15 Coffee Hacks for You

Coffee offers endless possibilities for serving and presentation.

Espresso, Latte, Mocha, Macchiato. We all know the classic combinations of any coffee shop menu, but as humans (and coffee lovers) we love the variety and to try new things, and when it comes to coffee this is not different at all. So, why limit our possibilities to what stores and baristas offer us? Today we bring you a series of hacks that will make your morning brews something more delicious and new, this is a completely DIY experience that will bring you closer to coffee preparation techniques.

TOP 15 BEST COFFEE HACKS FOR YOUR MORNING CUPPA JOE

1. Add some spicy flavors to your grounds. Improve the taste of a low-quality coffee, or experiment with new, intriguing flavors by adding cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves to the coffee grounds before adding the water.
2. Reduce the bitterness with salt! Adding a tiny bit of salt before you add the water to your grinds should make the coffee taste a little less bitter. Remember, just a tiny bit.
3. Coffee ice cubes for cold coffee. Some like it hot, but some prefer the coffee cold. And why let some melting, boring, water ice cubes ruin the taste? The solution for this is simple, make some coffee, pour it on an ice tray and freeze it, you can use the cubes for chocolate milk or cold coffee.
4. Ice Cubes: The Sequel. Instead of freezing coffee, why not give it a sweet twist? Freeze some milk, chocolate milk or cream and add it to your cold coffee for a new, tasty experience.
5. Roast your own coffee with a popcorn maker. If you currently don’t own a coffee roaster, don’t worry, you can still do this at home. All you need is a popcorn maker since these machines are designed and work on similar principles as large batch coffee roasters, by rotating the beans and heating them completely through to develop rich flavors.
6. Homemade espresso with a french press. Want the rich and concentrated taste of espresso but can’t afford a big, expensive espresso machine? Well, here at THAT COFFEE ROASTERS we offer you the solution: your trusty french press. All it takes is grinding the espresso beans super fine and pouring enough hot water to only submerge the grounds, by doing this you can create a pretty good espresso facsimile.
7. Cold brew with a blender, is that possible? Sure it is! Let’s say you are on vacation and want to make cold-brew coffee but don’t have anything to brew it with. Well, there’s no need for any complicated equipment when you have a trusty blender and a little patience. A common, house blender can be used both as a grinder and brewing vessel and is able to produce a strong and delicious cold brew in 8-12 hours.
8. Get some rest with coffee naps. Due to the unique way Caffeine interacts with our organisms and is released into the body, taking Caffeine right before a 20 minutes nap will leave you feeling alive and full of energy when you wake up. Try it for those long working hours.
9. DIY frothy, warm milk for your morning coffee. It’s so simple, all you need is to put the milk in a mason jar, put the lid on it and shake it real good, remove the lid and microwave it until it’s warm and ready for your coffee.
10. Blend your coffee with a dash of coconut oil. This is what we call bulletproof coffee! Add some texture and an exotic, tropical flavor to your regular cup of Joe by blending your coffee with coconut oil or any derivative.
11. Make your own creamer. Another simple hack for people that watch what they’re eating. All you need is your choice of milk, and some vanilla or almond extract to create the perfect coffee creamer. This creamer will last longer in your refrigerator than store-bought creamers, and you know exactly what ingredients you’ll be consuming.
12. Reheat over low heat. Sometimes you need to reheat your coffee, That Coffee Roasters strongly recommends never doing this by microwaving the brew, instead, try to put the coffee on the stove at low heat, this way you won’t kill all the flavor.
13. Let it cool down for a minute. Tepid coffee is an absolute no, we can all agree, but according to the coffee experts, super hot coffee can taste stronger and more bitter, while coffee that has cooled a little has better, more complex flavor. So, basically, chill for a couple minutes after you pour it.
14. Rinse the mug with hot water before serving. This will help to maintain the heat of the coffee when inside the mug.
15. Grapefruit for Caffeine lovers. Sounds crazy, but natural grapefruit juice can help to improve the way Caffeine goes into your body. If you’ve been a coffee drinker for years, you’ve probably noticed that you need to drink more coffee than you used to in order to get that Caffeine buff that helps to get you going in the morning. Grapefruit natural compounds can help to slow the absorption process of the caffeine in your body, giving you those wide-awake vibes with your first cup, instead of your second or third.

