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Tag: Coffee

  • An AI-Powered Robot May be the Next Coffee Critic

    An AI-Powered Robot May be the Next Coffee Critic

    AI-powered robots may soon be responsible for critiquing coffee, replacing human experts.

    Coffee grading is an important part of the industry, and helps determine the quality and value of coffee. According to Bloomberg, however, the days of humans conducting that task may be numbered.

    Demetria is a Colombian-Israeli startup that created an AI to evaluate coffee beans. Data is collected with a handheld scanner, parameters are input and then the AI takes over. The company already has a pilot program with Carcafe, Volcafe’s Colombian division.

    “It’s the human that establishes the sensorial part,” said Oswaldo Aranha Neto, a coffee industry veteran and Demetria board member. “You need to teach the robot what to do.”

    Demetria’s technology will help speed up the process of evaluating coffee, and may even help farmers better grow varieties with characteristics that are in demand.

  • Starbucks’ Music Experience Is Now Powered by Baristas with Spotify

    Starbucks’ Music Experience Is Now Powered by Baristas with Spotify

    Coffee kingpin Starbucks and bane of Jay-Z’s existence Spotify have just announced a huge partnership to create a “first-of-its-kind music ecosystem.”

    What that means is that soon, the Starbucks music experience will be powered by Spotify – and more specifically, the musical tastes of its employees.

    From Spotify and Starbucks:

    Coming first, Starbucks 150,000 U.S.-based partners (employees) will receive a Spotify Premium subscription, followed shortly thereafter by partners in Canada and the U.K. This fall, Starbucks partners can help shape the in-store music programming using tools provided by Spotify. These partner-influenced playlists will then be accessible on Spotify via the Starbucks Mobile App so that customers can stream music anywhere, anytime from their mobile device.

    The deal links up Spotify Premium with Starbucks’ loyalty program.

    “In addition, Spotify users will enjoy opportunities to obtain “Stars as Currency” for My Starbucks Rewards loyalty program. This will represent the first time that Starbucks loyalty program stars can be accessed by a third party for the benefit of Starbucks MSR members and Spotify users,” says a press release.

    Eventually, Starbucks MSR members will have “the ability to influence in-store playlists”, although to what degree is still yet to be revealed.

    “Starbucks has a rich music heritage and customers who are passionate music fans which makes us incredibly proud to be their music partner,” said Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify. “Spotify has powered more than 25 Billion hours of listening around the world so far, and we’re looking forward to creating unique in-store music experiences while also making more than 20 years of popular Starbucks music available to both Starbucks customers and Spotify’s 60 Million global music fans.”

    And Starbucks will promote Spotify Premium.

    Sounds like a win-win for all involved – unless your barista likes Justin Bieber.

  • Starbucks: Bad Passwords, Not Hackers to Blame for App Thefts

    Starbucks: Bad Passwords, Not Hackers to Blame for App Thefts

    If you use the Starbucks app to pay for your morning coffee, you might want to check your bank account. And then strengthen your password.

    After reports emerged saying hackers had gained access to user accounts and used its app to siphon money away from unsuspecting customers, Starbucks has hit back, saying that these reports are false.

    Blogger Bob Sullivan first reported the issue, telling the stories of multiple victims. What these “hackers” are doing is accessing a Starbucks customer’s account, using the balance to buy a gift card, and waiting for the app to auto-load more money onto the card. This way, they can draw funds directly from someone’s bank account or PayPal account.

    From Bob Sullivan:

    Maria Nistri, 48, was a victim this week. Criminals stole the Orlando women’s $34.77 in value she had loaded onto her Starbucks app, then another $25 after it was auto-loaded into her card because her balance hit 0. Then, the criminals upped the ante, changing her auto reload amount to $75, and stealing that amount, too. All within 7 minutes.

    CNN confirmed that this was happening to other people:

    It happened to Jean Obando on the Saturday evening of December 7. He had just stopped by a Starbucks in Sugar Land, Texas and paid with his phone app. Then while driving on the highway, his phone chimed with a barrage of alerts. PayPal repeatedly notified him that his Starbucks card was being automatically reloaded with $50.

    Then came the email from Starbucks.

    “Your eGift Just Made Someone’s Day,” the email said. “It’s a great way to treat someone — whether it’s to say Happy Birthday, Thank you or just ‘this one’s on me.’”

    He got 10 more just like it — in just five minutes.

    Sounds bad. And it is. But according to Starbucks – this isn’t a hack. This is simply bad password practices.

    “Like all major retailers, the company has safeguards in place to constantly monitor for fraudulent activity and works closely with financial institutions. To protect the integrity of these security measures, Starbucks will not disclose specific details but can assure customers their security is incredibly important and all concerns related to customer security are taken seriously,” said Starbucks.

