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!

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Coffee & Milk: A Sweet Marriage

Some coffee shops select themselves the milk they use for their brews, not asking the customer what kind of milk they want.  This is because they have exact and precise recipes that wouldn't taste the same if they were altered.

When given the option, most people concerned with their health go for low-fat milk; but a traditional latte wouldn't be the same without its fat milk. Lattes demand fat, plain and simple. It balances out the flavor, it contributes to a more robust texture, and skim milk alters the recipe beyond its original taste.

If you want to have a proper cup of coffee, you can go with black coffee, but when it comes to the latte family, we recommend to go for full-fat milk.

How Milk Alters the Essence of Coffee

Milk proteins and milk fat have a strong influence on the stability and attractive texture in a brew. However, milk foam creation is a complicated and delicate process. It's part of the baristas range of dexterity. They juggle between harmonizing the milk proteins, which stabilize air bubbles, with milk fat, thus creating that loved creamy texture.

This is all due to the chemistry of milk. When it comes to its composition, 4 – 5% of cow’s milk is made up of pure natural fat. This, in turn, is made by a complex combination of various types of fats.

Milk-fat-globules, which range from ~0.1 to 10 micrometers, create a membrane that gives protection to the milk fat, relenting its degradation or oxidation by enzymes that generate an off-flavor in milk. Another part of full-fat milk is the triglycerides, which are surrounded by a membrane that consists of phospholipids, protein, and glycerides, resulting in the milk fat globule.

That Coffee Roasters Recommends Having Coffee with Milk in the Evening

It's a commonly known fact that having some strong, black coffee will energize you, thus providing much more mental awareness and clarity since no cream or milk can limit these effects. Therefore, drinking a cup of black coffee in the evening may cause undesired difficulties when going to bed.

If you like to enjoy a late cup of coffee, consider taking some extra 50 calories from coffee with milk, this would result in a more richer, sweeter option that won’t disturb your sleeping patterns.

For those who already have any sleeping patterns alterations, That Coffee Roasters recommends not having any coffee at all despise our love for the beverage. Otherwise, if you are feeling drowsy and yawny, and you have plans for the evening, taking a strong, black coffee will be more effective at keeping you awake for longer periods of time.

Dear reader, do you prefer your coffee black, or with milk? Let us know your opinion on the comment section below, and don’t hesitate in subscribing on our That Coffee Roasters networks. Remember that we’re the roasters you need for your business to blossom, so make sure to contact us to get the best coffee for you.

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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

Coffee 101: Brew Ratios

It's all about proportions, proportions, proportions. Learn how much of this and that you need to use.

When you see coffee from the perspective of composition solely, it’s just ground coffee beans mixed with water. Whether it’s a sweet, complex, balanced and aromatic coffee, or a sour or bitter one, what can tell you how good it tastes, will depend on two things: the quality of both the coffee beans and water of choosing, as well as how we decide to mix them.

The element of mixing (or brewing) can get pretty elaborate. The grind size, brew time, water temperature and brewing device are all determining factors for the success or failure of coffee preparation. It’s all so subjective, yet with a scientific twist.

The topic of discussion on this particular article is the brew ratio. This is nothing more than the ratio of ground coffee that comes in contact with water, as simple as that’s also something that will affect your beverage’s strength, mouthfeel, and caffeine content.

The importance of rating

All coffee brews flavor vary according to the recipe. And just as in baking a cake, there are specific coffee recipes. The amount of each ingredient does matter. If you augment or decrease the amount of water (or coffee grounds), you can not only alter the coffee’s taste but its concentration and thickness too.

This is why many baristas and coffee lovers all over the world use implements like scales and timers when brewing.

The Ideal Ratio: Myth or Reality?

A tip from That Coffee Roasters: the rate of extraction (which is the speed of the grounds as they enter the brew from the grounds), and the brew time (this means how much time the water and coffee grounds spend together) might sound similar, but are very different, nonetheless. Never to be confused.

It’s always good to learn about how different cultures prefer their coffee. Some countries take more fine brews; while other ones, go for intense brews.

On a second note, many people will recommend different brewing ratios, but it always depends on the coffee.

Let us explain with some examples. A filter coffee made at 1:20 would be a rather weak and diluted cup, while a 1:10 would be incredibly intense. These are the two ends of the scale; the balance is ideal. The idea is to be able to perceive the fragrances, aromas, flavors, and acidity, and all the notes that a refined palate can taste.

Also, some people brew their coffee with a relatively small amount of water to get the intensity desired. Then, to avoid a heavy mouthfeel, they proceed to dilute the coffee with more water.

Some Other Important Notions

Your coffee brew ratio is a determinant factor, but there are other things you should consider such as the type of water, grind profile, temperature, etc.

If your coffee isn’t tasting as you’d like it to, you could start by changing one variable at a time and keeping everything else with consistency. The easiest one to start with is the grind size.

If your coffee is sour, salty, or lacking body, then grind the beans finer, as this will increase the contact area, thus increasing the speed of coffee extraction, resulting in the desired flavor. This gives an extra buzz of caffeine as well.

