Sustainable Fund Raising

The new catch phrase on everyone’s lips these days is Sustainable. Schools, churches, rotary clubs, all want to be globally aware when they promote buying fair trade, organic products in their fundraising campaigns. They realize we all share in the responsibility to provide the farmers and their workers with a decent living. That means groups will request organic, fairly traded, shade-grown, bird-friendly coffee.

Sustainable applies to fund raisers who want to use fair trade organic coffee products, grown under ideal conditions, generating fair pricing, giving coffee farmers a way to support their schools, housing and a have better life.

Less chemicals means less water for growing shade-grown, fairly traded, organic coffee which, although slow to develop, results in better quality, and good flavour.

Pistol and BURNES fundraising - committed to bird friendly, fairly traded, organic products.

You can’t afford to wait – Call Now! 1-888-547-9309 – your donors will thank you.

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Posted on September 7th, 2010 in Organic and Sustainable Coffee, Sustainable Coffee Fundraising | No Comments »

Series: Coffee Concoctions in Exotic Lands

Third Stop: Turkey

Coffee Joe’s adventures around the coffee world take him to Turkey. Here, since the Ottoman empire of 1543, coffeehouses have been a main source of meet and greet. The traditions, rules and styles of serving Turkish coffee are all part of the experience.

Through previous centuries, it was expected that coffee would be heated slowly over charcoal embers for 15 to 20 minutes, the copper coffee pot being moved from the fire to prevent overheating. It was a time to savour, sipping slowly, talking among friends.

Demitasse Cup

Cezve

CJ noticed modern changes have taken place where even this timely pleasure suffers from busier lifestyles, less care and attention, and now there is even a Turkish coffee maker! Sacrilege! However, he managed to find an original recipe for you to try and make it at home: -

1) Pour one cup of cold water for each cup you are making into a special pot or Cezve (pronounced Jez-veh – meaning a burning log or coal presumably because the pot was heated on them).

2) Add a teaspoonful of the ground (the finest grind at home is with a burr grinder) coffee per cup in the cold water and stir. Don’t overfill the pot. If desired, now is the time to add sugar, cardamom or other spices.

3) Heat the pot as slowly as you can. The slower the heat the better.

4) When the water almost boils, pour some (not all) of the coffee and foam equally between the cups, each approximately one third full.

5) Continue heating until coffee almost boils again. Watch it carefully.

6) Distribute the rest of the coffee into the cups.

To sip it properly, Coffee Joe suggests waiting a few minutes for the coffee grounds settle at the bottom of the cup. Now, get a glass of cold water, some Turkish Delight, a good companion, and you are ready to enjoy this afternoon treat.

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Tags: alternative choices, Sustainable Coffee
Posted on August 14th, 2010 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Liver, Alzheimers and Coffee

What do liver, Alzheimers and coffee have in common? Read on…

Coffee Joe says he recently read an article by Dr. Neal Freedman of the U.S. National Cancer Institute. Apparently, his studies show that liver disease and hepatitus C sufferers could benefit from drinking three or more cups of coffee per day.

Caffeine has been touted for being a boost to those with Alzheimer’s. A decrease in the brain chemical ”choline” causes the onset of the disease. It is found in soy, flax, omega fish oil, coffee, eggs and broccoli to name a few. Acting as a bridge connecting to the transmitter in the brain responsible for concentration and memory, Choline also is present in cell membranes and protects our livers from amassing too much fatty content.

Coffee is a stimulant that zaps the brain causing it to absorb more choline from our diets. This in turn, helps to keep memory and recognition skills stable. Coffee drinking also has been associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, which is a risk factor for dementia. Probable cause may be coffee’s antioxidant capacity in the blood.

Keep in mind that the studies above are talking about black coffee, organic would be better, but what is missing is the cause of some of the health issues – whipped cream, flavored syrups, half-and-half, sugar, sucralose and aspartame. All these additions can contribute to diabetes, obesity, fatty liver disease and toxic liver reactions.

Coffee Joe is aware that there are studies on studies, in the thousands, but keeping a healthy mind and body makes sense. If coffee can help, why not? Pistol & BURNES coffee is organic and fairly traded, order some today.

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Coffee Joe Says: “If we do not permit the earth to produce beauty and joy, it will in the end not produce food either.” ~Joseph Wood Krutch~

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Tags: caffeine, organic, Sustainable Coffee
Posted on August 12th, 2010 in Health Benefits of Coffee and Tea | No Comments »

Organic Coffee Fundraiser: How Do I Start?

Coffee Joe says it’s the hardest part of a fundraiser. Getting started – marshaling the people necessary to carry out the work, keeping the books in order, organizing the volunteers, making sure the product arrives safely and in good order, arranging for pickup and delivery of the organic coffee and providing excellent service to the customers.

