Spring is in the air! Of course, depending on where you live, that can mean the air is either still bitterly cool or unexpectedly hot. Some spring days can’t even seem to decide between the two, with frost in the morning and sunny afternoons worthy of beachwear.

With all this indecisiveness, you may have trouble picking spring coffee drinks that fit the weather. Luckily, coffee has so many diverse uses that you can pick a Goldilocks-approved drink that’s not blisteringly hot but not as cool as iced coffee. Here are three of our favorites that give us our springtime java jump and get it “just right”:

Iced Americano

With their perfect mix of espresso and water, Americanos can help you stay caffeinated and hydrated at the same time. If it’s especially hot outside, you may want to get some of that water from ice instead of the tap. Adding ice to your Americano will keep it chilled without bringing it down to frosty levels.

When ordering an iced Americano, build the drink with espresso first before adding four to six ounces of cold water and then topping with a scoop of ice. Building it in this order keeps the ice from melting immediately and prevents the espresso from getting acidic from rapid cooling.

Espresso Cortado

Like a cafe latte but bolder and less milky, the espresso cortado goes down smoothly and makes an impact on your taste buds. Traditionally, it is 1:1 espresso and steamed milk, served in a glass. The glass helps the drink cool off faster, but it can also warm your hands. This combination of hot and cold makes it perfect for those chilly spring mornings where the sun is still shining full force.

Sidecar

Since it can be a bit complicated to make and involves dirtying two dishes, a sidecar is not the sort of drink you want to order with a line full of impatient commuters behind you. But if you have a relaxing morning or afternoon ahead of you and are somewhat familiar with the barista, don’t feel too guilty about ordering this indulgent drink designed for sipping. Sidecars are also great to make at home.

A sidecar is an espresso double shot split into two demitasse cups. One is left alone, but the other has a dollop of textured steamed milk added, like a macchiato. With this combination, you can sip the unadulterated espresso at your leisure to appreciate its full, bold flavors. Then, when you wish to calm the bitterness or cool down, you can sip on the dairy-influenced cup. Single-origin coffees can be particularly amazing to savor from this combination.

Affogato al Caffè

Yes, this is just a fancy name for a “coffee float” or an “espresso a la mode.” To make this drink, take a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and pour espresso over it. Stir gently and enjoy!

The trick is to use high-quality ice cream to make sure that you can do the complex flavors of the espresso justice.

Always Make Your Coffee Drinks for Spring with Gourmet Coffee Beans

A cup of coffee is only as good as its beans, so make sure to only buy high-quality, gourmet coffee beans from a trusted source. Martinez Fine Coffees offers single-origin and estate coffees in a variety of flavor profiles and roasts. Pick your favorite bean to enjoy a not-too-cool, not-too-hot spring filled with amazing coffee!

“Quality” refers to more than how aromatic or expensive your beans are when you buy them, too. Each time you scoop beans into your grinder, they should have almost the same level of quality as when you first bought them. That means that, in addition to buying high-quality beans, you must learn how to store your beans properly to preserve that quality.

Here are some tips for how to store coffee beans so that they stay fresh and make a rich, memorable cup of coffee every time.

Beware the Big Four: Air, Moisture, Light and Heat

Everything in the world decomposes, just at different rates. Living things like our skin cells work against this process by replacing damaged cells and attacking decomposing invaders with our immune systems. Non-living things don’t have this luxury. Even well-preserved organic materials like roasted coffee beans have a shelf life, and they will eventually decompose and “go bad.”

You can delay this process by keeping your coffee beans away from things that break them down. The biggest culprits for decomposition are:

● Air: Oxygen tends to damage substances and gradually make them more acidic

● Moisture: Bacteria, mold and fungus has a much more difficult time growing on dry surfaces

● Heat: Heat speeds up the breakdown process, especially if air and moisture are around

● Light: The sun’s rays ca

So, to work against decomposition, you are going to have to keep them away from air, moisture, heat and light. Find an airtight, non-see-through container to store your beans in. Put them in as cool and as dry of a place as possible.

Don’t Buy Too Many Gourmet Coffee Beans at a Time

Keeping your beans away from the big four decomposers will only delay their breakdown, not prevent it entirely. The best solution is to buy a reasonable number of beans and to avoid opening them from their sealed packaging until you are completely out of the old beans.

Not only will this practice prevent your beans from going stale, but it also ensures that the beans you get have been roasted more recently, creating bigger and bolder flavors.

To Freeze or Not to Freeze?

Freezing your beans can delay the breakdown process, but your beans can also slightly change their chemical makeup as the small amounts of water inside of them crystallize and freeze. Even more worrisome is the fact that pulling out frozen beans into a warmer room will cause condensation to form on them.

With all this in mind, only freeze beans if you think you bought too much to use within the next 10-14 days. When you remove the beans from the freezer, quickly take out the exact amount you need and grind them before condensation can form, placing the remainder back in the freezer.

Now That You Know How to Store Coffee Beans, Make Sure to Buy the Best Beans

Storing your coffee beans the right way won’t suddenly make that supermarket coffee delicious. You need quality-sourced gourmet beans to have a truly amazing cup of coffee. You can order gourmet coffee beans for yourself, for the office or as a gift by placing an order with Martinez Fine Coffees today!

You may have noticed that Americans kind of love coffee. From greasy-spoon diners to fast food restaurants to doughnut shops to high-end coffeehouses, there’s some resource to get premium blend coffees on every corner in almost every town across the nation.

We’ve built a coffee culture, and we even do research into the history of coffee in the U.S. goes back even before the country began. During colonial times, in the 17th century, the first coffee houses opened their doors on the continent. During the 1800s and through the industrial revolution, coffee became a drink of choice for workers to get going in the mornings. By the Civil War, coffee consumption had grown to 8 pounds per person.

Becoming a Commodity

During the Civil War, coffee became scarce — a commodity. This was because imports into the United States were limited at this time, and prices grew to $5 per pound, which translates to nearly $120 per pound in today’s figures. Still people treasured and savored the drink, and it even became a trade commodity at the time.

Americans have never been ones to go in halfway, and by the 20th century, we were consuming half of all the coffee produced in the world. By WWI, instant coffee was developed and used by troops in the trenches. Even during the Great Depression, coffee was viewed as a necessity rather than a luxury and consumption never slowed.

Decline and Rebound

Things finally started to slow down by the end of the 1950s, as coffee was gradually replaced by a love affair with soda pop. Then, in the 1980s and 1990s small coffee houses began to pop up all over the nation, including the estate coffees produced by John A. Martinez. With the birth of Starbucks, the coffee shop culture boomed once more. Now, independent coffee shops and custom coffee roasters are everywhere once again, and we love coffee more than ever.

If the history of coffee shows us anything, it’s that our love affair with this rich beverage isn’t going anywhere. It’s a part of our culture and who we are, and we’ll keep looking for the best methods and flavors into the foreseeable future.

J. Martinez & Company has been offering estate coffees to Americans since 1988, and our legacy continues to this very day. Learn about our company, and get in touch to start receiving craft-roasted coffees to improve your mornings every day!

Many people pledge to “cut back” on coffee because they think that their hopped-up habit has gotten out of hand. If these people truly feel that they are having harmful effects from drinking too much coffee, they should listen to their body. But cutting back too much can hurt you, according to health research.

So how much estate coffee is too much or too little? Read on to find out..

Two to Five Cups of Coffee Is Ideal, If You Can Handle It

Studies have shown that those who drink coffee in the “sweet spot” of two to five cups a day have increased life expectancy compared to those who do not drink coffee at all. However, these benefits start to disappear past the five-cup mark..

These findings are consistent with the general recommendation that we limit our caffeine consumption to 400 mg per day. The average eight-ounce cup of coffee contains around 100 mg of caffeine on average, although this amount can vary greatly based on the roast and brew method. Lighter roasts have more caffeine, while high heat or high-pressure brewing methods like moka pots tend to extract more caffeine from the grounds..

For comparison, other drinks have the following caffeine amounts:.

● Hot brewed tea (8 oz.) — 53.8 mg

● Coca-Cola (12 oz.) — 31.4 mg

● Red Bull (8.5 oz.) — 75 mg

● Rockstar (16 oz.) — 153.8 mg

● Large Starbucks latte — 160 mg

Ingesting more than 400 mg of caffeine a day, from any source, can lead to side effects like anxiety, stomach aches, tremors, fast heartbeat, irritability, insomnia and more. Long-term, caffeine overdoses can create irregular heart rhythms or blood-pressure related issues..

Keep in mind that everyone is different in how they handle caffeine, so your personal limit may be higher or lower. Typical factors include weight, genetics, tolerance and age. Speaking of age, fetuses have trouble digesting caffeine in the womb, so mothers are advised to keep their consumption down to 100 mg (one 8 oz. coffee cup) a day or less..

The Best Benefits of Estate Coffee Aren’t Caffeine

Caffeine is the reason we cannot drink too much coffee too often, but caffeine is not even the best part of coffee! Coffee contains many healthy compounds, including polyphenol, which reduces your risk of heart disease, stroke or dementia. Coffee packs more polyphenol than most vegetables..

