FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Our Guiding Principles

1. What do we believe in ?
   We believe in giving our customers the best products and services, and for this reason, we only sell and serve premium quality Arabica beans. We also play a part in helping to improve the quality of life for coffee farmers while promoting the preservation of our natural environment and resources. We also support local artists. Please refer to the About Us section to learn more about our company philosophy.

2. Why do we focus on Organic and Fair Trade coffee ?
   There are several benefits to be gained from consuming these types of products. Organic and Shade-Grown products are generally healthier for our bodies and good for the ecosystem; while Fair Trade guarantees better wages to the coffee farmers. Please refer to the About Us section to gain a fuller understanding of the benefits of supporting such products.

3. Do you use Organic or Fair Trade Certified coffee in your espresso drinks ?
   Yes, we do. Some coffee shops use either Organic or Fair Trade coffee for the espresso drinks at their store. There are also other coffee shops that don't even offer any of these options for their espresso drinks. They only offer them for sale in small quantities in bean form.
   
   At Frescaroma Specialty Delights, we choose to sell and serve coffee made from Arabica beans, are Organic and Fair Trade Certified. This is true for both our drip coffee and espresso drinks served at the store, as well as any ground beans we sell.

4. What type of coffee do you use or sell at Frescaroma Specialty Delights ?
   We only use and sell Arabica type coffee, which is high in quality and contains much less caffeine than other coffee types like Robusta. Please see our FAQ on Facts About Coffee (scroll below) to discover more about the major types of coffee.

5. What other organic products do you offer ?
   The soy milk that we use and most teas that we serve are also organic. We just love things made the natural way, even the Foccacia bread we use for our Panini sandwiches are pure artisan bread, custom baked for us without any artificial preservatives.
   

Facts About Coffee

1. Can you give me a brief history of how coffee got cultivated around the world ?
   It is the world's # 2 most-traded commodity, second only to oil. Coffee was first cultivated in Yemen and then brought by Arab traders from Ethiopia to the port of Mocha. In 1616, Dutch traders began cultivating coffee in Ceylon and Java, and about a century later, coffee was planted in the Royal Gardens in France. The French then spread the seedlings from the Royal Gardens and cultivated them in Martinique. During the 18th century, coffee cultivation spread throughout Central and South America, and then eventually back to Africa.
   
   There are more than 40 countries presently engaged in the cultivation of coffee.

2. What are Robusta and Arabica types of coffee ?
   These are the two most common types of coffee sold in grocery and coffee stores. Robusta coffee carries about twice the amount of caffeine than Arabica, has less aroma and flavor (also distinguishable by the slightly bitter and burned taste), and is grown in large coffee plantations. This accounts for their availability in big volumes and lower prices.
   
   Arabica coffee grows best in regions that have moderate temperature and rainfall patterns, and preferably in very high altitudes. It has the best aroma and flavor, and therefore is used in most specialty and gourmet coffee shops. They are preferred by customers who want real quality in their coffee and don't mind paying a premium price.
   
   At Frescaroma Specialty Delights, we only use and sell Arabica coffee!

3. How many coffee trees are needed to produce coffee beans ?
   A coffee tree takes three to five years to grow, and produces about a pound of coffee cherries. A coffee picker can gather 100 to 200 pounds of these cherries daily, which result in about 20 to 40 pounds for processing into coffee beans (approximately a 20% yield). A sack of coffee normally contains about 600,000 beans.

4. How long does brewed coffee in carafes last before turning stale ?
   Brewed coffee begins to turn stale after 20 minutes in an open-aired environment (i.e., an open-mouthed coffee pot/carafe). This process of turning stale is faster if the coffee is kept warm/heated because heat contributes to the loss of aroma and flavor. You can easily detect stale coffee by its burnt smell and bitter taste. This is why discerning customers prefer not to purchase coffee from places where brewed coffee is not served in tight-lid thermal airpots.

5. How long does ground coffee last ?
   Ground coffee can last for many months, but the quality of its aroma and flavor degrades over time. This is evident when comparing the taste of ground coffee purchased from grocery outlets or other similar places (whose stock may be 5 months old) that sell ground coffee beans in pre-packed coffee bags, versus freshly ground coffee that is purchased from a specialty coffee retailer, whose inventory of coffee beans is lower and is therefore much, much fresher.
   
