Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta History. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta History. Mostrar todas las entradas

miércoles, 16 de mayo de 2018

Top 10 Coolest Coffee Scenes in Films

Coffee is part of American culture by now, and it's no surprise that it takes part in our movie history, even in some of the most iconic scenes ever filmed.
Coffee...it is part of our morning routines, part of our social gatherings, it can be served at any meal and event, even funerals! It has become such a staple that if someone says ‘’hot beverage’’ you’ll more often than not, think of a steaming, dark cuppa Joe.

In that order of ideas, Coffee is so popular and is so related with our culture that we’ve been putting it on film ever since the very first movies, and it has resulted in some truly iconic and top notch scenes, here is the official That Coffee Roasters TOP 10 COOLEST COFFEE SCENES IN FILMS.


Number 10: The ‘’Foamy Latte’’ Scene from ZOOLANDER. (2001).
It is exaggerated, it is ridiculous, it is an stereotypical example of what an undesirable boss looks like. It’s none other than this scene acted by Will Ferrell (in the role of Mugatu, the fashion world villain of the film), in which he graphicly describes to his assistant the effects that milk causes to him, ordering that he never makes him lattes again, and scaring him (in a comical way) afterwards.

Number 09: Kato’s ‘’Coffee machine’s scene’’ from THE GREEN HORNET. (2011)
This impressive scene involved a nearly Over-sized hand-built coffee maker, which Kato (Jay Chou) used to make an espresso. The most satisfying part, however, was his ability to quickly and confidently finish it with a fancy, wavy milk-pour. 

Number 08: Amélie ‘’covering for a friend’’ scene from AMÉLIE (2001)
In order to bring her friends together, Amélie(Audrey Tautou) takes the innocent approach of spilling hot coffee on Georgette and tricking her into barging into the restroom while the character of Joseph is inside. The momentary scalding turns for the best in the end, as Amélie vents some loud steam to cover up the sounds of her friend’s ecstasy

Number 07: Kujan’s ‘’coffee mess’’ scene from THE USUAL SUSPECTS (1995)
Nothing gives a buzz of tension to a scene like a coffee cup shattering on the floor; but doing it three times in a row? Agent Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) makes an absolute mess by throwing his coffee mugs all over the floor on the final scene of “The Usual Suspects,” and it’s one of the great “a-ha!” moments in all film history. 

Number 6: Tommy’s ‘’coffee to go’’ scene from GOODFELLAS (1990)
Stacks (Samuel L. Jackson) get an unexpected visit when Tommy (Joe Pesci) shows up to shoot him straight in the head, the shocks lies partially on Tommy and his relaxed attitude, asking a friend Frank Sivero character to make a pot of coffee. After the hit, Tommy tells Frankie to make the coffee to go and then nags him for not understanding that the whole request was a joke.

Number 05: Travolta’s ‘’ThankS for the coffee’’ scene from SWORDFISH (2001).
There is not much to say about this new millenium film, but the pizzazz and cockiness that John Travolta exudes while finishing a black espresso and standing up from the table where he’s surrounded by FBI agents and simply telling them that he has to ‘’jet’’ and thanking them for the coffee cannot be denied, the nerve on that man is as strong as that coffee!

Number 04: The ‘’coffee shop fake phone call’’ scene from BEFORE SUNRISE (1995)
This movie from the late 90’s stars Ethan Hawke and is  part of a romantic drama trilogy. It talks about Jesse, a young American, who meets Celine, a French student, on a train going to Vienna. In this iconic scene, they admit their love for each other while having a coffee, while sharing an imaginary phone conversation. 

Numer 03: ‘’Good cop vs. Evil Mafia boss’’ scene from HEAT (1995)
De Niro plays the villain of the film and on this particular scene, he sees his adversary face to face, and even have a cup of coffee and discuss their conflict (between the occasional threat) over a cup of joe just like anyone else, De Niro also has one of the most intense lines on the film in this scene, saying to the cop he’s meeting with: ‘’What if you do got me boxed in and I gotta put you down? Cause no matter what, you will not get in my way. We’ve been face to face, yeah. But I will not hesitate. Not for a second.’’