So, try not to cut coffee out of your routine entirely — or choose to go decaf — or else you could be missing out on the many health benefits of coffee..

When you do brew coffee, make sure you get the freshest beans possible from a quality source. Doing that helps you make sure your coffee packs as much nutrition as it can! You can order whole bean or ground coffee, including single-origin estate coffees, from Martinez to select the perfect roast and blend for your personal tastes..

A moka pot is a humble, simple stovetop brewer that holds the key to creating what is perhaps the best cup of gourmet coffee you have ever tasted.

While drip coffee makers have quietly taken over American homes, offices and waiting rooms over the past 50 years, much of Europe and Latin America remains loyal to the moka pot, which was designed around 20 years prior. These mostly metal contraptions brew small batches of coffee under high pressure, creating a consistency and bold flavor profile like espresso

Learn more about moka pots, including their history, their design, and why they make such darn good coffee.

The Small Metal Pot That Fuels Italy

Moka pots were originally designed by Italian inventor Alfonso Bialetti in 1933. Bialetti’s original iconic, angular design and his brand name still graces most moka pots seen today. Indeed, the design is such a pure and recognizable example of modern industrial art that it is displayed on shelves at the Museum of Modern Art, the National Design Museum, the London Science Museum and more.

Bialetti coffee pots were a huge advancement over percolator systems, which created bitter, grainy brews because the coffee was continually cycled through the grounds. Instead, moka pots have an ingenious design that uses a pressure valve and gravity to deliver the perfect brewing time and temperature.

Moka pots work by pouring water in the base, filling a porous basket with grounds and then placing the entire device directly on top of a stovetop burner. As this animation from Wikimedia shows, the pressure created from boiling the water sends hot, pressurized water through the grounds tray before pouring out the nozzle like a fountain. Since the volume of water never reaches past the nozzle, you never must worry about your water mixing with grounds and becoming bitter.

Best of all, cleanup is quick, and your coffee is ready in just a few minutes!

Why Moka Coffee Tastes So Delicious

In essence, moka pots create the perfect conditions for a flavorful cup of coffee without you having to adjust a thing. The grounds receive the needed heat and a bit of extra pressure, which pulls out flavorful oils that are not normally found in drip coffee. The flavors and aroma are bold and complex, allowing you to taste subtle hints of cocoa, berries or spice that you would normally miss out on.

Plus, the act of brewing a moka pot is simply charming! Its polite little gurgle lets you know you have a fresh pot ready just for you.

For comparison, many drip coffee makers fail to heat water to the proper temperature, leading to a weak brew. Getting the ratio of water to grounds is also trickier, often leading to pots that are bitter from over-extraction, which occurs when too much of the flavor compounds in coffee grounds get pulled into the hot water. Also, drip makers get harder and harder to clean over time, making the quality of coffee go down.

The only drawback to a moka pot is that it only makes a small batch — 25 ounces at most. While this keeps the coffee fresh, it also means you should brew multiple batches for company, so hang on to that drip maker when you need to perk up a crowd!

Brew Only the Best Gourmet Coffee in Your Moka

When you buy a moka, you are much more tempted to sip, savor and experiment with your typical coffee cup as you explore the unique experience each one offers. Give your moka the chance to open your eyes to incredible coffees by purchasing whole bean gourmet coffees and estate coffees from Martinez.

With a vast variety of beans, blends and roasting options, you have a lifetime of discovering new coffees ahead of you when you buy from Martinez Fine Coffees. Order your next batch today!

The impact coffee has had on American culture cannot be understated. In fact, its effect on the entire world has been massive. It’s one of the most popular drinks in the world, and is the second-most highly traded commodity in the export business, outside of oil. That’s a pretty massive impact on world economy.

The impact of coffee on our culture goes far beyond how much we love the flavor and the ritual of that morning latte, flat white, café au lait or just basic cuppa joe. It goes beyond the various health benefits coffee offers. It has a direct and potentially positive impact on our very environment. Learn about the relationship between coffee and culture in America, and the effect this relationship has upon our environment and the world.

Coffee and Environment

The relationship between coffee and culture in America goes hand-in-hand with our increasing awareness of the environment. Coffee connoisseurs are increasingly aware and demanding of the right methods for growing coffee and have brand loyalty to certain labels based on their ecologically-responsible growing habits as well as phrases like Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, organic and more.

This is because done properly coffee can actually preserve forest habitats, provide much-needed work for people in impoverished and developing countries, and serve as a renewable resource. Done incorrectly, however, cultivating coffee can clear rainforests, contaminate landscapes with pesticides, poison workers and result in devastated habitats and near-slave-wages.

The Impact of Coffee and Culture

Coffeehouses, which sprung up alongside coffee, have for thousands of years been areas of intellectual exchange and debate, discussion and exchange of ideas. It could be argued that many of the social movements throughout history have grown directly alongside coffee and that without this rich beverage, we wouldn’t have the culture of discussion and debate that we currently do.

Modern coffeehouses throughout the United States are the focus of hot-button debates about corporate personhood and responsibility, about small businesses vs. huge corporations, about globalization, about responsible business practices and ethics. Every time a local independent coffeehouse gets harmed by a big chain opening up right across the street there are outcries and protests, and yet the big chains don’t seem to suffer for it.

The Future of Coffee

Coffee has had a serious impact on coffee and culture, both in the United States and across the world. Since 1670 when Dorothy Jones became the very first American Coffee Trader and through the birth of specialty coffee houses in the 1970s, to the modern eco-awareness debates and well into the future, coffee will continue to have a major impact on who we are, how we view the world, and the way we exchange ideas. And thank goodness for that.

J. Martinez & Company first began offering specialty roast coffees, called “estate” coffees, to customers in 1988, and we continue to brew premium blends for customers today. We are certified Approved Importer of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee by the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica and we’d love to provide our outstanding blends to you. Read about our company, and get in touch with us to place an order today!

We are in the midst of what many call “the third wave” of coffee. You could characterize this movement as a reflection of the industry — the diverse types of specialty coffee you see being sold, the types of hip, quality-focused cafes that have been popping up in every city — but the truth is that the “third wave” of coffee has more to do with you, the consumer.

In this third wave, people demand more of their coffee than a sour, grainy, bitter brew. Instead you look into the characteristics of a good cup of coffee and use that knowledge to select the perfect cup while discerning your favorite flavor profiles and prep methods.

This newfound level of care at the nuance and technical aspects of coffee has delighted us as coffee producers. We now have a more receptive audience than ever when it comes to explaining what makes certain coffees unquestionably better than others.

Among these discussions, one quality will always set a coffee bean apart as superior: if it is an estate coffee or not.

What Is an Estate Coffee?

“Estate coffee” refers to coffee grown and roasted in small batches from one easily-identifiable source. Typically, an estate coffee will be one bean type grown on the same farm. Other times, an estate coffee will be the results of one bean type grown from several nearby farms in the same region and roasted together.

This process differs from the typical way coffee is handled. Normally, coffee companies buy beans from all over the world and blend them before roasting and grinding them all together and then shipping the product to thousands of businesses.

The problems with this practice are manifold:

1. It usually results in long delays between bean picking, roasting and distribution, which hurts freshness
2. It disguises the unique flavor profile of a bean created by the conditions in which it grew
3. It mixes in high-quality beans with lower quality ones
4. It fails to reward small-batch growers who put care and attention into their plants

Single-origin coffees avoid these issues by sourcing beans from one country or one region. “Estate coffees” are an even more precise product, usually grown at just one or a few farms in the exact same locality for an even higher-quality and more unique brew every time.

Why Are Estate Coffees Better?

Explaining why estate coffees are great is easier if you compare them to single-malt scotches.

Like commercial coffee blends, blended scotch whiskies have batches of whisky from hundreds of different sources blended together to create a consistent product. Whisky makers use this practice to disguise the cheaper, rougher whiskies they buy by putting them alongside more flavorful blends. The end result may be tasty to a wide range of customers, but it lacks a distinctive personality.

When buying single-malt scotch whisky, you purchase whisky made in one single batch. This batch will have to be of a high quality since it cannot have flavorful whiskies added to it. It will also be unique, a result of the specific malted barley and peat smoke mix the distiller uses. Every single-malt will therefore have a unique personality and flavor profile according to where it was made and who made it.

Estate coffees are the same way, but even more unique among themselves. The growing practices used at each small farm create a distinctive coffee berry that can only be fully appreciated when not mixed in with hundreds of others, especially if those in the mix would have been a lower quality.

For these reasons, we highly recommend our locally-sourced estate coffee beans for yourself and any other coffee aficionados you may know. Each order is roasted to specification, and it can even be pre-ground to your precise needs.

Order your batch of estate coffees to start appreciating the finer things in life today.

How you brew coffee can have an even more dramatic effect on the end result than the beans you use.

