What Are Starbucks Loyalists Thinking of the Flat White?

A few weeks ago, a lot of Americans were introduced to the iconic coffee beverage, the Flat White. While the Flat White has been around for decades in countries like Australia and New Zealand, it was only introduced to the masses of Americans when Starbucks released it earlier this year (some coffee shops have been producing it in the US prior to this, however).

It was an exciting announcement for many fans of Starbucks since there are no drinks to really look forward to this time of year; the PSL has been gone, the Peppermint Mocha has now been removed, it was back to the typical menu.

However, has the hype of the Flat White been met with equally high, true impressions of it at first taste? 

For some tasters, yes, however, it seems like there are others feeling a bit cheated by it. For one thing, blogs from people commenting on their first Flat White show pictures of their drink, which looks like typical latte, not the Flat White. If you go to a Starbucks, the picture shows a coffee cup filled with golden coffee and a white dot; many pictures from real Flat Whites show a white, foamy top, like usual lattes.

Another thing that commenters have mentioned, aside from the lack of the iconic look, is that it does not taste any bolder than their typical latte, which is a classic trait of the Flat White.

Now, keep in mind, these are the opinions of bloggers and each person has a different experience. Bottom line? Try one for yourself and see what you think! Let us know what you think about the Flat White. 

Not into trying fancy drinks? Then stick with simple, easy to make single cup coffee such as coffee K-Cups from Coffeevines!

GE Fridges Get In-Door K-Cup Brewing System

Wow, talk about an advancement in the K-Cup coffee brewing world!

Soon, very soon, you will have yet another great reason to be staring at your fridge because it will be brewing your coffee. GE Café French doors have been known to have hot water dispensers, this is nothing new; however, GE has just come to an agreement with Keurig to create a fridge that can also brew your coffee K-Cups.

The feature is removable and should you choose to use it, it operates like how we would expect. You take out the brewer, put in the K-Cup, put the brewer back, choose your size, and let if cascade into your cup.

The cool part is that you can still operate it with your smartphone if you want to; if you are someone who likes to wake up to the smell of coffee in the morning, then set a timer and wake up to happiness! It is also easy to clean since it is dishwasher safe and as stated, removable. If you like reusable cups, you can still use them with this fridge.

The only foreseeable problem is that taller glasses, including some tumblers, will not likely fit into the machine.

Does this scan the lid like the Keurig 2.0? No. Can you still use 3rd-party packs? Possibly.

The fridge will hit sales floors in the fall and with a $3,300 price tag.

If you love your K-Cup coffee and want to really impress your friends, consider this fridge.

White Chocolate Latte Recipe for New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is a great night for getting together with friends, family, and even strangers to watch the clock tick and strike midnight, welcoming the new year. Of course, the energy it takes to be energetic and awake all the way until midnight tends to wane as we get older.

So what is the solution? Coffee. A cup of coffee. Now, I find that taking the time to make an ordinary cup of coffee something special does not have to be a huge ordeal. This K-Cup coffee  recipe is easy to make and will wow your tastebuds and your party guests. 

What you will need:

• 1 extra bold coffee K-Cup -- this can be whatever brand of coffee that you like, just make sure it is indeed extra bold. 
• 4 ounces of skim milk
• 2 tablespoons of white chocolate chips
• whipped cream
• A milk frother-- If you do not have this, then get heavy whipping cream and use a whisk on it for a while until it gets nice and airy. 
• Mug

Now what? Now, we get to make the coffee. It is easy, trust me. 

1. Put 2 tablespoons of white chocolate chips into a 14 ounce mug
2. Brew the single cup coffee into that same mug
3. Froth the milk
4. Stir the coffee until the chocolate chips are melted
5. Mix in the frothed milk (if you use a frother, be careful because it will be hot)
6. Top that loveliness off with whipped cream

This coffee drink will both delight you and make the night even more exciting. It'll make the night go from, "Wow, it's almost midnight…" to "Wow! It's almost midnight!" 

Short on K-Cups in your home or office? Buy coffee from Coffeevines and get your coffee delivered to you ASAP with fast & easy shipping. 

Not a fan of K-Cups? Consider someone you know who might be. 

