Very good question! We get our Arabica coffee beans from all over the world, but the way we select just the right ones is by the process of “cupping” the coffee beans. Coffee cupping is the process used to evaluate the aroma and taste characteristics of a coffee sample. A distinct method is used when you brew coffee for cupping, and a series of steps after that lead to a complete evaluation of it through the sensations of smell, taste and mouth feel. It’s how coffee roasters like our own roastmaster, ensure that coffee to be purchased is the absolute best.

How Rude!

Sniffing, slurping and spitting may seem rude in some company, but in cupping they’re all necessary and it’s a “take no prisoners” attitude during the process (I’ve done it and it’s actually pretty fun along with being educational). These three Ss are really exaggerated during cupping to make sure the evaluator saturates as many relevant nerve endings as possible with the appropriate stimuli in the specialty coffee (like the sides of the tongue that taste sourness, the tip of the tongue that tastes salt/sweetness, etc.).

The Steps

The first step in the cupping process is the evaluation of fragrance. You take 7.25 grams of coffee beans, grind them, then put them in a sampling cup (like the cups they serve soup in at a diner). The evaluator sniffs this dry coffee vigorously. Next, the sample is brewed by infusion. You heat water nearly to the boiling point (195 º to 205 ºF) and then pour it directly on the roasted gourmet coffee that is ground and placed in a small bowl. The coffee rises to the surface of the water and forms a crust. The grounds then begin to sink to the bottom of the cup as the coffee steeps. This process goes on for 3 to 5 minutes. The cap (crust) is broken, and the liquid is gently stirred to make sure all the particles sink to the bottom of the cup. The remaining grounds are skimmed off the surface and thrown out. Next the fun begins–refer to How Rude! above. This is where all the senses are invoked to make sure you’re getting what you want. It’s not so much coffee drinking (you spit it out after sniffing and slurping it) but more like fine wine tasting–a big difference being that wine tasting doesn’t require as much work and literally “sounds” a little more refined!

You know we’re always talking about how great our gourmet coffee is, but today, the Boca Java coffee company is going to brag about something else. As many of you may know, we are a HUGE supporter of Surfers for Autism-a not-for-profit organization “designed to support the efforts of a collaboration of surfers, volunteers and sponsors dedicated to bringing the sport of surfing to families and children affected by autism.” We even have coffees dedicated to the organization, with a portion of the proceeds from the sales of them going directly to support it. SFA is connected with many national autism organizations, and they do the work of angels.

Autism is Everywhere

It’s hard to find a person who isn’t directly or indirectly affected by autism. In fact, the nephew of a co-worker has Asperger’s syndrome, and the daughter of another has Rett syndrome, which is on the autism spectrum. That’s two people I work with every single day that have been so closely affected by autism. That’s not counting all of the other people I know who have been affected, and that number is high.

What are We Bragging about?

Robbie, that’s who! Robbie Maino is a bright, courageous and oh-so-young man who is making a difference in a big way! He’s the nephew of our COO/VP of operations, Mary, and he is a force to be reckoned with. Robbie has become the “adopted” nephew of everyone here at Boca Java, and we are BEAMING with pride about him, because today, he is addressing the General Assembly in his home state of Virginia! Robbie wrote a letter to his senators and delegates about an autism reform bill that would result in treatment coverage for young children no matter what income level their families are in…and he did it without the knowledge of his parents and with no help from anyone-he simply CC’d his parents when he emailed it to the senators and delegates. Robbie has captivated many in government with his efforts and commitment, and they asked him to address the General Assembly about it. You can read all about it here:

Please join us in saying CONGRATULATIONS ROBBIE…remember us when you become president!

Okay, we are giddy with excitement over here at the Boca Java coffee company. Yes, I used the word giddy. Through the years, our gourmet product line has varied with the ebb and flow of business, customer trends and the like. Sometimes we have to retire certain coffee roasts and flavors to make room for other exciting new specialty coffees. Then sometimes we re-introduce certain roasts and flavors for a very limited amount of time, based on customer feedback and, quite honestly, our own preferences!

FEBRUARY 2011

We’re just about into February, and the beginning of the month marks a VERY thrilling gourmet coffee reintroduction here at bocajava.com. This particular specialty coffee had a bit of a cult following for a number of years, and we just know how happy our customers are going to be when it is announced. I know this is a bit of a tease, and I apologize, but we’re just so excited for its return I just had to leak a little tidbit–and I will tell you not giving any more up is extremely challenging for me. When I was a kid I used to give my dad blatant, dramatic hints about what his birthday and Christmas gifts were, and it was pretty much always English Leather cologne or Fruit of the Loom underwear–but I guess that’s TMI.

