Coffee 101: Fun Facts About Java

Coffee. Java. Cup of Joe. We have a lot of nicknames for the caffeine-packed brown liquid that is the life source to many. The truth about coffee is that there are a lot of things to know about it. Some of us drink coffee and do not know much more about it than it is delicious, wakes us up, and it comes from that machine over there. However, we plan to change that! We plan to educate you on the finer details about the stuff and make you a smartypants about coffee.

• The first thing you should know about coffee is that the bean we roast, grind, and brew actually grows inside little red berries; the beans are the pits of the berry. Some people affectionately refer to the berry as coffee cherries; yes, the berries are edible. So yes, you are consuming “fruit” when you have a cup of Joe; the coffee bean shares many similarities with the Brazilian acai berry, true story. As a national online coffee distributor, we think it is cool that we are technically distributing fruit. You are welcome for your health.
• Hawaii is the only state in the United States that grows coffee commercially. Coffee is commonly grown in areas of the world that are near the equator, like Brazil, Vietnam, etc. and Hawaii is the only US state that has the right climate to brew the stuff. Kona coffee is the popular coffee from the state.
• In Turkey, if your spouse did not provide you with coffee, it was grounds for divorce (beh-duh-tince!). This custom is not practiced anymore but at a time, it was. Still, watch out for the times when you brew some single cup coffee without making some for your spouse.
• The country to produce the most amount of coffee crop is Brazil, followed by Vietnam, and then Colombia. Brazil produces nearly twice as much crop as Vietnam and Colombia, on average; Brazil’s crop is a third of the crop in the entire world.
• It would take about 100 mugs of coffee to create a lethal dose of caffeine. Obviously, the amount differs for your caffeine tolerance and your body size, but on average, it would take approximately 100 cups.
• Most of the coffee enjoyed in the world is Arabica; nearly 70 percent of coffee on the market is Arabica. Robusta is at 30 percent. Robusta has nearly twice the caffeine that Arabica has.
• The Americano was created during World War 2 when American soldiers would order their espresso with water to dilute it; they thought the European way was too strong.

Now you can feel smart when drinking coffee because of all the cool facts you now know about the beverage.

How Does Coffee Make Us Feel Happier?

Any coffee drinker can recall their first impression of coffee; the grimaced face, the “eugheeww” expression, and the question, “Do I have to finish this?” However, you are a changed person! You love coffee now and even when you do not consume a cup of the delicious nectar, you still get a huge smile of relief just by breathing in the heavenly aroma. Why is this the case? How does coffee make us happy, even just by smelling it?

Scientists have known for a long time that coffee stimulates the sense of euphoria in the brain and creates that “happy place” for us. When we have that cup of coffee, our brain releases the dopamine; dopamine is a neurotransmitter in our brains that sends good vibes to the receptors. Coffee’s ability to release this chemical in our brain is a huge reason why java is one of the most consumed beverages in the world and can seem addictive for some.

 Is that why we crave the stuff? We just want to feel good? Well, it is certainly a good force for wanting more coffee; people will make sure they have enough of it on hand to last them through vacations, a week, etc. When we see we are running low, we go and grab some mo

re. In a study from Molecular Nutrition and Food Research found that coffee can be addictive for people because it acts within the brain’s marijuana-esque neurotransmitter system.

When we start our coffee drinking habits, we tend to do so because we want that good feeling more than we need the focus it gives us. As we drink more and more of the stuff, our brains compensate by adjusting to the levels of caffeine; this way, we can focus with the effects of the coffee instead of becoming sleepless zombies and having tremors that are beyond our control. Due to the brain’s adjustments, we tend to need more and more coffee as our brain’s tolerance for the caffeine adjusts and the initial effects wear off. When we have our coffee, we find that the caffeine is stimulating the brain’s endogenous marijuana neurotransmitter setup; this created a new pleasure level when we have our morning coffee, this also makes us want more than just one cup a day.

Ultimately, coffee makes us feel good because it creates good vibes from all the pleasure centers of our brain. This elixir smells good, tastes good, and has been proven to even be good for us (when consumed in moderation).

Enjoy your coffee. Love it.

Can I Drink Coffee While Pregnant?

Now that you are pregnant, do you have to stop drinking coffee and other beverages that have caffeine, like tea?

