Virtual Events: At Home Tastings

Virtual events offer education and entertainment, yes, but they offer so much more—safety, a great value, product sampling, expert instruction, and social interaction with like-minded enthusiasts.

Here are some upcoming can’t-be-missed virtual events that offer expert guidance, samples delivered to your home, and an interactive experience with fellow coffee and tea lovers.  Please keep in mind that due to their popularity, virtual events often sell out fast, so you’ll want to act quickly if you find one to your liking.  They also make a great gift!

	TEA WITH A PRINCESS—May 23, 2021—Join in on the fun—tea party with a princess is educational, entertaining, and oh-so-delicious.  This 30-minute virtual event will be fun for moms and kids—learn how to curtsy, how to hold a teacup, teatime manners, and more while you enjoy delicious tea and delectable sweet treats to be enjoyed during the event, all shipped to your home. Serves 4.  Makes a great Mother’s Day Gift! Two session times to pick from—select the one that is best for you!
	ETHOPIAN COFFEE TASTING WITH BUUNNI—June 6, 2021—Back by popular demand—this virtual event sold out earlier this year!  Elias and Sarina, Co-Founders of Buunni Coffee, will talk about Ethiopian coffee, coffee culture and the Ethiopian coffee ceremony.  All participants will receive fresh-roasted samples of three varieties of specialty Ethiopian coffee prior to the event. Please make sure to select your preference—beans or ground (for French press) during check out.
	JANE AUSTEN TEAS: A Virtual Tasting Special Event—June 6, 2021—Celebrate Jane Austen with teas created to reflect literature’s most romantic, endearing, best-loved, characters. Tea samples ship to home. With well-known classic regency-era works like Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Emma, Jane Austen has achieved success as a published writer…and Bingley’s Tea has achieved success with their Jane Austen Tea Series. In this 60-minute virtual event, we’ll celebrate the works of Jane Austen through a guided tea talk and tasting led by tea sommelier, lifelong member of the Jane Austen Society, and owner of Bingley’s Tea, Julia Matson. Fully immersed in the fashion and traditions of the Regency era, Julia will guide you through a tasting of four teas—each based on a character from a well-known Austen novel, each with a unique story.
	CRAFT TEA TASTE TEST + UNIQUE WAYS TO BREW—June 13, 2021—Join fellow tea lovers and explore herbal craft teas. Join Michael O’Brien, owner of Philadelphia’s Craft Tea, for a virtual tasting event where he will take you on a guided tasting tour of four of his craft teas and a demonstration of different methods for brewing tea—including the Chemex, Espresso Shot, Kyoto slow-drip, Nitro Cold Brew, and Aeropress. This demo will show you how to use these brewing methods and provide you with an understanding of the benefits each provides for the tea brewing process. Tea samples included and ship to your home. Serves 4.

 

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Portland Coffee Roasters: 25 Years of Specialty Coffee & Commitment to Its Global Coffee Community

One of Portland’s original boutique roasters is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Portland Coffee Roasters began in 1996 as Portland Roasting and is now the city’s largest independent roaster. For 25 years, Portland Coffee Roasters has been dedicated to creating positive human connections through coffee by building a socially responsible business.

To celebrate the company’s 25 years of “doing good and making good coffee,” it has just released its limited-edition 25th Anniversary Roast. This medium roast is a unique blend of washed and natural processed coffee from La Hilda Estate in Costa Rica—which has been a Portland Coffee Roasters partner for 25 years—and it balances the bright citrus flavors of this growing region with deeper chocolate notes. It is available now through September at portlandcoffeeroasters.com and at its cafe locations: one in Southeast Portland and three at Portland International Airport. It will also be at all New Seasons Market and Zupan's Market story, plus selection locations of Market of Choice and Fred Meyer, by May.

