So the question is, should you be taking a break from stimulants? Personally I'm taking a break -my central nervous system and adrenal glands need some love. I've been going too hard for too long and the damage needs repair. Regardless of Giddy Yo beans being clean, all coffee (except decaf) is a stimulant, and right now it's a NO. Is this YOU too? Please, be honest with yourself and decide. And remember, it's just a season of repair and not a forever thing. Being good to yourself often means saying no. Word from the Bird. And remember, we offer a caffeine-free DECAF, so if you delight in the coffee ritual, consider replacing your daily with this option.
MISTAKE #2: USING ANYTHING WITH PLASTIC and/or TEFLON
Using plastic for anything hot is an absolute NO. Heating food (or pouring hot food) into plastic is an absolute full stop NO. Plastic contains obesogens and hormone disrupting chemicals (bisphenol-A aka, BPA, phthalates). Leaching of these chemicals will occur faster and to a greater degree when exposed to heat. Ingesting these chemicals is detrimental to our health (men, women and children). Teflon pans when heated release chemicals (perfluorooctanoic acid aka PFOA) known to be obesogens, which stimulate your body to make more fat cells and to store more fat in these cells. Um, no thank you.
- If your coffee maker has any plastic, it's a NO. Use stainless steel (percolator) or glass (pour over or French press) only.
- If you're mug/carafe is plastic, it's a NO. Use stainless steel or glass.
- If you're drinking drive-through coffee, the cup has a plastic lining and lid – it's a NO. If you must drink this, then ask them to put your hot drink in your own proper mug.
- If you're using a plastic thing to boil water – stop and replace it IMMEDIATELY, it's a NO.
- If you're boiling water in a Teflon pot- stop and replace it IMMEDIATELY, it's also a big fat NO.
What you CAN use: Glass, stone, stainless steel. You've got options. We use a stainless steel percolator in the office, and I French press at home.
MISTAKE #3: NOT REGULARLY CLEANING YOUR COFFEE MAKER
Although you may not be willing to forgo Mr. Coffee maker, please make sure you clean him regularly.
Your coffee machine may well be the unsung hero of your kitchen. It's there for you at the crack of dawn, braving the groggy groans and grumpiness without any backtalk or hairy eyeball. But ol' reliable has a secret life… he's not just brewing your daily cuppa joe, he's also likely harboring some unsavory stuff – beware the gunk that lurks!
Over time, coffee oils and mineral deposits (a.k.a. “gunk”) build up and form a sticky, grimy residue. If you don't clean him regularly, this layer of sludge can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. EWWW! You just invested in Giddy Yo mould-free coffee so let's keep your cuppa joe clean from bag to belly!
A clean machine doesn't just perform better, it makes your coffee taste better too. Run white vinegar through it every month or so to remove and keep at bay mineral deposits and any slimey-ness in the water compartment. Also clean the carafe, filter basket, and any removable parts by soaking in hot water and vinegar. Get ready for richer flavor and a smoother performance.
MISTAKE #4: STORING BEANS IN THE FREEZER
The best way to keep your Giddy Yo coffee beans freshy-fresh is to keep it shelved - not frozen*. Once you purchase your beans, keep them in the sealed bag in a cool, dry, dark place - a lower cupboard is ideal. Coffee beans are highly porous and temp changes (cold to room temp) may redistribute moisture (condensation) inside of the bag to the bean itself, and with this you may inadvertently now have funky-freezer-odor tasting beans. Not ideal.
*If you bulk up and won't finish your 5 lb bag within a month, then it's fine to freeze the beans for up to a month. Divide beans into smaller portions using an airtight odour-free sealed bag, and take out what you need as you need it. Once you remove the beans, put them in a shallow bowl to thaw and dry, and grind and brew within 2 weeks.
MISTAKE #5: PRE-GRINDING BEANS
We only offer
Giddy Yo whole beans for a good reason; we want you to have as fresh as we are able.
The moment you grind your beans, the exposure to the air/ light/ temperature immediately cause oxidation. The beans smell oh so lovely at this point, so maximize your joy and flavour and brew immediately. Oxidation sucks and will make your coffee stale (relatively quickly), and hence create a flat brew. Nobody likes a flat brew- you invested way too much for that!
MISTAKE #6: USING THE WRONG WATER - QUALITY & TEMPERATURE
Firstly, the only thing tap water is good for is cleaning things that you DO NOT eat (or live in, like your body). I'm confident y'all know why (impurities, oh so many impurities in many forms- think hormones, drugs, artificial sweeteners, 'forever' chemicals, chlorine, fluoride, and anything else an organization may want you to be ingesting). So please, don't use it to make your coffee!
Ideally you use either next-level well water or next level spring water that you've harvested yourself or purchased from a water store that offers this. If not, be sure to super-duper filter your house water.
Regarding brewing temperature, the right temp will extract the best flavour and aroma. The range is just under 91 C (196 F) – 96 C (205 F). What this means in real life - DO NOT add actively boiling water to your grind. Instead, bring the water to a boil and let it sit for 30 sec to 1 minute, then add. Adding actively boiling water to your grind will over-extract the beans and result in a bitter and acidic brew. No thank you. I can wait a minute and I think you can too.
MISTAKE #7: USING THE WRONG MUG
I recently learned that (some) pottery mugs that have a coloured glaze on the inside – this glaze may contain lead! Don't risk it. We have many options here in N. America, so choose your pottery mug wisely!
And this is shocking- don't shock your coffee by using a cold mug or carafe. While you're waiting for your morning mud to brew, pre-warm your vessel by sloshing a few ounces of hot water inside. It's a little thing but it makes a difference.
So that's all for now folks. There's much more to share, all to be tackled in future newsletters, so keep your finger on the pulse of Giddy Yo.
And remember, we appreciate hearing from you so if you've got any coffee tips of your own, please let us know. Let's keep the coffee conversation flowing!
Happy brewing! Check out our coffee offerings, HERE! |
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