Quick Update!

Hi everyone,

I hope everyone has been doing well, and you are enjoying the high quality content we strive to output.

In case you all haven’t already noticed, we are limiting our posts to once a week in order to ensure consistency and fluidity. In addition, it makes it easier for you, the readers, to keep up to date with everything.

All of the writers are going to be pursuing graduate education starting this Fall. As a result, we won’t be able to write as frequently as before. However, Bronze Lifestyle will stay active for you to spread the word to your family, friends, and followers. The site is always up 24/7 for your perusal. We hope you all enjoy the wide variety of topics we have to offer.

Thank you for your readership!

S.C. Ali

Editor-in-Chief

Quick Update

Hi everyone,

I hope everyone has been doing well, and you are enjoying the high quality content we strive to output each week.

In case you all haven’t already noticed, we are limiting our posts to once a week in order to ensure consistency and fluidity. In addition, it makes it easier for you, the readers, to keep up to date with everything.

As a result, we will be publishing new content every Wednesday of each week.

Nevertheless, please spread the word to your family, friends, and followers about this site. The site is always up 24/7 for your perusal. We hope you all enjoy the wide variety of topics we have to offer.

Thank you for your readership!

Until next week,

S.C. Ali

Editor-in-Chief

The Search for the Best Coffee: Part 2

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

In my first coffee piece on Bronze Lifestyle (see here), I discuss the prevalence of coffee consumption along with a few studies that show potential health benefits of coffee.

Since then, I have been able to refine my palette in coffee gustation. As a result, I have a few impressions for four new coffees that I’d like to share. Please note that all of the coffees were purchased whole bean, grounded with a manual conical burr grinder, and the coffee was brewed via a French press.

For this segment, I’ve tasted: Hawaiian Gold Kona Coffee Gourmet Blend Medium Roast, Dunkin Donuts Whole Bean Original Blend Medium Roast, Trader Joe’s Joe’s Dark Coffee Blend, and Island Blue Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.

First, I will do a ranking in this review alone. Second, I will list my top five choices based on the results from the previous review and this one.

4^th Place: Hawaiian Gold Kona Coffee Gourmet Blend Medium Roast

I bought this at a local Publix because it was inexpensive, and it had “Kona” listed on it. Kona is obviously synonymous with the Kona region on the Big Island in Hawaii. The coffee is one of the most sought after in the world. Nevertheless, unfortunately, this coffee did not live up to its name. It could be because it is a blend of Kona and Arabica, so we really don’t know how much real Kona coffee is present. The aroma was mediocre. The taste was smooth, which is a common trait in medium roasts. The aftertaste was run-of-the mill and didn’t have any special notes. Although some people fancy this coffee, I personally would not recommend it. The lesson learned is simple: anytime I see Kona coffee that retails for less than $10, I won’t pay attention. However, I am glad I had a chance to try it.

3^rd Place: Dunkin Donuts Whole Bean Original Blend Medium Roast

I have always enjoyed Dunkin Donuts coffee every once in a while, and I find that as a student on a budget, the price point is much more appealing compared to Starbucks. This coffee lived up to my expectations, but it didn’t surpass it. The aroma was a classic coffee scent, no subtle underlying notes were observed. The taste was rich and smooth. However, it was a bit too weak for my personal taste. Many people enjoy this in the morning, but if I were to incorporate an occasional cup, it would be in the mid afternoon. If you enjoy a medium, simple, no frills coffee, I highly recommend it.

2^nd Place: Trader Joe’s Joe Dark Coffee Blend

I first tasted this coffee from my friend in college. He had an espresso maker and he enjoyed this blend because it was a great flavor at an excellent price point. When I first tasted this again, it had been two years since the last time I had it. Using a manual grinder and the French press really kicked up this flavor a notch. This coffee has a bold aroma, and even better flavor. It exceeded my expectations. The flavor was complex, robust, and layered. I absolutely loved it. The best part is the cost, it is only $5 for a 13 oz tin. I really enjoy having this first thing in the morning, it is the perfect wake up call. This coffee is actually in my Top 3 list. I highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy a darker roast. I look forward to trying more of Trader Joe’s coffee blends and seeing what they have to offer.

1^st Place: Island Blue Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee

Blue Mountain coffee, like Kona, is a highly sought after coffee due to the unique fertile land of the Blue mountains in Jamaica, and the rarity. A friend from Jamaica bought this for me as a gift during her recent trip to Jamaica, so I had no doubt that it was 100% authentic. The aroma is so unique. I have never smelled anything like it before, and it is something that you have to experience to appreciate. It reminded me of the islands immediately. The flavor had little to no acidity, and it was delicate but complex at the same time. The robustness was just right. Although it finished quickly, it is an experience that I won’t forget. This is definitely a coffee for more seasoned coffee drinkers. I strongly recommend trying other coffees first in order to refine your palette. Once you feel comfortable enough at discerning different flavor notes, then try Blue Mountain. Next time I order some, it will only be for special occasions. Overall, I had very high expectations for this coffee given its reputation, and it didn’t disappoint.

In conclusion, although my experience this time had some low points, the fact that I was able to enjoy authentic Blue Mountain coffee made up for it. Trader Joe’s Joe Dark has actually become my daily coffee due to its availability, affordability, and excellent taste. Here is my overall list based on the previous review and this one:

5^th Place: Starbucks French Roast Dark Roast

4^th Place: Starbucks Cafe Verona Dark Roast

3^rd Place: Trader Joe’s Joe Dark Blend

2^nd Place: Cafe Don Pablo Signature Blend Medium-Dark Roast

1^st Place: Island Blue Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Medium Roast

Thanks everyone!