Number 02: The ‘’Knock it off’’ Tarantino cameo from PULP FICTION (1994)
Travolta and Jackson, what an iconic duo, and they get to share a scene with the director Quentin Tarantino, and also share a ‘’gourmet’’ cup of coffee with him, right before he starts berating them for their incompetence and prior actions on the film, the dialogues make the scene just unforgettable.

Number 01: The opening scene from BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S (1961)
This particular scene made history biy its own, we not only get to see the Hollywood Icon Audrey Hepburn, we get to see her in her most glamorous ensemble ever, that marvelous black gown with matching gloves and a pearl necklace that went on forever, non satisfied by that, she breaks that dashing debonair look by having a croissant an a coffee out of a paper bag from a  coffee shop and eating them just like anyone else, proving that any girl can have her very own cinderella story….after her morning coffee, of course.

What are you waiting for? Go home, make yourself a big pot of coffee and have a movie marathon, watching all these amazing films! This list was brought by your servers on That Coffee Roasters! Don’t hesitate on following us on our social media and comment on the section below.


"Cigarettes and coffee, man. That's a combination." - Iggy Pop in Coffee and Cigarettes (2003).


Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

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jueves, 10 de mayo de 2018

The Moka Pot: From Mocha to Your Kitchen

The Moka is one of the most popular implements for coffee brewing in Latin America.

Many people like to start their day right with tons of energy. Waking up energized keeps you productive for the whole day. This is why we try to eat the right types of food that will keep us healthy, and always on the go, one of the most popular morning beverages is none other than our beloved coffee.

Did you know that there is an iconic coffee maker that people have been using since the start of the modern era? Yes, even up to the present, this coffeemaker is still being used by different families from all over the world, from Northern Europe to South America. This iconic coffee maker is the one and only Moka Pot.

That Coffee Roasters’ History Lesson: The Moka Pot
The elegant, octagonal-shaped Moka Pot, sometimes also called a caffettiera, a macchinetta, or stovetop espresso maker, it comes with a heavy historical significance in the coffee world.

Caffeine and Aluminum are two elements that carry a common symbolism linking them to the modern ages: they are associated with lightness, speed and mobility, strength, energy, and electricity (the “buzz”). These are terms that fit both these materials and are associated with the new lifestyle that modern man was seeking back in the past century.

Connected to the rise of Italian fascism came a revolution in the drinking habits of the Italian public since regionalism and cultural pride were the cognitive rules for the Italians. It might be odd to read, but what has become known as the Italian way to brew and serve coffee at home, The Moka Pot brewing implement and process is linked to the social, technological and economic changes that Italian fascism lived through the 1930’s.

The story of the stove-top espresso maker begins all the way back in 1918 when a man known as Alfonso Bialetti, returned to his natal Italy from France, where he had been working in the aluminum industry for 10 years, and established a workshop that made metal household implements.

Near his factory located in Piedmont, Bialetti watched women washing their clothes in a sealed boiler with a small pipe in the center of it. The pipe drew the soap-water from the bottom of the container and flushed it over the wet laundry. Bialetti decided to try and adapt this idea to make a coffee machine that would allow Italians to make their own espressos without leaving their homes.

Prior to Bialetti’s experiments, coffee was more often than not drunk in public coffee shops, usually visited by men. Indeed when women started to drink coffee outside the house, it was regarded as a sign of their move towards emancipation (associated with the women voting moves and the firsts steps of feminism).

Domestic coffee machines allowed the hot water to drip at its own pace over the coffee grounds to produce a weaker version of the so craved espressos. But during this period, various inventors were already experimenting with steam, looking to emulate or even upgrade the strong and intense flavors of the espresso found in the public coffee houses.

Bialetti used aluminum as his element of choice for his inventions. Mussolini had imposed an embargo on stainless steel at the time. Nonetheless, since the country had a rich supply of the aluminum ore bauxite, it became the national metal, and Bialetti had plenty of it to work with.





Meanwhile, the owner of Galla Coffee, James Grierson, said:

“He finally invented the Moka Express in 1933. Its distinctive shape was based on a silver coffee service that was popular in wealthy Italian homes at the time and hasn't changed since. He said that without requiring any ability whatsoever, one could enjoy an espresso in casa come al bar – in other words, coffee as good as you could buy in the café”.

