the pinnacle of cold coffee popularity. Sure, it may be less caffeinated than other options, even if it’s less diluted than hot coffee poured over ice, but it also has less acid than traditionally brewed coffee. And if cold brew is your jam, that’s understandable, it can be quite wonderful. But why park your cold coffee consumption in one space and never move?
There is a whole world of other cold coffee options that you might try on for size. Here’s a roundup of cold or iced coffees from around the world that we think are definitely worth trying out.
In Southeast Asia, be it in Singapore, Thailand, VietNam or Hong Kong, coffee culture is a bit different than it is in the United States, reflecting the local environment, culture, and ingredient availability. In Thailand, iced coffee is first brewed hot with corn, sesame, soybeans, and sometimes cardamom, then served over ice with either evaporated milk and simple syrup, or canned sweetened condensed milk.
In Vietnam, iced coffee is served with sweetened condensed milk as well, but it is brewed with either chicory or a mixture of both Robusta and Arabica coffee beans. Robusta is a bit harsher than the coffee we use in the western world, but balanced against the sweetness of the condensed milk, it goes down pretty smooth. In Hong Kong, iced coffee is typically served blended with black tea, over ice, so it has extra caffeine.
In most of Europe, iced coffee is more of a desert than it is a beverage enjoyed on a hot day. In Germany, Eiskaffee is served with ice cream, whipped cream, grated chocolate, and a cookie in most places. And in Italy, the closest thing you’ll typically find to iced coffee is either cold sparkling coffee soda, or affogato – a shot of espresso poured over a shot of vanilla ice cream.
In Greece, they drink a wonderful blended coffee beverage made of water, sugar, instant coffee, and ice that was accidentally invented by a Nescafe sales representative in the city of Thessaloniki in the 1950s. It is called a Frappe, and bears some resemblance to what you may have seen in your local chain coffee shop, in terms of frozen blended coffee drinks.
Many of the cold coffee confection traditions of Europe are also represented throughout Central and South America, but in Brazil, they have an iced coffee tradition all their own called mocha cola. Mocha cola starts with double strength coffee, which is then combined with chocolate milk and canned cola for a sweet, delicious cold beverage poured over ice and served with a topping of whipped cream.
Wherever you’re from and wherever you go, if you’re an iced coffee lover, you’re sure to find a cold coffee beverage that will suit your tastes and deliver exactly what you crave. For extra fun, try out one or more of these international cold coffee delights at home or wherever you brew your coffee.
]]>Not so long ago, if you wanted to enjoy cannabis and coffee, you had to buy a plane ticket, fly to Amsterdam, and make your way to a cafe that sold the two separately. But now, cannabis is legal in a majority of US states for medicinal use, and in a growing number for recreational use. So if you have a medical marijuana card and live in a state with legal medicinal cannabis, or happen to be of age and residing in one of the states with legal recreational cannabis, you’re in luck.
Now, you can enjoy the fruits (so to speak) of two of nature’s most wondrous plants together. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can jump on the latest trend and combine the two in a tasty beverage. We’re talking, of course, about adding CBD – one of the active compounds in cannabis – to coffee for flavor and medicinal effect. You may be wondering what CBD is exactly, and why anyone would put a substance found in cannabis into their coffee. In this post, we’ll address those questions and more.
There are three main types of cannabis, but only two types with the psychoactive compound THC and the medicinal compound CBD. These two substances, derived from plants in greater or lesser concentrations thanks to cross-breeding and hybridization, produce different effects when consumed.
Some of these effects are medicinal in nature, and cannabis treatments can take a wide variety of forms. Most of these treatments involve the use of cannabis with higher concentrations of the non-mood altering compound CBD that are designed to promote wellness rather than intoxication.
Unlike THC, CBD is a non-intoxicating substance, the consumption of which can help treat many issues. For instance, CBD has been shown to positively impact inflammation, seizures, pain, anxiety, depression, PTSD, even MS and opioid withdrawal.
Cannabis products containing CBD and used for medicinal purposes can take several different forms, from ingestibles to topicals, and even products meant for inhalation. Cannabis, grown so that it is naturally high in CBD and without any THC, can also treat many conditions without making you feel intoxicated.
Because of its positive medicinal effects and newfound legal status, CBD is making it to consumers in a wide variety of new products. If you live in a state with legal recreational or medicinal cannabis dispensaries, you can find a variety of products loaded with CBD. Many of these products contain zero THC, so you can enjoy the medicinal effects of CBD without getting intoxicated, if that’s what you’re looking for.
There are also CBD oils for oral and topical use, CBD tinctures and pills, CBD candies, pastries, and sodas. There are even CBD beers available in some parts of the country. And clever coffee fans are also finding ways to incorporate CBD directly into coffee. In states with legal CBD, there are even coffee shops and bars that are offering CBD products directly to consumers.
CBD coffee is a growing trend, one that allows people to enjoy the medicinal properties of the compound while drinking their favorite beverage. CBD consumption is all about relaxation and supporting your health. Coffee is all about… well, you know what coffee is all about! Put the two together and you have the best of relaxation right in your morning cup – go and enjoy!*
*I understand the statements regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. CBD products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Results from products may vary. These items are not intended to cure, treat or prevent any diseases.
]]>One of the very best things about the Keurig K-Cup coffee beverage brewing system is that it’s so ridiculously easy to use that a toddler (or a relatively motivated platoon of ants) could probably figure out how to get the best, freshest, and most rewarding beverages out of it.
