jueves, 31 de mayo de 2018

TCR Presents: History of Coffee Houses


When you want to share some exciting news with your friends, inspire new ideas, or get advice, you are likely to go to a coffee shop. It has been that way for centuries. Coffee shops had been places of learning; making business; as well as scientific, literary, political, philosophical, and economic debates; and of course, the typical gossiping here and there.

The Early History of Coffee Houses
Coffee was grown in Africa as early as the 9th century, but it didn't arrive to Europe until the 17th century. However, when it did, it was received with varying opinions. It still became popular, even with the people that detested its very existence.

The 18th century London coffee house was the center of much controversy, even to the point of the king trying to ban coffee from all over London and close these firsts establishments. For being the place for political discussion, some of the primal policies of our newly formed country might have been born in one of these places.

Coffee didn't come from a direct route from Africa, but slowly found its way to Britain through Mediterranean commercial routes with the Muslim world. Queen Elizabeth I, instigated her European neighbor’s wrath by opening up diplomatic relations with her newly discovered Moroccan and Ottoman friends, making up good trading relations and sea-faring agreements.

This trade allowed goods such as tea from Asia, coffee, and chocolate to enter England. The Middle East had coffee houses over a century before they appeared in England.

In 1652 Pasqua Rosee, a commoner, servant of a merchant trader and an immigrant from Ottoman Smyrna, opened the very first coffee-house in London, which later became known as "The Turks Head." Rosee’s coffee-house was located in St. Michael’s Alley, Cornhill, his first clientele were sailors of the Levant Company, the trading house that organized and regulated trade with the Ottoman Empire.

In 1662, the "Great Turk Coffee House" opened. According to popular belief, inside could be found a bust of Sultan Almurath IV himself, the most despicable tyrant that ever ruled the Ottoman Empire. The customer could purchase not just coffee, tea, and tobacco, but also chocolate. Some people even began to wear turbans in the coffee houses.

Possibly because of the Islamic culture, coffee-houses were perceived as a place for renegades of Christianity. The new interest in other cultures (and religions) continued past the fascination of the Middle East all of the ways to the "exotic" Orient.

Coffee-houses became popular very quickly, by 1663 there were around 83 coffee-houses in London. By the beginning of the XVIII century, there were as many as five or six hundred of them. Some very famous companies started as coffee-houses. An example of this is Lloyds of London, an insurance brokerage company, it began as Edward Lloyd’s coffee-house on Tower Street around 1688.

The coffee-house, which originated in the Middle East around 1511, was just a place to enjoy an exotic drink, but soon evolved into an establishment that helped to change the course of history. Before coffee-houses were built in London, the common gatherings took place at a pub or tavern. The first attraction to coffee might have been its newness or the excitement coming from the caffeine, but soon it became another reason to meet, and the coffee-house became a place for socializing.

FACT: some men spent so much time with their friends there, that their mail was delivered directly to the coffee-house instead of their home.

Another interesting fact is that almost every coffee-house allowed only male patrons (or clients), while women were relegated to the home or elsewhere for coffee. Not letting women into these coffee houses started a few problems, which were remarked in the "Women’s Petition Against Coffee" published in 1674. Which was just a mock petition, but rumors and claims against coffee drinking could have been taken seriously at the time, whether or not they were true.

Soon there was noticed a distinct difference between the pub and the coffee-house, rumors of the health benefits of coffee were in abundance, and most importantly, coffee-houses encouraged sobriety, rational thought, and a clear political discussion, whereas taverns merely provided a haven for excess and intoxication.

This wasn’t a place to escape the world and numb the senses, but rather a place to inform and debate current events and to create new ideas for how life should be. Until this time there didn't exist a "forum" of sorts for the merchant or trading class to have said discussions.

Then came the London Stock Exchange, with this atmosphere of bringing buyers and sellers together, setting standard market prices. The insurance mentioned above underwriter, Lloyd’s of London, began in 1688 in a small coffee-house with Lloyd providing a free information service on shipping, published as "Lloyd’s List." It prospered as a place for marine insurance, and as far as politics are concerned, men met in the coffee-house to discuss the latest political topics, even instigating fear in the king himself.

Some of our very own founding fathers may have sat in these early coffee-houses, discussing the future of the colonies or how our government should be, noting the pitfalls or failures of the monarchies of England and France.

Trivia: In 1675 King Charles II of England wrote an edict to have all of the coffee-houses shut down; however, after a long, hard-fought struggle with the owners of the coffee-houses and other businessmen, the proclamation was overturn.

The history of coffee is vast and deep, like a brown, hot, caffeine-filled sea. That Coffee Roasters brings you its past, but also the hot topics of the presents. Follow us on our social networks and write your comments on the section below.



Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

miércoles, 30 de mayo de 2018

Homemade Inventions: Coffee Insect Repellent


For many people, coffee is the perfect drink to start a day with, end a meal, or help to recover after a tiresome weekend. But while humans may tend to love the rich flavor (or mayhaps with some cream and sugar), some insects find it as toxic as they come.

One of these coffee-hating pests is the mosquito, the species Aedes albopictus for a start, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito. This one can be found in virtually any tropical area of the world as well as most of Europe and the United States. As with all mosquitoes, it's a potential plague, and a bite can lead to a bump and that unnerving itchiness.

As awful as mosquitos (and their bites) are, most repellants we find on the market are also pretty awful. If you decide to spend a lot of time outside during mosquito season, you can count on spending a serious amount of money buying these sprays or creams. Even worse than its cost, is the fact that they could put your health in danger as well as a mosquito bite.

As surprising as it sounds, the alternative solution lies in coffee grounds. According to the EPA, coffee grounds are a safe, natural and effective way to keep insects away. Coffee grounds can help repel not only mosquitos but also other dangerous pests like wasps.

“Why are coffee grounds effective?” You may ask. Well, most bugs have a powerful sense of smell. Coffee grounds have a naturally strong smell, but it’s even stronger when they are burned.

This smell will overflow the pests’ senses and keep them away. Insects also generally associate smoke with fire and thus with danger, so the smoke is a signal to them to find refuge elsewhere.

Scientist Experiment with Coffee as an Alternative Regarding Mosquitoes Repellent
Back in 2003, coffee was proven to kill off the larvae of the Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito. Although the mechanism wasn't entirely figured out at the time, the authors believed some of the chemicals in the beverage blocked some of the important stages of the larval development. They couldn't grow into adults. A closer inspection showed that some of the molecules were similar to those of insecticides. But the effect was far more intense, and the insects couldn’t develop resistance.

The research for coffee as a mosquito control measure improved in 2007 when a team used both coffee grounds and water infused with coffee to show the same effect on other larvae. The concentration to achieve this kill was low, meaning there was no need to concentrate (and thus invest) the coffee. The authors at the time concluded that coffee could be a great way to prevent the mosquitoes from growing in gardens and urban areas, thus preventing diseases like yellow fever.

How to Burn Coffee Grounds to Make an Insect Repellent
Using coffee grounds to keep some insects away is the best repellent alternative. It’s as cheap as it can be, especially if you’re already a coffee lover and have grounds on hand. It’s so easy to do as well. It’s also 100% natural and much safer than any commercial product.

  • Start with dry grounds. If you are reusing grounds, put them in a bowl covered with foil and let it dry itself in a cool, dark place until the grounds are completely dry
  • Put the grounds either in a bowl or on a flat surface outside. A piece of aluminum foil could work
  • Burn the grounds just like you would burn incense
  • Choose an upwind place of your location for best results
  • For an extra dose of this repellent, add fresh bay leaves to the fire
  • For an outdoor event, you could set up several of these burning plates with grounds surrounding the area of the gathering

Simple, economical and 100% natural, that's how That Coffee Roasters likes a good insect repellent, and if it’s made with coffee, all the better. We hope you enjoyed our article. If you have questions, suggestions or comments, please leave them in the section below and don’t forget to subscribe to our social networks.



Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

martes, 29 de mayo de 2018

Caffeine Dependence and How to Avoid It


Caffeine can be a great way to start any day, but it can also be a potential threat. Like most things, it's good in moderation, but when it gets to the point of seeing coffee as a necessity, it's time to admit there’s a problem.

The issue of potential dependence on caffeine has been a problem for many years. In humans, the widely recognized behavioral stimulant and reinforcing properties of caffeine are thought to be responsible for the maintenance of the consumption.

People may also drink coffee from habit: the possible reinforcing effects of the drink may not be due to the caffeine per se, but linked to the pleasurable aroma and taste of the beverage, as well as the social environment that usually accompanies consumption.

Being conscious of how much we consume is essential. The regular morning cup of joe is rather obvious, but also it is something to consider how many caffeinated sodas we drink. Then we must think about how many cups of black, strong tea we drink in the afternoon, even the most preferred painkiller has caffeine in it.

This value can add up pretty quickly, and if not careful, caffeine can become a vice instead of a joy.

How to avoid, prevent and control caffeine dependence

Keep your caffeine in check: it is vital to keep track of how much caffeine you take in. The best for this is to go slow. Caffeine is addictive by nature, and any drastic consumption change can bring about equally dramatic symptoms. Take right note of your daily intake over the first few days. By this, you'll be able to tell where you're struggling and make adjustments or hold at a given point without giving up and buying a case of soda.