    “Occasionally, Starbucks receives reports from customers of unauthorized activity on their online account. This is primarily caused when criminals obtain reused names and passwords from other sites and attempt to apply that information to Starbucks. To protect their security, customers are encouraged to use different user names and passwords for different sites, especially those that keep financial information.”

    Starbucks is right in that your passwords do suck. But the company can do more to help prevent this sort of scheme (two-step authentication wouldn’t fix everything but could help). Also, Starbucks doesn’t have a perfect record when it comes to app security.

    Image via Starbucks

  • Alanis Morissette Releases Song To Promote Documentary “A Small Section Of The World”

    Alanis Morissette Releases Song To Promote Documentary “A Small Section Of The World”

    On November 11, singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette released a new song called “The Morning”. The song is featured in the film A Small Section of The World, which focuses on the stories of female coffee producers in Costa Rica, particularly the women behind the group Asociación de Mujeres Organizades de Biolley (ASOMOBI). Morissette co-wrote the song with Costa Rican musician Carlos “Tapado” Vargas.

    The song, which premiered exclusively on The Hollywood Reporter, features Morissette singing along to a lushly-arranged instrumental track that features percussion made from coffee seeds and machines used in coffee production. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about her involvement with the film, Morisette said, “I think they (producers Nick Davidge and Dominic Sandifer) were trying to see who might lend the voice and sing through the hearts and minds and soul of these women in Costa Rica, to tell their story and articulate something that might be a little challenging to articulate.”

    The film, which takes its title from a line in the song’s bridge, is directed by Lesley Chilcott – who produced the critically-acclaimed documentaries Waiting for Superman and An Inconvenient Truth. Morissette’s song is intended as a teaser for the hour-long documentary.

    “For a long time, there was no conversation about women in coffee,” Morisette said in the interview. “But I think Lesley was telling me some 75 percent of coffee-making is done by women. I just think the community of coffee and how the women’s movement conversation can be threaded into it is really exciting and surprising.”

    Morissette also revealed that the language barrier didn’t hinder her collaboration with Carlos Vargas. “Working with Tapado was really easy. We had a shorthand, and even though there was the translation challenge for us with speaking different languages, it was quite easy because in our own way we just kind of finished each other’s sentences.”

    A Small Section of the World will be shown in theaters on December 5 and will be available on demand beginning December 16.

  • Alanis Morissette Creates A Song Using Coffee

    Alanis Morissette has teamed up with coffee to create her latest tune. The Ironic singer and Costa Rican musician Carlos “Tapado” Vargas substituted coffee beans and coffee machines for percussion in order to produce the catchy song The Morning. The tune was inspired by female coffee makers in Costa Rica.

    The video for The Morning premiered on The Hollywood Reporter. The song was written for the documentary A Small Section of the World.

    The film, directed by veteran documentary filmmaker Lesley Chilcott (Waiting for Superman, An Inconvenient Truth), features the story of how a group of Costa Rican females start a coffee mill. According to the film’s website, “A Small Section of the World is a documentary film that tells the inspirational story about a group of women from a remote farming region of Costa Rica whose ideas sparked a revolution in the coffee growing world.”

    “I just basically live for the feminine being and beauty — really talking about it and extolling the virtues of the feminine being celebrated in men and women alike,” said Morissette in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

    “I think about all the people that served so generously in today’s world — whether it’s nurses, hospice workers or teachers, all these people perhaps are paid millions of dollars less than a baseball player in their prime, and yet they’re offering so much of their lives in generosity and expertise,” Morissette added. “A lot of them are not in the public eye. They don’t have their own YouTube channel. There aren’t millions of followers. But there’s this gorgeous planetary contribution and evolutionary contribution that’s taking place in a very quiet way.”

    Morissette feels that the story of Costa Rican female coffee producers is a tale worth telling, “For a long time, there was no conversation about women in coffee,” Morissette said. “But I think Lesley was telling me some 75 percent of coffee-making is done by women. I just think the community of coffee and how the women’s movement conversation can be threaded into it is really exciting and surprising.”

    A Small Section of the World premieres in Los Angeles on December 5 and New York on December 19. It will be also be available on demand on December 16.

  • Coffee: Man Claims to Have Found a Mouse in McDonald’s Coffee Cup. Is It a Scam?

    Coffee: Man Claims to Have Found a Mouse in McDonald’s Coffee Cup. Is It a Scam?

    A Canadian man is claiming he discovered a mouse at the bottom of his McDonald‘s coffee cup after consuming the beverage.

    OK. Yuck. But is his claim legit or a scam?

    Ron Morais says he picked up the coffee from McDonald’s on his way into work on Monday and found a dead mouse inside.

    “I always take the lid off to get my last sip of coffee. And when I took the lid off there was a little bit of a surprise in my coffee cup. It was a dead mouse,” Morais said.

    “Oh my God there’s a mouse in my coffee is what he says. I turn around and look at him, I had somebody on the phone,” said Jennifer LaHaye, a coworker.

