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Let us Replace Your Water Cooler with a New ION System

by • Advanced Water Filtering, Water • Tags: , , • 0 Comments

Let us Replace Your Water Cooler with a New ION SystemGalaxie Coffee is extremely proud to announce that we are now offering the revolutionary ION water system in both floor and tabletop models. The ION is not your typical water cooler. In fact it is not a water cooler at all. It’s a high-tech, all-in-one water solution that replaces the traditional cooler without sacrificing the quality you’ve come to expect from bottled products.

This fantastic dispenser offers cold, hot, ambient, and sparkling water in a single unit. It requires no heavy bottles and no tanks to refill. Just install it, plug it in, and it’s ready to go. Staff have instant access to clean, crystal-clear water in three different temperature options.

You might be wondering how we can offer you the quality of bottled water without actually delivering bottles. It’s easy. The ION system utilizes an exclusive filtering process that reduces a wide range of contaminants from common tap water. You get the clean and fresh water you want without having to pay for bottles.

Four Choices in One

There have been other water systems offering filtered tap water at the touch of a button. What makes this system different is that you get four choices in one. Choose cold water and the system will instantly filter and chill water flowing into the machine. The entire water pathway is completely isolated so that the water never interacts with outside air.

Choose hot water and the dispenser will once again filter water as it comes in from the tap. The water is heated rapidly as it moves through the machine, so you are not waiting on that next cup of tea or cocoa. Amazingly enough, this machine can produce upwards of 2 gallons of hot water per hour.

You can even choose sparkling or ambient water. Drink it straight up or add your own juices or flavor packets. It is entirely up to you. Both are available with the push of a button.

Touch Screen Ease

You would expect a machine like the ION to be in line with modern technology. Well, it is. Its touchscreen interface is automatically familiar to most people. And it is simple to use. If you can use a mobile device to browse the web, you will find getting fresh, clean water a snap.

The touchscreen interface also offers a quick glimpse of essential information, including a reminder of when it’s time to change the filter. We handle that, so don’t worry about it. In case you are interested, we can change the filter with a simple twist. We do not even have to turn off the water line to do it.

The ION pure water system is the new way to enjoy clean and fresh water in the office. Existing Galaxie Coffee customers now using bottled water and traditional coolers are encouraged to think about upgrading. If you are not yet a Galaxie customer, getting the ION is as good a reason as any to join our family.

The Rise of Cold Brew: A Coffee Revolution

by • Coffee • Tags: , • 0 Comments

Every now and again, something new comes along that proves truly revolutionary to the coffee-drinking community. One such development is the cold brew phenomenon. Although cold brew is not new, it has recently come into its own. Indeed, cold brew is the hottest thing in coffee right now.

If you have not yet tried cold brew, we encourage you to do so. We would not be surprised to look back at this time next year and realize that 2019 was the year of the cold brew. If you have tried it, what do you think? Do you like it better than hot brew coffee?

Not the Same As Iced Coffee

The first thing to understand is that cold brew is not the same thing as iced coffee. Not only are they brewed differently, they also taste different as well. A coffee drinker with discriminating taste buds can easily tell the difference between the two brews.

Iced coffee begins as a typical hot brew. It can be brewed with a traditional drip machine or a single cup brewer. What makes it iced coffee is that it is served over ice once brewing is complete. Putting ice in a cup of hot coffee is one way to cool it down but doing so also affects the taste.

Needless to say that hot coffee melts ice rather quickly. That ice dilutes the coffee as it turns to water. To counter this, some people put their hot brewed coffee in the refrigerator for a few hours. This does prevent dilution when you introduce ice, but it also increases the acidity of the coffee.

How Cold Brew is Made

Cold brew coffee takes its name from the fact that it is brewed using either cold or room temperature water. Rather than relying on hot water to extract the oils from ground roasted coffee, cold brew relies on time. It can take anywhere from 12 to 24 hours to brew a full pot.

There are two ways to cold brew. The first is to combine a lot of coffee with a little water to brew a concentrate. You just throw the coffee and water together and let it steep for as long as you want. Then you strain out the coffee and use the concentrate to make individual cups by adding water as desired.

The other method is to put the ground coffee into a filter, tie the filter closed, and steep it in the water. You use just about the same amount of coffee you would to make a hot brew, thus avoiding having to strain the coffee and work with a concentrate. You just drink it straight up once it’s brewed.

