Archive for the ‘Organic Coffee’ Category

Organic vs Traditional

Coffee Taste Test Anyone?

Coffee Joe wanted to know if it was more expensive to buy organic coffee? Absolutely, he says, but in theory the coffee farmer should receive a premium for his green, coffee beans. Is there “cheating” in the organic coffee industry? Do people pay the organic coffee price and receive conventionally-produced beans? CJ couldn’t find out, but there are unsubstantiated rumours, and some people maintain that it simply isn’t possible to produce coffee organically. However, these charges are difficult to prove.

Does organic coffee taste better than traditional coffee? Coffee Joe says that is for you to decide. One of our blog comments stated that the only way to decide between the two heavyweights of coffee would be a blind taste test, such as the cola wars had years ago.

A great idea! CJ thinks you should persuade your favourite coffee hangout to place several cups of coffee, organic and traditional, in plain cups. No logos or brands, just coffee, then each customer would taste each one, giving them a number between one and ten. Or, host a coffee party, with the proceeds going to a worthy cause.

Coffee Joe is excited to find out how it turns out!

Please let us know.

Tags: coffee, Organic Coffee
Posted on March 10th, 2010 in Coffee Farming, Organic Coffee, coffee | No Comments »

Fair Fundraising: Lean and Mean

Coffee Joe says organizations call him several times a week, begging for his donation. He has been very generous many times, but now there’s a common problem. The last few years have been lean, money’s tight, so how can he decide who gets how much?

Someone suggested that CJ should think about which causes are really important to him. The church for sure may be one, and perhaps an organic coffee, tea and cocoa fundraiser could be the other one. In a recession, these are the causes which will need as much as Coffee Joe can afford to give.

They will benefit the most from his donations, and he will feel better having a closer connection to his passion for helping others. Definitely, organic beverages are the answer. You are offering products that are used by everyone you know, the price is reasonable in terms of helping the environment and buying organic helps the coffee farmers to be paid a fair price for their labour. Something we can all relate to. It’s win-win all around.

Fair fundraising for the planet.

Tags: coffee, Fundraising, organic, tea
Posted on February 25th, 2010 in Coffee Farming, Fundraising, Organic Beverages, Organic Coffee | No Comments »

Full of Beans: Organic Coffee

How does your organic coffee grow? Coffee Joe researched this question, and found out that organic coffee beans are harvested and cultivated without the use of pesticides or chemicals. This means the taste and flavour of the bean is not changed in the way that traditional coffee beans are. CJ says you will pay higher prices for organic coffee but there are extra costs associated with buying quality, natural fertilizers. He says organic coffee is eco-friendly, doesn’t pollute the earth, harm our health, or affect the flavour of the final coffee product.

Coffee Joe read that strict guidelines must be followed regarding cultivation and harvesting of the beans in order for them to be certified; you can trust the labelling. One of the main regulations states that coffee farmers must not use pesticides for at least three years and practice crop rotation.

Organic farming protects the earth by keeping the nutrients in the soil that it is grown in. CJ says this is great! When chemicals are used in the growing process, it can strip the soil of its richness, preventing the coffee beans from growing to their full potential.

Coffee Joe says more people are choosing to make their brew organic because it is earth friendly with a better taste. Currently, there are so many issues affecting the environment that it helps to know that your cup of organic coffee has nothing to do with damaging our Earth’s ecosystems. There is nothing better for your conscience than a healthy, delicious cup of organic coffee.

___________________________________________________________

Coffee Joe Says: “How sweet coffee tastes! Lovelier than a thousand kisses, sweeter than Muscatel wine!” ~Johann Sebastian Bach (Coffee Cantata)~

_____________________________________________________

Tags: coffee beans, eco-friendly, Organic Coffee
Posted on February 24th, 2010 in Coffee Farming, Organic Coffee | 1 Comment »

Organically: 10 Ways to Awareness

Coffee Joe says coffee was never something that anyone gave more than a passing thought to. We just bought it, drank it every day, tossed out the cups, and all the accessories – stir sticks, plastic lids, sugar packages, plastic milkers, napkins – went into the trash. CJ knows that this added to the problem of surplus garbage in the landfills.