    Morais’ co-workers couldn’t believe it.

    “Unless I had been there and seen Ron drink all that coffee down to the last drop, I would have been, like, ‘you’re lying.’ I would have just said, ‘you’re lying through your teeth, it’s just not possible.’ I left, I left work. I came out here, and I was almost puking,” said co-worker Brad Patterson.

    “The first few times I looked, I had to look, and I’m like, no it’s real, he’s not joking, is he ok? And then after that, I got a little green to the gills,” LaHave said.

    Morais also claims there were mouse droppings along with the rodent.

    He allegedly called the McDonald‘s customer service line, but they have yet to connect with him.

    Morais contends he’s not planning on suing the company. He says he just wants some answers and the assurance that this won’t happen to someone else.

    “I’d like to know how the mouse got in the cup of coffee. That’s basically what I’m looking for,” Morais said.

    However, a New Brunswick Department of Health Food Inspector examined the restaurant and cleared it, finding no evidence of violations or pests.

    McDonald‘s says it hired an independent pest control company to investigate and it didn’t find any pest issues either. McDonald’s says it wants to analyze the mouse, and it cautions against anyone jumping to conclusions.

    Morais said he took the finding in stride.

    “I mean, hey, you know. I’m here,” Morais said. “And I’m in better shape than the mouse!”

  • Square Makes Buying Coffee Easier

    Square Makes Buying Coffee Easier

    Back in May, Square killed the Square Wallet app in favor of a new one called Square Order. The app is described as “the easiest way to order for pickup from local shops, cafes, and restaurants — available in SF and NYC. Choose items you would like to pick up and they will be ready when you arrive.”

    Users can find what they want from a local business, pay and tip from their phone, and get a notification when the order is ready.

    Now, Square Order has some new bells and whistles that allow people to order a cup of coffee from participating businesses (which so far includes Blue Bottle Coffee), and have it ready for them (in theory) as soon as they get to the business to pick it up.

    The app utilizes what Square refers to as Arrival Prediction and Buyer Preference to take as much friction as possible out of the coffee buying experience.

    “With this unique technology, buyers can pre-order knowing that their order will be ready when they arrive the same or next day,” Square says of Arrival Prediction. “Sellers get alerts to prepare orders when the buyer is close by, providing hot coffee and a cool experience.”

    The company explains Buyer Preference: ” Daily order customizations are saved so people can easily find their favorites within the app and quickly make their order in just a few taps.”

    “We’re always looking for new ways to foster hospitality at our stores and acknowledge regular guests,” said Blue Bottle CEO James Freeman. “We are excited to partner with Square to continue to offer a quality experience for our guests while serving coffee in a much more streamlined fashion.”

    Square has reportedly raised a new $150 million round of funding at a $6 billion valuation.

    Image via Square

  • Stout-Flavored Coffee And Other Beer-Flavored Products You MUST Try

    Stout-Flavored Coffee And Other Beer-Flavored Products You MUST Try

    Everyone is buzzing with the news that Starbucks might be putting out stout-flavored coffee.

    The beer-flavored beverage is reportedly being tested out in Ohio and Florida.

    Referred to as the Dark Barrel Latte, the product is supposed to be named for the increasing popularity of craft beer and said to blend stout and chocolate flavors.

    Sure coffee and beer are a fun combo, but this is hardly the first time that someone has used beer flavors in an unexpected way.

    If you love hops and trying new things, then there are some other beer-flavored goodies you may want to get your hands on.

    Take a look at some other really cool beer-flavored products.

    Beer-Flavored Desserts

    Coffee isn’t the only sweet food item that others have wanted to mix with real craft beer.

    Meet BeerCandy, a company that specializes in delectable treats made with craft beer. Their products include caramels, taffies, and “hop drops”.

    We also have beer-flavored ice creams and even stout-flavored chocolate cakes. PubCakes offers cake mixes made with your favorite beer flavors.

    Beer-Infused Pizza Dough

    Just as the introduction of coffee-flavored donuts was a big “duh” moment, fans of beer and pizza no doubt think that it only makes sense to bring the two things together.

    When Sam Adams got pizza maker Mark Bello to sub their Boston Lager for water, the result was a rather tasty, if not malty, pizza crust. See the story here and feel free to try the pizza dough recipe for yourself!

    Beer-Flavored…Dog Treats?

    Yep, you read that correctly.

    This can probably be chalked up to persons not wanting their pets to ever feel left out of human activities like social drinking.

    Before you think someone has canines bumbling around the house in a drunken haze, the product is ONLY beer-flavored. The product is non-alcoholic, so there are no intoxicated pets to worry about.

    It’s just a way for dog lovers to enjoy a “cold one” with the family dog.

    Bottoms up, Fido!

