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  

Latin America: Coffee From the New Continent

Latin America is one of the largest coffee producers and exporters on a global level.

Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador… These names have been synonymous with “good coffee” for decades, and there’s a good reason. These are the largest coffee producers in Latin America, whose exports support their economy, and the fame of their products and recipes with coffee make them a target of tourism and multiple franchises, all dedicated to the preparation of excellent coffee grounds and brews.

Today we’ll expand our knowledge about the production and trade of coffee in Latin America. Colombia and Brazil are most noted for their coffee. Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru produce smaller crops, mostly consumed in-country, but Peruvian coffee is increasingly exported.

In Latin America, coffee is the hot drink of choice, hands down, except in two countries where tea consumption leads the market (Chile and Bolivia), according to a recent study by Euromonitor International. Thanks to the growing dynamism of the market, to innovations in brewing methods and to development of the origin as added value, the consumption of high-quality coffees has been growing in most of the region’s countries.

Some producing countries, like Colombia for instance, have coffee-related traditions of more than one century (like gathering around the coffee table to gossip and share stories), but only in the last decade the consumption has become strongly sophisticated, which has resulted in the entry of specialty coffees, specialized stores, and consumption of responsible or sustainable products.

Knowing the general characteristics of coffee regions can help you as you pick out coffee and learn what you like best. This is called “terroir”. Terroir in coffee (as in wine), is a word that expresses everything about the geographic region of that particular bean: its soil, the weather conditions, the processing methods of production, all of which give each coffee its unique taste and character.

There are literally thousands of coffee varieties, so grouping them by large geographical areas of terroir is difficult, but there are some very broad characteristics in Latin American Coffee. Beans from Latin America tend to have a very distinct set of flavors and textures, depending on their roast. They are often grown at high altitudes in volcanic soil, which gives them brightness and sweetness.

Their acidity is usually high, with a light body. This acidity is best found in Merida Specialty Coffee (Venezuela). There’s often a distinct sweetness and tanginess to Latin American coffee. Its flavor is usually brought out best by a light or medium roast, so you don't see as many espresso or French roasts with Latin American beans.

Like Venezuela, coffee from Peru is said to have mild acidity and very light body. Often, coffee from Peru exhibits a vanilla-nut sweetness that is unique in taste. Although hard to come by, Peruvian coffee is quite recommended for picky palates

Colombia: Kings of Latin American Coffee

Coffee plants first hit the Americas in the 18th century, Jesuit priests are credited with introducing it to Colombia around 1730. Nowadays, Colombia is the largest exporter in the world of washed Arabica coffees-third overall in terms of overall production. Colombian coffees can be some of the finest coffees in the world.

Extreme balance, great body, perfect acidity and crisp, slightly fruity finish round out these exquisite coffees. The beans are generally grown at very high elevations in the Andes Region, and some of the most noticeable Colombian brews come from Bucaramanga, Medellin, and Huila, and are the favorites of sweet-toothed coffee lovers for their caramel notes.

It's easy to imagine that Colombians drink the best coffee the world has to offer, but the reality is different. The average Colombian makes a distinction between what they call “tinto” and what we call “café”, which is similar to the difference between packed grocery store coffee and what you'd find in a fancy coffee shop. ‘’Tinto’’ doesn't refer to one particular way of preparation: it could be everything, from a simple drip brewer to a pour-over cloth coffee filter (looks like a sock). It's the Colombian equivalent of a “cup of Joe”.

Part of the explanation behind this cultural difference is that Colombia has a quite high-quality standard for the type of beans they export, and everything below that stays in the country for national consumption, much of it becoming “tinto”.

If you enjoyed our content, don’t hesitate to follow us on our social networks, and we’ll be glad to answer all your questions; so don’t be shy, and leave them in the comment section.

Coffee is part of their culture and traditions.

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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 Best YouTube's Coffee Channels You Need To Subscribe To Right Now!

One of the best things about the Internet is how easily we can connect with people who have the same interests as ours. We can share our passions without fear of being judged, and we can make friends that understand us while learning from their own experiences.

Anyone who tells you social media does nothing but isolate people and leave them friendless, hasn’t been using them properly. When it comes to us, coffee is our ultimate passion and we’re constantly surfing the web to find like-minded people and enjoy their content as we work on ours. YouTube is one of those platforms that are perfectly fitted to build a community around one subject or activity.

Today, we’re bringing you some of the best YouTube coffee channels we’ve found out there! Spend your free time learning about cafés from all over the world, coffee production processes, new techniques for coffee brewing and baristas, as well as latte art essentials. One thing we’re sure about is that you won’t be able to resist the urge of brewing yourself a cup of coffee to enjoy while watching these videos.

