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Awaken Your Skin: How Coffee Can Transform Your Skincare Routine

Awaken Your Skin: How Coffee Can Transform Your Skincare Routine

Coffee isn’t just a morning pick-me-up – it’s also a powerhouse for your skin. Packed with antioxidants, caffeine, and essential nutrients, coffee can do wonders for your complexion, whether you drink it or apply it topically.

1. Say Goodbye to Puffiness and Dark Circles – Caffeine is a natural vasoconstrictor, meaning it helps shrink blood vessels. When applied topically, it can reduce swelling and puffiness, especially around the eyes. Coffee-infused eye creams or masks can help brighten tired eyes, giving you a refreshed, awake look. Drinking coffee may also help indirectly by reducing systemic inflammation, supporting overall skin health.

2. Exfoliation for Smooth, Glowing Skin – Coffee grounds are a gentle, natural exfoliant. When used in scrubs, they help remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, and stimulate circulation. This leaves your skin looking smoother, softer, and more radiant. A simple DIY coffee scrub mixed with coconut oil can make your skin glow naturally.

3. Fight Free Radicals and Slow Aging – The antioxidants in coffee, like polyphenols, fight free radicals – the culprits behind premature aging. Topical use provides a concentrated boost for your skin, while drinking coffee adds antioxidants systemically, helping protect your skin from the inside out.

4. Reduce Cellulite and Improve Skin Firmness – Caffeine may temporarily tighten the skin and improve blood flow, making it a popular ingredient in anti-cellulite creams. While drinking coffee doesn’t have the same localized effect, it supports overall circulation and health.

5. Brighten Your Complexion Naturally – Coffee stimulates circulation when applied to the skin, promoting a healthy glow. Drinking coffee may also contribute indirectly by providing antioxidants and reducing inflammation, helping your skin look vibrant from the inside out.

6. Does the Roast Matter? – Yes! The roast can affect the antioxidant and caffeine content of your coffee:

  • Light roast: Slightly more antioxidants and caffeine → potentially better for overall skin health when drinking.
  • Dark roast: Still effective topically and delicious to drink, with slightly fewer antioxidants.

Topically, the difference between light and dark roast is minimal—texture and freshness are more important for scrubs and masks.

DIY Coffee Skincare Tips

  • Coffee Scrub: Mix 2 tablespoons of finely ground coffee with 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Gently massage onto damp skin in circular motions, then rinse.
  • Eye Mask: Combine 1 teaspoon coffee grounds with a small amount of aloe vera gel and apply under the eyes for 10 minutes.
  • Face Mask: Mix coffee with honey for a hydrating, antioxidant-rich mask.

Coffee isn’t just delicious – it’s a natural way to nourish, protect, and revitalize your skin, both inside and out. So next time you brew your morning cup, remember: a little coffee can go a long way in your skincare routine.

⚠️ Disclaimer – This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional skincare advice. Always patch test before trying new skincare ingredients, and consult a dermatologist if you have sensitive skin or specific concerns.

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From Latte to Blend: Understanding Coffee’s Unique Vocabulary

From Latte to Blend: Understanding Coffee’s Unique Vocabulary

Coffee vocabulary can be confusing, even for everyday drinkers. Espresso vs. latte, roast vs. blend, cupping vs. tasting – it’s easy to mix things up. Luckily, getting a handle on the basics is easier than you think, and it makes your coffee experience even richer.

Espresso (not Expresso)

This one trips up a lot of people. The little shot of concentrated coffee is called espresso—with an “s.” It comes from the Italian word for “pressed out,” describing how hot water is forced through finely ground beans. Whether you pronounce it with an “x” or not, your barista knows what you mean—but now you know the story behind the word.

Coffee’s Version of a Sommelier

Wine has sommeliers. Coffee has Q Graders—sometimes casually called “coffee sommeliers.” These are trained tasters who evaluate coffee quality, aromas, and flavors with incredible precision. They help roasters and importers source the best beans, and their work shapes much of what ends up in your cup.

Tasting vs. Cupping

Wine experts taste. Coffee experts cup.
Cupping is a formal process for evaluating coffee. Multiple small bowls of coffee are brewed, then tasters slurp loudly (yes, it’s supposed to sound dramatic!) to spread the liquid across the palate and pick up subtle flavors. It may look odd, but it’s the gold standard for discovering what makes a coffee unique.