The octagonal shape was inspired by silver coffee serving pots used by the rich and aristocratic Italian families. In the years after he marketed the product (in a local-only way) and sold about 70,000 pieces until 1940.

At first, the revolutionary Moka Express Pot was sold at local markets, and it wasn’t until after The Great War, when Bialetti's son, Renato, joined his father’s journey, that sales took off after an advertising campaign using l'omino con i baffi (“the little man with the moustache”), a caricature that was said to be based on Alfonso Bialetti due to his appearance.

Renato’s marketing ideas were an improvement to the evolution of the Moka pot from a locally sold product to an internationally renowned one. He modernized the production, opening a new factory in the 1950s. He combined machine-made parts with handcrafted ones, which preserved the quality of the product and a distinctive design.

The Moka pot design has hardly changed ever since, and aluminum is still used, being most popular in Mediterranean Europe and Latin America (often called “greca” in Spanish). This coffee maker’s popularity has survived for almost a century due to its simple construction and ease of use.

It consists of three sections or parts. The lower segment holds the water, while the finished coffee goes to the upper, topmost section. Between these two there is a metal funnel holding a perforated disc where the ground coffee is to be placed. The boiled water goes through the ground coffee forced by the pressure and flows into the pot on top, ready to be served.

We sincerely hope you have enjoyed our content, and if you want to know more about history, brewing methods or anything coffee-related, That Coffee Roasters is the page to go! Follow us on our social networks! Here at That Coffee Roasters, all questions are important, and we are glad to answer all of them, so don’t be shy and leave them in the comment section below.

Practical, simple, and fast. All you need is to fill the pot with water and put the grounds on the filter.


Phone Number: (305) 821-8811


miércoles, 20 de diciembre de 2017

What If Coffee Beans Didn’t Exist? This is How Caffeine Changed History

coffee beans influence
Many works of art and events wouldn't have happened if it weren't for coffee.



People sleeping across desks during work hours, parents half-listening to what their children say, the whole world probably falling asleep by 9:00 p.m. In a world without coffee beans, there would be very few ways to stay awake and productive during those long working hours. More like zombies, less like humans. A coffeeless landscape doesn’t look very promising for humanity.

Alright, we could be exaggerating a little. One thing’s for sure though: the world really wouldn’t be the same without coffee. Beyond its wonderful effects on our brain, coffee has had a huge impact on our culture and society. From its discovery in the mountains of Ethiopia and Yemen to the coffeehouses where it thrived in Europe, coffee has come a long way to become one of the most traded commodities on Earth.

It’s not only about its consequences in the world economy, but it’s also about the impact it’s had on our culture, politics, and technological progress. It’s surprising what a little bean can do. But when you give humans a chance to search for a new potential, and they’ll find meaning in the apparently most insignificant things.


Coffee, imperialism, and slavery
Not everything was good and positive when it comes to coffee's history. In the early modern era, Europe emerged as an imperial power. The Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Dutch empires established coffee estates all across America and the Caribbean. The struggle for territories brought war, death, and destruction that were deeply suffered by African slaves and indigenous folks.

Coffee plantations also destroyed rainforests and deprived soils of its natural nutrients. Coffee fueled slave trade to supply the empires’ coffee production, and it quickly became a symbol of imperialism.


No Enlightenment without coffee
We don’t think the Dutch knew how they would change the entire world when they brought coffee from Arabia to Europe. The beverage already was part of social interactions, practices, and rituals in Mecca, but we got to meet its true potential in the European continent. During the XVII century, coffeehouses became the place where politicians, artists, writers, thinkers, philosophers, and scientists came to discuss their ideas. We really doubt that the era of Enlightenment and the French Revolution would have ever come to be if it wasn’t for our beloved drink (or at least it would have probably taken longer).

Thanks to coffee, Europeans sobered up. Before they used to drink mostly beer, so they were drunk half of the time. Coffee favored more stimulated debates and the creation of new ideas that would radically transform society. One of the best things about coffeehouses was that both rich and poor would mingle, as it was a space open for everyone.

Even though coffee consumed in Europe was largely produced by slaves in America, the French Revolution would deeply influence the American independence movements. In the United States, however, coffee would also symbolize patriotism.