European Coffee Trip

Are you a fan of vlogs? Then this channel is perfect for you. Join two friends as they explore the buzzing European coffee scene, discover the best cafés in over 80 cities and meet some of the greatest and most famous coffee personalities in the continent. One new video is uploaded every week! Their love and passion for coffee are absolutely contagious.

Re:Co Symposium

If you’re professionally dedicated to the coffee industry, this channel has your name all over their videos. Find lectures, reflections and conversations about the future of coffee as a commodity and find out where the industry is headed, by listening to the people who work directly with it. How can we make the coffee market better than it already is? That’s the question this YouTube channel is constantly asking.

Dritan Alsela

Do you find latte art videos absolutely satisfying and mesmerizing to watch? We do too, which is why we adore Dritan Alsela’s channel. He’s a European barista with over 19 years of experience in the coffee industry, and he teaches latte art techniques on his YouTube channel. His videos are very well produced and we guarantee you won’t be able to stop watching and learning from them.

Specialty Coffee Association of America

The SCA’s channel is full of fascinating content about the social responsibility of the coffee industry and its producers. Learn about coffee sustainability, profitability, finances and so much more by browsing through their content. SCA acts as a unifying force to build an industry that’s fair and nurturing for all, drawing on years of insights and inspiration from the specialty coffee community.

RealChrisBaca

Professional barista Chris Baca, attempts to bring the world of specialty coffee to YouTube by sharing content about new trends, business advice and coffee education. He also reviews new products and machines in the market, shows them on camera and gives his opinion after using them. He has an outgoing and fun personality that makes his videos entertaining and easy to watch.

Tell us which videos you enjoyed the most in the comments below and share with us your favorite coffee content! If you want to start practicing or applying some of their techniques and advices, head to That Coffee Roasters online store to find the best coffee products to start on the right foot!

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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

Where Is Your Coffee From? How Different Origins Can Change Your Cup

Coffee's origin has an impact on the way we roast it.

Today, we live in a multicultural world that has filled our lives with contrasts and new experiences. Back in the day, people mostly knew only about their traditions and ways of life, having little to no contact with other cultures. However, between the 20th and 21st century, that changed quite rapidly. The third wave of coffee marked a period in which coffee drinkers became influenced by these changes and started to take an interest in their coffee's details and specifications. How was it harvested? Which methods were used for processing it? And one very special and important question: where do those coffee beans come from?

Just like any other plants, coffee trees not only come in different species, but they’re also heavily influenced by climate conditions of the region in which they grow. Actually, you can’t grow coffee plants anywhere you like. They require weather that’s neither too cold nor too hot for them to grow healthy, as well as soils that are rich in nutrients. The better the climate is, the better the resulting coffee bean will be. And of course, the better it will taste.

For example, coffee cherries harvested in colder climate conditions and higher altitudes will ripen slower and develop more sugars. This means that once the beans are roasted, they’ll have a sweet flavor and they’ll feel denser and firmer. You can find these types of beans in the mountainous regions of Colombia, Costa Rica, and Ethiopia. On the other hand, Brazilian, Jamaican and Hawaiian coffee is generally grown at lower altitudes (around 900 meters above sea level). Roughly speaking, any altitude above 4.000 ft. A.S.L. is considered high. This is how your coffee can change depending on which height it was farmed:

Below 2,500 feet (762 meters) will be soft, mild, simple, and bland.
Around 3,000 feet (914 meters) will be sweet and smooth.
Around 4,000 feet (~1,200 meters) may have citrus, vanilla, chocolate, or nutty notes.
Above 5,000 feet (~1,500 meters) might be spicy, floral, or fruity.

Understanding how origins can change your cup o’ joe is even more complex than just looking at climate conditions. Acidity, flavors, and earthiness are all characteristics that change depending on a specific country’s coffee culture and traditions. Well-balanced coffees, with chocolate and hazelnut notes, are very popular all across America. East African coffee production tends to be juicy and fruity. Kenyan coffee, for example, is very tea-like and acidic.

Within every country, a universe of microclimates exists, altering coffee structure depending on different regions. Indonesia is known for its spicy coffee beans, as well as their earthy ones. And Brazil is so big and has so many different harvest seasons that it’d take a while to know all nuances and characteristics from all of its production.

And as we’ve said before, what truly brings out coffee's flavors is actually the coffee roasting process. Before that, coffee beans don’t have any taste in them. A good roaster will know how to understand all complexities behind every bean and will use a specific technique for every one of them. At That Coffee Roasters, years of experience have made us experts in that field! Try different coffees coming from different regions all over the world and start to expand your universe and coffee culture like never before!

Different climate conditions and soils will change your coffee's 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