The ideal conditions for extraction — a technical name for how brewing pulls out certain flavors from coffee grounds — are always the same. The “perfect” cup of coffee is about one part coffee to 20 parts hot water at 195° F – 200 °F for a few minutes at a steady rate.

Yet, there are many ways to achieve this outcome that can result in a unique flavor profile. There is therefore no 100% “right” way to brew coffee, but there are some methods that we personally recommend over others.

Disclaimer: Ditch the Pod and Use Fresh Grounds

Your first order of business is to never use pod-based, single-portion coffee makers if you want to expect a quality result. The pre-ground blends are inevitably low-quality and create disturbing amounts of waste. Even when grinding your own beans, most single-portion machines fail to heat up the water or pour it over in the needed ratio to create a well-crafted result.

Another important designator is to buy an adjustable burr grinder and stick to whole bean coffees. Always store your beans in an airtight container and grind just a few minutes before brewing for maximum freshness.

With that out of the way, here are our top-recommended ways to brew your own coffee:

1. Pour Over

Since you will want precise control on the temperature of the water, the rate that it is poured and other perfection factors, the most calculated way to prepare a cup of coffee is with a pour-over system.

Using a cone filter attached to a carafe, you can slowly pour water over your fresh grounds to control the exact character of your coffee cup. Practice makes perfect, but this method is the only way to control all of the needed conditions.

Among pour-over systems, any filter-shaped funnel that can sit securely on a carafe will work. You can also try fancier systems like the beautiful all-glass-and-wood Chemex, but don’t expect the results to improve just because you spent more money.

2. French Press

Even with the amount of control you have during a pour-over, French press coffee still has its merits. It will tend to be low-acid while having a nut-oil flavor and a full body. Nevertheless, some may find the results weaker than they are used to.

When using a French press, make sure you have a burr grinder that can produce the coarse grounds ideal for the system.

3. Drip Coffee Maker

Surprisingly, your average drip coffee maker can do a satisfactory imitation of a pour-over as long as it can reach a high enough temperature. Look for a maker that can set its temperature. Alternatively, you can pre-brew water and place it back in the tank to ensure it gets hot enough.

Just make sure to clean your coffee maker every few uses!

4. Aeropress

The Aeropress combines French press and pour-over methods to obtain a unique, flavorful result. This method won out on Thrillist’s blind coffee taste test among all types of coffee drinkers, and it costs less than most drip makers do.

Best Way to Brew Coffee? With Good Beans

While these methods help brew coffee the way it is supposed to be brewed, starting with a delicious raw ingredient should be a top priority. For that reason, we suggest our gourmet coffees, which include estate coffees, rich espressos and delicious blends.

Place your order and select your personal roast preference to obtain a truly miraculous cup of coffee no matter how you choose to brew.

There are so many elements that go into this that volumes could be written covering all of the bases. Most of the qualities of what people consider a “good cup of coffee,” however, come down to science.

Other aspects, like how much cream and sugar you add, are a matter of preference. But preferences aside, here are the objective factors that go into an amazing cup of coffee:

Clean Equipment and Water

You can get everything else about a cup of coffee right, but if it’s brewed using equipment that hasn’t been cleaned properly in weeks, then it will always have a bitter, dirty lingering undertaste that literally and figuratively sours the experience.

Make sure you clean out your coffee maker or pour-over apparatus regularly to remove all those lingering oils and residues. Include any coffee grinders since exposing any part of coffee to oxygen over time, including old grounds, results in a lower-quality end product.

Also be sure to always use filtered water both when brewing coffee and giving equipment a final cleaning pass.

Fresh, Properly Stored Coffee

Once again, oxygen is the enemy to delicious coffee. The longer something has been exposed to it, the more it will break down into less-tasty compounds.

For this reason, we recommend fresh whole beans roasted not more than six months ago, like our fine roasted-to-order specialty coffees. Whole beans can keep longer than six months in the freezer, but they will always need to be kept in an airtight container.

Try to grind your coffee within 5-10 minutes of brewing at an appropriate size for your brewing method. For instance, brewer coffee and pour overs usually require a medium-sized grind, French presses need a coarse grind and espresso usually needs a fine grind. A burr grinder produces the best results.

If you do buy already-ground coffee, there’s no shame! It is super convenient and almost as tasty as long as it has been stored in an airtight container and was ground soon after roasting.

Proper Brewing Temperature, Time and Water Ratio

This part is where the science comes in.

Brewing is the process of using perfectly hot water in the perfect ratio to extract delicious things out of coffee grounds. Too hot of water or too much water means you can over-extract the coffee and end up pulling out the bitterness. Too little water or too cold of a temperature means you could have an overly-strong brew or one that maybe lacks all the expected flavors.

We recommend staying away from percolators unless you use a stovetop Italian coffee maker. Stick with drip machines, and clean them often. Alternatively, invest in a pourover system to get the ultimate control and precision!

Properly Stored Brewed Coffee

After brewing, coffee will break down into less tasty and often sour versions of its former self. Keeping the brew at a high temperature only hastens this process. Try to keep coffee on the burner for no more than ten minutes, and store leftovers in an airtight carafe for later. Even then, brewed coffee will lose its punch after a few hours.

Delicious, Quality-Sourced Gourmet Coffee Beans

In many ways, beans are the most important part of the coffee quality equation. You should worry about the above points to get to where you are doing the beans justice, but once you know the basics it comes down to trying new beans and experimenting with temperatures to get the perfect brew.

The need for quality raw ingredients is why we at J. Martinez & Company source only the highest-quality gourmet coffee beans. We bring you fine coffees and teas from all over the world in a variety of delicious flavor profiles. Each batch is roasted and ground to your specification, making it as fresh as possible.

Take your coffee game to the next level by ordering the best gourmet coffee beans for you, your friends and your family today.

Getting gifts for co-workers can always feel like a daunting prospect, but there are plenty of gifts out there that are not only fun and affordable, but that feel downright heartfelt.

To help make your gift-giving easier this year, consider the following nifty gifties:

Business Card Holder

Clasp-style business card holders look classy, and they can double as a handy place to keep credit cards in a purse or back pocket.

Kate Spade makes a cute one that says “let’s do lunch,” and there are many others at a sub $25 price.

Desk Organizer

Most desk organizers can be tacky, useless or both, but there are also plenty that charm while getting the job done.

Desktop Dogs from uncommongoods are our current favorites, but Kikkerland’s memo-saurus steals our heart as well.

Pencil Case

Japanese-style zip up pencil cases can pull double duty as a clutch, cosmetic bag, first aid kit and more. They can also come in at an affordable price, like this versatile one from LIHIT LAB.

We also love this one from Fangamer that references the game Pikmin and can also double as a padded pouch for a mini tablet or portable game console.

Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug

Travel mugs are easy to come buy, but most barely get the job done. Set a new precedent by looking to a vacuum insulated mug, which can keep beverages hot for hours.

Skin Care

Male or female, we all deserve to take better care of our skin. You can help your co-workers out with this task using the high-quality, organic Burt’s Bees gift sets and similar products you can often find at your local drugstore.

Wireless Speaker

If your co-workers are always on the go, an affordable but sturdy Bluetooth speaker can be the perfect gift. Make sure to do your research since some products have bad sound quality or are difficult to use. You can start by looking at the Tom’s Guide review for the Oontz and VicTsing.

Perpetual Desk Calendar

This clever block-shaped perpetual calendar from the MoMA is the desk calendar to end all desk calendars thanks to its simplistic but practical design.

Office Plants

Give your co-worker a literal breath of fresh air along with a tinge of much-needed color by gifting them a hardy indoor plant in a stylish pot. Ponytail palms, money tree plants and succulents are among the prettiest and toughest to kill.

Banana Smartphone Stand

There are plenty of more practical smartphone stands out in the world than Fred & Friends’ banana stand, such as this versatile tripod-shaped one, but as any Arrested Development fan knows: “There’s always money in the banana stand.”

Why Gourmet Coffee Can Be the Ultimate Gift for Co-Workers

All of these gifts are practical and great, but if you really want to turn your co-worker’s world around, then show them how wonderful, rich and unique gourmet coffees for the office can be. We offer single-origin and estate coffees as well as appealing blends. We can guarantee you that after trying what we offer, your coworker will never look at their coffee cup the same way again.

“Is coffee healthy?” This question is one of those that plagues conventional wisdom because we have heard it answered both ways so many times over the years.

The good news is that coffee has recently been linked with several positive trends. Many older studies linking coffee to negative effects have also since been invalidated, accounting for a decrease in risky activities like smoking that have may have been the true cause of the health problems they were observing.

On the whole, coffee actually appears to be quite good for you. So if you are a regular java lover and don’t have any side effects, continue to guzzle away! Here are just some of the possible perks experts suggest you may obtain:

Healthier, More Efficient Brains

Lack of sleep is never a good thing on your body, but the energy-boosting feeling of coffee may actually be good for well-rested minds.

