National Sandwich Day

You know those awkward, eye-roll inducing “ice-breaker” activities instructors and teachers use before their classes? I have an exercise people may actually warm to. Ask them what their favorite sandwich is. Being perpetually hungry and obsessed with food in general, I often ask this question. National Sandwich Day is November 3rd and it’s a great opportunity to get to know people in a new, more intimate way. You can learn everything you need to know about someone from their response. Some go simple. A grilled cheese or a turkey and swiss. Those people are generally laid back, uncomplicated, purists. Chicken Parm? You lead with your heart. Peanut butter and jelly with trimmed crusts? You’re type A.  If the Gobbler is your favorite, you are a full-fledged psychopath. Just kidding! You’re a person after my own heart.

The Gobbler, aka the Pilgrim, aka the Puritan, has an endless number of stage names and variations that revolve around the same concept- pile all your Thanksgiving leftovers on a sandwich and chow down like your life depends on it. It’s not dainty, and it’s not something you eat on a first date. It’s an amalgam of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, maybe even mashed potatoes and a whole lot of shameless savagery. This ultra-loaded, juicy, sweet, salty combo may actually put the integrity of Thanksgiving dinner in question. Ask around. A lot of people love Thanksgiving dinner even more in its reincarnation the following day, or what I like to call “Second Dinner.”

This seasonal treat has gone from an exotic novelty to a fall staple, but it is no spring chicken (spring turkey?). I first learned about the crazy combo twenty years ago on a summer trip to Cape Cod. We celebrated our arrival at a little deli that served “The Pilgrim” piled high on fresh bread year-round. This version included muenster cheese and lettuce and could be served in wrap form upon request. I ordered mine on fresh sourdough and was presented with a full loaf of bread busting at the seams with sweet and salty goodness. Cape Cod and other areas of Southeastern Massachusetts claim ownership of this gem which is served year-round at deli’s and restaurants. After all, the oldest town on Cape Cod is the aptly named Sandwich, Massachusetts.

The first known recipe emerged in the 1950’s although the dish was likely around undocumented well before that. The original sandwich was considered a refined treat, eaten with white gloves, and perhaps even a raised pinky. Sandwiches did not transform into a messy Jenga of glorious ingredients until much more recently. Nowadays, we embrace the mess and shovel as many flavorful components as possible into our melty, gooey creations. Table manners have taken a back seat to flavor in the current manifestation of sandwiches, and the Gobbler is a prime example.

If you haven’t tried this dream of a sandwich, please, let National Sandwich Day be your catalyst. We love building our own because we can customize them to perfection. While we usually adopt a “the more the merrier” attitude about food, we don’t use mashed potatoes on ours. The pairing of fresh turkey, a spicy sage stuffing, turkey gravy and thick layer of whole-berry cranberry sauce is too perfect to mess with. Make yours with all your favorite Thanksgiving components and lots of napkins handy. Here’s to the Gobbler and all its sandwich ancestors this holiday season. Now that is something to be thankful for.

Try out our favorite fall recipe and let us know how it turned out in the comments below!

Ingredients:

1 white or wheat roll (we used honey wheat for a dash of sweetness)

1 tsp butter

4-5 oz turkey, broken into smaller pieces (this helps ensure turkey in every bite)

¼ cup sage or cornbread stuffing

4 tbsp cranberry sauce (whole-berry or jellied based on preference)

3 Tbsp gravy

Directions:

Cut the roll in half and spread with equal amounts of butter. Place cut side down on a warm grill pan and toast. Remove from heat.

Coat both sides of your roll with cranberry sauce. Add a layer of stuffing and top that with pieces of turkey. Add gravy on top (dripping is encouraged!). Top with the top piece of the roll.

SNACK LIKE YOU MEAN IT!

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November 02, 2018 at 03:16PM
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Dirty Chai Blog Post

People are passionate about their beverages. We want them flavorful, pretty, fresh, and inexpensive. We need them fast, in the biggest cup you’ve got, with our choice of milk, and a generous dash of whip. Remember those multicolored pastel drinks that were all the rage? What about freakshakes, the mother of all milkshakes, topped with every confection imaginable? People are having fun with their drinks, and we are on board. One of our favorite trends these days is the Dirty Chai Tea Latte. You can have all the warm, spicy flavors of chai without sacrificing the essential, revitalizing joy that is coffee. Basically, you can have your cake and eat it too. Bonus: you can make it at home!

