Coffee Beans

by Lars Hundley

If you’ve ever bought Dunkin coffee to make at home, maybe you’ve wondered where it actually comes from. Who makes it?

I was on the phone with Folgers coffee in June 2023 to get an answer about which of their coffees were 100 percent Arabica beans. As they were answering my question, they mentioned that they also make Dunkin’ coffee, and all of the Dunkin coffees are made of 100 percent Arabica beans. (You can confirm it about the beans on their FAQ page.)

Both the Folgers and Dunkin coffee brands (and also Bustelo) are owned by JM Smucker. It isn’t the same coffee though! Coffees have different bean recipes, different roasts and other ways to distinguish themselves and have a distinctive taste. So even if a coffee comes from the same roaster, the blend of the beans and the level of roasting would make it taste differently.

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by Darren Oliver

Entering the world of coffee, you’ve probably heard several times about Kopi Luwak, also known as “the most expensive coffee in the world”, which is produced with the help of the excrement of a small animal – the civet. This coffee is shrouded in many myths and half-truths, and the bubble of its prestige is artificially pumped with their help. Unfortunately, the reality is not as colorful as it might seem.

The production of Kopi Luwak is a process that is based on animal suffering, which is scrupulously concealed so as not to destroy the image of exclusivity, luxury, and uniqueness of this type of coffee, which has been promoted for years. But for us, the modern world of coffee is based on equality and justice – and this is what the coffee industry intends to fight for. So, let’s explore the myths that have grown up around the iconic Kopi Luwak and find out why they are half-truths at best.

What You’ll Learn

• The history and myths surrounding Kopi Luwak, often referred to as “the most expensive coffee in the world”.
  
• How the production process of Kopi Luwak often involves animal suffering and unethical practices.
  
• The role of digestive enzymes in a civet’s stomach in influencing the taste of the coffee.
  
• The issues with mass production of Kopi Luwak and the cruel conditions in civet farms.
  
• The arguments for and against the use of wild civets in producing Kopi Luwak.
  
• The common instances of falsely labeled Kopi Luwak and the reasons behind it.
  
• The impact of Kopi Luwak’s popularity on other animals like bats, monkeys, and elephants.
  
• The possibility and methods of producing ethical Kopi Luwak without animal exploitation.

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by Lars H

I recently discovered that there’s a product called Grinds Coffee Pouches that is a nicotine free, tobacco free “chewing tobacco alternative” product that some people use to wean themselves away from smokeless tobacco, and others use because they want a caffeine kick but don’t want to deal with drinking a cup of coffee.

These coffee flavored caffeine pouches seemed so weird to me that I instantly ordered a variety pack of the most popular four flavors on Amazon. I’ve never been a fan of chewing tobacco or dip because when I was a kid I always heard stories about some kid trying it for the first time and accidentally swallowing the juice and throwing up.

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QUESTION: Can you use dark roast in a super-automatic espresso machine? Most of the bags I see that are called espresso roast are very dark, but I heard that you don’t want oily beans to go through a super automatic. What’s the deal with that? – Alice K

CLEARLY COFFEE REPLIES: Do not use dark roast in your superautomatic espresso machine if the beans are oily, period. They will gum up and ruin your machine, requiring you to send it in for an expensive service. (Also, never ever use flavored beans because that flavor will ruin the taste of all future coffee beans!)

If you don’t want to believe me, then here it is straight from the instruction manual of my GE Profile Superautomatic espresso machine.

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by Lars H

If you’ve ever been to New Orleans, you’ve probably tried their famous style of coffee that is a mix of coffee beans and chicory root. The blend of dark roast beans and chicory root gives it a rich, earthy flavor with notes of chocolate and nuts. The addition of chicory root is a unique aspect of New Orleans coffee, and it is believed to have been added to coffee in the city as a way to stretch scarce coffee supplies during times of scarcity or economic hardship.

Believe it or not, you can also buy instant coffee brands that have chicory root, which makes it easy to get a nice and bold cup of New Orleans style coffee without having to brew an entire pot.

Here are some of the brands I found. Did I miss anything? Which is your favorite?

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by Lars H

If you’re looking for decaf coffee, your choices can be limited. Add in clean (tested for mycotoxins and pesticides), organic, Swiss Water Process and single origin, and you’re unlikely to find one type of coffee that has all of these things. At least that’s what I thought until I ran into Fabula coffee.

My previous favorite decaf coffee came from Kauai Coffee. It is a very tasty coffee, but it is not organic, unfortunately. So I decided to give Fabula decaf a try. I was surprised to find that I like it just as much. In fact, it has become my new favorite, and is the current brand that goes through my dedicated decaf super automatic GE Profile machine.

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You don’t always have a coffee machine handy, but sometimes you still want to drink coffee anyway. We’re here to help. Here is an exhaustive list of instant coffee brands that you can buy in the USA. Did we miss a brand that you know of? If so, let us know.

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