It is a busy weekend for Unity Koffee this weekend.  It seems like a nice autumn weekend for everyone to be out and moving around.

 

Oct 8th

 

On Oct 8th join Unity Koffee at Michael's Fresh Market at 1300 E. 47th St Chicago Il from 10:00am - 3:00pm.  The "Coffeeman" will be sampling our Unity Chai Latte.  Please stop over say HI and sample some chai to warm you up.   Along with our product being available on Oct 8th at Michaels, you will also find all your grocery needs in this wonderful family owned store.  It is a touch of "old world open market" to make your shopping experience special.

Michaels Website - http://www.michaelsfreshmarket.net/index.html

Michaels Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michaels-Fresh-Market/209978869031917

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Oct 9th
On Oct 9th join the "Coffeeman" from 10:00am - 4:00pm at Marian Catholic Oktoberfest,  Ashland and Joe Orr Rd, Chicago Height, Il.  Over a 100 vendors will be available selling holiday gifts. 

Marion Catholic Oktoberfest -  http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/illinois/chicago-heights/article_adca635d-6397-5daf-9e0d-6f77b025c173.html

Hope everyone can come out and visit.

Taste of Haiti Benefit

It is hard to believe summer has come to an end. As we head into autumn that means cooler weather and vendor shows. Unity Koffee's first vendor show this fall is with "A Taste of Haiti". At Friendship United Methodist Church 305 East Boughton Road Bolingbrook, Il. From 1:00pm - 5:00 pm. This benefit support the children of Kay Betleem (homeless children in Jeremie, Haiti). We can't think of a better way to start off the season.  

Come out and enjoy the fun. Mama Edie will be there to tell you stories of the culture and history of Haiti. Haitian drumming will be provided by Drumming Master Baba. Face painting, food and art will be available forall to enjoy. Don't forget to stop at Unity Koffee booth to say hi to the "Coffeeman" and for a taste of coffee, chai or tea. 

 

Visit Bethlehem Homes Website - http://www.bethlehemhm.com/

 

Visit Bethlehem Home Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bethlehem-Home/248714166831?sk=wall

 

Visit Unitykoffee.com for upcoming events in your area.

Coffee FAQ

Everyone has questions about coffee. Here are some of the most common:

How were coffee beans discovered?

The most told legend goes that Kaldi, a goat herder, was seeking his flock and found them dancing wildly. The goats were eating a plant’s leave and berries, and Kaldi ate some, and soon felt a surge of energy. A monk noticed this energy, and asked Kaldi about it, who related to the monk what he discovered. The monk picked the plants and brought them back to his monetary, where they were used to keep the monks awake for late night prayer and study.

How coffee beans were actually discovered is unknown, but they originated in the Ethiopia highlands.

Where did “cup of joe” come from?

It’s been said the term was named from Admiral Josephus Daniels, who was appointed as Secretary of the Navy by President Woodrow Wilson. Daniels introduced a number of reforms, including banning alcohol on ships. Sailors were left with coffee, which became known as “joe” in “honor” of the secretary.

 Other theories:

1. “Joe” is a shortening of “jamoke,” a combination of java and mocha.
2. “Joe” is a common man’s name, and coffee is the common man’s drink.

Why does coffee come in a can?

The process began in the 1870s, and since air was not purged before sealing, the products were fresher. The process, with vacuum packing tinned, became common place in the 1900s.

What’s the best way to keep coffee hot?

The best way is to brew a fresh batch each time you want a cup. For shorter time periods, use an insulated thermos.

Why does coffee has a bitter taste?

Good quality beans will have a little bitterness, but it should balance with other aspects. If the coffee sat for too long on a warmer, then it’s been ill-prepared and will be bitter.

Chicago coffee company Unity Koffee offers premium coffee at affordable prices. Try one of their blends by visiting www.UnityKoffee.com. 

How to roast coffee - Part 3

French Roast

Roasted just slightly longer then City Roast will bring you to the French Roast level.  The beans will be slightly darker with more oil present.  This level creates a deep heavy flavor.  Roasting time is 12 minutes.