Some of the best innovations come from necessity. We’ve all made those “I really need to go food shopping but I don’t feel like it” meals. You stare into your bare cabinets and try to figure out how you can work those pitiful, mismatched ingredients into something edible. There are entire cookbooks on the subject matter. Scarcity can turn anyone into an innovator.

The aromatic tea we know and love was born in tougher times. Masala Chai is a Hindi term that translates to “mixed-spice tea”. In the early 1900s, black tea was very expensive in India. Vendors used milk, sugar and spices to keep their brew flavorful while keeping costs down. To stimulate the sales of Indian tea, the British-owned Indian Tea Association encouraged big employers to offer tea breaks throughout the work day. They also encouraged chaiwalas, tea vendors, to sell their brew along the developing railway system.

Traditional Masala Chai used black tea, typically the local Assam or Ceylon, blended with real spices that varied based on region and availability. Chaiwalas became an important part of the culture and continue to exist all over India. They are one of the only consistent presences in a very diverse country, from lazy rural villages to busy cities streets. People from all walks of life flock to chaiwalas for a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Over tea, you’ll see people congregate, night and day, discussing anything from politics to sports.

Masala Chai became popular in India, but it didn’t stop there. Over the pond it went, right to our local coffee shops and tea houses, in all its spicy, fragrant glory. Any trendy coffee shop will boast the “Best Dirty Chai,” but as DIY-ers, we subscribe to the philosophy that if you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself. A lot of cafes make their chai with a concentrated syrup or powder mix. This version fuses our own signature chai spices into the tea like the first chaiwalas. Those real ingredients add a richness and depth of flavor you can’t emulate with an artificial mix alone. You wouldn’t build a house with particle board. You have to go for the good stuff!

If you want the traditional Dirty Chai experience, brew up 2 shots of espresso – we love Godfather’s Italian Espresso for this drink. You can also strong brew any coffee of your choice. Typically, espresso drinks use a dark roast, but the beauty of doing it at home is that you get to choose. Your home will be filled with that sweet, spicy aroma in no time! Whether you’re brewing it by the cup or the pitcher, this decadent treat is as simple as it is tasty.

Give this recipe a try and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Ingredients

1-2 tbsp Spiced Chai tea

½ cup of water

1/3 cup of milk of your choice

½ cup of strong coffee or 2 shots espresso

2-3 tsp honey

1 drop vanilla extract

A dash of cinnamon

Directions:

1.) Prepare coffee or espresso

2.) Prepare chai by bringing water to boil, then pouring it over loose leaf tea in a tea strainer.  Let steep for 5-10 minutes. Remove tea bag/tea container from tea.

3.) Add honey and a drop of vanilla to chai tea, stir in well

4.) Prepare milk by either heating it up in a pot on the stove or use a wand to steam

5.) Add milk to chai

6.) Add strong brewed coffee or espresso and a dash of cinnamon

via Coffee Bean Direct Blog http://www.coffeebeandirectblog.com
October 29, 2018 at 10:43AM
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Coffee S’more Pie

You think you know everything you need to know about s’mores? We beg to differ. Not only did we remix the famous trio of ingredients into delectable pie form, but we also gathered all the shocking, scandalous, and morbid facts surrounding this infamous delicacy. The union of chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker is a tale of ingenuity. We’ve followed the trend, taking this recipe up a notch and redefining the s’more yet again!

The first known recipe emerged 90 years ago, but the s’more and its’ components were no new kids on the block. Marshmallow root was used to heal wounds throughout the ancient world, but Ancient Egypt created a sweet elixir by mixing the root with honey. The divine treat was used to soothe coughs and sore throats and was solely reserved for royalty and gods. They were used medicinally again in 1800’s France, sold in bar form as lozenges. The modern-day marshmallow has substituted gelatin for the plant’s sap, and has become a whole lot fluffier, but it still goes by the same name.

Graham crackers had a far more dogmatic origin. Presbyterian Minister, Sylvester Graham, created the recipe for these crackers to curb society’s impure desires. He believed moral collapse was imminent, and our diets were a contributing factor. Condemning the sensuous nature of juicy, flavorful foods, he proposed a dry, unseasoned vegetarian diet of starches and vegetables to curb bodily excitement. The author of “On Self Pollution,” preached that a plain, wholesome diet would allow society to resist its lustful urges and allow us to return to our natural, chaste state of being.

Strangely, the first known union of chocolate and marshmallow dates back to Victorian-era funeral tradition. It was customary to serve sponge cakes and sandwich cookies filled with chocolate and marshmallow at these services. Rich, elaborate treats were often served to display the wealth of the deceased and their family, along with decorative ostrich feathers and extravagant costumes.