There is a general understanding that women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, and those trying to become pregnant should not consume coffee and tea, at least in large quantities. However, after decades of medical studies, controversy, and conflicting reports, we are still no closer to a 100 percent consensus about how much caffeine is safe during pregnancy.

To be a little bit more cautious, many organizations and medical groups advise that women who are pregnant, about to become pregnant, or breastfeeding do their best to limit their caffeine consumption to less than 200 milligrams a day. This amount is equivalent to one cup of 12-ounce coffee (that also depends on the type of coffee since different kinds have varying amounts of caffeine). Ex: dark roast coffee has less caffeine than lightroast coffee. You can also do research to find out how much various foods and drinks have in terms of caffeine.

Why are people concerned about consuming caffeine during pregnancy?

In 2008, there was a highly publicized study that stated that women who consume more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day had twice the risk of a miscarriage than those who drank little to no caffeine. However, not every study showed a connection between elevated levels of caffeine consumption and an elevated result of miscarriage.

Findings from a study from Denmark stated that when pregnant women consume more than eight cups of coffee a day, their risk of having a stillbirth more than doubled.

Some medical studies found that there is an association between heightened caffeine consumption as well as a baby’s reduced body weight; however, the majority of studies done on the subject do not find this to be true.

You might want to slow down on the coffee and tea consumption during pregnancy for the reason that you do feel the effects a lot more during this time. You body is not able to breakdown the caffeine and more of it makes its way to your bloodstream. It can take two to three times as long to break down the caffeine during pregnancy versus not being pregnant. Also, it can be harder to absorb iron during this time.

After giving birth, if you are not breastfeeding, then go ahead and return to drinking plenty of single cup coffee.

The Perfect No-Bake Caramel Turtle Cheesecake Recipe

So we're all about making the best coffee we can but we've found that one great way to make coffee even better is to enjoy it with some dessert.

One of the best desserts we've found to enjoy with a Starbucks Pike Place coffee roast or maybe a Marley Talkin' Blues is the No-Bake Caramel Turtle Cheesecake.

Here's what you'll need:

Brownie layer of cheesecake:

• 1 box of brownie mix or you can make your own batch of brownies from scratch if you know a good recipe

Caramel syrup:

• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup of water
• 3/4 cup of heavy whipping cream
• 3 tbs of butter, unsalted
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt

Caramel cheesecake:

• 16 ounces of cream cheese
• Half cup of granulated sugar
• Half cup of brown sugar
• 3/4 cup of caramel syrup
• Half tsp of cinnamon
• A pinch of nutmeg
• 4 ounces of cool whip

Topping:

• Handful of chopped nuts, such as pecans
• Caramel syrup
• Hot fudge

1. Grease the 9 inch springform pan. Mix all the brownie ingredients until the mix is smooth. Pour the mix into the pan and bake according to the brownie box's instructions. Sorry, so there is some baking. 
2. While the brownies are baking, make the caramel sauce. In a small pot, heat up the sugar with water over medium heat and whisk until the sugar is dissolved. Once the sugar is dissolved, swirl the pan until it turns a slightly darker color, around an amber color. Do not whisk this mix, swirl using the handle. Slowly and carefully pour in the cream. Whisk this until it is smooth. Remove the pot from heat and mix in the butter, vanilla, and salt. Set the caramel to the side and allow it to cool and thicken a bit. Once the brownies are done, remove the outer ring of the pan and allow the brownies to cool. 
3. In a large mixing bowl, mix the cream cheese and sugars until it is all smooth. Stir in 3/4 cup of caramel syrup and spices until mixed. Mix in cool whip and mix until smooth and even distributed. Put the outer ring of the springform pan back on the pan. Put the cheesecake mixture on top of the brownies. Chill in fridge for a few hours. 
4. Sprinkle nuts and caramel sauce over top of brownies. 
5. Serve. 

Iced Coffee Recipe Using Condensed Milk

This recipe will make about one gallon of iced coffee, if you need to make more than that, then just double the recipe. This coffee is perfect for any reason you want iced coffee, especially when it's just a little too warm for hot coffee.