  • Stout-Flavored Coffee: The New Pumpkin Spice Latte?

    Stout-Flavored Coffee: The New Pumpkin Spice Latte?

    Stout-flavored coffee could be coming to a Starbucks near you. The coffee giant is testing a new beer-flavored coffee in Ohio and Florida.

    If you like beer and you love coffee, this could be the greatest thing ever, or it could be more along the lines of a two-great-tastes-that-don’t-taste-great-together situation.

    Starbucks developed its stout-flavored coffee, called the Dark Barrel Latte, in response to the rise in popularity of craft beer.

    According to a Starbucks spokesperson, the latte is topped with whipped cream and dark caramel, and incorporates a “chocolaty stout-flavored sauce”.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOvmm6WoeIU

    Beer flavored like coffee has been around for quite a while, but stout-flavored coffee is a new thing entirely.

    To me, it sounds absolutely horrid, but to many it’s actually quite delightful.

    One commentator on Reddit isn’t impressed with the new idea, but probably has it figured out.

    “Part of the problem is they are not catering to people who actually like coffee, they are catering to people who like sugary drinks flavored with Coffee. I tend to stay away from them because I like other local roasters better than theirs, but when I’m traveling they have a pretty consistently decent cup of medium roast black coffee. This drink to me feels like the same type of things Lay’s is doing with their cappuccino flavored chips, of course no one will like it, but they sure will talk about it!”

    The new stout-flavored coffee test has been aligned with Starbucks’ annual roll-out of their fall flavors like the ever-popular Pumpkin Spice latte.

    Could this be THE new fall flavor? I guess most of us will have to wait until the flavor comes to our neck of the woods to know if it is worthy or not. If and when that will be is a very good question.

    “We’re looking forward to learning more from the test, but do not have additional information to share on future availability of this product in our stores,” says a Starbucks spokesperson.

    What do you think? Does the new stout-flavored coffee sound awesome or disastrous?

  • Starbucks Stout Flavored Latte Hits Test Markets

    Starbucks Stout Flavored Latte Hits Test Markets

    Pumpkin spice and salted caramel-flavored coffee sure says fall to many people – but what about a coffee that tastes like cold weather’s favorite beer? I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who could definitely get into that – provided it’s not gross or anything. There’s plenty of coffee-flavored beer, so why not turn the tables?

    The world’s most popular coffee brand is currently testing a new cup of coffee called the “dark barrel latte”. According to a report from Reuters, the drink will include “a chocolaty stout flavored sauce, whipped cream and dark caramel drizzle.” Yes, it supposedly tastes like a stout beer.

    The stout-flavored latte is only being tested in a few stores in Ohio and Florida, so don’t grab your keys and head out the door yet. Like any company, Starbucks routinely runs tests – so the survival of the beer-coffee likely depends on the response it receives in those select markets.

    Nutritional info has yet to be revealed, but things like “chocolaty sauce”, “whipped cream”, and “dark caramel drizzle” suggest that it’ll fall somewhere between a couple hundred and a few gajillion calories. Unfortunately, the Dark Barrel Latte in completely alcohol-free.

    Image via Starbucks, Facebook

  • Coffee Prices At Starbucks Rising

    Coffee Prices At Starbucks Rising

    Coffee may be America’s favorite drink, but prices are rising at one of the most popular coffee chains in the world, Starbucks. On Thursday, prices rose between 5 and 20 cents. That may not seem very high, but the cost looks like it will just go up from here on out.

    Reuters reported that Starbucks made the price hike announcement only a few weeks after J.M. Smucker Company made a similar hike on famous coffee products with its subsidiaries, Dunkin’ Donuts and Folgers.

    Why the price change? Coffee rust fungus may be to blame. Production of Latin American coffee is expected to drop up to 40%. “Coffee rust threatens more than your morning coffee – it affects jobs, businesses, and the security of millions across the Americas,” said Mark Feierstein, of the United States Agency for International Development. “We must tackle this outbreak to ensure farmers and laborers have stable incomes, don’t start growing illicit crops, or be forced to migrate because they can no longer support their families. This partnership will tap innovative solutions to address the immediate and long-term impacts of coffee rust and help this key agriculture sector rebound.”

    In America, the city to be most affected will be New York, especially Midtown Manhattan. According to a study by Quartz, New York City has the most Starbucks stores out of any city in America, 277 to be exact. 210 of those are on Manhattan, with 62 between 59th Street and 42nd Street alone.

    However, New York is still behind the city with the most Starbucks in the world. Seoul has 284 stores. “Seoul is just coffee crazy,” Andrew Hetzel, coffee expert, told NBC News.

    Coffee prices have not stopped Starbucks’ implementation of its “College Achievement Plan” with Arizona State University. The Street reported that it will offer free college tuition for some students, perhaps even as a way to stop high employee turnover.

    But will they make a video about the rising cost of coffee? Probably not.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons.