Sign up to get an email, LIKE us on Facebook or Follow Us on Twitter to hear the announcement of the returning coffee.

YAY…we can’t wait!

Greetings to all of our coffee-consuming friends! Did you know that tomorrow, January 20, 2011, is National Coffee Break Day? This holi- (holy, for us) day is to commemorate the centennial year of the National Coffee Association being in existence. The NCA’s mission is to keep the coffee industry healthy and thriving, within the US and beyond.

In honor of National Coffee Break Day, the Boca Java coffee company is hosting a coffee social at our “home” in Deerfield Beach, Florida. We do everything here–from roasting, to corporate, to customer service, to fulfillment and shipping. We’re opening up the office and inviting all of our friends and neighbors to come by between 3 and 4 pm ET tomorrow, Thursday, January 20, and get a free cup of our gourmet coffee.

We’re also inviting any companies that want superior coffee to serve in their offices to check out our Boca Java office coffee service. It’s a very economical way to serve superior coffee to employees, and companies who sign up will be entered to win a Cuisinart 12-Cup Grind & Brew Auto Coffeemaker. Plus, any company that signs up will get their 4th month of coffee service FREE!

Whether you’re interested in our office coffee service or not, if you want a free cup of freshly brewed specialty coffee to give you a lift tomorrow afternoon and are able, please come on by and see us…we’d love to meet you!

Location:
Boca Java

730 S. Powerline Road – Suite D

Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442

(Right across from Quiet Waters Park in the Quiet Waters Business Park.

We hope to see you tomorrow!

The Boca Java coffee company started out with a humble beginning; we started shipping our gourmet coffee to individual customers out of our founder’s garage…that was quite a while ago. Now, we are a full-scale specialty coffee roaster with a state-of-the-art facility. And now other businesses are selling our coffee!

Serve the Best Gourmet Coffee in the World to Your Patrons

Although we have a solid customer base of loyal individual customers who brew our specialty coffee for home use, we have an impressive list of restaurants, hotels, coffeehouses, bakeries and other businesses that choose to serve Boca Java coffee to their customers. Once a potential business-to-business (B2B) customer tastes our coffee, it’s pretty unusual for them NOT to make the switch.

Same Fresh-Roasted Coffee No Matter How Big or Small

We only roast our specialty coffee once an order is placed. It’s what sets us apart from other coffee companies, and that’s what we do for our B2B customers too. It’s why their patrons rave about their coffee. Each batch is hand-roasted by our roastmaster, just like all Boca Java coffee.

Recently, we launched a very cool new feature/product here at the Boca Java coffee company. It’s called “My Coffee.” It’s a tool through which you can upload your own images and text to our site, and essentially create your own “brand” of coffee.

Our Coffee, Your Taste

What is really great about My Coffee is that it’s our coffee, with your name and design or photograph on it. We do your gourmet coffee the same way we do all our 100% Arabica coffee beans; we don’t roast them until you place your order. We do 8oz bags and 2oz bags with the price dependent on the quantity you order–you can order as few as five.

An Unforgettable Gift or Memento

The concept of the My Coffee personalized coffee feature came from a desire to create a truly unique gift. Many of us have been to tradeshows, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, etc. and the souvenirs and novelties are pretty much the same time after time. We thought My Coffee would set our customers apart with their events and gift giving. I mean, when was the last time you went to a wedding and had a bag of gourmet coffee with the bride and groom’s names and photograph on it sitting at your seat? We’ve already received great feedback on it, and in fact, some of us in the Boca Java family have created our own specialty coffee for friends and family!

If you get a chance, take a look at My Coffee…it might be a perfect idea for you, your company or someone you know!

Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee and Hawaiian Kona coffee are two of the most sought-after specialty coffees in the world, and the real stuff is truly a taste treasure. When I say “real stuff,” I mean 100% authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain and Hawaiian Kona coffees. Wherever you shop, you’re going to pay a higher price for these gourmet coffees, but buyer beware, the overwhelming majority of it on the market is made up of a blend of coffee-not 100% authentic. In fact, some only consist of 10% Kona, cut with other less expensive coffee. While these blends can and may actually taste decent, if you’re paying a higher price, it should be the real deal. To experience these truly exquisite 100% authentic coffees, you need to do your research.

Why You Pay a Premium Price for Jamaican Blue Mountain and Hawaiian Kona

The climates, nutrient-rich soils and growing conditions of both coffee-growing locations make for exceptional coffee; however, the growing areas are not expansive, and both regions have extremely rigid grading/certification standards. For the relatively small amounts of coffee produced in the regions compared to elsewhere around the globe, only a fraction of the beans meet the exacting specifications for being premium, 100% authentic of each. Combine that with the high demand for these specialty coffees worldwide, and you have a clearer understanding of why they are priced significantly higher.

