Coffee Science: Cold Brews and Iced Coffee

Cold brews and iced coffees are two of the best alternatives when it comes to finding a sort of change of pace. Learn all about them with That Coffee Roasters!

Coffee is one of the most versatile products available today. It is often used as an ingredient in recipes, homemade cosmetics, and industrial beauty products. Its value as a caffeinated or decaffeinated beverage for all types of customers also increases as different presentations come on the market, among which are cold coffee drinks that everyone knows exist, but do not know how to distinguish them. In today's blog, That Coffee Roasters invites you to finally learn the difference between these two types of tasty caffeinated drinks

Knowing the difference between cold brew coffee and iced coffee

This time it is not really about choosing one of the two types of coffee drinks, but about recognizing that there is a difference between them. Believe it or not, they are not the same type of beverage, and each one has different characteristics regarding its preparation. Want to know more? Keep reading!

What is a cold brew?

Cold brews are referred to as beverages brewed in cold or room temperature water. As you know, the coffee-making process is characterized by using hot water to prepare your cup of Joe. However, in this new era of inventions and good ideas, cold and coffee were mixed to create a unique presentation with a particular flavor: the cold brewed coffee.

In this case, the preparation consists of submerging ground coffee beans in cold water or at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours. This is a long process, but it results in a product with less bitterness and acidity than your typical hot coffee, as it oxidizes for a longer period.

You thought you could only make coffee with hot water, right? Now you know that everything is possible in the coffee world!

Understanding the iced coffee art

Now you know that cold brew isn’t just cold coffee in a glass, but what about iced coffee? You probably think that this type of drink is nothing more than coffee on the rocks, a mixture that usually results in a watery liquid with a slight coffee flavor.

The reality is that in its beginnings the iced coffee was basically that, hot coffee served on ice which was then delivered to customers. As the taste of this mixture is usually very diluted, some coffee experts have developed a new technique to present it in a better way.

Nowadays, baristas make a double batch of coffee, using double the amount of coffee grounds, or brew double strength coffee. Once the coffee is ready, they let it cool first and then add it to the ice. In this way, you get a less diluted coffee with a stronger flavor.

Each presentation has its science, the use of hot and cold water offers variations of flavors that can be attractive to all types of diners. In the end, it is not a question of which one is better, but of the customer's preference.

The only factor that determines the quality of these presentations? The type of coffee you use. Regardless of which beverage is your favorite, the determining element is the brand of coffee you use. That's why you should always choose the best coffee distributors on the market, such as That Coffee Roasters. Our company has a long tradition of making coffee, so we know how to satisfy all the needs of our customers. Do you want to know about us and our coffee products? Follow us through our social networks and get to know the new side of coffee.

Learn all about these forms of the beverage and how to prepare one yourself! Because coffee is not limited to be served as a hot beverage!

That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

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How to Taste Different Flavors in a Cup of Coffee

What do you look for in your cup?

Relax, we know how confusing talking about coffee can be. When people start talking about specialty coffee and how bold its body is or how acidic it tastes, all we can think about is: isn’t coffee just bitter and sometimes sweet if you add sugar? At first, we might be skeptical about how different coffee can actually be depending on its properties and origins, but once you learn to tell its nuances and qualities, a new world of flavors and contrasts will open up right in front of you.

So where do we begin? Is there a right way to drink coffee to better understand its characteristics? On today’s article, we’ll explore how we can train our senses to enjoy all that coffee truly has to offer.

The first thing you’ll need to do: forget about sugar and cream. We tend to add different ingredients to our coffee to make it sweeter, but they mask the best properties hidden behind coffee when it’s brewed pure. You’ll be able to sense more if you drink it simple and black. That’s how professionals do coffee cupping, which is the practice of tasting different brews to identify their different notes.

Exactly what will you be able to distinguish when you try it this way? Among others, you get to discover a new fragrance, aroma, sweetness, acidity, body and the aftertaste. Here’s how to find them in your cup of joe.

Fragrance perception

This part of the process is done with your dry coffee grounds, because it’s believed to be the most aromatic coffee form. Try to clear your mind and let your memories take over when smelling your grounds. This way, you’ll be able to tell if your coffee has fruity, floral or herbal notes. Once you’ve identified the predominant fragrance, you can even go further and try to specify its qualities. If it’s fruity, what kind of fruit do you smell? Is it citric like oranges or sweet peaches?