Espresso Roast

Flirting with the edge of ruin brings you to Espresso Roast.  Simply put, coffee is roasted to its extreme limits.  The beans are nearly black with heavy oils.  Seconds longer and the coffee is destroyed.  You must have a watchful eye on the beans when the clock starts ticking past 12 minutes.

As you can see it takes seconds to make a perfect roasted bean to a terrible roasted bean.   It is the reason many people do not roast their own.  They find the coffee they like and stick with it.  We hope Unity Koffee is one of your favorites.  "The Coffeeman's" , the owner of Unity Koffee,  motto is... "I sell no coffee I would  not drink myself!"     

Please vist us at Unitykoffee.com for a cup of coffee roasted just the way you like it! 

How to roast coffee - Part 2

Vienna Roast

This level of characterized by a slightly deeper color than American Roast.  Small spots of oil will be present on the bean surface.  This level slightly intensifies and brings out flavors that remains hidden at the America Roast level.  This roast level is the most difficult to master, too long in the roaster produces too much oil, too early and no oil will appear. 

Roasting time at this level is 10 -11 minutes.

City Roast
This is the level that most people call Dark Roast.  It should have a deep brown color and heavy oil on the beans surface.  Coffee does not become bitter when roasted darker.  Bitterness in coffee is usually from the poor quality beans or improper roasting.  Dark Roasted should have a heavy, rich flavor.  Never burnt or bitter. 

Roasting time at this level is 11 - 12 minutes

Visit Unitykoffee.com for a cup of coffee!

How to Roast Coffee - Part 1

Here is a little lesson on how to roast coffee.  Over the next three blogs you will see it does not take a great deal of time to roast green coffee beans.  The knowledge of knowing a good coffee bean from a bad coffee bean is the first step.  The second is developing the skill of knowing and understanding the beans and their roasting level.  Learning how to roast takes years to perfect.

Green coffee bean

This is where it all begins for every cup of coffee.   All beans start out as "green" or "unroasted" beans that are selected in one of two ways.  Traditionally beans are picked by hand and the berries  are selected at the peak of ripeness.  The less labor intensive way, the crops are stripped of all the  beans regardless of the ripeness.  After picking the beans, they go through either a dry or wet process method for roasting preparations.

Dry process is the best method to prepare the bean for roasting.  Most African coffee is dried in this manner and is becoming the desired method.   Wet process is a fermentation type process, which yields a milder coffee then the dry process.

Ok, let's start roasting!

Light Roast

This is the roast level that the average coffee drinker has when they go into their local restaurant.  It's also called American Roast because it's the traditional of American styled coffee.   This roast level is the point where coffee beans have achieved their medium brown color without the coffee's natural oils appearing on the surface.  This is also the roast level used for flavored coffee. 

Roasting time at this level is 9 - 10 minutes.

Please visit Unitykoffee.com

Colombian Supremo

Colombian coffees are the ones most familiar to the American coffee drinkers.  It's the coffee you find when you go to your local restaurant in most instances.  It's also a staple on grocery  shelves throughout America.

Though most people are familiar with Colombian coffee, all Colombian coffees are not created equal.  Colombian Supremo is the highest grade of Colombian coffee beans.  This is the coffee that off the shelf brands are trying to imitate but can't quite duplicate.  Supremo beans create a medium bodied, sweet tasting coffee with a rich flavor and aroma.

Try a cup of Unity Colombian Supremo at Unitykoffee.com

Tanzanian Peaberry

   A peaberry coffee bean, which are also called caracol coffee beans or caracolillo, is the result of a coffee cherry producing one oval or pea shaped bean instead of the normal two half beans that are round on one side and flat on the other.   Peaberry coffee beans make up one to nine percent of a coffee crop.  These beans are separated from the rest of the coffee beans and are sold as a premium or gourmet coffee.

Peaberry is normally associated with the Tanzanian coffee bean.  Grown on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, this coffee is recommended for those who prefer a mild, less acidic cup of coffee with a nutty full body flavor.   The berries maybe small but the flavor of the bean is concentrated to give many coffee drinkers the smooth taste they are looking for.


