AN ETHOS OF GIVING

Happy Holidays, Ethos family! We’d like to close the year with an invitation to reflect and be grateful for one more year of challenges and triumphs, of misadventures and adventures, of life and possibilities!

This year we wanted to reflect on the joys of giving as the ethos that gave us the courage to continue, and even take risks, in the midst of so much uncertainty this year. We truly believe that our deep desire to give - to our farmers and to our customers - is the invisible bond that holds us together, and ultimately makes our roastery different from any other. So, we want to invite you to make this Holiday season all about the giving - not about how much you give, but how much thought and love you place into your giving… through the years we’ve discovered the best gifts are not the most expensive, the best gifts are those that have an element of something the recipient can’t really “buy” - i.e. it’s always thoughtful and deeply personal - it’s perhaps a new product or experience they have never tried (or always wanted to try!). May your season be full of amazing gifts, and above all, full of thoughtful, joyful giving!

As you know, we post an inspirational quote on our Instagram (@ethosroasters) every Monday - and, as is now a tradition, here are our 12 favorite quotes this year:

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?” (Martin Luther King Jr. | Posted Jan 20, 2020) - always, and forever a favorite to live by!

“Not all those who wander are lost” (JRR Tolkien | Posted Feb 17, 2020, along with a picture of us visiting our Poaquil farmers in Guatemala!)

“ Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great, we can be that generation” ( Nelson Mandela | Posted Mar 23, 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic)

“Life is measured by love” ( Pope Francis | Posted Apr 6, 2020, as stay-at-home orders were being implemented throughout the US)

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall” (Confucius | Posted May 25, 2020, as we began a Summer of uncertainty)

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that” ( Martin Luther King Jr. | Posted Jun 1, 2020, in the wake of the killing of George Floyd)

“If not us, then who? If not now, then when?” (John Lewis | Posted Jul 27, 2020, a few days after his passing)

“Don’t count the days, make the days count” (Muhammad Ali | Posted Aug 10, 2020, as pandemic fatigue began to set in, and we decided to take a risk with our new “Umoja” from D.R. Congo)

“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you” (Ruth Bader Ginsburg | Posted Sep 21, 2020, in the wake of her passing)

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world” (Desmond Tutu | Posted Oct 5, 2020, as we were creating our new Red Swan Blend!)

“How do you say thank you for sunshine or health… for clear days or gentle rains… for happiness, joy, or love? You say it by sharing what you have. You say it by making the world a better place in which to live” (Thomas Willhite | Posted Nov 23, 2020, the week of Thanksgiving)

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give” (Winston Churchill | Posted Dec 7, 2020, overjoyed by your giving spirit, and experiencing our busiest holiday season yet! About half those orders are gifts… which we’re especially grateful for, since most of us only share products, missions, and stories we love and are proud of! Thank you for all the love… we’ll always strive to make you proud!

Every single day, we’re grateful for the opportunity to get to roast for you, to get to live this dream and make an impact, and most of all, for each of you who continue to make it all possible!

Always wishing you much joy and blessings this Holiday season - and a New Year full of possibilities to realize your dreams and Brew Greatness in the world,

Jolian & Lisbeth

P.S. We have a bonus guest blog post this year! Enjoy these Holiday Coffee Recipes written just for us by Blogger Jessie Bayer (a fan generously sharing her talents with us!).

Ethos 2020 in a Cup : Introducing this year's Red Swan!

What a year this has been! Full of surprises, challenges, many (perhaps too many) learning opportunities… and yet, we’ve done some of our most impactful work this year. It has been a year full of uncertainty and despair, yet we’ve been able to offer certainty and hope to our farmers. It has been a year of a few losses driven by unfortunate events and a few painful changes… yet, we feel so much clearer about our path for the future, and are even more convinced on our ability to make a difference. It has been the year of social distancing… yet we feel more connected to each of you than ever before! - to the extent we’ve secretly started calling you our Ethos family.