Make a progressive reduction: it may be a common suggestion, but as we said before, drastic changes don’t often result. Try to go for 2 fewer cups of coffee each successive week (10 cups a day one week, then 8 cups a day the next, 6 cups a day the following, etc.). That should help reduce the typical withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, anxiety, and irritability. Start slow and give yourself time to eliminate the habit, or at least drink reasonable amounts of coffee.

Try other alternatives: if your usual drinks include black coffee, lattes and “tintos”, consider going for something with similar taste or texture but with less caffeine. That Coffee Roasters says “one shot of espresso has less caffeine than a cup of coffee,” so an even better for this could be the Americano, which is an espresso diluted in hot water. You might find the flavor intense, muddy and enjoyable, but the propensity towards caffeine can be decreased.

Drink water: this is a must. The benefits of hydration are well documented all over the world. In past articles, we've busted the myth that caffeinated beverages don't hydrate you before, but this is about cutting out caffeine consumption. A little water can replace the volume you usually take in after having a soda or coffee.

And remember, caffeine is a source of joy, not of excess; think of that when you ask for your next cup of joe. Don’t forget to leave your comments and questions on the section below, and follow us on out That Coffee Roasters social network. We’re the coffee roasters extraordinaire, your best choice for information, tips, and recipes!



Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

lunes, 28 de mayo de 2018

10 Coffee Benefits


Coffee is not only delicious, but it can also surprise you with unexpected benefits! That Coffee Roasters lined-up 10 things that coffee can help you with, proving that flavor isn’t all this beverage can offer.

1. Coffee improves metabolism and helps with physical performance

Studies have proven that drinking coffee can raise a person's metabolism and help them burn fat at a faster pace, directly affecting the eventual weight loss. Caffeine manages this by stimulating the nervous system, causing it to send signals to the fat cells to break down body fat.

2. Coffee provides antioxidants and essential nutrients in abundance

Despite common belief, coffee has a great nutritional value. It contains a number of essential nutrients, such as riboflavin (11% of the RDA), pantothenic acid (6% of the RDA), manganese (3% of the RDA), potassium (3% of the RDA), magnesium (2% of the RDA) and niacin (2% of the RDA).

This means that coffee is a great source of antioxidants,  which are substances that prevent or delay cell damage, and they can control how fast people age by neutralizing free radicals, making coffee one of the top sources of antioxidants in the average American diet.

3. Coffee is good for preventing diabetes

Diabetes, a delicate health issue with over 400 million patients, affects about 8% of adults over the age of 18 worldwide.

Recent studies show that coffee drinkers have a notable lower risk of developing Type II diabetes. In one of these studies, participants with an overall daily consumption of at least three cups of coffee reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by approximately 42%.

If you’re concerned about suffering from diabetes, you could start including coffee in your diet on a regular basis to improve your chances of preventing it. But make sure to limit the sugar you add to it, though.

4. Coffee is good for your brain!

Coffee contains caffeine (no need to be a genius to know this), but it should also be noted that caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, this means that when you drink coffee, the caffeine goes to the brain where it enhances the firing of the neurons and increasing energy metabolism throughout the brain.

This could be useful the next time you need to study or take a test; knowing this, try drinking a cup of coffee beforehand for a little help.

5. May help prevent liver disease

Studies have proven that there is a compound in coffee that protects against a liver disease called cirrhosis. This is a condition in which the liver tissue is damaged and replaced with scar tissue. Regular doses of black coffee had been shown to be a natural detox drink to help protect against the onset of cirrhosis, alcoholic cirrhosis in particular.

6. Coffee may help protect against heart disease and stroke

Keeping with the science-based benefits, there have been studies that show that moderate coffee consumption lowered the risk of coronary heart disease in women. These investigations have also shown that higher coffee consumption reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease and strokes.

We shouldn't rely only on this; drinking coffee isn’t going to eliminate all chances of developing heart disease or having a stroke. This requires a good diet, lifestyle habits, (and good genes as well). But it's good to know that just adding coffee to your diet helps reduce these risks.

7. Caffeine may lower skin cancer risk

The National Institute of Health found that higher coffee intake was directly associated with a noticeable decrease in the risk of a specific type of skin cancer called melanoma.

If there is a concern about any risk of skin cancer, try adding a few cups of coffee to the diet to help reduce it.

8. Caffeine can prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a health condition that degenerates memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and are more noticeable over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks eventually.  

A research has found that drinking 3-5 cups per day while in the middle-aged years of an individual was associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia by about 65% in your later years.

9. Coffee may help to avoid Parkinson’s Disease symptoms

Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic condition that involves malfunctions and death of certain nerve cells in the brain (which are called neurons). This is a progressive disease, meaning that symptoms get worse over time. The cause is currently unknown, and there is no cure yet.

