On average, CJ says that Arabica beans contain about 1.1% caffeine while Robusta beans contain about twice that level. Did you know a cup of espresso is lower in caffeine than a cup of brewed coffee? This is because there is less contact time between the coffee and water.  A cup of espresso contains, on average, 100mg of caffeine while a cup of brewed coffee can average more than 120mg.

Coffee Joe’s research also found that caffeine is a stimulant which raises brain activity.  It can delay fatigue and in many studies, has been shown to improve knowledge performance, as well as increase the body’s ability for exercise and physical endurance. No wonder he’s in such good shape!

However, green tea had been a beverage for centuries in Asian countries such as China, Japan and India. Like white tea, it began as a drink only for royalty, then became available for all levels of society.

CJ found an interesting side note in the history of green tea. In the beginning, when it was being exported, the large ships needed ballast. On their journey East, lead and sulphur were used, which was traded to the Chinese for tea. The Chinese needed something cheap and of equal weight for the journey home, and so the trade in porcelain was born. By the end of the 18th century, millions of pieces of porcelain were being exported.

Coffee Joe also read this interesting quote in an old Chinese book about tea,  “Drinking genuine green tea aids in quenching thirst and in digestion, checks phlegm, wards off sleepiness, stimulates renal activity, improves eyesight and mental prowess, dispels boredom and dissolves greasy food.” Wow, sounds like the perfect elixir of life.

CJ says all teas come from the same plant, so why does green tea seem to be more beneficial? Apparently, it’s the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound, a powerful antioxidant, from being chemically changed.

Various studies can be found extolling the virtues of green tea, but as in all things, Coffee Joe says moderation is the key.

According to the dictionary, it means being able to be sustained for an indefinite period without damaging the environment, or without depleting a natural resource; renewable.

Coffee Joe says to be sustainable, every fundraising group, whatever its size, can use planning and management. A thinking strategy creates imaginative solutions, provides direction and helps to move the fundraiser forward. Remember the use of recyclable, reusable or earth-friendly products will have your customers coming back, time after time. Offering items such as organic coffee, tea or cocoa, something people use every day, will make your fundraiser sustainable. In turn, the organic farmers who treat the land in a responsible manner, will be able to maintain and support not only their families and the community now, but in the future, their children and their children’s children as well.

Planning for the long-term will set up a fundraiser’s future and is the first step towards being sustainable.

CJ discovered that the first espresso machine patent was filed by Luigi Bezzera of Milan, Italy in 1901. After that, several Italian producers updated, reinvented and revised until the mid-1960s. Faema created a coffee machine with an electric pump that forced water through the coffee.

It marked the beginning of the pump-driven machines from which all modern espresso machines are born. According to the information that CJ found, the espresso method forces hot pressurized water through ground coffee making for a strong flavour and a high caffeine content. As more particles are left in the liquid this way, it results in a thicker brew. The foam floating on the top is called the crema.

Baristas now use this as a canvas for their creativity, adding to the experience. Coffee Joe noticed his crema was in the shape of a cloverleaf. Designs are totally unlimited, but that is another blog. Espresso is also the base for other coffee beverages such as lattes, cappuccinos and mochas.

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Coffee Joe says:  Be a coffee-drinking individual – espresso yourself!

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History says traditional White Tea is the oldest type of tea and was produced for consumption by the Chinese Royalty during the seventh and eighth centuries. This was the Tang Era when it reached the height of sophistication but was unknown outside of China.

CJ looked into the subject of White tea, finding out that the beverage and style of tea preparation then was nothing like our process today. Tea leaves were made into compressed cakes, called brick tea, then ground in a stone mortar. Hot water was added to the teacake, then boiled in earthenware kettles. After the twelfth century, young tea leaves which resembled silver needles were steamed, dried and ground into a powder which was then used to make the tea.

Further research showed him that in the mid thirteenth century, the Chinese learned to process tea differently. Tea leaves were roasted rather than steamed, paving the way for loose tea and the custom of brewing. Today’s White tea can be traced to the late 1700s, and by 1885, specific types of tea bushes were being used to create various types of White teas, including organic. In 1891, the Chinese began to export White tea.

Coffee Joe thinks its history is fascinating, marveling that White tea has survived so long for everyone to enjoy. He will continue his journey into the world of organic tea over the next few weeks.

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.

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.

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

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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.

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.

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

~Bill Cosby ~

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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.