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Lifestyle, Social, The Buzz

Celebrate with Irish Coffee

March 16, 2015
coffee_cargo_irish_coffee

Saint Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, meaning it’s time to find that old green shirt you wear once a year to avoid getting pinched. There’s a variety of ways to celebrate the Irish holiday, but of course our favorite revolves around coffee — Irish coffee that is.

For those of you not entirely familiar with the cocktail, here’s the classic recipe.

Simply put, it’s a delicious mixture of freshly brewed coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and cream. The story behind Irish coffee dates back to 1942, when a new chef at the restaurant Joseph Sheridan, decided to show some Irish hospitality to Americans arriving by boat in the cold winter months. It was common in Ireland to put a little whiskey in tea to keep warm, but knowing American’s affinity for coffee, it dawned on the chef to mix coffee and whiskey instead, and thus Irish coffee was born.

Ten years later the Buena Vista restaurant in San Francisco decided to recreate the Irish classic, but it was no easy task. It took several attempts to finally become satisfied with their American version of Irish coffee, but the persistence was well worth it. Currently, the restaurant serves about 2,000 Irish coffees daily.

Today Irish coffee is fairly well known in America, so naturally, restaurants and Irish coffee enthusiasts alike have created their own twists on the signature beverage. Some people use espresso instead of coffee. Be warned, this might overpower the smooth taste of the Irish whiskey but we’ll let you be the judge.

Other alterations include adding small amounts cinnamon and nutmeg, for simple-yet-flavorful touch. Another suggestion is to add chocolate ice cream and chocolate fudge for a decadent sweet treat.

No matter which flavors you choose to emphasize in your cup of Irish joe, be sure to use premium coffee blends for the base of the drink. Our quality k-cups are the perfect ingredient for your Irish coffee endeavors, and they’ll be delivered to your doorstep hassle free. Happy brewing, and Happy St. Patty’s Day!

 

Lifestyle, The Buzz

Heart Health and Coffee Today

February 27, 2015
National Heart Month

The relationship between American’s and their coffee is a cherished one, full of unconditional love — that is until you catch wind of one rumor or another about coffee being detrimental to your heart health. Don’t throw your coffee beans in the compost just yet, in honor of National Heart Month we’ll set the record straight about your heart on coffee.

Coffee Research

In years past, coffee got a bad reputation for being the cause of negative effects on the heart. Coffee was blamed for increased blood pressure, increased cholesterol levels, increased risk of heart attacks, and cardiac arrhythmias. Yikes.

Thankfully, professionals–probably coffee lovers like the rest of us–couldn’t accept those accusations against coffee, and the research continued.

Today, further research indicates coffee might not increase the risk of heart disease, but  actually reduces it. The previous research didn’t account for lifestyle factors such as smoking and lack of exercise.

In addition to the new cardiovascular research encouraging coffee consumption, experts are also praising java for boosting memory and even helping to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Cancer Research also recently published a study saying that coffee can reduce risk of basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer, so drink up!

Additives

Be mindful of coffee compliments such as cream, sugar, and artificial sweeteners that have their own slew of side effects. Non-dairy creamers such as the powdered, flavored selections often contain chemicals, dairy by-products, hydrogenated oil, and other heart healthy villains. Instead try a natural, gluten-free, cholesterol-free, vegan–but still tasty–option like MimicCream, a bottled almond milk creamer.

Regardless of the additives, like most foods and beverages, coffee is recommended to be enjoyed in moderation.

Now you can rest easy knowing your heart can still be healthy and full of love for coffee. Celebrate the good news and indulge yourself in an artisan cup of java by ordering our premium k-cups to be delivered directly to your doorstep.

Lifestyle, The Buzz

Oscar Buzz with Coffee Cargo

February 23, 2015
Oscar_Buzz

As you and your co-workers gather around the communal pot of coffee in the office this morning, it’s very likely there will be quite a bit of Oscar buzz from last night’s awards show. Don’t worry if you didn’t tune in all the glitz and glam — here’s everything you need to know to sound like an Academy Awards expert over your morning cup of joe. 

The Big Winners

Best Picture: Birdman

Best Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu — Birdman

Best Actor: Eddie Redmayne — The Theory of Everything

Best Actress: Julianne Moore — Still Alice

Find the complete list of winners here. 

Noteworthy Speeches

J.K. Simmons kicked-off the memorable acceptance speeches when receiving his oscar for best supporting actor. He emotionally urged viewers to “call your mom, call your dad. If you’re lucky enough to have a parent or two alive on this planet, call ‘em. Don’t text. Don’t email. Call them on the phone.”

Another powerful message came during Patricia Arquette’s acceptance speech for best supporting actress. She passionately called for equal rights and equal pay for women in the United States. The crowd’s response was compelling and encouraging.

The Red Carpet

For some people, the allure of watching the Academy Awards happens before the show, on the red carpet. Some of the best dressed hollywood starlets noted this year included Jennifer Aniston, Rosamund Pike, Lupita Nyong’o, and Dakota Johnson. Though Johnson may have looked regal in a simple-yet-stunning Saint Laurent dress, her behavior was anything but. In a joint red carpet interview with her mother, Johnson couldn’t contain a few errant adolescent comments brought on by frustration with her mom. Clint Eastwood also created red carpet excitement by attending the event with his mysterious new girlfriend Christina Sandera.