Latte vs. Caffè Latte

A “latte” is actually short for caffè latte, which means “coffee with milk” in Italian. In Italy, asking for a “latte” might just get you a glass of milk. Outside Italy, though, the shorthand stuck, and now “latte” universally means espresso + steamed milk.

Roast vs. Blend

These two words get mixed up a lot:

  • Roast = how the beans were roasted (light, medium, dark).
  • Blend = beans from different origins combined to create a balanced flavor 

So whether you’re ordering an espresso (not expresso 😉), or casually dropping the word “cupping” into conversation, you’ve officially leveled up your coffee vocab. Next stop: impressing your friends at brunch with your new coffee knowledge—no latte art required.

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Why the Right Amount of Coffee is Good for You

Why the Right Amount of Coffee is Good for You

Coffee is one of the world’s most beloved beverages, fueling mornings, boosting work productivity, and offering a comforting ritual in daily life. But beyond its rich aroma and energizing effects, research increasingly shows that drinking the right amount of coffee can actually be good for your health.

1. Boosts Mental Alertness and Focus

Caffeine, the main active ingredient in coffee, is a natural stimulant that improves brain function. Moderate coffee consumption can enhance focus, alertness, and even short-term memory. This is why a morning cup often feels like a jumpstart for the mind.

2. Supports Heart Health

Contrary to old myths, studies now suggest that moderate coffee intake—about 3–4 cups per day—is associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Antioxidants in coffee, such as polyphenols, may help reduce inflammation and protect blood vessels.

3. May Protect Against Neurodegenerative Diseases

Regular coffee consumption has been linked to a lower risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. The caffeine and antioxidants work together to protect brain cells and reduce the buildup of harmful proteins.

4. Helps You Burn Fat and Boost Metabolism

Caffeine can increase your metabolic rate and enhance fat burning in the short term. For those who enjoy coffee before exercise, it can provide a natural energy boost and improve physical performance.

5. Supports Liver Health

The liver benefits from moderate coffee consumption, too. Research shows that drinking coffee may reduce the risk of liver diseases, including fatty liver and cirrhosis.

6. Enhances Mood

Coffee has mood-boosting properties thanks to caffeine’s ability to stimulate neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Regular moderate intake can help reduce the risk of depression.

The Key: Moderation

While coffee has many health benefits, too much caffeine can lead to restlessness, anxiety, or digestive issues. Most research points to 3–4 cups per day as a sweet spot for reaping the positive effects without overdoing it.

When enjoyed in moderation, coffee isn’t just a comforting daily ritual—it’s a beverage that can support mental clarity, heart and liver health, metabolism, and mood. So go ahead, savor that perfect cup—it might just be doing your body good.

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Not Just Caffeine: The Science and Soul of Great-Tasting Coffee

Not Just Caffeine: The Science and Soul of Great-Tasting Coffee

Your morning coffee is more than just a caffeine boost – it’s a story of climate, soil, farming, and craftsmanship. Just like fine wine, every cup carries the distinct fingerprint of where and how it’s grown.

Shade-Grown Coffee: Why It Matters

All our coffee is shade-grown. Here’s why that’s important:

  • Better flavor: Growing under the canopy of larger trees slows bean development, producing smoother, more complex notes.
  • Environmental impact: Shade farming protects ecosystems, supports biodiversity, and reduces the need for chemicals – better for the planet, better for your cup.

Climate Shapes Character

Stable temperate climates allow beans to ripen evenly and develop rich flavors. Climate change threatens this balance, making shade-grown, sustainably farmed coffee more important than ever. At Camano Island Coffee, all our coffee is 100% organic, fairly traded, and shade-grown.

From Farm to Cup

  • Roasting: Lighter roasts highlight terroir and bean character; darker roasts emphasize boldness but mute subtleties.
  • Brewing: Fresh grinding, clean equipment, and precise technique are essential.
  • Tasting: Notes like “chocolate” or “blueberry” are guides, not rules. Your palate is the ultimate authority.

It’s Not Just the Bean

  • Psychology matters: Coffee often tastes better at home, in your favorite mug, because comfort and routine enhance flavor.
  • The cup counts: Porcelain or glass preserves flavor best—plastic or stainless steel can alter taste.

