Boca Java Coffee Blog

One out of every eighty eight children born today may have Autism. Autism has become the fastest-growing, serious developmental disability in the U.S.

Why, you may ask, am I throwing these facts your way? Well, April is Autism awareness month and serves as an important reminder to recognize this is a serious issue that affects a great number of families in our communities.  As many of you know, Boca Java’s mission is to support non-profit organizations that create awareness for issues such as this – with what we call “Coffees for a Cause”. What can we say – supporting great causes makes work a little less like “work” and there’s really nothing better than putting smiles on faces!

That’s why we partnered with SFA (Surfer’s for Autism) a few years ago.  SFA has been on a mission to bring autism awareness to the world while, at the same time, enriching the lives of young people and families who have been affected.  Their mission is “to unlock the potential of people with developmental delays, support advocacy for autism issues and scientific research.”  They are committed to “eliminate stigma through public awareness and education and to unite communities through volunteerism”. Read more here.

I have had the pleasure of getting to know SFA founders, Don and Kim, who are definitely the real deal. Their passion is contagious – which, by no surprise, makes it very easy to get behind this cause to which they have dedicated their lives.

It seems like just yesterday I went to my first Surfers for Autism event.  We were up very early in the morning, blurry eyed, but excited about the day’s events. Not really knowing what to expect, we just started brewing coffee and got our tent set up for what we assumed would be thousands of people at the beach needing a great cup of joe.  If you’re wondering…yes, we brewed Iced Coffee to fit perfectly with the warm and sunny beach day.  It was a great event and such a great experience.  The best part was getting out in the water with all the young children affected by autism and helping them create great memories while catching some waves. Sometimes I wondered who was having more fun, the volunteers or the little ones standing on surf boards.

Over the years I have met some great kids and parents, like “big wave” Spencer (featured on one of our SFA Coffee bags). The innocence that resonates from these kids is unlike anything I have ever experienced. I have seen firsthand how lives are changed and how the smile on these kids’ faces provokes emotions that last forever. Even the parents of these children benefit as they make lifelong friends each event – taking comfort in the realization they’re not the only families affected by Autism and they don’t have to face it alone.

My experience made me even more excited about how easy it is for our Boca Java customers to get involved in supporting this amazing cause.  Whether or not you can make it to an event, donate money or time, you can make a difference by simply buying a bag of SFA coffee that supports the cause.  Our Coffee for a Cause  – SFA Coffee program donates $1 from every bag purchased directly to the SFA organization to directly benefit those affected by Autism. We invite you to help us continue to support them by enjoying our coffees inspired by the spirit of hope, help and happiness that this remarkable organization provides.

You can read more about SFA and what they are doing here or check them out on Facebook. I encourage you to act today and choose to make a difference with your morning cup.

Hi Everybody,

My name is Seth, one of the newest members of the Boca Java Family and expert customer handler! What does that mean? It means, if you “Contact Us” there is a good chance you will speak with me. Being your direct connection here at Boca Java, I want to add a “newer-to-coffee” perspective to bloggers fuel. I will do my best to answer some of those questions that I hear, that maybe you never wanted to ask.

Having, to some extent, a limited experience in the coffee world-prior to joining the Boca Java family-I have started to submerge myself in this world of coffee culture. I have loved gleaning tid-bits of knowledge from the experts I am surrounded by. Learning the differences in the types of beans-from origins all over the world, in how roasting affects the beans, the reasoning for specific packaging, how different methods of brewing can change flavors, etc. As a self proclaimed “coffeephile,” I am on a mission to be a great “connoisseur” in the coffee industry. As my experience expands, I find that all of my friends have questions for me. One of the most common is what I wanted to address in today’s blog.

“Why don’t you guys offer K-Cups?”

What a loaded question… for so many coffee connoisseurs, aficionados, experts, and lovers out there the answer is simple. For those of us just learning to “tread the waters,” I would like to share some of what I have learned. Let’s start with what makes a great coffee experience…

1. A Comfortable Spot
2. Your Favorite Mug
3. Freshness
4. Balance (The way flavors blend together)

It would be super fun to expound on what each of those means… maybe in another blog. However, what is important to our discussion today is what I believe to be the most important part of a great coffee experience: Freshness. Right now, you may be thinking, “Seth, you’re rambling… stay focused. You’re supposed to be talking about K-Cups…” Seriously, if you knew me you would think that, but have patience, I am getting there.