It's time to be your own barista and make some incredible iced coffee that will wow your friends! Just keep it in the fridge and have your coffee cold and delicious whenever you want it.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb bag of fresh coffee grounds
• 8 cups of boiling water
• 8 cups of iced water
• 1 can of sweet condensed milk

What you will need:

• 1 french press

Directions:

1. Pour the ground coffee into a large bowl or pot that is capable of holding heat. Add in your 8 cups of boiling hot water. Stir in the coffee grounds and let sit for approximately five minutes. 
2. When using the french press, put the coffee mixture through the press in a few smaller batches. 
3. Once the coffee has gone through the press, throw the grounds away and mix in the 8 cups of iced water. Put this in the fridge. 
4. When you want to serve the coffee, fill a glass with ice and pour in the coffee. Add in 1-2 Tbsp of sweet condensed milk (this is to taste so it is really up to you). 
5. Enjoy. 

Questions or comments? Feel free to reach out to Coffeevines on Facebook or Twitter. 

Coffee & Dessert: Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars Recipe

You are going to love indulging with some of these caramel apple cheesecake bars with your morning coffee and you will not be disappointed. These will send you into food heaven.

This recipe is incredibly easy and well worth it. The ingredients you need are:

Crust:

• 2 cups of flour
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 2 sticks of softened butter

Filling:

• 3 packages of cream cheese 
• 1 cup of white sugar
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 3 eggs

Apple mix:

• 3 peeled Granny Smith apples-- diced
• 2 tbsp of white sugar
• 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp of nutmeg

Topping:

• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1 cup of flour
• 1/2 cup of Quick Oats
• 1 stick of softened butter
• Caramel sauce

Here are the directions for making the best dessert to pair with your fresh ground coffee:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. LIne your baking pan (9x13") with foil and overhang on the sides a bit
3. Add flour and brown sugar to a medium sized mixing bowl 
4. Mix in butter with two forks, or use a nice pastry blender, until your mix is nice and crumbly
5. Press the mixture into the prep'd plan
6. Put in the oven for 15-20 minutes
7. Add in your cream cheese, vanilla, and sugar in a large mixing bowl
8. Mix this until it's smooth
9. Add in the eggs, one at a time
10. Pour the mix into the crust
11. Add in your apples, sugar, and cinnamon to a medium sized mixing bowl
12. Coat the apples in the sugar and cinnamon
13. Place apples over the cream cheese mix
14. Add brown sugar, flour, quick oats and soft butter to a medium sized mixing bowl and stir
15. Sprinkle this over your apple layer
16. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour. 
17. Allow to cool overnight in the fridge
18. Drizzle caramel sauce on top
19. Slice
20. Enjoy

Coffee S'Mores Pie Recipe. Need We Say More?

It's summer and that means s'mores! "S'more what?" "You're killing me, Smalls!" Also, coffee. It is the incredible combination of the two best things on earth. Aside from having coffee in the recipe, this pie goes great with a dark roast coffee.

Ingredients: 

The Crust

• 9 graham crackers. Smashed finely. 
• 2 tablespoons of heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons of Nutella
• 1 ounce of semisweet chocolate, melted
• 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter, melted

The coffee ganache

• 12 ounces of semisweet chocolate, cut into 1/2" cubes
• 1 & 1/4 cups of heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons of fresh coffee grounds

The meringue

• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup of sugar, white

The graham cracker crust prep

1. Mix the graham cracker crumbs and the other ingredients in a mixing bowl. 
2. Once mixed, spread this mixture into a pie tin. Push until firm. 
3. Chill for about 30 minutes. 

The coffee ganache prep

1. Place chocolate and butter in a large mixing bowl. 
2. Bring the cream, the coffee, and 2 tablespoons of water to a boil in a small saucepan. 
3. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let steep for about five minutes. 
4. Strain the cream mix through fine, mesh sieve into the bowl with the chocolate and butter. 
5. Toss the coffee grounds. 
6. Stir the mix until it is all melted and smooth. 
7. Pour this into the chilled crust. 
8. Let set for an hour. 

The meringue

1. Use an electric mixer on medium speed. 
2. Beat the egg whites in a medium sized bowl until they are light and frothy. 
3. Add in sugar in 4 additions to avoid sugar rebounding everywhere. Beat for one minute with each addition. 
4. Beat egg whites and sugar until stiff and glossy. 
5. Spread the meringue over the coffee ganache. Feel free to make it decorative! 
6. Use a kitchen torch to brown the meringue a bit to give it that campfire roasted marshmallow look. 
7. Keep the pie chilled. It can be made 8 hours ahead of time. 

Coffee Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Jubilee Frappe

It's summer. Summer means happiness. Happiness is brought on by chocolate, coffee, and cold drinks. Oh, and cherries. Now let's combine all four things into one big happy frappe!