Here are four steps to help you out:

What do you want to achieve? Write down the goal of the fundraiser. Seeing it on paper brings reality and a plan into focus.
Break your final goal into small sections – find out how much your daily success rate would be and aim for that rather than the final total.
How much do you have to sell to reach your goal? How much organic coffee to order before shipping is free? Do you have the correct forms and brochures ready?
Keep a tally of your progress. Let everyone know if they need to drive up their motivation and enthusiasm and also if they are on track.

Coffee Joe says most of all, relax and enjoy the fundraising experience. Selling a product, especially an organic one, will make everyone feel good, donor and volunteer alike.

Good luck and good management!

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Tags: coffee fundraiser, Organic and Sustainable Coffee, Sustainable Coffee Fundraising, volunteer
Posted on August 10th, 2010 in Organic and Sustainable Coffee, Sustainable Coffee Fundraising | No Comments »

Coffee Around The World: Costa Rica

Okay, so where is Costa Rica? Coffee Joe says it lies in Central America, with Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the southwest.

Coffee was the major export, until recently, making producers the wealthy elite who ran governmental groups all through the second half of the 19th century. Exports to Panama began in the late 1820s. Then, after a shipment of coffee was sent directly to Britain in 1843, the British invested time and money, becoming the main purchaser until the aftermath of World War II.

Coffee is grown mostly in the shade and sun-dried on patios. The taste, for the most part, is of citrus and berry carried all way through to chocolate or spices. It’s full bodied with an elevated amount of caffeine. All grown coffee in Costa Rica is Arabica; laws strictly prohibit growing the inferior Robusta bean.

Most Costa Rican coffees are derived from an Arabica hybrid bean, called “caturra”. Caturra is a varietal of Coffee Bourbon discovered in Brazil. There are three types of Arabica coffee grown in Costa Rica; GHB, SHB and HGA. GHB stands for Good Hard Bean and indicates a growing elevation of 3,000 to 4,000 feet. SHB stands for Strictly Hard Bean, and indicates a bean grown at an elevation between 4,500 and 6,000 feet. HGA stands for High Grown Atlantic, and are SHB coffees that are grown on the eastern slope of the cordillera and get more rain from the Caribbean influence.

Like some other coffee producing countries, Coffee Joe discovered that deforestration and pulp dumping have proven to be a problem, along with an increase in population sprawling itself upwards, forcing small coffee farmers out and giving way to concrete jungles. One saving grace maybe global climate changes, allowing some farmers to produce coffee further up the mountainsides into the once weather prohibitive territory where they have never been able to grow coffee before.

Pistol & BURNES provides coffee that is organic and fairly traded, order some today.

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Tags: coffee farmer, shade-grown, Sustainable Coffee
Posted on August 9th, 2010 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

What’s Not To Love : Organic Beverages

Coffee Joes says he can blog all day long, spouting off figures, facts, stories or ideas for fundraising. However, unless someone pays attention and actually reads them, it’s all just that – blog, blog, blog.

CJ knows that fundraising is difficult, sometimes rewarding, sometimes not. With this in mind, he thinks organics are the most logical way to go. After all, organic beverages have quality, bio packaging, aroma, great fresh-from-the-roaster taste, and help the environment. What’s not to love?

Secondary schools are a great place to introduce work ethics through the organic coffee fundraising program. Students learn how to cooperate with others, make a plan, take orders, fill out forms, evaluate time and effort for the project, and finally, how to attain their goals.

These beginners to fundraising also find out that it will take a lot of their own sweat equity, hard work and confidence to be successful. Organic coffee, tea or cocoa will be an easy sell for them to start with. It’s popular, it’s on everyone’s grocery list, and best of all, it will give these students products they can be proud of to market and believe in.

In this day and age, that is definitely a concept we could all take lessons for.

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Tags: coffee fundraiser, organic, Sustainable Coffee Fundraising
Posted on August 5th, 2010 in Sustainable Coffee Fundraising | No Comments »

Dental Health and Organic Coffee

Coffee Joe says to look farther than the superficial effects of organic coffee, such as the aroma and great taste.

photo credit: Wikipedia

Deep in the coffee bean, there is an element that comes off as a super hero in the dental world. Known as “Trigonelline”, it combats cavity bacteria from adhering to our teeth. If you have ever had plaque, you know how painful it is to have picks, needles, scalers and the plastic glove of the hygienist in your mouth all at the same time.

Coffee will never replace good dental health, but in the balance of pros and cons, CJ says it’s nice to know it has some redeeming qualities.

So, save yourself some trouble – pass on the cream and sugar in your coffee, likewise the double lattes, whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles and all the other flavoured coffee drinks. Pass too on the donuts, apple fritters, and in truth, all junk food. Sugar is the main ingredient and the main problem for teeth.

Eat your veggies, fruit, and drink your coffee organic, black, and slowly. Enjoy the pleasure of guilt-free sipping, and know you are also helping a poor coffee farmer half-way across the world.

Smile – your coffee’s showing!

Pistol & BURNES provides coffee that is organic and fairly traded, order some today.

