You won't find a recipe for it in any book. And it may not even be in your favorite barista's vocabulary. But, caffè sospeso delivers a pick-me-up like no other.

Said to have originated in Naples roughly a century ago, caffè sospeso is an act of kindness through coffee. The name translates to "suspended coffee" in English. This heartwarming tradition entails paying for an extra drink, to be set aside for a stranger in need, when placing an order at your favorite cafe.

It's customary for the barista to keep a track of the number caffè sospeso that have been paid for by patrons of the establishment and give them out whenever someone comes in asking for a suspended drink. The person receiving the suspended coffee can be someone who's fallen on hard times or simply a regular who forgot his wallet that particular morning. It's an honor system that thrives on the kindness and honesty of the participants.

With much of the European Union grappling with austerity measures, a bit of goodwill goes a long way and caffè sospeso has spread from Naples, where Dec.10 was formally declared "Suspended Coffee Day," to the rest of the continent. Likewise, it's far from unheard of in Australia. Stateside, this trend is just starting to emerge but it already has some devoted supporters. Coffeehouses from New York and Pennsylvania to Wisconsin and Seattle have started to implement the feel-good, pay-it-forward system. Starbucks has also jumped on board, though with a slightly altered program restricted to the UK.

That's not to say caffè sospeso is without its detractors. Consumerist, a website owned by Consumer Reports, ran a series of blogs questioning the suspended coffee movement. With names like, "Coffee Shop Owner: Quit Asking Me to Offer Suspened Coffees Already," and "Why Ordering 'Suspended' Coffees For the Needy is Stupid And Inefficient," these blog posts come out swinging against the grassroots revival of caffè sospeso. Reasons cited include everything from "it feels scammy," to shops are already prone to giving away drinks to build goodwill, and there isn't a means test -- so anyone could claim a freebie and abuse the system.

So while the coffee runs hot, the debate is just heating up. We want you to weigh in. What are your thoughts on suspended coffee?

The powers that be at Colgate-Palmolive Company have announced plans for a toothbrush with an integrated caffeine patch to deliver that morning jolt. Perhaps they didn’t read our blog about the FDA investigating the use of caffeine in traditionally non-caffeinated products. Or, maybe, they’re hoping the promises of multi-tasking and efficiency will have you considering this quirky invention.

The idea is to embed chemicals into a patch located within the toothbrush head. The chemicals would be slowly released through use. Colgate has already filed the patent for the toothbrush and mentioned potentially using the system to deliver a variety of flavors and even medications - including painkillers and appetite suppressants - as well as caffeine.

So, what do you think? Will you give the caffeinated toothbrush a try or will you be sticking by your tried-and-true brew?

For some of us, having a cup of coffee is as routine as putting on our shoes every morning. We drink it for the pick-me-up and, of course, the taste. But is it possible for our daily coffee, espresso, latte, or cappuccino to do someone else a bit of good? The short answer is yes. However, identifying a bag of beans to a particular cause can prove to be a daunting task. To help you out, we’ve put together a no-nonsense guide to common cause-related coffee certifications and the motivation behind each of them.

Rainforest Alliance Certified In order to bear this seal, the coffee farm must: Adhere to sustainable farm management practices Ensure conservation of the ecosystem, wildlife, and waterways Guarantee ethical, non-discriminatory hiring and work practices - children under the age of 15 are prohibited from being employed by the business and proper protective gear must be provided for workers Provide guidelines about agrochemical use Ban transgenic, or genetically modified, crops
Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center "Bird Friendly" Certification This logo can be found on coffee from Latin American farms that: Provide proper habitat for birds Grows shade-grown coffee, planted under a canopy of trees -- not land that has been cleared or deforested for farming purposes Cultivates organic coffee, grown without the use of chemical pesticides
Fairtrade International Certification This certification is normally granted to small farms that have been organized into co-ops or associations that are owned and governed by local farmers. Among other things, fairtrade standards for coffee ensure that: Coffee producers have been paid at least a fairtrade minimum price for their crops, currently $1.40 per pound for washed arabica and $1.35 for unwashed arabica with a minimum 30 cent differential for organic coffee A premium of 20 cents is added to the product price to be used by the producer, with 5 cents earmarked for quality and productivity improvements The use of agrochemicals is restricted and sustainable practices are encouraged The system fosters fair negotiations and reduces speculation Producer organizations are granted lines of credit -- up to 60% of the purchase price, if requested
USDA Organic Certification Granted by the United States Department of Agriculture, this seal certifies that the coffee has met the following requirements: Produced without the use of USDA excluded methods -- including genetic engineering -- ionizing radiation, or sewage sludge Produced per the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances The farm is regularly inspected by official USDA Organic Program agents The farm uses ecologically-based practices and biological pest management systems and the land has not been exposed to pesticides or other prohibited substances for at least three years Organic and tradition crop must be separated by a buffer zone

