Field Trip: Hario USA – Coffee: Acidity vs. Bitterness vs. Rancid Oils

Folks will often ask us for info on coffee that has less acidity because they have a real problem with that and their GI tract. So when we visited Edwin Martinez at Hario USA, we posed this question to him because we figured that someone with his extensive end-to-end knowledge of the coffee world might have some good recommendations.

What we learned was that it might just be that folks are working under the misconception that bitterness is the flavor of acidity. In this video Edwin talks about acidity vs. bitterness — and how the culprit may also be rancid coffee oils. Yeech.

Newswatch: Caffeine & Alcohol

Let’s face it: Life can be a little rough around the edges sometimes — and we’re not afraid to smooth out said edges by administering a well-crafted cocktail. We’ve written in the past about a delicious stout that incorporates espresso and about one of our favorite espresso and hazelnut-infused vodkas on the market, so you can imagine our concern when we started reading news last fall that the FDA was examining whether or not the combination of caffeine and alcohol was safe for public consumption.

In November of 2009, the FDA sent out requests to manufacturers who have been producing drinks that have both caffeine and alcohol in them, asking that the companies provide evidence that the combination can be safely ingested. Included in this investigation, however, were a few smaller breweries and distilleries that were incorporating coffee into their drinks.

With health agencies around the world examining the energy drink market because of the adverse impact it has had on the health of some populations (specifically college students), it’s no surprise that alcoholic beverages with an additive of caffeine might also come under scrutiny. But will the FDA’s inquiries lead to the discontinuation of the gourmet microbrews and distilled spirits that have a little kick in their step?

We followed up with PR rep Michael Herndon of the FDA to see where the investigation was at, and what type of impact — if any — the ruling may have on our favorite java stouts and coffee vodkas. According to him, none. “This FDA action is not directed at products that are flavored with coffee.  At this time, the FDA is focusing its attention on products in which caffeine has been intentionally added to alcoholic beverages by the manufacturers.” As of this writing, only 19 of the total 27 inquiries have received responses, and the next step is to review any scientific data on the subject. While there is no specific timeline in regard to when the FDA will make its final ruling on the subject, Herndon noted that it is a high priority at the agency.

Javastrology

It’s that time of the month again! Curious what February will bring to your coffee-makin’ ways? Check out what the stars have to say about your espresso and coffee creations.

Now, we’re really not sure that the cosmos has anything to do with our espresso machine, but it never hurts to get all our ducks lined up in pursuit of a better cup of coffee, right?

Crew Review: MyPressi TWIST

We have been using the Handpresso for awhile now for our portable espresso maker needs, but thought we’d give the MyPressi TWIST a try to see how it compares. Watch as Gail uses the MyPressi with the regular basket, pod basket and pressurized basket (for coarse or variable grind) to see how they compare, shot-wise. Great quality on the ground basket shots, but not so good on the pod basket. We think this might be because it’s designed for the double-pods you can’t easily find in the US…but we’re not sure.

Look for this as a new addition to our products at Seattle Coffee Gear within the next few weeks.

Crew Review: Handpresso with Domepod

As we wrote about earlier this month, Handpresso has a new model available with a little filter basket that you can use with pre-ground coffee. It’s a great option because it gives you brewing flexibility — you can choose whatever coffee you love instead of having to rely only on the coffee produced in ESE pod format — but it is definitely a little messier. The results were markedly better than with a pod, however, as Gail shows us in this video.

It Looks as Good as it Smells

There really is no end to the inventive uses of caffeine and its related delivery devices. We won’t even get into some of the freakier experiments starring caffeine, and instead we’ll focus on its artistic elements: Beautiful paintings crafted solely with espresso!

Caffeinated Creations is the artistic brainchild of Karen, who was inspired to create the warm, rich pieces while drinking and serving up espresso in cafes from New Orleans to Tulsa. Described as a slow and detailed process, we loved the meditative and Zen-like description of how she works to build up the different hues slowly, layering espresso to create depth and texture.

You can purchase her one-of-a-kind pieces, but if that’s too rich for your blood, you can pick up postcards or prints of many of them as well.

The Caffeine Poster

We’ve talked before about how much caffeine is in different forms of coffee preparation, and we’ve even covered the relative caloric intake of many drinks compared with food. But if you’re looking for something a little more visual-oriented, check out the Caffeine Poster created by Randy Krum over at Cool Infographics.

Now it’s easy to reference how much caffeine you’re taking in each day via different drinks — from different forms of coffee to the legendary Jolt soda. Plus, it has a couple of fun facts incorporated in it, such as the date of National Coffee Day (wait, isn’t that every day?!) and how much caffeine you have to ingest before you feel the, uh, love.

Handpresso with Domepod

We have dug the Handpresso for awhile now, because it’s a simple and lo-fi way to pull a single shot on the road — all you need is coffee, hot water and your own powerful strength! One thing that folks didn’t dig about it, however, was that it was ESE pod-only, which had the pro of being very mess-free (great for travel) but a con of not being as good as freshly ground coffee.

The machine was recently upgraded, however, with a new contraption called a Domepod, which will allow you to use your favorite fresh ground coffee. It’s the same price and makes an excellent single shot of espresso on the go. It is a bit messier, however, so we suppose that — like most things in life — you gotta give a little to get a little.

New! The Professional Barista’s Handbook

When we started to poke around for a good general information book on espresso preparation and theory, we stumbled upon Scott Rao’s gem of a primer that covers pretty much everything you need to know about making excellent espresso, coffee and tea.

Designed to meet the needs of professionals in an industry that isn’t known for a lot of regimented curriculum, The Professional Barista’s Handbook is Rao’s answer to his own questions as he worked and developed his skill set over the years — opening, establishing and selling a couple of cafes along the way.

If you’re looking for a practical, well-thought-out guide that will give you some great information that you can apply to your home espresso setup, this book is definitely for you. It provides an excellent understanding of the basic theory behind different coffee preparations and the ideal ways to achieve the best flavor possible.

Look to the Coffee Grounds

Along the lines of reading the tea leaves or a chicken’s innards, a rich tradition of examining the coffee grounds at the bottom of one’s cup has long given answers to some of life’s more complex questions. It’s in that spirit that we divine your monthly dose of caffeinated fortune telling, our Espresscopes over at Brown Bean. Curious what 2010 will bring to your java-sphere? Well, there’s only one way to find out.