“Over the last 25 years Portland has become an epicenter for specialty coffee roasters, and we’re proud to have been one of the early leaders,” said Mark Stell, Portland Coffee Roasters co-founder and managing partner. “The 25th Anniversary Roast not only celebrates our long-standing relationships with our farmers, but it is a tribute to all of our partners all along the coffee chain, and to our customers who enabled Portland Coffee Roasters to keep growing.”

25 Years of Community Action and Sustainable Practices

At the heart of Portland Coffee Roasters is its ongoing commitment to its global coffee community, and to improving the lives of the people it works with through impactful projects around the world. Every year, the company commits resources to coffee communities in need.

Community project highlights include a daycare center for the children of its farmers’ migrant workers in Costa Rica, installing and renovating a wastewater collection system for more than 600 coffee growers and their families in Colombia, bringing drinking water closer to the homes of 2,000 people in Tanzania, and numerous other projects. Portland Coffee Roasters also produces an annual holiday blend with a portion of sales supporting people in coffee-growing communities.

“Nothing has been more gratifying than our deep and long-standing relationships with our coffee growers and their families,” said Stell. “We are committed to helping make the world a better place, and it’s wonderful that something as ubiquitous and loved as a cup of coffee can do that.”

Portland Coffee Roasters also centers sustainable practices across its operations. The company is certified with the Sustainability at Work program through the City of Portland and has received Gold Certification three times in a row. Its headquarters and other buildings are supplied by 100% renewable energy. Other efforts to stay green include composting organic waste, doing zero-emission deliveries for local customers via B-Line tricycle delivery, and donating used burlap coffee bags to local farmers and gardeners.  Info and more:  www.portlandcoffeeroasters.com

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Better Than Milk

To Better Than Milk, the Earth is everything; from the pristine mountaintops, to the colorful rainforests, to the abundance of amazing species that live within her embrace. And, if we’re being honest, she’s been through a lot, so our Mama Earth needs all the love she can get! This is why Better Than Milk is committed to being a part of the change and caring for our planet one organic, plant-based milk at a time.

Better Than Milk believes that what you put into your body should not only taste good and be good for you, but also respect the gorgeous blue planet that we call home, which is why it is the wise choice for all of your plant-based drink needs. Better Than Milk is a delicious line of creamy plant-based alternative-milk drinks that are made from the simplest, best tasting, sustainable and renewable ingredients. The Earth-friendly lineup features five mouthwatering flavors that include Unsweetened Almond Drink, Almond Drink, Unsweetened Oat Drink, Unsweetened Rice + Calcium Drink, and Rice Hazelnut Drink. All of Better Than Milk’s alternative milks are organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, dairy-free, and 100 percent vegan—making them better for your body and the earth… And, don’t you worry, you will never find any unwanted preservatives, thickeners, or artificial ingredients in Better Than Milk, ever. These 100 percent shelf-stable plant-based milks are so nourishing, creamy, and delicious that they’ll earn a permanent spot in your pantry—we can promise you that!

Each carton of Better Than Milk is made with mindfully sourced organic plant-based ingredients that are selected according to the highest quality and traceability standards. These ingredients include rice, almond, hazelnuts, and oats that are grown on sustainable, organic farms in Italy, Finland, and Denmark from farmers who would never dream of using harmful chemicals or pesticides on their crops. The farms are committed to the highest standards of organic farming that protect local bee colonies and keep streams and tributaries clean; are self-sustaining, and focused on composting and on-site water replenishment, which leads to less water usage and, according to researchers, releases 40 percent fewer carbon emissions compared to non-organic farms.

The RICE is from organic farmers in the plains of Northern Italy, Piedmont, and Lombardy regions near Milan. The ALMONDS are from Sicily, a southern Italian island full of sunshine sourced by organic pesticide-free farms, which is crucial to maintaining healthy bee colonies, whereas 99 percent of other almond drinks may source their almonds from non-organic California farms that use bee-harming pesticides and excessive water in drought-prone areas. The fresh HAZELNUTS are from organic farms in the Lazio region of Italy, near Rome. And lastly, the pure OATS, are naturally gluten-free, grown in Finland and Denmark.