We carry some cold brew products here at Galaxie Coffee and we invite you to give them a try. Cold brew is a completely unique beverage with a much more subtle taste that can be quite rich. When you’re ordering cold brew, don’t forget to check out the rest of our beverages as well.

What is the Difference Between Light and Dark Roast Coffees?

by • Coffee • Tags: , , , • 0 Comments

Remember the days when the only choices for coffee were regular and decaf? Those days are long gone as evidenced by all the choices offered by the local coffee shop, the supermarket and, dare we say, the office coffee service. Among the plethora of choices are light and dark roasts.

Companies like Galaxie Coffee sell coffees in a variety of roast options. There are light, medium, medium-dark, and dark roasts to choose from. But do you know what each of those options means? Do you know the difference between light and dark roast coffees?

Roast and Flavor

Numerous factors go into determining what a cup of coffee tastes like. Roasting time and temperature influence flavor the most, which is why so much attention is paid to roasting these days.

Non-roasted coffee beans are very soft and largely flavorless. Roasting is required to bring out the flavor embedded in the oils deep within the beans. As beans are exposed to heat, those oils begin to rise to the surface. The more oil the bean releases, the more robust it will be.

Ranking Coffee Roasts

It would be rather difficult to rank coffee roasts according to flavor given all of the differences created by growing environment, cultivation, blending, etc. An easier way to address roasting is color. Thus, a light roast coffee is a light brown color with no visible oil sheen on the surface of the bean. Light roast coffees are mild but acidic. You can also taste the origin flavors of the beans themselves.

A medium roast coffee is slightly darker because it has been roasted longer. It also sports a more balanced flavor. There is less acid and fewer notes of origin flavors as well. And believe it or not, medium roast coffee has less caffeine than light roast.

A dark roast is a coffee that has been roasted for the maximum amount of time. It gets its name from the dark brown (or sometimes black) color of the finished beans. It is also visibly different in that you can see an oil sheen on the outside of the beans once roasting is complete.

Dark roast coffees tend to be more bitter. Some have a smoky or burnt taste, and all have very little origin flavor remaining. What origin flavors do remain are often overpowered by the burnt or smoky flavor. Dark roast also has the least amount of caffeine.

Roast Preferences

Coffee preferences in the U.S. are more regional than you might think. For example, coffee drinkers on the East Coast tend to prefer lighter roasts while those on the West Coast prefer darker. Europeans are also big fans of darker roasts.

Regardless of your preference, Galaxie Coffee has the right roasts for your office. We invite you to contact us to learn more about our office coffee service throughout the greater New York area. We would be happy to serve your workplace with the finest beverages and equipment.

3 Interesting Facts About Paper Coffee Cups

by • Beverages, Coffee, Hot Beverage • Tags: , , , , , • 0 Comments

The paper coffee cup has almost all but replaced foam cups in many parts of the country. In New York City, a law passed in 2015 banned the use of foam food containers within city limits. Elsewhere, local and state leaders have taken steps to reduce the use of foam products by encouraging businesses to switch to alternatives.

Here at Galaxie Coffee, we are big fans of paper coffee cups. Our customers are too. In light of all that the paper coffee cup has done to reduce the amount of foam going into landfills, we thought it might be interesting to discuss three facts about paper coffee cups a lot of people don’t know.

1. They used to be sealed with clay or wax

Paper drinking cups have been around for quite a while. In fact, their roots can be traced back to the early 1900s and high rates of infection among schoolchildren and train station passengers who used community cups. The obvious need to put an end to those infections gave us single-use paper cups.

The first single-use paper cup was developed at the turn of the 20th century. Its success led to the Dixie cup’s introduction in 1908. Back then, paper cups were sealed with clay in order to make them waterproof.

Unfortunately, clay distorted the flavor of the beverage being consumed. It also caused problems with condensation on the exterior, leading manufacturers to transition to wax. Wax solved the flavor problem quite nicely. However, it didn’t do much for the condensation problem. So manufacturers kept looking for a better sealant.

2. They are now sealed with PE

Manufacturers eventually hit on the idea of sealing paper cups with a thin layer of polyethylene (PE). Because polyethylene is a plastic, it makes the inside of the cup waterproof and prevents significant condensation on the exterior. PE also holds up better than both wax and clay against hot liquids. Indeed, polyethylene paved the way for paper coffee cups that were unheard of before it was introduced.

As a side note, a new sealant was introduced in Finland in 2017. It is fully compostable and decomposes much more quickly than polyethylene. It also does not contaminate the recycling stream so there is no problem throwing paper coffee cups coated with this sealant in with other recyclable products.

3. They are often made with recycled paper

Finally, single-use paper coffee cups are often made from recycled paper. Manufacturers prefer virgin paper for any cup with a surface that comes in direct contact with food or liquid, but that’s not an issue for coffee cups sealed with polyethylene. That makes recycled paper a more attractive option.

Paper coffee cups are just one of the many products we provide customer throughout the greater New York area. For a complete list of our products and services, give us a call. One of our customer service representatives would be more than happy to discuss your office coffee needs with you.

5 Regions Whose Coffee You Should Try in 2019

by • Beverages, Coffee, Hot Beverage • Tags: , , , • 0 Comments

If you have ever heard someone speaking about the flavor notes of coffee and thought that person was just being snooty, think again. Snootiness may have been part of the equation, but coffees from different regions of the world do taste quite different from each other.

To this end, we encourage you to sample some brews from various regions around the world. If you can get beyond traditional American coffee, you realize that there is an entire range of subtleties and flavor notes that define what is arguably the world’s most popular beverage. To get you started, here are five regions whose coffees we recommend you try this year:

1. East Africa

The two most prolific coffee producers in East Africa are Ethiopia and Kenya. History suggests that Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, though that has never been conclusively proven. At any rate, Ethiopian coffee tends to be bold, full flavored, and rich with earthy notes. Kenyan coffee, by contrast, tends to be sharp and fruity. It also has a very rich aroma that sets it apart from other African coffees.

2. Central America

Guatemalan coffee is the most recognized coffee from Central America. Its rich, distinctive flavor comes from the volcanic soil the region is known for. Guatemalan coffee is deep and complex with a somewhat spicy flavor. If you are looking for something with medium body and more balance, try coffee from Costa Rica. A combination of regional weather and processing practices give this coffee a distinct flavor.

3. South America

Colombia and Brazil are two popular sources of South American coffees. In fact, Colombian coffee is considered in some circles as the standard by which all others are judged. Both regions are known for medium-bodied coffee with good balance and low acidity.

4. Asia

Though we do not normally associate Asia with high quality coffee, some exceptionally good coffees come from Indonesia and Vietnam. Indonesian coffees tend to be aged over time, resulting in medium body and low acid content. Coffee from Vietnam is mild, slightly acidic, and well-balanced. It is a frequent choice for blending.

5. Hawaii

Although Hawaii is a state rather than a region, no list of this sort would be complete without recommending Kona coffee. Kona is a uniquely Hawaiian coffee grown on the slopes of an active volcano. Hawaii’s climate provides natural cloud cover during the afternoon hours and just enough rain on a daily basis to create a rich, delicious flavor unlike anything else.

Needless to say that the regions listed in this post only scratch the surface. There are dozens of countries around the world where dedicated growers are producing some excellent beans. Just remember that processing, roasting, and blending all affect the overall taste of a cup of coffee.

If you would like more information about bringing coffee service to your office, feel free to contact us at your leisure. Galaxie Coffee is proud to serve the tri-state area with a fine selection of coffees, teas, and other beverage choices.

Galaxie’s Success Profiled by Automatic Vending

by • Coffee, Hot Beverage • Tags: , , , • 0 Comments

Galaxie's Success Profiled by Automatic VendingIt has been said that the best kind of attention in business is positive attention from others in the same industry. If it’s true, and we believe it is, that makes it all the more special that Galaxie Coffee was recently profiled by Automatic Vending in an excellent article written by Emily Refermat. Our thanks go out to Emily and the entire Automatic Vending staff.

Automatic Vending is a digital and print magazine devoted to the retail vending and beverage sectors. It is one of the most respected publications in the industry, making it all that more important that they chose to profile our company. Through Refermat’s writing, we were able to tell the Galaxie story in a way that we hope will inspire our customers, our employees, and other entrepreneurs who are not sure they have what it takes to succeed.

Built from the Ground Up

Galaxie CEO Ed Seidenberg provided most of the information for the article. He began by explaining that our company was built from the ground up by five partners who started Galaxie way back in 1969. Back then, office coffee service was in its infancy. Galaxie’s original staff was tasked with the difficult job of convincing employers to give up their coffee clubs in favor of weekly coffee delivery from a managed provider.

Those early days were not easy, but the company maintained steady growth by offering quality along with convenience. Over the next 30 years Galaxie expanded from a small facility in Massapequa to a larger facility in West Babylon, and then on to our Farmingdale headquarters. What started as a business serving a small number of customers in the Massapequa area eventually became one that services all of the greater New York metro and beyond.

It is About Quality and Variety

Ed was quick to point out that two of the keys to our success have been quality and variety. Quality has always been our number one priority, whether we sell drip coffee, single cup pods, bottled water, or juices. We want our customers to choose Galaxie because the coffee and other beverages we supply are delicious. That commitment to quality is one of the things that has allowed us to leverage our own branded coffees to such a large degree.

In retail, variety also helps a lot. So over the years, we have acquired a number of competing coffee companies along with a janitorial supply company. The combined acquisitions have allowed us to expand our product inventory considerably. Today we not only deliver coffee, but we also carry a full line of additional beverages along with breakroom paper products and janitorial supplies.

After 50 years of steady growth and success, Galaxie Coffee is still a family affair. Ed’s wife is part of the business, as are Neil Robbins – the son of one of the company’s original partners – and his two sons. Their vision and leadership are that which motivate us to continue working hard on behalf of our customers.

Embrace the Winter Season with Traditional Drip Coffee

by • Beverages, Coffee, Hot Beverage • Tags: , , , , • 0 Comments

Coffee trends come and go with the passing seasons. But if you stop and think about it, you come to the realization that traditional drip coffee has withstood the test of time. While other fads fade away with waning consumer trends, traditional drip coffee continues to be served at home, in offices, and at nearly every restaurant and café in the U.S.

We think that winter is a great season to get back to traditional drip coffee. In fact, setting aside those cold coffee drinks and designer concoctions with strange names in favor of drip coffee is a wonderful way to embrace this time of year.

Old School Brew

There is no doubt that drip coffee is definitely old school. Slow drip brewing dates back to the early days of pour-overs and stove-top percolators. It is what we Americans grew up on, at least where coffee is concerned. But here’s the thing: being old-school doesn’t mean drip brewing gives you inferior coffee.

We have a tendency to think that anything old is not as good as newer alternatives. That is not necessarily true. Traditional drip coffee is not better or worse than any other kind of coffee. It is just different. And yes, it’s still very good. A delicious cup of old-school drip coffee is a perfect way to start the day or finish off a meal.

Secrets to Great Traditional Drip Coffee

It has been our experience that one of the reasons traditional drip coffee has such a bad reputation is that we have lost the skill of making and storing it correctly. It is like anything else. Without the skill and knowledge, you do not produce the same quality.

Great drip coffee starts with the right water temperature. Ideally, drip machines should heat water to somewhere between 195 and 205°F. If the water is too cold, it will not extract enough of the ground coffee’s oil to give you the full-bodied flavor you want. If it is too hot – particularly if it’s boiling – the water will burn the coffee.

Once coffee is brewed, it should be placed in an insulated carafe or a thermos. As you know, leaving coffee on a hot plate or burner ruins the flavor in short order. Why? Because the high heat burns the coffee. Along those same lines, traditional drip coffee should be consumed within a couple of hours. If it’s not, and you put it in the refrigerator overnight, reheating it in the morning will drastically change its flavor.

Galaxie Coffee and Brewers

Are you looking for something to get you and your office through the last few weeks of winter? If so, we invite you to embrace a good cup of traditional drip coffee. Here at Galaxie Coffee, we have both the coffee and brewers you need to equip your office.

Winter is the best time of year for traditional drip coffee. The coffee is hot, delicious, and very comforting. For more information about adding coffee service to your office, contact us today.

Coffee Facts – January 2019

by • Coffee • Tags: , , • 0 Comments

Coffee Facts - January 2019

January 11 is National Milk Day – What Milk Do You Prefer?

by • Beverages • Tags: , • 0 Comments

Did you know the January 11 is National Milk Day here in the U.S.? What’s more, Global Milk Day is celebrated on June 1. It would appear as though milk has worldwide appeal despite having so many sources, which leads us to ask another question: what kind of milk do you prefer?

For classification purposes, milk can be described as either animal or plant-based. Animal milks come from the mammary glands of mammals. We are talking cows, goats, etc. Plant milks are derived by processing the plants from which they come. Examples include rice, soy, almond, and coconut milk.

More About Animal Milk

As you most probably know from school, females of every mammal species produce milk. In fact, the ability to do so is one of the characteristics that defines what a mammal is. Having said that, most of the animal milk sold commercially (85%) comes from cows.

That doesn’t necessarily mean cow milk is good for every person. Indeed, some people are allergic to it while others cannot drink cow milk due to lactose intolerance. Fortunately, there are other animal milks that consumers can buy, though the availability of which may vary from one region to the next. The most commonly bought milks after cow milk are buffalo, goat, camel, sheep, and yak milk.

Animal milk is also processed into a variety of dairy products including butter, cream, and cheese. It is interesting to note that the European Union passed regulations in 2013 prohibiting manufacturers of plant milk products from using dairy associated terms like ‘butter’ and ‘cheese’ to describe their products. The FDA has considered a similar ban here, but no action has been taken as of yet.

More About Plant Milk

Unlike animal milk, which can be obtained simply by accessing the mammary glands of the animal in question, plant milk must be made by combining the chosen plant material with water. The process is fairly simple though. You could even make your favorite plant milk at home if you really wanted to.

Among the many types of plant milk, three of the most popular right now are soy, almond, and coconut. Soy milk is similar to cow milk in its appearance, thickness, and texture. Its taste varies somewhat based on the cultivar of soybean and the production process.

Almond milk is the most popular of the plant milks, probably due to its variety. It can be purchased as unsweetened, sweetened, and flavored (e.g., vanilla and chocolate). As for coconut milk, it is naturally sweet and loaded with healthy fats and oils. It’s great straight up or as an ingredient for cooking.

Galaxie Coffee is more than happy to supply our customers with a variety of milk products. If you are not yet using a coffee service for your office, we invite you to contact us today to learn more about our services and products. Otherwise, we wish you well and encourage you to celebrate National Milk Day on January 11 with a tall, cold glass of your favorite milk.

Why Coffee Should Be Part of Your New Year’s Resolution Diet

by • Beverages, Coffee, Hot Beverage • Tags: , , , , • 0 Comments

It will not be long before we start thinking about those annual New Year’s resolutions. No doubt there are a lot of very good things we can resolve to do in the coming year. For some of us, 2019 resolutions will involve embracing a healthier diet. Coffee should be part of any such diet.

Over the years, we have documented many of the benefits that come from consuming moderate amounts of coffee on a regular basis. We will do so again in this post.

Coffee Contains Bioactive Compounds

According to a 2017 report published by the New England Journal of Medicine, coffee contains more than 1,000 bioactive compounds, many of which offer potential health benefits. A bioactive compound is a compound found in food that has a direct action on the person or animal consuming it. We obviously want to consume those compounds that generate a positive action.

Coffee Consumption Reduces Some Health Risks

That same New England Journal of Medicine report documented how regular coffee consumption reduces the risks of certain medical conditions. The report also stated that “coffee consumption… was associated more often with benefit than with harm.”

The report went on to say that regular coffee consumption reduces the risks of:

  • cardiovascular disease and death
  • some cancers (e.g. melanoma, prostate cancer, liver cancer)
  • neurological diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s disease)
  • type II diabetes
  • hepatic cirrhosis.

The report also mentions “other diseases” without specifying them. The long and short of it is that the bioactive compounds found in coffee are generally good for human health when coffee is consumed in moderate amounts. The report defines moderation as 3 to 4 cups per day.

Coffee and Alzheimer’s Disease

Regular coffee consumption has been linked with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. According to one 2010 study from Finland, drinking 3-5 cups of caffeinated coffee per day in middle age could reduce the Alzheimer’s risk by up to 65% later in life. Though scientists are not sure why, they suspect it has something to do with the stimulating effects of caffeine.

It is a Great Substitute

It can be hard to find good beverages to support a healthy diet if you are not a big fan of drinking water throughout the day. Yes, you still need to consume healthy amounts of water, but what else do you drink? Coffee is an excellent substitute for diet sodas, high-sugar fruit drinks, and even energy drinks.

A cup of black coffee has absolutely no sugar and only about 2.4 calories per cup. As long as you don’t add sugar or high-calorie creamer, coffee is the perfect diet drink.

Drink It Hot or Cold

Finally, coffee is an all-purpose drink for dieters because it can be consumed either hot or cold. Drink it hot in the morning and cold in the afternoon. And by the way, cold brew coffee is a lot less bitter than a traditional hot brew. Many people find cold brew very satisfying without the need for any added flavorings.

We are obviously huge fans of coffee here at Galaxie Coffee. If we can help you make coffee a bigger part of your New Year’s resolution diet, please let us know. We would be happy to equip your office with state-of-the-art brewing equipment and a variety of delicious coffees and teas.

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