Did you know that fresh roasted coffee releases carbon dioxide? Now, stay with me here… I do have a point. As you will notice on our packaging and on many coffee producers there is a one way valve. I always thought that was there to allow you to smell the coffee, nope. It turns out that valve/vent is there, because many companies package their coffees fresh and need that valve to release the carbon dioxide build up. Feeling smarter, right? Now, to connect the dots!

The K-Cup concept is great for convenience: Single packet coffee, specialty machine to produce the coffee quickly, no mess clean-up, no extra coffee wasted. These are all nice little benefits… but at what cost? As I am sure you are aware the K-Cup is a fully sealed package… now, if fresh coffee is releasing CO2… where does the CO2 go in a K-Cup? The truth is… there is hardly any carbon left in the K-Cup coffee. In order to package a K-Cup and avoid combustion, the coffee must be commercially “staled.” What do I mean by “staled?” There may be several ways to do this, but probably the most effective way is to grind the fresh roasted beans and have them put into a machine to agitate, or continually stir them. This causes the CO2 to release, meaning “not fresh” coffee.

In conclusion, Boca Java has always taken pride in delivering a “Fresh” experience to our customers. That being the case, we cannot-while maintaining our motto “Redefining the perfect cup”-offer our products “staled.” So, while we are looking at new ways and partnerships for single serve options of our coffee. I feel confident in saying; do not expect our products to be produced in the form of a K-Cup, at least for now… BUT stay tuned for future K-Cup updates as we are currently working on a solution. DO keep up with us on Facebook, Twitter, and our website: www.bocajava.com, so you know when the new products come out!

I hope this was as enjoyable for you all, as it was for me. Good luck in your journey towards your “perfect cup!”

Always at your service,

- Seth

Did you know Coffee is the second most traded commodity on the planet? There is a reason for this, right? Since the discovery of coffee many generations ago, we have perfected the way we grow, harvest, roast and brew this unique beverage. One thing that hasn’t changed though is its ability to bring us together and put a smile on our face with every sip. From the first coffee shops to open in the 1600 hundreds, to the fancy espresso bars we see today, coffee has been the unifying element. It has an allure about it, a seductive magnetism that draws you in to a special club where it’s cool to drop your guard and engage with complete strangers. When alone it can drag you into a mesmerizing field trip to its origin where you meet the farmers and experience an exotic land. You visualize the hard work done by each craftsman along the journey and you begin to appreciate the experience that much more. Maybe it just eliminates the blur in the morning and elevates you to the right place? Whatever your reasons may be I think we can all agree that Coffee solves everything and makes us better people.

Here at Boca Java we’re spoiled with the ability to drink fresh roasted coffee every day. We don’t take this for granted however because before working here we were all exposed to stale, boring coffee that didn’t give us the contentment we so desired. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day I thought I would I ask what my colleagues love about coffee and why they consume it every day. Although answers varied, most agreed their cup is even better when shared with someone.

Top 9 reasons the Boca Java family drinks coffee:

1) I drink coffee just because it is delicious; 2) Started drinking coffee as a kid since my family did; 3) The depth of flavor; 4) The socialization aspect of sharing a cup and conversation; 5) The smell of fresh roasted, freshly brewed coffee; 6) The aroma in the morning to start the day; 7) The way we can connect with exotic origins through the bean that we may not be able to travel to; 8.) The perk or jolt it gives you; 9)  The warmth it provides on a cold day.

Maybe your reasons for consuming coffee each day are totally different, but we hope you share the same passion as we do. Grab an extra cup today and share the love with someone else. We would love to hear from you so stop by our Facebook page or Twitter and give us some feedback as to why you love Coffee so much.

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Boca Java.

We wanted to give a big THANK YOU to everyone for your continued support of Boca Java’s Coffee for the Troops Program. From Veteran’s Day through Thanksgiving, we were able to donate an additional 130,000 cups of coffee to our military men and women serving honorably around the world.

“You have no idea how much a simple cup of good brewed coffee means to the men and women serving in these very dangerous and harsh environments”

In Oct 2003, one of the Troops in Iraq contacted us requesting a coffee donation. The letter went on to explain there were many things the troops have to go without, but a few things, like a good cup of coffee would really be appreciated. We mailed out several boxes and received an email back in Nov 2003 that showed us how much they appreciated it. From that point forward we’ve been sending regular shipments to the Troops and we continue to get tremendous feedback on how much they love it.