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Tags: coffee beans, coffee farmer, Organic and Sustainable Coffee, Sustainable Coffee
Posted on August 4th, 2010 in Organic and Sustainable Coffee | No Comments »

The Importance of Labels: Organic or Not?

Coffee Joe says as an example, if you buy and drink organic coffee and tea, it will have a direct benefit to you and have an indirect benefit to the ecosystem. Since no harmful chemicals are used in cultivation or processing, there is no pollution of the environment. Natural ways of farming can also decrease the price of organics by virtue of omitting costly chemical fertilizers, pesticides, processing reagents and preservatives.

It’s the old mantra of GIGO – garbage in, garbage out. How is your morning pick-me-up made, who did it help, who didn’t it help, and perhaps, today, you will just take a minute to revise your thinking. CJ says if you want to stay in good health, be aware of exactly what you are ingesting into your body each day.

Non-Organic Salad Dressing

What about reading labels, ingredients, and foregoing convenience for nutrition? What a concept! Some product labels have so many ingredients listed that are unpronounceable, and no ordinary person really knows what they are. If you don’t know what it is, why eat it? Organic labelling is strictly enforced, it only takes a few seconds to read, and lets you know the product is good for you and your family.

Organic Coffee

Coffee Joe wants you to be fully informed and do the research. Organics may cost a little more, but what price do you put on a healthy life? Click here to order our high quality, fair trade, organic products.

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Coffee Joe Says: “Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things as they ought to be done.” ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe~

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Tags: alternative choices, organic, Organic and Sustainable Coffee
Posted on August 2nd, 2010 in Organic and Sustainable Coffee | No Comments »

Summertime Fund Raising: Organic Coffee

Coffee Joe says even in hot weather, everyone will still want their morning jolt. A fundraiser in the summertime may be a winner just by virtue of thinking outside the box. People usually have lots of company when the sun shines, they want to be outside, and you have no fear of rain or cold to dampen enthusiasm.

Set the fundraiser up as a picnic in a park, or a barbeque somewhere near water, and your donors will find you. Coffee has a universal appeal and acceptance. It’s easy to sell and distribute, especially a product that’s fair trade and organic. Donors like to help others as well as themselves, and being able to do it “the green way” means a lot these days.

Coffee Joe says the structure for a successful campaign begins with a Start Date, a Selling Date, an order cut off date, a Delivery Date, and a Distribution Date. Next would be to give out an information letter along with the order forms and brochures to your volunteers. Put up posters and signs at the local places near you – corner stores, the library, schools, community centre – anywhere people gather.

Make sure all your volunteers and participants are aware of the deadlines, and fully understand the forms. Nothing ruins a fundraiser faster than miscommunication. CJ wants you to have a great summer so if fundraising is in the cards, go for it. Click here to find out about Pistol & BURNES organic coffee, tea and hot chocolate fundraising program or call us at 604-946-5767 or toll free: 1-888-547-9309 to get started.

Hot coffee not your cup of tea? Try it Iced.

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Tags: coffee fundraiser, fair trade, Organic and Sustainable Coffee
Posted on July 29th, 2010 in Organic and Sustainable Coffee, Sustainable Coffee Fundraising | No Comments »

Organic Coffee: Try A French Press

Coffee Joe says that to get the most bang for your buck, try a French Press to make your cup of coffee at home. It lets you to add water at exactly the right temperature and lets you stop at exactly the right time. The organic coffee’s essential oils and aromatics remain, producing a more full-bodied cup of coffee than nearly any other brewing method on the market.

The procedure is as follows:

One 7 gram scoop of organic coffee per 5 oz of water.
Use a coarse grind to reduce the waste in the bottom of your cup.
Use a burr grinder for a uniform size of coffee grain with little powder.
Preheat your French Press first, filling it with hot tap water. Empty.
For a 3-cup French Press, add 3 scoops or 21 grams of coffee grounds.
Next, add the “just boiled” water to your French Press. Pour slowly and try to saturate all the grounds in the cup. The ideal brewing temp.195-205F. Water and coffee should be stirred.
After putting the plunger on top of the French Press (but not pushing it down!), let your coffee brew for four minutes.
Now it’s time to push down the plunger. This pushes the coffee grounds to the bottom of the cup and leaves the brewed coffee in the upper portion of the press.
Pour your coffee into your pre-heated mug.

CJ says now that’s a cup of coffee worth blogging about! Click here for more information about our high quality organic fair trade coffee

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Tags: coffee grounds, Organic and Sustainable Coffee
Posted on July 28th, 2010 in Organic and Sustainable Coffee | No Comments »

Sustainable Fund Raising

Series: Coffee Concoctions in Exotic Lands

Liver, Alzheimers and Coffee

Organic Coffee Fundraiser: How Do I Start?

Coffee Around The World: Costa Rica

What’s Not To Love : Organic Beverages

Dental Health and Organic Coffee

The Importance of Labels: Organic or Not?

Summertime Fund Raising: Organic Coffee

Organic Coffee: Try A French Press

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