7 Wonderful Health Benefits of Coffee

Coffee

is not only a good thing to drink because it changes us from zombies to functioning, pleasant human beings, it also has some really nice health benefits.

Coffee helps with our reproductive systems. Hey fellas, if you are looking for something to help with warding off that prostate cancer, then consider coffee. Ladies, if you are looking for something to help with warding off endometrial cancer, then consider coffee. A study from 2011 discovered that men who drink about six cups of java a day are less likely to have prostate cancer by 20 percent! Wonderful. Another recent medical study from the Journal of Epidemiology, Biomakers, and Prevention discovered that women who consumed four cups of java a day reduced their risk of endometrial cancer by 25 percent.

Coffee can reduce risk of Type 2 Diabetes. Coffee has been discovered to have the ability to block a substance in our bodies that is called the human islet amyloid polypeptide, which is believed to be a role player in the development of Type 2 Diabetes. This is a reason for having another coffee K-Cup.

Coffee helps your brain. The coffee of the world can rejoice at the thought of their habit being helpful in warding off the development of dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. Coffee also helps our brains feel happier, even just the smell of it; this is often why we wake up with a smile when we smell coffee brewing as we get out of bed.

Coffee can help with bowel issues and your colon. If you have ever had a bowel function issue, such as being constipated, then you know it can be frustrating and even dangerous. Coffee can get things moving down there and have a helping hand in relieving that situation.

Coffee is good for your skin. Coffee has been found to be a helper in defending against the most common form of skin cancer. Medical research studies found coffee to be a helper in defending against basal cell carcinoma.

Coffee helps against oral cancer. Recent medical studies found that coffee has a great way of helping people have a 50 percent lower risk of developing oral cancer. Those who consume more than four cups a day get this benefit.

Coffee helps with muscles. It is not a substitute to that odd tasting protein shake but it can help with muscle function and health. Coffee can have similar positive effects on muscles exercising does, some medical studies found. It can also be a great thing to have before a workout since it wakes you up and helps with muscle memory.

Looking for another reason to have another cup of coffee? As if we need more reasons for consuming single cup coffee besides the ease and tastiness. Shop from Coffeevines and get coffee delivered to your door quickly; remove the stress of stopping at the store for coffee and let us help you!
















Now, some of these are more valid than others, due to more testing. Do your research and find facts before accepting these as true, 100% verified facts. Coffeevines does not guarantee that these health benefits are 100% verified and should not be accepted as such. 

8 Fun & Festive Twists on Coffee

Coffee is already an amazing thing but who is to say that you can't make a great thing better? I say you can! In the spirit of it being cold out now and holidays coming up, here are 8 ways to make your coffee a bit more delightful.

1. Caramel. Using some of the caramel ice cream topping in your fridge will work wonderfully for this. If you are more of a purist, you can melt down some caramel and mix it in. 
2. Vanilla. Mixing in some vanilla extract or some vanilla coffee creamer makes coffee taste like heaven. 
3. Cinnamon. If you use ground cinnamon, then add in a teaspoon of it; if you want to be a bit more adventurous, then use a cinnamon stick to stir your coffee. This is a common thing to do in Spain and some South American countries. Very good.
4. Ice cream. Mix in whatever kind of ice cream you want but I tend to stay with vanilla or chocolate. Make sure your coffee is hot enough to take the coldness of the ice cream and stay warm. 
5. Peppermint. Use a peppermint candy cane to stir your coffee, it tastes great and works wonderfully! It is cool, too, because you hear the candy cane crackle and melt due to the heat of the coffee. 
6. Chocolate. Make it mocha! I like to mix in some hot cocoa mix, chocolate chips, or break of pieces of a candy bar. 
7. Honey. A spoonful of honey gives it great flavor and texture. Who doesn't love honey? 
8. Marshmallow fluff. I was skeptical about this one but it gives great flavor and makes it a bit thick and creamy. Wow, so good. 

Give these tips a try! You'd be surprised how delicious some can be, like the marshmallow fluff, who knew? Once you try them, let us know on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or in the comments! 

Need coffee delivered to you quickly at your home or office? Then shop with Coffeevines! We have major brands like Starbucks, Green Mountain, and Peets. 

