by Joe Bland | Oct 26, 2017 | Uncategorized |
Back in 2016, I visited my first coffee farm in the rural mountains of Nicaragua. It was a one hour drive north of Matagalpa and most of the drive was on a dirt road rolling up and over hills and valleys. About halfway through, I convinced my host and coffee producer, Ben with Gold Mountain Coffee Growers, to let me ride in the back of the truck where I could get a panoramic view of the passing farmland and people who lived in the area. As the road narrowed to less and less gravel, Ben points up at a single power line. “We installed this a while back for Santos and his family. The additional profits he made on the better production of his coffee helped pay for power to his house.” Once we reached the farm and house, we were greeted immediately by the smiling face of Don Santos and his wife Teresa. Situated on their property was a simple wet mill, a green house, and their house. The farm itself produces about 5700 pounds of coffee a year and has been passed down through the family for generations. Santos’ farm offers a few different varietals of coffee. For this harvest season, he separated out a couple of them for us to experience and share. Both the Red and Yellow Catuai are the two varetials we decided to get in our roasters. Think of coffee shrub varietals like apples. Different types of apples taste and look different based on the genetics of the tree of which it is grown. There can be many other factors for flavors here...
by Joe Bland | Jul 28, 2015 | Uncategorized |
What is TDS? To make a great cup of coffee you not only want the best coffee beans available but also the best water. One of the most important aspects to look at when rating the quality of water is the TDS. TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids. A TDS measurement represents the total concentration of dissolved substances in the water, which can include minerals, salts, and other solids (1). The amount and type of solids that are dissolved in the water will affect its flavor. Because coffee is about 96 percent water, the TDS of water used in the brewing process will greatly affect the quality of the finished product. TDS readings vary greatly between different kinds of water. Most distilled water has a TDS of 0 ppm (parts per million). During the distillation process steam is condensed from boiling water and the result is pure water with no dissolved solids. Spring water on the other hand has a relatively high TDS, which can range from 50 to 450 ppm (2). This is because the water picks up different minerals and salts on its journey through underground rock passages and cracks in the earth on its way to the spring. The result is water with a high level of dissolved solids. Tap water is somewhere in between these two. Ideal tap water ranges from 100-150 ppm while average tap water can range from 100-400 ppm (2). So what does this all have to do with coffee? The TDS of water not only can affect the initial flavor of a cup of coffee but it can also affect the...
by Joe Bland | Jan 23, 2014 | Uncategorized |
My life has become haunted with distractions. Raleigh has become a lot smaller over the course of this past year. Operating Raleigh Coffee Company has given me the opportunity to network with a vast amount of diverse industries and businesses. Every where I go I see someone I know. In fact, one week I counted to myself, out of all the people I would run-into across town, how many people do I know because of Raleigh Coffee Company. It boiled down to 9 out of 10 people. It has become increasingly difficult to be productive outside of our office because of this. Every time I go to some of the best independent coffee shops in Raleigh to work, I end up talking to someone I know for the whole afternoon. This is why I love Starbucks. I dont know *anyone at Starbucks. It’s a place I can go and not become distracted and be productive. So as I sit here, in Starbucks, listening to Michael Buble on Starbucks radio, I can now be productive, without distractions and enjoy a nice cup of hot tea. -Joseph Bland, owner Raleigh Coffee...
by Joe Bland | Sep 25, 2013 | Uncategorized |
Have you had lunch or dinner at The Cowfish yet? No? YOU ARE MISSING OUT! This awesome restaurant, located at North Hills in Raleigh, will have you so pumped up, you will be talking about it for days after your experience. Everything from the front-door-service to the ownership is everything I hope to have for Raleigh Coffee Company as we grow. They make a point to challenge the status-quo and I am taking notes. There are 4 things about The Cowfish that YOU should know. #1 They Combine Hamburgers with Sushi – The Menu The Cowfish, simply and effectively, challenges the status-quo. This concept works. Combining high quality hamburger offerings with artisan sushi, in the same restaurant… in the same dish, is not something you can find in any city. You can find traditional hamburgers and artisan sushi on the menu along side the Taste Explosion Roll, which combines the two. A sushi roll with hamburger contents in the middle! #2 You Can Play Cornhole While You Wait – How to Play Cornhole This place is super popular because they do everything right. If you have to wait for a table you can easily grab a drink, or coffee, at the bar and socialize outside over a game of cornhole. #3 The Coffee is Delicious – Find Delicious Coffee Here As if you thought coffee does not go with sushi, hamburgers, or sushi-hamburger, you are wrong. When you order coffee, you will be provided with a table side french press. Hint. Its a increasingly popular coffee brand around Raleigh these days. #4 Marcus is in a Bluegrass Band –...
by Joe Bland | Sep 16, 2013 | Uncategorized |
As most of you know, Raleigh Coffee Company is located in The Meat House in Raleigh. We sub-lease 900 square feet from the local grocery store to source, roast, and package premium coffee beans. It has been a great place to spend most of the week at since they offer samples on a lot of their offerings. There are 7 things you must try at The Meat House. 1. Maple Bourbon Steak Tips One of my favorite options for the grill. 3 1/2 minutes on each side on high heat make these delicious nuggets of gold explode with flavor when you bite into them. 2. Yah’s Best Salsa Best grocery store salsa ever. Aside from traditional options, Yah’s Best offers a cranberry salsa in the fall and a peach salsa in the summer. 3. Raleigh Coffee Company Best coffee roasted in Raleigh. 4. House Cured Bacon A ton of bacon, ok only 900 pounds a month, is house cured at The Meat House. There are several seasoning options for you to try. 5. Steak and Cheese This is what is made when you combine Martin’s Bread, The Meat House steak tips, and a 5 cheese sauce to make one delicious sandwich. Nothing else like this in Raleigh. 6. Deep River Brewing Locally brewed beer with a punch. Deep River Brewing never lacks flavor and is always jammed packed with layers of tastes. The Oxbow IPA is one of my favorites. Keep an eye out for a Raleigh Coffee C0mpany Porter. They will be hosting two cask nights in the near future. 7. Rattlesnake Yes. Rattlesnake! It’s yummy! Check out...