Visit Unitykoffee.com and join us for a cupof coffee.

Our Chai Latte Tea is a Crowd Favorite

The word Chai simply means "tea". Chai Tea Latte is our take on this centuries old beverage that is believed to have originated in India. Our Chai contains as assortment of exotic spices (ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves), carefully blended with non-fat dry milk, creamers, sugar and black tea. This combination produces an exotic, instant product the can be enjoyed hot or cold.

The first step to making our Chai is to always start with a hot liquid such as milk or water. Once the Chai is dissolved in the liquid it is ready to drink as is. If you prefer a cold beverage, either chill the Chai in the refrigerator or pour over a glass of ice for a refreshing cold drink. With the coast of Chai around $2.50 or more at your local coffee shop, ours is a delicious bargain at $6.50 for an 8oz bag.

Some of our customers also use our Chai Tea Latte in their Unity Koffee for an added special flavor that a regular coffee creamer does not provide. Give it a try for a rich, frothy cup of coffee.

Ethiopian Yirgacheffe - Brief History

Legend has it that an Ethiopian goat herder discovered coffee in 850 AD when his flock was restless one night. He discovered that his flock had been eating cherries off coffee trees that grew wild in the area. The red berries gave the sheep a great deal of unexpected energy. The goat herder believed he found something in the red berries, which he shared with a local monastery. After telling the monks his story they scoffed at what he told them and discarded the beans in the fire. Instead of the beans burning they began to roast. The smell of roasting beans filled the air and the monks soon realized the find that they had. Believing hot water would preserve the bean, they placed the bean in boiling hot water for the evening meal. After drinking the bean and water mixture, the monks found a new sense of energy similar to what the goat herder described in his claim.

The story of the goat herder and monks at the monastery makes Ethiopia the birthplace of coffee. Regardless of the stories surrounding the discovery of Yigacheffe, this coffee is the most flavored coffee grown in southern Ethiopia. It's a mild fruit like coffee with floral undertones. If you like a rich, pleasant tasting cup of coffee, absent of the "bite", then Yirgacheffee is for you.

Try out Ethiopian Yirgacheffee at www.UnityKoffee.com for a rich cup of coffee.

A Good Cup of Coffee Means Good Health

Drinking coffee and tea isn’t just a good way to wake up, but a great way to keep in good health. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found drinking coffee helps greatly in warding off prostate cancer, AsiaOne Health reported today. According to AsiaOne:

Men who drank six or more cups per day had a 60 per cent lower risk of developing the most lethal type of prostate cancer and a 20 per cent lower risk of forming any type of prostate cancer compared to men who did not drink coffee, it said.
 Even just one to three cups per day was linked to a 30 per cent lower risk of developing lethal prostate cancer.

The health benefits of coffee have been long known. Besides warding off coffee risks, premium coffee drinkers are:

• Less likely to have Type 2 Diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and dementia
• Less susceptible to certain cancers, heart rhythm problems and strokes
• More unlikely to suffer symptomatic gallstone disease
• More likely to have better short term recall
• Reported to suffer from cardiovascular disease

So, be sure to drink up. If you’re looking for great decaf coffee or coffee beans in Wisconsin, Illinois or Minnesota, give Unity Koffee a try by visiting us at www.UnityKoffee.com. 

What Customers Have to Say About Unity Koffee

Our main goal at Unity Koffee is to provide Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota cappuccino, coffee and tea drinkers with the best product possible. We know we’re doing our job as a coffee company when we get testimonials like this one from Brian H. of Wisconsin:

“I've been a Unity coffee customer for 2-3 months now. I've very pleased to not only say that I've enjoyed the product, but also that I'm a first time ‘grind my own coffee’ person.  I love the different sizes and blends that I can get, and that I can only grind what I need. It's easy to maintain, easy to store, and the product is good!”

We’d love to put your testimonial on www.UnityKoffee.com. Visit us today to discover our products.