Aroma perception

This is the first time you’ll be mixing coffee with hot water, which will provoke the coffee aromas to arise. This part of the process depends heavily on how the coffee was roasted; you’ll be able to differentiate these three main categories: nutty-like notes, caramel-like notes and cocoa-like notes. The last two are typical of darker roasts and they’re perfect to take along with chocolate desserts. If, on the other hand, you sense a nutty-like aroma, then you can try to find descriptors such as almonds, peanuts or hazelnuts.

Sweetness

It’s time to taste coffee! Yes, you finally get to drink it. The first sips will let you know how sweet your coffee really is. It can actually come in different notes, such as candy-like, malty-like and fruity-like sweetness. Try to concentrate on how sweet your coffee tastes, so you can actually tell these notes apart from other coffee qualities.

Acidity

Acidity is one of the most popular qualities of coffee. Highly acidic coffees are usually light roasted and they’re perfect to accompany with fruity desserts like pies. You can tell the acidic grade of your coffee if your tongue starts to salivate once you start tasting it thoroughly. Possible descriptors include acid comparable to oranges or lemons and acid similar to green apples.

Body

We’ve reached the famous body. What are people talking about when they say coffee has a full body? It doesn’t describe too much about the taste as it does about the texture. Think about water and the way it feels inside your mouth. Now think about maple syrup, one is fuller than the other and feels heavier in your mouth, right? That’s the body of the drink! To identify this quality, take a sip and fake chew the coffee on your tongue. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Does it feel heavy like syrup or honey?
• Does it feel rugged because of small coffee ground particles?
• Is there no real feeling and it’s actually more watery?

Aftertaste

You’ve sipped your coffee all the way through, what’s left? This part of the cupping process simply refers to how much aftertaste comes with the brew? Help yourself by inhaling a little bit of air and allowing yourself to feel if there’s a strong taste left behind or if it’s gone almost completely.

Once you learn to distinguish the tones and nuances of every cup, you’ll also be able to enjoy coffee like never before. At That Coffee Roasters, part of our daily routine involves cupping and identifying our roasts qualities. It’s complex but a wonderful process, and we’re always amazed at how much some processing and farming methods can change a single drink.

What are your favorite flavors?

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

The 5 Things Every Barista Hates in a Coffee Shop

Have you been a good customer for baristas?

We all have our pet peeves, especially when it comes to our jobs. It doesn’t mean that we don’t love what we do or that we’re not passionate about it, it just means that… life’s not perfect, and that every  "up" has its "down." One of the most exhausting areas to work in is customer service and retail. It can be very rewarding because of its potential to connect with people and satisfy their needs, but it can also be hard and tiring as it needs your attention 24/7.  Coffee shop owners and workers, baristas included, know exactly how the business can be.

This Christmas, find out what bugs them the most and give your favorite baristas a break from the worst parts of the job! After all, they’ll be the ones to keep you warm from the cold winds of winter. We can all do a little bit more to make the lives of those around us a little easier.

When customers micromanage them

Baristas know what they’re doing. Yes, they know that you didn’t ask your coffee with coconut milk; nope, that’s not your order they’re preparing right now; yep, they heard you loud and clear about that extra steamed milk. Just stop micromanaging their every move and staring at them like you’re hoping they’ll make a mistake.

When customers think they forgot their order

We can’t explain this one better than the barista at Reddit who suggested it in the first place:

“I hate when I hand off a drink, and the customer had more than one beverage in their order so as soon as I hand it off, I get ‘Um, I had another drink…’ Yep and as soon as it's done, I will give it to you. Unless you want a cup with chai syrup, milk, no ice, and no lid? God damn. One. At. A. Time. (For handoff purposes).” Oh, and remember, if they haven’t called up your name, then that most probably isn’t your coffee.

When you order while on the phone

This one applies to any customer service job. Baristas only need about 30 seconds of your time! But if you’re too busy with that phone call to make your order in the middle of a long line, well, you’re about to make their day worse. Hang up or let the ones behind you pass first.

