Category: coffee

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Ford Is Making Headlights from McDonald’s Coffee Bean Waste

This is pretty cool!

Coffee beans and headlights don’t seem like a natural pairing, but McDonald’s and Ford are working to change that.

The two historic American companies have come together in a joint effort to drive sustainability initiatives in quite a unique way. This year, Ford began utilizing coffee chaff—the coffee bean skin that comes off during the roasting process—as a key component of its plastic headlamp housing. Naturally, the iconic car manufacturer turned to McDonald’s to steer them in the direction of the fast-food giant’s coffee bean suppliers.

As data showing the harmful effects of plastic pollution and carbon emissions makes its way into the public consciousness, there has been a trickle-down effect into the business world as well. Environmentally-conscious consumers continue to push for products that are comprised of sustainable materials.

Hence: coffee bean waste into plastic alternatives.

Debbie Miewelski, Ford’s senior technical leader of materials sustainability, explained that the coffee-containing version of the company’s headlamps is more sustainable than its traditional plastic and talc-based models due to its lighter weight. Additionally, talc is not a renewable component, whereas coffee chaff is widely available and has typically been discarded.

The coffee chaff innovation is just the latest in a long line of sustainability projects by Ford. Ford vehicles have featured soy-based foam in their cushions since 2011, and waste from wheat, coconut, tomato and other plants has been utilized in other Ford car components.

“If you came to our lab, it looks somewhere between a landfill and a farm,” Miewelski said.

When Ford decided coffee was its next fix, its team reached out to McDonald’s due to its scale and similar sustainability goals.

The gigantic fast-food restaurant chain achieved its goal of sourcing all of its U.S. coffee sustainability a year ahead of schedule in 2019. Their partnership with Ford will hopefully lead to more opportunities for crafting environmentally-friendly, sustainable products.

As Ian Olson, senior director of global sustainability at McDonald’s, said, “This is just scratching the surface of trying to understand what’s possible.”

Cheers to that!

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15 Times Starbucks Really Blew It

Starbucks does many things well, but getting people’s names right is NOT one of them.

They constantly mess them up, but hey, we can overlook that because the drinks sure are tasty, aren’t they?

But we’re still going laugh at these mistakes.

Let’s do it!

1. Like a genie in a bottle.

2. That was a nice try.

3. Not sure what happened here…

4. C’mon, you messed that up?!?!

5. Wow. Impressive.

6. That’s not nice.

7. Like an airline pilot?

8. Hahaha, not even close.

9. Hmmmmm…no.

10. That is outrageous.

11. Hanida in the house!

12. That’s interesting.

13. Kind of like the Mad Hadder?

14. That is very creative.

15. Bye, Felicia…

Has this ever happened to you? If so, share a screenshot in the comments so we can laugh together!

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Baileys Cold Brew Is Now Here to Get You Moving in the Morning

Mornings just got a whole lot better.

I love me some Baileys Irish Cream and coffee for a little boozy pick-me-up, and now the company has new (non-alcoholic) cold brew products for the morning to get you going and out the door with some pep in your step.

Baileys’ new cold brew flavors are Irish Cream (of course) and Salted Caramel, and they’re available in stores and on Amazon. The cold brews are made with 100% Arabica coffee, skim milk, sugar, and cream, and by all accounts they are pretty delicious. The company recommends that you chill these babies in the fridge or pour over ice before consuming.

It is cold brew, after all.

The official description is as follows: “This robust and delightfully drinkable cold brew coffee can be enjoyed in the morning or on-the-go as a booster to conquer your packed day.”

I, for one, am very excited to add these new products to my morning routine. Frankly, I’ve gotten a little bored with the coffee I’ve been drinking lately.

