Each and every one of us has our own excuse for drinking coffee. Some do it for social purposes, for an extra dose of energy, or because they simply like the taste. However, there are very few people who admit that they need the coffee, not just want it. Or more precisely, it’s your brain that needs it.
In these cases, our brain knows better than us. It knows what it needs to clear that annoying fog resting around it at the same time every day. And here are a few quick reasons why you should give in to that urge, according to Dripped Coffee’s infographic:
Summary:
It gives you an energy boost
It reduces the risk of depression
It reduces cravings and helps you burn calories
It strengthens your DNA
It improves your focus and stimulates your central nervous system
It improves your short term memory
It protects against diseases such as Alzheimer’s, gout or type 2 diabetes.
Your brain sees coffee as humans see a hug: it’s soothing, its helpful, and it’s one of the best addictions to have. We know we are coffee addicts; we just don’t care. And if we are to be completely honest, neither does our brain.
Getting the best coffee grind for your morning brew is easy when you know your options. Here is a really fast breakdown of how to get the best coffee grind for your coffee maker.
The reason a blade grinder is just about the worst option is because of how it works. The blade grinder has one or two blades that spin very fast — essentially chopping the beans. This “chopping” of the beans creates an uneven grind. Then during brewing your ground will not extract properly. It’s kind of like trying to brew espresso with french press coarse grinds and at the same time mixing that brew with a french press using espresso grind. It’s going to be messy and it won’t taste right.
If You’re a Glutton for Punishment
If you’re going to use the blade grinder anyway here’s some tips. To get the best coffee grind from a Blade grinder make sure to keep the grinder upright on the counter. A common mistake is made in twisting and turning the grinder to “assist” in the grinding process. This actually makes the chopping of the beans by the grinder worse. Just make sure the grinder is level.
Follow Our Handy Time-limit for Grinding by Brew Method
20 seconds (finest) – Turkish
16 seconds – Fine Espresso
14 seconds – Standard Espresso
12 seconds – Cone Filter Drip
11 seconds (middle grind) – Universal Drip
10 seconds – Flat/Basket Filter Drip
9 seconds – Percolator
8 seconds – Stovetop Percolator
6 seconds (coarsest) – French Press
The OK — Letting the Pros do it for You
A better option is to let the pros grind your coffee for you. Here at Camano Island Coffee Roasters we give all of our Club members the option to have their coffee ground by the experts. Just let us know how you plan to brew your coffee and we will give you the best coffee grind possible.
Why It’s Only Ok
As soon as we grind your beans, they start to lose some of the amazing fresh taste. The beans in whole form hold in the oils and flavors better enabling your coffee to last longer. Receiving the beans in whole bean and grinding them correctly yourself will give you the best flavor possible! But if convenience is more important to you, than leaving the mess of grinding to us!
The Best Coffee Grind Option: Grinding with a Burr Grinder
The very best coffee grind option is to grind your beans yourself with a burr grinder. A burr grinder contains two discs that essentially grind against each other. It’s this motion of crushing and grinding that enables you to receive the most uniform grind possible.
Why It’s the Absolute Best Coffee Grind
Grinding Plate
Hand Ginder
Your beans will be fresher, better tasting, and more versatile. Your beans will hold in their flavor for the longest possible time if they are stored whole. You will also get the best flavor extraction with a consistent and accurate coarseness for your grounds. Remember it’s the uneven grinding of a blade grinder that will mess up your flavor. Lastly, when you receive your beans as whole and grind them yourself with a burr grinder then you can choose different brewing methods with the same bag of beans. Want the strong, thick flavor of a french press in the morning? Want a more nuanced, smoother mouthfeel of a pourover in the afternoon? You can do both if you use a Burr grinder. Below is a list of the standard grind settings by brew method — from finest to coarsest.
Turkish
Fine Espresso
Standard Espresso
Cone Filter Drip
Universal Drip
Flat/Basket Filter Drip
Percolator
Stovetop Percolator
French Press (coarsest)
You’ll notice that Turkish and then espresso is the most fine grind and the french press is the most coarse. Each brewing method requires a specific coarseness.
Example of Turkish Grind
Example of Drip Flat Grind
Example of French Press
Now that you’ve seen The Good, The OK, and The Ugly of Coffee Grinding why don’t you tell us how you grind your beans. Comment below!
Getting the best coffee grind for your morning brew is easy when you know your options. Here is a really fast breakdown of how to get the best coffee grind for your coffee maker.
The reason a blade grinder is just about the worst option is because of how it works. The blade grinder has one or two blades that spin very fast — essentially chopping the beans. This chopping of the beans creates an uneven grind. Then during brewing your ground will not extract properly. Its kind of like trying to brew espresso with french press coarse grinds and at the same time mixing that brew with a french press using espresso grind. Its going to be messy and it wont taste right.
If youre a glutton for punishment.
If youre going to use the blade grinder anyway heres some tips. To get the best coffee grind from a Blade grinder make sure to keep the grinder upright on the counter. A common mistake is made in twisting and turn the grinder to assist in the grinding process. This actually makes the chopping of the beans by the grinder worse. Just make sure the grinder is level.
Follow our handy time-limit for grinding by brew method
20 seconds (finest) Turkish
16 seconds Fine Espresso
14 seconds Standard Espresso
12 seconds Cone Filter Drip
11 seconds (middle grind) Universal Drip
10 seconds Flat/Basket Filter Drip
9 seconds Percolator
8 seconds Stovetop Percolator
6 seconds (coarsest) French Press
The OK — Letting the pros do it for you.