The Search for the Best Coffee: Part One

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

Coffee is one of the most commonly consumed beverages in the world. According to authors Dicum and Luttinger of The coffee book: anatomy of an industry from the crop to the last drop, approximately 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed everyday worldwide. It is the second most sought after commodity globally after crude oil. In America, over half of Americans over 18 drink coffee daily and Americans drink an average of three and a half cups of coffee daily.

There are some studies that show positive health effects of coffee. According to a study published less than ten days ago by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, “people in the study who drank four or more cups of coffee daily were 20% less likely to develop malignant melanoma than non-coffee drinkers.” In two studies published in 2013, moderate habitual coffee consumption was associated with improvement of function in the endothelial cells, which line the interior surface of blood vessels. Moreover, another study in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that over a ten year study of women, coffee consumption was linked to a lower risk of depression. Despite these promising results, both the New England Journal of Medicine and Harvard’s School of Public Health have concluded that more studies need to be conducted as caffeine may have negative health effects. The main health take away lesson is that moderate coffee consumption is optimum in most cases. However, if you have a medical condition or are taking medication that may conflict with caffeine, please consult your doctor.

Given the vast popularity of coffee, it was only prudent that I start a quest to find some exquisite tasting coffee. After meticulously researching the various methods of making coffee, I decided to choose a stainless steel Frieling French Press with a manual conical burr grinder. There are many other great choices such as machines like Nespresso and Tassimo, but I chose a press due to affordability. The initial price of both the press and the grinder total was just a little over $100, so it was a moderate price point. Moreover, because a French press does not require filter paper and minimal maintenance, it suited me best. One main advantage of the French press above almost all other methods of coffee making is the most natural taste of coffee (including natural oils) due to a lack of filter. As a result, the hot water makes direct contact with the ground beans for optimum flavor. I primarily chose the manual grinder due to novelty, but some coffee aficionados argue that it is the most natural way to grind the beans and you retain all oils compared to an electric grinder.

Since I have started using the press, I have been searching for the ‘best’ coffee. Although it is highly subjective, I still thought I’d share my impressions. For this segment, I’ve tasted: Cafe Don Pablo Signature Blend, Starbucks Verona, Gevalia Kaffee Traditional, and Starbucks French Roast. Please find below my ranking followed by a description of my impressions regarding flavor, aroma, and robustness.

4^th Place: Gevalia Kaffee Traditional Medium Roast

Although Gevalia wasn’t my first coffee bean purchase, it was earlier on in my experience. The aroma was great and it had a fairly good flavor. Unfortunately, for me, the robustness wasn’t the best for my liking. I personally tend to favor darker roasts due to their complexity of flavor. However, if you desire a smoother tasting coffee that has a fantastic price point, I highly recommend Gevalia. There was no Gevalia dark roast whole bean coffee available at my local grocery store, but if I can try it, I would give it a fair shot.

3^rd Place: Starbucks French Roast Dark Roast

Starbucks has created a household name for itself, so it was only natural that I included at least one Starbucks brand coffee on my list. I found the French Roast to have a decent aroma, but it is the flavor that truly shines. The flavor is very robust, which I appreciate. However, I did note a lack of complexity in terms of flavor. Therefore, I would recommend this particular blend if you desire a coffee that is bold, dark, and simple.

2^nd Place: Starbucks Cafe Verona Dark Roast

Starbucks has been my go to brand recently primarily because they are the only ones that carry dark whole beans in my local grocery store. This was recommended by a friend as one of their favorite roasts and I can see why. It contains a fantastic blend of boldness with complexity of flavor. There is an Italian roast undertone to it, and actually a hint of chocolate as well. As a result of the robustness coupled with flavor, this is my favorite Starbucks coffee so far. I’d give it a try if you want a bold wake up call in the morning or if you want to end the day with a bang.

1^st Place: Cafe Don Pablo Signature Blend – Medium-Dark Roast

My, oh my. This coffee has a perfect blend of everything I desire. Not only is it robust, but the flavor is outstanding. It was the first coffee I bought, alongside with my French press and grinder. I keep coming back to it every time I try something else. Their signature blend contains a combination of Colombian, Guatemalan, and Brazilian arabica beans. The result: sheer excellence. Moreover, the price point is fantastic. It is only $12.99 on Amazon for 2 lbs. I’m pretty certain that there are much better artisan coffees out there somewhere, but at this price point, it is hard to beat. I also love Don Pablo’s goal, which is to use beans cultivated by elite farmers who know the art of harvesting inside out. Overall, this coffee is great any time of the day. If you want a great wake up call, a compliment to your work day in the early afternoon, or a finishing touch to your day/evening, Don Pablo is the way to go.

There are many more coffees I desire to taste. If you are a small artisan coffee maker and would like me to sample your coffee, feel free to email via the “Contact Us” form at any time. If you all have any recommendations, feel free to comment below.

Thanks!

Welcome!

Welcome everyone to Bronze Lifestyle! This blog was influenced by the protagonist Charles Bronze of S.C. Ali’s The Bronze Treasures. There are multiple goals that the team of Bronze Lifestyle would like to accomplish (listed in order of priority):

• Discuss important current topics in health and nutrition
• Serve as a medium to promote S.C. Ali’s The Bronze Treasures
• Provide reviews in the arts which include but are not limited to: books, films, and music

We are eager to hear your feedback! If you have any ideas or suggestions, feel free to fill out the form in the “Contact Us” link on the left side. Thank you all for your readership!

Bronze Lifestyle Team