#trovecoffee

Translated as drowned in Italian, the Affogato is a drink and a dessert all in one that’s made for coffee lovers everywhere. Although it is no longer new, it remains a simple yet delicious treat that is easily enjoyable any time of the year and is especially delightful on hot summer days. The combination of the strong, hot espresso with the cold, sweet ice cream is heavenly and can be whipped up in only a matter of minutes. How is it that something so easy to make is so divine? Let’s dive into what makes this treat special.

 Well to begin, it’s crucial that the bowl or cup this concoction is served in is ice cold and that the ice cream has softened as little as possible so that the ice cream remains solid when the espresso is poured over it. While brewing the espresso add a couple of scoops of your favorite ice cream to your bowl or cup and once the espresso is done brewing, pour the shots directly over the ice cream. Enjoy this fantastic combination of hot coffee and cold ice cream in every spoonful immediately as it does melt quickly!

 There's something about an affogato that makes it such an ideal dessert whether you’re a coffee or ice cream lover. There's not much involved in making one, just two ingredients that create something wonderfully complex and effortlessly complementary to each other. Given the small list of ingredients used, you'd think there would be a little variation in this dessert. I've had different experiences with affogatos around town, but regardless they’re always good. The worst one I’ve had arrived as a melted mess, forcing me to sip it like a soup.

 However, the best one you could try is served at Trove Coffee because we follow the instructions as stated above. Made with a freshly brewed doppio of our very own espresso that’s poured over locally sourced Edaleen ice cream. A purist will choose vanilla ice cream, but we’ve also got coffee-flavored ice cream available for true coffee lovers. Next time you’re out and about on a hot summer day stop in and treat yourself to something simple, inexpensive, yet so fulfilling, you won’t regret it.

 When it’s made it is correctly, it’s a complete taste sensation.

Tea is more than just drinking a hot cup of leaves and water. Tea is a sensory experience that involves an appreciation of culture, tradition, and flavor. The tea experience is enriched by the stories of how each tea leaf was cultivated and processed to produce delightful aromas. Tea has been around for about 5,000 years and was first discovered in China. It has since become an essential part of the human diet and is one of the most consumed beverages around the world!

Brief History of Tea

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to discover tea when they traveled through and resided in China during the 15th century. Tea was then introduced to Europe in the 16th century and 100 years later it became the staple drink of Britain in the 17th century. Tea has been at the center of numerous world changes from colonization under the East India Company to the events of the Boston Tea Party.

Tea consumption on the opposite side of the world was generally used as part of spiritual and community events. In South America, yerba mate tea was believed to be the drink of the gods, offering consumers deep insight into their own beings as well as the world around them. China and India produced over 60% of the world’s tea by 2016, but over the centuries tea production has increasingly moved from hand manufacturing to machine production.

Types of Tea

There are two main types of tea which are true teas and herbal teas. True teas are derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, commonly known as the tea plant. This includes black tea, green tea, white tea, and oolong tea. The tea plant is one that grows in a host of climates, which can lend different flavors to each unique brew.

Herbal teas are different because they’re caffeine free and are not made using any leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Instead, herbal blends are made using spices, flowers and the leaves of a variety of fruits and herbs. Herbal teas are often made using true tea leaves for distinct flavors, known as herbal infusions.

The Spice Hut Tea and Spices

Since the beginning, we’ve been partnered with local Bellingham tea company The Spice Hut. They are known for their spice blends and loose leaf tea medleys sourced from the finest ingredients. The quality and flavor of the products they create in their flavor workshop are among the best in the world.

Together we are committed to consistently providing customers with the highest quality tea at the best value to ensure that everyone can enjoy a delicious cup, whether hot or iced. With its range of flavors, aromas, and health benefits there is something to offer for everyone. Whether you prefer sweet, spicy, mild, or bold; Trove Coffee has you covered!

Learn more about everything tea related or visit The Spice Hut and browse through their catalog of tea.

Attention Chai Lovers!

Trove Coffee is proud to introduce The First Sip of Chai, a collection of beautiful chai tea concentrates from our friends at The Spice Hut. Our baristas use these concentrates to craft delicious beverages at Trove. Now you can stop in and pick up a bottle from our retail shelves so you can enjoy these high quality chai concentrates at home. These blends are beautiful iced or hot, as is or with your own special additions like simple syrup or your favorite alternative milk (think coconut, hemp or oat!). Just measure out about half concentrate, half milk of choice and you are on your way to beverage nirvana.

Find your flavor

Vanilla Earl Grey – Bergamot and vanilla together in sweet harmony. London fog time anyone?

Pumpkin Spice – Assam region black tea blended with pumpkin, cinnamon and YUM!

Vanilla Chai – Sweet creamy vanilla meets spicy chai flavors.

Masala Chai – The traditional Indian chai! Cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, orange and clove. In one word, perfect.