Exploring Origins & Flavor Profiles

Each coffee-growing region contributes its own unique taste. Here’s a quick guide to Camano Island Coffee’s origins:

Honduras – High-altitude beans with caramel and molasses notes. Farmers often grow banana trees for shade, maximizing flavor while supporting sustainable practices.

Brazil – Soft, bittersweet, with caramelized, nutty flavor and pleasantly low acidity—perfect for those who enjoy a smooth cup.

Peru – Light-bodied and effortlessly drinkable, Peruvian coffee is perfect year-round—comforting on a crisp winter morning or refreshing over ice on a hot summer day.

New Guinea – Cultivated from Blue Mountain seeds in the 1930s, this coffee is rich, full-bodied, and chocolatey—a unique alternative for adventurous coffee lovers.

Guatemala – Through our partnership with the Agros Foundation, farmers access low- or no-interest land loans. Every cup supports long-term sustainability, giving families control over their land, production, and coffee quality.

Sumatra – Using the wet hulling method, Sumatran beans rest with their pulp for 24 hours before drying to ~30% moisture. The result is full-bodied, aromatic, and sweet—a connoisseur’s delight.

Ethiopia – The stars of our African Reserve. Medium- to full-bodied with notes of blueberry pancakes and maple syrup, perfect with dessert or for anyone who loves bold, flavorful coffee.

Final Sip

Every cup is a collaboration between land, farmer, roaster, and you. Slow down, sip deeply, and savor the unique story your coffee is telling.

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Shade Grown vs. Sun Grown Coffee: Why It Matters For Your Cup

Shade Grown vs. Sun Grown Coffee: Why It Matters For Your Cup

When you’re sipping your morning coffee, you might not think about whether the beans were grown under the warm sun or beneath a leafy canopy. But the way coffee is grown plays a huge role in its flavor, quality, and impact on the planet. 

At Camano Island Coffee Roasters, we choose shade grown coffee – and here’s why that matters. 

What Is Sun Grown Coffee? 

In the 1970s and 80s, many coffee farms switched to sun grown coffee in an effort to produce more beans, faster. Farmers cleared native trees and planted coffee plants in open fields under direct sunlight. 

Pros: 

● Higher yields in the short term

● Faster growing cycles 

Cons 

● Requires more chemical fertilizers and pesticides 

● Leads to soil erosion and nutrient depletion 

● Destroys bird habitats and biodiversity 

● Can produce harsher, more bitter-tasting beans

What Is Shade Grown Coffee? 

Shade grown coffee is cultivated under the natural canopy of taller trees. This method mimics coffee’s natural growing environment (coffee originally evolved as an understory plant in tropical forests). 

Benefits: 

● Better flavor: Beans mature more slowly, developing richer, more complex taste profiles.

● Healthier plants: Natural shade protects from extreme heat and pests, reducing the need for chemicals. 

● Supports wildlife: Preserves habitats for birds, insects, and other species, maintaining a balanced ecosystem. 

● Protects the soil: Tree cover prevents erosion, retains moisture, and enriches the soil with organic matter. 

Why We Choose Shade-Grown 

Every batch of Camano Island Coffee is shade grown and USDA Certified Organic. That means you’re getting coffee that’s not only delicious but also better for the environment, the farmers, and the future of coffee itself. 

It takes more time and care to grow coffee this way – but we believe it’s worth it for: 

● A smoother, more nuanced cup 

● Healthier farming communities 

● A planet that can keep growing coffee for generations to come

When you choose shade grown coffee, you’re doing more than enjoying a great cup – you’re supporting a sustainable, eco-friendly way of farming that benefits both people and the planet. 

So next time you pour yourself a fresh brew, know that those beans were grown the way nature intended: in the shade, slow and steady, with care. 

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Coffee Can Help Your Garden Grow!

Coffee Can Help Your Garden Grow!

Coffee isn’t just for jumpstarting your day—it can also energize your garden. With mindful use, those leftover grounds can be a powerful, eco-friendly boost for your backyard ecosystem.

Coffee grounds can offer several benefits to your plants and soil. Here’s how:

1. A Natural Fertilizer
Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, an essential nutrient that promotes healthy plant growth. When composted, they break down into organic matter that improves soil structure, water retention, and aeration. You can sprinkle them around plants or add them to your compost pile for a natural nutrient boost.