This frappe is deliciously chocolatey and has a special sweet spot in our hearts with the plump cherry on top.

You can make this frappe with some partially frozen coffee, about 1.5 cups, partially thawed. 1/2 cup of frozen cherries, 1 tbsp. of unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tbsp. of maraschino cherry juice, 1/4 cup of stevia, and 1/4 cup of unsweetened coconut milk. This recipe will make about four cups.

Directions: 

1. Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. This will take approximately two minutes. 

If you are interested in the drink but not a huge coffee fan, feel free to add some milk and cubes and make it more of a milkshake! If you want to make the drink real smooth, blend it for a while. If you want to make it thicker, then add in some xanthan gum (1/8 of a teaspoon). Before we mentioned the recipe making four cups, if you add in the xanthan gum, it will stretch it to six cups.

If you are counting your calories, this drink is about 46.2 calories per serving (2 cups is one serving). Fat is 1.6g, 0 cholesterol, 38.1g of sodium, 9.2 carbs, 5.8g of sugar, and .08g of protein.

Enjoy your chocolate cherry jubilee frappe! Any questions? Contact Coffeevines! 

How To Make Homemade Coffee Creamer (And Ditch the Additives)

Adding some delicious coffee creamer is every coffee drinker's right. What is not right is adding in expensive coffee creamer that is loaded with additives. That leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and it's not from the gas station coffee I got the other day. So how can we make our own coffee creamer? Let's get started. 

The base ingredients: 

• 3 cups of any combo of milk (your choice of milk)
• 4 tbsp of your favorite sugar for sweet cream

Instructions:

• Milk:
• Choose a milk that does not have any hormones, antibiotics, and GMO-fed dairy in it
• You can also use soy milk, rice milk, or almond milk. 
• Sweetener:
• Less processed sugar, the better. You can also use substitutes like Stevia or raw/organic honey. 
• Flavor: Chose any of the flavors listed below. Mix them into the base of 1.5 cups of milk and 1.5 cups of cream. 
• Mocha java: 2 tbsp of cocoa powder, 4 tbsp of brown sugar
• Mexican mocha java: 2 tbsp of cocoa, 4 tbsp of brown sugar, and 1 tsp of cinnamon
• Gingerbread: 2 tsp of molasses, 2 tbsp of brown sugar, 1/2 tsp ginger, clove, and cinnamon
• Almond toffee: 5 tbsp of sugar, 1 tsp of almond extract
• Vanilla latte: 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, 4 tbsp of sugar
• Mocha mint: 2 tbsp of cocoa, 1/2 tsp of peppermint extract, 4 tbsp of sugar
• Cinnamon roll: 2 tsp of cinnamon, 1 tsp of vanilla extract, 4 tbsp of brown sugar, and a pinch of salt
• Cherry amaretto: 1 tbsp of almond extract, 4 tbsp of sugar, and 1 tsp of cherry extract
• Chocolate raspberry: 4 tbsp of seedless raspberry jelly, 2 tbsp of sugar
• Salted caramel: 6 tbsp brown sugar, pinch of salt
• Bring it all to a slow simmer- mix in the sweetener and the flavoring into your milk and slowly bring the mixture to a simmer and steams slightly (do not let it come to a boil). Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool. Once it is cool, place it in the fridge. 

Enjoy your K-Cup coffee or fresh ground coffee with some homemade, delicious coffee creamer! 

GIF source: http://wherethecontrailsgo.tumblr.com

How Coffee Affects Your Health

Coffee. A lot of people around the world drink it every single day. It is consumed by people of many ages. This black nectar of the gods is consumed at an incredible rate, most of us drink at least a few cups per day.

Since so many people drink so much coffee, one has to wonder, how does it affect our health? A recent medical study from the Harvard School of Public Health, we have news that will make you smile just as much as that black coffee you're drinking did.

• Six cups of coffee will not increase your risk of death from any particular cause. The medical study from the Harvard School of Public Health dispelled rumors saying six cups of coffee per day increased risk of heart diseases, among others. 
• If you have trouble regulating your BP or blood sugar levels, then the study suggests consuming a small amount of coffee or switching to decaf coffee K-Cups. 
• Pregnant women should avoid coffee during the duration of their pregnancy; even decaf coffee should try to be avoided as it does contain a small amount of caffeine. 
• Coffee that is brewed with a paper filter, whether the coffee is fresh bagged coffee or K-Cup coffee, will remove a substance in the coffee that has been linked to increased levels LDL cholesterol. 