4 Common Mistakes People Make with Coffee

Coffee is at the heart of many Americans, and frankly, people around the globe. Many of us consume it first thing in the morning, then again later on in the morning, perhaps again in the afternoon, etc. We drink a lot of it. It smells good, it tastes great, and keeps us happy and sane.

However, there are certain things that we do with coffee that are not great to do with coffee.

1. The first thing is that some people try to use coffee as a substitute for smoking. While this can be a great idea, replacing the cigarette with the coffee K-Cup is that some of the effects of the chemicals in the cigarette and the tobacco can make the liver perform faster; this makes the metabolism burn the caffeine faster than a coffee drinker who does not smoke. Due to this, smokers can have a higher caffeine tolerance than non-smokers and might have to drink three to four times the amount of coffee to have the same effect. Having too much coffee can create some health risks, remember, everything in moderation.
2. Having coffee too late in the day creates another issue. The point of coffee is to wake us up but we do not want to have coffee but we do not want it to prevent us from falling asleep at night. If you have coffee too late, then you might find your bedtime is thrown off, which disrupts your sleep cycle. Know your body and how it reacts to caffeine. If you really want more coffee later in the day, try using decaf coffee.
3. Trying to sweat out the caffeine is not something that works too well either. Have you ever had one cup too many and then you feel jittery and anxious? Often times, we try to do something to sweat out the caffeine. Sometimes, we try to eat something to soak up some of the caffeine as well. The ladder might work, depending on what you eat but not always. See, caffeine is metabolized at the same rate no matter what so trying to sweat it out or eating food to soak it up does not really work too well.
4. Believing that only die-hards can tolerate espresso. Yeah, we know that espresso can be a real bold way to drink coffee but it is not reserved for the dedicated and seasoned coffee consumers. A shot of espresso has less caffeine than an 8 ounce cup of coffee. You also might find it interesting that a lightroast coffee has more caffeine than a dark roast coffee or a mediumroast coffee.

Coffee sure is an interesting beverage. We love it!

Do you need a quick fix for your short coffee supply? Then shopCoffeevines and get your coffee delivered to your door right away! No need to stop at the store, especially if the closest one is a long drive away!

Artisanal Coffee is the Next Coffee Revolution

We all know about artisanal cheese and beers but there is a new brew on the menu, artisanal coffee; this is a new gourmet coffee that requires the best beans, precise measurements of coffee and water, and poured in a pre-warmed cup. Of course, this is according to the brew geniuses over at Stumptown Coffee.

Stumptown is an industry leader in the ever-growing movement of brew masters looking to leave their footprint on the way that coffee is consumed. Some say this latest way is the third wave of coffee. The first wave was back in the 1960s when coffee was mass marketed by Folgers and other companies and the second wave was in the 1990s when Starbucks & other chains made specialty drinks to order.

This "third wave" is bringing a certain sophistication and intricacy to the coffee world, leaving artisanal brands to lead the way for the coffee consuming world. Of course, they still have their work cut out to get serious slices of the pie from Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. 

It makes sense the new trend would be headed in US cities like New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. After all, us Americans consume around 400 million cups of the stuff everyday; that number boosted when single cup coffee hit store shelves.

Don't think it'll last? Well, coffee experts believe that artisanal coffee is the future of coffee consumption. People are ready and willing to pay a little extra for an experience.

Do you want a coffee experience that delivers to you? Then shop Coffeevines! We carry major brands like Starbucks and deliver right to your door.

Halloween Recipe: Dark Devil's Food Cake

You may be wondering, "Why am I reading a recipe for Devil's Food Cake on a Coffee blog"? Well, it is close to Halloween and the recipe uses K-Cup coffee. It's a win-win, folks. However, don't be spooked by the thought of eating cake, this one has fewer calories than many recipes.

The prep time for this is about 10 minutes and the cook time is just over 30 minutes, max 35 minutes. The ingredients you will need for this recipe are simple but may require a quick trip the the grocery store. This will serve about 20 people, unless you have a few monsters running around who are particularly hungry.

• 2 cups of all purpose flour
• 1 3/4 cups of sugar - can be raw, organic, or sugar substitute if needed
• 1/2 cup of cocoa powder- unsweetened
• 1 tablespoon of baking soda
• 2/3 cup of applesauce - no cinnamon
• 1 cup of low fat buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 coffee K-Cup

Now that we have the ingredients, let's get going! 

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Take a baking pan, 13x9x2 and spray it with some PAM or vegetable oil spray. Sprinkle a bit of flour in there too. 
2. Take a mixing bowl, a large one if you can find one, and mix in the flour, sugar, cocoa, and the baking soda. Give it a nice stir. 
3. Mix in the applesauce, buttermilk, the vegetable oil, and the eggs. Again, give it a nice stir. 
4. Now, grab yourself a saucepan and put the coffee in there (after you've brewed that, of course). Bring the coffee to a light boil on medium heat. Stir occasionally. Once it comes to a light boil, mix it into the batter from step 3. 
5. Pour it into the pan. Put in oven for 35 minutes. If it is not done, do 5 more minutes. Of course, use the toothpick test to see when it's good to go. 
6. Chow down, my friends. 

Enjoy your Halloween! Don't get scared when you run out of coffee or tea, though! Just order from Coffeevines! We will deliver right to your door; ordering from us is quick, easy, and painless. 

Starbucks Testing a Beer Flavored Latte

Lots of people enjoy a cup of coffee, some people enjoy a glass of beer; now, we can enjoy a cup of beer-flavored coffee. If you are into craft beer, then this concept is familiar to you since there are coffee-flavored beers.

Starbucks is known for having interesting coffee drinks and pushing the limits beyond where they were in the past. What they have now is setting the social media world into a frenzy-- good and bad frenzy, depending on who you follow.

The Seattle-based chain is testing a new latte that is dubbed, "Dark Barrel Latte" that is made with espresso, whipped cream on top, and dark caramel drizzle, oh we forgot the chocolatey stout flavored sauce. Only a few stores in Ohio and Florida get to test it at the moment.

Some consumers are already in love with the blend, stating that it "tastes just like beer. Guinness." Other consumers find it repulsive, stating that they find it weird to "feel like you're drinking beer in the morning. Gross."

There is no beer or alcohol in the latte at all. It only tastes like it. The stout flavor comes from the roasted malt.

Some analysts believe that the new blend, if it succeeds in testing, will be to bridge the gap between the morning coffee people and the evening beer/wine people. Who knows, maybe the blend will survive and then be released in coffee K-Cup format?

Until then, we'll just have to wait and see. If you are a fan of Starbucks, then shop from Coffeevines. We have major brands, including Starbucks!

10 Coffee Trends to Expect in 2015

Every year, something new happens in the world of coffee and every time, there are trends that make people wonder, "Why are we doing this?" and there are also ones that make people wonder, "Why didn't we do this sooner?"

We have a list of 10 trends that we believe will happen next year; only time will tell if we are right or wrong. Let's hope we're right!

1. Using coconut/almond milk. There are some coffee shops that are using almond and/or coconut milk as options to regular milk but next year, these milks will be at every shop. Why? Well, people are looking for alternatives to even soy milk and these milks are already popular choices in stores. 
2. Coffee drive-thrus. These are already around and can be popular, depending on the area. However, these will become just as popular of a way to order your co
   
   ffee as going into the store. People don't always like to have to park their car, go into the shop, order, wait in line, then get back into their car and go. Expect to see more coffee shops with drive-thrus. 
3. Desserts from local bakeries. More coffee shops will have pastries from local bakeries instead of using pre-packaged goods. 
4. Chilled coffee over iced coffee. Due to droughts in many regions of the country, more shops are cutting back on water usage, which means switching to chilled coffee. 
5. Getting to see how it's done. Much like some shops already do, expect to be able to watch your coffee be made very easily. Of course, if you use a K-Cup coffee machine, then you can already see your coffee be made. 
6. Coffee being used as a marinade. Some chefs are discovering how coffee adds great flavor to meat. This isn't a coffee shop trend but it still fits with the list. 
7. Coffee used as a sleep-aid. That's right, some people are already using coffee to help them fall asleep. We're not sure how it works but bedtime coffee might be a thing. 
8. Single cup coffee machines in hotel rooms. Having the ability to make a real cup of coffee in the morning is something that frequent hotel travelers love to do instead of the toy-sized coffee pots they usually see. 
9. Blends from countries we don't usually see. We are used to seeing Brazil, Colombian, and French blends but expect to see blends from countries you didn't know had their own coffee blends. 
10. Small and mighty. As a nation, we are looking at Europe and liking their style of coffee, especially Italy, where coffee is small but packed with power. Expect to see more espresso style drinks become the norm. 