Next time your favorite award show comes around, be sure to enjoy the event over a premium cup of coffee from Coffee Cargo. Not only will you be indulging in artisan coffee like the stars, you’ll get an extra boost of caffeine to keep you alert through all the excitement of the buzz-worthy occasion.

Lifestyle, The Buzz

Top 5 Coffee Shops In The US That Aren’t Starbucks

February 18, 2015
Top 5 Coffee Shops

There’s a rare breed of coffee connoisseurs out there who prefer to drink their coffee out of ceramic mugs, absorb the cafe experience, and connect with the journey of their java. If this sounds like you, we’ve compiled a list of unique coffee shops around the US that aren’t your neighborhood Starbucks. Those who made our list all feature excellent customer reviews and a stellar ambiance that will make alternative coffee seekers feel right at home.

Pip’s Original – Portland, Oregon - Though Pip’s is famous for its creative, made-to-order doughnuts, their coffee is also first class. This family owned and operated business is bursting with unique Portland charm. Pip’s truly gives coffee lovers an authentic and complete cafe experience. In addition to the doughnuts and coffee, Pip’s supplies five blends of hand-crafted chai. Coffee enthusiast or not, Pip’s has a little something for everyone.

Ultimo Coffee – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Located in South Philly, Ultimo Coffee strives to ensure customers will have the finest cup of coffee that the city of brotherly love has to offer. Now at two locations, Ultimo offers all drip, hand-poured coffee either in Chemex brewers or on the drip bar in Beehouse drippers. Next time you’re in Philadelphia and have a hankering for a delicious, premium cup of joe be sure to stop this local gem.

Cafe Grumpy – New York City, New York – New Yorkers get a bad rap for being a little on the cranky side. Cafe Grumpy’s mission is to make your day a little less grouchy by fulfilling your coffee needs, the eco friendly way. There are three trained and calibrated coffee experts on staff, also known as Q Graders, who professionally grade coffee using the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) cupping protocol. With a focus on sustainable quality, Cafe Grumpy selects coffee beans from environmentally and socially responsible producers and spends time developing roast profiles to educate consumers about the dynamic nuances of their product. A special, sustainable treat for the city that never sleeps!

Blue Bottle Coffee – Bay Area, California – Originating in Oakland, Blue Bottle Coffee has grown into a small network of cafes throughout California and New York. They’ve expanded to wholesale partners, espresso carts, and are even going global by opening their first cafe abroad in Tokyo. Blue Bottle sticks to it’s traditional-yet-sustainable roots by roasting coffee on vintage gear, using compostable bags, and focusing on admirable customer service. At Blue Bottle, customer satisfaction is the number one priority, and they don’t disappoint!

Verve Coffee Roasters – Santa Cruz, California – Located in the heart of this charming beach town, Verve Coffee Roasters take pride in brewing coffee as close to the source as possible. Wherever there’s a farmer is determined to grow the finest, sustainable coffee beans, Verve Coffee strikes up a friendship. Their goal goes beyond supplying your daily caffeine boost, they want to share the inspiring source-to-cup journey. Your genuine cup of coffee is served!

Not ready to fly across the country for the love of coffee? Don’t worry, Coffee Cargo will ship quality, hand-selected k-cups directly to your doorstep. Experience artisan brews in the comfort of your own home, while sipping from your favorite mug.

Get Cooking

Get Cooking – Coffee Rub Recipe

February 13, 2015
Coffee Rub Recipe

Premium coffee beans can be used for a lot of things these days. You can keep a bag in your refrigerator to keep things fresh, pile them in your garden to prevent slugs and snails, or even suck on them to freshen your breath.

More recently, food enthusiasts, including celebrity chef Bobby Flay have started to create rubs for meat with fresh ground coffee beans. Premium coffee rubs are a great alternative to meat marinades because it reduces the amount of sodium and extra calories while not compromising smoky flavors.

Here is one of our favorite coffee rub recipes, that we are sure won’t disappoint.

Coffee Rub Recipe (serves 4)

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup chili powder
  • 1/3 cup finely ground premium coffee (or ¼ cup of espresso for bolder flavor)
  • 2 tablespoons paprika (Spanish paprika preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon dry mustard
  • 1 tablespoon sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 2 – 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 rib eye steaks (or other steaks) 

Directions

  1. Mix all spices together in a bowl.
  2. Brush steaks on both sides with olive oil.
  3. Rub all sides with the spice mixture.
  4. Let steaks stand out of refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
  5. Preheat BBQ grill to high.
  6. Cook steaks directly on grill for 2 minutes, flip and rotate 1/4 turn. Repeat three more times until steaks have been cooking for 8 minutes total, 4 on each side. The rotation will leave nice grill marks on the steaks.
  7. Move steaks to upper rack of grill, reduce heat to medium, and close lid.
  8. Continue cooking, flipping every few minutes, until desired doneness is reached. I find 1 1/2 inch thick steaks generally take 16-18 minutes of total cooking time to reach Medium rareness.
  9. Let it sit for 5 minutes before cutting into it, so that the juice and flavors settle.
  10. Eat and Enjoy

Now that you see how easy it is to create a great meat rub, grab your favorite coffee — our curated k-cups are perfect for the occasion — and start cooking.