Coffee FAQ


Passport Coffee Shop Facts

General Information

What is Passport Coffee Shop? Passport Coffee Shop is a specialty coffee and tea our outlet in located inside our warehouse and roasting facility. We are dedicated to providing high-quality products for both home baristas and professionals. Our mission is to support your passion for coffee and tea by offering exceptional products, educational resources, and excellent customer service.

Coffee FAQs

What types of coffee beans do you offer?

Arabica- All our coffee is from the top 5% of the coffee grown. We offer a variety of coffee beans sourced from around the world, including single-origin, blends, and specialty roasts. Our selection includes light, medium, and dark roasts to cater to different taste preferences.

How should I store my coffee beans?

  • Airtight Storage: Keep coffee beans in an airtight container to delay the oils from getting stale.
  • Whole Beans: Store whole beans for up to 3 weeks outside the freezer and up to 3.5 months inside the freezer.
  • Ground Coffee: Store ground coffee in a tightly sealed container for up to 2-3 weeks outside the freezer and up to 2-2.5 months inside the freezer.

How long do our K-cups last? Our K-cups are sealed in a package and last up to 6 months.

What grind size should I use for my coffee maker?

  • French Press: Coarse grind
  • Drip Coffee Maker: Medium grind
  • AeroPress: Medium to fine grind
  • Espresso:  Espresso/Fine grind

What is single-origin coffee? Single-origin coffee comes from a specific region, providing a unique flavor profile that reflects the terroir of that location.

Why is fresh-roasted coffee better? Freshly roasted coffee highlights compounds responsible for flavor, aroma, and acidity, ensuring a vibrant and enjoyable cup. Enjoying fresh roasted coffee is a game changer. 

How does the processing method affect coffee flavor?

  • Natural Process: Also called the dry or unwashed process.
  • Washed Process: Coffee cherries are immersed in water to separate ripe cherries, which sink, from unripe cherries, which float. Ripe cherries are then washed with such force that the beans separate from the cherries.
  • Honey Process: A cross between the natural and washed methods. The cherries are soaked and de-pulped, but the sticky part of the cherry fruit remains on the beans, which are then sun-dried.

Are there any sustainable and eco-friendly practices in specialty coffee? Yes, we source sustainable, farm-direct, and ethically sourced coffee to ensure the long-term viability of coffee production and minimize the environmental impact. we offer many coffees that support these practices.

Are any of the coffees organic?  Currently we carry Ethical Sourcing, Sustainable and Farm Direct coffee. We carefully source our coffees to bring you only the best of the best! In keeping true to our mission, we want to support small farms and highlight their dedication to the environment and the people. We know many of these small farms can not afford the cost of organic certification. As the organic certification has become much more costly for them and us we want you to know we will be noting these distinctions.

What is cupping, and why is it essential in specialty coffee? Cupping is the professional practice of evaluating coffee for flavor, aroma, and quality, serving as a standardized method for tasting and scoring.

What does acidity mean in specialty coffee? Acidity contributes to the brightness and liveliness of coffee, showcasing the complexity of flavors. It does not refer to the level of acid (pH).

What are micro-lots of coffee? Micro-lots are small, distinct batches of coffee from specific plots, allowing for unique flavor exploration and highlighting exceptional beans.

How much caffeine is in coffee? A cup of brewed coffee can contain anywhere from 75 to 180 milligrams of caffeine, depending on factors such as the brewing method and serving size.

How many calories are in coffee? Coffee by itself has very few calories, with an 8-ounce cup of black coffee containing less than 2 calories.

Do you offer decaf coffee? Yes, we offer decaf coffee. Our decaf is processed using the water process.

Why are there no organic decafs? Our current process used for decaffeination does not offer an organic decaf.

Which espresso beans aren’t oily? Portofino espresso, Milano espresso, Siena espresso, Santa Rosa espresso, and Northern Italian espresso.

Can I use flavored coffee in my espresso machine? It is not recommended because the flavor oils can flavor the group head and gasket, causing a build-up that makes espresso taste bitter.

Do whole beans stay fresh longer than ground coffee? Yes, whole beans stay fresh longer than ground coffee. See our coffee storage guidelines for more information.

What’s the level of caffeine in decaf coffee? Decaf coffee still contains a small amount of caffeine, typically 1-3%.

What are the roast levels?

  • Vienna: Medium-dark roast
  • French: Dark roast
  • Italian: Very dark roast
  • Blonde Coffee: Light roast, formerly known as Cinnamon Roast.