We love coffee and the styles that go along with it. At Coffeevines, we believe the best coffee is the coffee you brew yourself and can shop for when it's most convenient for you. 

A Brief Explanation of the Coffee Nap

You read it here! The traditional nap where you just feel tired then lay down and sleep for a couple hours are naps of the past! The new "coffee nap" is in. The next time you feel tired, take a coffee nap, my friend.

It sounds contradictory, right? Well, yeah, it does sound contradictory. However, in reality, it works out great! Scientific evidence suggests that taking one of these will actually power you up more than just having a cup of coffee or just taking a nap.

How does the power nap work? Well, it's all about the chemistry; there are two competing effects at play here: caffeine and adenosine. Adenosine is the neurotransmitter in our bodies that tell our minds when we are feeling awake (it accumulates) and when we are feeling tired (when it dissipates). Caffeine takes about 30 minutes to take effect and make you alert.

How does one accomplish the coffee nap? When you start to feel tired, drink a cup of coffee. If you want the coffee quickly, then choose K-Cup coffee. After you consume that, take a 20-30 minutes and when you wake up, the caffeine will have kicked in and you'll feel great. This will help fight off sleep-inertia, or, the grogginess you feel right after waking up.

So the next time you want to take a nap, have some single cup coffee right before and then do a power nap. Let us know how well it worked out for you by commenting on the blog post!

Sports Drinks & Energy Drinks Threaten Coffee Market

Coffee is an incredibly popular drink with people of almost all ages (almost because it's not popular with kids). However, the potency of the coffee market is getting impacted by the strength of the sports drink and energy drink market that is a favorite of the young adult demographic. The latest survey according to the National Coffee Association published their annual consumer survey that states this troubling news for coffee, including K-Cup coffee.

The majority of the coffee consumption in the country, even world, tends to lean more towards the older age demographics and less for those below the age of 24. For those between the ages of 18 & 39, approximately 20 percent of them mentioned that they have at least one sports drink or energy drink per sitting a couple times a week.

For those in coffee game, this means understanding the popularity of energy and sports drinks, which offer some of the same solutions as coffee. Coffee companies need to find out this information so the energy and sports drinks don't steal the coffee times.

While this news was sad, there was plenty of good news for coffee lovers. Gourmet coffee has become a favorite for the younger markets despite the decline in popularity of traditional coffee. About 34 percent of coffee drinkers stated that they prefer the gourmet coffee these days. This is up 10 percent from four years ago.

Coffee also still remains most popular beverage than soda and even tap water in the U.S. which is the world's largest market for coffee. With the popularity of single cup coffee, it has become even easier to make.

What's the Smartest Thing to Do After Coffee?

Everyone loves to have a morning cup of coffee, especially when it only takes a few seconds to brew like single cup coffee. However, what is the best thing to do after you finish that morning cup of joe? Well, some people like to write, exercise, and some are forced to head to the good ol' job.

According to a study in Health (magazine), it was reported that coffee can help your body with pre-workout. It was shown to improve your circulation, reduce pain, and improve muscle memory (and your brain memory). It has also been said to help with burning calories/fat.

Not much of an exercise fan? Maybe you'd rather nap. Coffee clears your body of adenosine, a chemical. This chemical collects while you are awake and eventually tells your brain to sleep. During your sleep, this chemical breaks down. Coffee decreases this chemical in the brain but it takes about 20 minutes to complete. So, if you finish your coffee, have a 15 minute nap and feel the peak of alertness.

Maybe you want to do some art! Great idea, Picasso. Coffee helps with your focus and attention, which helps you create more fresh ideas.

Now, feel free to go workout, sleep, or finish some art. If you are looking for a quick and easy place to buy coffee K-Cups, then shop Coffeevines! We also have a vast assortment of K-Cup tea.

