Do You Sell Flavored Coffee?
No. We tend to feel that "flavored coffee" originated from roasters buying poor quality green beans and then trying to mask their deficiencies. We're quite proud of our coffee and our grandparents would disown us if we did this. A little vanilla in a latte is good - but individuals can add that to taste.

What is With the Names?
Each coffee is named after a close family member. In the case of Mathilda's French Roast, my great-grandmother truly drank this coffee and it only seems fitting to name it after her. Others, like Ernesto's Family Roast (named after our grand-father) have similar qualities - subtle but incredibly charming and comfortable.

What is Espresso?
Espresso is a brewing method that involves forcing pressurized water through finely ground coffee to extract the most flavorful components and aromas of the coffee.

Do You Have an Espresso Blend?
We have coffee that is designed for Espresso's; however, we have not named one of our coffees "Espresso Blend." It would probably be easier if we did, but the reasoning is this: there are two school's of thought when it comes to espresso - the Italian and the non-Italian. Traditional Italian espresso called for a mixture of Arabica beans and the lower grade Robusta beans. They believe that without Robusta, you cannot achieve a good crema on your shot (the thin foam from pulling an espresso shot). The non-Italian version does not use Robusta. Our family doesn't grow any robusta as this variety of coffee at best does nothing for a good coffee. We also believe that with high-quality Arabica, you receive the perfect crema. Nossa Familia recommends Ernesto's Family Roast for espresso as the roast level and quality beans are beautifully framed in each espresso.

I Like My Coffee Strong - Which Coffee Is the Strongest?
Strength of coffee is actually for the most part dependent on the manner in which it is made and the relationship between amount of water, coffee, and the level of grind. Some people perceive darker roasts like Mathilda's French Roast to be 'stronger' but this is simply not true.

How much coffee and water should I use for the perfect cup?
We suggest 1 cup worth of ground coffee for every 64 oz of coffee (12 cups of brewed coffee).

How Should I Store My Coffee?
Never refrigerate or freeze your coffee. Both are full of odors that can be absorbed by the coffee and make your morning cup of coffee taste like last nights dinner. Refrigeration also causes condensation on the coffee that will cause the flavor to deteiorate rapidly. You should only open enough coffee that will last you about a week and keep it in an airtight, opaque container on the counter or in the cupboard.

What Type of Filter Should I Use?
We recommend either gold or oxygen-bleached filters. Gold filters are reusable and allow more of the important oils of the coffee to reach your cup, which adds to the flavor. Oxygen-bleached paper filters will not taint the flavor of the coffee and should be used if gold filters are not available. Chemically bleached filters tend to leave a 'bleach' flavor in your coffee while natural, brown filters actually add a woody, 'papery' flavor.

How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee and an espresso?
12 oz. cup of coffee = 230 milligrams of caffeine (average)
1.5-2 oz. shot of espresso = 80-100 milligrams of caffeine (average)
12 oz. cola drink - 30-60 milligrams of caffeine