Just remember: proper watering is key. Make sure the soil dries out between waterings to prevent mold from forming.

2. Natural Pest Repellent
Slugs, snails, and even some ants dislike the texture and smell of coffee. Sprinkling used grounds around the base of plants can create a natural barrier, helping protect tender greens like lettuce. As a bonus, it may also deter curious cats from napping—or worse—in your flower beds. However, it is important to note that coffee grounds can be harmful to pets like cats and dogs if digested in large doses. If you have a pet that likes to sample everything, it would be wise to avoid laying coffee grounds directly onto the garden. Bury them in your compost heap instead.

3. Attract Earthworms
Worms love coffee grounds—which is great news, since worms are essential for a healthy garden. They aerate the soil, break down organic material, and boost nutrient availability. Feeding your garden’s underground helpers can improve soil health from the ground up.

4. Sustainable Gardening
Using coffee grounds in your garden reduces kitchen waste and supports eco-friendly gardening practices. It’s a simple way to recycle what you already have and lessen the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Tips for Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden:

  • Don’t overdo it – Coffee grounds are acidic and can compact. Use in moderation and balance with other compost materials.
  • Use only used (brewed) grounds – Fresh grounds are too acidic for most plants.
  • Mix well – Blend grounds into compost or lightly mix into garden soil for best results.
  • Do your research – Not all plants love coffee. Lavender, rosemary, and ferns, for example, prefer more alkaline conditions.

Bottom line? Coffee grounds can be a valuable addition to your gardening routine—just use them wisely, and your plants will thank you!

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Coffee Beans Aren’t Really Beans—They’re Seeds!

Coffee Beans Aren’t Really Beans – They’re Seeds!

If you’re a coffee lover, you probably talk about “coffee beans” all the time – how they’re roasted, ground, brewed, and savored. But here’s a little-known fact that might surprise you: coffee beans aren’t beans at all. They’re seeds!

So, What Exactly Is a Coffee Bean?

Coffee beans are the seeds of the fruit of the coffee plant. These fruits are called coffee cherries—small, round, and typically bright red or purple when ripe. Inside each cherry, you’ll usually find two seeds nestled together. These are what we call coffee beans. The term “bean” comes from their shape, which resembles true beans like kidney or pinto beans. But botanically speaking, they have nothing to do with legumes. They’re actually more like the pit of a peach or cherry—the seed of a stone fruit.

From Cherry to Cup

Once harvested, coffee cherries go through a processing method to remove the fruit and pulp, leaving behind the seeds.

This can be done in one of 3 ways: 

  1. Dry Process. This is the natural method and is the oldest and most traditional way for the seeds to be removed from the fruit.
  2. Washed Process. This method is commonly used for high quality Arabica beans. 
  3. Semi-Washed. This method is a hybrid between the dry and washed processes.

Each method affects the flavor of the final coffee and the coffee’s environmental impact. The seeds are then dried and roasted to make the delicious brew we all love. But before roasting, they’re green in color and smell nothing like coffee!

What happens to the cherry after the coffee seed is removed?

Normally the discarded cherry is used as compost on the coffee farm. This returns the nutrients back into the soil. However, sometimes the cherry is used to make Cascara – a tea-like beverage with a unique mild and fruity flavor. The fleshy part of the cherry, known as the coffee pulp can be used in animal feed or as a substrate for growing certain types of mushrooms. 

Why does It Matter?

Understanding the journey of coffee, from fruit to seed to cup helps us appreciate just how remarkable this drink is. It also reminds us that coffee is an agricultural product, deeply connected to the soil, climate, and care of farmers around the world. Every cup you drink represents a long and fascinating journey.

If you plant a coffee bean, will it grow a coffee tree?

If you plant an unroasted coffee seed, it can sprout and grow into a coffee tree, although it takes a few years before it produces its own cherries. Roasted coffee beans, however, are essentially cooked and sadly won’t grow into anything.

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5 Steps To Fixing Fair Trade Coffee

5 Steps To Fixing Fair Trade Coffee

Coffee farmers are some of the hardest working people on the planet. Typically one tree produces one pound of coffee per year. That’s 2,000 beans. That means a farmer needs to pick over 1,000 coffee cherries to produce one pound of coffee. And that doesn’t include the labor involved in processing the beans after picking. In spite of the fair trade movement coffee farmers only receive pennies for every pound you buy. This is because of the unintended fair trade coffee problems. There is a better way — fixing fair trade coffee.

Fixing Fair Trade Coffee Step #1:

Buy Coffee That Gives a Hand Up Not a Hand Out

If we will give coffee farmers a hand up instead of a hand out, they will work their way out of poverty. A hand up can take many forms. A hand up can be loans, education, and support. A hand up is supporting farmers in a way that enables them to work themselves out of poverty. If we simply provide hand outs in the form of food, materials for shelter, or medicine, we make ourselves the savior of the rural poor. By enabling coffee farmers to provide for themselves we allow them to have dignity and independence. At Camano Island Coffee Roasters the idea of a hand up instead of a hand out is a crucial tenet in helping coffee farmers eradicate poverty in their countries. It is an important first step in fixing fair trade coffee.

Fixing Fair Trade Coffee Step #2:

Buy Coffee That Promotes Land Ownership

Fair Trade International and Fair Trade USA require farmers to own land to participate. So many farmers, however, merely work for a larger coffee plantation. So before we can begin discussing, education or improved agronomy techniques, the coffee farmers need land to call their own.

One nonprofit that helps with this is Agros. Agros helps the rural poor in Central America to purchase their own land. Agros will work with the local community to buy a large tract of land. Then they divide the land into parcels for individual families based on the type of land, and the type of agricultural business the family plans to build. These families then work their business on their land and repay the loan to Agros in 7 – 10 years. Agros can then take these repaid funds and invest in another village further propagating the system.

Fixing Fair Trade Coffee Step #3:

Buy Coffee That Partners With Farmers In Utilizing Modern Agronomy Techniques

The next step in the journey to end poverty is education. Agros also helps farmers to improve their crop yields, through education. Agros employs a team of Agronomists who help their farmers improve their yields and also diversify their crops.

Fixing Fair Trade Coffee Step #4:

Buy Coffee That Helps Farmers Diversify Their Crops.

Agros also encourages farmers to diversify their crops — from chili pepper farming to tilapia fish farming. This diversification of their crops on their land ensures they always have something to eat or sell.

Another nonprofit we consistently support, Food 4 Farmers, also helps coffee farmers diversify their crops. Food 4 Farmers provides education and mentorship in diversifying crops and expanding businesses. One of the best examples of this is bee-keeping. To learn more about bee-keeping and the impact it had on one coffee farming family, click here. Even if pests or monsoons tear apart their coffee crop, these farmers have another way of providing for themselves.

Fixing Fair Trade Coffee Step #5:

Buy Coffee That Rewards Best Practices

One of the fair trade coffee problems is the unintended consequence of selling inferior beans as fair trade. A better approach is to reward farmers for cultivating the very best beans. Paying for excellence incentivizes farmers to do their best work and also gives them an opportunity to make much more per pound than lower quality coffees.

Organic coffee is a great example of the right incentive. The coffee tree is one of the most absorbent crops on the planet. It drives its flavor from the mix of minerals and type of soil in which it is grown. And, then consider that most coffee grows in the developing world. This results in a lack of pesticide regulation. Years ago here in the US we banned many of the same pesticides readily available in the developing world. Farming using dangerous, unregulated pesticides results in harmful exposure to carcinogens and also birth defects for farmers and their families. Also, what effect can these unregulated pesticides have on the coffee drinker?

Encouraging Shade Grown coffee is also very important to farmers due to the impact environmentally on their farms and their local environment. When big coffee moves into a region and clear cuts the forest to increase the total yield per acre, the unintended consequences can be soil erosion. Additionally, when the rainforest is removed, lasting damage is done to the environment and specifically bird habitat further damaging the ecosystem.

Farmers earn a higher price per pound for excellence. Encouraging farmers to cultivate the best tasting coffees ensures farmers receive the best price per pound possible. In addition to organic and shade grown coffee, Arabica beans help farmers earn more — simply because they taste amazing. The alternative Robusta contains twice the acidity and caffeine of Arabica. The easiest coffee beans to grow are robusta, but they also contain twice the caffeine and acidity. Robusta coffee gives very bitter flavor. Due to the better coffee experience, the market dictates a higher price per pound for Arabica. Why not reward farmers for providing a superior coffee experience.

Summary: Fixing Fair Trade

Buy coffee that gives a hand up not a hand out. Empower farmers to work themselves out of poverty sustainably.