The study from the Harvard School of Public Health conducted a study with 130,000 people. The study followed 40-50 year olds for 20 years. The study found that people who consumed six cups of coffee per day were at no more of a risk of death from any diseases than non-coffee drinkers. This shows that coffee is not a risk to your health, unless there are extenuating circumstances, such as an allergy to caffeine.  

Can you drink too much coffee? Yes, that amount varies from person to person. If you experience tremors, trouble sleeping, feeling stress or anxiety, agitation, etc. then you have likely had too much coffee. Always exercise moderation. 

gif source: https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/coffee-gif

When is the Best Time to Drink Coffee in the Morning?

Many coffee drinkers consume their life-giving coffee first thing after waking up. It sounds like a good idea. Coffee wakes you up and right after getting out of bed is when you seemingly need it most. Although, science has been telling us that the best time to drink coffee is around 10 AM.

If you are indeed the type of person who NEEDS their coffee as soon as they get up, this might not be wonderful news for you. So why is 10 AM the best time? Well, according to research from AsapScience, our cortisol levels peak between 8 and 9 AM; cortisol is the "stress hormone" which is how our bodies naturally wake themselves up.
If you are sipping your coffee during this time, the effect of the caffeine is not helpful.

Aside from 8-9 AM, our peak cortisol times are 12-1 PM (during most of our lunch times), and then at 5:30-6:30 PM.

We should mention that if you are waking up very early or much later than the average person (who wakes up between 7-8 AM), then your peak cortisol times are going to be different. If you are one of these people, just know your peak cortisol time is about an hour after waking up.

So there is another health benefit of drinking fresh ground coffee at home! Or even if you go out and buy your Starbucks coffee or another brand, as long as it's coffee!

Where's the Best Place to Store Bagged Coffee?

Buying coffee is the easy, fun part. Finding the right place to store it is not so easy. You read all these things about "don't keep your coffee here!" or "Don't keep your coffee there!" And it seems like you basically have to have a vault in your basement with a 9-digit code to keep your coffee fresh.

Bottom line, keep your coffee light, air, heat, and moisture. A simple shelf in a cupboard that is not near your stove is a great spot. The cupboard door will shield it from the light, so you just need an airtight container. To shield it from moisture, keep your coffee away from your sink, fridge, and freezer.

For bagged coffee, make sure to keep the top of the bag closed tightly; this can be done with a bag clip,  office clip, or a rubber band. Just make sure that the top of the bag is rolled a couple times and held tightly with one of those options.

Why does it matter to keep it away from light, heat, moisture, and air? All of these things change the cell structure of the coffee. That cell structure change causes a reduced quality in flavor and aroma. Light and heat create higher temperatures in the delicate coffee grounds, which break down the cell structures that hold the great flavor and aroma together. Think of it like a building, if there is a fire (which creates lots of heat), then the structure is broken down and ruined. Specifically for moisture in the coffee, when the moisture from a fridge or freezer gets into the coffee, which it will, it soaks into the grounds and beans. It then absorbs the coffee's flavor and aroma and takes it away when the water evaporates out (when thawed). Think about anything else that you've had when it's watered down; the flavor is reduced, right? That's how it is with coffee.

It would be a real shame to buy great fresh ground coffee and then have it ruined by something like keeping coffee in the wrong place. Especially when that coffee is Starbucks bagged coffee or Marley bagged coffee.

What Your Coffee Order Says About You

Coffee is a very popular, and healthy, beverage. Millions and millions of people around the world drink the stuff every morning, afternoon, evening, and night. With so many people around the world drinking coffee, people with varying interests and tastes (pun intended), there is certainly a wide variety of coffee options. 

Our fresh coffee team decided to put a little article together to talk about how your particular coffee order just might describe the type of person you are. Yes, the article is somewhat facetious, although you might find some truth in here, too. 

• The latte lover: Latte drinkers tend to seek out comfort, be chill, and reflect on things. They like to add in some cream and sugar to their coffee, which reminds of them of how there's always a little sweetness in a dark, bitter world. Their mug is often playful and they like to have shirts sporting an interest from their childhood. Like Thundercats. Their ideal way to drink coffee is to lay on the couch or comfy recliner, while wearing moccasins and comfortable jeans. 

