A Nice Cuppa

Much like its Columbian South American neighbor, Honduran coffee has been thought of as big-can commercial… cheap and cheap tasting coffee. But this misconception is starting to change, and as Sweet Maria’s found, many Honduras growers are delivering high quality beans and drawing an interest in the specialty market.
These Fabio Caballero beans are […]

I used to have the good fortune to work across the street from Chelsea Market in Manhattan. Which was more or less a primo location for a foodie to be ??? Sarabeth???s, Amy???s Bread, The Green Table, and plenty of other good boutique food stores at arm???s length. And in the Summer months, […]

CROUCHING BARISTA, HIDDEN LACTOSE (continued…)
Recap: Ferina and her father have a talk via telephone, though it’s not exactly a heart to heart. There’s a tension between them that smacks of the daughter who’s never been able to please. More than her voice even, he seems pleased to know the Luwak has […]

I live in Manhattan and I have to ride the subway to work squished up against and in between hordes of strangers. At the office, like almost every other office building in North America, there is a coffee maker fitted with large circular filters and ground coffee sealed in single pot bags. I […]

It???s late. I can???t sleep???perhaps a snack will help. I???m thinking of going to the kitchen and nibbling on leftover mac n??? cheese and maybe sampling the new flavor of Ben & Jerry???s stashed in the freezer–there is always a new flavor of Ben & Jerry???s. But I don???t. Instead I […]

About three weeks ago, when the Green Tea Frappuccino was first introduced to the Starbucks family, I was at home in Pennsylvania visiting my family. I took my six year old brother, Jacob, to Starbucks with me to pick up my daily dose of joe. I asked Jacob if he wanted anything and […]

Leah Martin is a college senior finishing up her degree in Elementary Education. After growing up as a military brat and moving all over the world, she currently lives in New York City. She will soon be relocating to Southern Pennsylvania for awhile to get her Master’s Degree in Education and her certification […]

So there I was, happily navigating the world of tea when, out of the blue, I had the rug pulled out from under me.
???So have you tried white tea???? an acquaintance asked me one day.
???White tea?! What???s white tea???? says I.
???You???ve never heard of white tea?!???
???Um ??? no,??? I respond rather weakly.
???Well! […]

It’s starting to be Iced Latte Season. For me, that means it’s got to be pretty hot. I’m still quite happy drinking my coffee hot when it’s almost 80F out. Much beyond that, however, a hot latte just won’t do. And, as a home roaster, this means that I have to […]

When the weather starts to turn warmer and the days are becoming longer it is time to start making the sweet iced tea. Now seeing as I am currently living in the South, sweet tea in most cases means large amounts of sugar and water with a couple of tea bags. Don’t get […]