When customers ask for a cappuccino without foam and other extravagances

It sounds like an original drink. The only thing is, it doesn’t exist. Some coffee drinks are called that way because of their ingredients. You can’t have cappuccino without foam, or it wouldn’t be a cappuccino. Maybe your barista will please your demands, but he or she is going to hate every minute of it.

When customers pour hot coffee into the trash can

Oh, boy, if you’ve ever done this, you must have been really looking forward to ruining someone’s day. Hot beverages in plastic bags are bound to make a mess. Cold ones will get messy as well, but at least will not melt the plastic bag. So if you’re guilty, please stop it or your barista will have to clean it all up later. If you’re not going to drink all of it, just ask for some place to trash it properly later. Everyone’s happy!

Do you know any other pet peeves for baristas? Have you been guilty of any of them? Don’t worry! Good news is that now you will probably refrain from falling into these practices. Let's have a Christmas full of love and peace between coffee shop's workers and customers!

Every job comes with its ups and downs.

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

Before You Die: The Bucket List for Coffee Addicts

Pack your bags and go on an adventure!

If you only had one wish before leaving this world, what would you ask for? Would it be more time to share with your loved ones? Would it be one final good meal? Would it be one last glorious, sublime, perfect cup of your favorite coffee?... No. That’s too much, right? Yeah, we wouldn’t do that. Of course not. We enjoy coffee, but even we have boundaries. We’re not addicts. And anyway, there are more important things... isn't it?

Who are we kidding? We would totally do that. But, hey, don’t judge us! Napoleon Bonaparte was known for asking a spoonful of coffee on his deathbed, so we wouldn’t be the first ones to do it. We’re not totalitarian conquerors, we know, but we can love caffeine just the same. Actually, why not start our coffee bucket list today and tell the world just how much we love coffee? All we need is to define where to go first. What are those once-in-a-lifetime moments that every coffee lover must live? Well, we’ve gathered here the ones we believe you shouldn’t miss so buckle up and let’s go on an adventure!

6. Go back to where it all started and witness Ethiopia’s coffee ceremony

Considered to be our favorite drink’s birthplace, Ethiopia has enchanted the whole world with its beautiful and exotic coffee culture. History and spirituality fuse in this wonderful ceremony, that’s usually performed as a social activity for friends and visitors. It takes from 2 to 3 hours to finish, and it’s usually done by the women of the house. It involves a whole process of preparing raw coffee beans and brewing them into finished cups of coffee.

Ethiopian coffee ceremony has a strong connection with Islam. Each cup that results from this ritual is said to transform the spirit and be a blessing for those who drink it. With incense burning to ward off evil spirits and roasted coffee's aromas invading the atmosphere, this Ethiopian tradition is truly a sight to witness. Connect with the most powerful part of your spirit and take a trip through the amazing coffee culture from the place where it originated first.

5. Live the energy of Vienna’s famous coffee houses

UNESCO named them "World’s Intangible Heritage" in 2011, and it’s not hard to see why. Austrians are truly proud of their coffee culture. Ancient coffeehouses thrive on Vienna's streets, standing as little relics inside of which you can enjoy the best of the Austrian capital’s coffee. What makes them so special though? Their history, of course. You won’t find a stronger coffeehouse culture as you will in Vienna. They helped to shape Viennese’s social practices and rituals. They were also the scenario where many poets and artists found inspiration and wrote the best of their work.

Austrian writer, Stefan Zweig, described them like this: " ...actually a sort of democratic club, open to everyone for the price of a cheap cup of coffee, where every guest can sit for hours with this little offering, to talk, write, play cards, receive post, and above all consume an unlimited number of newspapers and journals." If your bohemian soul cries for a place where you can sit for hours, watching people pass by and thinking about life, what are you waiting for? Vienna’s coffeehouses are all you need and more!

4. Go to a World Latte Art Championship

If you believe nothing can compare to the sweet flavors of a cup of latte in the middle of the afternoon, then probably you’re also a fan of latte art. Attending to a World Latte Art Championship will be a heaven-like experience that you won’t forget anytime soon. Watch the best baristas and coffee lovers create beautiful works of art made of milk, cream, and espresso. This year’s competition was held in Budapest. Are you ready to pack your bags and follow these artists wherever they go next year?