The way caffeine works is that it binds to adenosine receptors, which can normally cause feelings of fatigue or lack-of-focus. When caffeine takes the place of other neurochemical compounds on these receptors, it can cause neuron activity in the brain to speed up, making your brain process thoughts faster while enabling more connectivity among them.

Some scientists think that this reaction is why caffeine can be an effective antidepressant.

Lower Risk of Chronic Disease

Another group of benefits from coffee has to do with the brew’s rich range of antioxidant compounds. Our body naturally produces oxygenizing free radicals, which can damage the DNA of dividing cells, hurting their functionality while increasing our risk of cancer. Antioxidants work against these radicals in order to not only reduce the risk of certain diseases but to also delay the aging process.

Regular consumption have coffee has been linked to a lower risk of type II diabetes, prostate cancer, uterine cancer and more. Scientists are quick to point out that these correlations do not necessarily mean causation since the studies did not examine separate independent factors in a clinical setting.

They also discourage people who do not drink coffee or drink it in low amounts from guzzling gallons of java a day purely to obtain health benefits. But those who already love coffee have no reason to back down as long as they enjoy the effects.

Coffee as a Healthy Alternative to Other Beverages

Everyone should make sure they get enough water per day, and they can also supplement their diet with antioxidant rich drinks like coffee and tea. Other seemingly healthy choices like juice tend to have lots of sugar and reduced nutrition from the pasteurization needed to preserve it.

At the same time, make sure what you put in your coffee is just as healthy as what you leave out. Health experts caution that some sugary coffee and milk drinks have as much as 500 calories in them! So try to emphasize high quality gourmet beans and minimize the amount of cream or sugar you use to get coffee that is not only delicious, but also good for you!

Coffee is a drink that has developed right along humankind. In a lot of ways, the history of coffee is the history of humanity. It’s found in records of ancient cultures. It had its day in the instant, fast-food culture of the 70s and 80s. It has evolved into a gourmet drink with thousands of varieties, blends, roasting methods and flavors.

One thing is for sure, we as a people love our coffee, and that’s not likely to change. Did you ever wonder, though, how it got to where it is today? Read about the history of coffee, how drinking coffee has changed throughout the years, and where it’s going to take us in the future.

The Legendary History of Coffee

The truth is, we don’t really know exactly how coffee was first discovered. There’s a popular legend that it was first discovered in Ethiopia, where a shepherd named Kaldi noted that some of his goats were acting overly energized and refusing to sleep after eating the berries from a nearby tree. When he reported this to local monks, they made a drink from the berries, discovering that it kept them awake and alert during their prayer vigil.

News of this miracle berry spread, and eventually, we got where we are today.

Coffee Spreads

We can trace the history of coffee to before the 15th century, on the Arabian Peninsula. By the 16th century it was all over the Middle East. Believe it or not, in these early days we also saw the origin of coffee houses, which at the time were called qahveh khaneh. They were very much like the cafes of the modern day, where patrons would talk, engage in intellectual pursuits, listen to music and entertainment and the like.

Coffee in Europe and the New World

By the 17th century, coffee had reached Europe, where it was denounced as a tool of the Devil until Pope Clement VIII gave it a seal of papal approval. At this time, coffee became a preferred breakfast drink, replacing beer and wine. It was around the mid-17th century that it came to the New World, but it didn’t become popular here until the Boston Tea Party and the revolt against the tea tax. Thomas Jefferson referred to coffee as, “the favorite drink of the civilized world.”

New World Blends

Coffee became a major trade commodity throughout the first 150 years of the United States, and we saw plantations show up outside of the Middle East for the first time. It was used as a trade good between colonists and Native Americans, and we also began to see things like chicory and dandelion root added to mellow the flavor and even, when it became rare, to replace coffee altogether.

Technology

Technology has changed coffee even more, with new ways of roasting, grinding and brewing the beans leading to a smoother and more complex palate of flavors. Instant coffee became available around the 1930s and was treasured by troops in wartime. First percolators, then drip brew machines, replaced brewing it over an open fire, and decaffeinated coffee erupted into life for those who like the drink, but not the effects. Through the 50s to 80s coffee houses went underground, replaced by faster, cheaper brews that were mass-produced. By the 1990s coffee houses made a comeback, and have become part and parcel of our culture today!

Not only is coffee a wonderful, flavorful beverage, it’s got health benefits as well! The history of coffee is intertwined with the history of civilization. Of course, the better the brew, the better the benefits. Martinez Fine Coffees carries a wealth of fine coffee beans for any need, home or office. Read a bit about us, and get in touch for more information today!

Coffee didn’t become the most-consumed drink in the Western world just by being delicious! (Although that doesn’t hurt.)

For millennia, humans have understood coffee to have restorative – even mystical – health powers, and science has finally caught up.

What are some of the best health benefits of drinking coffee?

Coffee Might Save You from Diabetes

Some research suggests coffee can actually keep people from developing Type II diabetes. Not only that, but there’s a lower risk of developing complications from Type I diabetes when on a carefully-controlled coffee diet, too. Scientists think caffeine actually plays a regulating role with blood sugar and insulin.

Coffee Is Good for Your Heart

In fact, several long term studies by reputable organizations have found those who drink coffee significantly less likely to develop heart disease over time. The effects are reversed if you drink too much coffee, but one or two cups a day are good for your ticker!

Coffee is Great for Your Liver

More than almost any other organ, coffee is good for your liver. In fact, people who regularly drank coffee were found in several longitudinal studies to have less chance of developing fatty liver or hepatitis. Some evidence even suggests it can prevent and reverse the effects drinking alcohol has on cirrhosis of the liver!

Coffee Can Give You Vital Nutrients

Coffee is chock full of antioxidants and naturally contains a good amount of several hard-to-come-by nutrients. Just two cups a day will give you 22% of your daily required B12, 12% of your B5, and 4% of your Niacin and Magnesium. Take multivitamin with your morning cup and you’re good to go!

Coffee Might Help Prevent Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia that some studies suggest coffee may help prevent. Several noted studies showed participants with a 65% lower chance of developing the debilitating disease over time! Science suggests the caffeine in coffee paired with its antioxidants may be the answer.

Coffee May Help Prevent Depression

Coffee’s been shown in several studies of both men and women to lessen the likelihood of depression. For women, particularly, the effects are significant. Suicide rates among heavy coffee drinkers are also far lower than the general population. Some point to the communal nature of coffee drinking as the reason for the health effects.

Coffee is good for the soul and, as it turns out, the body. Have your next cup with the knowledge that you’re doing something good for your body!

J. Martinez Fine Coffee imports some of the finest coffee in the world to ensure every cup of coffee you drink is as delicious as it is healthful. Which of our estate blends will you be toasting to better health today?

Brewing and drinking coffee has become an almost natural part of society. You can see it all around you, especially in the mornings: people with bleary vision and bags under their eyes walking stupefied down the hall until they get that first cup of coffee. Then they are off to the races in a blink. Problem solved.

Coffee has been so ingrained in our society, have you ever wondered where exactly it came from, or why, for that matter, it became so popular? At Martinez Fine Coffees, we have found this topic fascinating as well and have provided little more about the history of coffee for you.

Effects of Coffee

The most obvious reason coffee became so popular is because of its effects. Used to relieve physical fatigue and boost mental alertness, coffee contains caffeine that has proved effective these last several centuries in getting even the groggiest and most stressed person back on their feet in no time at all.

When these effects were first discovered, people no doubt took a liking to coffee right away.

Origin of Coffee

The origins of coffee are very vague, but it is popularly believed that coffee came from the forests of Ethiopia, where legends say that a goat herder discovered the power of the coffee bean over a thousand years ago. After sharing this knowledge with the abbot of a local monastery, word of the powerful effects of coffee started to spread far and wide, eventually reaching the Arabian peninsula.

Start of Coffee Cultivation

Whereas legends point to Ethiopia as the birthplace of coffee, recorded history finds popular coffee consumption beginning about the 15th century. Yemeni traders would bring back coffee beans from Ethiopia and start to cultivate it themselves. After another hundred years or so, coffee was being grown and consumed throughout Egypt, Syria, Persia, and Turkey.

First a personal beverage, coffee quickly became commercialized, and public coffeehouses started appearing all over the Near East. While enjoying coffee in these venues, patrons could engage in conversation, listen to music, and play games with one another, leading eventually to the concept of modern coffee dates.

With thousands of pilgrims coming to the area each year from all over the world for their annual pilgrimage, and with trade routes ripe and open, coffee soon started to spread outwards.

European Reaction to Coffee

Coffee slowly started to trickle into Europe due to traders and travelers, and during the 17th century, it had started to become popular throughout the continent. By the end of the century, coffeehouses had sprung up all over Europe, some of which are still open in some form to this day.

What is most interesting about this time is the initial European resistance against coffee. For example, when coffee came to Venice in the 1600s, the local clergy asked Pope Clement VIII to ban the drink. After sampling it himself, however, the Pope gave it his approval instead.

Another fun fact: during this time, breakfast drinks ran the gamut from nothing to beer or wine. As coffee started to sweep across Germany, France, and England, it naturally became the go-to morning beverage, due to its livening effects on the body.