Later, marshmallow roasts became a trendy way to mingle. Young people congregated around bonfires, nibbling each other’s marshmallows and socializing with friends. Marshmallow roasting was considered a fun, flirtatious activity for singles. The summer fad continued through the 1890’s as a simple, inexpensive way to host.

The s’more we all know and love made its first appearance in the 1927 issue of the Girl Scout guidebook “Tramping and Trailing With the Girl Scouts” with the title “Some Mores.” The recipe gained popularity and quickly became a campfire staple. Somewhere down the line the name got shortened, but the recipe lives on. People love their s’mores so much that the flavors have been integrated into everything from ice cream to waffles to protein bars.

As much as we love the holidays, it’s always a little sad to see the summer go. Or it was, before we found a way to keep all the gooey, rich flavors of our beloved s’mores close to our heart (and bellies) all winter long. What’s more seasonal than coffee and pie? We certainly can’t think of anything.

Try out this super easy, super yummy recipe and let us know what you think in the comments below.

Ingredients:

• 1 package chocolate pudding mix
• 1 can evaporated milk
• ¼ cup strong brewed fall roaster’s blend
• 1 (9-inch) graham cracker pie crust
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows

Directions:

In a mixing bowl, whisk chocolate pudding mix, evaporated milk, and strong brewed coffee. Set aside.

Carefully pour in filling. Chill.

Place marshmallows in the center of the pie (they will spread as they melt). Broil until marshmallows are golden brown.

Serve!

via Coffee Bean Direct Blog http://www.coffeebeandirectblog.com
October 15, 2018 at 09:18AM
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Easy Iced Coffee Guide

It’s summertime, so we decided to play guinea pig to bring you the best iced coffee out there. As popular as this classic continues to be, iced coffee often alternates between watery and mouth puckering bitterness. Our goal was to create a cup solid enough to graduate from trend to timeless classic. We believe, when properly brewed, iced coffee may be the star of the coffee world. Not only can it be simple to prepare, (which we love, especially pre-caffeine) but it is the perfect refreshing treat to beat the heat.

Filtered water should be used to brew a double strength batch of coffee to start.  Flash brew iced coffee (aka ice brew) is made in a pour over (such as Hario or Chemex), but you don’t have to get all fancy if you don’t want to. You can make your iced coffee in an autodrip brewer too! Throw coffee ice cubes in to minimize dilution. Ta-da! A no-fuss, clean, crisp cup in minutes.

Homemade iced coffee is easy to make, but the right brewing method can preserve the nuances of the beans while other brewing methods can dull or neutralize their subtle flavor notes. The right iced coffee should be way less high maintenance than it tastes. We love a good shortcut and, finally, our resourcefulness pays off. All hail the perfect iced coffee, right from your very own kitchen! Check out our easy recipes and let us know what you think in the comments.

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August 14, 2018 at 04:12PM
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Wine And Cheese Day Tea Pairing

National Wine and Cheese Day has arrived! To get in the spirit, we decided to put our own spin on the classic pairing. Tea and cheese is the wave of the future, and we’re here to expand your palate! We did our own tea and cheese tasting, and not only did it fulfill our afternoon snack craving, but it also proved to be an entertaining way to unwind with friends.

Tea and wine have a lot of similarities, and both pair seamlessly with cheese. Who doesn’t need a little extra cheese in their lives? Teas, like wine, have a personality all their own. While many people compare coffee to tea, the attributes of tea actually correspond much more with wine. Their distinct qualities are largely based on the growing conditions and processing. From earthy and smoky to fruity and tart, the flavor profiles of loose leaf tea (and wine) vary considerably, which makes it fun to experiment with pairings.

If you know anything about wine and cheese pairing, or if you’re a newbie like us, the rules are consistent and relatively simple. Sweeter teas pair well with salty cheeses while milder, lighter teas and cheeses complement each other best. The ideal match lets both the tea and cheese flavors shine independently while revealing a “third flavor” that is unique to the pairing. After some reading and a whole lot of hands on (mouths on?) research, here are favorite matches. We hope this inspires your own tea and cheese tasting! Let us know what you think.

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July 26, 2018 at 09:08AM
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Chocolate Lover’s Coffee Shake

Have you noticed the monstrously huge milkshakes all over Instagram that seem to explode out of their glass? Either you find them a little much or you accept the challenge and dive in as we have. Have fun with the recipe and add whatever you like, but please read the tips section and learn from our (messy) mistakes!