We sincerely hope you have enjoyed our content and hacks, and if you want to learn more, 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.

Coffee can be fashionable; we should all try more than one combination.

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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

Mix Coffee With the Best Christmassy Ingredients and Try these Recipes!

Only a few days to try these recipes before the year is over.

Nothing’s pulling us out of our Christmas mood. We’ll carry on until the winds of January get heard over the sound of our Christmas albums. However, it is a good thing that there are still many winter days to endure, because that means that we’ll have to use coffee to keep us warm. Some ingredients prove to be better than others for these cold days, but caffeine is always a perfect option. That’s why today we’ve brought the best Christmas recipes so you can stay in your pajamas all day and watch your favorite movies with a coffee mug to keep you company!

Slow Cooker Gingerbread Latte

This recipe, perfect for Christmas mornings, is bound to make you fall in love with its sweet flavors and chocolate tones. You can try it with coconut milk and whipped cream for an extra healthy version! Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups almond milk
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup mint syrup see below
• 4 espresso shots

Whipped cream

• 1 Candy cane crushed
• Mint syrup
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp mint extract

Instructions

1. Make the mint syrup by mixing together boiling water, sugar, and mint extract. Set aside. This syrup will last up to a month in the fridge so you can enjoy peppermint mochas all December long!

2. In a large glass mixing cup, microwave milk for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Add cocoa powder, mint syrup, chocolate chips, and fresh espresso shots, whisking well to combine.

3. Top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes, then serve and enjoy!

Recipe by: The Girl on Bloor

White Chocolate Peppermint Mochas

Give the classic peppermint mocha a twist by brewing it with white chocolate! Snuggle under the blankets with one of these and let us know how it goes.

Ingredients

• Brewed coffee
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/8 tbsp peppermint extract
• Whipped cream
• Candy canes, crushed (optional)

Instructions

1. Brew coffee to your preference.
2. Place chocolate chips in glass measuring cup.
3. Microwave in 30-seconds increments until they are melted, stirring until smooth, add in milk & peppermint extract.
4. Stir until well combined.
5. Fill coffee cups 1/2 way with coffee, pour in 1/2 cup of white chocolate mixture, stir to combine.
6. Garnish with whipped cream & candy cane pieces. Yield is 2 large cups.

Recipe by: Lori from Who Needs a Cape

Baked Peppermint Mocha Donuts

Finally, take your passion for Christmas coffee to a whole new level with these delicious donuts. They’re easy to make, and they’re topped with an irresistible chocolate peppermint glaze. You’ll need:

Ingredients

Donut

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp espresso powder
• 1 egg
• 3 Tbsp Dunkin' Donuts® Bakery Series Chocolate Glazed Donut Pre-pack Bag, brewed (and cooled to room temperature)
• 1/4 cup half & half
• 3 Tbsp sour cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp canola oil

Peppermint Mocha Glaze

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 Tbsp Dunkin' Donuts® Bakery Series Chocolate Glazed Donut Pre-pack Bag, brewed
• 2-4 Tbsp Dunkin Donuts® Extra Extra Creamer
• 1/8 tsp peppermint extract (it's very strong, and a little goes a long way)

Topping

• Crushed Peppermint Candies

Instructions

Donuts

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a donut pan with baking spray and set aside.
2. In a bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, salt, and espresso powder together until well combined. Set aside.
3. Whisk the egg, coffee, and half & half together. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and add the wet ingredients. Mix until combined (batter will be fairly thick).
4. Add the sour cream, vanilla extract, and canola oil; mix until well combined.
5. Pour batter into greased donut pan, filling each donut cavity about 3/4 of the way full (this batter can make about 7-8 donuts).
6. Bake for 8-9 minutes, or until the donut 'springs' back when touched. Allow it to cool a few minutes before removing from the pan.

Glaze

7. In a bowl, mix powdered sugar and cocoa powder together. Add in coffee, and 2 Tbsp of creamer, and whisk until combined. If the glaze feels too thick, add in remaining creamer, 1 Tbsp at a time (I used 3 Tbsp, but I do prefer a thicker glaze).
8. Add in peppermint extract, and mix until well combined.
9. Dip each donut into the glaze, and top with crushed peppermint candies. Allow the glaze to set (about 10 minutes).
10. Enjoy!