As we began working on our Holiday Blend for this year… we wanted to do something extra (truly extra) special - that could help embody our immense, deep gratitude for each of you this year. It is not an understatement when we say Ethos exists only thanks to you - our High-Impact coffees are now 80% supported by our online customers and subscribers! With this in mind, we began by sourcing a coffee that would only be featured on this blend - a women-farmed, Organic, Direct-Trade Honey-processed Bourbon from Copán, Honduras… and combined it with two of our most special, most impactful single-origins we currently have: Poaquil Natural and Umoja (Washed Bourbon). And, as some of you may have already noticed… we also combined all main coffee processing methods (washed, honey natural) into this intoxicatingly aromatic, well-balanced, sweet cup featuring fruit-forward notes that contrast nicely with strong earthy, subtly spiced undertones.

We hope you love it… and we hope you can taste our intense joy and gratitude for getting to still be here, in this journey…. Brewing Greatness in the world with you!

Gracias familia!

Jolian & Lisbeth

PS. We’re adding a little surprise to every online order that includes Red Swan this and next month (and I’m dying to tell you… but I think you’ll be happier to just see it when you open your box!). We hope you love it, we hope it makes your Holidays a little more special this year, and above all - we hope we’re able to show our gratitude for all the love and support you’ve shown us this year! YOU are truly awesome, family!

RE: Cold Brew vs. Iced | The Experiment

Cold or Iced? Whether you’re a Cold Brew lover, or an Iced coffee fan… Summer is always a great time to try a new cool method!

Let’s first address some basic questions:

What’s the difference? Two key brewing parameters: time and temperature. Cold brew is all about long brewing times (18-20 hrs) at low water temperatures (~40℉) while Iced coffee is the opposite - short brewing times (3-5 min) at high water temperatures (~200℉).

What’s the same? Both are typically brewed at higher strengths than hot brewed coffee - i.e. using ~50% more coffee per brewed cup - so they can be served over ice or be paired with milk without tasting too weak or watered down.

Now, our recipes using the exact same ratios, and the exact same method, so you can brew them and compare them! If you’d like to keep things scientific, you’d also need to brew the exact same bean under both methods… and try a few different beans! (Spoiler alert: you may prefer some beans iced, and some cold brewed! Some we think do particularly well on both: Poaquil, Rio Coco, Andes, and Ethereal!)

ICED COFFEE

1. Grind 2 oz coffee to a coarse (sea salt) level.

2. Place grinds into the bottom of your French Press.

3. Pour 16 fl oz of hot (200-205℉) spring or filtered water and mix well.

4. Steep for 5 min.

5. Plunge your Press and transfer to a new container (to stop the extraction!). Voilà! Your Iced Coffee concentrate is ready!

COLD BREW

1. Grind 2 oz coffee to a coarse (sea salt) level.

2. Place grinds at the bottom of your French Press.

3. Pour 16 oz of spring or filtered water and mix gently, ensuring all grounds are wet.

4. Cover, place in the fridge and let it steep for 18-22 h.

5. Plunge your Press and transfer to a new container (yes, also to stop the extraction). Voilà! Your Cold Brew concentrate is ready!

Place 8 fl oz of each concentrate in a cup, and add 4-8 oz of ice or milk to taste (again, add the exact same amount to each if you’d like to keep it scientific!). Now they’re ready to be tasted side-by-side!

If you don’t have a French Press (or just prefer filtered coffee), an alternative would be to make Iced Coffee as a Pour-Over and make Cold Brew using a disposable paper filter - keeping all ratios the same. The use of a paper filter (on both instances) will reduce the amount of oils and yield a much cleaner drink (i.e. no small ground particles in suspension).

Happy Cold/Iced brewing… and most importantly, thank you for choosing to Brew Greatness in the world with us every single day! It’s my absolute joy and honor to be your roaster,

Lisbeth

PS. We just sourced two new, very special coffees… a new high-impact single-origin from Congo launching in September… and a special Honey processed coffee from Honduras, which will be the star of this year’s Red Swan Holiday Blend! Truly can’t wait to share them with you (clearly… as I wasn’t supposed to tell you anything until next month! Ooops!)

RE: Coffee and Health | Myths vs. Science

In this first Summer Series, we’d like to demystify some of the latest, scientific findings on coffee! And hopefully do our part to clarify and counteract all the misinformation that’s so easily found in our online feeds these days! Below, an amazing scientific review by our own medical expert -  Jolian Rios, MD,  ABIM Board Certified.

