Our Favorite Coffee Brewing Methods

Our Favorite Coffee Brewing Methods

A great cup of coffee depends on two factors: the beans and the brewing. In our coffee bar, we start with the freshest whole beans, roasted just steps away in our roastery. We then grind those beans and brew them to order, based on your preference. Here’s a rundown of our brew methods:

French press: Elegant, versatile, and simple, French press has been a favorite brew method for coffee lovers since the late 19th century, when it was invented in France. French press is a “full immersion” brew method, meaning the grounds come in direct contact with the water. This allows fuller extraction of the coffee’s oils compared to traditional drip coffee machines, where the paper filter traps many of those oils. A plunger pushes the grounds to the bottom of the caraffe, and the coffee is then poured out. The result is extremely flavorful, full-bodied coffee, often with a few grounds at the bottom of the cup.

Café solo: This is another simple, beautifully designed brew method. Much like French press, café solo is a full immersion brew method: the grounds are steeped directly in the hot water. The difference is that instead of a plunger, café solo uses a very fine mesh filter spout to separate the grounds from the coffee. The result is extremely flavorful, full-bodied coffee, with very few (if any) grounds at the bottom of the cup.

Chemex: The brainchild of German inventor Dr. Peter Schlumbohm, this simple hourglass-shaped brewing vessel was named by the New York Times to be one of the “100 best modern devices” and is in the permanent collection of New York City’s Museum of Modern Art. Chemex is a drip method, but it differs from other drip methods because the grounds are fully immersed in the water before the water passes through. Chemex uses a special paper filter that catches oils and coffee grounds. The result is a smooth, flavorful cup with no grounds and very little oil. Making for a low acidity coffee, perfect for those with sensitive stomaches.

Cold brew: Perfect to make that iced coffee on a nice warm day! We use the Filtron cold brew kit (similar to the traditional Toddy method), which slowly steeps the grounds in cold water before passing them through a thick felt filter. This produces a rich coffee concentrate that is then mixed with ice, cold water and milk to produce incredibly delicious, oil-free coffee and lattes. Perfect for individuals whose stomachs can’t handle the acid of coffee!

Please talk to our baristas in our Coffee Bar if you’re curious to know more about these brew methods, purchase one for your home or would like to learn the proper techniques to use them at home! We also sell them on-line at highergroundstrading.com

Multimedia Memories from the Run Across Ethiopia

Reflecting back on an effort that had the support of 9 other runners, a board of directors and volunteers at On the Ground, a dozen drivers, translators, organizers in Ethiopia and over 800 individuals, corporations, foundations, organizations, schools, and churches which all worked together to reach all of our fundraising and running goals, I can't help but be astonished! In addition to funding the construction of three schools, funds were used to support a school lunch program in one of the most impoverished areas of the capital city, Addis Ababa. Street children will also get informal education thanks to the funding of the Gorumsa Project - which is supporting runners from Team Tesfa to educate homeless children in the capital city of Addis Ababa.  Just as important, On the Ground has made long term relationships to continue work in various communities throughout Ethiopia.

It is hard to verbalize my favorite memories. Thanks to the runners, media team (many videos brought to you by Jacob Wheeler and his immersion journalism and James and Jamaica Weston Lynn from Weston Films) and Bill Paladino (OTG ED), many of them are documented in blogs and video! Here are some of those memories with direct links to the experience.

Celebrating Ethiopian Christmas with a concert by Seth and May at Mother Theresa's Home for the Dying and Destitute was the first of many moving moments of the expedition. We wanted to ensure that before the run started that runners, support crew, and media team would be cognizant of the level of poverty and its effects on the population. Like any country, an excellent gauge of the level of poverty and lack of a country's health care resources is by examining what takes place to the forgotten in the capital city. There is no better place to look to and support then the Missionaries of Charity, Home for the Dying and Destitute, which help those on the street with serious illness.

Before the run, we visited the Tesfa funded kindergarten, the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union headquarters and we took the runners up to the Entoto Mountains, by far my favorite place in the world to go for a jog. We took a quick hour jog through the forests and pastures of the famed locale where some of Ethiopia's best runners, including Derartu Tulu, the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal and Haile Gebrselassie, the marathon world record holder train regularly. About midway through the run we spotted about a dozen baboons who we joined, err... chased... through a eucalyptus forest. Later that night, Derartu joined us at our Opening Celebration hosted by Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, our partners in purchasing our Ethiopian coffee beans.