Tea is British, so we drink coffee

After the Boston Tea Party in 1773, when American colonists raided British tea ships and threw crates of tea into the harbor, drinking coffee became a symbol of patriotism in America. John Adams actually wrote a letter to his wife in which he said that even though he loved tea, he would have to learn to embrace coffee, as drinking tea had become unpatriotic.

Just like in Europe, ideas of American Revolution thrived in the coffeehouses of Boston, Philadelphia and New York. There, coffee became a perfect companion to conspire against the British crown.

After the independence, coffee will also play a huge role during the Civil War. It split the country in two: the Union (north) and the Confederacy (south). As you must know, the Union came victorious. In some way, it was actually thanks to coffee. Both sides of the war craved caffeine, but the beans were a precious commodity in the south due to a blockage made by the Union. Because of that, northern soldiers were often more energized and active than southern ones. It also provided solace in the midst of so much violence and destruction. That way, having access to coffee clearly became an advantage in battles.

Over time, coffee went on to fuel the workers of the Industrial Revolution. Coffee has become such a huge part of our daily lives that it’s difficult to imagine a world without caffeine. At That Coffee Roasters, we know coffee hides hundreds of years of history and our Colombian predecessors' work, and we’re proud to preserve and honor that legacy. Want to learn more about coffee? Follow us on our social media and stay updated with our new content!


Coffee beans history
What would your life be like without coffee?




Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

lunes, 11 de diciembre de 2017

Legends and Secrets Behind Coffee: The Saint Who Brought It to India

What's behind some of the best coffee's legends and secrets?
India is the world's sixth coffee-producer country.

Coffee is believed to have originated from a region in Ethiopia called Kaffa in the ninth century. And ever since it arrived at Europe's ports, it has influenced and changed millions of people’s lives. What has made it so powerful over all these years? Why does it continue to inspire such a strong devotion in so many coffee lovers all over the world? For most people, coffee is nothing but this black and strong drink that helps them to perform more efficiently during the day. But for others, it’s so, so much more. It’s a lifestyle, a career path, a passion. And, for a few others, it’s a spiritual experience. The world has many mysteries. And believe it or not, coffee has been involved in some of those legends and secrets that continue to pick our curiosity for the unknown.

We’ve already talked about how different coffee culture is everywhere in the world. Some countries have very specific rituals when it comes to brewing this beverage, others have special and unique methods for growing coffee beans, others like to accompany their coffee with what some would consider very strange ingredients. In India, coffee has a strong religious meaning and symbolism. They believe that coffee was brought to their lands by a saint. This is the story of how it came to be.

The crime that changed everything

The legend says that a Sufi saint, called Baba Budan, revered by both Muslims and Hindus, started a pilgrimage to Mecca, around 1650. Coffee had already spread all across Arabia and had reached Yemen, where Baba Budan first encountered the beverage. During the 17th century, coffee exportation was limited to roasted or baked beans, and it was illegal to transport coffee plants to other territories.

After Baba Budan ended his pilgrimage, he discovered the drink in a place called Mocha, Yemen, a port city with an exit to the Red Sea, from which he planned to make his way back home. After trying it, it is said that he was simply captivated by it and thought of the dark liquid as quite refreshing.  With a strong desire to bring coffee to his homeland, and even though it was illegal and severely punished to do it, he strapped seven coffee beans to his chest and hid them all the way to India.

The legend says he chose the number seven because of its significance in Islam tradition (it appears many times all across the Quran, in Islamic rituals and beliefs.) After successfully smuggling those coffee beans out of Yemen, he found them a perfect place for them in his backyard's soils, at his home, located on the slopes of the Chandragiri Hills in Kadur district. The coffee beans grew, spread in the vicinities and ended up claiming a set of hills called Chandra Drona. Today, they’re named Baba Budan Hills, where his tomb can be visited.

Baba Budan’s little crime started India’s multimillionaire coffee industry. India is the world’s sixth coffee producer, and its coffee is known for its delicate aroma because it usually grows away from direct sunlight. Small farmers produce most Indian coffee, and even though tea is more popular because of English influence, Indian coffee is gaining more and more territory in the industry.