Buy coffee that promotes land ownership. This gives farmers the foundation to work their way out of poverty.

Buy coffee that partners with farmers in utilizing modern agronomy techniques.

Buy coffee that helps farmers diversify their crops.

Buy coffee that rewards farmers for producing the highest quality coffees.

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What the heck is cascara?

What the Heck is Cascara?

We have a special post from our friends at Triple Bar Coffee. Here is a informative piece by Tyler on Cascara Tea– made from the fruit of the coffee cherry:

In the last few years, a new buzzword has gained popularity in coffee/tea culture: cascara. You may be wondering, “What is this mystical sounding thing and how do I drink it?” Cascara, which means “shell” in Spanish is the outer skin of the coffee fruit.

While most of the stuff we drink tends to be brown, coffee actually begins as a red or yellow berry. This berry, often referred to as the coffee cherry or coffee fruit, grows on the coffee tree. Inside of these cherries is a pit that we know as the coffee “bean.” We call these “beans” because, when they are halved, each seed resembles a bean in size and shape.

The Makeup of the Coffee Fruit

Each coffee cherry is made up of the outer skin, pulp, mucilage, parchment, silver skin, and the coffee bean.

How Coffee is Processed

A lot of processing is involved before a coffee roaster can roast their beans to perfection. When the coffee cherry is ripe, it will turn a red or purple shade. Farmers pick the cherries and then remove the beans from the fruit. This usually involves using a machine to separate the beans by force, but sometimes farmers will leave the cherries out in the sun to dry the fruit off of the bean.

Using the Coffee Fruit

In the past, the coffee cherry has long been considered a byproduct of the coffee growing process. Historically, everything except the bean was discarded or composted and considered to be of little value. Recently, with the surge of environmentalism, savvy farmers and coffee processors began harvesting and processing the fruit with the intention of keeping both the coffee bean and the fruit.

Caffeine Content

Although cascara comes directly from the coffee fruit, it has nowhere near the amount of caffeine that a coffee bean has. Think more along the lines of black tea. The coffee experts at Square Mile Coffee Roasters did a study of the contents and found that cascara only had around 110 mg of caffeine per liter, while a cup of brewed coffee can range from 400 to 800 mg of caffeine.

Uses of Cascara

The main use for cascara is as tea. I’ve found that when it is steeped like a traditional tea, it produces a wonderfully tart and aromatic drink. If you’re a fan of herbal tea, the scent and flavor of cascara will feel familiar.

Historically, cascara has been used in combination with cinnamon and ginger in a drink called qishir, and though I haven’t tried this variation, it sounds like a great way to literally spice up your drink.

Since cascara is so trendy at the moment, other, more creative uses for cascara like — cascara beer and cascara toddy — are popping all the time.

Aside: Do note that some people vehemently oppose using the word “tea” to describe cascara, and while they might be technically right, nobody should want to be that guy. If you’re expecting anything like coffee when you go to drink your cascara brew, you’ll probably be disappointed.

Brewing instructions

With cascara being so new to the coffee and tea scene, there aren’t many tried and true recipes for brewing it to perfection. Square Mile coffee suggests using 5 to 7 grams of coffee for every 8-ounce cup of water. Be sure to let the water boil, then remove it from the heat and let the boil reduce before pouring the cup. As with teas, the longer you steep it, the stronger the flavor profile will be.

Other coffee shops suggest using the cold brew method and serving the cascara tea iced. If you decide on this method, be sure to use 6 tablespoons of cascara per 10 ounces of water. You’ll want to let this brew in your refrigerator for at least 24 hours. Once the waiting period is over, just strain the brew to remove the cascara. Then pour it over ice, and enjoy.

Why You Should Try It

The production of cascara is an intelligent blend of environmentalism and capitalism. In the past, the coffee fruit was considered to be a waste stream in coffee processing. By farmers developing a niche around the byproduct, they were able to cut down on waste and improve their bottom line.

Cascara is also great for tea drinkers who want to feel like coffee drinkers. We all have that friend who hates coffee, but whenever it comes up interjects, “But, I like tea!” Now that person can have a guilt-free seat at the coffee table.

An additional benefit to drinking cascara tea is the amount of antioxidants it has. It also is low in caffeine, which is great for those of us who prefer half-caf or decaf beverages.