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#review — Bailey’s Irish Cream Cold Brew Coffees // I’m going to keep this short. It’s easy to imagine what this would taste like if you’ve ever put Baileys in your coffee or even either of the wonderful Baileys coffee creamers that is out there. It has all the taste of great Bailey’s Irish Cream without any of the alcohol. I know, it takes most of the fun out of it. But you have to admit, it’s a great flavor. The salted caramel is my go-to mainly cuz of the less calories but also cuz I’m a sweets person. The classic Irish Cream one is really good too but I’m a sucker for caramel. Overall, salted caramel gets a 9/10 and traditional gets a 8.5/10. Great stuff here. . . #spotted at @meijerstores . . #coffee #coffeelife #coffeeislife #baileys #baileyscoldbrewcoffee #coldbrew #coldbrewcoffee #mmm #caramel #irishcream #new #limited #newcoffee #newcoldbrew #parentlife #dadbod #dadbodsnacks #☕ #yasss #nonalcoholic #drink #thirsty #caffiene #caffeine

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In even more good news, it was recently announced that Kraft Heinz has partnered with Baileys to release Baileys Keurig K-Cup coffee machine pods and bags of Baileys roast and ground coffee. I guess they’re entering to coffee game hard.

And I’m ok with that!

I know I said that the two new Baileys cold brews are non-alcoholic, but guess what? If you need to add a little something to your drink when you get to the office (or if you work from home), I’m not gonna say anything…my lips are sealed, friend.

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Starbucks Is Offering an “It Frappuccino” That Looks Spooky and Delicious

Here’s another drink you must try this fall. It: Chapter Two recently hit theaters, and Starbucks has decided to offer a drink inspired by Pennywise, the murderous, terrifying clown from the film.

The frappuccino drink features a “strawberry blood” puree. I know I’m in!

The drink is a limited-edition item, and also it isn’t technically on the Starbucks menu, but if you ask your local barista for the Pennywise frappuccino, they’ll most likely know what you’re talking about. The drink has a vanilla bean frappuccino base with the strawberry puree (aka “blood”)  mixed in. You can also add a vanilla bean scone if you want to get crazy.

A lot of Starbucks locations are not advertising the spooky concoction, but some places are letting the world know that they’re offering the drink.

 

The drink seems to be a big hit because photos of it are all over social media.

One barista even got really creative with the cup and decided to draw Pennywise over the Starbucks logo.

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I got to make a couple #itfrappuccino today at my #starbucks!!! Pictured first is my last attempt with a much better depiction of #Pennywise than my first attempt (pictured last). I loooove drawing him so I had to add him for the full effect!!! **PLEASE DO NOT ORDER THIS AS THE IT FRAPPUCCINO, your barista will likely NOT know what that is. Order a Vanilla bean frappuccino with strawberry purée on top! Oh, and PLEASE TIP YOUR #BARISTAS!!!!! @itmovieofficial @andy_muschietti @barbaramus Thank you for such an amazing movie experience these past few years!!! I’m so happy I can incorporate Pennywise into my everyday life ????? ETA//: If you see this featured anywhere please comment or DM me, I would love to see it!!! I also set up a ko-fi in my profile. If you enjoyed this and would like to see more cup art, art in general, or fun drinks, please consider supporting me there!

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The Pennywise frappuccino has actually been around since 2017 when the first It film hit the big screens, but a lot of folks still don’t know it exists.

For the It fans out there, Bill Skarsgård (who plays Pennywise) said there might be a third It film:

“Andy and I have discussed ideas for what a third movie would look like. I don’t think it’s quite what people expect. It’s something different. The first two stories are the book, and the second film is the end of that story. So we would do something quite literally off book. There are a few ideas floating around. I feel like I’ve done what I can with the incarnation of Pennywise as we know of him, so I think it would be a cool idea to change up a few things. So, without going into too much detail, there is a story that we’re kind of excited about, but it’s way too early to say. But we’ll see, we’ll see.”

I can’t wait to try this bloody—I mean strawberry-flavored drink and see a third installment of the series!

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This Is What You Need to Know About the Starbucks ‘Cinderella Latte’ This Pumpkin Season

Here are the facts: there’s no escaping Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) season at Starbucks. It’s a national phenomenon, and people are obsessed with it.

