Caffeinated

Thank you EG PR for sending us a screener link!

Many people enjoy at least one cup of coffee throughout the day.  I must admit that I’m not one of them.  I’ve tried coffee before, but in order for me to enjoy it, I had to drown out the taste with so much milk and sugar that I may as well just drink a glass of milk instead.  After watching Caffeinated, there’s a good chance I just drank some crappy coffee and perhaps a specialty coffee may change my opinion on this popular commodity.

Even though coffee isn’t a big part of my life, the production of it is truly fascinating and this two-hour documentary explains how it is planted, harvested, hand sorted, washed, de-pulped, dried, roasted and then processed or prepared by a barista.   While the movie does mention mass produced coffee, its main focus is on specialty coffee and the farmers that make it.

Farmers from Nicaragua, India, Mexico, Turkey, Ethiopia, Honduras, and Guatemala are all interviewed to share how they rely on this fruit for their livelihood.  I learned that coffee comes from two different plant types, Arabica and Robusta, and that they grow in 4-6,000 feet altitude in the tropical band of our planet.   The Robusta plant is heartier and produces coffee beans with more caffeine and sugar, but less of an aroma.

The fragrance of coffee is one of the factors taken into consideration at tasting events like the Cup of Excellence which was started in 1999 and has been going strong since.  Other traits considered for quality coffee include the taste and strength of the coffee, the flavors infused into it, the acidity, and how it tastes with and without sugar added to it.  

I was surprised to see some barista champions from 2008 and 2010 featured along with an interview of Danny Glover.  There’s no shortage in finding someone to talk about their favorite beverage.  Coffee is a part of many people’s lives and the farmers that make it need fair representation and adequate pay to provide quality goods for those who enjoy specialty coffee throughout the day.  I think any coffee lover should check out this film!

(Amazon Affiliate Link)