On the other hand, if your coffee is slightly bitter, grind it coarser. This will decrease the contact area, thus reducing the speed of extraction, and preventing all of the bitterness from entering the brew.

If you have any comments or want to add some other useful tips, please do so on the comment section below, and don’t hesitate in subscribing on our That Coffee Roasters networks.

There's a fine line between "too little" and "too much," and it can radically change the flavor of your coffee.

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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  

Coffee Etiquette: Manners at Coffee Time

Even coffee has its ground rules, which make the drinking a more enjoyable experience.

Coffee culture has gone mainstream, that’s a fact. If you live in or around any major U.S. city, chances are you've been to a couple (or more than) local coffee shop These artisanal shops can coexist in harmony even if they’re right next to a fancy Starbucks, there’s a coffee shop for every style of customer.

Manners, nonetheless, are universal, even if they seem to change from region to region, there are many global ways of being polite, the very existence of the words ‘’good morning’’ and ‘’thank you’’ are a proof of this.

Classic Etiquette for drinking coffee

Politeness know no timeline, and today, we’d like to list some practices that any educated coffee lover should apply.

1. Don't leave your spoon in the coffee cup/mug while holding it or drinking; place it on the saucer or a plate instead.
2. Don't use ice to cool a hot drink, it is an offense to the one that made your brew.
3. Don't dunk doughnuts, biscuits, or anything else in your coffee unless you're at a casual place where dunking is the norm (such as certain shops).
4. Don't extend your pinky finger when drinking from a cup, this in an obsolete fashionthat died with the Victorians.
5. After used, Crumple the cream or sugar empty packages and place them on the edge of your saucer or butter plate.

Social Norms That can be applied at any Coffee Shop

Manners are not a thing of the past, all the contrary, they adapt into social norms and expressions of politeness that we could all use to make the coffee experience a nicer, better one. These are some showings of politeness and social manners that you can apply whenever you decide to have a cup of coffee.

1. Be polite when ordering, the Barista is not a robot, say ‘’hello’’ and thank you when ordering.
2. Do not use your cellphone when ordering, take that call later or make that Instagram Post after you have your coffee.
3. If by the time you’re in front of the line you still don’t know what to order nor have your paying method ready, then please, let other people order, some of them might be in a hurry or just want to order a simple espresso and be good to go.
4. Be patient if you ordered more than two brews, specially if they are different kinds.
5. Don’t leave unexpected messes such as spills after you’re done at the table, passing a napkin over the spill will do you no harm.
6. Don’t sit on a big table if you’re on your own, and if you ever do, then let people sit on the same table (they have to ask you first, of course, but should be considered as well)
7. Don’t abuse the local wifi, sure, it’s there for a reason, but at least justify it ordering something worth the time you’ll spend on the computer.
8. If you pop up your laptop at the coffee shop, it’s okay to hear music if you’d like, but be considered with other customers and bring a long a set of headphones.
9. If you have to take a call, don’t be loud, people don’t need to overhear unwanted chattering.
10. Be respectful to the barista, don’t throw away some coffee on the trash bin for adding milk when you can just say to him/her ‘’please, leave room for cream’’ when ordering.
11. Don’t get mad or make a fuzz if they don’t get your name right on the cup, coffee shops can get loud when crowded, most names have many variants and most important, the coffee will taste all the same, so what’s the harm?
12. If you use the coffee shop as a workspace and decide to bring some food, make sure it’s something the shop doesn’t actually sell, you can bring a snack if they don’t sell any, but buy something to go with it.

As you have seen, dear readers, these simple manners can make a huge impact on the barista’s and the other customers day, turning a simple idle time at the coffee shop or a work meeting at a local Starbucks a more enjoyable and civilized experience for all of us, If you have any comments or want to add another social norm, please do so on the comment section below, and don’t hesitate in subscribing on our That Coffee Roasters Networks.

Only on informal occasions, it is acceptable to dunk food into coffee in public. Otherwise, it's seen as tasteless.

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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 Chemistry of Coffee

Have you ever wondered why caffeine gives you that extra kick of energy? Especially in the morning?

Coffee is unique among all the other artisanal beverages, this is because the brewer plays a key role in its final result at the point of consumption. In contrast, drinkers buy beverages like beer or wine as finished products; their only consumer-controlled variable is the temperature at which you drink them or if you decide to add other ingredients to them.

Coffee lovers ask: dear That Coffee Roasters, why does the coffee produced by a barista at a café tastes different than the same coffee that I brew at home?

Dear readers, it may be due to the barista’s years of training, but in a more profound instance, it’s their ability to harness the principles of chemistry and physics.

The variables of temperature, the particle size distribution of the grounds, the water-coffee ratio, and time, all play crucial roles in producing a tasty cup. It’s how we control these variables that allow for that cup to be reproducible over and over again.

Did you know…?

Coffee’s flavor involves over 1,000 chemical compounds. The primary tastes perceived on the tongue are important, but the hundreds of aromatics in coffee are smelled rather than tasted.

The Chemistry of Coffee: What Makes it Taste so Good?