The plants aren’t the only stars of their ingredient list; Better Than Milk is made from the purest spring water Mama Earth can offer. The incredible spring water in every Better Than Milk carton flows directly from the source, as nature intended, down from the Lessini Mountains in Northern Italy, nearly 1,500 feet above sea level into their production facility, instead of using other water sourcing methods that are more taxing on the environment. This helps Better Than Milk reduce their carbon footprint as the production facility is located in a small village at the base of the mountain spring, leaving in all of the natural minerals that nourish our bodies and our planet.
When it comes to packaging, Better Than Milk cares a LOT! All Better Than Milk drinks are packaged in earth-friendly recyclable paper aseptic cartons made from paper that is FSC certified, meaning that all materials that go into Better Than Milk cartons are responsibly harvested from renewable and sustainably managed forests, ensuring that our forests are protected, as well as the people and wildlife who rely on them. Another cool thing about each carton is that they are made with bio-based plastic caps made from sugarcane, not petroleum. Fun fact: Did you know that sugarcane is an incredibly sustainable resource that is net-zero and carbon-neutral? This means that it captures carbon dioxide and releases oxygen into the atmosphere, helping to reduce CO₂ emissions between 14 and 19 percent, compared to plastic caps made with petroleum (aka fossil fuels), and it only needs rainwater to grow and not traditional irrigation!

When it comes to Better Than Milk, you’ve got loads of options! Every Better Than Milk drink is stored in multi-serving 1-liter cartons, helping combat single-use waste and making it easy for you to use one carton throughout your day or week. You can enjoy a fresh cold glass of Better Than Milk Oat Drink or pour some over your morning bowl of cereal, then save the rest for your afternoon tea or for baking your favorite brownies recipes. And, after guzzling down the whole carton, don’t forget to recycle, because every package of Better Than Milk is 100 percent recyclable, from cap to carton! Whether you recycle your carton straight into the recycling bin or by upcycling it into a DIY flowerpot, bird house, or toy spaceship, you’re helping Better Than Milk eliminate single-use waste and protect the planet.

“We care about our consumers, and we care about the Earth,” says Lonnie Williard, Vice President of Marketing at PANOS brands, parent company of the Better Than Milk.  “Our organic drinks are responsibly sourced and made with 100 percent recyclable packaging, so we proudly bring welcomed relevance to plant-based milk drinks, as even our caps our made from renewable sources. As we say, we’re 100 percent recyclable - from cap to carton!”
Better Than Milk has also just teamed up with the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA), the trade association representing over 180 plant-based food companies to give plant-based foods a voice and better educate people about the benefits of eating plant-based for your body and for the environment. This partnership will further help extend Better Than Milk’s important sustainability messages.

“As more information emerges about the benefits of a plant-based diet, more folks who care about the environment, animal welfare, and their health are choosing to drink plant-based milks,” says Lonnie Williard, Vice President of Marketing at PANOS brands, parent company of the Better Than Milk. “So, whether they already follow a plant-based diet or are looking to supplement dairy for a more sustainable and flavorful alternative, we know that everyone will love Better Than Milk!”

Better Than Milk®…Deliciously creamy and tasty plant-based beverages, these shelf-stable, organic drinks start with the simplest sustainable and renewable ingredients and combine them with Italian spring water that originates high up in the Lessini Mountains in Northern Italy. Our Better Than Milk beverages are organic, Non-GMO verified, vegan, kosher, and do not contain dairy, lactose, gluten, carrageenan, soy, artificial flavors, sulfites, and cholesterol. Also, we care a lot about the environment, so our plant-based milk drinks are made in a state-of-the-art, environmentally conscious facility, our cartons are FSC certified, and the plastic caps are bio-based made from sugarcane (not petroleum)! For more information, visit www.drinkbetterthanmilk.com

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What is Your Personali-TEA?

How you take your tea says a lot about you, so put the kettle on… here is ELLE's definitive guide to people based on their tea type.

	BLACK TEA Smart, witty and direct—you love to connect with new people and are always seeking out experiences that pull you out of your comfort zone. You don't easily tolerate fools and can't stand anyone who doesn't speak their mind. Your bucket list activities include bungee jumping and skydiving (you're a complete adrenaline junkie), and you're willing to give anything a go at least once. You can sometimes come across a little blunt to those who don't know you, but you are extremely accepting of people and never pretentious.
	MILKY TEA If you take your English Breakfast Tea or Earl Grey with milk, you're most likely to be organized and well-prepared. You have never pulled an all-nighter to complete a school, university or work task because you never had to (life goals). You're not vain but you take pride in your appearance and always look well-presented. Tea-time can be enjoyed on-the-go but you prefer to drink your cuppa when you have time to savor the moment. High teas are your thing and your daily tea intake lies between three and seven, depending on your schedule. You know exactly what you want in life, and you won't stop until you get it.
	GREEN TEA You never take anything for granted and are very content with where you are in life. You love leading a balanced lifestyle and being outdoors—ocean swims are among your list of favorite things. You enjoy reading and watching documentaries and are both book and street smart. While green is your go-to tea of choice, you don't mind the occasion fruity infusion or peppermint tea. As a friend, you're reliable and trustworthy and always enjoyable to be around. You genuinely care about what is happening in your friends' lives and never miss a birthday.
	CHAI TEA All your friends would call you the sweet one but you know that you can bring the sass when it's needed. You're an extremely loyal friend but once someone breaks your trust, you find it difficult to forgive. You are empathetic and not one to sit back and watch others talk badly about someone. Your quick wit gives you instant charisma, and you can hold conversation with almost anyone. Although your passion is one of your strong suits, it also means that you can be stubborn at times (apologizing is no easy feat).
	FRUITY TEA Creative, clever and sensitive—the fruity tea drinker radiates positive energy and happiness. You're popular and love your nights out, and believe that regularly treating yourself is a crucial component of self-love. While you can often get carried away, your spontaneity creates incredible opportunities for you that most people can only dream of. You are your toughest critic but overall have a great outlook on life, seeing it as one glorious and exciting adventure.
	OOLONG TEA Always ready for the next challenge, the Oolong sipper loves to travel and see new things. Always full of energy and curiosity, you are a goal-setter and go-getter. You're a born leader and like to set the trends rather than follow them. While you're well-read and informed, you know there is still so much more to see.

 

So, how did Elle magazine’s editors do predicting your personality?  Such a fun, quick exercise.  Bottom line…whether you are creative or critical, active or apologetic…tea is a treasure to be savored.  Make time for tea!

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New S.Pellegrino Essenza Line Of Coffee-Inspired Flavors

S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water has announced its new line of coffee-inspired S.Pellegrino Essenza. Taking cues from the ease and delight of Italian coffee bars, the latest innovation for S.Pellegrino Essenza is gently caffeinated, perfect for those who love the taste of coffee to pair with their mid-morning break, or to enhance morning or afternoon snack time moments.

The new line of S.Pellegrino Essenza boasts zero calories and zero sweeteners with 30mg of caffeine — about one-third of the amount in an average cup of coffee — ideal for anyone looking to enjoy the refreshing bubbles of S.Pellegrino paired with the indulgent flavors of coffee for a little pick-me-up, any time of the day.