Cold-Brew Coffee- The Next Big Caffeine Craze

Since the brewing of coffee has been mainstream, hot brewing has been the way of choice… mostly because it was pretty much the only way. However, cold brew coffee has come along and it is creating a divide in the coffee world. It is proving to be very popular and give a really great tasting coffee.

For those who believe cold brew coffee is the way to go, they may soon be able to get it at a lot of coffee shops and in K-Cup coffee forms, including establishments like Starbucks. Starbucks is currently in testing mode of the cold brew method in Boston and other coffee house chains are testing it as well.

Cold-brewed iced coffee is brewed by steeping coffee ground in room temp water for quite a few hours. After the grounds have soaked, you strain them. Those who prefer this brew state that it gives a smoother, superior flavor of coffee because it is less acidic than traditional brewing methods.

The cold-brew method takes between 12 and 24 hours, so it is not ideal for shops that need to serve coffee quickly but the new round of testing is challenging the brewing speed. Typically, many coffee places prepare their iced coffee by brewing it hot and then putting ice in it.

How Is Decaf Coffee Created?

Decaf coffee is one of the most popular ways to consume coffee. It's great for times when you want to some coffee but you do not want to be kept awake by the caffeine, or, perhaps you can't handle the caffeine for other reasons. Regardless, one of the most frequently asked questions is how they remove the caffeine from the coffee beans?

Before we get into the processes to remove caffeine, let's take a look at what exactly it means to be "decaf". This is when you separate caffeine from the coffee bean, seeds, or the leaves from their natural ways. Caffeine is not bad in coffee, it is there naturally. To be decaf in the US, 97 percent of the caffeine must be removed. Due to it being a natural part of the coffee bean, it is hard to remove it 100 percent.

There are three methods for decaf coffee:

1. The natural process: When it comes to the natural process, the coffee beans are put through a steam process, or it is soaked in water; either way, the caffeine is easier to extract. Once either of these processes are done, the caffeine is removed via ethyl acetate and water. Once that combo is used, the beans are again steamed, this process will remove any residue that is left on the beans. If you are wondering what ethyl acetate is, it is a perfectly natural compound that is extracted from veggies and fruits. 
2. The direct process: To start this process, the beans are soaked in water and also steamed. A liquid is then mixed with the beans that will remove the caffeine. Once that is done, the beans are again steamed and then allowed to dry, this will remove the caffeine from the beans. What is the decaffeinating agent? This is a substance that is utilized to remove the caffeine from the beans; there are different agents used depending on the specific process. 
3. The water process: This process starts off by soaking the beans in intensely hot water for a specific period of time and the caffeine is leached out. Once that happens, the solution is then moved though a filter that is made out of carbon; this will grab the larger caffeine molecules and will allow for the smaller oil and flavor molecules to stay. The beans are finally dried. 

Buy your next box of decaf coffee from Coffeevines. 

Debunked Coffee Myths: 5 of Them

Coffee is one of the world's most consumed beverages, along with tea and water. Due to its popularity, there are going to by myths about it because people form their own theories about it. We have a list of 5 debunked coffee myths so you can live your life knowing the correct coffee information.

Whether it is K-Cup coffee, espresso, drip coffee, or other kinds, we myths for them.

1. Espresso has more caffeine than K-Cups. Espresso is a potent form of coffee when you consider the caffeine; however, that is because espresso is packing lots of caffeine into a little bit of liquid. So by volume, espresso wins. However, when you look at the numbers, both espresso and single cup coffee are actually comparable in terms of caffeine. The USDA states that 2 ounces of espresso has 120 mg's of caffeine while a 10 ounce cup of coffee has about the same amount. 
2. Arabica coffee is king of the [coffee] crop. Arabica beans are very popular, often more popular than robusta. Robusta beans are less popular due to their rubbery and acrid flavor that has caused many to consider the beans to be inferior. Approximately three-quarters of the coffee drinking world consumes arabica over rubusta. However, when you look at the market shares, robusta is miles in front of specialty grade and other certified coffees. 
3. The only coffee Italians drink is Espresso coffee. While they do love the stuff, about two-thirds of Italian coffee drinkers consume their coffee at home. Do they own countertop espresso machines? Most of them do not; many of them use a "moka pot" which is like an espresso machine but it does not make anything as strong as true espresso. They are very popular machines. 
4. Decaf is for the weak! This is not a fair assumption; many people avoid the caffeinated version for a multitude of reasons. Such as those who are pregnant: those with heart conditions, allergies, those who are easily affected by caffeine, people who drink it late in the day, etc. The bottom line is that just because you drink decaf coffee, doesn't mean you are not strong enough for real coffee. 
5. The gourmet coffee is too pricey. The old saying goes, "You pay for quality". And it is very, very true. You also pay for coffee that is worth more work, such as fair trade certified coffee and organic coffee. When coffee requires more work to harvest, roast, and brew, then yeah, it will be more costly. It is like buying a high-end car, it wouldn't be fair to the manufacturer to charge the same price as a less quality car. 