And now it’s time to add another Starbucks drink to the list of seasonal favorites.

I’m talking about the “Cinderella Latte,” and you better act fast because these concoctions will be available only as long as the beloved Pumpkin Spice Latte this fall. The Cinderella Latte has been around since 2018 when a Seattle-area barista who’d worked at Starbucks for 7 years came up with the drink, but it has kind flown under the radar, so here’s your chance to order it the right way and be a happier person.

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The now famous Cinderella Latte has been spreading magic at coffee shops everywhere this Fall☕?✨ Raise your hand if you have already tried my Disney inspired version of the classic Pumkin Spice Latte?! I still CANNOT believe the number of DM’s, posts and stories that are still coming in. This pic taken by @inkprincess143 of her Cinderella Latte is one of my faves! – THE STORY: I was a barista @starbucks for 7 years here in the Seattle area and I came up with a couple of Disney inspired drinks to spread a little magic to my customers & coworkers. I’ll be sharing another one soon! – CINDERELLA LATTE RECIPE: – Order a Pumpkin Spice Latte – Can be made hot, iced or a blended Frappuccino. – Sub half of the Pumpkin Spice pumps with White Mocha (Or if you have a real sweet tooth, try full pumps of each! ?) – The white pumpkin reminded me of Cinderella’s coach and that’s why I call it the Cinderella Latte ?✨ – THE TEE!! Cinderella latte tees are in the shop now! – YOUR HOMEWORK: Now, go try one for yourself and tag me in your post or stories. Maybe we’ll get @starbucks attention and add it to the menu on Main Street!! – ? @inkprincess143 – – – – – – #happiestteesonearth #starbucks #disneystarbucks #starbucksdisney #psl #cinderellalatte #dcpfall2018 #castmembers #greenapron #sbux #coffee #disneymagic #disneysmmoms #disneylove #cinderella #disneygirls #foodsofdisneyland #disneyhungry #disneyfoodie #disneyfoodies #dressedindisney #styledbymagic #disneylifestylers #disneylifestyle #pumpkinspicelatte #pumpkinspice

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Ready? Okay. Since this is a secret-menu kind of deal, you can’t just order a Cinderella Latte when you hit your local Starbucks. It’s a little more complicated than that. Pay attention, because you don’t want to BLOW IT. Listen carefully:

  • Order a Pumpkin Spice Latte (I’m sure you know how to do that).
  • Substitute White Chocolate Mocha for half the pumps of Pumpkin Sauce (so you’ll get two pumps of Pumpkin Sauce and two pumps of White Chocolate Mocha).

If you don’t consider yourself a latte person, you can also order this combination as an iced latte or as a frappucino. You can also mix up the pumps if you really want to. Try four pumps of Pumpkin Sauce and four of White Chocolate Mocha, or maybe just one of each if you don’t have an intense sweet tooth.

Give the Cinderella Latte a shot and enjoy fall! It’s right around the corner!

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The Largest Starbucks in the World Is Opening on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile This Fall

Move to the side Tokyo, there will soon be a new claim to the largest Starbucks in the world. On November 15, the coffee chain will open its largest location on Earth on the Magnificent Mile (that’s Michigan Avenue by the way) in downtown Chicago, Illinois.

If you’ve ever spent any time on Michigan Avenue, you know it is a bustling street lined with stores, restaurants, and bars. And during the holiday shopping season, it’s ALWAYS PACKED.

The world’s largest @starbucks will open Friday, November 15 in the heart of downtown Chicago. It is one of six Roastery…

Posted by ChicagoChica on Friday, September 13, 2019

The new Chicago location will be Starbucks’ sixth reserve roastery after Seattle, Shanghai, New York City, Milan, and Tokyo and will occupy 43,000 square feet in a former Crate & Barrel. Starbucks announced that Chicago would be home to the sixth reserve roastery back in 2017, but a lot of the specific details about the location are still unknown.