For this delicious new offering, the iconic, gentle bubbles of S.Pellegrino meet sophisticated ingredients to create three unique flavor combinations: Exotic Vanilla & Coffee flavors, Delicious Cocoa & Coffee flavors and Smooth Caramel & Coffee flavors. Recommended food pairings include:

• S.Pellegrino Essenza Exotic Vanilla & Coffee flavors elegantly embraces espresso coffee flavors with sweet, velvety vanilla notes that pair well with fresh berries and nuts, such as pistachios or almonds.
• S.Pellegrino Essenza Delicious Cocoa & Coffee flavors offers a rich, smooth cocoa flavor that makes for an irresistible treat on its own, or when paired with biscotti, pastries, croissants or muffins.
• S.Pellegrino Essenza Smooth Caramel & Coffee flavors brings together a classic flavor combination with a sweet, indulgent caramel taste that pairs best with white cheddar cheese and apple or pear slices.

“Building on the popularity of our S.Pellegrino Essenza, featuring fresh Mediterranean fruit flavors, we turned to Italian coffee bars as inspiration for this new line,” said Sara Mayer, Senior Marketing Manager for S.Pellegrino. “With sophisticated and indulgent hints of vanilla, cocoa and caramel, and a gentle dose of caffeine, this new offering is the perfect accompaniment to perk up your daily breaks and snack times.”

The first zero-calorie flavored offering from the brand, S.Pellegrino Essenza originally launched in the U.S. in 2019 with flavors inspired by the fruits of the Mediterranean coast and is currently available in four combinations: Tangerine & Wild Strawberry; Dark Morello Cherry & Pomegranate; Lemon & Lemon Zest; and Blood Orange & Black Raspberry.

Bottled at the source in Italy, the new S.Pellegrino Essenza line of coffee-inspired flavors will make its way to shelves at U.S. retailers nationwide this spring and join the beloved S.Pellegrino Essenza family in stores everywhere. The product will be available at a suggested retail price of $5.99 for an 8-can fridge pack.  www.sanpellegrino.com

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COVID-19 Drives Record At-Home Coffee Drinking, On-The-Go Ordering

The 2021 National Coffee Data Trends Report released earlier this month.  Not many surprises regarding consumer behavior during the pandemic, but the numbers associated with the behavior are relevant to not only at-home consumption but the significant impact to local businesses.

• COVID-19 drove record coffee consumption at home, with 85% of coffee drinkers having at least one cup at home (up 8% since January 2020) and average daily consumption steady at nearly 2 cups per capita.


• More Americans (nearly 60%) choose coffee each day than any other beverage, including tap water, according to the Spring 2021 National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) survey conducted by Dig Research and released by the National Coffee Association (NCA).


• While COVID-19 restrictions and closures continue to crimp coffee preparation away from home (workplace coffee preparation is down 55% since January 2020), on-the-go options are flourishing - drive through and app-based ordering are both up 30%.

The Spring 2021 NCDT was for the first time conducted with the support of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), allowing us to bring this exclusive market research to more members of the coffee community than ever before at a critical time in our industry's COVID-19 recovery.

NCA President and CEO William "Bill" Murray commented:

"The COVID-19 pandemic has kept many people at home for the better part of a year, and the latest 'Atlas of American Coffee' shows they took their coffees with them.  In fact, we've seen Americans embracing their new coffee routines, experimenting with new coffees, and even trying to replicate their favorite beverages at home.

Now, with light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, many Americans are also returning to their favorite coffee businesses or plan to do so within the next month."

More than 40% of Americans bought types of coffee they had never tried before during the pandemic, and nearly one third tried to replicate a favorite coffee shop beverage at home. One-quarter of Americans purchased new coffee formats, and nearly one-quarter purchased a new home coffee machine.

While enjoying new home coffee routines, about 35% of Americans miss their favorite coffee businesses and beverages. Nearly half of Americans (48%) are already returning to coffee shops or plan to within the next month.
As some Americans return to work, they are getting more comfortable using shared coffee stations and returning to local coffee businesses - compared to September 2020, 23% fewer have decreased use of shared coffee stations because of the pandemic, and 17% more have returned to local coffee shops.

For more information, including media highlights, and to purchase the complete NCDT, click here.

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