Ask the experts and many of them will tell you the same thing: the single-serve coffee category is hotter than freshly brewed java. Fueled by convenience, the time-saving system that lets users prepare drinks by the cup is gaining popularity worldwide. Yet, since their inception, single-serve cups and capsules have had to dodge the criticism that they’re inherently bad for the environment.

Since single-serve capsules are discarded after each use, the brewing method is not as green as preparing drinks with ground coffee or espresso. And, we’re talking about a lot of cups and capsules. According to the National Coffee Association, single-serve coffee is the fastest-growing sector of the home market, as well as the second most popular brewing method after conventional drip coffee makers.

So, what’s an environmentally conscious coffee lover to do? Must eco-concerns be set aside in favor of fast, convenient, and reliable drinks by the cup? Fortunately, leading single-serve manufacturers are addressing the issue head on. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR), the maker of K-Cups for Keurig, conducted a life cycle analysis to assess the environmental impact of its single-serve packs. Highlights of the study are as follows:

• "The most significant environmental impacts are associated with materials production/packaging, the use phase, and the coffee cultivation phase for the impact categories examined."
• "End-of-Life (EoL) is a small part of the K-Cup® pack life cycle, representing only 5% of GHG emissions. EoL represents only 1% of the energy demand, and 1% of the acidification potential."
• "The K-Cup® brewing system uses less energy in an office environment than a traditional batch brewing system. This translates into reduced environmental impact in all impact categories over the entire life cycle."

According to the study, even though the end-of-life cycle -- when a K-Cup is used and discarded -- is the most visible, it actually only accounts for only 5% of the potential global warming output. Nevertheless, GMCR has put together a program to allow workplace customers in the contiguous U.S. to collect and return spent K-Cups for composting and energy from waste processing. The Grounds to Grow On program is estimated to have recovered 4.1 million K-Cup packs and composted over 85,000 pounds of ground coffee in the same year. The plastic from spent K-Cups saved approximately 139 kilowatt hours.

Want to take matters into your own hands, give the Keurig My K-Cup filter basket a try. It is a reusable filter that lets you brew with any ground pre-ground coffee you choose. No hassle, no mess, and no waste.

At Nespresso, the talk centers around recycling as well as developing more sustainable aluminum for their single-serve capsules. In the U.S., the company has capsule collection systems in place in cities with Nespresso boutiques including: New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Nespresso has also launched the AluCycle, partnering with mining, refining, retrieval, recycling organizations to improve the sustainability of aluminum. The company has also teamed up with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to promote environmentally sound aluminum practices.

Taking its commitment one step further, Nespresso has equipped some of its single-serve machines with an ECO button, which will automatically turn the machine off after 30 minutes of inactivity to conserve energy. The feature is available on the latest generation of the CitiZ machines. As an added bonus, purchase any Nespresso single-serve machine over $199 from now until June 17, 2013 and you can register for a $50 Nespresso Club credit good for free capsules.

Illy iperEspresso fans can take heart in knowing that their capsules are made from recycled plastic. The company is working on a method to allow consumers to open, clean, and recycle their capsules.

While single-serve systems may not be as eco-friendly as other more traditional brewing methods, the leading manufacturers are taking notes and continually making improvements to their products. Don’t write them off just yet.

A graphic on the consumer update section of the FDA's website reads, "Caffeine. It's not just in coffee anymore. It may be in your: jelly beans, waffles, gum, water, syrup."

While coffee and tea have naturally occurring caffeine, a growing trend that has food and drink manufacturers adding the substance to their products is rattling the Food and Drug Administration. The announcement that the agency is investigating the matter came in the wake of Wrigley's promotion of its new gum - each piece contains as much caffeine as half a cup of coffee! Production of the gum in question has since been halted, due to the FDA investigation, but questions still linger.