Recipe by: Michelle from A Latte Food

Make this winter truly memorable with the sweetest flavors! If you never want to leave the comfort of your home and blankets, we can’t say we’ll blame you. We’d probably be doing the same, but we’ve got too many coffee beans to keep roasting. Follow That Coffee Roasters on social media to get more recipes and content!

Are you trying these recipes at home?

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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

Legends and Secrets Behind Coffee: The Man Who Escaped Death Thanks to a Mysterious Drink

He was proclaimed a saint when he came back to his village.

Last week, we started to explore the relationship between coffee’s secrets and religion. Coffee didn’t really start in India, as we read last week in the story of the saint who brought it to those lands. In ancient times, all the events that radically changed society and culture were often explained by supernatural or spiritual tales. The origin of coffee was not left out of this tradition, especially in the very religious region where it first came to be known. There are two legends for how coffee originated: one comes from Ethiopia and the other from Yemen. It’s actually a heated discussion, as there is no clear consensus of coffee’s true birthplace and you’ll get a different answer depending on who you ask.

You’ve probably heard of mocha coffee (it’s also spelled mocca, moka or moca). It’s a very popular type of coffee, known for its chocolate-like flavors, that comes from Mocha, a Yemeni city that became famous during the XV and XVII century for being the greatest coffee market in the world. Well, it’s also the home to our Islamic legend. Preserved in the Abd-Al-Kadir manuscript, tells the story of Sheikh Omar, a disciple of Sheikh Abou’l Hasan Schadheli, patron saint and legendary founder of Mocha.

In the year of the Hegira 656, Schadheli went on a pilgrimage to Mecca. Arriving at the mountain of the Emeralds (Ousab), he turned to his disciple Omar and said: "I shall die in this place. When my soul has gone forth, a veiled person will appear to you. Do not fail to execute the command which he will give you." After his death, Omar saw in the middle of the night a gigantic specter covered by a white veil. “Who are you?,” Omar asked and Schadheli revealed himself under the veil. He miraculously dug water from the ground and asked Omar to fill a bowl with it. He told Omar he had to proceed on his way and not stop till he reached the spot where the water would stop moving. That’s how he reached Mocha, the city where the water stopped moving.

Both a doctor and a priest, Omar became very well known in Mocha, since a plague then ravished the city. His practices included both traditional medicine and prayers to Allah. The daughter of the King of Mocha fell ill, and her father had her carried to the home of Omar. He was captivated by the princess’ rare beauty, and after having cured her, the good dervish tried to carry her off. The king did not fancy this new kind of reward. Omar was driven from the city and exiled on the mountain of Ousab, with herbs for food and a cave for a home. The legend says that on the brink of starvation, Omar didn’t have much choice but to eat everything he could find.

The fruit of salvation

"Oh, Schadheli, my dear master," cried the Omar one day; "if the things which happened to me at Mocha were destined, was it worth the trouble to give me a bowl to come here?” Waiting for an answer, he heard a song of beautiful harmony, and a bird with extraordinary feathers came to rest in a tree. Omar sprang forward quickly toward the little bird, but when he got there, he saw on the branches of the tree only flowers and fruit. Omar laid hands on the fruit and found it delicious. Then he filled his great pockets with it and went back to his cave. As he was preparing to boil a few herbs for his dinner, the idea came to him of substituting for this sad soup, some of his harvested fruit. From it he brewed a savory and perfumed drink: it was coffee.

He felt immediately revitalized and found an energy he hadn’t experienced before. When news of this new strange medicine got to Mocha, many people started to travel to his cave to seek medical advice. Eventually, he was called back and received with honors. His followers insisted that his exile was a religious sign and the authorities proclaimed him a saint. Both the plant and the black drink were named Mocha to honor this event.

That’s how Yemeni people remember it at least. The Ethiopian people have a whole different version of events that we’ll be exploring next week! Make sure you’re following us on That Coffee Roasters’ social media to stay updated!

Source: web-books.

They first used coffee for its healing properties.

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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

Which Are the Most Popular Types of Coffee?

Let's identify the most popular types of coffee.

Since its origins in Ethiopia during the 10th century, coffee culture has spread worldwide, gathering millions and millions of coffee lovers around the world who enjoy its bitter and unique taste. More than 400 millions cups of coffee are consumed by Americans every day, and this demand is only growing each year. What began as a religious tool in ancient rituals, has turned into one of the beverages with most varieties on Earth.