Here at That Coffee Roasters, we took the task of decomposing and analyzing all elements that make coffee have its unique and characteristic flavor and aroma.

• The sweetness comes from sugars, which mostly caramelize during the roasting to produce toastiness and the dark tones of caramel. This is complemented and accentuated by caramel-like aromatics.
• Bitterness is crucial because, without it, coffee would be unrecognizable. Bitterness helps to balance the acidity in all brews. Aromatics can, in turn, balance the bitterness, making it altogether a beverage full of equilibrium and cadence. The balance of complementary tastes is key to the perfect flavor. Caffeine provides about 10% of the bitterness of coffee, but it’s not the only compound in the bean. Trigonelline (a.k.a niacin) is bitter, but when the beans are roasted it converts most of it to pyridines, which taste warm and toasty.
• The acidity is another complex matter. Fruit acids contribute fine acidity that can be noted at the table. Citric acid is one of the strongest, but malic (also found in apples) and tartaric (found in grapes) are nuances in comparison. An acid profile is considered more complex with a balance of these, typical of beans grown at high altitudes (robusta).
• Compounds such as Chlorogenic Acids (CGA) degenerate in roasting into caffeic and quinic acids, and phenols. The CGA are perceived as more bitter on the palate, while quinic acid is rather sour and bitter.
• Aromatic acids (such as lactic and acetic acids) can be smelled as well as tasted by most of us. Some develop when the fruit is separated from the seed, others during roasting as sugars caramelize. A little is pleasurable, but in bigger quantities, it sours the coffee, too much of this can ferment the coffee.
• Aromatic compounds. As their name suggests, make the aroma and are caused in part by Maillard reactions, which occur when a sugar adhere to an amino acid (the building blocks of a basic protein).
• Furans are the most abundant and frequent class of aromatics in all species of coffee and contribute to its taste with caramel aromas from the sugars decomposed from the heat of roasting.
• Pyrazines are the second most abundant kind, with deeper, more toasty aromas. They can be perceived even in small doses, and so contribute much to the aroma. One pyrazine, which gives an earthy, strong aroma, is also a flavor constituent in bell peppers.

Coffee is a complex beverage, yet rich and full of unique flavors. That Coffee Roasters brings you the best information about coffee and its different areas of knowledge. Did you enjoy our article? Do you have any questions for us? Then follow us on our social networks and leave your comments and questions in the section below.

Coffee can prove to be even beneficial to your health.

That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

Coffee-to-go: Starbucks Hacks

There are a few useful tips that can save you money at Starbucks or any other coffee shop.

Attention coffee lovers of the world, here are a couple of facts: the best way to save money in coffee is to make it at home. Now, the second best way is to buy it somewhere cheaper than Starbucks, but the third best way is to hack your Starbucks order to pay less for the same drink.

According to us, these Starbucks tips and tricks could save you money and get you a tastier drink. Some of our facts hacks are innocent, others… not so much. Here’s a compilation of the best Starbucks hacks from the pros.

That Coffee Roasters Presents: The Best Starbucks Hacks Ever

• Order a latte with chai syrup instead of a dirty chai. It results in the same thing without the cost of added espresso shots to a chai latte
• If you have a sore throat or feel like you’re gonna get a cold, the “cough drop” is a drink almost all baristas will recognize, and it's made with emperors cloud, jade citrus mint, steamed lemonade instead of water, and a pack of honey added, perfect for winter
• Having iced drinks shaken can make all the difference, try it with an iced green tea latte, request that your drink is shaken because baristas won't always do it if you don't ask
• If you aren't sure of a brew or drink, ask for a sample. If the store isn't full, they will be happy to let you try something before buying
• You can get yourself a low-cost “iced latte” if you order a triple espresso over ice in a Venti cup. Then go over to the condiment area to fill up your cup with milk
• If you use your own cup, you get ten cents off, no matter the drink size
• Share a French Press. Are you having a coffee meeting? Order a French Press, it costs half the price of the equivalent single coffees. Plus it provides a more communal ritual
• For the lowest-cost-ever latte, order an iced Americano with no water, then add the milk yourself from the communal pitcher
• Iced teas are double-strength in the pitcher and then watered down for serving. Ask for a “no water” for a much stronger flavor
• Order a short cappuccino, it's the closest they come to making a regular double-shot cappuccino that you'd get at a top-tier coffee shop. Also, it's quite cheaper
• If you don’t tolerate overheated brews, order your drink at “kids” temperature. They will serve you a drink at 135 degrees that’s way easier to drink and get the full flavor of the coffee
• Chai lattes (hot brews) are made with hot water to even out the flavor. If you enjoy cinnamon/chai flavors, then we recommend asking for a chai latte with no water. For even better flavor, ask for Soy
• If they run out of Pumpkin Spice Latte at the end of the season and you really crave it, ask for one pump each of chai and white chocolate mocha

Voilá! As you have read, That Coffee Roasters brings a different perspective to the world of coffee. Did you enjoy our article? Do you have any questions about it? Then follow us on our social networks and leave your comments and questions in the section below.

Save money and enjoy better products with these simple hacks.

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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

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