Comments on: My Cup of Coffee

By: anya

anya — Wed, 30 May 2007 09:58:45 +0000

On coffee, a lot of people are not aware that vacuum-packing of coffee is a must as coffee, once it is roasted – more so if ground, easily becomes stale even in sealed foil bags or closed garapons or tightly closed tin cans as oxidation and staling occurs inside the containers. Perhaps the reason most Filipinos buy instant coffee is that the coffees for brewing that are available in the supermarkets are not vacuum-packed and already stale when bought. And stale coffee, even if it is very expensive, is always bad coffee.

The problem with vacuum-packing of fresh-roast coffee is the gradual releae of Carbon Dioxide by fresh-roast coffee which can cause the bursting of sealed foil bags or even tin cans. For whole bean coffee this release of CO2 gas can take months and for fine grind coffee about a week. Brick-hard vacuum-packed fine grind coffee is made to breathe out the gas for several days before it is packed and so is no longer fresh when packed. And whole bean coffee could not be vacuum-packed.

A little known Italian guy had a simple yet brilliant idea that solved this coffee packaging problem. He invented a one-way valve that he incorporated into the foil bag which allows partial release of the CO2 gas that will build-up inside the bag after it is vacuum-packed but will not allow the entry of staling air from outside.
Starbucks owes its existence to this guy as without his invention, it would not be possible to ship fresh coffee all the way from Seattle to all the four corners of the world. (Notice the valve in the Starbucks retail packs. The coffees they use in their espressos and cappucinos are shipped in 5 -lb valve bags).

An exception to the sad state of coffee packaging in the Philippines is Benguet Gold Coffee which is vacuum -packed in foil bags with the one-way valve. It is available in some Metro Manila Supermarkets

By: smack

smack — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 02:33:06 +0000

Hi! I love Figaro! When I’m stressed from work at masakit ang ulo ko, I’ll immediately crave for Figaro’s Hot Mocha White Chocolate! Love love love it! And I’ll drag along my mom who prefers the mint variety.

I also love the ambiance of their shops, the chandeliers, brick walls, wood counters, comfy chairs. Relaxing…

By: wysgal

wysgal — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 10:07:30 +0000

I’ve been wanting to join the Figaro Coffee Club for years and never really found any reason to … until I read about your trip! =)

By: micca

micca — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 15:55:49 +0000

I’m just wondering if you were in edsa shang (the hotel) today march 3? I think I saw you but I wasn’t sure if it was you :O

By: Judith in NYC

Judith in NYC — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 04:42:01 +0000

I found your blog by chance and how fortituous that you wrote about coffee. Although I was a late starter like you–I started in my 30′s –I have always loved the idea of coffee: the beautiful berries, the sweet pulp (which I was not supposed to taste) and the aroma of my grandmother’s coffee (neither my mom or dad drank coffee). I grew up in Puerto Rico and my maternal grandmother had one or two coffee trees which I found fascinating. I loved the whole process: watching the berries ripen, picking them up, laying them out in the sun to dry out, the mashing of the beans in a huge mortar to remove the husk. After that came the roasting and brewing. To me that smell is pure grandma (she passed away 40 years ago and it seems like yesterday).

Now one of my sons and I live in NYC and are the only coffee drinkers in our family. One cup a day and certainly NOT Starbucks!

By: relly

relly — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 08:57:10 +0000

Hello Lori, the cafe barako as far as i remember, my mother was buying them freshly ground at the wet market. At the time we did’nt like it… (we like the nescafe instant coffee or the second concurence blend 45.)
But now, i have preferences on brewed coffee… pure arabica is too strong for me. I like the colombia coffee which is mild in flavor and no acid after taste.

France and Itally have large selection of coffees blends… and it is interesting to know, that techniques on roasting coffee beans could results into different coffee flavors. I honestly tried “starbucks” and for me it is an ordinary instant coffee flavor. I did’nt got a chance to try “Figaro” but i will when i go back to Phils. for our next vacation.

I am happy to know that Philippines produce are on the way to progress, as i can read to some Filipino blogs, my heart grows bigger thinking that how Filipino is moving slow but surely!

By: joey

joey — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 06:23:49 +0000

What a great trip Lori! I LOVE coffee I am one of those people who have 4 cups daily…there was a time I counted by pots and not cups. Coffee is one of my non-negotiables in life. It’s great to see what Figaro is doing to save our Barako…I have always liked them (ok, not coffee related but have you tried their tuna pasta? it’s great!)

By: ben

ben — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:53:11 +0000

Figaro is a great company. Premium coffee make here in the Philippines. They do such a great job. You should feature their store and desserts, too!

By: annette

annette — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 10:50:44 +0000

Hi!
I’ve been a regular reader since last year and just wanted to let you know that I’ve been having problems viewing your site since you moved to your new location. The images and text overlap and double. Was wondering if any other readers have been experiencing the same and if there’s a button i can press that will solve this problem. Re-setting/refreshing doesn’t work.
Still love what I can make out of the overlapping text and pictures I manage to unscramble.

By: Arlene

Arlene — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:20:12 +0000

Wow! Congrats on moving to a new (and improved) location! I just saw your announcement. Definitely a fitting, refreshing change. Am bookmarking this. Keep your stories and photos coming!