   At Frescaroma Specialty Delights, we grind and pack your coffee fresh at the time of your purchase!
   

Organic, Fair-Trade & Shade-Grown Coffee Facts

1. What is Organic Coffee ?
   Organic coffees are grown in high altitudes, where the plants are cultivated without the use of harmful pesticides, and thus are healthier for human consumption. Please refer to the Our Products section to learn more about Organic coffee and its benefits.

2. Why does Organic Coffee cost more than non-organic coffee ?
   Organic coffee costs more than its non-organic counterpart because of the extensive manual effort required to grow the coffee plants naturally, including the meticulous selection and handling of coffee cherries. In comparison, non-organic coffee is grown with extensive use of pesticides and chemicals, and handled with mechanized farm equipment. Organic coffee generally costs about $ 0.15 more a pound when purchased from the coffee farmers. This price goes up as the coffee gets traded through brokers and middlemen before reaching end consumers.

3. What is Fair Trade Coffee ?
   Fair Trade coffees are grown by small farm cooperatives, and overseen by the Fair Trade organization. This governing body guarantees that farmers are paid a fair price according to the current market value of coffee. Please read the Our Products section to learn more about how supporting Fair Trade coffee help less fortunate farmers and their families and prevent their exploitation.
   
   
4. Why does Fair Trade coffee cost more ?
   The Fair Trade organization guarantees that coffee farmers get paid the fair market price of at least $ 1.26 per pound of coffee. Compare this to the $ 0.50 price per pound that most multi-national companies and middlemen coffee brokers pay for non-Fair Trade Certified coffee. This is a big difference of $ 0.76 per pound. This extra amount received by Fair Trade farmers help them receive better standards of living.

5. How much more does Organic and Fair Trade coffee cost ?
   Organic and Fair Trade coffee costs about $ 0.91 more per pound when bought from the coffee farmers. Add to that the cost of transporting, processing and roasting the coffee beans, and by the time it gets to your retailer, the final cost can easily be at least $ 1.50 more per pound.

Coffee Brewing Tips

1. What is the most important thing about brewing coffee ?
   About 98% of brewed coffee consists of water, so it is important that you use fresh and filtered or bottled water. Do not use lukewarm, boiling or distilled water for brewing. If possible, a good water filtration system is the best thing to have for brewing good coffee.
   
   At Frescaroma Specialty Delights, we have a Reverse Osmosis water filtration system to remove the impurities in the water, guaranteeing that fresh water gets used in all our drinks.

2. Why does the same coffee taste better when brewed at the store than at home ?
   As mentioned above, water is about 98% of brewed coffee, so it will definitely affect the taste of the coffee brewed at home. The way you grind your coffee (assuming you do it yourself), will also make a difference. If you grind the coffee right before brewing, that will make it taste better. How you store your coffee and how long it has been stored have an impact on the taste as well. Some lower quality coffee machines don't heat the water high enough to be able to extract the optimum taste from the coffee. Finally, the amount of ground coffee you use for your particular coffee machine can affect the taste. Most manufacturers recommend that you always do a full brew, i.e., for an 8-cup machine, use 8 cups of water, since those machines are calibrated to brew their best with a full pot. However, it is understandable that at home, you will not always need 8 cups of coffee (i.e., if you will only drink 2 cups); so brewing the extra cups is not practical because they will just go stale after 20 minutes and get wasted.

3. How much coffee should I buy for my home needs to ensure that I always get a good and fresh taste ?
   This varies on how much coffee you consume daily. Our advice is buy enough for a week's supply, and to buy it from retailers who will grind it for you upon your order, or to purchase your coffee in whole bean and grind it fresh right before brewing.

4. How much coffee should I use for brewing to get the best taste ?
   This varies due to several factors, like the water used, the specific blend of coffee, how you grind the coffee (ie. coarse or fine), your specific coffee machine, etc. Therefore you may need to experiment with different brewing and coffee blend variations to determine the right combination. In general though, you can use 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 8 oz cup of water.

5. What water temperature should be used for brewing coffee ?
   For best results, coffee should be brewed with a water temperature of 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit.