Living Maxwell

Better Choices

What is Cold-Brew Coffee and Why You Should Know About it

Despite the fact that it has become a burgeoning trend in the beverage world, cold-brew coffee is still a relatively unknown quantity to the average person on the street.

In a very unscientific poll that I conducted, the majority of people that I talked to had heard of cold-brew coffee but couldn’t give me a good answer as to what it is and why people should be drinking it. And to be perfectly honest, I was pretty in the dark about cold-brew as well.

While I know that choosing organic coffee is a must, because coffee is one of the most chemically-treated crops in the world, I, too, had many questions about this increasingly popular drink.

So, in honor of National Cold-Brew Coffee Day, which happens to be today, I reached out to Chris Campbell, co-founder of Chameleon Cold-Brew to help clear up any confusion and here is what he had to say.

What is cold-brew coffee and how is it prepared differently than regular coffee?

Cold-brew coffee is coffee that has been steeped in water temperatures below 85 degrees for anywhere from 12 to 24 hours. We steep ours for approximately 16 hours in order to maximize flavor while minimizing bitterness and bite.

Temperature and time will vary based on water chemistry, coffee composition and roast profile.

What are the benefits of drinking cold-brew coffee?

With fewer tannins, cold-brew is typically less bitter than hot-brewed coffee. This lack of bitterness and bite translates into less need for creamers and sweeteners, thus creating the potential for a healthier beverage.

Properly made cold-brew has almost three times as much caffeine as hot-brew and it also contains a lot less acidity, which makes it better for many people who may have acid-related gastrointestinal issues.

Many people I know don’t drink coffee because it stains their teeth. Does cold-brew have the same impact on teeth?

Cold-brew coffee will typically have less of an impact on tooth staining due to having fewer tannins. According to Dr. Scott Frey DDS, a coarsely ground cold-brew is among the least staining methods for coffee preparation.

Can you drink cold-brew coffee “hot”?

Of course! I take a fresh pull out of our tap at the office or a handy bottle of Chameleon Cold-Brew most mornings, mix it with a bit of water, and then heat it up for my morning shot of cold-brewed goodness.

What should consumers look for when they are buying cold-brew coffee?

Ultimately, it’s about personal preference but here are a few tips that can be indicators of quality:
· Organic coffee
· Glass packaging
· Deep, dark coffee color
· Great aroma
· The fresher, the better

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Better Choices

Potatoes are on the Non-GMO Project’s High Risk List – What Does That Mean and What Do Shoppers Need to Know?

In a recent issue of Organic Insider, I discuss the decision by the Non-GMO Project to place potatoes on its High-Risk list.

Joining soy, corn, canola and a few others, this is by no means a prominent distinction. Rather, it is something that every crop should seek to avoid because it means that the likelihood of consuming a genetically-modified version of this crop in the U.S. is extremely high.

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Better Choices

Another Reason to Eat Organic – Decrease Pesticide Exposure by 90%

Here are a few things that we know.

1) In its pioneering testing several years ago, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) identified up to 493 chemicals in Americans of all ages, including 287 industrial chemical pollutants found in the cord blood of 10 babies born in 2004.

So, from the time we are in the womb of our mother, our body is flooded with synthetic toxins.

2) Even though this EWG data was collected a decade ago, not much has changed since then, in terms of our exposure to chemicals.

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Better Choices

5 Questions with Dr. Joel Kahn, Leading Cardiologist and Author of The Plant-Based Solution

Last April, I was in Denver attending the National Organic Standards Board meeting and went to dinner one night at True Food Kitchen.

Sitting at a community table, I struck up a conversation with a woman across from me and she proceeded to tell me that she had recently switched to a vegan diet.

“So, do you know Dr. Joel Kahn? The cardiologist from Detroit,” I asked.

Given that the plant-based world is a tight community and that Dr. Kahn is a social media star, I had a feeling that she might have known him.

“Do I know Dr. Kahn?” she responded with her face completely lit up. “He’s the reason I am a vegan today! Everything he talks about online and in his books convinced me to go plant-based!”

With the release of his excellent new book The Plant-Based Solution, Dr. Joel Kahn is looking to make a similar impact on many more people.

I recently caught up with my friend, and here is what he had to say.

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"My Everyday, Must-Have Green Organic Aquabotanical"

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Potatoes are on the Non-GMO Project’s High Risk List – What Does That Mean and What Do Shoppers Need to Know?

Another Reason to Eat Organic – Decrease Pesticide Exposure by 90%

5 Questions with Dr. Joel Kahn, Leading Cardiologist and Author of The Plant-Based Solution