• The espresso enthusiast: Always on the move and taking charge. Is that their fourth shot of espresso since the morning status meeting? I've lost count. They like abbreviated words in emails and texts to save time. Of course, they have a loyal personal assistant who is like a gatekeeper at Fort Knox. 

• The cappuccino consumer: The extroverted socialite (to any degree) who is creative and looks on the bright side of life (cue Monty Python). They are attached to multiple screens and conversations at once (whether the conversations are on devices or live will vary). They like to doodle and do other artsy things like paint, make origami, or build Pinterest crafts. They live at coffee shops.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The black coffee bud: The serious one. Straight-laced. Quiet, dedicated, and often a purist. Sometimes enigmatic. Presentation is as it should be: perfectly parted, professional hair, pressed suits (often black but other mute colors are welcome), either has a mustache or clean-shaven, sometimes sports fun socks. 

• The artisan coffee aficionado. The fashionable one, often wearing plaid, a beard or solid stubble, and either glasses or a scarf. If not wearing plaid, then a tight sweater will do. They live outside the mainstream lifestyle, never enters the big chain coffee shops, and they prefer to drink the expensive coffee that was extracted from some animal's fecal matter. Don't be shocked if their Instagram is full of overhead shots of art drawn in the foam (if they get a drink with foam). 

• The frappuccino fanatic. Blogger. Instagrammer. Pinterest poet. They do it all. Their eyes on their smartphone posting a tweet about the latest fashion guides and trends. Of course, they are always on the move and moving quickly. They stay ahead of the trends. 

So which coffee drinker are you? Or do you prefer a simple cup of K-Cup coffee or a cup of fresh ground coffee at home? Whichever you are, we love that you love coffee and express yourself genuinely! 

Gluten Free Diet But Still Want Coffee?

It can be a little difficult to find products that you love and actually want to eat and drink while on a gluten-free diet. Yes, there are many "gluten-free" items on store shelves these days but many companies are still trying to figure out how to make their products tasty.

Green Mountain coffee has made their coffee a certain way and they've done it that way for a long time. You can count on Green Mountain Half-Caff coffee K-Cups being both delicious and gluten-free.

People who need to be on a gluten-free diet understand the frustration of giving up favorite foods and drinks or at least the quality they used to love. With coffee from Coffeevines and Green Mountain, coffee doesn't have to be something that you "used to drink" before going gluten-free.

What is Water Processed Decaf Coffee?

Have you ever been curious about how coffee is decaffeinated? Don't fret, my friend! Today, we explain how some coffee beans get stripped of their caffeine using the world's most abundant resource, water. A natural process that allows you to have your late night coffee and your sleep, too.

Caffeine is water soluble. This is exactly why water goes into the coffee grounds clear and comes up all brown, delicious, and buzzing. See, the soluble material breaks down and dissolves into the coffee at a wonderful rate; the extraction rate of the caffeine is determined by the size of the coffee grounds and the temperature of the water.

As we stated, caffeine can be removed by water, which is the more natural process vs. using chemicals. In this method of removal, the green coffee beans are submerged in heated filtered water. The cleanliness of the filtered water and the heat facilitates the caffeine removal. The water is cycled through carbon, which will separates caffeine from the beans. The beans are then placed in a caffeine-free solution, which allows the beans to reabsorb all the goodness of coffee, minus the caffeine.

Many standards require 99.9% of the caffeine to be removed for the coffee to be labeled as decaf coffee. Other standards allow 97% of the caffeine to be removed. Even at three percent, the remaining caffeine is pretty negligible.

Many brands of decaf K-Cup coffee taste just as good as caffeinated coffee. Coffeevines.com has some delicious tasting water processed decaf coffee available.

What Is Estate Grown Coffee?

There are several terms in the coffee world that describe different things. Some of the terms are very clear, while others are much more ambiguous. For example, estate grown coffee. That is a fairly easy term to understand, it's grown on an estate but what does it really mean?

Aren't all coffees grown on an estate or farm?

Well, yes, all coffees are grown on a farm. However, coffees that are marked "Estate Grown" feature the cool characteristic that every bean in that bag usually comes from the same farm, or estate.

Estate grown coffee is a specific type of single-origin coffee. The far
ms the coffee comes from are often small to mid-range in size; a few acres all the way to many square miles, sometimes a collection of farms.