About The Spice Hut, makers of The First Sip of Chai

We love our local partners here at Trove Coffee and The Spice Hut is a long time Bellingham staple for all things spice and tea. Here’s what they have to say about themselves…

“The Spice Hut creates spice blends and loose leaf tea medleys sourced from the finest ingredients worldwide. The quality and flavor of the products we create in our flavor work shop in Bellingham, Washington are among the best in the world. We are committed to consistently providing our clients with the highest quality products at the best value to insure that the greatest number of individuals have the opportunity to enjoy our merchandise.

The Spice Hut is a certified minority women owned business, and has been in operation since 2004. […] Our distribution center is the epicenter of all of The Spice Huts new creations as well as the last stop in our production process, meaning that from start to finish we hand prepare and package all of our product at the same location before shipping. This single center method of preparation lets us directly oversee all outgoing orders and insure freshness and product quality.”

Start Your Morning Off Right with Armored Aztec

You’ve probably met someone who swears by keto coffee or maybe that person is even you! If you’ve never heard of keto coffee however and are wondering what it is, we’re here to tell you a little bit about it. While caffeine can make you alert and also boosts your metabolism, it’s often times a short-lived feeling. Just like the food you put into your body, the quality of your coffee and the ingredients that go into it matters too. A regular cup of coffee can spike your energy then drain it quickly, but this can give you an advantage!

Keto coffee is not your average cup of coffee, it was created by Dave Asprey as a way to burn fat and boost energy in the mornings. After years of fiddling with a coffee recipe, Asprey arrived at a creamy and energy igniting beverage that has become popular in recent years among keto diet advocates. Asprey introduced his concoction in 2009, suggesting people drink the beverage instead of eating breakfast, promising that it reduces appetite, promotes weight loss by triggering ketosis, and has “massive impact on cognitive function”.

Recently we’ve introduced our own version of this coffee beverage for you to try for yourself. Trove Coffee’s very own Armored Aztec consists of mainly coffee, MCT oil, ghee, and cocoa, all made from scratch! It has a little spice kick from a dash of cayenne as well. It’s designed to be a great alternative to breakfast when you may not have the time to eat in the morning and can also help to increase your energy. It’s very high in calories and fat which is why it’s recommended that it replaces a meal and not drunk with a meal, which would lead to consumption of excess calories.

Our Armored Aztec is not a just fatty cup of coffee that’s intended to attract overwhelmed customers looking for the next big diet shortcut. It’s a hyper-efficient and power packed breakfast that’s meant to be a substitute for your high carbohydrate meal. Of course, our Armored Aztec is higher in fats than normal, but eating the right kind of natural fats can kick your food cravings. Fats can make you feel full quicker, which means you may find yourself eating less by adding more high quality, ketogenic fats to your diet. Try Armored Aztec today!

Brief History of the French Press

Let’s take a look at the brewing device that is perhaps the most popular and most used method across households in the US today. Many of us have one at home, or at least know somebody who does. The French Press coffee maker is a wonderful invention because it’s very affordable, easy to use, and produces delectable cups of coffee too. So, what exactly is French Press Coffee and what is its origin? Well, the history of the French Press goes back many years, but there is some disagreement as to who invented the design that most models are based on today. Regardless, the first patent for a coffee making device that resembles the modern French Press was issued to a man by the name of Attilio Callimani in 1928.

Many claim that the person responsible for the creation of the French press was a man from France who attached a fine screen to his coffee pot to avoid getting grounds in his cup when he poured it. A similar device started being used around France in the 1800s until word eventually got around about this new brewing method. Once the device arrived in Italy, the Italians modified it slightly, named it a cafetiere, and it was later patented by Callimani. In 1958, a man named Faleiro Bondanini devised a new and improved version of the French Press device that had an enhanced type of filter and was more effective at keeping coffee grounds out of a poured cup of coffee.

The Modern French Press

Today the French Press can be considered an entry-level method of brewing coffee. It’s relatively easy to use for beginners and known by people who may not be into specialty coffee either. Whether you view it as a simple method or not, there are certain steps that can be taken to create an extraordinary cup of coffee. Take into consideration the small details that go into brewing such as the freshness of the beans, the consistency of the grind, and the temperature of the water you use during immersion. It’s also best to pour any remaining coffee out of the pot once it’s done brewing. Many people claim that the best way to brew French Press coffee is done in borosilicate glass because it’s highly durable and quite reliable.

The borosilicate glass French Press has a great and long-lasting reputation as well because it’s the same type of press that was initially distributed by Bodum in the 1950s. Stainless steel models are just as good, but they’re often a bit more expensive than the ones with glass carafes. No matter which type you choose, using a French Press to brew is superior to using an electric coffee maker because of the outstanding flavor and quality of coffee that it produces. The main advantage is that it retains more of the natural oils from the grounds and these oils are what gives coffee its finest taste. Millions of people around the world still prefer to use the French Press over other methods of brewing because of how intuitive it is. Stop by Trove Coffee today and try our delicious French Press coffee! We promise you won’t be disappointed.

Want to learn how to brew French Press coffee at home? Check out the video below for an in-depth tutorial!