When the run was set to begin, it felt nothing short of a dream. After a rather tedious process of getting all runners, support team, drivers, and equipment in place and out to the starting point, we were met by a couple dozen of our Ethiopian counterparts, including Olympic gold medal 5000 meter winner, Million Wolde. Seth Bernard got the dozens of people together in a circle to say an opening prayer then Timothy Young set us on our way to Yrgacheffe.

Each mornings began with a simple breakfast at the break of dawn and a word from one of the runners. After a quick word, we started right at dawn to avoid the packs of heinas that roamed in the night and to try to get done running before the midday sun. Throughout the expedition, young ethiopian children would join us from town to town. Eventually, some of the runners led them in their favorite chants or taught simple school lessons. The end of each days' run was usually accompanied by dozens of locals bewildered by the spectacle of a bunch of foreigners running through their village. The children would inevidently join the high fives that accompanied the end of a run and the runners did their best to entertain the children as they stretched.

Running, (sometimes up to 30 miles a day) brought to runners what Hans Voss coined, a "pain party," in their bodies. But, having our families and friends join us for part of the run and the music of Seth and May at the beginning of a days' run and at food breaks (check 2:45 of the video for a beautiful interaction with the help of the Beatles) helped us forget all the pain. Coming across interesting and amusing moments, such as stopping by the headquarters of the 12 Tribes of Israel (the rastafarian colony) or watching Nigel lip sync on the bus also helped. But key to keeping the runners going was  Coach Dan Zemper, Bizuayehu, and the work of the crew to bring nutrition and medical support to the runners while helping us avoid injury. However, from time to time, some runners had to take a break from the running to prevent serious injury.

After 9 days of running we had entered the coffee growing region of Sidama. The team saw first hand why they had dedicated so much time to training, fundraising and participating in the run when we visited the community of Hase Gola a day later. The coffee growing community greeted us with a huge celebration of song, dance, and speeches to commemorate the run and construction of a secondary school funded by the Run Across Ethiopia. One of my favorite moments of the whole expedition was to watch Bizuayehu dancing with the Hase Gola choir as the crowd quickly joined the dancing and singing.

The final day saw us entering the community of Afursa Waro, a community of a couple thousand and home to the Negele Gorbitu coffee cooperative where we purchase the beans for our Ethiopian Yrgacheffe Light Roast. After our ritual of opening words and music we headed out for our final 6 miles. With four teachers from the school in Afursa Waro, other roasters from Cooperative Coffees, family, friends, and local villagers, we traversed down a dirt road through villages dotted with coffee trees until we reached the school at Afursa Waro.

As we approached there were thousands awaiting our arrival. They ushered us in around a stage where we finished the run and took in the gravity of the moment. The community of Afursa Waro and the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union held a ceremony in which they honored runners with the clothing of the regional elders. Local musicians also performed traditional music for everyone.

Much thanks to all who made this happen. Without the support of the hundreds who made this possible we would never have been able to reach our goals! The Tesfa Foundation and Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union who helped organize the expedition, all of the volunteers at On the Ground, and the nearly thousand people who donated to the cause (including events at Food for Thought, Pangea's Pizza, Crema, Little Bo's, Global Village Collective, and many more organizations!)  showed that international solidarity is not only possible but a viable way to make real social change!

Written by Chris Treter

Come Celebrate the Run Across Ethiopia with Us!

On Thursday February 24th, the Run Across Ethiopia team will host a homecoming celebration for all the donors, supporters, and family members who helped make the trip possible.  It will be held at the Park Place Hotel dome in Traverse City, and is free and open to the public.  The event, scheduled between 6 pm and 9 pm, will feature new live music by Seth Bernard and May Erlewine based on their experiences on the trip, a video preview of the RAE documentary by Westonfilm, photos, conversation, short presentations by RAE team members, and a big announcement about the culminating outcomes of the Run Across Ethiopia project.