Coffee Joe says we are just now starting to realize the foolishness of our actions and are more aware of the consequences of not buying organic. Follow these steps to eco-friendly, organic awareness:

1) use your own refillable cup

2) coffee bags should be compostable

3) coffee filters should be recyclable

4) real spoons instead of plastic stir sticks

5) 100% recyclable napkins

6) returnable milk containers

7) no throwaway plastic water bottles

8) reusable lunch containers

9) recyclable, cloth carry-out bags, not plastic

10) walk, don’t drive, for your afternoon pick-me-up

If we make a conscious decision to be more responsible, it won’t take much effort to bring in huge returns – live and buy organically.

Tags: coffee, Composting, eco-friendly, organic
Posted on February 21st, 2010 in Composting, Organic Coffee | No Comments »

Organic Fundraiser: Teach Your Children

Cookie Dough? Chocolate Bars? Coffee Joe says these are not quite healthy choices. Teach your children early enough and they will make better decisions. He says for their next fundraiser, go organic. Organic beverages would be a good first step.

CJ knows they will not only learn about the world beyond their doorstep, it will give them a sense of connection with faraway countries and people. They will find out about the earth at large, how to be stewards of the future by using and thinking organic.

Coffee Joe says children learn by watching, doing as we do, and listening to what we say. Begin teaching them about the water they use, the amount of electricity, and the benefit of growing green, organic plants. By listening to us talk about the organic way of doing things, they will be ready to adopt this living style as they grow up.

CJ wants you to try organic coffee, tea and cocoa for your next fundraiser. Teach the children.

___________________________________________________________

Coffee Joe says: Like everyone else who makes the mistake of getting older, I begin each day with coffee and obituaries.

~Bill Cosby ~

___________________________________________________________

Tags: fundraiser, organic, Organic Coffee, tea
Posted on February 18th, 2010 in Fundraising, Organic Beverages, Organic Coffee, cocoa | No Comments »

Organic: Water is Everywhere- Isn’t it?

Coffee Joe says he never thought about one world problem that could change everything – the lack of water, fresh water that is.

Without fresh water, nothing grows, organic or not. For example, it takes a lot of water to produce coffee – from the start of the plant, through the washing system to the roasting of the beans. Then, we need water to make the actual coffee liquid, not to mention the cream or milk, and even sugar – how much water do you think it takes to nurture the sugar cane into maturity?

CJ says we take fresh water for granted just like coffee. We never could conceive of a day coming when there isn’t any more. We can blame it on global warming or climate change, but really it all boils down to our own mismanagement. The global community must get its act together.

Unlike oil, which can be replaced with alternatives, so far there is no substitute for water.

Tags: coffee, organic
Posted on February 16th, 2010 in Organic Coffee | No Comments »

Organic Coffee: Can you say “Antioxidant?”

Coffee Joe has been researching the antioxidant contents of organic coffee. Apparently, coffee represents the greatest source of antioxidants in our diet, says University of Scranton professor Dr. Joe Vinson. Antioxidants have been associated with a number of potential health benefits including protection against heart disease and cancer. CJ is concerned about his health, and wonders at the conflicting reports over the years. However, he found that recent scientific evidence shows positive health benefits associated with drinking organic coffee.

Coffee Joe wakes up in the morning with just the tantalizing smell of organic coffee. But did you know coffee beans are rich in soluble dietary fiber too? It passes into brewed coffee at the rate of 2.5 % to 20 % by weight of powdered coffee bean. The fiber amount in brewed coffee is higher than even wine or orange juice. This means drinking only 1 cup of coffee per day represents up to 1.8 grams of the daily amount of 20-38 grams total dietary fiber suggested.

CJ doesn’t think you should drink 20 cups of coffee to supplement your diet, though. As his mother used to say, everything in moderation. The fact is organic coffee is grown without chemicals and pesticides, under a shade canopy and mostly with volcanic soil so the natural antioxidants and nutrients are preserved. An unverified study stated that by roasting coffee beans one can increase its antioxidant activity.