Myth #1: All Studies are Scientifically Valid

Coffee has been widely studied - there have been hundreds of studies published about it over the years. Yet, the first thing to keep in mind is that not all studies are created equal - as they can go from very strict, scientifically valid Cohort, Case-Control, and Randomized Controlled Trials where data drives the findings, to an Opinion Paper, which is simply someone sharing their thoughts  - of course, their findings do not carry the same weight! To make matters worse, these Opinion Papers are many times “interpreted” and reported by the media in ways that favor their ratings. So every time you read something, go to the source, and please don’t share it if it is not a scientific source! - advice that seems especially relevant right now!

Myth #2: Coffee = Caffeine

When we think of coffee, we immediately think about caffeine; yet we should keep in mind coffee contains many other compounds with potential health benefits. These include polyphenols such as caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, diterpenoids, and other antioxidants, as well as potassium, magnesium, niacin, and lignans. In fact, concentrations of these phenolic antioxidants are much higher in brewed coffee than in brewed tea - which is often touted as an antioxidant powerhouse!

Myth #3: Caffeine is Unhealthy

Caffeine is quickly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, and it gets metabolized by the liver. It antagonizes adenosine receptors in the central and peripheral nervous systems - and in this way, it can have a variety of effects. Some of the main effects found so far:

• Caffeine is a proven analgesic, property that has been used for the treatment of headaches, specifically tension and migraine headaches [1,2]. 

• Multiple cohort studies with over 600,000 individuals found it may reduce stroke risk [3-6]. 

• Two case-controlled studies and two cohort studies have shown a small protective effect of coffee consumption advanced Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, animal models have shown long-term caffeine consumption may delay or reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease [7,8].

• Randomized Controlled Trials of healthy individuals have found caffeine improves cognition, mood, vigilance, and reaction time - regardless of age and gender [9-14].

• A study with sleep-deprived Navy SEAL trainees showed improvement of cognitive function, learning, memory, and mood despite continuous exposure to stressors with an optimal dose of 200 mg of caffeine (about two cups of coffee!) [15]. 

Myth #4: Coffee is Unhealthy

Numerous studies on coffee have actually shown the opposite - there are several health benefits from long-term coffee consumption. Some examples:

• A matched case-control of almost 1700 women with BRCA gene mutation found that coffee intake was associated with 10% - 69% lower risk of breast cancer, this was a dose-dependent effect, with the lowest effect being seen on women who drank 1-3 cups of coffee and the largest effect seen on those who drank more than 6 cups of coffee per day [16]

• A case-control study of 1900 women found that coffee intake was associated with a 40% lower risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women who drank 4 or more cups of coffee per day [17].

• A meta-analysis of cohort and case-control studies showed a decreased risk of endometrial cancer in coffee drinkers [18].

• A large prospective analysis of over 47,000 men found a strong dose-dependent reduction in the risk of prostate cancer [19].

• Several studies, including randomized trials, and cohort studies, have shown that coffee consumption, including decaf, decreases the risk of type 2 diabetes, by improving insulin sensitivity as well as insulin secretion [20-24].

• Another study showed caffeine in coffee to be a potent stimulator of smooth muscles that prevent constipation [25]. 

• A meta-analysis of 14 different studies shows that coffee drinkers had 39% less probability of developing cirrhosis [26].

Thus, coffee has been shown to have positive effects on multiple systems and may even lower the risk of multiple chronic diseases in the long term. I’ve listed the studies used for reference, in case you’d like to read in a lot more detail on your own (it pairs perfectly with a great cup of Ethos to keep you awake!). 

So, let’s keep enjoying coffee, and let’s continue to make a difference, to Brew Greatness in the world!

- Jolian

REFERENCES

1. Goldstein J, Silberstein SD, Saper JR, Ryan RE Jr, Lipton RB. Acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine in combination versus ibuprofen for acute migraine: results from a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, single-dose, placebo-controlled study. Headache. 2006;46(3):444-453. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2006.00376

2. Diener HC, Gold M, Hagen M. Use of a fixed combination of acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen and caffeine compared with acetaminophen alone in episodic tension-type headache: meta-analysis of four randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover studies. J Headache Pain. 2014;15(1):76. Published 2014 Nov 19. doi:10.1186/1129-2377-15-76

3. Larsson SC, Virtamo J, Wolk A. Coffee consumption and risk of stroke in women. Stroke. 2011;42(4):908-912. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.110.603787