Although it's to be expected in energy drinks, caffeine has also started to pop up in jelly beans, sunflower seeds, marshmallows, syrup, and potato chips. There's even an instant oatmeal that contains as much caffeine as a cup of coffee.

The FDA defines 400 milligrams, the equivalent of four to five cups of coffee, a day as safe for consumption. Without paying attention, you may exceed your daily recommended limit while consuming food or drinks that you thought were caffeine free. Even though most of these products are said to be marketed to adults, they may appeal to children who are less able to handle the effects of the stimulant.

If you had a cup of decaf and are wondering why you're still wide awake in the middle of the night, check those bedtime snacks. Caveat emptor.

Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world following crude oil and when it comes to its top producers the USA doesn’t even come close. What we do have however is Kona Coffee, a rather prestigious and sought after variety of gourmet coffee grown only in the Kona District of the Big Island of Hawai’i where the rich volcanic soil and climate create favorable conditions for coffee growing. In addition to producing world famous coffee, Kona farms have become popular destinations for tourists in Hawaii.

These days however, conditions haven’t been quite so comfortable with the discovery of an infestation by the Coffee Borer Beetle, an insect native to Africa which, according to the State Department of Agriculture causes roughly $500 million in damage to the coffee industry. After many years it has made its way to Hawaii to wreak havoc on the Kona crop.

The beetle gets its name from the way it bores its way into coffee cherries to reproduce. Given that the insect is native to Africa, it has no natural predators in Hawaii and is an invasive species. Since its discovery, Kona farmers have done what they can to combat the pest like setting up traps and spraying plants with insecticidal fungi (i.e.: Mycotrol O) and more recently, a specialized solution designed to help protect plants against infestation was developed by a company called Symbiotic Solutions and their consultant, a man named Gaillen Wraye. The solution holds an advantage over the traditional insecticides used because as opposed to being a topical spray, it enters the plant and strengthens it from the inside. Some farmers who have adopted use of the juice have reported seeing decreases in the amount of coffee lost to the beetle.

Additionally, the Hawaiian state government has been fighting to keep the infestation from spreading to other islands and coffee growing regions. To that effect, they have issued quarantines on the transportation of unroasted coffee beans, coffee plants and plant parts, used coffee bags, and coffee harvesting equipment.

In spite of efforts to prevent further spread of the beetle however, it remains at large as a threat to the existence of Kona coffee. Recently, farmers have turned to the government for help, with Hawaiian legislators pushing for nearly $1 million to support the effort to eradicate the beetle, requesting $500,000 to help research and develop means to prevent and treat infestations and another $330,000 help mitigate the costs to farmers who have been forced to combat the beetle.

The loss of Kona coffee would impact more than just the people who drink it. The livelihoods of many farmers and their families have been thrown into jeopardy by the crisis. The harsh reality is dawning upon many that only those who are vigilant and take action against the beetle will be able to salvage their farms. It is my sincere hope that the government realizes the peril faced by the Kona coffee industry and lends a hand in putting an end to this conundrum.

Please excuse the lengthy title, and I don’t expect many of you to be particularly familiar with the Harris + Hoole coffee chain, but don’t worry, you will be. Coffee culture is as big a part of society in the UK as it is here in the States, and similarly, there’s no shortage of coffee drama in the UK either. Harris + Hoole is a chain of 10 cafes in the UK that opened up in 2012, identifiable by their trendy interiors and little guy feel, aka, they aren’t like Starbucks.

For the average coffee drinking citizen, Harris + Hoole must have seemed like a great alternative. Founded and operated by the three Tolley siblings, coffee entrepreneurs and down to earth people, how could one say no? That is, until their secret got out. Enter Tesco, the third largest retailer in the world and rumored 49% shareholder of Harris + Hoole. The company’s CEO, Nick Tolley, claimed that Tesco would have little to do with day to day operations and the Tesco chief executive Philip Clarke made a claim that the Harris + Hoole brand had its own value and that it was the Tolley’s business and that they (Tesco) were merely helping them to realize their potential.

Needless to say however, people felt duped. Their lovely indie coffee shop was actually funded by a huge retailer, and to great effect mind you, as there are plans to open an 11th H+H store in Whitstable in the UK. Many people have now claimed that they wouldn’t have had anything to do with Harris + Hoole if they had known Tesco was involved from the beginning. That, and the majority of the backlash the company has faced was due to people have felt that they were mislead, that a corporate behemoth was masquerading as a family owned coffee chain.

