Menu
0
Canadian owned and operated!
Shop Locally sourced products!
Great selections on Eco friendly gift items!
Shop here and keep us here!
08May2020
For the Love of Coffee

For the Love of Coffee

By: Nichole TeComments: 0

“But first, coffee.” “First I drink the coffee, then I do the things.” “My Precious.” “Hello darkness, my old friend.” The list of coffee memes seem to be endless because, let’s be real – most of us rely on it to function. How do you brew?

To no surprise, an obscene amount of money is spent each year on drive-thru coffee. Take a look at the average difference in price between brewing at home vs. take out:

Averages for each method:

 Method Average Price Per Cup (14oz)
 Instant Coffee $0.59
 Pre-Ground $0.57
 Coffee Pods $0.60
 Whole Beans $0.64
 Coffee Shop $1.87

Source: www.howtosavemoney.ca

 

For a single person, take-out coffee amounts to a whopping C$682.55 annually, whereas brewing old-fashioned ground coffee in the comfort of your own home is considerably less, amounting to approximately C$208.05. These figures account for ONE COFFEE PER DAY. So take your daily coffee fix and multiply appropriately. For some of us, the numbers are astounding. What would YOU do with almost $500 of extra cash in your pocket? Save it? Get bottle-service and a booth on your birthday? You could even take yourself on a last-minute trip to the islands simply by making coffee at home instead of getting take-out each day.

Making coffee at home doesn’t have to be boring or time consuming. There are various options to suit your unique coffee palate. Did you know that the way your coffee tastes changes depending on the brewing method? Here are the deets: the aroma, texture (did you know coffee had texture?!) and freshness changes with each method, as well as the caffeine content and the way your body absorbs and processes the coffee. The type of bean is also important.

This may all sound overwhelming, we know, so we’ve made it super simple for you by outlining some of the most common ways to make coffee, and the health-facts associated with each method. After educating yourself on the beloved bean and how to brew, you will be able to enjoy your java that much more, and you may even want to start up conversations about it just so you can showcase your newfound knowledge.

 

FRENCH PRESS

Using the French press is very simple and straight forward: The coffee grounds steep in hot water, and then the grounds are pressed down to reveal your liquid gold. It is one of the cleanest brewing methods out there.

Facts:

  • Using a French Press produces a higher amount of caffeine and allows you to customize the strength of your cup of coffee. The average amount of caffeine per 8 ounce cup is 5 mg.
  • The coffee beans do not pass through a filter. Filters are often made out of bleached paper containing other chemicals that become carcinogenic when they come in contact with hot water.
  • Boiling water when brewing assists with the preservation of the antioxidants found in coffee beans, such as chlorogenic acids, that protect against Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Dementia.

 

AEROPRESS

The AeroPress is a newer method of brewing coffee, invented less than 20 years ago. Using this method, water and coffee grounds are mixed together for several seconds before air pressure forces the water through a micro filter, resulting in a smooth, rich cup of coffee.

Facts:

  • This is a great option for those who only wish to brew one serving of coffee. The approximate amount of caffeine per cup is 100mg per 4 ounce cup.
  • An AeroPress is similar to using a French Press, but there are a few more benefits: The filter offers easier clean up, and also filters out some of the oils found in coffee that have been said to be ‘not so great’ for you if you drink a lot of coffee.
  • If you like to make your own coffee at work or on vacation, it is a great compact option.

 

AUTOMATIC DRIP

We’ve all seen this before. Our parents used it, our grandparents will only use it, and most restaurants also use this common type of coffee brewing method.

Facts:

  • Most machines are programmable to brew your coffee on a timer so that when you wake up in the morning, you can literally wake up and smell the coffee. The average amount of caffeine found in drip coffee is 145 mg per cup.
  • If you decide on purchasing a higher-end automatic drip machine, it will most likely have a variety of features such as a built-in coffee bean grinder, a “keep warm” time setting, and the ability to choose the length of brewing time, which can alter the strength and flavor of your coffee.
  • Although filters do have their drawbacks, using a filter has been shown to prevent an oily compound found in coffee beans that block the cholesterol-regulating receptors in your intestines from passing through. If using a filter, try to find some that are unbleached and better yet, reusable.

 

PODS

An expensive but extremely quick way of making coffee, adding a pre-packaged coffee pod to the maker of your choice and pressing start are all you need to do to make this coffee. There are approximately 60-80 mg of caffeine per pod, depending on the type of coffee you’re drinking and length of pour.

Facts:

  • Using a pod machine guarantees you a coffee that tastes the same each and ever time.
  • Sadly, these coffee makers have been said to be a breeding ground for bacteria and mold, and the plastics and aluminums in the pods have also raised serious health and environmental concerns. (So much so that the inventor of the coffee pod, John Sylvan himself, regrets creating them.
  • If you must use this method, be sure to clean your machine regularly and opt for the newer reusable or biodegradable pods.

 

POUR OVER

Using this method, a filter is placed in the top part of the coffee maker and boiling water is ‘poured over’ the ground coffee. A popular pour-over coffee maker is the Chemex. They use a scientifically designed filter and non-porous glass. With the Chemex method, you can make coffee as strong as you like without bitterness. Because of its purity, Chemex brewed coffee can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for reheating...without losing its flavour! There is approximately 145 mg of caffeine per cup using this method.

 

Facts:

  • When the water is poured over the grinds, they are evenly wet, which better extracts the unique notes and flavors from the coffee beans. This gives you a stronger and better tasting coffee.
  • The pour over method allows you to have complete control of the taste, strength and water temperature.
  • Chemex filters are designed to remove sediment, oils and fatty acids, giving the coffee a richer flavor.
  • The Chemex is made from glass. This is a preferable option compared to plastic, which contains endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as BPA, that may leach into hot beverages.
  • Coffee connoisseurs say if you use a high quality coffee bean ground specifically for use with pour-over coffee makers, paired with the right temperature and coffee filter, making coffee becomes an artful process that is incredibly satisfying.

 

COLD BREW

Cold brewed coffee is exactly as it sounds: coffee that’s been brewed cold. However, it has a few key differences from regular coffee when it comes to acidity and taste. The amount of caffeine in your cold brew will vary based on the beans you use. Cold brew coffee is higher in caffeine than hot brewed coffee because of the long steep time.

Facts:

  • Approximately ⅔ less acidic than hot coffee, which makes it better tolerated for those who have conditions that are aggravated by acidic foods (for example, acid reflux).
  • When coffee is brewed cold instead of hot, the lower acidity produces a naturally sweeter taste.
  • Cold brew is steeped for 18-24 hours in the fridge, which produces a coffee that’s richer in flavour.
  • It doesn’t go stale as quickly as hot brewed coffee, so you can make a batch ahead of time to last you the week.

 

There’s no limit to the ways you can enjoy your coffee, and now you know which coffee contraptions to purchase that will cater to your taste preferences.

 

Here are a few videos with more information about coffee:

 

Facts About Drinking Coffee

TED Talk: Everything You Need to Know About Coffee

 

Tags

    Leave a comment

    Your email address will not be published

    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Subscribe

    Create an account

    By creating an account with our store, you will be able to move through the checkout process faster, store multiple addresses, view and track your orders in your account, and more.

    Register

    Recently added

    You have no items in your shopping cart

    Total excl. VAT:C$0.00

    Calculate shipping costs

    No shipping methods found for this country