Coffee: The Great and Powerful Bean

We here at the Big O Coffee News are, obviously, big fans of coffee as well as the business we run. At Big O Coffee News headquarters, we have a nice grinder to make fresh grounds which we brew in a rather fancy coffee maker.

Omaha is no stranger to the love of coffee. Just yesterday, the Omaha World Herald published this piece on the history and influence of coffee here in the big O.

My personal favorite section is on Aribica beans and is shared below. However, the entire article is worth a read if you're a coffee lover as well. From the World Herald:

"Arabica coffee beans must grow at higher elevations in cool, subtropical climates and need a lot of moisture, rich soil, shade and sun. The Arabica beans can be damaged by cold temperatures or poor handling.

Arabica, according to coffee roasters, is a better quality coffee, and people are interested in quality. Commodity coffee is like the craft breweries of 10 years ago,” said Chris Smith, owner of Beansmith Coffee. “I think people are looking for the best experience for the buck.”

Commodity coffee refers to the way coffee is traded. The popular term is “fair trade.” Fair trade guarantees coffee growers a set price prior to harvest, as opposed to the more traditional method of setting a price at the end of growing season based on yield.