Many different tales and legends tell the story of how coffee entered our lives and changed our culture. At That Coffee Roasters, we love to explore the differences and nuances of every type of coffee! Catch us up next week to learn more about coffee history, traditions, legends, and secrets!


Legends associated with coffee
The legend says a saint brought coffee to the country.





Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

jueves, 9 de noviembre de 2017

Storytime!: Why So Many Coffee Drinks Have Italian Names?

You should thank Italians for your daily cup of coffee!



Let’s play a little game and tell us if we guess right: Most of your favorite coffee drinks have espresso as its base ingredient. You can’t start your mornings without your cup of cappuccino. Isn't it right? Well, maybe coffee latte is your thing? Or perhaps you have a sweet tooth and prefer a mochaccino? One thing is certain. If we were to guess only by their names, all coffees' names seem to have come from one single place: Italy.

At least that’s how it feels with the most popular coffee drinks. All the best-known coffee beverages sound very Italian. So what’s up with this? Did Italians discover our favorite drink? Well, we know that our love for caffeine originated in Africa, so that’s not it. Actually, coffee first arrived in Italy through trade between North Africa and Venice during the 16th century. But still, there’s a reason why Italy has become the coffee capital of the world, and we’re here to find it out!

Why Espresso Changed Everything?
The key to exploring why Italian coffee culture became so famous in the first place is to focus on its most replicated product: espresso. Although today you can spend minutes ordering your drink and adding many ingredients to it, the original purpose of espresso was to have the ability to serve a shot of coffee as quickly as possible. We’ve got to thank the Industrial Revolution for it because it brought us the machine that made it possible. The “machinetta” was created by Luigi Bezzara in 1901, and it was responsible for compressing coffee and forcing pressurized water through it.  

Ever since then, coffee's world changed. Coffee houses were no longer just tranquil places. They were filled with the buzz of workers and businesspeople who entered every morning looking for a shot of espresso to fuel their day. It became an icon of the new century, and it arrived at the perfect time to become popularized in the whole country and, subsequently, in the rest of the world.
Original espresso tasted very different from what you enjoy today. The first machines' precariousness gave this drink a bitter and burnt flavor, and it was actually more similar to regular filtered coffee than present-day espresso. But because of how fast they were served, they were successfully commercialized in what was known as American bars: coffee shops in which customers stood on one side of the bar while waiting for their order.

Espresso consumption continued to grow until Mussolini’s fascist regime. Coffee imports were banned, and by the time of the II World War, coffee had virtually disappeared from Italy. One curious fact is that the term ‘barista’ actually comes from fascist Italy, as a way to oppose the American word then used: ‘barman.'

Nevertheless, the Italian coffee industry didn’t forget about espresso's potential as a unique beverage, and inventors continued to improve coffee machines in an effort to erase coffee's burnt flavors and contamination. By the 1950’s, Italians had created a new way to make espresso called caffè crema, which presented its famous mousse on top of the beverage. One we still see in espressos today.

Caffè crema's arrival marked the start of Italian influence in coffee drinks as we know it nowadays. This new espresso spread all across Italy. Other countries started to replicate and import it as well, as many Italian emigrants influenced coffee culture everywhere they went.

Coffee’s Social Function
But then what about cappuccino, latte, mochaccino…? Why did we continue to call almost every coffee drink by their Italian names? Italians didn’t invent the combination of coffee and milk. That already existed in Europe since the 17th century. Well, it’s solely because Italians were responsible for switching from regular filtered coffee to espresso. Cappuccino's original name comes from the Viennese version called kapuziner, inspired by Capuchin monks who lived in Vienna. It wasn’t until 1930 that Italians started to make their own version with espresso as the main ingredient.

Cappuccino and other types of coffee drinks became popularized because they served a bigger purpose than regular espresso. The whole process of adding frothing milk to a cup of coffee started to become a part of coffee houses' experience, in sound, image, and taste. It also added an extra to cafes' social function. Coffee bars were perfect for meeting people, friends, and coworkers, so it was necessary a drink that took longer to consume.

Nowadays, Italians are still very protective of their coffee culture. Even though in America we are used to adding tons of ingredients to coffee and tasting different combinations, more traditional Italians prefer their espresso as classic as they can get. Globalisation is changing this though. American coffee methods are making their way through Italian coffee houses, even though they’re still sticking to their original ways. The good news is that we can experience the best of both worlds and celebrate our love for coffee.