The benefit of estate grown coffee is that it often has a special, unique flavor compared to traditional coffee blends. Check out the estate grown coffee blends that Coffeevines has to offer!

Purchase some estate grown coffee K-Cups from Coffeevines and get a special blend of coffee that we know you will be a fan of.

New Coffee Craze to Hit the Market: Nitro Coffee. Heard of It?

A new coffee craze will soon take over the world of coffee: nitro coffee. AC Beverage created a brewing system, the JoeTap system, which creates a new kind of coffee that creates a coffee that generates a quite a buzz.

Nitro coffee is simply that is infused with nitrogen. The JoeTap system makes the coffee with a cold brew method and uses the nitrogen to create a foamy, cascading head (much like Guinness). With the creaminess of the coffee and slightly sweet flavor, the coffee goes down easily. Due to the brewing system, the concentration of caffeine remains very high.

The system adds no cream or sugar into the coffee but it certainly tastes like it has both! A coffee with some sweetness and creaminess, you must try it.

The best coffee craze is arriving since the creation of the coffee K-Cup. 

5 Myths & Facts About Tea

There are so many things to know about coffee. Sometimes, it can be hard to know which bits of knowledge are real and which ones are fake. We are here to sort that out so you can enjoy your tea with the correct knowledge.

Herbal teas are genuine teas. Sorry my friend, but herbal teas are not real teas. They are actually "tisanes", real teas are green tea, black teas, white teas, and oolong teas. If your tea is made by steeping fresh or dried flowers, herbs, seeds, roots, or plant barks in hot water, then it is a tisane.

Decaf tea has not caffeine in it. Unfortunately, when tea (and coffee) are decaffeinated, there is still a bit of caffeine left in the product. Not much, about 2 to 10 milligrams per cup. Why? Well, it is very difficult to remove 100 percent of the caffeine in these things, so some caffeine is naturally stuck in the tea (and coffee). Lo siento, mi amigos.

Herbal tea is safe to drink during your pregnancy. Many women believe that they need to avoid normal tea during their pregnancy in favor of herbal tea; however, herbal teas are not much safer during a pregnancy. Some herbal teas have ingredients in them that are not known to be safe with a fetus, so speak with a doctor prior to drinking herbal teas during a pregnancy.

Tea is great for more than just sipping. True! Did you know that you can use green tea for things like poaching fish or cooking grains? Next time you're looking for a fun way to use green tea, consider some cool methods like those!

Adding citrus to your tea makes it healthier. Yup! Tea already is very healthy for us, especially due to its flavanoids (little guys that help reduce heart disease). However, adding in a spritz of citrus (lemon, orange, lime, etc) will help preserve the flavanoids and add in nutrients from the citrus.

So next time you go reaching for a "healthy" beverage, consider brewing some K-Cup tea instead and enjoy the health benefits of tea with the fast, easy convenient brewing style of K-Cups! 

5 Debunked Myths About Coffee

Coffee is a subject of many studies and discussions. Some people it should be prepared one way, while other people believe it should be another way. With so many people talking about it, there are bound to be some myths about coffee that we sometimes mistake as fact.

1. The hotter the coffee, the better it is. Your coffee should not be boiling hot when you are pouring it into your mug. It should be hot but not so hot that you scold yourself on the first sip. If you make your coffee with a kettle, like with a french press, do not wait until the water starts to boil to remove it from the stove. Your coffee should be between 195 and 205 degrees.

2. It's bad for the heart. Unless you are sensitive or allergic to something in coffee, such as the caffeine, then having a cup or two per day can actually be good for your heart, according to the American Heart Association.

3. It dehydrates you. Coffee is commonly blamed for being a beverage that dehydrates people. Yes, caffeine is a diuretic, which pulls water out of your body. However, water is the main ingredient in coffee. According to research in the PLoS ONE journal states that the amount of water in coffee outweighs the diuretic effect of the caffeine.

4. It sobers you up. The classic scene in movies after the characters go drinking is to see them guzzle coffee to sober up. Well, that would be the case if being drunk was merely being severely tired. Unfortunately, alcohol is stubborn and wants to do its thing no matter how much coffee you drink. This came from the fact that you might still feel more alert due to the coffee but yes, you're still drunk.

5. It makes it harder to sleep. This is true for those who have a higher sensitivity to the caffeine and/or those who drink coffee late in the day.

The bottom-line is that you do research about things before believing it. Especially something like coffee.

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