In 2005, we expanded our donation program, formally launching OPERATION MILLION CUP, and invited our customers to send an 8 oz bag of coffee to the Troops. The program has been such an overwhelming positive experience for both our military serving honorably overseas and for us internally as a company; and the results speak for themselves. This program connects Boca Java customers directly with our U.S Troops by proudly serving the best gourmet coffees available and shipping directly to our Troops overseas. Customers purchase and/or donate coffee, we roast, pack, ship and manage the process of fresh coffee drops to the front lines. Help us give a welcomed piece of home to our military men and women around the world, one cup at a time.

In 2011, Boca Java achieved two milestones: Surpassing 7.5 Million Cups donated and forging a new partnership with the USO. To date, Boca Java and our loyal customers, have purchased or donated over 7.5 MILLION cups of gourmet coffee to our U.S. Troops serving honorably overseas. We’re at a point where we’re pinching ourselves to see if this is all just a dream. Our customers have risen to the occasion of helping us support the troops to such an unimaginable extent that it really does seem like a dream. With your help, we have been able to bring so many of our soldiers a little comfort from home.

Boca Java matches customer donations of coffee, bag for bag, and ships it at our own expense to Troops all over the world. We even feature a special coffee blend developed with U.S. Troops in mind, “Brew of Bravery.” In the words of Lt. Col. Mitch B., “There are two things I look forward to in the morning: a good cup of Joe and no reports of injuries during the night”.

Boca Java would like to formally invite you to join us on our new mission: Operation 10 Million Cups and our new 2012 partnership with the United Service Organization’s USO2GO Program.

We have included some pictures from our recent drop at the Denver International Airport (DIA) USO Center, which serves over 250,000 military personnel and their families every year.

** Thank you again for your continued support of our Coffee for the Troops Program. Find out how you can say “Thank You” to our brave Military Men and Women here.

With the season of Giving in full swing, we would like to share some more good news of how – with your support – we have been able to give back. We mentioned in part-3 of this series that we were ready to load up a container full of medical supplies and ship to Jinotega, Nicaragua. We’re thrilled to announce that the day has finally come to load a 40 foot long container with over $400K of humanitarian aid and medical supplies!

I was blown away to see the vastness of the Project C.U.R.E. warehouse that stores all of the donated medical supplies and equipment. Walking in you get that feeling of being a part of something bigger than yourself. Volunteers greet the day with smiles knowing they will be assisting people around the globe with their efforts. A quick chat with one volunteer reminded me that the work put forth here in Denver could be saving a kid’s life in Somalia or helping a family in Nicaragua. Project C.U.R.E.  serves over a 130 countries by providing necessary medical equipment and supplies to impoverished regions. These are Hospitals and clinics that are in need of the most basic supplies and equipment just to help their patients.

Today, with the your help and generosity, our Coffee for a Cause – Project C.U.R.E. Coffee program is ready to load out a 40 foot container and get it to the community of Jinotega, Nicaragua. Four hundred thousand dollars worth of medical supplies looks to be a hefty load, so definitely no space can be wasted (think real-life Tetris). Most of this equipment includes things that we may take for granted as we frequent hospitals and clinics in our own communities. The impact it will make at its destination, where it will surely be met with gratitude, will last forever. Much needed beds, nebulizers, dentist chairs, needles, monitors, gurneys, Crutches, IV poles, tables, medicine, stethoscopes, baby bottles, sutures, oxygen masks, and so much more packed away for the journey to Hospital Victoria Motta and San Raphael Clinic in Jinotega. Included as well are a thousand C.U.R.E. kits for kids and a Croc’s donation of shoes and boots! Shortly after this container arrives in Jinotega, a team of Doctors and nurses will also show up to train staff and help set up the equipment. What an exciting and rewarding day to just be a part of something so stupendous.

Thank you for making this possible and for your continued support of our Project C.U.R.E. Coffee program. If you haven’t already, read more here and see how you can help us get the next container filled.

As a roaster I have the privilege of cupping and drinking all the coffee we have to offer at Boca Java. Coffee being an agriculture crop like any other will change a bit from time to time. So much goes into that cup that it’s virtually impossible to produce the same exact cherry from harvest to harvest. Climate conditions at origin play a major role as well as soil conditions which take their orders from previous weather patterns. Most farmers we source from do a wonder job at producing consistently great beans each harvest and that allows us to keep a consistent cup profile.