The RAE runners were each responsible for raising at least $15,000 for the school-building effort before going on the trip.  At this writing through their efforts and those of over 800 individuals, corporations, foundations, organizations, schools, and churches, the Run Across Ethiopia met all of their financial goals.  With the original goal met, the board of directors of On The Ground voted last week to completely fund all three planned school projects. Two of the projects will be built in a community where Higher Grounds purchases our Ethiopian Yrgacheffe Light Roast.

Additionally, funds have been used to support a school lunch program in one of the most impoverished areas of the capital city, Addis Ababa. The Missionaries of Charity: Home for the Dying and Destitute received a $1000 donation after the team celebrated Ethiopian Christmas with the children of the orphanage and a concert by Seth and May.  Street children will also get informal education thanks to the funding of the Gorumsa Project - which is supporting Team Tesfa runners to educate homeless children in the capital city of Addis Ababa. 

Come to the Park Place Hotel Dome on Thursday February 24th between 6 - 9 pm to help welcome home the Run Across Ethiopia team, and celebrate the great success of the project in committing to build three schools in communities of need in Ethiopia.  Find out more by visiting the On the Ground website or contact Bill Palladino for more information, 231.922.9009    bill@onthegroundglobal.org

Baristas Unite! We are Hiring

Job Announcement: Barista/ Roastery team member
Part-time - Immediate Opening.

Higher Grounds Trading Co. seeks a person to join our growing Traverse City-based Fair Trade/ Organic Coffee company. We seek individuals who are enthusiastic about our mission and want to be a part of a growing alternative economy. We encourage people of all ethnicities, race, gender, age, and sexual orientation to apply.



About Higher Grounds:

Higher Grounds Trading Co. was founded with the intention of creating and growing markets for fair trade, organic coffee.  Our guiding principles are based upon internationally recognized Fair Trade standards and practices. We specialize in linking small-scale organic coffee farmers to domestic consumers who appreciate a high quality cup of coffee. Higher Grounds Trading Co. values involvement in community-enhancing initiatives as well as national and international efforts to improve the fair trade system and the general promotion of economic, social and environmental justice.


Please visit our website at http://www.highergroundstrading.com to learn more about our company.

Primary Responsibilities:
.
    •    Develop, pour, and brew specialty espresso and brewed coffee drinks
    •    Provide courteous and responsive service to our customers
    •    Assist in the roastery to meet the requirements of daily production schedule by helping to bag,
          sticker, grind & prepare orders for shipment/delivery
    •    Maintain a clean and organized work area
    •    Complete inventory and process logs accurately and to specifications
    •    Educate customers about the intricacies in making a quality cup of coffee

Requirements:

    •    Pleasant disposition with customers and staff
    •    Self-directed, have a great attention to detail, and adaptable to ever-evolving workplace          
    •    Able to lift up to 60 lbs and 30 pounds repeatedly
    •    Able to stand, walk, and lift for entire work day
    •    Maintain a professional appearance

The ideal candidate will have a clean, well-groomed appearance; enjoy a fast-paced, energetic workplace; be an enthusiastic supporter of social justice and environmental sustainability; dedicated to continually improving the quality of their work and the services they provide; and love coffee!

To Apply: Please answer the following questions in the form of a cover
letter and email them with your contact information and resume to jobs@highergroundstrading.com

• Why do you feel you would be a good fit to work at Higher Grounds?
• Give an anecdote that demonstrates your ability to be resourceful.
• What past experience has most prepared you to work in this capacity?

Position Compensation: competitive hourly rate commensurate with skill level and experience

Running toward Sustainability in Ethiopia

By Chris Treter -

One realization from meeting thousands of people while running across Ethiopia and spending time in coffee growing communities that supply Higher Grounds with our Ethiopian Yrgacheffe Light Roast and Ethiopian Unwashed Sidamo Medium Roast , is that the coffee industry should learn a lesson from “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs”.

Abraham Maslow, the founder of Humanistic Psychology, has been immortalized through his creation of “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.” Outlined in “A Theory of Human Motivation,” published in 1943, the work has affected many fields, including education. In the Hierarchy of Needs, Maslow explains that first level needs must be attained before a human can satisfy higher level needs. Basic needs (survival) must be met before Safety Needs (comfort) and Psychological Needs (well-being). If all three can be met, a human can then work to find self-actualization and Peak Experiences.

