Coffee & Tea FAQs

Q. What is espresso?

A. In Italian, it means fast or made on the spur of the moment. In terms of coffee, it is a method of brewing that was invented to produce a single cup of coffee at the moment requested. It is the marvel of both physical and chemical engineering which will extract all the best from the coffee and nothing more. Espresso is brewed by forcing hot water at high pressure through finely ground coffee, producing a syrupy texture and powerful sweet taste. Making a true espresso requires a special machine to produce the necessary pressure.

Q. Can I brew espresso in my coffee brewer?

A. Yes. Espresso tastes just as great brewed in a french press, a drip brewer or in an espresso machine.

Q. What is organic coffee?

A. Organic coffee is cultivated without the use of any pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers.

Q. Is decaffeinated coffee 100% caffeine free?

A. No, it is actually 99.9% caffeine free. Decaffeinated coffee has less than 0.03% caffeine.

Q. What determines the best grind for coffee?

A. The grind you choose will depend on the type of brewer you are using. There are different settings for each machine based on transit and contact time with the water. For instance the finest settings are used for the fastest transit times as with espresso machines. On the other hand, percolators use a course setting because grinds are coming in contact with the water for an extended period of time. Drip coffee makers use a medium setting, neither course nor fine.

Q. The darker the roast, the higher the caffeine content?

A. No, its just the opposite: the darker the roast, the lower the caffeine content. The longer you roast the beans, the longer you roast out the caffeine.

Q. How should I store my coffee?

A. Coffee packaged in one way valve bags can be stored either in a cool dry place or in your refrigerator or freezer. Once opened, the bag should be folded and resealed or repackaged in an airtight container and placed in the freezer for longer storage. Once the coffee has been removed from the freezer it can't be refrozen so freezing in portion containers allows you to use as needed.

Q. What is the difference between decaffeinated tea and herbal tea?

A. Decaffeinated tea is made from true tea and has a slight amount of caffeine remaining from the decaffeinating process. On the other hand, herbal teas, although they share many of the same properties and health benefits as tea, are not true teas and are naturally caffeine free.