Pumpkin Spice Season is a real thing. It unofficially runs from the first day of fall through Thanksgiving Weekend before giving way to eggnog and peppermint. Obnoxious and/or delicious looking coffee drinks piled high with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon have already been filling the Roast! Instagram feed for weeks.
In the first Coffee Smarter episode of the season, my friend and yours, Chris O’Brien from Coffee Cycle Roasting joins the show to talk about pumpkin spice. I’m a hold out–preferring my coffee black, and I assumed the Coffee Smarter experts would be quick to dismiss this fad (if you can call a drink that has been popular for more than two decades a fad). Instead, I learned that there is more than meets the eye (Transformer’s reference!) when it comes to pumpkin spice. Starting with the fact that it rarely contains actual pumpkin.
It does often contain cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, ginger and all-spice, though upwards of 340 different spice compounds make up actual pumpkin pie taste, there are likely only a few spices in your favorite latte creating the illusion that you’re tasting something that reminds you of pumpkin pie.
On the show, we joke about getting #CoffeeDumber, but without asking questions we’d never get Coffee Smarter, right? Chris will have plenty more to say. How long did it take for our conversation to go off the rails this time? About three minutes, but that is okay. It is why this show exists! We want to go down the rabbit hole to learn about all the different types of cinnamon or some facts about gourds, and to commune over a cup of coffee.
4 TYPES OF CINNAMON
Before this week, I did not know there were different types of cinnamon. Cassia is the one he refers that can cause health issues like liver toxicity in large quantities, but there are also a lot of health benefits to cinnamon too. Ceylon cinnamon, in particular, is loaded with antioxidants, lowers blood sugar levels, improves heart health and acts as an anti-inflammatory. It’s one more example of positive impacts of living in moderation.
The following list of types of cinnamon is culled from AllRecipes.com.
1. Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon Cinnamon)
Often called true cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon, or soft cinnamon, this variety is native to Sri Lanka and Southern India, but is widely grown in Mexico and East Africa.
2. Cinnamomum burmannii (Korintje Cinnamon)
Sometimes called Korintje cinnamon, this one is generally milder. It is very common in America — it accounts for close to 70 percent of North American cinnamon imports.
3. Cinnamomum cassia (Saigon Cinnamon)
This is most often found on supermarket shelves as Saigon cinnamon. It originates from Southeast Asia. It's pretty sweet, not super spicy.
4. Cinnamomum loureiroi (Royal Cinnamon)
Sometimes called Royal cinnamon, this is harder to find on grocery store shelves, but spice purveyors often sell it.
ROLLIN’ ROOTS SD
Rollin’ Roots is a vegan food truck in San Diego. Earlier this week their truck was burned down in what is currently being investigated as possible hate crime arson. The owner, Avonte Hartsfield, thought about hanging it up, but in response to an outpouring of support from the community has decided to rebuild.
There is a GoFundMe set up to support the business. Surviving in hospitality is hard enough without B.S. like this bringing down a business. I’ll be supporting, and if you are so inspired you can too.
COFFEE VOCAB
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WELCOME TO THE ROAST! FAMILY.
The newest addition to the Roast! West Coast Industry Partner Family is Camp Coffee Company in Oceanside, CA. We met Camp’s Founder & Head Roaster, Jason Simpson, in season 2. All of the Industry Partners are brands I actually support in my personal life. Often, that’s why I reached out in the first place! Welcome Camp Coffee Company!
And if you’re looking for some stellar coffee or whiskey this week check out the Roast! Industry Legacy Partners. Click these links. Drink their coffees (and whiskey).
Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Leap Coffee • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee Importers • Marea Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Frinj Coffee • Camp Coffee Company
QUOTES IN CLOSING
“I believe humans get a lot done, not because we’re smart, but because we have thumbs so we can make coffee.”
― Flash Rosenberg, Cartoonist
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Roast! Coffee Smarter Week 1