  • Coffee Rust Fungus Could Raise U.S. Coffee Prices

    Americans enjoy making fun of themselves for buying expensive coffee, but continue to do so on a daily basis. Now those high-priced blends could become even more expensive thanks to a destructive fungus that is destroying coffee crops in Latin America.

    According to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), production of Latin American coffee is expected to fall by 15% to 40% in the future. This could lead to job losses for as many as half a million people involved in the farming and production of coffee in these regions. It could also eventually lead to higher prices for high-end Arabica coffee blends.

    This is all due to a fungus dubbed “coffee rust” that attacks coffee plants. The most recent outbreak of the fungus has been destroying coffee crops from Mexico down to Peru since at least 2012. According to USAID this coffee rust outbreak is the worst in Latin America’s history.

    To combat the outbreak, USAID this week announced a $5 million partnership with Texas A&M University to study and hopefully stop coffee rust from harming the Latin American coffee trade. Through the partnership, researchers with Texas A&M will begin researching coffee strains that are resistant to the fungus, how seeds for those varieties might be distributed throughout the region, and how Latin American countries might better monitor and predict coffee rust outbreaks.

    “Coffee rust threatens more than your morning coffee – it affects jobs, businesses, and the security of millions across the Americas,” said Mark Feierstein, associate administrator at USAID. “We must tackle this outbreak to ensure farmers and laborers have stable incomes, don’t start growing illicit crops, or be forced to migrate because they can no longer support their families. This partnership will tap innovative solutions to address the immediate and long-term impacts of coffee rust and help this key agriculture sector rebound.”

    This partnership, along with the $9 million more that USAID is investing in coffee rust research and prevention, may give hope to farmers who depend on these high-quality coffees for their livelihoods. A study released in January by University of Michigan ecologists found that the fungicides Latin American farmers have been using to combat coffee rust will not be enough to eliminate the outbreak, as the chemicals also eliminate “good” fungus that can naturally combat coffee rust.

    Image via Thinkstock

  • Coffeemakers: The Best Products For Under $100

    If you rely on coffee to transform you from a grouchy zombie into a functional human being, it’s safe to say that you’ll want to buy a coffeemaker that can get the job done.

    Is it possible to find a good coffeemaker for under $100?

    If these highly recommended products are any indication, the answer is a resounding yes.

    Check out these well reviewed coffeemakers and see which one fits your caffeine demands:

    The Cuisinart Brew Central DCC-1200 – This coffee machine is actually deemed to be the best standard coffee machine on the market by Consumer Research.

    It’s a programmable coffeemaker that can deliver small batches if needed. This is great if you happen to be in a hurry.

    At $79 the DCC-1200 is also a bargain. The only real con is that it’s a bit too tall to fit into certain cabinets.

    If functionality outweighs storage issues, perhaps the DCC-1200 is right for you after all.

    Mr. Coffee VBX23 – The VBX23 allows you to “pause” brewing and fix your cup of coffee right when you want it. Definitely much more convenient than having to wait for a coffeemaker to finish brewing. The VBX23 also keeps coffee warm for up to 2 hours before automatically shutting off.

    Not only does it come packed with cool features, it costs on average a mere $30! If there was ever an answer to the prayer of broke college students forced to stay up all night studying, it has to be the VBX23.

    Keurig K10 Mini Plus Brewing System – Sometimes you only have time for one perfectly brewed cup of coffee. By all accounts, the coffeemaker best equipped to deliver is the Keurig K10. In addition to coffee, this machine can give you tea, hot cocoa, or even an ice beverage in under two minutes!

    There are a variety of “K cups” one can choose from, which makes the flavor possibilities practically endless. All of this for $99.99? Sounds like a good deal to me.

    Have any other affordable coffeemakers to recommend? Comment below!

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Krispy Kreme Adds Two New Doughnut Flavors

    The next time you are drawn to the lure of Krispy Kreme’s red “Hot Now” sign, instead of buying only a dozen hot glazed doughnuts, you might want to try out one of the doughnut chain’s two new flavors. The North Carolina based chain has decided to collide the two wonderful worlds of coffee and doughnuts by introducing two coffee-flavored doughnuts. These two new flavors are available at participating locations in the United States and Canada.

    Krispy Kreme offers more than a dozen different doughnut flavors on its menu, and now customers can purchase Mocha Kreme and Caramel Coffee Kreme doughnuts. According to Krispy Kreme’s description of the Mocha Kreme doughnut, it is a “moist yeast doughnut filled with a tasty blend of chocolate and coffee flavors, topped with mocha icing, a milk chocolate swirl and decorated with milk chocolate icing.” As tasty as that sounds, the Caramel Coffee Kreme’s description might sound even more heavenly. This doughnut is described as being a “decadent glazed treat topped with smooth caramel and coffee flavored icing, a mocha drizzle and dollop of coffee Kreme.”

