Tanzania Peaberry New Coffee Arrival

     This Tanzania Peaberry  Coffee has flavor notes of rhubarb, toffee, and orange and was grown at an altitude of 1219 masl. It is a washed processed coffee from the Kent and Bourbon varieties and is grown near the Kilimanjaro region. Producer use a small hand pulper during harvest and processing. Ripe cherries are depulped quickly and soaked for about 72 hours before being washed and fully dried on elevated beds for anywhere between 9 and 12 days. Peaberry is a very unique coffee as it forms a single, flat bean inside each cherry instead of the typical 2 beans per cherry.

     Historically, the Haya people of Tanzania consumed coffee by chewing the fruit more than drinking it as a beverage. Mount Kilimanjaro has Arabica coffee growing around it as a cash crop that German colonists had mandated. The British took over from the Germans after the first World War and sought to make coffee a more profitable industry. In 1964, Tanzania became independent from colonial rule. In the 1990's, were able to privatize coffee exports and sell coffee more directly. 

New Coffee Arrival: Java Frinsca Collective

We’ve got a new coffee about to hit our shelves, the Java Frinsa Collective. This is a washed coffee, roasted to a medium degree with notes of strawberry walnut pie. The varietals are of Ateng Super, Bor Bor, and Sigararutang with growing altitudes of 1400-1700 masl.
Produced by Wilden Mustofa and his family in Bandung, West Java.  Wilden works with the processing and agricultural sides of the family business, his wife Atieq handles the contracts, and their son, Fikri cups the coffee. The Mustofa family are called progressive because they focus on more experimental processing rather than what is commonly found in Java. This coffee is rinsed, sorted, and decoupled the same day is is delivered from neighboring producers. It ferments for 18 hours, washed, then laid out to dry on a patio for 7 to 10 days. Besides Coffee, the  Collective also produces Honey, Naturals, Anaerobic-Environment Fermentation, and are separating out single variety lots.

Ohio Barista Champs

     This year, Muggswigz Coffee and Tea Co will be sponsoring a barista competition, The Ohio Barista Champs, on Saturday, April 30th from 3pm to 8pm. There will be two competitions during this event, a solo barista competition and a duo barista team competition. All competitors will compete in front of a Judges' Panel consisting of sensory judges, technical judges, and a head judge who score the baristas on aspects such as cleanliness, drink structure, and overall presentation. They will present four cappuccinos and four signature coffee drinks to the judges in a timed performance. Monetary prizes will be presented; $500 for First place, $200 for Second place, and $50 for Third. All are welcome to compete and spectate with purchase of a ticket. Tickets can be found on Eventbrite by searching '2022 Ohio Barista Champs' or find more information on Facebook by searching 'Ohio Barista Champs.'

 

 

Muggswigz Employees Make Charitable Donation to Local Organization

This 2021 year marks yet another year for Muggswigz with its Employee Charitable Donation Program. Throughout the year, our participatin baristas donate to our Charitable Donation Program. It is here that an amount of their choice is pooled into a sum that will be donated to a charity at the year's end. This year, our baristas donated $5,000 to a local organization, En-rich-ment. 

     En-richment was started in 2012, and since then, has provided free education in art, music, gardening, drumline, theatre, voice, etc. to underserved urban youth. Classes are also providing education in wellness and healthy lifestyle as well as performances in community events. This is the fourth year in a row that Muggswigz employees have participated in  their Charitable Donation Program. Last year, they donated $3,750 to 'Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation', a foundation helping to fight childhood cancer. Participating employees contribute their choice of dollar amount every pay period and the company contributes a little more than 10% match. To learn more about En-rich-ment, or make your own contribution, follow the link  www.en-rich-ment.org