Even though we have a lot to thank Italians, the truth is that Mediterranean climate is not very good for coffee production. To get the best coffee beans, you can count on Latin Americans to save your day! At That Coffee Roasters, we believe that nothing beats true Colombian coffee when it comes to brewing your favorite Italian drinks, so kudos to cultural exchange!


Which one is your favorite Italian coffee?





Phone Number: (305) 821-8811


jueves, 21 de septiembre de 2017

5 Books about Coffee You Should Read

Between the pages of these books, you will be able to discover insight about coffee.


Knowledge is hidden between the pages of books. Despite the growing amount of users turning their heads towards virtual research, books are still ahead in providing necessary information. Curiously enough, every professional in the coffee field did its reading back then in order to become the experts they are today.
We know books are not for everyone, as less than half the US population enjoys immersing in literature for leisure. Are you one of those who happens to love literature and coffee as much as we do? Then you came to the perfect spot. Today, we’ll bring you some coffee books you’ll definitely read with your favorite hot (or cold) brewed beverage!
1.- The Professional Barista’s Handbook by Scott Rao (2008)
For those who seek for the knowledge required to become excellent baristas, this is the ultimate choice. Scott Rao features some efficient and precise tools and advice in brewing matters, added to very fast and useful methods to make a wonderful drink.
The Professional Barista’s Handbook is a must-have for those willing to hone their barista’s skills. As a matter of fact, the author wrote this book in an attempt to cover the needs required to make great coffee. Grow professionally through this excellent book!

2.- God in a Cup by Michaele Weissman
Who else could frame coffee better than a journalist seeking for knowledge? Michaele Weissman wrote this book that unravels most of the features that characterize the “Third Wave” of coffee. Weissman focuses on three specialty coffee gurus who seek for the perfect cup.
God in a Cup is more like an adventurous experience, just like Quixote’s quest, the book seeks for answers and meaning behind this beverage of millennia. Grab yourself one copy of this book; you’ll treasure it the same way you do with the coffee you love.

3.- The World Atlas of Coffee by James Hoffman
This book is a jewel for readers who want to learn about coffee throughout the world. Featuring famous sources like Colombia, Kenya, and Brazil, you’ll find much detailed information about each coffee-growing regions and their background. The book is perfect for those who’re just getting started in this world.
James Hoffman will connect you with each of those places, showing you marvelous images about coffee that soothe the mind. Get engaged and learn with his tutorials on how to brew properly and discover how fair-trade of the coffee industry works.

4.- Coffee: A Dark History by Antony Wild
For those who’d rather get a glimpse of the history of the black beverage, this book will perfectly suit their taste. Coffee: A Dark History breaks down the origins and background of coffee. Antony Wild argues that coffee influenced the British Empire’s economy, being one of the pillars of its growth.
If you’re looking for a different perspective of the facts and information about coffee, then you’ve found the perfect choice. See the dark side of this beverage and discover things you won’t find anywhere else.

5.- The Coffee Roaster’s Companion by Scott Rao
And yet again, another excellent book written by Scott Rao. As the title says, this book is perfectly fit for coffee roasters who either seek to review their own procedures or just want to discover some insight about coffee. The author is very insistent in asking their readers to avoid “cherry-picking” chapters of the book and doing the whole reading.
Professionals often have their bookshelves filled with complex books and hard-to-read sheets filled with necessary roasting data. This book offers an easy path to present information in an accessible way. Apply the information and advice this book seeks to provide, and your processes at work will be improved.
Did you find these books useful? The options range from basic knowledge to more complex, specialized books. Pick the one that suits your tastes and expand your knowledge about this magnificent drink!
We know knowledge means nothing without technique and practice, which is why we recommend That Coffee Roasters as your trusted choice when buying. They’ve been in business for several decades, making their coffee products of excellent quality. Give them a call and ask for the best beans of the industry.

Most of these books have historical facts and interesting information for you to learn about.




Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

How are Raw Coffee Beans Treated?

Treatment for your beans Raw coffee beans are not coffee-worthy. Ok, let’s rephrase that: with raw coffee beans, there’s not much you c...