The Differences Between Dark Roast Coffee & Light Roast Coffee

When it comes to K-Cup coffee, or any coffee for that matter, roast matters. Not all coffee roast are the same since they all feature different flavors, caffeine levels, roasting time, etc. Dark roast, medium roast, and light roast coffee are the three main ones but there are roast levels within those.

The roast is one of the aspects about coffee that completely changes the drink depending on which one you go for. If you are into roasting your own coffee beans, then depending on which bean you have, it requires a different roast. So how are the roasts different and why should you care? Let's find out.

• Light roast: This coffee is light in color, as figured by the name. When you want a mild coffee, then you will want to order a light roast because the typical coffee flavor is not as potent; however, the amount of caffeine is greatest. The beans do not have oil on the surface. 

• Common names for light roast include: light city, half city, cinnamon, and New England. 
• Medium roast: The beans are a medium brown in color and have a bolder flavor than mild roast. Still, there is no oil on the surface of the beans. This is the roast that Americans tend to enjoy the most. 
• Common names for this roast include: City, American, and Breakfast. 
• Dark Roast: The coffee is really dark brown, much richer and bolder than the other coffee roasts. There is some oil on the surface to a lot of oil on the surface. There is much more bitterness with dark roast. This roast has the least amount of acid and caffeine in the coffee. 
• Common names for dark roast include: high, continental, New Orleans, European, Espresso, Viennese, Italian, and French. 

If you want to try a roast that you are not used to having, then an easy place to purchase coffee is www.coffeevines.com! We have these roasts with plenty of brands to choose from. 

10 Things You Need to Know About Coffee

We love coffee, especially our single cup coffee, and while we sit and drink it everyday in the United States, there is so much to be known about it! We have 10 rather interesting facts to know about the wonderful beverage that is coffee.

1. When coffee manufacturers decaffeinate coffee, they then sell the caffeine to soda manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. These companies use caffeine in their products and need a great resource to get it from; no caffeine is wasted here! 
2. We spend a lot of money on coffee; the average American (who enjoys coffee) spends $1,092 on the stuff per year! That's a lot of coffee. 
3. Have you ever wondered where the name "Starbucks" came from? The founders of the coffee chain named the place after Captain Ahab's first mate. It was actually debated if they should name it after his ship instead, Pequod. 
4. The coffee shops, "Chock full o' Nuts" is named after the founder's nut stores that he switched over to coffee places. So no, there are no nuts in the coffee. 
5. The writer, Honore de Balzac, reportedly consumed up to fifty cups of java a day to keep his writing going. This is all according to legend, who knows if he actually did. That's a heck of a lot of coffee. 
6. For their passage to the 1932 Olympics, the Brazilian olympians piled bags of coffee on the ship and sold it along the way to pay for their way there. In case you didn't know, those Olympics were in Los Angeles. 
7. Did you know British women once wanted to ban coffee? In 1674, British women wanted to ban it because they believed it turned men into useless individuals. So, they wanted the beverage banned for anyone under the age of 60. Crazy, huh?
8. Coffee was actually banned in the city of Mecca back in 1511. Why? It was believed to fuel inappropriate things like radical thinking and "hanging out". 
9. Researchers at Cambridge utilized the first webcam to monitor a coffee pot. Yeah, they wanted to keep an eye on how much coffee was left (and who was taking it) without leaving their desks. 
10. Back in 2008, a Starbucks barista gave her kidney to a customer to save her life. 

