Caffeine Chronicles: Exploring Espresso Elegance and Smoothie Sensations at Cal Mart
Few pleasures can start a day – or end them – like an expertly brewed cup of coffee or espresso. And the warmth of late spring and summer days can be tempered with delicious smoothies in a way that little else can match.
Which is why a visit to Cal Mart’s Coffee Bar is a great way to find the best of both these delights!
Coffee, Caffeine, and Joy: A Few Fun Facts about Everyone’s Favorite Bean
According to the geeky types who know all things scientific, the coffee bean isn’t a “bean” like pinto beans, for example. In fact, sources tell us that coffee beans belong to the Rubiaceae family, which also includes the Coffea genus, and is sometimes called the “coffee family”. The Rubiaceae family also includes other well-known plants such as gardenia, Cinchona, and Missouri-native buttonbush.
While there are over 120 recognized varieties of Coffea, arabica and robusta are most well-known. And here are a few things we bet you may not have known about these beloved beans
What are the essential differences between arabica and robusta coffee beans?
Plant and Growing Conditions:
- Arabica: Arabica plants are more delicate and require specific growing conditions. They thrive at higher altitudes (around 6,000 feet and above) with moderate temperatures and rainfall.
- Robusta: Robusta plants are hardier and can grow at lower altitudes (around sea level) with higher temperatures and withstand harsher conditions like pests and diseases.
Taste:
- Arabica: Arabica beans are known for their smoother, richer taste with a wider range of flavor profiles, from fruity and acidic to nutty and chocolatey.
- Robusta: Robusta beans have a stronger, harsher taste with a more bitter and nutty flavor.
Cost:
- Arabica: Due to the more demanding growing conditions, Arabica beans are generally more expensive than Robusta beans.
Uses:
- Arabica: Arabica beans are the most popular choice for brewed coffee and specialty coffee drinks due to their smoother flavor profile.
- Robusta: While Robusta can be used for brewed coffee, it’s often used in espresso blends because it creates a thicker crema (the foamy layer on top of espresso) and adds bitterness.
What is the difference in caffeine content between arabica and robusta coffee beans?
Here’s the caffeine breakdown:
- Robusta: Robusta beans contain about 2.7% caffeine by weight.
- Arabica: Arabica beans are lower in caffeine, containing around 1.5% caffeine by weight.
This translates to a brewed cup:
- Robusta: A cup of Robusta coffee can have roughly 190mg of caffeine.
- Arabica: An Arabica cup typically contains around 98mg of caffeine.
So, if you’re looking for a real eye-opener, Robusta coffee is the way to go, although it has a more bitter taste than Arabica. Arabica offers a smoother flavor profile with a less intense caffeine kick.
What is the actual difference in caffeine content of a light, medium, and dark roasts of arabica beans?
There’s a common misconception that darker roasts have more caffeine. In reality, the roast level has minimal impact on the total caffeine content in the beans.
Here’s why:
- Caffeine is present in the raw coffee bean. During the roasting process, some caffeine is lost due to evaporation, but the difference between roasts is negligible.
- Concentration matters. Darker roasts lose more weight and density compared to lighter roasts. So, if you measure by scoop, a lighter roast might have slightly more caffeine because the beans are denser.
- Weight is key. For a more accurate comparison, measure by weight. In that case, you’ll find minimal difference in caffeine content between a light, medium, and dark roast Arabica bean.
Here’s a key takeaway:
- The roast affects the flavor profile (lighter roasts tend to be brighter, darker roasts bolder), but not significantly the caffeine content.
Does a standard cup of espresso contain more caffeine than a standard cup of brewed coffee?
It depends! Here’s the breakdown:
- Per ounce: Espresso has more caffeine than brewed coffee. A shot of espresso (around 1 ounce) can have more than double the caffeine of an ounce of brewed coffee.
- Per serving: A standard cup (around 8 ounces) of brewed coffee typically has more caffeine than a single shot of espresso (around 1 ounce).
This means that a typical, eight ounce cup of brewed coffee will contain almost four times as much caffeine as a one ounce shot of espresso on average.
If you want to conduct your own research on the taste, quality, and caffeine effects of great coffee and espresso, just come out to “Napa Valley’s Finest Grocery” in Calistoga. Or, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us right here and we will be able to assist you!
Cal Mart Coffee Bar: Your Destination for Premium Taylor Lane Coffee
Discriminating coffee drinkers crave a more refined experience, which is why Cal Mart is proud to serve premium organic coffee from Taylor Lane Organic Coffee, a Sonoma County roaster dedicated to quality since 1993. As Taylor Lane describes it, their coffee is “One part art, one part science, 100% craft.” They use sustainable practices, roasting small batches in an energy-efficient roaster to create a variety of light and fruity to dark and bold coffees.