Coffee and Colonization

Once the Europeans embraced coffee, it quickly became one of the most valuable trading commodities on the market. To the surprise of no one, this meant establishing plantations throughout the world and spreading the cultivation of this bean, leading to intense competition between nations for available colonies.

The Dutch were initially the first to attempt harvesting coffee outside of Arabia. After procuring seedlings, they tried setting up coffee plantations in India but were unsuccessful. The island of Java, in what is now Indonesia, proved a much better option, and by the start of the 18th century, the Dutch production and trade of coffee was thriving. They would later expand coffee cultivation to Sumatra and Celebes.

Seedlings were later acquired by the French, who transported them safely to the island of Martinique in the Caribbean to begin cultivation. Here the plants took root at once, spreading all over the island in a matter of years. From there, coffee beans would spread to the other Caribbean Islands and into South and Central America.

As the world continued to expand during this time, missionaries, traders, and colonists would actively spread coffee seeds to new lands, establishing massive plantations the world over. Nations and colonies would rise and fall over their coffee economy, and with the end of the 18th century, coffee had become one of the most profitable cash crops in the world.

Coffee Today

Still mostly cultivated in the developing world, coffee production has hardly declined in the last century. More and more people today are consuming coffee regularly and, depending on your tastes and preferences, you can have your coffee served any number of ways. For example, you can make your own with a store brand by picking up a quick one at Starbucks or even McDonalds. You can sample a small hole in the wall coffeehouse and get a personally brewed beverage. Basically, wherever you decide to get your coffee, you have plenty of options in today’s world.

Try Unique New Brands Today!

The history of coffee is so long and varied that there are literally an endless number of varieties in the world you could hope to sample. Unfortunately, unless you are a connoisseur with access to unlimited travel, you might have a hard time with this pursuit.

This is where Martinez Fine Coffees can help. For twenty years we have been roasting and brewing some of the finest estate and single origin coffee you are liable to find anywhere, and we want to bring that rich new experience to you. We roast and ship daily to discerning customers no matter where in the world you are, so should you like to learn more about our process or would like to make an order yourself, contact one of our representatives right away.

Whether you’re a full-fledged connoisseur or a relative rookie, there’s no doubt you’re particular about how you like your coffee. A lot of that has to do with the roast—the process that transforms green coffee beans into the beans you see ground up to make your coffee.

Coffee roasting is the most important factor in determining how a brewed pot of coffee is going to taste. Many large chains favor a dark roast, though trends fluctuate as more types of roasts, such as milder “blonde” roasts, come into the picture. Here’s a rundown of the three main types of coffee roasts, so you can approach your next cup as a more informed coffee consumer.

Medium Roast

Medium roasts tend to bring out the acidity in a cup of coffee. Of all the coffee roasts available, medium roasts are most often used by professional cup-testers to evaluate the quality of a certain coffee. If the cup is imperfect, its flaws will be easily detected when tasted through a medium roast. Conversely, medium roasts show off the good qualities of an exceptional cup of coffee. Darker roasts tend to mask the subtle characteristics of coffee that are very apparent in medium roasts.

Dark Roast

Unlike medium roasts, dark coffee roasts lower the acidity rate of a coffee. Richer, fuller-bodied coffees lend themselves lend themselves better to a dark roast than to medium coffee roasts. Though the subtler characteristics are removed, these kinds of coffees typically have a bolder taste regardless, and thus work well as a darker roast. Because of the lower acidity, a dark roasted cup of coffee has a taste that is smoother and richer.

French Roast

Some may think that French roasting is simply a form of dark roasting, but it is actually its own process that masks a coffee’s subtleties in exchange for a bitter aftertaste. French roasts bring to the surface of a coffee bean the soluble oil that gives it its distinctive coffee taste. Once this oil is on the surface, it oxidizes from its exposure to air, which in turn masks the subtle flavor characteristics of the coffee. This is replaced by a bitter aftertaste—not the same as a strong coffee, which has to do with the proportion of coffee to water when brewing a pot. Because of the oxidation, French roasting stales coffee beans much more quickly than other roasts.

Purchasing Different Coffee Roasts

Specializing in estate coffees that give the buyer much more information than solely the country of origin, J. Martinez & Company has been a purveyor of fine coffees and coffee products since 1988. No matter what kind of coffee you’re purchasing, we roast it exactly to the your specifications—medium, dark or French. Visit our specialty coffees page to see our current fine coffee offerings.

]]> Tue, 24 May 2016 18:22:54 +0000 https://www.martinezfinecoffees.com/blog/health-benefits-of-coffee/ The Health Benefits of Your Morning Cup of Joe

You know what coffee does for you on a regular basis: helps you wake up in the morning, keeps you working through the midday crunch, revives you after a long day at work. But most people don’t know about the positive affects of coffee drinking in the long run. The health benefits of drinking three or more cups of coffee a day have long been examined by researchers, and their findings may have you reaching for it more often (like you needed another excuse to up your caffeine intake!)

Prevents some diseases

Research has found that people who drink coffee daily are less likely to develop heart disease, type II diabetes, liver disease and cancer. Studies have also linked coffee to a lower susceptibility to cognitive diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The idea is that the caffeine in coffee keeps the mind active and protects it from decline.

Rich in antioxidants

You’ve probably heard of them, and know they’re good for you, but exactly what they do…most people aren’t sure. Antioxidants are found in some vegetables and fruit, and help remove free radicals from the bloodstream and prevent issues with your heart and immune system.

Speeds metabolic function

The extra jolt of energy you get from that midday cup can help kick start your metabolism, increasing your ability to burn fat. Without adding any extra cream or sugar, coffee can be a miraculously low-calorie way to power up and lose some pesky pounds. As we get older, our metabolisms slow drastically, so coffee intake can often be a preventative measure to avoid the weight gain and fatigue inevitable with aging.

Tackles depression

The caffeine in coffee coupled with its antioxidant-rich nature can help relieve some of the symptoms of depression, studies have found. Caffeine can also play a role in reducing stress in some people. People who drink more coffee find that they are often more alert and productive, leading to fewer stressful situations.

Prolongs life

All of these things combined point to a healthier, happier life. Coffee gives the body essential nutrients that help protect against illnesses like diabetes and liver disease, while caffeine speeds up the metabolism and antioxidants help keep those with depression out of the dark. Couple this with the fact that drinking coffee is often a social activity- a way to bond with your partner as you get ready for work or a way to unwind with friends after dinner- and you have a recipe for a social, healthy, and prolonged, life. So go ahead, sip away at that cup of java guilt-free.

When you sip your morning cup of steaming coffee on the way to work, you probably don’t think about the vast history of the coffee bean, the long journey it takes from seed to liquid caffeine, or how great a worldwide commodity it is. But all of these things are integral to the beverage we now could not live without, and after centuries of trade and cultivation of different plants, we can finally look back at the way in which coffee, in essence just a seed, changed the whole world.

Discovery

Though Brazil is the largest coffee producer today, the coffee bean was first discovered in Ethiopia centuries ago. The bean was soon roasted and brewed, and news of its effects spread across Asia and Europe. Today, coffee is one of the most important crops in the entire world, and many economies are solely reliant on the cultivation and sale of coffee beans. Though the Ethiopian shepherd who was rumored to have discovered the use of coffee may not have predicted the global phenomenon it would grow to be, he may very well have known that the dark, caffeinated substance extracted from coffee beans would change the world for good.

Once the coffee plant was taken from Ethiopia and grown in earnest across the Middle East and Europe, it became a household commodity. After colonization of the Americas, coffee became a cash crop in the Caribbean and South American regions, and remains so to this day.

Coffee Houses

Though Americans may stereotypically imagine the origins of the coffee house to look something like the cafes of Spain or France, the coffee house as we know it originated in the Middle East, where many Arab countries took to the drink and began to sell it around the world. Coffee houses cropped up as intellectual breeding grounds, where people would gather to sip the caffeinated beverage and swap ideas and gather information. Though a far cry from the hip Starbucks stores we see cropping up worldwide, the first coffee houses shared the same function of bringing people together to talk about things that matter to them.

American Popularity

We all know the story of the infamous Boston Tea Party, but little do we realize the immediate implications- the American “coffee party”. When drinking the British staple of tea became an un-American thing to do, many patriots switched over to coffee as their hot beverage of choice- and haven’t looked back. Americans are one the largest consumers of coffee in the world, and spend billions of dollars on it each year.

Today, coffee is the target of much effort to increase fair trade among nations. Sound working conditions and fair wages can be hard to come by in agriculture-rich countries, and many American coffee companies are working hard to ensure that the slave labor that originally made coffee a cash crop will not continue in the decades to come.

Cultivation…and beyond

Cultivation and careful breeding of coffee plants has led to a rich variety of special blends and specialty coffees. At J. Martinez & Company, we supply coffee from all over the world, from the Blue Mountains of Jamaica to the Kona coffee of Hawaii. Though coffee has already drastically shaped the world economy and the way people live today, we hope to continue the tradition of coffee that is ethically sourced and cultivated to perfection.