    Check out pictures of the two new doughnuts below.

    (image)

    The news of Krispy Kreme’s two new flavors might sting a little for those still working on their New Year’s resolutions, but if coffee and doughnuts are two of your favorite things, you might not want to hold off on trying out the new doughnuts for too long–these two flavors are available for a limited time only. The two flavors were added the display cases on Monday, and Krispy Kreme hasn’t yet mentioned how long they plan to keep the doughnuts before yanking them. Since the doughnuts aren’t tied to a holiday theme, like Krispy Kreme’s recent Valentine doughnuts that hung around for a couple of weeks, maybe these will stick around for a while.

    Judging from the number of ‘likes’ the announcement of the new flavors received on Krispy Kreme’s Facebook page, it appears many fans are excited to try them out. If coffee isn’t your thing, which doughnut flavor would you like to see added to Krispy Kreme’s lineup? Add your comments below.

    Images via Twitter, Facebook

  • Krispy Kreme Gives Us Two New Flavors

    If you love coffee and donuts, then you will be thrilled to hear about what’s coming to Krispy Kreme. The company has just unveiled not one but two brand new coffee-flavored donuts.

    The first flavor is the Mocha Kreme. It is described as a “moist yeast doughnut filled with a tasty blend of chocolate and coffee flavors”. Yum! The donut is topped with a mocha-flavored icing, milk chocolate swirl, and carefully decorated with milk chocolate icing.

    The second choice, the Caramel Coffee Kreme, manages to combine caramel and coffee flavors in an icing, with a drizzling of mocha and dollop of “coffee-flavored Kreme”.

    These donuts weren’t the only coffee-related items revealed to be coming to Krispy Kreme. The company recently announced that it is teaming up with Green Mountain to sell coffee. The single serve Keurig brewers are big business for coffee companies.

    Is anyone really surprised that a donut company would try and muscle in? It seems predictable enough, but Krispy Kreme is taking a slow and cautious approach. For now, their “K-cups” will be one of two flavors: Smooth or Decaf.

    It’s likely that as Krispy Kreme finds its footing, new flavors will be introduced over time.

    Getting back to donuts, the new flavors will likely be a hit with anyone who loves their coffee and donuts. They can now have all the coffee flavor…and none of the soggy donut!

    The only potential downside is that this seems to be a limited time offer. Which is why you are encouraged to get to your nearest Krispy Kreme to try one or both of the fantastic flavors before March 30th.

    The flavors are available right now while supplies last, and if enough people compliment them perhaps (fingers crossed) these delicious donuts will stick around.

    Or perhaps while Krispy Kreme will be inclined to introduce hot cocoa flavored donuts in the near future.

    What do you think of the new Krispy Kreme donut flavors? Got a favorite donut flavor you’d like to recommend? Share away!

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Dumb Starbucks: Entrepreneuring Spoof

    Dumb Starbucks: Entrepreneuring Spoof

    “I’d like a dumb venti mocha latte. And throw in one of those ‘Dumb Jazz Standards’ CDs. And some dumb mints, for my dumb coffee breath. ”

    So go the orders at a new coffee shop in Los Feliz, Calif.: Dumb Starbucks. The store opened Friday to great excitement, including a dumb line that took customers over an hour get through before the dumb store ran out of dumb supplies and had to close up.

    Here’s what you need to know: The store looks exactly like any other Starbucks you’ve ever seen, only all of the branding, including the corporate logo, has been modified to include the word “dumb” at the beginning (menu items such as “Dumb Iced Coffee,” etc.). Where did it come from? Why is it here? So far, nobody knows, but speculation as to whether it’s an artistic statement or a marketing ploy has run rampant.

    “I hope it’s an art thing vs. a business thing,” Jeffrey Eyster, 43, said, adding that he’d like to see “dumb” versions of similar chains like McDonald’s and Cheesecake Factory. Eyester, who had been waiting in line over an hour and still hadn’t made it near the front door was loathed to add, “They’re definitely not serving at Starbucks pace.”

    Inside, two baristas were doing their best to tend to curious customers, but inquiries went largely unanswered. Instead, they referred questions to an FAQ pamphlet that claimed that the store was a fully functioning business but had to pretend to be an artistic statement so as to use Starbucks’ trademarks legally under the fair use doctrine.

    It’s a legally dubious position, to be sure, and Starbucks’ attorneys are on the case. Megan Adams, a spokesperson for the company, said that they were aware of the situation and were “looking into it.”

    There’s certainly one thing that’s not dumb about the store: the prices. On opening day, all the coffee was free.