4. Lopez-Garcia E, Rodriguez-Artalejo F, Rexrode KM, Logroscino G, Hu FB, van Dam RM. Coffee consumption and risk of stroke in women. Circulation. 2009;119(8):1116-1123. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.826164

5. Larsson SC, Männistö S, Virtanen MJ, Kontto J, Albanes D, Virtamo J. Coffee and tea consumption and risk of stroke subtypes in male smokers. Stroke. 2008;39(6):1681-1687. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.107.504183

6. Larsson SC, Orsini N. Coffee consumption and risk of stroke: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Am J Epidemiol. 2011;174(9):993-1001. doi:10.1093/aje/kwr226

7. Arendash GW, Schleif W, Rezai-Zadeh K, et al. Caffeine protects Alzheimer's mice against cognitive impairment and reduces brain beta-amyloid production. Neuroscience. 2006;142(4):941-952. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2006.07.021

8. Barranco Quintana JL, Allam MF, Serrano Del Castillo A, Fernández-Crehuet Navajas R. Alzheimer's disease and coffee: a quantitative review. Neurol Res. 2007;29(1):91-95. doi:10.1179/174313206X152546

9. Fredholm BB, Bättig K, Holmén J, Nehlig A, Zvartau EE. Actions of caffeine in the brain with special reference to factors that contribute to its widespread use. Pharmacol Rev. 1999;51(1):83-133.

10. Jarvis MJ. Does caffeine intake enhance absolute levels of cognitive performance?. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1993;110(1-2):45-52. doi:10.1007/BF02246949

11. Kamimori GH, Johnson D, Thorne D, Belenky G. Multiple caffeine doses maintain vigilance during early morning operations. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2005;76(11):1046-1050.

12. Lorist MM, Snel J, Kok A, Mulder G. Influence of caffeine on selective attention in well-rested and fatigued subjects. Psychophysiology. 1994;31(6):525-534. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.1994.tb02345.x

13. Ker K, Edwards PJ, Felix LM, Blackhall K, Roberts I. Caffeine for the prevention of injuries and errors in shift workers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;2010(5):CD008508. Published 2010 May 12. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008508

14. Smith A, Sutherland D, Christopher G. Effects of repeated doses of caffeine on mood and performance of alert and fatigued volunteers. J Psychopharmacol. 2005;19(6):620-626. doi:10.1177/0269881105056534

15. Lieberman HR, Tharion WJ, Shukitt-Hale B, Speckman KL, Tulley R. Effects of caffeine, sleep loss, and stress on cognitive performance and mood during U.S. Navy SEAL training. Sea-Air-Land. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2002;164(3):250-261. doi:10.1007/s00213-002-1217-9

16. Nkondjock A, Ghadirian P, Kotsopoulos J, et al. Coffee consumption and breast cancer risk among BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Int J Cancer. 2006;118(1):103-107. doi:10.1002/ijc.21296

17. Baker JA, Beehler GP, Sawant AC, Jayaprakash V, McCann SE, Moysich KB. Consumption of coffee, but not black tea, is associated with decreased risk of premenopausal breast cancer. J Nutr. 2006;136(1):166-171. doi:10.1093/jn/136.1.166

18. Bravi F, Scotti L, Bosetti C, et al. Coffee drinking and endometrial cancer risk: a metaanalysis of observational studies. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009;200(2):130-135. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2008.10.032

19. Wilson KM, Kasperzyk JL, Rider JR, et al. Coffee consumption and prostate cancer risk and progression in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2011;103(11):876-884. doi:10.1093/jnci/djr15

20. Huxley R, Lee CM, Barzi F, et al. Coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and tea consumption in relation to incident type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(22):2053-2063. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2009.439

21. van Dam RM, Feskens EJ. Coffee consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lancet. 2002;360(9344):1477-1478. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(02)11436-X

22. Rosengren A, Dotevall A, Wilhelmsen L, Thelle D, Johansson S. Coffee and incidence of diabetes in Swedish women: a prospective 18-year follow-up study. J Intern Med. 2004;255(1):89-95. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2796.2003.01260.x

23. van Dam RM, Willett WC, Manson JE, Hu FB. Coffee, caffeine, and risk of type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study in younger and middle-aged U.S. women. Diabetes Care. 2006;29(2):398-403. doi:10.2337/diacare.29.02.06.dc05-1512

24. Salazar-Martinez E, Willett WC, Ascherio A, et al. Coffee consumption and risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Ann Intern Med. 2004;140(1):1-8. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-140-1-200401060-00005

25. Murakami K, Okubo H, Sasaki S. Dietary intake in relation to self-reported constipation among Japanese women aged 18-20 years. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006;60(5):650-657. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602365

26. Liu F, Wang X, Wu G, et al. Coffee Consumption Decreases Risks for Hepatic Fibrosis and Cirrhosis: A Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2015;10(11):e0142457. Published 2015 Nov 10. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142457

Let's Not "Go Back"... Let's Go Beyond...

