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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where do your coffee beans come from?
2. What does Fair Trade mean?
3. Why aren't all of your coffees Fair Trade certified?
4. What is the best coffee for me?
5. How long will my coffee last?
6. How should I store my coffee?
7. How much coffee should I use when I brew a pot?
8. Why do your coffee beans have oil on them?
9. Is it worth it for me to grind my own beans?
Where do your coffee beans come from?
1. Our coffee beans come from 18 different countries. We have coffee from North, Central, and South America, Africa, and Asia.
What does Fair Trade mean?
2. A Transfair USA certified product, whether it be coffee, fruit, or any other good comes with the guarantee that all parties involved in the trade of that good are treated fairly. Transfair USA states "Fair Trade empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace. By guaranteeing minimum floor prices and social premiums, Fair Trade enables producers to invest in their farms and communities and protect the environment." A wealth of information can be found on their website: www.transfairusa.org
Why aren't all of your coffees Fair Trade certified?
3. We have established direct relationships with some coffee farms that are not certified by Transfair USA. We pay these farmers above market prices for their coffee and refer to the relationship as "Farmer Friendly". Other coffees that we enjoy are estate coffees and by Transfair's rules on certifying coffee co-ops, estates may not be certified.
What is the best coffee for me?
4. If you haven't seen our "How to Select Your Roast" section of our website you should check that out for some helpful information. If you've been there, and didn't find your answer, then the best advice we can give is to contact us and we can try and talk you through the selection process.
How long will my coffee last?
5. Our coffee is roasted when you order it, so it lasts must longer than the stuff you find on the grocery store shelf. Coffee beans last for 2-3 weeks, and ground coffee lasts for 7-10 days. These numbers are based on the coffees freshest taste. You may find that the coffee tastes great for a longer amount of time. (See our advice on proper storage as well).
How should I store my coffee?
6. Coffee should never be kept in the refrigerator. The moisture and condensation will be bad for the flavor. Coffee can be kept in an airtight container in the freezer, but once opened, it should not be re-frozen. Our coffee bags have a one-way air valve on the front. This valve lets air out of the bag but not in. As you use the coffee beans or grounds you can keep the coffee in the cupboard as is, or you may decide to pour it into a different airtight container. We recommend a glass container. (See FAQ number 5 for information on how long the coffee stays it's freshest).
How much coffee should I use when I brew a pot?
7. Our advice is to use the amount recommended by the manufacturer of your coffee brewing machine. If that information is not available a good benchmark is 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per cup of brewed coffee. If that turns out to be too dark or too light for your taste, change the amount of coffee you use to find the perfect amount.
Why do your coffee beans have oil on them?
8. When roasting coffee beans, water in the beans breaks open cells and allows for oil to rise to the surface. This oil is known as the "coffee essence" and most of the flavor comes from this essence. Coffee beans that do not have visible oil have either not been roasted to that stage or have been sitting long enough for the oil to evaporate. All of our coffee beans have at least a small amount of oil on them and the darker the coffee the more oils they will have.
Is it worth it for me to grind my own beans?
9. Grinding your own coffee beans is desirable for two main reasons. (1) The coffee will last longer in whole bean form than ground form. (2) Grinding right before you brew allows for the freshest flavor.
When you purchase a pound of ground coffee from us, we will grind the beans per your order and then seal the bag to keep it as fresh as possible.
Some of the downsides to grinding your own coffee include the extra time due to grinding, clean up, and the noise of the grinder first thing in the morning. We've been told stories of how grinding the beans helps people wake up and even acts as an alarm clock for one couple. So it's really up to you if you want to grind your own beans or not. We won't make fun of you because you don't like the noise, promise.
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