3. Take a coffee bath on a Japanese spa

If you thought our previous coffee wishes were a little bit too extreme, how do you feel about actually bathing in coffee? It’s possible to do it in a Japanese spa called Hakone Kowakien Yunessun, located about an hour and a half from Tokyo. You can find among its services a possibility to bath in wine, tea, and other types of liquids. Their coffee bath is made of low heat Nel Drip style brewed coffee, and they assure it has “recharging, relaxing, skin beautifying effects.” But, oh well, now that we think about it, Japanese have a very curious coffee culture, with cat cafés in which you can pet felines while enjoying your cup of coffee. There’s something for every taste in the land of the rising sun.

2. Fall in love with true espresso shots on the streets of Rome

There are very few people as passionate about their coffee culture as Italians are about theirs. You can't blame them. They’re the creators of a beverage that has conquered the entire world: the espresso. That robust and contrasting shot that’s bound wake you up and improve your day right from the first sip. If you want to live an authentic Italian experience, don’t ask for anything that isn’t pure espresso outside of breakfast time, and don’t forget to take an Italian coffee tour. Antico Caffè Greco is a must, for example. Writers and composers like Goethe, Wagner, and Byron were regulars there. It has existed since 1760!

1. Feel the passion of coffee production in Colombia’s Coffee Triangle

We owe Colombia some of the best coffee in the whole world. Want to learn how it’s produced and processed? Then you definitely shouldn’t miss the chance of visiting the famous Colombia’s Coffee Triangle. Named a "World’s Heritage Site" by UNESCO, this territory is home to a huge part of Colombian coffee production. It covers a large mountainous region in the departments of Caldas, Quindio, and Risaralda. Because of its climate conditions, altitude, and soils, it’s a perfect landscape to harvest some of the most delicious coffee beans. It’s full of passionate people whose entire lives revolve around coffee. There are great hosts for tourists and many hostels and inns where you can enjoy a personal experience with coffee.

We bet that knowing Colombia’s Coffee Triangle could signify a fantastic experience for anyone who wants to live coffee as something more than just a beverage you drink to stop you from dozing off. Besides, this place is also the home of That Coffee Roasters’ founders and workers! We’ll always be proud of our origins!

Visit some of the coffee world's most iconic places! 

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

What Is the Chemex Coffeemaker?

This pour-over glass-container was invented by Peter Schlumbohm in 1941.

There are so many instruments and products around the creation of a fine coffee that you wouldn’t believe the number of things required for the making of your usual black beverage. From the French Press to Immersion or dipping gadgets, all these have their purpose in the industry. Today, the Chemex coffeemaker will be the subject of discussion. Let’s see it through from its creation until today.

Its conception is dated from the year 1941 when Dr. Peter Schlumbohm developed the Chemex. This chemist was responsible for the invention of many other things, but it’s remembered the most because of his contribution to the coffee industry. Schlumbohm didn’t just want to ease the brewing process, but to make it look like a piece of art that would appeal those who used it.

He profoundly studied the chemistry behind the extraction of flavor and components from coffee beans. The shape of the Chemex was inspired by the Bauhaus school of design, allowing him to fashion the hourglass shape that is now so common and popular among baristas and coffee professionals.

It was in the early 2000s that Chemex came back to life. Most claim that Chemex came back due to the rising of mainstream coffee lovers and how coffee became a “hipster” thing to do. Old practices and instruments were brought back and idealized. Many cafés use it as a part of décor, but others prefer to brew in a more artisanal and handmade way.

Chemex brew follows the typical infusion method, much like dripping. As it is a slower brew, the results are richer and thicker in comparison to other pour over methods. What this coffee lacks in terms of speed, it makes it up for a worthy cup of coffee.

Of course, a good instrument for brewing is nothing if the beans aren’t the best ones. That Coffee Roasters know the tradition of producing coffee very well; they have what it takes to offer the best roasts in the market. Everything that has coffee in its name will surely be of excellence, so contact them and get a sample of perfection!

If followed the process step-by-step, the results of the brew will "bloom" your mind.

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters