If you’ve recently stopped into your neighborhood Boston Stoker, you’ve probably noticed some changes. As with all change you may be intimidated at first. We know change can be scary, but we promise all these changes were made with you in mind. We’ve rethought a lot of the details about each unique Boston Stoker experience and we’ve made some changes to the most important aspect, the coffee.

Let’s be more clear. The coffee itself hasn’t changed. We’re proud to say it’s still direct trade coffee from farmers who have developed the beans and the processes to make each cup brighten up your day. We’ve always roasted our coffee to its peak flavors and dated its packaging with the roast date. This has enabled you to enjoy your coffee at its freshest and kept you aware of when it’s time to order more. So what’s changed then?

New packaging! Same great flavor.

Like we said, the flavorful coffee you’ve come to enjoy hasn’t changed, but the packaging has. You’ve probably noticed those bright little bags at your local store. Here’s the skinny on the big changes!

Sizes

Yay options! The new bags come in 2 sizes: 12oz bags and 5lb bags. We’ve added more options with the sizing because not everyone consumes the same amount. So less coffee also means more fresh coffee. Re-upping in-store or online is just as simple as its always been.

Freshness

Heat sealed vacuum bags! This is big friends! Vacuum sealing is a method of packaging that extracts air from the container prior to sealing. For us this method involves placing the coffee in a plastic film package, removing air from inside, and heat sealing the package. The reason for vacuum packing is to remove oxygen from the container. Doing that reduces moisture and oxygen aging the coffee, and it seals in the freshness just a bit longer.

Labeling

We’ve rethought the presentation of the coffee. As the world gets more and more green, people want to know more about what they’re putting in their body. We’ve decided that wine isn’t the only beverage that should bare all the details and secrets about its origins.

We’ve include a much more robust profile on the bags:

Region specs, because of course you want to know know where it’s from

Flavor profiles, so you can find that taste that pleases every part of your palette

Varietals, its kinda like a family tree for coffee.

Growth altitudes, they help you understand the differences in notes and complexity

Names of the farmers, because those guys are awesome.

So whether you’re online or in-store take your time and explore all the new info we’ve provided you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The idea of you loving great coffee as much as we do inspires us. We’re kinda nerds about it and we want you to become one too.

-Your Favorite Barista

Article written by Jason Roach, Columbus

You’ve got 15 minutes to make:
• 4 Espressos
• 4 Cappuccinos
• 4 Signature Drinks

Prizes will be given to the winners.

Deadline for entering the contest is October 29th.

Interested in participating give us a call or email:
937-890-6401 • customerservice@bostonstoker.com

The event is ONE NIGHT ONLY. For more information, please visit:
http://afilmaboutcoffee.com/
http://bostonstoker.com/
http://hth.org/

Tickets available through:
Neon Movies – (937) 222-7469
Heart to Honduras – (937) 372-3503

Boston Stoker was invited because we roast our own coffee and because of our store on the O.S.U. Campus (1660 Neil Ave). Other are roasters like Upper Cup, Cafe Brioso, One Line, Crimson Cup and many more attended. Backroom Roasters had their spot next to our booth and I won a hat from the game they were playing (thanks guys!). It was sunny and beautiful day, with many people, and lots of great coffee to try. Brioso even had coffee snow cones and I got to try a great Indonesian blend from Backroom.

Shane and I got the roaster going as soon as the event began. We roasted batches of the Kenya Githembe and Costa Rica La Minita as Carey, Erik, and the crew made a Chemex of the same coffees to sample out to attendees. It was great to talk roasting with coffee drinkers and home roasters. I enjoyed explaining the process, hearing how they roast at home, and answering questions.

Later in the day, Henry found me and asked me if I wanted to help judge the home roasters competition. The coffee used in the roasting challenge was El Conquistador. We got to judge some all different quality levels of coffee. After the judging, we gave feedback for each coffee. The surprise batch was the one that was pan roasted. It was a great cup and I did not guess that it was the pan roasted batch.

After the scores were tallied, I headed back to the booth. By then, the event was almost over. We then hung out, handed out more coffee, talked with more people, and then packed things up. The day was a blast, full of many sights, sounds, and smells. I do want to say thank you to the crew that had so much set up before I got there. It made it easy for an old man like myself.