For generations, the best way to wake up in the morning has been with a cup of coffee. The distinctive aroma, the jolt of energy and that unmistakable flavor are all part of what makes coffee the number one drink choice for many of us. There are many different ways to brew a great cup of coffee, but an increasingly popular choice is the French press.

The Perfect Temperature

Coffee enthusiasts yearn for that first sip every morning, but there is nothing worse than a cup of coffee that isn’t at the right temperature. Many traditional coffee brewing methods aren’t capable of heating the coffee to the optimal temperature—between 200 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. French press coffee, on the other hand, gives you complete control at which temperature your coffee is brewed and served. No longer will you have to make constant trips to the microwave to try and get your morning cup the perfect temperature.

Easy Clean Up

If there’s one thing that is a hassle about the drip method of fixing a cup of coffee, it’s the necessity of having filters. We’ve all been in that situation where we’re aching for a cup of coffee only to find out that the filters have run out, but French press coffee suffers from no such disadvantage. The filtering mechanism is built directly into the French press, meaning you can always have a cup exactly when you want it. Additionally, French press coffee eliminates the worry of filter aftertaste or stray pieces of paper winding up in your coffee and ruining your drink.

French Press Coffee Tastes Great

Coffee connoisseurs know one thing for certain: flavor is king. If you’re a true coffee devotee, then one of the worst things that can happen is being presented with a weak, watered downed cup. The reason so many French press owners can’t stop singing its praises is because the flavor never fails to deliver. The full bodied flavor that you’re supposed to get out of your coffee beans comes out in full force when you brew a cup using a French press. From the moment you take your first sip of French press coffee, you’ll wonder how you managed to live drinking any other kind.

Make the Switch

Everybody has their favorite type of drink, but there are no more committed beverage enthusiasts than coffee drinkers, with French press lovers being right at the top of the list for loyalty. If you’re considering switching from traditional brewing methods to a French press, then you need the right equipment, which you can find with us at Martinez Fine Coffees. Everything you need to brew the perfect cup of French press coffee, from beans to gear, we can provide. The more adventurous of our customers can subscribe to our coffee of the month club and find the perfect roast to go with their French press.

If there is anything most of us can relate to, it’s fighting sleep while waiting for coffee to finish brewing. Throughout our busy, twenty-first century lives, we find ourselves craving caffeine more and more. From Monday mornings to afternoon slumps, coffee is the perfect pick-me-up (but maybe we’re biased). At J. Martinez & Company, we have plenty of options for even the grouchiest non-morning person. If the caffeine itself isn’t enough to get you running to the nearest coffee shop, there are still plenty of reasons to start brewing. Not convinced? Here are our top reasons why you should always have a fresh pot of coffee on hand.

Variety

Even if you aren’t fond of black coffee, you can still enjoy a nice cup of joe in the morning (or any time after). We carry blends from all over the world, each with their own distinct flavor. Roasts can be light, medium or dark; if you are feeling a little more adventurous—or maybe just incredibly sleepy—you can try your coffee with espresso. If you are new coffee, additions like cinnamon, milk and sugar or artificial sweeteners can make a world of difference. Or, if you are trying to kick the caffeine habit, we have plenty of delicious decaf blends. No matter your preference, coffee has endless possibilities.

Comfort

During these wintry months, is there anything quite as soothing as a hot mug in your hands? We didn’t think so. What about the smell of fresh coffee beans? Or your favorite coffee shop? We believe that it’s the simple things in life that make us the happiest…and coffee first thing in the morning is definitely one of them. If you love coffee as much as we do, chances are the sound of a coffee machine can instantly lift your mood. Don’t take it for granted; just be sure to treat yourself on a bad day.

Benefits

Coffee has gotten a bit of a bad reputation when it comes to health. Myths about coffee, like how it can stunt your growth, often scare people from even ever giving any coffee shop a try. This is highly unfortunate because recent studies show that coffee can actually be good for you! Coffee happens to be packed with antioxidants that our bodies can easily absorb; it has also been found to prevent Parkinson’s, liver disease and skin cancer. Armed with that sort of medical knowledge, you can enjoy your coffee guilt-free.

Fancy a Cup of Tea?

If you’ve tried hundreds of times and still can’t get on board with the whole coffee thing, maybe you can give tea a try. Like coffee, tea has loads of health benefits—and there’s countless of teas to try! Check out our teas on sale…and maybe pick up some sweets to go with it.

Connoisseurs of medium roasted beans, which is the most popular type of roast in the United States, certain qualities become paler as the beans get darker. On the other hand, when the beans are lighter, these qualities become bolder. Therefore, it’ll probably be a good idea to make these beans a littler darker in order to soften the acidity. Other coffees, however, may not be very acidic, so making these beans lighter will allow you to keep all of the acidity these beans contain.

Roasting Is as Much of an Art as It Is a Science

Once you’ve decided on the color you want for the beans, you need to preheat the roaster somewhere between 400 and 500 degrees and pour the coffee beans in the top. Be sure to check the beans every few minutes or so to make certain they haven’t roasted past your desired level. When the beans are finally roasted, they are finally ready to be made into coffee.

When you go to your local coffee shop to order your usual latte, you probably don’t think much about the coffee roasting process. But behind the scenes of your favorite coffee drink, diligent artists, whose experience and skills make your morning much better, work very hard to make the perfect roast. Nevertheless, serving you the perfect cup of coffee every day is not an easy task, but to J. Martinez & Company, it is our passion.

Espresso was first developed by a coffee maker named Luigi Bezzara of Milan, Italy. In the early 20th century, Bezzara developed a means by which coffee could be made with steam pressure to speed up the process of making coffee, and producing it a cup at a time. Its name comes from the fact that Bezzara was making coffee “espressly” for a single person. The name combined the idea of speed with the concept of pressing the coffee.

This new method was fast and convenient, but unfortunately caused the coffee to have something of a burned taste due to the high temperatures and rapid brewing. By the 1940s, a man named Gaggia combined a piston-press system with spring levers to force water through the grounds but required less water while quickly brewing a single cup. The final product is thick, almost syrupy and exceptionally rich in flavor. This resulting brew, first created in 1947, is what we now know as modern espresso.

There are a wide variety of coffees that can be used to make espresso. Indeed, just about any kind of coffee can be made in the style of an espresso drink. All that is required is the right ground, the right brewing method and the right amount of water. In general, you want about seven grams of grounds per ounce of coffee. Most “espresso blends” are in fact a mixture of several different kinds of coffee ranging from dark to light roasts—the lighter the roast, the higher the caffeine content.

Over the years, a culture has built up all over the world around coffeehouses, with everyone from authors to game players to university students, artists and the cultural elite have gathered in these places to share home, hearth and conversation. Coffee has become a major element in not just our daily lives, but in how we enjoy each other and exchange information. Since the 1990s there has been an explosion of cafes across the United States, with it becoming easy-to-find a chain or independent café just about anywhere.

Today’s generations view cafes as a “third place” between work and home, where they both socialize, people-watch and get business done. Even more are taking the experience home by joining coffee-of-the-month clubs and seeking ever better blends and equipment to make that perfect cup of Joe in their own house.

One thing is certain: coffee is a part of our lives and is here to stay. If you would like to explore the best in specialty coffee, look at our coffee of the month club offerings, and get in touch with us for more information today!

The holiday season is in full swing, and with it comes the frenzied effort to buy the perfect gift for all of your loved ones, friends and family. Every year it seems that there’s at least one person for whom you’ve no idea what to buy. What do you get the Grinch who wants nothing and seems to have everything? Why not get them coffee? Coffee as a gift is the perfect way to grow the heart of any Grinch three sizes too big, and here are four reasons why!

Even in the warmer U.S. climes, it seems that there’s a chill in the air over the holidays. These are the days when it’s a perfect time to curl up in front of the fireplace with a good book and a hot drink, and there are few better hot drinks than coffee. Holding the mug close warms your hands and body and each sip is a comforting exhilaration. There’s no better way to relax than with a good cup of Joe.

Let’s be honest: most people drink coffee for the caffeine as much as for the taste. Coffee is an excellent way to get you ready and rearing to go for your day ahead, and a good cup of gourmet coffee does it so much better than those mass-market brands. The aroma alone helps you to wake up and get ready to face work, play and errands. Start the day off right with a great cup of coffee!

Talking of the aroma, there’s something about the scent of coffee that just speaks of hearth and home. For those who are just setting up in a new home or need a reminder of how home smells and feels, there’s nothing like a great pot of coffee brewing. As the scent filters through the air, it carries with it a feeling of comfort, serenity and joy. Scent is one of the most powerful senses connected to memory and who doesn’t have great memories of a fine morning with the aroma of coffee in the air?

Gift giving is about sharing, and coffee is a great way to offer that spirit of sharing and giving. How often do you give coffee as a gift and the first thing your friend does is brew up a pot to share with you? Coffee is part of a tradition and culture of sharing—not just of the drink itself, but of memories, of stories, of joy and sorrow and life’s general experiences.

