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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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Living Maxwell

Better Choices

The Dirty Dozen – 12 Different Fish to Avoid

While many of us are familiar with the Dirty Dozen, the toxic fruits and vegetables to avoid as compiled by the Environmental Working Group, there is a lot of uncertainty and confusion as to what fish are healthy to eat.

One of my favorite non-profits, Food & Water Watch, has addressed this problem and come out with their own Dirty Dozen but for fish. These are the 12fish that they give a big thumbs down to.

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Living Maxwell

Better Choices

My Water Habits and The Only Water Bottle I Use – A Glass One

As I have written about many times before, I am a water fanatic. I like clean, ultra-purified water and have a four-stage filter (with a .015 micron filter on filter #2) in my apartment.

When I go to work, there is a Poland Spring cooler but I refuse to drink from it. Why?

The water tastes very, very off and is not purified.

So, I bring my own bottles of water to work each day. This may sound crazy to some people but drinking high quality water is essential to staying healthy.

Given that I take so much effort to drink good water, the type of bottle that I use is also of great importance.

I used to drink from a BPA-free plastic bottle. The problem with that is that it is still plastic and is leaching other chemicals into the water.

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Living Maxwell

Better Choices

Another Reason to Buy Organic – Conventional Tea Contains Illegal and Highly Toxic Pesticides

While we constantly hear about the tremendous health benefits of drinking tea, one thing that almost never gets mentioned in this message is just how critical it is to drink organic tea.

In a recently released report called Tea Steeped in Toxics, the excellent non-profit Beyond Pesticides gives us an inside look at what is going on in the tea industry. Needless to say, what they uncover is very ugly and very scary.

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