It was an awesome day to be outside drinking and talking coffee. If you have the time next year you should make an effort to go. There is so much fun to be had by all.

– Shannon Savage, Head Roaster

These terms are being tossed around in the new wave of specialty coffee, but what do they mean?  Besides the obvious difference (single origin coffees come from one origin and blends combine coffees from several origins), it is important to understand what makes each of these types of coffee unique.  They can both be enjoyed equally, but they offer different experiences.

Single origin coffees are often light roasted, and can be best enjoyed when brewed as a pour-over or a Chemex.  These brewing methods allow the complexity of the coffee’s characteristics to shine through.  A cup of a single origin coffee can offer an explosion of flavor with its bright and delicate notes.  However, because of the more delicate nature of these coffees, they don’t tend to hold up very well as espresso.  One may have the sweetness but lack the acidity or the crema.

That’s why we and many specialty coffee shops use blends for espresso.  A roaster will combine specific ratios of coffees from different origins to create a better-rounded, more balanced coffee.  That way, the bitterness of one coffee can be balanced by the sweetness of another.  This also helps in terms of consistency.  By using specific ratios of origins to provide that homey taste of a house blend, or the extra kick of a breakfast blend, roasters can use whatever coffee is on hand and still maintain consistency.

What it all comes down to is preference.  For some, the full, homey taste of a house blend may be all they want for their morning routine.  For others, interest in different coffee regions and flavor profiles may lead them to keep trying new single origin coffees and to venture deeper into the world of coffee.

– Jackie Heider, Springboro DLM

Certified Organic means that a produce has been grown and processed without chemicals and according to strict standards.  Fair Trade is a non-profit organization that offers price guarantees to farmers (of all trades, not just coffee) of a minimum price, connects farmers to importers, and helps craft sustainable farming.

While these concepts are great, certifications can be costly, and quality control can be tricky.  Farmers who create great quality products sometimes do not have the access to certification or the means to pay certification fees.

That’s why we started Boston Stoker Direct Trade, where we travel to coffee-growing regions and trade directly with the farmers face to face.  This allows us to ensure the quality and protection of the coffee, the people, the land, and the community where our coffee is sourced.

We make it a point to visit each farm or cooperative at least once every 2 years.  This way, we are able to build and maintain relationships with the farmers.  We are able to ensure that they are using good, eco-friendly farming practices and protecting the rainforest (several of our coffees are Rainforest Alliance Certified).   We offer price incentives to farmers who are striving for quality, rather than quantity.  We have also begun choosing service projects to help with based on where our efforts are most needed.  The last two years, some of our baristas traveled to Honduras to build houses and help in other service projects.  This has been a great way for our baristas to get involved and meet people who live in some of our coffee-growing regions.

We like to keep business personal.  That’s how you can always know our coffee has integrity and character brewing within it.  Come in and have a taste.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about coffee freshness:

Why the roast date? Since coffee is best enjoyed within a month or so of roasting, the roast date is there to ensure you that this coffee was roasted within the last couple of weeks.

Why whole bean? Coffee is a produce.  Like any produce or spice, once it has been ground, it begins oxidizing, thus losing its natural oils and flavors.  Keeping coffee whole bean and grinding it only as needed helps preserve the coffee and optimizes the fresh flavor. Also, different coffee makers require different grind settings.  We know not everyone brews their coffee the same way, but we can help you find the right grind setting for your preferred brewing method.

What if I don’t have a grinder at home?  We sell various types of grinders at most of our retail locations, or we can grind your coffee for you upon request.

How should I store my coffee? The best way to keep coffee fresh is to store it in a cool dark place in a vacuum-sealed or airtight container.

How long does coffee last? Coffee doesn’t really go bad, but it does lose its flavor over time.  You will enjoy your coffee most within a month or two of roasting with proper storage techniques.

I’m buying coffee for someone as a gift, but I’m not sure if they have a grinder.  Should I get it ground for them just in case? We recommend gifting coffee whole bean to preserve freshness.  If the recipient needs their coffee ground, they can bring it to any of our stores and we’ll grind it for them.   Our commitment to freshness goes beyond great tasting coffee.  We are committed to offering the very best product we can so you can get the most out of your coffee.  That means always keeping it freaky fresh!