    Image via YouTube

  • Caffeine Use Disorder: Turns Out It’s a Thing

    With a Starbucks on every city street corner, Americans are well-aware of the fact that they like their coffee. With phrases like, “No coffee, no workey” and “I’m a zombie without my coffee” a part of the common vernacular, most Americans consume this socially accepted drug on a daily basis, be it through coffee, soda, or energy drinks. But a recent study released by Dr. Laura Juliano, a psychology professor who works at American University, suggests that caffeine addiction is no joke. In fact, Caffeine Use Disorder has been added to the DSM-5. The DSM-5 is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders in its newest and most up to date version. It is often used by mental health professionals to evaluate mental health disorders and dependencies. The American Psychiatric Association has stated that Caffein Use Disorder is a serious health concern; furthermore, it is in need of further study from the scientific community.

    So what exactly does “Caffeine Use Disorder” consist of? According to Dr. Juliano, “There is misconception among professionals and lay people alike that caffeine is not difficult to give up. However, in population-based studies, more than 50 percent of regular caffeine consumers report that they have had difficulty quitting or reducing caffeine use.” The effects of attempting to “dry up” for those who are over-caffeinated on a regular basis? Irritability, fatigue, and headaches, just to name a few. Not to mention the effects of consuming too much caffeine at once, such as the jitters and a racing heartbeat.

    So we are left to wonder, how much is too much? Dr. Juliano suggests limiting your daily caffeine intake to around 400 Mg per day. So what does that translate to in Starbucks terminology? One “Venti” sized coffee is a whopping 24oz, which would be the equivalent of about 400 Mg. That means that consumers who start their day with a Venti and then continue to drink caffeinated beverages or eat caffeinated foods, such as chocolate, are consuming more than the recommended daily dose of caffeine.

    But regulating your caffeine intake isn’t easy. “At this time, manufacturers are not required to label caffeine amounts and some products such as energy drinks do not have regulated limits on caffeine,” Says Dr. Juliano. Without proper labeling, it is difficult for those who are attempting to limit their caffeine intake, such as pregnant women, to truly understand how much caffeine they are consuming.

    While Starbucks and soda companies are thriving thanks to the widespread consumption of the world’s most popular drug, be sure to ask yourself if it’s at your own expense.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Caffeine Use Disorder: It’s a Thing

    Caffeine Use Disorder: It’s a Thing

    Coffee addicts, listen up! Caffeine has now been categorized as a drug in the DSM-5. Need help quitting? That may be coming soon, according to Yahoo.

    “Caffeine is a drug, a mild stimulant which is used by almost everybody on a daily basis,” said Charles O’Brien, chair of the Substance-Related Disorders Work Group. “Normally, there’s no problem with that. But it does have a letdown afterwards,” he added. “If you drink a lot of coffee, usually two or three cups at a time, there will be a rebound or withdrawal effect.”

    In a new study from researchers at American University in Washington, D.C., it is found that drinking several cups of coffee each day can become habit-forming, and when a person tries to quit, they can experience withdrawal symptoms like headaches and fatigue. If you’ve ever tried to quit, as I have, you might agree there is also a good amount of crankiness.

    “The negative effects of caffeine are often not recognized as such because it is a socially acceptable and widely consumed drug that is well integrated into our customs and routines,” said the study’s co-author and American University psychology professor Laura Juliano, reported by Post Media News. “And while many people can consume caffeine without harm, for some it produces negative effects, physical dependence, interferes with daily functioning, and can be difficult to give up.”

    This new study could possibly result in greater clarity in labeling of products containing caffeine and the amounts they contain, according to Juliano.

    “At this time, manufacturers are not required to label caffeine amounts, and some products such as energy drinks do not have regulated limits on caffeine,” Juliano said. “Through our research, we have observed that people who have been unable to quit or cut back on caffeine on their own would be interested in receiving formal treatment — similar to the outside assistance people can turn to if they want to quit smoking or tobacco use.”

    It would be interesting to see what some of those treatments would be. It is a fairly hard habit to kick, but if you can’t, you should at least try to reduce your intake to 2-3 8oz. cups of coffee per day (or 400 mg caffeine) to avoid withdrawal symptoms, according to Juliano.

    Image via wikimedia commons

  • Hot Coffee Once Again Lands McDonald’s in Hot Water

    Hot Coffee Once Again Lands McDonald’s in Hot Water

    Nearly 20 years after Stella Liebeck won compensatory and punitive damages from McDonald’s after spilling hot coffee in her lap and sustaining serious injury, another woman is suing the fast food giant over a similar injury.

    Los Angeles resident Paulette Carr has filed a suit against McDonald’s after she spilled hot coffee on herself at a drive-thru on January 12th, 2012. According to the LA Times, Carr claims that the lid was improperly affixed to the cup, and that’s what caused her to be injured by the spilled coffee.

    “The lid for the hot coffee was negligently, carelessly and improperly placed on the coffee cup…resulting in the lid coming off the top of the coffee at the window, causing the hot coffee to spill onto the plaintiff,” reads the lawsuit.