Ingredients

For the milkshake:

1 cup strong coffee, chilled (we used French Roast)

4 large scoops chocolate ice cream

Toppings (as pictured):

Chocolate Fudge

Marshmallow creme

Cookie pieces

Chocolate whipped cream

Chocolate covered espresso beans

1 ice cream sandwich

1 chocolate bar broken into pieces

Instructions

To create a swirl effect, use a knife to spread some fudge on the inside of the glass. Next spread a band of the marshmallow creme around the outside at the top. Stick on cookie pieces, candy, or sprinkles. Keep it light here, or things will slide! Then pour your milkshake into the glass, leaving some room at the top, followed by whipped cream. Add your straw and pile on whatever you like; we added a chocolate bar, chocolate covered espresso beans, and an ice cream sandwich. We’ve seen doughnuts, cake slices, marshmallows on a stick, etc. The sky is the limit (if you work very quickly).

*TIPS*

Once the outside of the glass has been decorated, stick it in the freezer until you are ready to add the shake. About ten minutes should do the trick. If you’re adding especially heavy candy or cookies to the outside, keep the rim of the glass clean and turn it upside down on a baking sheet to keep things from relocating themselves before they firm up in the freezer.

Make sure your shake is super thick! Add more ice cream if necessary.

Leave a half-inch or so of room at the top when pouring the shake. Otherwise it might overflow when you add your heavier toppings.

Serve with a spoon, and maybe a fork and knife as well. The straw is mainly decoration.

On a hot day, things will start to slump quickly, so dive in immediately!

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August 23, 2017 at 11:33AM
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Rum & Lemon Ginger Green Tea

Last year, we celebrated National Rum Day with a spiced rum and coffee cocktail called the Dark Moon. We’re giving tea lovers something to toast with this year: a twist on the traditional dark and stormy cocktail made with our Lemon Ginger Green Tea. For ours, we chose Fever Tree ginger beer, which packs a giant wallop of ginger flavor and compliments the tea nicely without tasting watered-down.

Ingredients (per drink)

4 oz ginger beer
2 oz cold Lemon Ginger Green Tea
3 oz black strap rum
Splash of simple syrup or to taste

Instructions

Allow the tea to cool, or brew it right before serving by replacing half the brewing water with ice. Combine the tea and ginger beer over ice and sweeten with simple syrup to taste. To float the rum on top, pour slowly over the back of a spoon. Garnish with a slice of lemon and some candied ginger if you want to get fancy. Stir and enjoy!

via Coffee Bean Direct Blog http://www.coffeebeandirectblog.com
August 10, 2017 at 10:25AM
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The Coolest Coffee & Tea Recipes for Summer

When the days are extra long, caffeination is so very important. In honor of today’s solstice, we thought we’d round-up our very favorite summer coffee and tea recipes.

For Coffee Lovers:

No-Churn Coffee Fudge Ice Cream

Vietnamese Coffee Popsicles

Dark Moon Cocktail

Cold Fashioned Cocktail

Affogato

For Tea Fans:

Iced Chai Bubble Tea

Watermelon Mimosa Green Tea Popsicles

Homemade Kombucha

Jasmine Honey Tea Granita

Tea Sangria

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June 21, 2017 at 09:37AM
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The Ultimate Coffee Lover’s Cheesecake

If you like to sink your teeth into a good baking project on a cold day, this one is worth the effort. As pretty as it is delicious, it’s also the perfect dessert for a holiday dinner or special occasion. Consider it the dessert version of an after dinner coffee drink, a drink with a cinnamon-coffee layer, a chocolate-coffee layer, cream cheese frosting, and a chocolate cookie crust!

Ingredients

For the cheesecake:

1 ½ lb cream cheese softened at room temperature

14-oz can sweetened condensed milk

4 large egg yolks

1 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon confectioners sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 ounces dark chocolate, melted (we used the 70% cocoa variety)

4 tablespoons turkish or extra fine ground coffee, divided between layers

4 tablespoons coffee liqueur, divided between layers

2 tablespoons cinnamon

For the crust:

24 chocolate cookies-finely crushed

¼ cup unsalted butter-melted

2 tablespoons turkish or extra fine ground coffee

For the topping:

1 lb cream cheese softened at room temperature

1 cup sour cream

½ cup confectioners sugar

Dark chocolate shavings

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10-inch springform pan and set aside. Finely crush the cookies in a food processor. Add the coffee and then the melted butter and blend until it’s all moistened. Press crumb mixture onto the bottom of the prepared pan and bake for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and set on a wire rack to cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 275 degrees and begin making the filling layers. Beat together the cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. While beating, add the egg yolks one at a time and beat until very smooth. Add the sour cream, confectioners sugar, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, beat 4 egg whites with ½ t salt until stiff. Fold into the cheese mixture.