In modern-day Ethiopia, despite the country’s coffee exports accounting for nearly 60 percent of the national GDP, many coffee farmers and their families live in dire poverty. Education, health care, and access to water are all very limited. In the Yirgacheffe region, where some of the world’s most unique and sought-after coffees originate, little more than half the region’s children complete primary school. The adult literacy rate is 36 percent. Life expectancy is 53 years. Unfortunately for coffee farmers (and most rural peoples) in Ethiopia, the most basic of human needs are not met. These needs reflect human’s needs of water, food, shelter, and clothing.

As a buyer visiting coffee growing communities in Ethiopia many times, one thing that has been quite evident is that fair trade pricing alone is not nearly enough to bring growers out of poverty. However, it should at the very least be the baseline price for any ethical coffee buyer. And, in a high priced coffee market, price alone will not resolve issues of poverty. For most coffee growers, their basic needs of survival are not met. Buyers who attempt to talk about quality of coffee without simultaneously speaking of quality of life are simply not in touch of the reality on the ground and contribute to the development of an unjust coffee trading system.

When one travels through coffee growing communities, the lack of basic needs is quite clear to see. Children smile and wave to you without shoes in a region where podoconiosis, a debilitating foot disease that is caused by walking barefoot, affects nearly 1 million Ethiopians. Their stomachs are large due to malnourishment as their diet is heavy in the false banana (a starch) with limited access to protein. Over 90% of the children never attend high school. Many of those in school study in classrooms with over 100 students, in buildings that have no access to water, and without any food to eat throughout the day.

Alimazi Bedhaso, a 14 year old girl from a growing community that supplies coffee to over a dozen brands in the U.S. and Europe approached me while touring a new high school built with fair trade premiums which she will attend next year. When asked about her education thus far she quickly responded, “For girls it is very difficult. If we do not attend school we are forced into arranged marriage at a very young age. If we are in school there are not enough teachers or supplies and we have no time to study. We must walk for hours to return home where we must fetch water and wood, feed the animals, and cook.”

When asking a group of growers representing 6 different coffee cooperatives, what their largest challenges are as an organization, one is quick to realize that their needs are much different than that of an organization in the United States or Europe. While a U.S. company might talk about a need for an improved accounting system, better trained employees, or access to capital, an Ethiopian co-op will quickly state that water, roads, schools, electricity and health centers are the primary needs. Thoughts of better organizational efficiencies are not even a thought when an organization is still grappling with the survival of its membership.

The largest issue for any farmer I have spoken to in Ethiopia is access to water. As one told me, “Water is life, we spend much of the day looking for water. In fact, women sometimes give birth next to the well while they wait for their turn to get water for their family.”  This need for water is evident when anyone walks through a community with an empty water bottle. Children quickly approach you for even just a container to carry water.

Solutions to these problems are not found in foreign minds. As the manager of Homa Cooperative, the co-op that grows some of our Yirgacheffe coffee states, “You cannot provide our solutions, only we can. Our general assembly determines our priorities. Your role is to buy more fair trade coffee and provide us with a premium.” Fair trade is the best alternative in the global coffee system. But, it is not nearly enough.

Higher Grounds believes that while we continue to push for a higher price to growers we must also bring together our community of coffee drinkers to support these communities in Ethiopia struggling to meet their most basic needs. For that reason, On the Ground was formed, a non-profit that works to provide funding for access to water, health care, and education around the world. The first major campaign of On the Ground , the Run Across Ethiopia , was an overwhelming success – raising enough money to fund the construction of three schools. Thanks to many of you reading this, together we are quickly making a difference in the lives of thousands of children in the coffee growing regions of Ethiopia. Such a campaign has never been realized with an audacious amount of support from nearly a thousand individuals throughout the U.S.

While all our activity to date has been an overwhelming success, it is just the first of many steps needed to bring real lasting change to our coffee growing partners. Through your continued support of Higher Grounds and On the Ground , we will walk down that path toward sustainability and be sure to bring you along the way while you enjoy an amazing cup of coffee. With each sip, you can be sure we are busy running toward a better world for all players in the coffee industry.