What we do know is that the reserve beans will be roasted inside the store, tubes will run over customers’ heads transporting beans to be packaged (cool), and the store will employ 200 people. The food and drink menus are much more elaborate than typical Starbucks locations, and a Princi bakery inside will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

There will also be a bar that serves craft cocktails “inspired by the culture and traditions of Chicago.” The city holds a special place in Starbucks’ heart: the first location the company opened outside of Seattle was in Chicago, back in October 1987.

Just another reason to visit the Windy City! Hot dogs, pizza, great sports, music, the lake, and now the largest Starbucks in the world!

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Starbucks’ Best Size Coffee Isn’t on the Menu — You Can Still Order a ‘Short’

It’s well-known that Starbucks has a secret menu, but you might not realize that also includes a secret cup size.

Fun fact: AMC theaters DOES have a normal-sized soda cup they also don’t advertise – it’s called a “cameo” size.

But, back to Starbucks.

On the menu, Starbucks offers 3 cup sizes – a tall (12 ounces), a grande (16 ounces), and a venti (20 ounces). You may be aware that a trenta (31 ounces holy crow) is also an option, but did you know you can also get a smaller than a tall?

You can!

The short is an 8 ounce cuppa, which is more akin to the size of coffee you probably brew at home into a ceramic mug.

It used to be on the menu – the sizes were short, tall, and grade – but eventually, the venti became a thing instead.

Maybe because people are really tired I guess and 8 ounces doesn’t seem like enough coffee? Just a guess.

But here’s the thing: it can (and does) often make for better coffee.

Take the cappuccino, for instance, which should have a thick head of foamed milk over the espresso. When you order a tall (or larger), the foam breaks down, which mixes a more-than-optimal amount of milk into the coffee. And the short doesn’t have any less caffeine than a tall, either, just less milk.

Gawker’s (RIP) Tom Scocca made an argument for the 8 ounce cup of coffee several years ago, even in drip format.

“When you drink a coffee larger than a small coffee, the coffee gets cold before you can finish it. You begin with a steaming, uplifting sip, and by gradual stages you end up sucking down cold, aroma-less dregs. Everyone knows this. Even people who disdain small coffee will confess that their larger beverages end in misery.”

So, the next time you’re headed out for coffee, consider the short – it will be hot and made the way it’s supposed to be made. Win, win!

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The New Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew from Starbucks Is Here to Help You Get Ready for Fall

You know how hyped everyone gets when the pumpkin spice drinks get fired up at Starbucks every fall. Well, it’s time to add a new pumpkin-flavored beverage to your rotation.

Starbucks has launched the new Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, so we can all rejoice in the fact that we have even more options now. It’s available now in stores in the United States and Canada, and it looks like a welcome addition to all you coffee lovers out there.

Now, I know the weather isn’t cold enough yet, but it will be soon – and it’s never really too early for anything pumpkin-related, am I right? The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is the first new pumpkin-flavored coffee drink that Starbucks has released in 16 years, so you know people are definitely jonesing for it.

The drink is mostly cold brew and vanilla, but it has a pumpkin cream cold foam topping that is made with real pumpkins. Yes – real pumpkins. There’s also a dusting of pumpkin spice on the top for good measure.

If for some reason this new drink doesn’t suit your fancy, you still have a variety of pumpkin-themed treats you can enjoy at your local Starbucks. Pumpkin scones, pumpkin cream cheese muffins and Pumpkin Spice Madeleines, to name a few.

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Decided to be a basic bitch and try the new Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew from @starbucks I never had a PSL before, nor did I ever feel the need to get one. But so many people were saying that they liked this more, and that it was so good. So I broke, and gave into the peer pressure lol. I regret it, I didn't like it at all. It smelled like a pumpkin pie, but just tasted like slightly sweetened coffee. I would not purchase this again. I will just stick to my caramel macchiato's. #starbucks #pumpkincream #coldbrew #pumpkincreamcoldbrew #new #newdrink #prefercaramelmacchiato #sticktowhatiknow #itsanofromme #notabasicbitch #food #drink #coffee #foodie #foodstagram #foodofinstagram #drinkstagram #drinksofinstagram #coffeeofinstagram

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Clearly, you’re going to have a whole smorgasbord of pumpkin-related items to choose from at Starbucks this autumn. And here’s a little fact to get you in the mood: since Starbucks debuted its Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2003, they’ve sold more than 424 million of those babies in the U.S. alone. I think we can now call this a national obsession, don’t you?