That said, any new technology, especially when it is new to you can bring up many questions regarding proper use. If you’re contemplating purchasing your first Keurig, have recently picked one up, or have had one for a while and still find that you have a few questions, you’re in luck. In this post, we’ll answer the top seven most asked questions about this amazing machine, and how to put it to best use with easy and clear answers.
Your Keurig K-Cup® Brewer is designed to be perfectly usable with tap water. Tap water, unless you live in areas with very hard water, will make terrific coffee time after time with your Keurig brewer. Alternatively, you can use distilled water or filtered water in your Keurig. But you should never use softened water or mineral water in a Keurig K-Cup® brewing machine.
Brewing into your favorite travel mug or taller coffee mug is typically pretty easy--depending on the model Keurig you have. With most Keurig brewers, using a taller receptacle is as simple as pulling out the drip tray to accommodate the height of your cup.
This is true only to a point though. For really large or tall cups, you may have to use a smaller cup and then transfer your beverage into your receptacle of choice. Also, make sure only to use glasses and cups that are rated for hot liquids. Exploding vessels of hot liquid are not a tremendous amount of fun.
Of course you can. Many K-Cup® pods are designed to be brewed directly into a full cup of ice. But really, you can brew anything you want over ice. For cold beverages that do not get watered down, you may be better off brewing into a cup, refrigerating, and then pouring your cold brew over ice.
As mentioned above, brewing hot liquid into a cup not rated for it, especially when it is holding ice and extra cold, can be extremely dangerous.
Making a stronger cup of coffee is as simple as adjusting the steeping time on some models. But for extra points, you can look for pods that are designed to deliver a strong, bold-flavored cup of coffee, tea, or whatever beverage you desire.
At CoffeeForLess.com you will find a staggering variety of K-Cup® pods for your Keurig machine. But if you still can’t find what you’re looking for, consider making your own custom pods using our reusable, refillable, K-Cup® pods.
Keurig descaling solution is the best way to remove hard water deposits and other build up from your Keurig equipment. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended schedule for cleaning, or clean when prompted, depending on your model. Learn more about cleaning your Keurig coffee maker in this handy post on the Coffee For Less blog here.
Most K-Cup® pods are not recyclable. But there are reusable K-Cup® filters available that you can fill up with whatever coffee you’d like – see above. Keurig brewing can be just as environmentally friendly, if not more environmentally friendly than many other types of brewing. Learn more about recycling and re-using your K-Cup pods in these handy craft projects now!
]]>Summer’s here, and one of the best things to do during the warmer months of the year is to lie around and enjoy your favorite beverage. But if your favorite beverage is a hot cup of coffee in the morning, then you may need to mix it up a little bit.
Your standard hot cup of Joe is just not going to do it for you in the summer heat. Fortunately, you have options. Here are 20 easy-to-make coffee drinks for you to try this summer, so you don’t have to put your favorite beverage on a shelf just because it’s hot outside.
Just mix five ounces of cold brew with five ounces of water, a couple ounces of lemon juice, 20 or 30 grams of simple syrup and ice.
If you use a carbonating machine to make seltzer, then you can make coffee soda just as easily. Just fill your bottle with iced coffee (without the ice) and carbonate as normal. If you don’t have a carbonator handy, simply mix iced coffee and seltzer together.
Mix 100 grams of Macadamia milk with 45 grams of coconut milk, 20 grams of simple syrup, 10 grams of vanilla extract, 40 grams of espresso and ice.
Mix together ¾ of an ounce tonic syrup, 5 ounces of soda, 40 grams of espresso, an ice cube and a grapefruit twist – that’s all you’ll need.
Simply combine 40 grams of espresso, a dash of orange bitters, 20 grams of simple syrup, and an orange garnish for this chilly summer drink.
Mix espresso, fresh pineapple, coconut sugar, coconut water, carbonated water and black cherries for a taste of the islands with your coffee.
Add soda water, peach tea and ice to espresso for a refreshing summer treat.
If you prefer your summer refreshment less fruity, then add ginger ale, just a spritz of lemon/lime, and ice to espresso.
This mouthwatering treat is simply your favorite coffee mixed with mint leaves, simple syrup, and heavy whipping cream.
Although it sounds more like a Halloween drink than a summer one, this combination of cold brew coffee and Bloody Mary mix with ice is sure to hit the spot on a hot summer day.
Double strength brew with half and half, cardamom, and lots of sugar: sweet and strong to help power you through those summer activities.
This recipe is simple and delicious. Froth up some lightly steamed milk, pour it over ice, then pop in your espresso.
Spice up your chai latte by tossing in a shot of espresso and pouring over ice.
Combine cold brew coffee, orange bitters, cherry syrup and ice, with an orange garnish and a Maraschino cherry and you’ve got a Cold Fashioned.
Just take your favorite Irish Coffee recipe and add ice.
This one is as simple as it gets when it comes to iced coffee drinks: just pour an espresso shot over iced water, and you’ve got an iced Americano.
Make your normal iced latte, but try it with horchata milk instead of the regular kind.
Take your favorite iced coffee, add honey, bitters, and then dust with a little cocoa powder.
Take three ounces brewed espresso and blend with a tablespoon of caramel sauce and two tablespoons of white sugar. Pour in ¾ cup of milk and 1 ½ cups of ice. Blend until smooth and top with whipped cream.
Boil five cups of water, four cinnamon sticks, six cloves, four star anise, a quarter cup of white sugar and a quarter cup of brown sugar in a medium saucepan, stirring as you go. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and add coffee grounds. Stir, cover and let steep for five minutes. Serve over ice.
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