So, we have been getting a lot of questions about the new AeroPress models shipped last August. People are wondering what happened to the old cloudy blue model AeroPress (the model they had come to love) and what’s the deal with the new clear models. At the WCP™ we love our Aeropress and wanted to know as well; here’s what we learned

The good folks at Aerobie have a few reasons why they changed the plastic they use in the AeroPress.

New clear AeroPress made of copolyester plastic

Probably the greatest reasons Aerobie saw fit to changing the plastic used in their AeroPress design was that there were worries that the high humidity and temperature resistant polycarbonate, used to make the chamber and plunger of the AeroPress, might be prone to leaching BPA. At the World Coffee Project™, we have to admit that some members on our team were also concerned with this very issue, but overlooked this concern for reason that the AeroPress produced such a superior cup of coffee.

As for the older, cloudy blue AeroPress models, these did contain phthalates, though they were never shown to contain any signs of the dreaded BPA. When the people at Aerobie had the Aeropress tested by an independent lab, they found that, even in a well used AeroPress, there was absolutely no amount of BPA traceable.

So, if you’re asking yourself, does my old AeroPress contain BPA, the answer is no.

With all that said about BPA, the people at Aerobie still decided on a copolyester plastic for their newest model, and there were two reasons for this. First, even though there were no traces of BPA in the original AeroPress, the people at Aerobie thought that the new material would take away perceived risks associated with BPA, and second, the new material would allow the company to make a clear model. Unlike it’s old-school, cloud blue counterpart, the people at Aerobie thought that the new material would give the coffee maker a more appealing look and allowed one to get a better look at their brew.

For more information check out the Aerobie website at: www.aerobie.com

The Roasterie, in Kansas City, is doing more than serving up a great cup of coffee, their making a difference in the local and global community. As a coffee company and roastery, The Roasterie is engaged in a crop to cup effort to share and nurture communities. In the KC area alone, The Roasterie is engaged in donating products, time and resources to over 150 local charities each year. The list of charities these guys are working with is extensive and includes the:

Local Opera, Kansas City Symphony, Chamber Orchestra, KCUR Public Radio, KCPT Public Television, National Kidney Foundation, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Leukemia Foundation and March of Dimes, just to name a few.

Just yesterday The Roasterie took part in a blood drive with a Give Blood Get Coffee campaign where it gave out a free bag of coffee to everyone who volunteered to give blood.

The Roasterie is also committed to serving the global community and this can be seen by the companies creation of the St. Drogo Foundation, named after the patriot saint of coffee. The foundation helps the local communities that produce The Roasterie’s coffees. In many cases The Roasterie pays up to 4 times the price offered by the commercial industry, and gives back a portion of every bag sold, to the communities it buys form. By partnering with other organizations The Roasterie has been successful in providing children with education and health facilities for its coffee growing communities.

If you see The Roasterie’s products or are around the KC area, we would suggest that you should check them out, and if you do, we would love to hear your thoughts.

Find The Roasterie on the web or learn more about how they are standing by their mission: Taste good, do good at www.theroasterie.com

Though we can’t vouch for their coffee (we would love to review a bag or hear form any of you who have), the World Coffee Project™ team was intrigued by Fireman’s Brew and love how the company is caring for the families of fallen firefighters’.

Fireman’s Brew 3 Alarm Blend & False Alarm Blend

Founded by Los Angeles firefighter Rob Nowaczyk, Fireman’s Brew is a mean cup of coffee that is not for the faint of heart. This Coffee is dark roasted and made with 100 percent Arabica coffee beans from Costa Rica and Colombia. The 3 Alarm Blend is all you would expect from a cup roasted with firefighters in mind. This French Roast is made to kick start your day. The Fireman’s Brew also offers a decaf blend dubbed False Alarm Decaf, which is also roasted in the French tradition.

At the World Coffee Project™ we love the commitment Fireman’s Brew has to serving their community. We also love how Fireman’s Brew has established a relationship with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in Emmitsburg, Maryland and helps aid them in their mission of honoring fallen firefighters by provide resources that assist their families. A portion of every sale Fireman’s Brew makes is donating to the foundation. The Fireman’s Brew also takes  part regularly in other fund raising events in the California area and beyond.

For you dark roast fans, purchasing a bag of Fireman’s Brew 3 Alarm Blend, could be a great way to give back to the firefighters that protect our communities. Visit them on the web at Fireman’s Brew Coffee or give them a call at 877-883-BREW and get your own bag today.

The Wondo Worka Cooperative is home of one of our favorite Ethiopian Yirgacheffes from the Sidamo region and is quickly becoming a favorite of many in the specialty coffee industry, who have come to love this beautiful cup with lingering floral aromatics and notes of fruit and berries.

Ken David describes the cup as having:

Intense, bright aroma: tart coffee cherry, honey, a hint of fir, flowers. In the cup tartly sweet acidity, honeyish mouthfeel and flavor, with molasses, pipe tobacco and deep, rose-like floral notes. Very sweet, fruit-saturated, perfectly clean finish… A dramatically light roast liberates both acidity and sweetness and allows an unusual honey, molasses and rose-like floral character full expression.

With reviews like this it’s no wonder that the Wondo Worka Cooperative has became a favorite source for many of the specialty coffee industry’s leading roasters including: Counter Culture Coffee, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Caffe Pronto Roastery and many more.

The following is a video we have, complements of Stumptown Coffee Roasters, of the Wondo Worka Cooperative in Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia. We’re a big fan of the work happening with this cooperative and how the specialty coffee industry has rallied behind them. This is a cup worth tracking down and if you can’t find it in your local cafe we suggest tracking down your own bag on line.

