Ten Tips for Making Tomorrow's Coffee the Best Ever

10.Proper brewing technique
With the exception of a few brewing techniques, there really isn't a wrong way to brew coffee. It's just a matter of finding what you like in your cup, pairing it with the proper brewing method, and making a proper cup of coffee. Follow the rest of the tips below to get the most out of your coffee.
9.Do not burn
Heat is one of the many factors that kills coffee. If you want to instantly kill a good cup of coffee, burn it. Use boiling water and you'll find yourself drinking a rather bad cup. Use around 200 degree F water.
8.Do not let sit or reheat
Just like coffee beans, a cup of coffee can go stale. Coffee only lasts about twenty minutes. If your cup is luke-warm or cold, dump it and make more coffee. Don't reheat it. Reheating destroys the flavors and imparts acidic, bitter notes to the cup.
7.Proper grind
Different brewing methods require different grind settings because the brewing processes vary. A press pot coffee should be coarse, while an automatic drip should be finer. Get that backwards and you'll have an odd tasting cup of coffee. Understand which grind setting is the proper one for you and grind accordingly.
6. Grind fresh
To artificially age your coffee, grind it and let it sit. You'll have a pile of lackluster coffee grinds in minutes. It's that simple. This is because once ground, you've increased the surface area of the coffee by multiples, and it's all touching the air, oxidizing and deteriorating. It's dying. Even if it is immediately packaged and sealed, you'll eventually open that bag, and chances are, you won't use it all that morning.
5.Clean equipment
Coffee mugs do not need to be seasoned. Wash it. And everything else that your coffee touches. Word of warning: don't use strong cleaning liquids unless you like a lemony scent.
4.Fresh beans
Like most food items, coffee has a shelf life. It stales and loses its character, body, aromatics, and flavor. When possible, purchase smaller amounts of coffee that can be used within x days. If you prefer to buy in bulk to save on shipping or to avoid an extra trip to the store, keep the coffee in a dry, cool place and avoid exposing it to the air. Portion a large bag of coffee into smaller bags to avoid exposing the entire lot every morning.
3. 8-10 g per 6 ounces of water
Too little coffee and you'll brew a cup that is overextracted (bitter). Too much coffee and you'll brew a cup that is underextracted (weak or flat).
2. Good water
Coffee is 99% water, so it stands to reason that if you use poor quality water, your coffee will be bad. A simple rule of thumb is that if you don't like how your water tastes, don't use it to brew your coffee. A more complex rule of thumb is to use good water that contains minerals. Bottled (drinking or spring) water usually has the proper mineral content. Distilled or reverse osmosis water does not.
1. Buy from trusted source
Whether you buy online or from a local retailer, know you coffee by knowing your seller. Do they make transparency a priority, or do they hide behind generic coffee terms (i.e. this is our Colombian and that's our dark roast)? By getting as much information about the coffee, you can locate the knowledgeable sellers who are more likely to invest time and energy into sourcing good coffee and roasting it to perfection, and thus, allowing you to make a better decision on your next coffee purchase.

Open House

Our doors are always open to visitors, but on Saturday, September 20^th 2008, we are doing something a bit special.

We are having an open house from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Please stop by as we will have hands-on roasting, cupping, and espresso demonstrations. No need to RSVP, but feel free to call if you have any questions.

Paradise Roasters
6250 Bunker Lake Blvd, Suite 211
Ramsey, MN 55303

(763) 466-4065

Coffee Chaff and Burlap Sacks

Diverting Waste to Become More Eco-friendly...

Coffee Chaff

Coffee chaff is the protective skin surrounding the seed (the coffee bean) of the coffee cherry. When the coffee is roasted, this chaff separates from the coffee and collects in the roaster’s chaff collector. Instead of throwing away this lightweight, inedible material, Paradise Roasters bags the chaff for use in private/public composts and gardens.

Collected chaff is available at no charge to anyone who wishes to stop by and pick it up at the roastery. Quantity is limited, so feel free to call ahead to determine availability. If you would like us to ship the chaff to you, we will be happy to do so, but a shipping and handling charge will apply.

When using chaff, don’t use too much as there is a tendency for this stuff to clump and repel water. Used in proper amounts, however, chaff is perfect for acid-loving plants. During the winter months, chaff can form a protective barrier in replace of or in addition to fallen leaves.

Burlap Coffee Bags

The majority of green coffee is transported in burlap bags, and once the coffee is roasted, we have no use for the bags. But if you do, we’d be happy to give you one…or twenty. Like the chaff, burlaps bags are free. However, shipping and handling will apply to anyone who cannot pick up.

New law against lattes gone wild

Mason County officials in Washington have deemed "bikini baristas" to be exotic entertainment, and thus, must either put on more clothing or shut down.

It's curious that the crackdown here isn't about the unsafe working environment. Semi-nude baristas working near scalding milk, pressurized steam, and hot coffee screams injury and lawsuit.

photo by: waɪ.tiː's

Brett Favre Traded to the New York Jets

Aaron and I had a bet concerning whether Brett Favre would play in the NFL this upcoming season. We made this bet two months ago. Today, it was reported that the Green Bay Packers traded Brett Favre to the New York Jets.

Aaron has conceded. I am the new owner of two relatively used dollar bills.

Perhaps I can bet Miguel a Brett Favre - New York Jets jersey that Chad Pennington will never throw another ball for the New York Jets again? Or maybe tickets to a game? The pre-season Giants - Jets game on Saturday, August 23 would even suffice. I'll have to look over the Jets' schedule.

While I'm in New York, I should check out some coffee shops too.

Espresso Havana Reserve will Return

Based on customer feedback, we will bring back Espresso Havana Reserve for a limited time starting September 2nd, 2008.

Designed to pair well with a fine cigar, this blend offers a heavy mouthfeel and smoky tobacco-like tastes.

And like the last version of Havana Reserve, this espresso blend will also contain Panama Esmeralda.

Feel free to call us (763-433-0626) to secure Havana Reserve. It won't be on the website for a few more weeks, but that doesn't mean you can't place a preorder.

Espresso Havana Reserve will replace Safari Espresso Blend, so if you mean to try that espresso, do so quickly as it will be gone September 2nd 2008.

Espresso Adagio

A prelude...