There is so much to talk about in the world of coffee...In my social media role, I get to learn about all of the coffee and tea you can find at Coffeewiz, and then share a conversation with you about it. I was told that if I had one for every day of the year, I still wouldn't be able to try them all!

Before I choose my daily single serve cup of coffee, or daily whole loose leaf tea brew, I wonder where it came from. I know it didn't grow on a single serve tree!

I'm fascinated with cultures and ceremonies that countries have for their specific brew. Understanding them helps me appreciate the experience so much more, and I want to share just a little bit of that with you.

Just the other day as I was brewing a Caribou Sumatra Coffee K-Cups in my Keurig brewer, I asked my husband, "Where is Sumatra?" wanting to start a conversation. He said "I took it to work." What he was thinking of was the Tassimo Starbucks Africa Kitamu T-Discs, the package that he had taken for his office coffee pool. I was surprised to learn that Sumatra and Africa were all the same to him! He just knew they referred to a coffee and came in a box, ready to brew. And as I thought about it, I wasn’t quite sure I could point out Sumatra on a map…

So with that, I thought I'd share with you cultures from around the world, both coffee and tea - the STORY behind your favorite brew.

I was introduced to the Ethiopian coffee ceremony experience about 7 years ago, and fell in love with the food, too. It's definitely a culture of community, as you'll see in this video. Beans are ground by hand, and family and friends wait patiently. It is an HONOR to be invited! I am entranced everytime the server brings around a pan of freshly roasted beans for us to just smell. Imagine, getting the chance to put in an extra step and actually take time to smell the coffee – just as if they were like roses.

Did you see the goat at the opening of the video? I always loved the story of coffee was discovered in Ethiopia, when the goats would get their caffeine fix on, and the herder realized there was magic in them there coffee beans!

I thought Andrew Zimmern did a good representation of the exotic Ethiopian coffee ceremony. I know firsthand that it's very different than what you would experience with the touch of a button, and brew of a single serve coffee.

I hope that taking a peek into cultures around the world will make your single serve coffee and tea a much richer experience.

Do YOU have a story you’d like to share about coffee and/or tea culture? Please share your comments on this blog, or write me at Vickie@coffeewiz.com.

Here is your latest single serve update (and be sure to subscribe to this blog feed so you are the first to know!):

After the winter storm here in the Northeast, shipping is back to normal, and Fedex was also here to keep things running on track, picking up shipments from our office yesterday.


JUST ARRIVED (OR WILL TODAY!)

Ghirardelli Premium Hot Cocoa Packets – Just arrived! These popular hot chocolate packets have arrived, and we are happy to take your orders for this much awaited item.


Lavazza Blue Di Piu Tea Nero Classico Capsules – Will be here in our warehouse TODAY! It will be available for shipment to you tomorrow!

Baronet House Blend Coffee Pods - Just arrived! Available for shipment immediately.


K-CUPS Update:

Breville Platinum B70 K-Cup Keurig Brewer
We just got word that these popular Keurig Brewers will be available to ship February 18. We can't wait to start shipping these, as we know many of you have been eagerly awaiting their arrival!

Gloria Jean Flavor Tea Variety K-Cups –We have been notified by Gloria Jean that this much-awaited tea variety is on its way to us in a couple of months, and we will update you as soon as it is available to ship.

Green Mountain Hot Chocolate K-Cups
We have been notified by Green Mountain that these much awaited K-Cups will be available to ship at the end of February. In the meantime, we think that Timothy's White Hot Chocolate K-Cups are a yummy substitution if you want to try something new!

Green Mountain Kona Blend Coffee K-Cups- Available to ship 2/13

Diedrich Morning Edition K-Cups-Available to ship 2/21

Caribou Coffee Blend K-Cups-Available to ship 2/17

Gloria Jeans Pomegranate Berry Tea K-Cups-Available to ship 2/25

Twinings Earl Grey Tea K-Cups-Available to ship 2/16

Coffee People Donut Shop Coffee -Cups 50 count – Available to ship 2/16

We do have the Coffee People Donuts Shop Coffee K-Cups 24-count available, if you are a die-hard fan of this popular brand. There is a bulk discount on orders of 4 or more.


T-DISCS for Tassimo Brewers Update

Starbuck’s House Blend - This Starbucks variety will be available at the end of February.

Suggestion: If you enjoy the Starbucks House Blend, have you tried Starbuck's Caffe Verona. Sal, Coffeewiz Customer Service Representative, says that this is a good substitution for the Starbucks House Blend.

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Capsules Update

Dolce Gusto Cappuccino - Available to ship February 12.

PODS Update

Organa Tea Pods - Chai - Available to ship February 17.

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Because this update is a new feature for you to keep you updated, we are still ironing out the layout to make sure it's easy for you to scan, read and use. If you have any comments or suggestions, we'd love to hear. Please share your thoughts with us!

Yingqi, our resident tea expert at Coffeewiz, wanted to record this video for you right away, since we got started with social media. She wanted to share with you how easy brewing whole leaf tea can be. She has been enjoying whole leaf tea since childhood, in Shanghai. This is just one way to brew it, but we will be sharing more video with you in the coming weeks.

This Blue Dragon Tea Cup is a simple brewing option, and is available on our website.

Do you brew whole leaf tea or do you prefer tea bags? Have you ever used a Chinese brewing tea cup? Please share your thoughts. Look forward to hearing from you!

We know you've been waiting, and our Customer Service Department wanted to send you this update, on out of stock and backordered K-Cups varieties.


Gloria Jean Flavor Variety K-Cups

Gloria Jean Mango Tea K-Cups

Gloria Jean Morning Edition K-Cups

UPDATE: These items will be available to ship with an estimated arrival of February 17.

Green Mountain Hot Cocoa K-Cups

UPDATE: We are unable to fulfill orders for this product at this time, and we just don't know when the manufacturer will be able to ship this product.

The manufacturer is unable to acquire the raw material for cocoa needed to make this product.

STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:

We are understand and are sorry to keep you waiting! We have asked our staff here at Coffeewiz for recommended substitutes to introduce you to for our K-Cups fans:

Gloria Jean Mango Tea K-Cups: Substitute Jaf Mango Banana Loose Green Tea.

You can be introduced to the wonders of whole leaf tea by brewing this in a cup, using your Keurig machine for its hot water.

-From our Coffeewiz resident tea expert, Yingqi

Gloria Jean Flavor Variety K-Cups: Substitute Celestial Seasonings Tea Sampler K-Cups

A great substitute for the Keurig K-Cups tea fan, this variety pack contains a good variety mix, including green tea, English breakfast tea, Lemon Zinger and Sleepytime Herbal Tea.

Gloria Jean Morning Edition K-Cups: Substitute Coffee People Donut Shop K-Cups

Because fans of the Gloria Jean brand enjoy a medium to dark roast, a comparable substitute would be Coffee People Donut Shop K-Cups, made on the West Coast.

Green Mountain Hot Cocoa K-Cups: Substitute Timothy's White Hot Chocolate K-Cups