True coffee lovers know there’s no bad time for a great cup. Here’s a glimpse of what awaits you at Cal Mart’s Coffee Bar:
- Brewed Coffee: We feature a daily Coffee of the Day, showcasing the exciting selections from Taylor Lane. Cream and sugar or straight black, we have a roast to satisfy your taste buds. For a touch of Europe, try our daily Café au lait with steamed milk.
- Espresso: Espresso is the heart of gourmet coffee drinks, and Cal Mart offers eight espresso drinks alongside classic hot cocoa. From cappuccinos and americanos to lattes, macchiatos, and mochas, customize your drink with single, double, or triple espresso shots, your choice of milk (including soy, rice, Lactaid, and organic options), flavored syrups, and even a touch of whipped cream.
- Tea: For tea enthusiasts, we offer a selection of hot teas from Taylor Lane. We also serve a delicious Chai Tea Latte, made with Taylor Lane’s special blend of black teas and aromatic spices.
- Iced Drinks: Beat the Napa Valley heat with our refreshing iced beverages. We can craft iced versions of most of our hot drinks, including iced coffee, lattes (vanilla, caramel macchiato, mocha), and even iced tea.
Get Coffee to Go in the Napa Valley
While you’re here visiting our delicatessen, treat yourself to a perfect cup of coffee, tea, or even a smoothie from our Cal Mart Coffee Bar.
Whether you’re craving coffee, tea, or smoothies, we have it all for you.
Tea
- Masala Chai Latte
- Hot Tea
Coffee
- Coffee of the Day
- Cafe’ au Lait
Blended Coffees
- With Mocha
- With Vanilla
- With Caramel
Iced Drinks
- Iced Coffee
- Iced Latte
- Iced Vanilla Latte
- Iced Caramel Macchiato
- Iced Mocha
- Iced Tea
Espresso
- Cappuccino
- Americano
- Espresso Single, Double, Triple
- Latte
- Vanilla Latte
- Caramel Macchiato
- Mocha
- White Chocolate Mocha
- Hot Cocoa
Delicious Delights Beyond the Coffee Bean: Refreshing Smoothies
The days are getting warmer here in the Napa Valley and what could be more satisfying than a cool smoothie made with our delicious ingredients? And with the wide variety of smoothies we offer you’ll want to keep coming back to try them all!
Choose from these tantalizing options:
- Strawberry Swirl: Apple Juice, Strawberries, Banana
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- Cal Mart Colada: Pineapple-Coconut Juice and Banana
- Tropical Twist: Pineapple-Coconut Juice, Strawberries, Banana
- Mango Tango: Pineapple-Coconut Juice, Mango, Banana
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- Over the Rainbow: Apple Juice, Mango, Strawberries, Banana
- Mango Masala: Milk, Oregon Chai, Mango
- Napa Blues: Apples Juice, Banana, Strawberries, Blueberries
Whether you need something special for a quick lunch or looking for a unique catering menu to complete an event, you can find all of your gourmet needs in just one visit to Cal Mart’s Coffee Bar.
Cal Mart: More Than Just Great Coffee Drinks
Cal Mart is your one-stop shop for a delightful Napa Valley experience. We’ve been a family-owned grocery store for over 50 years, offering a unique selection of:
- Gourmet cheeses
- Specialty foods
- Craft beers
- Local and international wines
- Beautiful flower arrangements and plants
- Gift baskets
- Healthy smoothies
Our knowledgeable staff is always happy to assist you so stop by Cal Mart, explore our offerings, and treat yourself to a cup of exceptional coffee, tea, or smoothie while you shop! You never know what unexpected treasures you might find.
Hot or Cold, a Selection from Cal Mart’s Coffee Bar Will Make Your Day
Cal Mart has long been a favorite stop for locals and visitors. Located conveniently located between the famed Silverado Trail and State Route 128 and, we are situated in the heart of downtown Calistoga.
Cal Mart has operated as an independent, family-owned grocery store for more than 50 years, providing a unique and enjoyable shopping experience for our customers. And we are proud to offer the quality items of Taylor Lane’s Coffee Menu in our coffee bar.
For over half a century, we have made it our mission to be the best at what we do and to embody the spirit of service in all that we do.
In addition to our great coffee bar, Cal Mart has a wide selection of cheeses in our gourmet cheese department, as well as unique and hard-to-find specialty foods items. There’s also a dazzling variety of craft beers and we are always adding to our impressive range of local and international fine wines.
Need a gift for yourself or someone special? We have beautiful flower arrangements and plants for any occasion, wonderful gift baskets, and much more
And when you stop in for that next cup of coffee, espresso, or smoothie take some time to talk with our knowledgeable staff. Or if you want more information now, contact us here and we’ll be happy to help!