A better option is to let the pros grind your coffee for you. Here at Camano Island Coffee Roasters we give all of our Club members the option to have their coffee ground by the experts. Just let us know how you plan to brew your coffee and we will give you the best coffee grind possible.
Why its only ok.
As soon as we grind your beans, they start to lose some of the amazing fresh taste. The beans in whole form hold in the oils and flavors better enabling your coffee to last longer. Receiving the beans in whole bean and grinding them correctly yourself will give you the best flavor possible! But if convenience is more important to you, then leaving the mess of grinding to us!
The Best Coffee Grind Option: Grinding with a Burr Grinder.
The very best coffee grind option is to grind your beans yourself with a burr grinder. A burr grinder contains two discs that essentially grind against each other. Its this motion of crushing and grinding that enables you to receive the most uniform grind possible.
Why its the absolute best coffee grind.
Your beans will be fresher, better tasting, and more versatile. Your beans will hold in their flavor for the longest possible time if they are stored whole. You will also get the best flavor extraction with a consistent and accurate coarseness for your grounds. Remember its the uneven grinding of a blade grinder that will mess up your flavor. Lastly, when you receive your beans as whole and grind them yourself with a burr grinder then you can choose different brewing methods with the same bag of beans. Want the strong, thick flavor of a french press in the morning? Want a more nuanced, smoother mouthfeel of a pourover in the afternoon? You can do both if you use a Burr grinder. Below is a list of the standard grind settings by brew method — from finest to coarsest.
Turkish
Fine Espresso
Standard Espresso
Cone Filter Drip
Universal Drip
Flat/Basket Filter Drip
Percolator
Stovetop Percolator
(coarsest) French Press
Youll notice that Turkish and then espresso is the most fine grind and the french press is the most coarse. Each brewing method requires a specific coarseness.
Here’s an example of Turkish grind.
And here’s an example of French Press
Now that youve seen The Good, The OK, and The Ugly of Coffee Grinding why dont you tell us what *ahem* how you grind your beans. Comment below!
Waking up with a fresh cup of coffee each morning is a great way to charge your energy levels and invigorate your senses so you’re ready to take on the tasks and responsibilities of the day. And while there are plenty of reasons to make sure that your coffee is organic and not made using conventional methods, our friends at Modernize have put together a list of some of the most important.
Avoid Pesticides
Unfortunately, coffee that is not grown organically is commonly treated with herbicides and pesticides such as endosulfan, diazinon, and triadimefon. But when you stick with organic coffee, you don’t have to worry about sucking up any dangerous chemicals that can produce serious side effects such as breathing problems, inflammation, and heightened blood pressure.
Enjoy Better Flavor
Because organic coffee is not produced using pesticides and chemicals, you can expect every sip to taste significantly better than its conventional counterpart. Whether you enjoy drinking your coffee black or with some milk and sugar, choosing organic is sure to eliminate any strange aftertastes or flavor inconsistencies.
Improve Your Nutrition
Organic coffee is full of antioxidants that help to keep the body strong, improve the immune system, and increase energy levels without having to experience a drop in energy once the afternoon comes around.
Take Part in Fair Trade
Many organic coffees happen to be fair-trade certified, which means that everyone who plays a role in their production is paid a fair wage and does not face dangerous working conditions of any kind. You can feel good about knowing that people in Colombia, Papua New Guinea, and Ethiopia where much of the coffee is grown won’t suffer just so you can enjoy your daily cup. Also, Camano Island Coffee Roasters contributes above paying fair trade prices. 4% of revenue received from the Coffee Lovers Club go back to support nonprofit organizations helping farmers build sustainable businesses at origin. Learn more here.
With these considerations in mind, it’s easy to see why buying organic coffee is so important. And the best part is, you’ll likely find that buying organic isn’t much more expensive than buying conventional overall. If you would like to give Organic coffee a try, feel free to get a free pound of organic Camano Island Coffee when you join the Coffee Lover’s Club. Click here to learn more.
The gardening season is in full swing, and with it, we look for the best way to curb the growth of those persistent weeds while continuing to nourish our soil — gardening with burlap bags can be extra helpful. Burlap bags are made of biodegradable, natural fibers, which break down in the soil and provide a rich layer of nutrients for your plants. If you haven’t thought gardening with burlap bags, now is your chance to learn a little bit about it and see if it’s a possibility for you!
Burlap bags are usually made out of several different ingredients, with the two most common being Jute and Hemp. Jute is a small, soft plant which is grown mostly in Bangladesh and some parts of India. It thrives in wet/monsoon climates and is the second largest natural fiber grown around the world after cotton. Jute leaves are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, beta-carotene, iron, calcium and vitamin E. The leaves of the Jute plant historically were eaten to restore youth and good health. Jute is woven into burlap bags, along with hemp, agave, and vegetable fibers, and is then exported all over the world.
Follow these easy steps for gardening with burlap bags!
Choose the right location for gardening with burlap bags. I usually place mine in areas with tough weeds or along garden paths.
Place the burlap directly over the weeds and layer if necessary. If you have time, you can choose to dig up the weeds before covering them with burlap. This can lead to stronger weed prevention!
After placing the burlap in your garden, cover with sand, soil, bark, or rocks. This simple step before planting will fortify your garden soil with rich vitamins and will keep weeds at a minimum.
Tip: If the weeds in your garden are extra persistent, first place newspaper or cardboard beneath the burlap to create a stronger wall between the weeds and your plants.
Let us know how gardening with burlap bags has helped you show off your garden in the comments below!