If you’re still thinking about what to get that Grinch in your life that can cheer them up and make the holidays a warm and loving experience, look no further than a gift of fine gourmet coffee. J. Martinez & Company offers the finest in Jamaican coffees. Check out our gift options and get your loved one a coffee gift today!

Benefits of Espresso

Many people try to avoid coffee due to the caffeine it contains. The truth is, however, that in moderation coffee in general and espresso in particular carry many health benefits. Espresso is full of antioxidants which help to boost the potency of your immune system and help you to stay healthy and strong, as well as providing a strong defense against heart disease, cirrhosis and even cancer.

Many people don’t realize that espresso actually has less caffeine in it than your regular cup of coffee. In general, the darker the roast, the less caffeine it contains. It still has a powerful wake-up effect, however, and its aroma and flavor can be a great and comforting way to start off any day with class and serenity.

Recent studies have indicated that those who drank between 5 to 6 cups of coffee every day saw their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes drop by nearly 55 percent in men and 30 percent in women. Since diabetes is reaching epidemic levels in our society, there’s few better reasons to drink coffee than to reduce your risk of this chronic illness!

Men who drink coffee also have a greatly reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease and heart disease! Research indicates that men who drink up to five cups of coffee every day have half the risk of Parkinson’s as others, and the more coffee a person drinks, the less likely they are to develop heart disease.

As if the health benefits of espresso were not enough, the coffeehouse culture represents a tradition of sharing and camaraderie that in many ways is everything the holidays are all about. Take some time out to sit down with your sibling or best friend and enjoy a cup of espresso together. Talk about the events of your day, about what’s exciting in your life, or reach out to ask for or offer support in difficult times.

The holiday season is all about coming together and sharing joy, love and support in good times and bad, and the coffeehouse culture can be part and parcel of that tradition. Espresso is not just healthy, it’s delicious and carries a sense of warmth, comfort and togetherness for the best of times and the worst of times.

If you are wondering what to get to offer your loved ones a perfect holiday gift, why not consider a premium espresso package from J. Martinez & Company? Since 1988 we have been offering the best in coffee. Check out our range of gift selections and contact us for more information today!

If anyone understands the struggles of your life, it is your coworkers. You all come in to the same place, every day, have similar workloads and have to deal with the same (annoying) problems. The life of a nine-to-five can quickly wear anyone down, which is why the need for a pick-me-up every so often is an absolute necessity. To spread the cheer at your office this holiday season, here are a few reasons why you should give your coworkers the best pick-me-up gift around: espresso.

Is there a need to say anything more? Typically, one ounce of espresso has 64 milligrams of caffeine. There is no need to drink an inordinate amount of this beverage to get that ‘zing’ you need from caffeine. Productivity in the office will skyrocket after everyone has enjoyed their espresso. Even if one of your coworkers cannot have caffeine, there are decaffeinated versions of espresso that they can enjoy, so they do not have to miss out on the pick-me-up fun.

Many shy away from espresso because they are afraid they would not like it, thinking that it is too strong or bitter. While espresso can have a bitter taste to it, not all espressos are made the same. In fact, the way that espresso is “pulled” can have a great effect on its flavor. These flavors can range from bitter to rich, full, sweet and so much more. This is why espresso is the best pick-me-up gift you can buy for your coworkers, because there is a little bit of something there for everyone.

Of course, you don’t have to drink the espresso shots straight, though some may prefer to do so. There are so many drinks you can make with espresso, it’s insane. Brush up on your barista skills and learn how to make these drinks so that your office break room can be turned into an in-house café. What could possibly pick coworkers up more than having a delicious array of hot beverages adjacent to their desk?

Lattes and cappuccinos are similar, except lattes are made with more steamed milk, as opposed to frothed milk. Café lattes have a great coffee-flavor to them, but by incorporating different syrups, you can create your own flavored drinks. Americanos are simply shots of espresso and hot water. However, the key ingredient to all of these fun and flavorful drinks is the best espresso beans, which is what makes them such a great gift. It’s really like giving a lot of gifts in one.

If your coworkers are like mostly everyone else, they value the little time they get to sleep at night. By giving your coworkers espresso to enjoy at home, they can skip their daily trip to the local coffee house, allowing for them to sleep-in leave for work later. The best pick-me-up gift can be enjoyed from the comfort of their home, in their pajamas, before they have to brave the world of work for another day.

Do you want to give your fellow coworkers the best pick-me-up gift? Of course you do! Stop by our online shop today to view our selection of espresso beans and espresso machines.

While traveling can be an exciting experience, it can also be costly and time consuming. If you want to travel, but just can’t at this point in your life, have no fear, for coffee is here. Coffee comes from all over the world, and can add new elements of culture to your home, straight from the cup. Depending on what region of the world the beans hail from, the cultures of coffee can vary and give you that vacation experience you are looking for.

According to the Global Exchange, more than 12 billion pounds of coffee are consumed across the world annually. Coffee is a great export for many countries in every region. Each blend of international coffee has its own flavor, highlighting delicate ingredients that are true to the country’s culture.

Coffee beans from Jamaica typically have fruity undertones that will place you right on the beautiful beaches of their shores. Like Hawaii’s diverse landscapes, their beans have a complex flavor that will fill your cup with a savory coffee, reminding you of their deep and rich history.

Sumatra coffees are loved by those who enjoy a dark, full-bodied blend. Thanks to hundreds of years of perfection in the rich fields of South Asia, this blend of coffee is the perfect combination of smooth flavors with an amazing aroma and low acidity.

Coffee from Kenya has a slightly tangy undertone, which is distinctive. And because South America has landscapes from shores to mountains and everything in between, the flavors of their coffee beans can vary. By exploring these different regions through your coffee cup, you could find a blend that you love, and feel like you are connected to that part of the world.

Change-Up Your Cup O’ Joe

The cultures of coffee can help you take your vacation-like experience a step further. You could prepare and drink your coffee that same way that coffees are enjoyed all over the world. If you’re like most Americans, you overload your coffee with different flavors and creams, but in other cultures, they drink their coffee in more innovative and genuine ways.

In Brazil, coffee is made my mixing fine grounds with hot water and sugar. It is then strained through a filter before it is enjoyed. During those unbearably hot days in Vietnam, they prefer to brew concentrated coffee over condensed milk and then pour it over ice. The condensed milk cools and sweetens the coffee before it hits the ice. It’s a refreshing alternative to American iced coffee.

Italy is famous for their espresso. Experimenting with steam and frothed milk, cappuccinos and lattes are popular in this part of the world. However, unlike Americans, Italians do not prefer to have coffee after a large meal, according to travel writer Lee Marshall. For a bitter taste, you can drink your coffee like they do in Kenya. They prepare coffee in brass kettles over a charcoal stove. It fills the cup with a strong, dense and extra-bold drink. By looking at these different ways to prepare coffee, you would feel immersed in other cultures during your morning pick-me-up.

Are you ready to start your vacation in a cup? If so, stop by our online store to view our collection of coffees that we offer. We have coffees from all over the world, so we are sure that you would find something that you would love.

According to USA Today, more than 83 percent of American adults drink coffee on a regular basis. With those kinds of numbers, it is safe to say that most of your employees probably drink, and enjoy drinking, coffee. With the gifting season coming up, you should consider giving them coffee. What for, you ask? Here are a few reasons why gourmet coffee is considered to be one of the best seasonal gifts you can give your employees this upcoming holiday season.

Especially if the coffee is caffeinated, it can help boost office morale. If your office is like most, things can seem to move a little more slowly after lunch. Everyone has full stomachs, and their morning boost of caffeine has worn off. This afternoon-effect can be that much worse during the holiday season, when employees are daydreaming about their plans for the upcoming holidays.

By introducing gourmet coffee to the office, you can eliminate the “afternoon sleepies” with delicious coffee. Not only will it give everyone a little boost to get through the rest of the work day, they probably will appreciate you for thinking of them.

The best seasonal gifts are those that are not only thoughtful but useful as well. Coffee is at the top of that list. It shows your employees that you took the time out of your busy, end-of-the-year schedule to get them a gift, and they will actually use it too. With gifts like coffee sets, you can push this thoughtfulness into a whole new realm. Your office can enjoy comparing the different kinds of coffee, which can help build better bonds among you and your employees.

No matter what the season or the temperature outside, coffee is great year-round. However, with that being said, coffee is especially great during those brisk, winter mornings. Your employees will enjoy warming up with a cup of rich, full-bodied coffee during those days when they can’t seem to shake off the chill from the air. Even if you are looking to give your employees a gift in the off-season, coffee is still a great choice, because chances are, they drink it every day of the year.

If there is someone new to the office, or there is an employee you haven’t quite figured out yet, giving them gourmet coffee as a gift is a no-brainer. Even when you don’t know what kind of roast they like, you can still get them a gift certificate. This is what makes coffee one of the best seasonal gifts, because you can never go wrong or have to worry about leaving anyone out during the holiday season.

