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The Truth About Decaf: Why Swiss Water Process Matters
Hey there, coffee lovers! đ Happy June! As the days get longer and the Florida sun starts to really turn up the heat, weâre all looking for ways to keep our energy up and our coffee cups full. But letâs be real: sometimes you want that rich, comforting ritual of a pour-over at 8:00 PM without the "staring at the ceiling at 2:00 AM" consequences. This brings us to a topic that has historically divided the coffee world: Decaf. For a long time, decaf was the "red-headed stepchi
small beanz coffee co.
Jun 305 min read
Mastering the French Press: 5 Steps to a Better Cup
Hey there, coffee lovers! âď¸ If youâve ever looked at that glass carafe sitting in the back of your cabinet and wondered why your home brew tastes like a muddy puddle while your local shopâs French Press is rich, velvety, and sweet: you arenât alone. The French Press (or "cafetière" if youâre feeling fancy) is one of the most iconic brewing methods in the world. Itâs a full-immersion brewer, meaning the coffee grounds sit in the water for the entire duration of the brew. This
small beanz coffee co.
Jun 164 min read
Why is My Coffee Getting More Expensive? (The Coffee C Market Explained)
Hey there, coffee lovers! đ If youâve been reaching for your favorite bag of beans lately and noticed the price tag looking a little different than it did a year or two ago, you aren't alone. Weâve been getting a lot of questions at the farmers markets and through our online store: "Why is the price of coffee going up?" Itâs a fair question. At small beanz coffee co., weâre all about making specialty coffee approachable and transparent. We believe you should know exactly wha
small beanz coffee co.
Jun 95 min read
Decaf Doesn't Have to Suck: The Truth About Specialty Decaf in 2026
Letâs address the elephant in the roasting room: the phrase "Death Before Decaf." For decades, this was the unofficial motto of coffee enthusiasts everywhere. Decaf was the "un-coffee": a bitter, chemical-laden afterthought that tasted more like paper than plants. If you were a serious coffee drinker, youâd rather have a headache than a cup of decaf. But hereâs the truth: Itâs 2026, and that myth is officially dead. At small beanz coffee co., weâve seen the specialty decaf ma
small beanz coffee co.
Jun 94 min read
Cold Brew vs. Japanese Iced Coffee: The Summer Showdown
Hey there, coffee lovers! âď¸ Welcome to June in Florida. If youâre anything like us at small beanz coffee co., youâve probably noticed that the Tampa humidity is officially back in full force. When the thermometer starts creeping toward triple digits, that steaming morning mug of pour-over starts looking a little less like a comfort and a little more like a chore. But just because itâs hot doesn't mean you have to settle for watered-down dregs or overpriced, sugary "iced" dri
small beanz coffee co.
Jun 65 min read
Looking For Ethical Coffee Beans? Here Are 5 Things You Should Know
For most of us, coffee is a morning ritual: a comforting steam rising from a favorite mug that kickstarts the day. But have you ever paused to think about the journey those beans took to get to your kitchen? Behind every bag of specialty coffee is a complex global supply chain involving thousands of hands, from the farmers who tend the trees to the roasters who perfect the profile. In the world of coffee, the term "ethical coffee beans" gets tossed around a lot. You see label
Bryce Mead
Apr 305 min read
What IS Specialty Coffee?
â What Makes Coffee “Specialty”?
1. Graded 80+ by Q Graders
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It must score 80 points or above on a 100-point scale by certified coffee tasters (Q Graders).
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Flavor, aroma, acidity, body, balance, and absence of defects are assessed.
2. Grown in Ideal Conditions
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Specialty coffee is typically grown at high altitudes, with rich soil and ideal climate conditions.
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Often from regions like Ethiopia, Colombia, Kenya, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.
3. Traceable and Ethically Sourced
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You can trace the coffee to a specific farm, farmer, or cooperative.
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Ethical practices such as fair prices, sustainability, and direct trade are common.
4. Expert Processing
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The cherries are handpicked at peak ripeness and carefully processed (washed, natural, or honey methods).
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This preserves the bean’s distinct flavor characteristics.
5. Craft Roasting
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Roasters highlight the bean's unique origin flavors, not mask them.
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Often small-batch roasting with precision and testing.
6. Brewed with Care
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Specialty coffee is typically brewed with attention to detail — pour-over, Chemex, AeroPress, espresso, etc.
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Water quality, temperature, and grind size all matter.
â
đŹ Think of it this way:
Specialty coffee is to regular coffee what craft beer is to cheap lager. It's about quality, story, and experience — not just caffeine.
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