What's Brewing

As any other form of art, latte art requires skill, technique, and an abundance of creativity. Baristas across the world work hard to perfect designs and even come up with new ones. There are barista academies throughout the world preparing a whole workforce of talented coffee makers with steady hands and a creative mind. But as practice makes perfect, here are some basic things you need to know in order to start creating your own latte art at home.  Understanding Density The media for this art form are espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk. The base is built with the...

"No one has gone poor by giving." - Anne Frank.    Coffee parties are some of the most enjoyable and easygoing types of gatherings, now imagine creating a positive impact in your community by raising funds through a coffee party. It may sound ambitious, but here are some simple and practical ideas on how to make this a reality.  The Party   The beauty of coffee parties is that they can remain intimate even if you invite a large crowd. Given that the goal is to raise funds, invite plenty! You could “charge” people to come, with them knowing that...

  Farm life has been taking over Instagram. There's plenty of successful accounts depicting the beauty and peace of life in the countryside. Many of these accounts use the platform to promote their own products or even use social media accounts as another cow to be milked as they are equally if not more profitable.  Industrial coffee plantations are factory looking buildings often disrupting the flora surrounding them (except for this industrial beauty I found in Brazil), but the small farms we work with are family homes filled with charm and comfort.  Clay From architecture to pottery, clay is a...

They say that if the coffee is good, you can drink it black. This testament to black coffee is tested daily at coffee farms, where tinto is the coffee of choice. It’s meant to be done with the cheaper low quality beans, but coming from farmers who take pride in every bean, their lowest quality bean is not too bad. The grounded beans are heated in a pot with water and later filtered through a piece of cloth. As simple as that. Sometimes, cinnamon and cloves can be added to the pan for an extra kick and panela (sugar cane...

Life is good, isn’t it? And it is the small thoughtful details that make it good. Here are some pillars and small habits that raise the quality of a coffee farmer’s life and can do as much good to yours.  Follow the natural rhythm of the day There's a pride in being hardworking and dedicated. We praise people willing to stay up at night and burn the late night candle in an attempt to be prolific. While there is merit to this, as a habit, staying up working until late hours is more likely going to have a negative impact...

Picture this, you wake up after a Christmas Eve celebration. There is the joy and cheer of Christmas all around but you are probably tired and moving slowly. It is in between last night’s party and the party to come. Christmas morning is that cherished unique pocket in time and here are some tips to make it the best time for you and your loved ones.  The Coffee Clearly the drink of choice given that you may need the caffeine to keep up with the energy level due to the celebration, but you may also need all the help one...