We recommend a bag of Caffe Pronto’s Wondo Worka which recently received a 92 point rating by Ken David on Coffee Review. Caffe Pronto Roastery is located in Annapolis, Maryland and be found in many fine cafes. You can also order your own bag directly at: http://www.caffepronto.com

Recently during a visit to the Mid-Atlantic some of our team had the pleasure of visiting the Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company in Crofton, Maryland, and we have to let you all know that we love what these guys are doing.

Whether it’s hanging around the roastery drinking espressos, sponsoring conservation efforts, or hosting the local Green Drinks group, you’re bound to find the team at the Chesapeake Roasting Company engaged in the two things they love most, coffee and community.

The Chesapeake Bay Coffee Roasting Company is an eco-friendly coffee roastery that is committed to giving-back to their local community, and they do this in several ways. One is by the creation of their H2O Initiative which is the company’s community outreach program, geared at advocating their give-back message and supporting organizations and community groups making a difference in the health and well being of the Chesapeake Bay. In fact, a portion of every dollar the company makes goes to preserving some aspect of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, one of the areas leading natural resources and treasures.

Another way the company gives back is buy it’s commitment to being green. While touring their facilities we had the privilege of learning about the companies newest addition to the team, a state of the art roaster. The Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company boasts one of the world’s most efficient and eco-friendly coffee roasters, consuming nearly 20 percent less energy and reducing emissions by almost 80 percent when compared to traditional drum roasters. The company is also taking a green approach to its packaging using sustainable canisters which can be recycled or reused after use.

Great guys, with a great vision and love for coffee and their community, we can’t get enough of this stuff. Thanks for the inspiration.

For more information or to order coffee check out the CBRC site at www.cbrccoffee.com

Fully Functional Bronze AeroPress Trophy From The 2009 World AeroPress Championship (WAC)

Bronze fully working AeroPress was awarded to the 1st prize winner of the 2nd World AeroPress Championships held in Oslo during June 2009. Wow, when will these be available to the rest of us.

Anyways, here’s a great link to a site that lists the top 3 finalists’ brewing methods: http://timwendelboe.no/category/aeropress/

We  particularly enjoyed Ben’s method of inverting the AeroPress and using a longer brewing time with a smaller dose of coffee. This method produces a beautiful cup of coffee and we found it particularly suited for cups of coffee floral and fruity characteristics. We recommend a good Ethiopian or Kenyan. The aromatics you’ll get from one of these cups is insane.

Ben’s Method (Inverted AeroPress Method)

Begin by boiling freshly filtered tap water.

Invert your AeroPress.

Apply a paper filter and run it under the tap until its rinsed.

Fill your inverted AeroPress with boiling water, apply the filter, flip and press the boiling water through the filter to ensure there is absolutely no paper taste and to heat up the system.

Once again, invert your AeroPress. The plunger should be about 1cm from the bottom.

Grind off your coffee, slightly finer than filter grind (Should be 14g by weight) and put it into your cup or glass. Keep this handy.

Bring your water to a rolling boil.

Put your inverted AeroPress on a scale and zero out.

When the kettle hits a rolling boil, shut it off, open the lid and start your timer.

Wait thirty seconds to allow the water to cool a bit.

Add 1dL or ~95g by weight of your water to the AeroPress and quickly zero out the scale again.

Add start your clock and add the 14g of coffee to the water and give the coffee a quick but efficient stir to completely saturate the coffee grounds in the water.

Add the remaining 1dL or ~95g by weight of water to the coffee slurry. The scale total should now read 109g.

Wait until the clock reads 50 seconds and then slowly and carefully flip the AeroPress back upright. (I would use two hands.)

Begin slowly plunging. This should take about 25 seconds. Plunge until you hear any hissing or air escaping through the coffee puck. Quickly pull the plunger back up and invert your AeroPress so it doesn’t leak everywhere.

Pura Vida Coffee is a nonprofit based in the Seattle area, and we’re a hug fan of these guys work and mission. Started by two business students, Pura Vida proves that the power of capitalism can be used to “Create Good”, a refreshing idea in our age of Enrons and bank bailouts. The company has chosen to use coffee as its medium (we love this), and they freely share their business model of “Creating Good” with business community at large, often consulting and speaking to businesses about how they two can “Create Good” in there work place, communities and world.

Pura Vida Coffee is a great company, with great coffee and a great vision for serving the local and global community. We want to thank these guys for all they do and how they help coffee farmers and their families experience healthier and more sustainable lives. Keep up the good work.

Check out Pura Vida Coffee for yourself on the web at: http://www.puravidacoffee.com/about_us.php

Using the medium of coffee to connect communities and change lives™

Coffee connects communities and cultures worldwide. By partnering with the specialty coffee industry and development organizations the World Coffee Project™ (WCP) uses the medium of coffee to connect communities and change lives. Our team is made of passionate individuals with a love for coffee and the people who make it possible. Our efforts are truly from crop to cup, and we seek to further our work by connecting the communities that make this beloved drink possible. We hope that you will be a part of this effort.

If you love coffee and the people who make this beloved drink possible, then please consider  joining our efforts. We are regularly looking for co-conspirators in our projects or just the open ears and hearts of conscientious coffee lovers and connoisseurs. If you are interested in our work, please consider spreading word and following us for updates and project development. We’ll do our best to keep you informed on the latest developments in coffee culture and what you can do to be more active members of the world-wide coffee community. Also, we love hearing form our readers, so consider dropping us a line, posting a comment and sharing anything you think might be of benefit to the WCP™ community.

Sincerely, WCP™ Team