The Latest Trend For Coffee At The Office

by Josh Freeman I love coffee

Coffee lovers have always struggled to find a practical and affordable way to get a good cup of coffee at work. There are plenty of coffee shops but if you drink several cups a day it is an expensive way to get your shot of liquid caffeine. There’s no time in a busy work schedule to grind and tamp and extract the perfect shot of espresso and most workplaces don’t have the right equipment. Regular coffee drinkers have resigned themselves to having to drink either filter or instant coffee at work. In recent years a different option has been gaining in popularity – the coffee bag!

The History of Coffee Bags

Believe it or not, the French were using coffee bags as far back as 1710. They filled a linen bag with ground coffee and left it in hot water until it achieved a string enough flavour. In contrast, tea bags weren’t invented until 1904. Tea bags were instantly popular but for some reason the concept of a coffee bag just didn’t take off. Lyons were the first major company to market coffee bags at the start of the 21st century but they didn’t become popular until the last few years.

Advantages of Coffee Bags

Many think that coffee bags contain instant coffee but this is a misconception. Coffee bags are filled with ground coffee that percolates in your mug. This means you can get all the flavour and nuances of a good cup of coffee in less than five minutes.

If you have ever made the mistake of trying to dissolve ground coffee in hot water you will know that it doesn’t work and you have a gritty drink with unappealing sludge in the bottom of your cup. With a coffee bag all the mess is contained in the bag and when you have finished making your drink the bag can be neatly disposed of.

As coffee bags gain in popularity, the choice becomes greater. This means that a range of different companies are now offering coffee bags. Single batch roasters and speciality brewers have coffee bags available so you can get exactly the kind of coffee you like to drink.

If you have concerns about the environment you will be pleased to know that more and more coffee bags are being made from materials that are recyclable or fully compostable. You have probably heard that coffee grounds are good for your garden so even if the coffee bag is not compostable they are easily opened and emptied out.

The is a wide range of coffee bags now available. You can get every kind of roast strength, including decaffeinated. Coffee bags contain coffee from all parts of the globe so whatever your preference you will be able to find a coffee bag to your taste. The amount of coffee in a bag varies between 7 and 12 grams, with more coffee giving a stronger taste.

How To Use a Coffee Bag

Like all coffee, you do not want to pour boiling water on your coffee bag as it can produce a bitter taste. Use water that is just off the boil. Put the coffee bag in your cup, pour the hot water over and give the coffee bag a squish with a spoon to make sure all the air is out of the bag. Leave it steeping for a few minutes, then give it a few more squeezes with a spoon. Depending on how strong you like your coffee, you can either take the coffee bag out or leave it another few minutes for a stronger flavour. You can now add milk, cream or sugar according to your taste. It’s that simple!

It’s easy to see why coffee bags are so popular now. They are the quickest and easiest way to get a quick convenient cup of ground coffee. If you haven’t tried them already, give them a go as soon as you can.