Rest assured, Boca Java Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee and Hawaiian Kona Extra Fancy coffee are both 100% authentic and some of the most extraordinary gourmet coffee you will ever experience. I think after writing this post, I am going to have to brew a pot of each!

For those of you who didn’t already know, in 2003, we started a program to donate and ship our gourmet coffee to US troops serving around the world. We named it “Operation Million Cup.” We had what we thought was a hugely ambitious goal of sending the equivalent of one million cups of our specialty coffee to the fine men and women serving our country. Well, we hit a million no problem, and boy, were we in for a shock.

How Operation Million Cup Works

What we do is match our customers’ gourmet coffee donations bag for bag, and then ship the boxes to soldiers serving around the world. Customers and service people can email they’re requests for shipments of the coffee to friends and loved ones in any branch of the armed forces at coffeeforthetroops@bocajava.com.

We Salute Our Customers!

Boca Java customers have really stood to attention when it comes to Operation Million Cup. With their help and generosity, the program is as popular and strong as ever, and to date we have exceeded our original goal of one million cups, reaching over (and this is said in booming Oprah’s Favorite Things voice) 7 MILLION CUPS OF COFFEE SENT TO THE TROOPS! Yes, we have managed to ship out 7 million cups of our specialty coffee to the brave men and women serving our country. The reaction from troops serving worldwide has been nothing short of phenomenal, with cards, letters, photos, and flags from appreciative troops everywhere, and that kind of reaction keeps us going strong. 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.”

For more details about the Operation Million Cup or to make a donation, visit http://www.bocajava.com/about-us/troops.jsp.

Thank You Troops!

Okay, I know it’s the time of year when everyone is consuming copious amounts of things they shouldn’t, or normally wouldn’t, but there are some really delicious desserts you can make with our gourmet coffee. From time to time here at the Boca Java coffee company, we have some good-natured contests, and because we are a bunch-I think I can say this with 98% accuracy-of people obsessed with food, many of them have to do with cooking.

Chocolate Mocha Espresso Cheesecake

Mary, our COO, did a fabulous job in one of our cook-offs recently; she made her famous dark roast espresso coffee cheesecake with a mocha chocolate twist. It was an overwhelming hit, inspired by her Italian roots. I am posting it so you can make it at home and impress your friends and family the Boca Java way!

MISS MARY’S CHOCLATE MOCHA ESPRESSO CHEESECAKE

6 oz semisweet chocolate (bag of chocolate bits)
1 ½ lbs (3 packages) cream cheese
½ C sugar
2 large eggs
1 C heavy cream
1/3 C espresso
1 tsp vanilla
Graham cracker crust

- Preheat oven to 350
- Melt chocolate bits in espresso
- Beat softened cream cheese and sugar in mixer
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each egg
- Beat in cream
- Add melted chocolate/espresso slowly and add vanilla
- Mix to blend, do not whip
- Pour into graham cracker crust and bake until set-about 45 min.
- Cool in oven with door cracked open for 1 hr. Remove, then cool to room temperature

Enjoy and Happy Holidays from all of us at Boca Java!

It’s no secret that we have some interesting flavor combinations in our gourmet flavored coffee offering; Maple Bacon Morning, Bananas Foster Float, Atomic Cinna-Buzz, etc. Our roastmaster, has really outdone himself formulating some pretty unusual and delicious concoctions. But the other day I was talking to a friend who came up with some pretty unusual flavor combinations of her own using our coffee.

Pumpkins & Chocolate: A Delicious Duo

Double Dark coffee is one of our most popular gourmet flavored coffees, and it’s my friend’s (and her husband’s) absolute favorite. They literally reserve it for the weekends so as not to fly through it uncontrollably. Well, my friends also like our Pumpkin Paradise coffee too—it’s a seasonal coffee not available all year long and they wait for it with gleeful anticipation every year. They mixed the two flavors together and said it was “just to die for.” I personally never would have thought about mixing those particular flavors but they swear up and down it’s the best thing since sliced bread. They also mixed our Bananas Foster Float coffee with the Double Dark and said it was also a delicious pairing. Again, a combination I wouldn’t have thought to make, but I loved those frozen chocolate-covered bananas growing up so I might find it delish!

Build Your Own Gourmet Flavored Coffee

If you are a fan our flavored coffees, let us know which are your favorites and which you think would go well together as a gourmet flavored coffee. Or, if you have mixed some of our flavored coffees on your own, let us know how it turned out!