Bear with me now as I segue to our next topic of discussion to events taking place here in the US. I’ll admit that reading about the whole Harris + Hoole situation was interesting to me on its own, but a recent development has got me thinking about it even more. When I found out that the Denver based coffee distributor Boyer Coffee Co. had just named former Walmart executive Mark Goodman as their president and CEO it got me thinking. According to Pamela Boyer, the daughter of the company’s founder, Goodman was hired as a result of her father’s wishes to find a “...professional executive that could lead Boyer coffee to the next level of growth...” At the moment, Boyer is a roaster and distributor that operates out of an old schoolhouse that was converted into a cafe and roasting facility. Also, Boyer’s cafe is incredibly charming.

So for a recap, Boyer is a local roaster in Denver, family owned, operates out of a delightful converted schoolhouse, and just hired a former Walmart  executive to help “lead Boyer coffee to the next level of growth.” When the Tolley family needed money, they turned to Tesco. With a former Walmart executive in charge Boyer Coffee Co. it’ll be interesting to see where they might turn. Might the Boyer family turn to Walmart under Goodman’s guidance to acquire the resources to grow and expand their company?

While all of this is me speculating, I couldn’t help but notice some of the parallels in the circumstances. Will Boyer Coffee Co. become the next Harris + Hoole? And more importantly, would people accept a chain of cafes owned by Walmart? Can specialty coffee blend with big business? The Tolleys did it, it’ll be interesting to see who else throws their hat into the ring.

The results of this year’s Good Food Awards were a pleasant surprise for us Rochester, NY residents, with our very own Joe Bean Coffee Roasters’  Nicaragua Don Roger direct trade coffee being selected as one of 15 finalists in the coffee category.

For those of you who didn’t know, the Good Food Awards are the result of a collaboration of farmers, journalists, grocers, and producers involved in the food industry through the organizational efforts of Seedling Projects, an organization dedicated to sustainable food. The key criteria required of entrants is that their product reflects a commitment to environmentally and socially sustainable food.

The Nicaragua Don Roger coffee is grown and processed by a one Mr. Roger Mairena whose high standards and incredibly well maintained farm allowed him to produce some award winning coffee. As for the aforementioned Joe Bean Coffee Roasters, they’re a local coffee roaster and cafe located at 1344 University Avenue right here in Rochester. In any case, it’s always nice when somebody from the local community is recognized for what they do. Bravo, Joe Bean!

In a recent and uplifting turn of events, Grey’s Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey, alias McDreamy,  and his company Global Baristas LLC may have won a bankruptcy auction for the failing Seattle based Tully’s chain of 47 coffee cafes with a winning bid of $9.15 million which awaits the approval of a bankruptcy judge on January 11.

The Tully’s brand is familiar nationally for the separate roasting and wholesale operation owned by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. that sells Tully coffees in both K-cups and bags and is not involved in the bankruptcy.

After falling on increasingly hard times, Tully’s entered into chapter 11 bankruptcy in October of 2012, immediately attracting the attention of a number of potential buyers including Starbucks for the Tully’s Coffee Cafe locations. Dempsey and his company of undisclosed partners sought to preserve the jobs of the nearly 500 Tully’s employees while Starbucks desired to convert 25 of the 47 Tully’s cafes into Starbucks locations and sell off the rest.

TC Global Inc. the owner of the Tully’s chain approved the Global Baristas LLC bid of $9.15 million even though it was slightly less than the Starbuck’s total offer of $10.6 million. Now it’s up to the judge!

It's a frightening prospect for some, but also a potential reality as the 2013 US Farm Bill remains as of yet, unpassed. The Farm Bill, which is actually a five year agricultural policy bill to help subsidize the cost of agriculture hasn't been pushed through as Congress remains embroiled in fiscal cliff debates. As a result of the bill's delayed passing, the price of grocery items could potentially spike, milk included. Could you imagine paying $6, or possibly even more money for a gallon of milk?

If the bill is delayed until April of 2013 as some expect it may be, there are really only three options: cough up the extra money, cut the milk, or find another creamer for your favorite drinks. I looked up some alternatives and some of the most commonly recommended ones were different kinds of plant milks, like soy or almond. This is a topic we've taken some interest in recently so if you have any questions for us about making drinks with milk alternatives, don't hesitate to ask!