    As you probably know, there is precedent for winning damages for spilling hot coffee on yourself. In 1994, an Albuquerque, New Mexico woman named Stella Liebeck was awarded $160,000 in compensatory damages and $2.7 million in punitive damages (later reduced to $640,000) when she successfully sued McDonald’s for serving her super-heated coffee in 1992.

    The case, one of the most famous civil cases in recent history, sparked debates about tort reform and quickly became a pop culture phenomenon. Many at the time held the case up as the epitome of the country’s “sue anyone for anything” culture – but as time passed and the full story came into focus people began to change their minds about Liebeck and the validity of her suit.

    Liebeck suffered third-degree burns on her inner thighs from the spill and was forced to spend 8 days in the hospital where she underwent skin grafts. Her rehabilitation lasted for years after that. Liebeck and her representation claimed that the coffee must have been super-heated to an unsafe temperature (likely 180+ degrees F) to cause such injuries.

    A 2011 HBO documentary on Liebeck’s case helped make believers out of a lot of skeptics:

    Obviously, the two cases share a similar thread but appear, at least on first glance, to accuse McDonald’s of a different style of negligence. While Liebeck argued that the coffee was simply too hot, Carr seems to suggest that the vessel wasn’t properly sealed – and that’s what resulted in her injuries.

    Injuries – the severity of which have yet to be revealed.

    This isn’t the first time since 1994 that McDonald’s has faced lawsuits over spilled coffee.

    Image via Thiago Martins, Flickr

  • Charbucks Wins Battle Against Starbucks, Again

    After a tedious 12-year trial, coffee empire Starbucks lost its case against a small, family-owned New Hampshire-based coffee roaster. The issue? The use of the name “Charbucks.”

    http://youtu.be/m72Xn11WFE8

    Black Bear Micro Roastery sells coffee labeled “Mr. Charbucks,” “Charbucks Blend,” and “Mister Charbucks,” which doesn’t go over too well with the Seattle coffee giant. However, according to Circuit Judge Raymond Lohier, who ruled in a family appeals court, the prosecution failed to prove that customers would be confused through a blurring of the brand.

    Litigation began in 2001, when the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stated that roastery could continue to sell its Charbucks coffee. Then in 2011, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain ruled in favor of the small company again, stating that Charbucks was only weakly similar to the Starbucks brand name.

    And now recently, the ruling is upheld again.

    The coffee company isn’t the first to react to another company that resembles its name; in fact, many retailers go through litigation when they believe another brand steps on its toes, for fear they will lose profit.

    A large portion of Starbucks’ argument that Charbucks was infringing on its name comes from a phone survey, in which 600 people polled allegedly agreed that “Charbucks” brought “Starbucks” to mind, but according to the latest ruling, Starbucks will just have to deal.

    However, many Starbucks drinkers have long referred to the company as “Charbucks,” because they feel it has a burnt taste to it, which could be another reason why Starbucks isn’t a fan of the name.

    Starbucks began selling its signature brews in 1971, out of Seattle’s Pike Place Market. It has now become the world’s largest coffee chain, with more than 14.8 billion in annual revenue.

    Black Bear Micro Roastery began selling its “Charbucks Blend” in 1997 out of Tuftonboro, New Hampshire.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • McDonald’s Bagged Coffee: Will You Buy It?

    McDonald’s Bagged Coffee: Will You Buy It?

    McDonald’s bagged coffee will soon be coming to a grocery store shelf near you. McDonald’s McCafe specialty coffee went national in 2009, and just four years later, the chain has announced plans to sell bagged coffee in grocery stores.

    Fans of McDonald’s coffee will reportedly be able to purchase ground and whole bean coffee in 12 ounce bags for around $7, plus they will also sell single cup servings. On the plus side, this means McDonald’s coffee fans can enjoy their morning coffee without having to actually wait in a never ending line. On the downside, well, there doesn’t appear to be one, aside from McDonald’s once again expanding its reach.

    The fast food chain is working with Kraft Foods to release their coffee in the U.S. sometime next year. McDonald’s began selling bagged coffee in Canada last year, so the grocery store version must have done fairly well north of the border.

    McDonald’s bagged coffee will be competing with coffee from other national restaurant chains, such as Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. According to The Christian Science Monitor, the bagged coffee industry does around $5.6 billion in sales each year, with 56 percent of Americans reporting that they bought coffee in the supermarket in 2011. It will be interesting to see how the McDonald’s bagged coffee does against the competition. Green Mountain, Folgers and Dunkin Donuts rank as America’s favorite three bagged coffee brands.

    What do you think about McDonald’s selling bagged coffee? Respond below. Let’s just say that most Twitter users were less than enthusiastic about the announcement:

    And in other McDonald’s related news, the burger chain has dropped Heinz ketchup after they hired former Burger King CEO Bernardo Hees.

    [Image via YouTube]