To create the layers, divide this mixture in half. For the bottom (chocolate) half, whisk in 2 tablespoons of the coffee, 2 tablespoons of the coffee liqueur, and the 4 ounces of dark chocolate. For the top (cinnamon) layer, whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons of coffee, 2 tablespoons of coffee liqueur, and 2 tablespoons of cinnamon. Pour the chocolate batter into the 10-inch springform pan lined with the crust, followed by the cinnamon batter. Bake at 275 degrees for 1 hour. Turn off the heat and let sit (door closed) for 45 minutes or more. The cake should cool completely in the oven.

Meanwhile, beat together the first three topping ingredients and let sit at room temperature. When the cake is cool, remove from the oven, spread the cream cheese mixture over the top, and add the chocolate shavings. Run a knife around the inside of the pan and store in the refrigerator uncovered for the first few hours to prevent condensation. Remove from the pan when cold.

To serve, slice the cake while still cold using a thin, non-serrated knife and rinse the blade under hot water between slices. Another great slicing method: use a piece of dental floss, fishing line, or thin wire to cut through the cake. Drop one end at the bottom after each cut and pull it through!

via Coffee Bean Direct Blog http://www.coffeebeandirectblog.com
November 16, 2016 at 01:05PM
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Flash Brewed Iced Coffee

If you’re one of the many iced coffee lovers who’ve made the switch to cold brew, you may be wondering what all the fuss is about “flash brewed” iced coffee. Back before cold brew was a thing, iced coffee was often regular strength hot coffee (or yesterday’s coffee) poured over ice. The result was watery and disappointing. Also called ice brewed or Japanese-style iced coffee, flash brewed iced coffee is brewed fresh over ice, usually using a pour-over brewer like the Chemex or Hario. For a visual, check out our video on brewing hot or iced coffee with the Chemex. It can also be made with a regular old automatic drip machine or an Aeropress. The key is allowing the coffee to drip directly onto the ice as it brews. Drip by drip, it cools instantly and less dilution occurs than if you were to dump a cup or a pot full of hot coffee over ice.

Flash brew vs. cold brew

If cold brew tastes a little flat to you, that’s because ground coffee requires heat to release some of its acids and aromatic oils (for details on the cold brewing method, check out our post). Cold brewed coffee is much less acidic, but possibly also less nuanced in flavor. High temperatures also cause these oils to oxidize and degrade over time, resulting in the sour or stale taste coffee acquires after sitting on a burner too long. Both methods claim to minimize oxidation, cold brewing by omitting heat and flash brewing by minimizing the amount of time between exposure to heat and consumption.

Another important difference between cold brew and flash brew is texture. Cold brew is less filtered since the coffee sits in contact with the grounds for a long period and some finer sediment dissolves over time. The end result is a rich, mellow cup, with the velvety texture of French press coffee. Flash brewed coffee by comparison is cleaner and crisper, with more bite, more aroma, and some would argue, more flavor.

Flash brewed coffee also has a few convenient advantages over cold brews, depending on your perspective. While nothing is lazier than dumping grounds and water in a bowl and letting them sit, flash brewed coffee is ready right away – no wait required. Also, less coffee is required since cold brew recipes typically make a concentrate with a high ratio of grounds to water. For flash brewing, start with the amount of coffee you would normally use, and replace half the brewing water with ice. Increase the grounds to water ratio if you like a little stronger taste from your iced coffee.

So which one wins? They are both great, but certain coffees are better with one brewing method than with the other. Cold brewing will emphasize more chocolaty or nutty characteristics while the acidity of flash brew will taste fruitier. Try picking a single origin coffee with an acidity level and flavor notes that will either play up or balance these characteristics. For instance, the higher acidity level of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe really jazzes up a cup of cold brew. To further emphasize its brightness, try it flash brewed. To minimize the acidic flavor of flash brewed coffee, try an Indonesian varietal like Papua New Guinea or Estate Java. Flash Brewed coffee tends to have a more nuanced flavor, perfect for a light roast coffee, but there are no rules. Experiment with roast level, see what you like, and share your recommendations!

 

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September 08, 2016 at 04:58PM
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