Monthly Archives: August 2016

2 Reasons Cold Brew Coffee Is So Popular

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2 Reasons Cold Brew Coffee Is So PopularFew trends in the coffee industry are as popular right now as cold brew coffee. The cold brew revolution is so strong that retail sales grew to nearly $8 million in 2015, up some 115% from the year before. Cold brew concentrate can be purchased off-the-shelf or, if you prefer, brewed at home using a cold brewer that replaces hot water with cold water and time.

Just in case you are not familiar with the process, cold brewing coffee is a pretty simple process from a practical standpoint. You simply fill your cold brewer with water, add ground coffee, and let it drip for several hours. In the end, you will have a perfectly brewed cup of coffee unlike anything else you have tasted.

Why is cold brew coffee so popular? Here are the top two factors driving the trend:

1. Less Bitter, More Flavorful Experience

Brewing coffee with hot water causes the release of certain oils and fatty acids that are not produced during the cold brewing process. These oils and fatty acids are that which give hot coffee its bitter taste and its bite. Some people like that flavor, and that’s okay, but others do not. They try to offset the bitterness and bite by adding cream and sugar.

The cold brewing process still extracts the flavor compounds from coffee along with some of the caffeine. But because the oils and fatty acids are only soluble at high temperatures, they do not come through the cold brewing process. You are left with a less bitter beverage that is more about the flavor of the coffee bean than anything else. Cold brew coffee is significantly more mild in its flavor, but the flavors tend to be deeper and more complex.

2. Coffee Drinkers Love Fads

The second factor driving the cold coffee revolution is less about the beverage and more about the fact that coffee drinkers – especially the younger ones – are easily influenced by fads. According to a September 2015 report published by Food Business News, cold brewed coffee is particularly appealing to older millennials. Roughly 55% of them prefer cold brew over standard, hot brewed coffee.

If nothing else, the coffee industry in America is very much trend driven. From the popularity of coffee houses to single cup machines to cold brewing, coffee drinkers will latch onto trends and ride them out until they fade away to the next emerging trend. It is almost a self-perpetuating sort of thing. Right now cold brew coffee is in. Just that fact alone is attracting more people to it.

Our position at Galaxie Coffee is one of providing whatever our customers want. We are proud of an extensive product list that includes an extensive list of coffees and teas, complemented by other beverages and a full range of breakroom supplies. We offer the best office coffee service in the greater New York area and beyond. We would be happy to serve you as well.

The Health Effects of Coffee

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Row coffee beans splashed from the cups

In the mid-1970s, the U.S. endured the ‘big coffee scare’ in which medical science told us not to continue drinking our morning cup of joe out of fear that it could cause cancer and other diseases. A lot has changed after four decades of intense research. Now it turns out that coffee may actually have some positive health benefits that make it worth drinking – at least in moderation.

According to the latest research, coffee may be beneficial to human health in the following ways:

  • Diabetes Protection – Researchers at UCLA have discovered that coffee intake increases levels of SHBG in the body. Not only does this substance regulate sex hormones, but it is also related to the development of type II diabetes. Their research is complemented by additional research from Harvard that suggests moderate coffee consumption can reduce type II diabetes risk.
  • Parkinson’s Disease – Coffee may help lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease. In cases of people who already have the disease, moderate coffee consumption may help to improve movement, according to research from the McGill University Health Center.
  • Liver Disease – Research from Italy suggests that coffee consumption can reduce the risk of liver cancer by up to 40%. It might also decrease the risk of cirrhosis among alcohol consumers by more than 20%. Those already diagnosed with cirrhosis can reduce their chances of dying from the disease by as much as 66% through moderate coffee consumption.
  • Heart Disease – Harvard School of Public Health researchers who studied European coffee drinkers found that those who consume two cups per day were roughly 11% less likely to suffer heart failure compared to those who don’t drink coffee.

Coffee has also been linked to prevention of colorectal cancer, multiple sclerosis and premature death. Keep in mind that the nature of epidemiology, on which all of the studies are based, shows links between coffee consumption and certain health factors. They do not necessarily establish causation.

Everything in Moderation

Of course, even the perceived health benefits of coffee need to be regulated by moderation. Coffee contains caffeine, something we know can have adverse health effects if consumed in excess. Furthermore, adding a ton of cream and sugar to your cup of black coffee increases your calorie intake and subjects you to whatever health effects are related to consuming them.

Most of the studies suggest between two and five cups of black coffee per day to enjoy the maximum health benefit. Anything over and above five cups would be deemed excessive and could very well undo any of the good coffee-drinking might offer.

Here at Galaxie Coffee, we are thrilled to know that the staple beverage that drives America is one that can actually be good for human health. It makes it a lot more enjoyable to do what we do. If you need coffee and beverage service for your office in the greater New York area, we would love the opportunity to earn your business. Contact us for more information.