Bring on that fall weather!

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This Is Why You Shouldn’t Drink Coffee Before Breakfast

This is not good news…for me at least…

People love to drink coffee for breakfast, if internet memes and novelty mugs are any indications. But while you may feel like a zombie until you’ve had your morning coffee, you may want to eat a bagel or something first. It’s really not the best idea to drink it on an empty stomach, Reader’s Digest reports.

Coffee has a number of benefits, but it can have negative effects as well, particularly if you drink it before breakfast. First, it can increase your level of stress.

“Drinking coffee on an empty stomach, or early in the morning before you’ve had breakfast, can increase the level of cortisol in your body,” Dr. Nikola Djordjevic told the outlet.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Cortisol is the hormone responsible for regulating your stress response, immune response, and metabolism. Your body begins producing cortisol when you wake up in the morning, and if you drink coffee while your cortisol levels are peaking, you may subject your body to even more stress.

Second, coffee can irritate your stomach and make your gut more acidic overall, and when you have no food in your stomach, there’s nothing to help absorb the coffee. The overproduction of gastric acid leads to other side effects, like heartburn. It can even affect your mental health by causing mood swings, jitters, shaking, and other withdrawal symptoms (if you cut your caffeine). Some studies have even linked gastric acid to anxiety and depression.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

You don’t have to give up your precious morning coffee, though. All of these effects can be curbed by simply eating breakfast before you take your first sip.

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Instagram Gets Fooled by a Fake “Influencer”… Again

Right now, we live in a very strange world. People are famous and wealthy for doing almost nothing except knowing how, when, and where to take a photo and post it to social media. Very odd…

A construction worker named Omar asked his daughter what an “influencer” is, and after she explained the (pretty ridiculous) reality behind this phenomenon, Omar said “Pssh, I could do that!”

And he did: He started his own Instagram account with carefully curated photos of his everyday life.

Photo Credit: Twitter,barbzlovescarbs

Omar posted his first photo on May 3, 2019, and his numbers have gone through the roof. As of this writing, Omar has 435,000 Instagram followers. I’d call that a success, wouldn’t you?

Take a look at Omar’s pics and maybe pick up some tips on how you can become an influencer yourself.

PS: Read all the way until the end for an important update on this viral, trending story. It turns out that all is not as it seems…

1. On the job

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Hi, I’m Omar. This is my office. ??‍♂️?

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2. A delicious cup of coffee

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I ❤ coffee.

A post shared by Omar (@justaconstructionguy) on

3. Pinkies up

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When your work neighbors have the best coffee in town. ☕?

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4. Blowtorch

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Stogie break. ?

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5. The splash

6. More coffee

7. Stogie time

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Nothing like a good cigar after a hard day’s work. ?

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8. Here I am

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Job site, downtown Austin. ?

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Update: it turns out that Omar and his Instagram persona are just a marketing ploy by an ad agency to sell coffee.

Cuvée Coffee in Austin, Texas, to be exact. If you go back and look through “Omar’s” photos, there are quite a few coffee pics in there and they’re all tagged the same location.

Duped again!

Mike McKim, the owner of Cuvée Coffee, said, “The whole idea was what we always thought as an influencer, and what we used as an influencer in the past, they don’t always fit our brand. We need a different type of influencer: a hard-worker, blue-collar guy.” So McKim worked with a marketing company to create the Omar character and the ad campaign.

I wish Omar was real, but this is still a pretty clever marketing ploy, I must admit.

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