Hi everyone, I came across an Aeropress in our kitchen and decided to mess around with it. With weather pretty much having gone from winter and straight into summer, it's gotten rather hot lately. After seeing a post on Reddit about cold brewing with the Aeropress, I decided that I would give it a try myself. Being relatively impatient, I really hoped that it would work, so I'd have a lazier way to make iced coffee. Sadly, I don't know much about the Aeropress, so I snagged Andrew, our CS manager to help me.

For starters, here's what we used to conduct our test (I apologize in advance for our Cinco de Mayo tablecloth).

• 6oz of cold water and 2 level tablespoons of coffee, espresso grind, 1 minute steep time, inverted brew - Relatively weak cup, somewhat tart.
• 8oz of cold water and 4 level tablespoons of coffee, espresso grind, 1 minute steep time, inverted brew - Somewhat stronger cup yet more bitter cup, not quite to our tastes though.
• 6oz of cold water and 3 heaping tablespoons of coffee, espresso grind, 2 ½ minute steep time, regular brew - Looked like coffee, tasted like coffee, didn't melt any ice!

Cup 1

Cup 2

Cup 3

So, was our experiment a success? I'd say yes it was. It took us a bit of tinkering, but in the end we managed to produce a drinkable cup of coffee using cold water and an Aeropress. Would I do it again? Maybe--the Aeropress is extremely easy to use and easy to clean up. I suppose that what I liked best was how potent and smooth the coffee was after adjusting the variables to our liking. It was too cold to melt much of the ice, so the flavor wasn't diluted. It's definitely something to try if you want some cold coffee and have an Aeropress laying around.

Conveniently, we had some surplus Ghirardelli Caramel sauce, a Jura Froth Pro and a near-expiration gallon of milk that we were able to combine to create a smooth cold foamed sweetened milk drink. We present to you the iced cappuccino pictured below.

Here are some "fun" pictures for your enjoyment!

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.

We have a winner! Eight unique recipes, ranging from cakes and cupcakes to the simple cappuccino and mocha, were submitted by Whole Latte Love fans for this year's Mother's Day contest. The winner was the Cafe Turtle Mocha by Anthony Suttles of Jacksonville, FL -- beating out the competition at the very last minute to claim the grand prize.

Want to try the winning drink? Here's the complete recipe:

Cafe Turtle Mocha
1) Brew a 2-ounce shot of espresso.
2) Steam about 8 ounces of milk, like you would for a latte.
3) Pour 3/4 ounce of chocolate syrup and 3/4 ounce of caramel into bottom of 12-ounce mug.
4) Add steamed milk to mug and stir with chocolate and caramel, save some froth for topping.
5) Add espresso and stir lightly.
6) Top with milk froth and drizzle with chocolate and caramel, if desired.

Anthony will receive a Keurig B31 in Platinum, box of Green Mountain Nantucket Blend K-cups, and two Whole Latte Love Latte Cups. Keep your eyes peeled for our next contest. Who knows? You may be our next winner.

Just the other day, we released a video outlining some of the reasons why Whole Latte Love is "the" coffee destination on the Internet, and it got me thinking. Having worked here for close to a year now, I've been involved with several projects aimed toward improving our customer's experience when using our site, and seen just how dedicated our staff is to make shopping with us as pleasant as possible. But besides our low prices and huge selection, there are a few other reasons why we should be at the top of your list as far as coffee is concerned.

Did you know that Whole Latte Love is an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau? And that we have an A+ rating? Have you seen our active coffee community? Participated in one of our contests? Tuned in with Marc and Morgan for a look at all new products? Read our Weekend Brew newsletter? Oh, and did I mention our blogs? There's a whole world for you to explore! But, if you're really just here for the shopping, you can save time and money with our I-DEAL$ feature, while our Compare-O-Matic can help you find the machine to meet your exact specifications.

To sum things up, we've got great deals, great selection, and we'll support you before, during, and after your purchase! Whole Latte Love really is the place to be when it comes to coffee!

Show us some love! Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter, and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel!

It's that time of year. The sun is shining. The flowers are blooming. And, some of us are making the change from a comforting warm brew to a cold and refreshing iced coffee. But, before you dump hot coffee over ice and call it a day, consider cold brewing a gourmet iced coffee.

Don't worry, it's not hard. But, a good cold brew will require some patience on your part. The payoff, however - a great-tasting, full-flavored coffee that's low in acidity - is well worth the time and effort. Go ahead, give it a whirl. You won't regret it.

Tip: Start the cold-brewing process before going to bed, you'll have ready-to-drink coffee in the morning.

What You'll Need:
A French Press
Whole Bean Coffee
A Grinder

Instructions:
Grind your beans. You'll want a coarse, but consistent, grind for French press coffee.
Add the ground coffee and room-temperature water to your French press. Stir.
Let sit for 8-12 hours.
Press down on the plunger to strain your coffee.
Pour over ice and enjoy.

Tip: For an extra flavorful drink, brew some coffee, let cool. Use the coffee to fill an ice tray and freeze it. Use the coffee cubes in your drink instead of regular ice.

It's always exciting when we get new products, but it’s even more exciting when I can use them for recipes! So, I was obviously delighted when I discovered that we had not one, but three new varieties of Monin syrups that we would be adding to our repertoire of flavors: Cinnamon Bun, Banana Nut Bread, and Cupcake. And of course, there’s really no better way to showcase one of these new flavors than by putting it in a drink! I give you the Cinnamon Bun Latte.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Monin Cinnamon Bun Syrup
• Double Shot Espresso
• 6 oz. Steamed Milk
• Whipped Cream
• Cinnamon

Begin by brewing a 1 oz. shot of espresso in an 8 oz. glass, then, steam 6 oz of milk. Measure out 1 oz. of Monin Cinnamon Bun syrup and add it to your espresso. Pour in your milk and stir gently to mix your ingredients. If you like, you can garnish your latte with a bit of whipped cream and powdered cinnamon. Last of all, enjoy!

Click Here to watch Morgan whip up a Cinnamon Bun Latte of her own using the Gaggia Classic.

For new product updates and other great recipes, like this one, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Like heirlooms, treasured recipes get passed down from generation to generation, building memories at every turn. In celebration of Mother’s Day, we’re asking you to share your family’s favorite coffee or espresso-related recipe for a chance to win a Keurig B31 Mini Plus in Platinum, a box of Green Mountain Nantucket Blend K-Cups, two Whole Latte Love Latte Cups.

You can submit a drink or food recipe, so long as one of the ingredients is coffee or espresso. Enter here by noon (EST) on May 6, 2013 and we’ll put your submission up for an open vote. Our fans will determine who wins this contest! Voting ends on May 9 noon (EST) just two days after recipe submissions are due.

From now until June 17, 2013, Nespresso is running a promotion offering $50 of credit for their Nespresso Club program when you purchase a machine of $199 or more. You can find a link to Nespresso’s promotion page on any of the eligible machines we carry; alternatively you can follow this link here to register your machine with Nespresso. If you’re not already a member of Nespresso’s club program, you’ll have to register with them. After you click “CONTINUE” the next page will be where you enter the serial number of your new machine, upload your receipt, and select where you purchased the machine. To find Whole Latte Love, first, select the “Internet - Others” option from the “Store Name” drop down menu. Next, select “Whole Latt, Rochester, 14623 (2200 Brighton Henrietta Townline R)” from the “Store Location” drop down menu. See the image below for more details. Click it to reveal a bigger version of the screen.

After that, simply complete the registration process to enjoy your $50 of Nespresso club credit!