Want to Try it?

If you’re interested in trying out tea made from the coffee fruit, odds are a specialty coffee shop in your area is selling it. If not, you can purchase dried coffee fruit from a variety of online sources. Here at Triple Bar Coffee we’re partial to Sweet Maria’s because we often source green coffee beans from them, but you should be able to find cascara from most green coffee importers.

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Everything You Need to Know About Making Cold Brew Coffee

Everything You Need to Know About Making Cold Brew

Making Cold-brew coffee may finally have become mainstream, but it is far from new. Think of making cold brew coffee as the grown-up and more sophisticated version of iced coffee. Like regular hot coffee, cold brew is pretty easy to make. What keeps its popularity escalating is the number of health benefits that come with every sip. Cool, silky, and caffeinated—cold brew coffee is an awesome beverage you should totally be drinking.

Why Making Cold Brew Coffee Deserves the Attention
There are a couple of reasons why making cold brew coffee should be getting its time in the coffee shop limelight:

No More Diluted Coffee. Pouring hot coffee over ice (or even putting cubes into your steaming cup of joe) is just asking for diluted coffee. Watery coffee is sad coffee, and it makes drinking it seem almost like a chore. Making cold brew coffee requires only the water needed to steep the grounds. If you want to dilute it afterwards, that is up to you.

Lower Acidity. Since the coffee grounds are subjected to boiling water, the chemical profile of the product is very different from what a conventional cup of hot coffee would be. The lower levels of acidity actually make cold-brewed coffee easier on the stomach. Since the acid levels are low, cold brew coffee even brings out the sweeter notes of coffee.

More Caffeine. Now isn’t that some glorious news? Cold brew coffee has a higher bean-to-water ratio than hot brewed coffee, and since it takes longer to steep, the caffeine content is naturally higher.

A Heap of Antioxidants. Since high temperatures are known to destroy antioxidants in almost anything, the longer coffee is exposed to high heat, the less health benefits it has. Cold brew coffee therefore has a higher concentration of several antioxidants, including chlorogenic acid. When coffee beans are roasted, a light roast will reduce the amount of chlorogenic acid in the beans by 60%. A dark roast has no chlorogenic acid left at all.

The only trade-off is that cold brew lacks the same amount of aromatic oils that a cup of hot brewed coffee has. For that reason, if you like your coffee with a kick, cold brew may take some getting used to.

Making Cold Brew Coffee Yourself

Sure, making cold brew coffee may sound like some fancy process that requires a lot of barista-based knowledge. In reality, making cold brew coffee is super easy and perfect for people who aren’t totally hyped to be up in the morning.

You can either choose a cold brew coffee maker or try another home method, like the ones listed below.

If you are grinding your own beans, grind the beans coarsely. You don’t want a fine grind, because that will result in cloudy unsavory coffee.

Two Methods

1. The Jar and Cheesecloth
This method requires two things: a jar or bowl that is deep enough to hold enough water and a piece of cheesecloth or a coffee filter. The ratio between coffee grounds and water is dependent on your own personal taste. It is recommended to start your grind with a ¾ cup of ground beans and 4 cups of cold water. Should you want to make a bigger batch, you can double that to 1.5 cups of beans and 8 cups of water.

Put the grounds in the bowl with water and slide it into the refrigerator overnight. Some people do like to leave the coffee steep at room temperature for about 12 hours then add it to the refrigerator later. The choice is yours. In the morning (or after time has passed), strain the liquid through a coffee filter or cheesecloth then enjoy.

2. The French Press
If you own a 32 oz. French Press, you are going to want ¾ cup ground beans and 4 cups of cold water. Once you have the everything add to the press, put it in the refrigerator to chill overnight. Leave the plunger up. When you are ready to have your cup of cold brew coffee in the morning, push that plunger down, pour, and enjoy!

When it comes to cold-brewing your coffee, the key is not to rush it. You want to make sure the grounds have long enough to soak so that you get a satisfying and luscious cup of coffee.

Cold brewed or hot brewed coffee is delicious. But knowing how to make a cup at any temperature to savour is sure to excite any coffee addict or caffeine connoisseur. There are health benefits and a different taste profile to discover when you drink cold brew. If you have tried making cold brew coffee before, what did you think?

Guest Post by David from bestpatrols.com