I like to brew each coffee as many ways as I can to see what new characteristics I’m missing. The concept would be the same if you took a piece of meat and cooked it several different ways. Your palate would be treated to various tastes brought out by the cooking method. I’ve been loving our washed Ethiopian crop as of late. This Adulina Ethiopia Sidamo ECX (Ethiopia Commodity Exchange) lot is a blend of multiple small farm holders’ coffees that just happen to be processed together. It hails from the Sidamo Province of Ethiopia and offers some exotic, rich fruity flavors when brewed via a Pour over.

A pour over is a manual brew option consisting of a cone, filter, and of course filtered water. The cone will restrict the flow of the water to help control the water-coffee contact time. As you pour your properly heated water (196-203) evenly over the coffee grounds (grind looks like granulated salt for this one) it will start to bloom. Don’t be afraid to stick your face in there and smell the aromas. Generally, a pour over will leave you with a nice clean, sweet cup. With the proper extract time (3-4 minutes) and the correct grind you can create a “must have another” drinking experience.

** I challenge you to try some different brewing methods with your coffee and see if you can taste the difference. Here is how to make a proper pour over.

Getting started:

I like to start boiling the water; pre wet the paper filter and then put the filter in the cone. This will get rid of any paper taste. Place the cone over your cup or carafe and your ready to start.

1. Measure out your freshly ground coffee. You should use a medium grind (think granulated salt here) preferably with a burr grinder (blade grinders chop up the coffee and make it uneven).  Use somewhere between 23-25 grams of coffee per 8oz of water (roughly 3 tablespoons).
2. Add your ground coffee to the pre-wet filter.
3. Take the water (196-203 F or a few seconds off boil) and begin to gently pour over the grounds (a lot easier with a kettle). As you saturate all the grounds you will see it start to bloom. I like to fill about ¾ of the way and wait until it drips through. You may have to repeat this process a few times depending on the size of your cup. The total time should take about 3-4 minutes.
4. Enjoy!

Tomorrow when you sit down to carve that Turkey or block of Tofu, take a moment (no longer then that) and give thanks for all the new opportunities/possibilities that you let slip by this year. Don’t be dismayed by your lack of motivation or ambition, it happens. All the projects you’ve yet to tackle, the shows you forgot to record, the oil changes, yard work, the Hospice visits and whatever other chores you deemed important shall no longer plague your soul. It was never your fault anyways. Someone at some point turned you on to mediocre coffee, which has simply enabled your lack of ambition. We would like to help, but it requires you taking action. Check the dealio’s we have rolling this weekend and treat yourself to some gourmet, freshly roasted coffee. Give your taste buds and olfactory senses the spark it deserves. Brew a cup, relax and then grab that bucket list.

** On behalf of the Boca Java family we sincerely do wish you a safe and fun filled Thanksgiving!!

With so many great deals posted online over Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s hard to know which ones are really good values. This coming Friday 11/23, be sure to visit our website (click on the Boca Java Black Friday image) and take advantage of the great deals of up to 45% OFF on gourmet coffee, tea and cocoa.

The history of Veterans Day dates back to World War I.   WWI may have officially ended in June, 1919, but the fighting stopped on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.  For many years after the Great War, Nov 11 was celebrated as Armistice Day.  In 1954, the word “Armistice” was forever changed to “Veterans” and November 11th became a day to honor all American Veterans of all wars.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls.  On November 11th, let’s take a moment to reflect on the important purpose of this day and those that gave so much to protect our Freedom.  Veterans Day is a patriotic celebration of honoring America’s veterans for their heroism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
There are many ways for everyone to get involved and Support Our Troops this Veterans Day. You can get directly involved with support organizations; make donations to military-centric causes, or how about just shaking the hand of one who has served this great country. Here at Boca Java we have been honoring an 8 year strong commitment to our Troops stationed around the world. Operation 10 Million Cup has donated over 7,845,000 cups of coffee to our U.S. Troops since inception…and still counting! We are so blessed to have customers that support a company and their philanthropic cause to get every soldier a fresh, hot cup of coffee. There is no way this gets done without your support.

The USO (United Service Organizations) lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide.  The USO provides a touch of home, and critical support services to U.S. Troops through USO centers at airports, in the field and military bases globally.  In 2012, Boca Java partnered with the USO to bring fresh roasted coffee to our men and women serving honorably in our U.S. Military.  You can read more about our Operation 10 Million Cup and USO Partnership here.

** For Veterans Day, we prepared a very special deal to send two bags of fresh roasted coffee to the Troops, while getting a fresh roasted bag for        yourself, all at one low price. Check it out here