With a heritage of growers, exporters, importers, and roasters, Orinoco Coffee & Tea has produced and sold the finest coffees and teas since 1909.

410-312-5292
240-636-5196
Roasted in MD, Delivered to the US
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Coffee, Coffee & Tea 101

So far, we’ve learned the best practices for making coffee using the drip method, the French Press, and more. But there’s one nifty little device we haven’t yet touched upon: the AeroPress. Similar in concept to a French press, the AeroPress uses a plunger-style mechanism to swiftly press water through ground coffee to deliver a strong, concentrated cup of Joe. Engineer and physicist Alan Adler invented the AeroPress in 2005, having lost his patience with the touch-and-go nature of drip coffee makers and the pokiness of pour-over methods. What he came up with was not necessarily attractive, but it gets the job done

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What does it take for a coffee shop or café startup to survive in a crowded marketplace? John Cheng, a part-time account manager at Orinoco Coffee & Tea, has a pretty good idea. Over the years he’s helped launch three different cafes in the Baltimore area. His latest endeavor – Aveley Farms Coffee Roasters – leans into the roasting side of the business, while still providing customers with a unique atmosphere in which to enjoy their brew. “We make good coffee and we know how to do it right,” John says. “And we casually educate the community that we serve.” Lessons to be learned

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  Behind every cup of coffee is a story. Behind many stories, a struggle. Women make up almost half of the agricultural workforce worldwide, and nearly 43% in developing countries, according to this 2016 report from The State of Food and Agriculture. Coffee production, in particular, relies heavily on a female workforce. At the farm level, women laborers are largely responsible for collecting the coffee cherries, sorting the green coffee beans, overseeing the drying process, and so much more. Here, women’s struggles run the gamut, from severe income imbalances, a lack of representation, land control limitations, and – sadly – hazardous working conditions stemming from

Coffee, Coffee & Tea 101

  Using a French press is an easy, economical, and expedient way to brew your morning java, and when done correctly yields a creamy and robust brew that’s truly hard to beat. Even better, coffee brewed using a French press can accommodate one coffee-lover, or a small group. An immersion brewer, the French Press comprises a carafe and a plunger assembly outfitted with a metal screen at the bottom. Coffee steeps for 3-4 minutes in the press’s basin or beaker, before a plunger is engaged, separating the grounds and trapping them at the bottom. Because coffee sits on the grounds for a while, bitterness can

Coffee, Coffee & Tea 101

The pour over coffee method may be as basic as it gets, yet it repeatedly delivers one of the most crisp, complex, and enjoyable coffee drinking experiences around. While a rising trend commonly associated with hipsters, the pour over is also the oldest trick in the book where coffee is concerned – giving users a great deal of control over variables, from the amount of coffee used to the precise saturation of the grounds. This degree of control mitigates error and promotes a better tasting brew. Always keep in mind: Water that is too hot will burn your grounds. Water that is

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Coffee is harvested at different times in different parts of the world. Producing regions that straddle the equator, such as Ecuador, can produce throughout much of the year. Arabica coffee grows in a narrow region of the tropics known as the Coffee Belt, which stretches from Central America to sub-Saharan Africa to Asia. There are a number of seasonality maps online, illustrating the various phases of coffee production, from harvesting to delivery. According to Orinoco expert Steve Izzo, those maps are approximations, at best. And that’s because occasionally, your favorite roast may not be available stateside when you have a hankering for a number

Blog, Coffee

Portable coffee brewers are becoming a take-along staple for campers, beachgoers, backpackers, and more. You may be concerned that whipping up a nice espresso on the open trail could make you the subject of ridicule. Will your fellow travelers roll their eyes and make sarcastic comments about you “roughing it” or call you names like “Smokey the Barista?” It’s possible. But you know what? Let them laugh. We coffee lovers know how important a great-tasting, quality cup of java is to happiness – not to mention survival – and there’s absolutely no shame in attempting to take that satisfaction along with you during

Coffee, Coffee & Tea 101

Professional opinions vary greatly regarding the best way to store your coffee. We’re not entirely sure why. Would you believe that the easiest route is also the best? Leave your coffee in the bag you bought it in, place it in your pantry or cupboard, and close the door. It’s really that simple. The finely ground print Coffee beans are highly susceptible to air, moisture, heat, and exposure to light. Therefore, coffee should be stored in a cool, dry space out of direct sunlight. Keep in mind that coffee begins to oxidize the moment it is ground. So, buy whole beans and grind only the amount you need

Blog, Coffee

Much like an automated coffee maker, we’ve been programmed to use hot water each and every morning to brew a decent cup of coffee. But one alternative brewing method is staying strong; a method in which time – not temperature – is used to forge a flavorful brew. Cold brew coffee is all the rage in coffee shops and cafes – and even dots the refrigerated shelves of your local grocery store. More and more coffee-lovers have begun making cold brews at home, too. And with good reason – the process produces a balanced and extremely flavorful concentrate that is both healthy and

Blog, Coffee

Drop by your local café on a sunny, spring morning, and you may very well find the employees behind the counter roasting beans while chatting up the early risers. Boutique café roasting is growing by leaps and bounds nationwide, as popular demand for artisanal coffees and advances in roasting technology continue to intersect. But Orinoco Coffee & Tea master roaster Juan-Carlos Ramirez believes this fad may ultimately fade. Visiting a coffee house where beans are roasted on-site is a novelty for the public, he says, particularly for those who have never experienced the process firsthand. There’s a certain nuance to the café roasting scene;

Blog, Fair Trade Organic

To reduce the collective carbon footprint, today’s consumers are placing increased emphasis on social responsibility rather than convenience. But there’s no rule saying these traits must be mutually exclusive. In fact, a number of eco-friendly coffee trends have emerged that consumers can enjoy both in their own homes and while out on the town. Reusable tumblers: Bringing your own mug to the coffee shop? It’s a burgeoning trend that is paying off for a number of coffee drinkers. Many shops now offer discounts for customers who make the effort. It reduces costs for the retailer and is far better for the

Blog, Coffee

A latte art throwdown is a fierce competition where baristas compete head-to-head, pouring designs with milk into cups of espresso in front of a panel of judges. Tensions are high, coffee is hot, and everyone is vying for a shot – quite literally – at the title. Most importantly, throwdowns provide members of the coffee community with an opportunity to gather, socialize, and celebrate their favorite beverage. There are a number of different elements that factor into winning a latte art throwdown, however. Our resident latte art expert weighs in with 6 critical elements:   The Espresso: Winning a latte art throwdown hinges

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With a heritage of growers, exporters, importers, and roasters, Orinoco Coffee & Tea has produced and sold the finest coffees and teas since 1909.

410-312-5292 (Tel)
240-636-5196 (Fax)
Roasted in MD, Delivered to the US

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