Articles

The Folgers Tale: From Humble Beans to Coffee Kings
(and the Starbucks Onslaught)

Ah, coffee! The Folgers tale, and the nectar of the gods. The ambrosia of morning people, the elixir that turns night owls into productive members of society. But how did we arrive at today's caffeine utopia? Let us embark on the tale of Folgers, the brand that came before the now ubiquitous green mermaid began ruling our mornings.

In the Beginning, There was James...

James A. Folger, a young lad of 14, set out on a journey during the California Gold Rush. As we know, not all who went searching for gold found it. James didn't either. Instead, he struck brown gold – coffee beans! (Okay, maybe he found actual gold first, but stick with us for dramatic effect.)

K-pods: The Espresso Shot to the Future!

(or Simply the Universe’s Way of Waking Us Up!)

Oh, the glorious world of coffee! From the days of grinding beans by hand and using elaborate espresso machines to the current age of pressing a button and voila, coffee at your fingertips. The magic behind this revolution? K-pods! But do we really understand these mysterious, tiny capsules of joy? Let’s embark on a journey to unravel the (not so) secret life of K-pods.

1. Tiny Spaceships of Caffeine

Have you ever looked at a K-pod and thought, “This looks like something out of a sci-fi movie?” No? Well, you should! Each K-pod is essentially a tiny spacecraft delivering caffeine to the far-reaching corners of our groggy brains. They are our very own heroes in a half shell, Turtle Power (caffeinated turtle, of course). Beam us up, Scotty!

2. One Size Does Not Fit All (Except Here)

Remember those childhood toys where you had to fit the square peg in the square hole? Well, K-pods are the grown-up version, only they always fit! With so many brands and flavors, it's like having the Willy Wonka factory in your kitchen. Only instead of chocolate rivers, we have rivers of coffee. Someone get me an oompa loompa barista, STAT!

Discover the Magic of Instant Solo Coffee Makers: The Ultimate K-Cup Coffee Maker Guide Waking up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee is one of life's most delightful sensations.…

The Ultimate Guide to the Best At-Home Coffee and Coffee Makers

Ah, coffee – the daily elixir that jumpstarts our mornings, fuels our mid-day slumps, and provides comfort on a chilly evening. For many, the journey to the perfect cuppa starts right in the comfort of their kitchen. If you're a home barista or just a coffee enthusiast looking to upgrade your morning ritual, you're in for a treat. In this guide, we will explore the best at-home coffee makers and the kinds of coffee they produce. Let’s dive in.

Why Invest in the Best At-Home Coffee Makers?

Before we dive into the details, let's address the essential question - why should you invest in a home coffee maker? Well, the reasons are manifold:

McDonald's Coffee Pods: A Convenient and Sustainable Brewing Solution

Introduction McDonald's is a global fast-food giant known for its burgers and fries. However, they have taken a step further into the coffee market by introducing their own line of coffee pods. In this blog article, we will explore the convenience and sustainability aspects of McDonald's coffee pods. We'll be diving into their benefits, environmental impact, and overall contribution to the coffee industry. Let's take a closer look.

1. The Convenience of McDonald's Coffee Pods

• McDonald's coffee pods offer a quick and effortless way to brew a cup of coffee, making them ideal for busy individuals or those on the go. My self, I only use coffee pods on the weekend. However, on weekdays I brew a full pot of McDonald's coffee in in my drip maker, and sip it all day long.
• They are compatible with a wide range of coffee machines, ensuring accessibility to a broad consumer base. I use a Keurig machine here at home, but at work I use a compatible Instant Pot Solo Single Serve coffee maker, exactly the one pictured below!
  
• The pre-measured coffee grounds in each pod eliminate the need for measuring and grinding, simplifying the brewing process. This makes a delicious cup every time!

Right, so February is here, which means Valentines Day, and besides the bawdry aspects, February is also for coffee lovers! Coffee Lovers Rejoice! This about it, coffee doesn't judge. Nor…

Coffee Beans Cha Cha Cha

While thinking of a title for this entry I remembered the Coffee Beans Cha Cha Cha Western Airlines TV commercial, the one where the cartoon bird, (parrot?) is riding on top of a Western Airlines plane, sitting with his back against the vertical stabilizer (most people would call this the rudder, but the rudder is the movable area at the tail end of the vertical stabilizer) while a steward or stewardess brings him cool things while on his flight. The end of the commercials, which sometimes featured hand made pizza, or a lion tamer for entertainment, or whatever, always ended with "Western Airlines, the only way to fly". It wasn't, and still isn't, but whatever.

One of these commercial had the steward dancing towards the bird passenger (birdssenger?) in a poncho and sombrero, I think, singing "Coffee beans, cha cha cha, coffee beans cha cha cha..." followed by the bird with a cup of delightful coffee and saying his famous line about Western being the only way to fly. That commercial more than any other stuck with me. Gosh, the things I remember. We'll be back to coffee stuff after the jump...

Anyhow, that became the title, and I tried to find a video clip of this commercial but could not, for whatever reason.

Back to coffee now. And coffee beans.

Drive Through Coffee or Make At Home?

I'm always amazed, astounded really, when I drive past a coffee joint with a drive through and see dozens of cars lines up, idling, waiting to place or pick up their order. Of course largely I'm speaking of Starbucks, the heavyweight champion of the world as far as coffee purveyors with drive through windows.
Now don't get me wrong, I do not begrudge Starbucks success, they were likely inspired in their founding by my great aunts' Ella And Nora's Coffee Tea and Spice store in Pikes Place in the 1950's. My father worked for my aunts as well for a time. Interestingly the first Starbucks, also in Pikes Place, had coffee, tea, spices, also sold in bulk.

Maybe it is due to the 10+ years I lived in Claremont, California, and the fact that up until I moved away drive thrus of all kinds were banned in order to reduce smog, urban craziness, unsightly messiness, what have you. Drive through Mc Donalds? Next city over. Claremont had other rules too in order to raise the bar and control the city, such as no overnight street parking, but that is a blog post for another blog on another day.

Back to my coffee amazement.

Good Mornings Start With Coffee

I am Full Blown Caffeinated, a term I will abbreviate in the future as FBC to differentiate between a Pre-Coffee Condition (the dreaded PCC) and Post Coffee Awesomeness (the always welcome PCA). I just finished my 3rd large mug of this fine, but chilly, Sunday morning, and thankfully am thawing and awakening. What am I drinking today? Same as most mornings, and yes, I am aware that the coffee snobs out there will  jeer my rather pedestrian selection but I don't care: Folgers Black Silk.
Why? It's delicious, packs a decent punch, I can make it at home, it's inexpensive, and it's delicious enough to state twice it's deliciousness.

7 Things About Chobani Coffee

Tasty or Nasty?

Chobani seems to have their hands in a LOT of products lately, but how is the Chobani coffee? Well, with the support of our resident taste tester, you're about to find out. At the bottom of this article is his video review!

Product Line Expansion

Provided you have been paying attention, and an alarming number of people do not, a topic for another time, then you have seen the expansion of product lines everywhere. And Chobani, with their Chobani coffee, and other products, is no exception. 

This includes the bastardization of a good many long-established products, as well as odd, but not always unpleasant, combinations of flavors and brands. A couple great examples of this is Lay's Cool Ranch Doritos Flavor potato chips, and Coca Cola Starlight. 

I get it