FAQ

Where does Coffee Grow?

                  Coffee is grown on small evergreen trees in plantations across Africa, Asia, South and Central America.  They require an exact amount of shade and sunlight, regular watering, pest and weed control.  Young coffee trees demand a constant care from farmers, it can take up to four years for a coffee tree to reach a mature production at which it can be maintained for 40 years.

How and When are Beans Picked?
                   
                    Once coffee trees begin to produce fruit, it takes about nine months for the fruit to ripen into red coffee 'cherries.' Each cherry contains two coffee beans, the coffee is picked by hand, this is done by pickers sliding their hands along the branches, allowing the cherries to fall into a basket or a tarpaulin spread beneath the tree.

What happens once the beans are picked?

                    The beans must be dried and prepared for roasting.  There are two ways of preparing coffee beans, the 'dry' method and the  'wet' method.  The dry method involves spreading the freshly picked red coffee cherries across special mats which are left in the sun to dry for two or three weeks.  The wet method involves  a 'pulping' machine which is used to remove the outer pulp away from the cherries.  The resulting coffee is fermented and soaked to remove any remaining pulp.

What is the best temperature to brew coffee?

                    The optimal water temperature for coffee is 92º-96ºC (197.6º-204.8ºF) for 90% of the contact time.

Does water quality matter?

                      Coffee is 98.5 to 99% water, so water quality will critically affect the resultant brew's taste.  When making coffee, you should only use water that tastes good enough to drink straight.


How much ground coffee should I use?

                      A standard "cup" of coffee uses six ounces of water.  The standard measure of ground coffee for this quantity of water is 10 grams, or simply, two tablespoons.

How do I keep Coffee hot?

                      To keep coffee hot for short periods of time, or for travel, use a thermally insulated container; an enclosed container will reduce the loss of aromatics that constitute and essential part of the overall flavor.  Optimal flavor is obtained by holding coffee at high temperatures, at least 170ºF.

What is the optimal Coffee cup?

                      In theory, the best container are simply those that keep the coffee hot and do not add flavors of their own.  Heavy, pre-warmed ceramic cups serve those criteria best.