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I’m really excited to share this blog with you all today because you are about to meet some of the fine individuals that shaped my own coffee journey. These are some of the places where I get my information and some of the voices that have guided me into a deeper understanding of coffee. We all need role models in our lives, people who have the coffee knowledge and experience to help us toward our aims.

Despite the double entendre that may have flashed across your mind when you read that title, today we are talking about coffee cups. Does it matter what size cup you use? Do you need to think about cup choice? The answer is yes to both, and you may be surprised how much can be involved in proper cup selection. First Things First The most obvious point about cup size is that it will determine the amount of coffee grounds you will use.

At a recent lecture I attended, it was stated that “specialty coffee” (you know—the really good stuff) has barely penetrated three major coffee consumer markets: military, medical, and education. In these three high-functioning and relentless professions, “hot and caffeinated” is often the primary concern over “nuance, origin, and flavor profile.” Having worked in education for 30 years, I remember the mantra that Sunday coffee was recreational, but weekday coffee was medicinal. True. I also remember saying one early Monday morning that I was 20 cups of coffee away from the ...

The flavored coffee industry as we know it is said to have begun in 1958 with flavored instant coffee. How many of you remember that small rectangular can of General Foods International Coffee? These were instant, add-to-hot water concoctions with names like Swiss Mocha, French Vanilla Café, Café Vienna, Irish Mocha Mint, and the first time I tasted it (as a kid) I loved it. It was like a sophisticated Hot Chocolate. It was 1975 and I was hooked. Now if we are to be true to the topic ...

While I have learned to enjoy black coffee tremendously and have discovered that the better-quality coffees of the world lend themselves well to being consumed black, I still like lattes, café au laits, and cortados. When I first met coffee as a child, the goal was to create “candy in a cup” and cream and sugar were the only reason we drank coffee.

I must confess, I do not own a Keurig nor a Nespresso machine. I have used pod systems in hotel rooms, Airbnb’s, and have been offered K-cups in the waiting room of my tire center. I am asked almost daily what I think about K-cups and if we make them for our coffee at Greenwell Farms. We do not. However, I recently read that 33 million households in the United States get their coffee from a single-serve machine every day and many people ask me if it is possible to ...

Let us take a summer break from pursuing the perfect cup of coffee and look at a couple of nifty ways to include your favorite coffee in recipes for the BBQ grill. If you are a vegetarian, I apologize in advance, you might be able to adapt these to meat substitutes, but for today we are talking about chicken, beef, and pork. Using coffee in cooking has a very interesting effect. Mostly, it will add an earthiness to the food. When combined with sugars, it will bring out hints of ...

It is December 16th, 1773, at Griffin’s Wharf in Boston. American colonists will no longer tolerate British taxation on goods to the colonies to help the indebted U.K. The Stamp Act of 1765, the Townshend Act of 1767, and finally the Tea Act of 1773 were more than the colonists could bear and in an act of major protest, colonists (The Sons of Liberty) dumped 342 chests of tea (about 90,000 pounds) into the Boston Harbor. What did they drink the next morning?

Tom Greenwell Recognized with Lifetime Achievement Award  Greenwell Farms CEO Tom Greenwell and fellow coffee pioneer David Gridley were honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards at The Hawaii Coffee Association’s 27th Annual Conference by Kaiali’i Kahele and the US House of Representatives.  “You are vital to the economy of Hawaii. You are vital to preserving and protecting our rural Hawaii landscapes. You are a significant part of the mosaic that makes Hawaii so special. You have created a five-star coffee Hawaii coffee brand and allure that brings people from all over ...

Fourth of July is just around the corner and we have the privilege of experiencing red, white and blue daily at Greenwell Farms because these hues bring 100% Kona Coffee to our customers all year long. Vibrant red coffee cherries are hand-picked at peak freshness, white clouds bring afternoon shade to the Kona Coffee belt and blissful blue waves crash beneath the farm’s 1,150-2,800 ft. elevation–all converging to create the makings of the perfect brew. Of course, we’re also partial to green.

If you have ever been told by your doctor it’s time to stop consuming caffeine, but you still love coffee, please don’t despair. Modern technology can bring you a great-tasting decaffeinated cup of Joe that won’t introduce other harmful chemicals to your body. Here is a simple and practical blog to help you understand the complexities of decaffeination in a non-technical way. Let’s start with the three methods used to decaffeinate coffee. Solvents Ludwig Roselius, a German businessman, is most often credited with creating the first decaf coffee around 1906.

In a recent lecture I attended, it was explained that the United States “At Home” coffee industry was worth 17 billion dollars annually. Of that, only one billion were sold as whole beans. Of the 16 billion sold pre-ground, half of that was sold in individual pods. (Nespresso, K-cup, Pete’s, etc.) For those of us who work in or enjoy “Specialty Coffee”, who have taken the time to learn to make a perfect cup and enjoy the best coffees the world has to offer, these numbers are shocking, but upon ...

This Father’s Day, skip the tie and get him something he’s sure to enjoy with our curated list of 100% Kona Coffee brews for every type of man in your life!  For the Dad Who’s Extra Special: Greenwell’s Private Reserve Our 100% Kona Coffee Private Reserve is the one that started it all and makes a wonderful gift for the man who’s as special as this flagship roast. Exceptionally balanced in flavor, this brew is pleasingly aromatic with a silky-smooth finish.

Month to month we have been on a journey to discover the joys of coffee and the intricacies of getting the most from our magic beans. I hope we have shared (virtually) in different times and places the soothing aroma of a perfect cup of coffee and have learned to appreciate the nuances of the cup. While I personally enjoy my coffee simply black or with the occasional splash of milk, there is a “theme” in the coffee world that connects well with our Mother’s Day related topic today.

Being a big fan of desserts, with a wife who is a professional baker, I have the luck of being able to try many different types of sweets throughout the year. Yet upon reflection, I have come to believe that there are three dessert staples every home chef needs to have in their repertoire. One of course is a basic apple pie. The other, a perfect spiced pumpkin pie, and finally, for special occasions, a stunning tiramisu.