Don't go expecting a cup of hot chocolate! Crio Brü is a brewed drink made from 100% cacao beans (also known as cocoa beans), roasted to perfection. Named after the most prized of the three cacao beans, the Criollo, Crio Brü's complex chocolaty flavors and subtle aromas will shock and delight the tastebuds! It is 100% natural and 100% pure. Crio Brü is not laden with milk and sugar like we've come to expect in a warm, chocolaty beverage, it's the pure extracted brew of the bean itself. Hence think of it more like a coffee snob and expect a more robust flavor, somewhat akin to coffee but with subtle hints of blackberry, coconut or strawberry.
Crio Brü is the ultimate superfood. It is low in calories and contains no sugar, no fat, no dairy, no sodium, no cholesterol and practically no caffeine, yet is extremely high in antioxidants, theobromine and a host of other vitamins and minerals. In fact, the cacao bean blows the blueberry and the cranberry away in anti-oxidant content and unlike caffeine, theobromine is non-addictive.
Crio Brü comes in 3 varieties - pre-ground 12 oz. bags:
Cavalla - natural hints of cocnut and cinnamon
Vega Real - natural hints of strawberries and green tea
Coca River - natural hints of green banana and blackberries
Preparation:
Crio Brü can be prepared any way that traditional coffee is prepared. This opens up endless possibilities as you enjoy this artisan roasted cocoa. You can drink Crio Brü “black” with nothing added or you can experiment by adding your favorite creamer, sweetener and spices. A dash of cinnamon, for example, is delicious in Cavalla. Crio Brü can be mixed with your favorite coffee grounds to make an incredible Crio Mocha. You can brew it in a standard auto-drip machine with a permanent filter or in a French Press. To brew a thicker and richer Crio Brü, think hotter and longer. Set your auto-drip to brew slowly or brew it longer in a French Press.
Below are some useful guidelines for brewing Crio, but keep experimenting until you discover your signature Brü.
French Press:
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Remove the piston and the top from the French Press.
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Add Crio Brü grounds. Add one to two level tablespoons of your favorite Crio Brü into the French Press per Crio cup* that you are going to brew. The more grounds you add, the more full-bodied your Brü will brew.
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Measure water. Measure water for each of Crio cup* you wish to brew.
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Heat water. Bring water to a boil (stove top or microwave) and then cool for thirty seconds. The temperature of the water should be 90.5-96.1 degrees C (195-205 degrees F).
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Add hot water. Pour heated water into the French Press over the Crio Brü grounds.
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Stir. Use a plastic or wood spoon to avoid damaging the glass of your French Press (if you use a metal spoon, be cautious).
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Place top and piston on the French Press. DO NOT depress yet.
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Let it Brü. Wait five to seven minutes then stir again to increase body and flavor.
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Depress the piston. Making sure the “spout” is facing forward, slowly depress the piston until it has reached the bottom of its stroke.
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Let it settle. Wait 30 seconds for grounds to settle before pouring.
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Serve and enjoy! Just as with coffee, adjust to personal taste with creamer and/or sweetener.
Standard Coffee Maker:
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Place filter into the coffee maker. In many coffee makers, a permanent "gold wire" filter*** is recommended. If using a paper filter, never fill more than halfway.
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Add Crio Brü blend. Add one to two level tablespoons** of your favorite Crio Brü blend into the filter per each Crio cup*.
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Add water. Measure amount of water needed and pour into the reservoir of the auto-drip machine.
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Brü. Wait for the brewing process to complete. If the coffee maker allows, a slower brew cycle will make a more full-bodied Brü.
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Serve and enjoy! Just as with coffee, adjust to personal taste with creamer and/or sweetener.
* A “Crio cup” measurement of water is 4.25 oz.
** If you are brewing four cups or fewer, you may wish to add an additional tablespoon of grounds.
*** A permanent "gold wire" filter ensures the coffee maker will not overflow.