Worldwide, nearly 7 million people are living with Parkinson’s disease.

Studies have shown that higher caffeine intake is associated with a decent lower incidence of this disease. This benefit, along with the reduction in AD and dementia, makes coffee an excellent asset for your diet as you get older without losing any mental strength and clarity.

10. Coffee may lower the chances of developing depression

Depression is a chronic and very serious mood pathology. It causes symptoms that affect how the patient thinks, feels and deals with daily activities like sleeping, eating, or working. Around 20% of women will be affected by depression during their lifespan.

Some scientific studies have found that increased coffee consumption decreased the risk of depression. This might be related to the stimulant properties of caffeine, improved by the warmth and rich flavors that coffee provides.

Were you familiar with all these stupendous benefits from coffee? As you can see, the world of coffee is vast and deep. If you know some more benefits we might have left out, please let us know in the comment section below, and don’t forget to follow us on our That Coffee Roasters social networks!



Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

viernes, 25 de mayo de 2018

Il Caffè Italiano!


Although coffee trees grow in equatorial environments, ergo, not native to Italy, the Bel Paese has taken the beverage’s potential to its own by introducing preparation methods that become the aroma of coffee beans.

Legend says that, after tasting coffee, Pope Clement VIII said: “This is such a delicious beverage that it would be a sin to let it be drunk only by non-believers. We shall vanquish Satan by giving it our blessing to make it a really Christian drink.”

After that, coffee soon spread all over Italy, either in elegant coffee shops or more humble, homely establishments. It became a ritual enjoyed by everyone, including artists, politicians, and writers.

In time, coffee has turned into an integral part of Italian culture, with no less than eight million bags imported annually. Italians drink coffee either at home, where it’s usually made in a moka pot (the subject of another of our articles) or in cafés, restaurants, and workplaces, where it's dispensed from espresso coffee makers that vary in size.

Coffee trivia: Venice began trading coffee around 1570, and the first coffee shop was opened in St. Mark’s Square in 1683.

Popular Coffee Brews in Italy
The Italians are to thank for the way the rest of the world confects, serves and imbibes coffee, from the expressions (like “cappuccino,” “latte,” and “macchiato”) to the famous, steam-driven espresso machine, to the stylish brands (Illy and Lavazza). If coffee has a cultural home, then this must be it.

When visiting Italy, you could take one or two things into consideration if you’d planning on to attend a café. First things first, don’t ask for big, complex, sugary, brews, this is another culture that takes coffee into a different approach.

Most Italian coffee orders can be made just with a single word. For instance, a caffè is a strong shot of espresso (ironically, the term “espresso” is rarely used in Italian coffee bar parlance), while macchiato is an espresso with a dash of steamed milk. An americano is an espresso with added hot water making for a slightly longer drink. The king of all white coffees is none other than the ever-iconic cappuccino, an espresso topped with warm frothy milk with an optional sprinkling of chocolate.

Unique Italian Coffee Brews
Around the world, coffee culture allows room for a few minor variations; some of them, regional. In Italy, make room for trying things like the caffè corretto, which is an espresso “corrected” with a shot of liquor, like grappa, and is taken mid to late noon. A doppio is a double espresso, recommendable if you’re hungover or sleep-deprived. A ristretto is a short, strong espresso with less water but equal potency. And a cappuccino scuro is a cappuccino made with less milk.

Another Italian original, the bicerin, is a specialty of the Piedmont region, often sold in Turin, and has been around for at least 200 years. It consists of layered espresso, hot chocolate, and milk, all served in a glass. Not quite different is the marocchino, another Piedmontese invention, a mix of espresso, cocoa powder and frothy milk. Popular among youngsters is cioccolata calda (hot chocolate) which, in the true spirit of la dolce vita, is dark, dense and delicious.

When (Drinking Coffee) in Rome, Remember…
  • In most bars, coffee is often served with a small glass of water. The water is supposed to be drunk first to cleanse the palate and better the taste
  • In some busy bars (those found in train stations, i.e.), you must pay for your coffee upfront at a till and then show the receipt to the barista
  • It's common for Italians to drink coffee in small amounts. Seven or eight espressos a day is not an oddity to them
  • Coffee in Italy is more on the cheap side. If you’re paying more than €2 for a cup, you’re being robbed
  • Italy’s best coffee city is a subject of debate that could restart the Risorgimento, but some top notch cafés can be located in Turin (home of Lavazza) or Trieste (home of Illy)

Prendiamo un caffè? Hope you liked our article! We write with passion, dedication and of course, love for coffee! Leave your comments and questions on the section below, and follow us on our That Coffee Roasters social networks.



Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

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