Tags: coffee, coffee beans, Organic Coffee, shade canopy
Posted on February 14th, 2010 in Antioxidants, Organic Coffee | 2 Comments »

8 Steps:Compost With Coffee Grounds

Coffee Joe says to follow this method to replenish your compost, help the environment and it’s a few more things that won’t go into the landfill.

1. Add and mix coffee grounds into your soil. Keep them damp.

2. Add some nitrogen fertilizer.

3. Spread grounds on the soil surface. Cover with leaves or bark mulch.

4. If adding to a compost pile – layer 1/3 leaves; 1/3 grass clippings; 1/3 coffee grounds. Turn once a week. Three to six months readiness.

5. Or, put them into an existing unturned pile. Add leaves for balance.

6. Coffee grounds may be stored in a large plastic bag.

7. Paper coffee filters can be composted with the coffee grounds.

8. Our coffee bags can be added to your compost.

Note: Uncomposted coffee grounds are NOT a nitrogen fertilizer. If added as is, uncomposted coffee grounds will mean poor germination and stunted growth in lettuce seed. Therefore, they need to be composted before using near plants.

Tags: coffee, coffee grounds, Composting
Posted on February 7th, 2010 in Composting, Organic Coffee | No Comments »

Green Fundraising

Okay, Coffee Joe says do you realize that if you keep running your fundraiser the same way year after year, you’ll never get a different result?

He wants you to try organic coffee, tea or cocoa for an exciting and unexpected fundraising experience. CJ knows that your customers will thank you; they can indulge in a familiar and daily habit, all the while helping and aiding the organic farmers and their communities on a direct basis. For example, school children are very earth aware, so using this type of fundraiser will involve them at an early stage – early enough for them to try and make a difference.

Use Farmer First, Fairly Traded and certified products; there is no grey area, the money goes directly to the farmers. This helps the environment and the global economy. The more we make these conscious choices, the better off everyone will be.

All this from making a green choice; after all, it’s the organic way.

Tags: cocoa, Fairly Traded, Farmer First, Organic Coffee, tea
Posted on February 5th, 2010 in Fundraising, Organic Beverages, Organic Coffee | No Comments »

Coffee: Percolate Your Compost

Coffee Joe says, contrary to popular opinion, leftover coffee grounds are not acidic. Any acid is in the coffee beans, and as they are mostly water-soluble, the acid seeps into the coffee we drink.

Research shows that this soil-worthy compost ingredient is both an economical and an environmental item.

CJ wants you composting your coffee grounds, not throwing them into the landfill. It will help cut greenhouse gas emissions. Organics decompose and produce methane. Did you realize that Methane is about 25 times worse than carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas?

Local gardeners and those that compost in other communities should contact coffee shop owners requesting their leftover coffee grounds for composting. Usually, collectors will take a clean five-gallon bucket with a lid, label it with their information, leave it and pick it up at the coffee shop’s convenience.

Coffee Joe likes it when coffee grounds are picked up like this and recycled because it also helps to bind together the community at large and local businesses. The coffee grounds stay locally, so that fuel isn’t being used to truck them from rural areas of the county to various other landfills.

He says it will be a win-win situation when everyone looks after their own corner of the globe so these problems of earthly neglect can be improved, if not solved.

_______________________________________________________

Coffee Joe says: The world’s first coffee shop, Kiva Han, opened in 1475.

__________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

Tags: coffee grounds, Composting, organic
Posted on February 3rd, 2010 in Composting, Organic Coffee | No Comments »

Archive for the ‘Organic Coffee’ Category

Organic vs Traditional

Fair Fundraising: Lean and Mean

Full of Beans: Organic Coffee

Organically: 10 Ways to Awareness

Organic Fundraiser: Teach Your Children

Organic: Water is Everywhere- Isn’t it?

Organic Coffee: Can you say “Antioxidant?”

8 Steps:Compost With Coffee Grounds

Green Fundraising

Coffee: Percolate Your Compost

Archives

Categories