Fundacion Amigos del Cafe
I remember when I learned about Funcaion Amigos del Cafe very clearly. When Emeran and I first arrived at the Santa Rosa Beneficio in Honduras last March, we were brought into a calm, air-conditioned room, where we met Peter. Friendly staff in crisp uniforms brought...
Coffee should cost more. Here’s Why.
We recently had the privilege of hosting a talk with Rachel Northrop, author of When Coffee Speaks. Rachel’s book is a narrative journey through Central and South America, detailing her visits to coffee farms through interviews with farmers and their families....
From Cup to Compost
It is pretty hard to believe that spring is past and summer is here! I love this time of year. Gardens are buzzing with life. I want to take this time to discuss using coffee grounds in compost. Coffee grounds are extremely rich in nitrogen, and can be a great,...Elevation and its affect on coffee taste
In the coffee industry, we often talk about elevation. We list it on all of our single origin coffees labels at A&E. This information can tell you a lot about the coffee you’re buying if you know what it means. How does elevation affect taste? Elevation ...
Golden Cup Technician
A Golden Cup Technician is a trained coffee specialist who can issue the Golden Cup Award to establishments meeting the brewing standards. Now, that is a mouthful, so let’s break it down a little. Golden Cup Technician Emeran is the first certified Golden Cup...
Coffee Culture on the Mountainside
Our coffee ambassador When Emeran and I visited La Voz Coffee Cooperativa along the shore of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, we had the privilege of being guided up the Nariz mountainside by a coffee farmer named Erwin. Erwin was the type of person who can bridge cultures....
TDS Relates to Quality in Coffee
TDS (total dissolved solids) has been a litmus test for coffee brewing for decades. The Coffee Brewing Handbook is still the recommended guide. However, it is seldom used on the ground level in cafe/restaurant settings (pun intended). TDS is a direct correlation...
Coffee Bean Flour {Treat yourself}
Something green is cooking at A&E Coffee beans? Well, yes. Always. Right now I’m referring to coffee beans that are left a little more green and then used in baking. Dan Perlman, a Brandeis professor, recently discovered a way to use lightly roasted coffee beans...
Cafe Make-Over
Our Amherst cafe is getting a make-over in the near future. We have morphed our space many times over the years and we are about to update again. This time, we are focusing mainly on the sitting area, which we lovingly call the Sun Porch. Quality Customer Service in...
Raising a Quality Employee
This is my son, Coulter Shaw Langmaid. He is 12 and in 7th grade. Coult is a great kid, and that is a completely unbiased assessment. Just ask any teacher. He has his moments, as we all do, but in general, he has been easy to raise. Let me preface by saying that is...