As our country re-opens, and we adapt to a new post-COVID reality, we may find ourselves in a unique position to make a difference… to support the places, the ideas, the people, and the organizations shaping not just the world as it is, but the world as we would like it to be! This is a special call to support them… a special invitation to go beyond labels, beyond certifications, beyond pretty marketing graphics and clever tactics… to paying attention to their real - always quantifiable, always specific - impact and support those who are making the difference you would like to see in the world! Now, more than ever, your support will be the difference between those businesses and organizations who make it… and those who don’t!

If there’s one thing I now know for sure is… that nothing is bigger than the collective impact of small actions, and nothing more powerful than a small idea in action. You keep proving this to us every single day… that we can go beyond a $0.20 “Fair-Trade” premium… that we can place impact at the top of our list when sourcing… that small farmers (not just wealthy farms and “Estates”, as is the case with most Specialty coffees) can produce some of the best coffees in the world if given the right opportunity and support… and that we can make all of this happen at a fraction of the cost (per cup) that you’d pay for coffee at a gas station! One of the unexpected rewards of this journey has been my own growth as a conscious consumer, as I’ve become keenly aware of my responsibility for everything I buy - and from whom I buy it - and how big the impact of those seemingly small decisions really is! So, I hope you’ll go beyond coffee… I hope you’ll find and champion as many small companies daring - and trying - to make a difference in this new world that now more than ever, favors the survival - and consolidation - of the giants!

Once again (and I won’t ever get tired of saying it) - THANK YOU for making a difference through coffee with us… it is always a privilege to roast for you, and my ultimate happiness to get to #BrewGreatness in the world with you!

❤︎ Lisbeth

P.S. We’ll begin our 2020 “RE:” Summer Series next month (he doesn’t know it yet… but Jolian is writing the first one!) - which is a 3-month series of articles on different coffee topics… we would love to hear from you on which topics or questions you’d like us to feature this year! Please email us: coffee@ethosroasters.com! Oh… and we have one more coffee surprise for you this Summer… stay tuned for our new ETHEREAL Blend launching in June!

Happy 2020! Let's Brew (more) Greatness!

The start of the New Year is such an exciting time! This is the time to set new goals, to draft new plans, to embrace new beginnings… a blank page - waiting to be written!

This year, we hope to continue to write this story… a story of lifting others through the power of (coffee-driven) opportunity. Our primary goal is to continue - and grow - our support for those we have championed since the beginning, as we understand true impact is only possible through a long-term view - and a long-term commitment. We want to see the town flourish - we want to see them reach levels of economic prosperity they might not even be able to imagine today. As you may know, we’re doing our first Origin Trip with customers next month (we’ll be in Guatemala Feb 14-18)… and we truly can’t wait to share our Guatemalan adventures with you on our Facebook and Instagram (@ethosroasters) - and bring you a little taste of the amazing world of coffee farming, and the collective impact that we are all having in the lives of farmers and their community. We believe that all of us who share this world are deeply connected to each other, and that every act of love and kindness in one place has incredibly ripple effects that reach much farther than we can see, often beyond our understanding.

As you start 2020 and begin to write this new page… we hope you’ll remember our interconnectedness and never underestimate the power - and impact - of the small things. Coffee is one of those small things - we hope you’ll continue to join us Brewing Greatness - to always seek a cup that goes beyond taste, to seek a cup that transforms lives and creates a better world for all of us!

Always grateful for you, and always doing our best to Brew Greatness,

Jolian & Lisbeth

P.S. We also have a ‘stretch goal’ - to begin at least one new, highly impactful, long-term partnership with a small farmer Co-Op in another country - which would not just mean a new amazing permanent coffee offering for all of us, but it would also mean we’d all get to have an impact in another region of the world!