Now, with great variety comes the hard part of choosing which is your favorite preparation method. What differentiates one type of coffee from the other? And how to know which one is perfect for your taste and personality? Maybe you’re the adventurous type who will not rest until you’ve tried them all out. Whatever the case, check out our list to find out which are the most popular types of coffee and why they are so loved!

1. Espresso

No list can start without the famous espresso. We will prepare many of the other types of coffee with this one as the base, so pay attention. Its name comes from the Italian, and it literally means “express.” To brew this strong black coffee, you’ll need to force the steam through dark-roasted aromatic coffee beans with hot water at high pressure. That way, its consistency will be thicker than other coffee types which are brewed differently.

How do you know how good your espresso really is? The secret is its foam. Its color should be a mix of golden and brown, and it must be thick. Even though for many espressos are a kind of coffee way too simple, it is classic and pure. Try it and explore different flavors and nuances, with different coffee beans, of this timeless mix of high pressure and coffee. 

2. Americano

It’s considered fairly easy to prepare an Americano. Some people believe this type of coffee was originated in Italy during the World War II, as Americans in the military force customized Italian coffee by adding water to it. And that’s exactly how it’s prepared nowadays. To drink an Americano, just add two-thirds of hot water to one-third of espresso (or regular brewed coffee). It won’t taste as strong as a regular espresso. Also, in hot weather, it’s sometimes served with ice to add a refreshing tone.

3. Latte, Au Lait, and Flat White

These three are some of the most popular types of coffee! All around the world, every day, many people ask for them at cafés. Today we’ve presented them altogether due to their similarities. If you prefer your coffee a little bit more on the sweet side, then these might be the ones for you! Now, let’s start first with the latte: it's a mix of an espresso with three parts of steam milk. The final result will have a thin foam that is often decorated by baristas.

The café au lait is simply the French version of the latte. The only difference between them is that you won’t have it prepared with espresso but with traditional brewed coffee. You might find its taste is a little bit weaker than the latte, but we’re sure you’ll enjoy it all the same.

Finally, with a flat white you’ll notice the flavor of the espresso will be stronger than the milk’s one. This Australian latte version is usually mixed with milk from the bottom of a jug because of its silkiness. That way, even though it has the same proportions as the latte, it definitely won’t feel as foamy.

4. Mocha or Mochaccino

Alright, chocolate lovers. We’ve made it to the famous mocha. Although there are some variations to it, the most common way to prepare this exquisite mix is mixing: 1 measure of espresso + 0.5 of chocolate syrup + 1 of steamed milk + 0.5 of whipped cream. This espresso-based coffee is usually served with cocoa powder or cinnamon on the top. If you’re not used to drinking coffee but would like to start exploring this amazing culture, a mochaccino is a perfect way to do it. Sweet, soft and delicious!

5. Cappuccino

The cappuccino is insanely popular in all cafés because of its flavor and uniqueness, so it’s only fair to assume that every coffee house has its own version. However, to have a traditional cappuccino, you usually need an equal combination of espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam. You can also add a little bit of cocoa powder to give an extra flavor to it. And here’s a little fact: if you ask for a cappuccino scuro (dark) or chiaro (light), you can customize the amount of milk poured into it.

6. Macchiato

Very similar to the espresso, this one is also known as espresso macchiato. This Italian beverage literally translates to “stain, ” and it’s basically a traditional espresso with a drop of foamed milk. If you want to give it a twist, you can also add caramel and vanilla and serve it either cold or hot!

7. Cold Brew

To end our list, we’ve chosen a cold beverage for the ones who prefer the most refreshing side of coffee drinks. The Cold Brew is prepared by soaking coffee grounds in water at cold temperatures for at least 12 hours. Then, the coffee is filtered giving it a more concentrated flavor. The mix will have less caffeine and a less acid flavor. Then it will be diluted with milk and water to be finally served with ice.  

There are many other types of coffee, and every country has its styles and recipes. Do you feel we missed one? Which one should have made it to this list? If you already know which one is your favorite, let us know in the comments! We hope you keep enjoying That Coffee Roasters’ content, as well as our products and services.

Now that you know different types of coffee, which one do you prefer?

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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