Those are some mind-blowing facts, huh? My head is tired from all that knowledge; I think it's time for an organic coffee K-Cup. Maybe something bold, like dark roast coffee. 

8 Reasons You Should Try Organic Coffee

Coffee gives off an exciting and therapeutic aroma and then completes it with a lovely flavor. These things are part of what make coffee just so darn necessary to everyday life, also , it helps wake us up very nicely. Now, imagine having that plus having the knowledge that the K-cup coffee is organic coffee as well. Coffee already gives us numerous health benefits but now imagine that PLUS the organic health benefits.

Why organic?

1. Organic coffee does not have any additives in it. What you get is pure ground coffee beans with nothing else added into it. 
2. It is full of nutrients and vitamins as well. You have even more antioxidant benefits than you get with non-organic. Antioxidants that help fight disease and even aging. 
3. You get caffeine in its greatest and purest way, this makes its energizing effect even better. 
4. It has even greater flavor- both in quality and quantity.
5. The soil that the beans were grown in used organic fertilizer and that helps put the nutrients back into the soil. 
6. Organic fertilizer helps make a healthier, fuller crop that produces a much more quality product. 
7. The soil that the plants grow in is much more resistant to disease and ward off soil erosion. 
8. You help coffee farmers earn a better standard of living. 

So next time you purchase K-Cups, go ahead and buy some organic single cup coffee and see the difference for yourself! If you like traditional coffee, that is still incredibly delicious and has tremendous health benefits. 

Coffee Cake Recipe: Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Do you enjoy having a delicious pastry to go with your morning single cup coffee? Well, if you do, then we have the absolutely perfect coffee cake to pair with your morning coffee. It's a sour cream coffee cake and it. is. divine. 

All the recipes we share are ones that feature ingredients that are easy to find in stores, if you don't already have them in your cupboard. For this sour cream coffee cake recipe, you will need:

Streusel:

• 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts- if you are allergic to nuts, then just omit this ingredient. Not a big deal. 
• 3 tablespoons of cold, sliced butter- unsalted? Sure. 
• Quarter teaspoon of salt- kosher? Go for it. Sea salt? Go for it. Regular? You betchya. 
• 1 and a half teaspoons of ground cinnamon. 
• Half cup of all-purpose flour. 
• Quarter cup of brown sugar

Cake:

• Half teaspoon of salt - not a typo. You'll need this.
• Half teaspoon of baking soda.
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 2 and a half cups of cake flour
• 1 and a quarter cup of sour cream
• 1 and a half teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 3 eggs at room temp
• 1 and a half cups of sugar - granulated
• 12 tablespoons of butter- you'll need this plus the other butter

And for the glaze: 

• Half cup of sugar- confectioners
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Now, let's to baking so you can enjoy this with your K-cup coffee! 

Cake:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. While that's heating up, use non-stick spray and some flour on a tube baking pan (10 inches).
2. Mix the butter and the sugar in a bowl either with an electric mixer or manually. With a mixer, use a paddle attachment for about 5 minutes. Do this until the mix is lighter in color and fluffy. Add in the eggs, one at a time, and then mix in the vanilla extract and the sour cream. In that order. 
3. Grab a mixing bowl, sift the baking powder, flour, salt, and baking soda into it. Put the mixer on a slow setting, then mix in the powder mixture and mix until it's all mixed in. Now, you can mix it some more manually for a bit. 

For the streusel: 

1. Grab the brown sugar, flour, salt, butter, and cinnamon and mix in a bowl. Use your fingers to form crumbles. If you are using nuts, mix them in here. 

Back to the cake:

1. Grab 50 percent of the batter and spread in the tube pan. Toss about 3/4 cup of the streusel into the this. Mix the rest of the batter into the pan and spread it, then place the rest of the streusel on the top of it. Bake it for an hour; monitor until it looks done and the toothpick test comes out clean. 

Now, let the cake cool, this will be about half an hour. Move the cake (make sure the streusel side is on top) onto a plate. Mix the confectioners sugar and the syrup with a whisk. Make it like a glaze. Spread on top of the cake. 

Now slice and enjoy with your coffee. Spread the happiness and love!