68: Power by Plants and Artificial Sweeteners

Gobble gobble! The guys discuss coffee traditions, seasonal roasts, Starbucks’ Thanksgiving and Fall blends, how commercialism in America ignores a perfectly good holiday, and offer first impressions of the — get this — a car espresso maker. Happy Turkey Day everyone!

Joe and Eric are back in action to talk about LEGO coffeemakers, R2-D2 coffeemakers, Houndstooth coffee house in Austin, Texas, and more. Ask yourself the question: How often should *everyone* clean your coffee mug? The guys answer this and more on today’s episode.

Joe and Eric find the time to sit down over not one but two cups of coffee and a bottle of Soylent. Joe experimented on himself when Soylent was on sale. Thrasher coffee supplied several roasts for the guys to taste test, so they analyze two Ethiopians. Then, Joe and Eric highlight some of Alec Baldwin’s interview with Howard Schults, the CEO of Starbucks.

Eric and Joe discuss three things: Left Hand Brewing Company craft beer (our first “craft brew” tate test on the show), how genetics and caffeine influence our caffeine intake, and whether a taste test can prove that people prefer cheap coffee over gourmet coffee, like — ahem — Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. Listen, drink and enjoy!

Eric and Joe discuss some naming conventions: why are we calling cold brew and iced coffee the same things? Speaking of which, iced coffee has taken a back seat to cold brew over 2016. And in other news, the world’s first cup of joe that’s 80 times stronger than the rest of them is available in Australia, and Coca Cola is getting into the bottled coffee business. Listen, drink and enjoy!

Eric and Joe are back at their desks and this time sipping something from fresh coffee cups. They discuss Tim Hawkins’ complicated mug and the plain-jane white mug from Publix and why it’s special to Joe. Topics of the week: a green tea alternative to coffee that won’t leave you feeling the jitters, Soylent’s new Coffiest (?!) and a worthy mention of the book ‘The Supper of the Lamb’. Listen, drink and enjoy! Van Halen.

Eric and Joe answer a listener’s feedback about Stevia and artificial sweeteners, take apart new research that suggests used coffee grounds repel mosquitos, and discuss how much coffee they’re kids are allowed to drink.

Joe realised that while he was warming up to cold brew that the rest of the world was as well. The guys discuss their growing appreciation for this beverage and how it’s popping up in grocery stores and coffee shops. There’s some unexpected benefits that cold brew has to offer, so you might want to make it at home.

Cold brew is in season, and there’s a good chance that your local grocere is selling the products we discuss. Joe brewed his own with a French press. Together, the guys taste test Joe’s along with Stōk and Rebbl branded brews. Are you better off making your own? How hard is it to craft cold brew? Is it easier and affordable to buy it at the store? Answers to thease questions in today’s show.

Joe and Eric explain why they missed an episode two weeks ago. On vacation at Saint Simons Island, Joe picked up some not-so good craft coffee. How do you know the good from the bad? Also, the guys chat about the Porlex JP-30 hand grinder, and the pros and cons of using this manual approach to your daily grind.