Do you want to give your employees one of the best seasonal gifts this year? If so, visit our website at J. Martinez and Company to learn more about our gourmet coffee gift options.

Who doesn’t love coffee? It’s safe to say that most business men and women enjoy coffee, which makes giving it as a gift not only smart but also thoughtful. Usually comprised of different bags of gourmet coffee, these gift sets are a great way to give someone a gift they will actually use and enjoy. And chances are, your office runs on coffee, which is why these sets should be at the top of your list of corporate gift ideas.

Different thermoses can be used to hold a number of beverages, such as coffee, tea, water and much more. If the person you’re giving a gift to is an avid tea drinker, for instance, you could give them a tea infuser. It is a special thermos that infuses loose leaf tea, all while keeping their drink piping hot.

Most service or product-based businesses offer gift certificates of some sort. They are a convenient gift to give when you aren’t exactly sure what the recipient likes. For instance, coffee gift certificates are great when you don’t know if that someone prefers light or dark roasted coffee. It’ll take the guessing game out of gift giving, without sacrificing your ability to extend a thoughtful gesture.

If you’re stumped when it comes to thinking of corporate gift ideas, consider having personalized office supplies made. These supplies can vary from paperweights to pens, plain coffee cups and more. By personalizing these gifts with a name or special date, you can turn a once-stale present into something meaningful.

t’s the gift that keeps on giving, as the gift recipient can enjoy your present year-round. There are several variations on “of the month” clubs, but you will want to give them something they can enjoy (after all, they will be receiving more of it every month). Take the person’s interests into consideration, but also think of your fail-safes like coffee, because remember, who doesn’t love coffee?

Somewhat similar to the coffee gift set, you can give someone a gift basket. These can either be bought whole, or you can build them yourself. “Movie Night” baskets are popular now, which include a few DVDs, bags of popcorn and movie theater-sized boxes of candy. Or you can opt for something like an “Italian Dinner in a Basket” or a “Tea and Biscuits Basket,” including the appropriate components of such.

If these corporate gift ideas have you ready to gear-up for the holiday season, please visit our website, at J. Martinez and Company to learn more about our gourmet coffee gift options.]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2015 18:09:52 +0000 https://www.martinezfinecoffees.com/blog/coffee-of-the-month/

The season of giving is upon us, and with it, the hunt for the perfect gift for family and friends begins. Make your life easier this holiday season by giving the coffee lovers on your list a J. Martinez & Company Coffee of the Month Membership. It makes an excellent gift for someone you wish to introduce to the gourmet coffee experience as well. Both coffee novices and connoisseurs are sure to enjoy this gift that they can savor not only for the holidays but all throughout the year.

Every month for one whole year, your gift recipient will get a chance to sample our entire gourmet coffee selection (except for Jamaica Blue Mountain). Monthly shipments of three and a half pounds of freshly roasted coffee will arrive regularly on their doorstep, ready to be ground and brewed according to their taste. We offer a choice of medium, dark or French roast.

In lieu of the Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee variety, members of the Deluxe Coffee of the Month Club will receive a shipment of the Jamaica High Mountain Supreme coffee from the Baronhall Estate.

Members receive the same amount of gourmet specialty coffee each month, including the exclusive Blue Mountain coffee from the Wallenford Estate. Included in your recipient’s coffee experience is a shipment of 100 percent pure Hawaiian Kona Extra Fancy coffee from the Honaunau Estates. This Hawaii Kona coffee is a much sought-after variety that is guaranteed to please your recipient with its rich, bold flavor and surprisingly smooth texture.

You won’t go wrong when you give a friend or family member a J. Martinez Coffee of the Month membership as a holiday gift. Our estate coffee comes from some of the finest and most exclusive coffee plantations in the world. Monthly shipments of our different coffee varieties are sure to delight and enchant your recipients throughout the year.

Membership to our gourmet coffee club makes a wonderful corporate gift as well. Show a special supplier or client that you appreciate the professional relationship that you have with them with a gift that they can enjoy for more than just one day. It’s a great way to keep your company and business at the top of their mind for the next 365 days.

Here at J. Martinez & Company, we make coffee drinking and holiday gift-giving a pleasurable experience. Give our Coffee of the Month Club as a gift this holiday season and stressful holiday shopping days will become nothing more than a distant memory.

This weekend I took some freshly roasted Yemen Mattari home to brew in my Saeco superautomatic espresso coffee maker. While the Saeco is not as nearly as good as the Franke Evolution we still have in the back (until Kevin Rathbun gets his newest restaurant open in Garden Hills), it does an excellent job for a home machine.

The Yemen Mattari brewed up beautifully with a nice crema. The flavor profile was similar to the Yemen when brewed in a drip maker with distinct notes of dark fruit and some herbal notes that give it a kind of wild flavor. The espresso method muted the fruit slightly, which, in my opinion, made it a better espresso than if the fruit had been too forward. I detected a bit of chocolate that I had not gotten in the drip method. Overall it was a rich cup of espresso.

Each 70 kg bag of Yemeni coffee we have brews up a bit differently which is not surprising since the coffee comes from so many farms. The overall profile of the beans has been consistent but interestingly this particular bag the dark fruit comes out as a blueberry taste. Not something I have noted in many other coffees. It sounds odd so I have resisted mentioned the fruit I get, but it makes this coffee quite good. I have been reluctant to name the fruit since blueberry may sound off-putting to some, but nevertheless it makes for an excellent coffee.

What do you think?

Coffee originated in the Kaffa region of Ethiopia, which was once its own Kingdom from 1390 up until the late 19th Century. This area in southwest Ethiopia is mountainous and fertile. There are still wild coffee trees to be found there in the forests. Yirgacheffe, or Irgachefe, is located just to the southeast of the historic Jaffa region.

Ethiopia has a coffee ceremony that dates back hundreds of years. It is a ritualized form of preparing and serving coffee, which starts with the roasting of the beans and continues typically through three servings of coffee, each serving having a name - awel in Tigrinya, the second kale'i and the third bereka ('to be blessed').

But upon return to the States, a bottle of that inexpensive wine tasted, well, inexpensive. In fact, you might have dumped it out. You are hopefully getting the picture we will paint here for you:

Cowboy coffee is relatively easy to make. Boil water. Add grounds. Stir gently. Let it brew for about 5 minutes. Pour yourself a nice hot cup of coffee, gently, so that as few grounds as possible get in your cup.

We suggest the following environmental additions to ensure your cup is passably drinkable. Find a scenic location, preferably with crisp, cool, if not cold, mornings. If you are very far from the Rocky Mountains, try the Appalachian or even the Poconos. Make sure you boil the water on a campfire. Use beat up camping pots for brewing to lower taste expectations and add authenticity. Horses in the background are especially helpful. Additional advice for finer brewing include brewing the coffee the morning after a 25 mile hike, drinking it after a cold plunge in the nearest spring-fed stream, or having it served to you while you are still in your sleeping bag by your gorgeous companion.

How do you make coffee?

The key ingredients here are equipment, water, and coffee. High quality water and coffee are key. It’s possible to make a good cup of coffee with an inexpensive drip maker, but poor quality water or coffee will spoil your results even if you have the most expensive equipment.

Drip coffee makers can be inexpensive, and the simplest way to make a good cup of coffee (there are simpler ways to make coffee, but not as good). Drip makers range from a filter holder that sits above a pot or your cup, to coffee makers that heat water and automatically send the water over the grounds and into a coffee pot. Both these types of brewers generally use paper filters, though re-useable gold filters are available for some types of coffee-makers.

Ideally your drip maker should get the water temperature to between 195° and 205° Fahrenheit. The drawback to some of the automatic drip makers in that they do not consistently reach the proper temperature for ideal brewing.

Generally just follow the instructions that came with your brewer. Here are some other tips that might not be included:

• Use a medium grind for the coffee unless the filter is a Melitta cone, then use a medium-fine grind.


• Wet the paper filter before using.


• Place about ¼ ounce (1 rounded tablespoon) of ground coffee per 6 ounce cup in the filter. Vary this according to personal taste.


• If your automatic drip brewer has a heating element to keep the pot warm, don’t leave the coffee on it too long (more than 10 minutes or so). Otherwise you will “cook” the coffee.

The best drip makers use a thermal insulated carafe that keeps the coffee warm once brewed.

We tend to rotate through most of the coffees over time, but we do drink a lot of Private Selection Break Blend and After Dinner Blend. Choosing the best coffee is like choosing the best wine, it just depends on a lot of personal factors.

Oh, and we brew almost all our coffee in a drip maker (Bunn - commercial version)

Store coffee in an airtight container away from light. Use your own plastic container or one of our Fido glass jars.

Ground coffee is good for a week or so, but would not keep it too much longer. Roasted whole beans can last up to a month or so, but in both cases, the closer to roasting date, the better.

Storing coffee in the freezer or refrigerator is not generally a good idea as coffee is hygroscopic and absorbs moisture and odors.