Product Review: Cambio Roasters

Cambio Roasters coffee (Photos: NPBL)

Recyclable Cambio pod

By PAMELA BARKER
North Palm Beach Life

How did it all begin, this morning ritual of waking up and brewing a hot cup of java?

Will that first cup, and others coming after, really shock us into a state of awakeness, or is it simply something we rely on to ease us into another day? Does sipping our favorite brew really energize us? More on that in a minute, because you may find it surprising how it all began.

If you are a coffee sipper at all, you are probably well aware of the on-going controversy of the K-Cup pods. The pods are  available in a plethora of flavors and strengths, from all over the world.

The issue with pods?

They are plastic and are not recyclable. The world does not need more -- even tiny pods -- in our landfills.
Before I get to  a new, innovative, style pod by Cambio Roasters, let me say you do not have to use plastic, disposable pods to use a pod-style coffeemaker.

Available at a reasonable price, reusable pods have been available for years. All you have to do is fill the pod with any ground coffee, pop them into the maker, and press start. The coffee is discarded and the pod washed and ready for another cup. They seem to never wear out.

But, let me tell about a new pod on the market by the makers of Cambio Roasters. The important thing you need to know is, these pods are made from aluminum and are recyclable. 

Recently, I received two boxes to sample, and as I care about the planet, I was intrigued. 
The creators of Cambio Roasters, Kevin and Ann, left corporate life to start something rewarding, and they did.  At the top of their website, it states their dream very clearly with these words:

“Behind every hard--working startup brand are unusually big-hearted people passionate about their products, taking a chance on a dream. That’s us.”

Learn more about their fascinating story here. www.cambioroasters.com
Now, as for the coffee, I received light roast and dark roast special dark. Wanting to give the sample my very best effort, I drafted friends David and Steve to join in the brew-fest.

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As for me, the light roast was tasty, but as a bold coffee drinker, I preferred the darker roast -- very pleasant to the palette and not overwhelming. The lighter roast was clear and smooth, but a bit too light for my taste.

Chiming in, my fellow-sippers had this opinion:

“The light roast had a tea-like quality that was too light for our taste." -- Steve

“The special dark had a full and complex flavor profile -- bold without being bitter.” -David

The three of us agreed we are all-in on the philosophy of Kevin, Ann and their team of dream-makers. Recyclable pods are going to be with us for a long-time to come.

Before I leave this review, have you ever wondered how all this coffee drinking to get you jumped up in the mornings got started? We can all thank an Ethiopian goat herder, Kaldi, who first discovered the potential of coffee beans.

As the story goes, the goats ate the berries, got energized and did not sleep.
In the end, we can thank the monks, because Kaldi reported his suspicions to the local monastery who made a drink with the berries and stayed awake for the hours and hours of praying. Soon enough, all the monks were indulging in a hot cup of coffee.

So, whether you are in a monastery centuries ago, or like the creators of Cambio Roasters, dreams come true if you have passion.

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