OUR STORY
From humble beginnings as a coffee seed to dominating the landscape and lives of many a place and people, coffee in our opinion is one of the finest ingredients the world has to offer.
How a New Hampshire Chemist Changed the World
The Vera Roasting story began in 2015 during a routine annual physical. Professor of organic chemistry at the University of New Hampshire, Glen Miller, Ph.D., learned that, like millions of Americans, his cholesterol levels had elevated.
Dr. Miller began thinking of ways to diminish his risk for heart disease. As a scientist, he was aware of the "French Paradox".
The "French Paradox" refers to the paradoxical empirical finding that, despite eating a diet relatively high in saturated fats, much as their neighbors, the French people had a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease.
This finding appears to run counter to the widely held belief that a high intake of these fats was a risk factor for coronary heart disease.
The idea that daily consumption of red wine directly affects French longevity and their lower prevalence of heart disease is supported by scientific evidence.
To hear Glen Miller Ph.D. discuss the Origins of Vera Roasting CLICK HERE
How resveratrol made it's way into Vera Coffee
Resveratrol is a polyphenol antioxidant that is naturally present in red wine. Resveratrol was first identified in the 1940s, but it gained popularity in the 1990s when research revealed that red wine delivers heart-health benefits.
"What specifically about red wine explains the paradox?" Dr. Miller questioned. "The preponderance of the evidence from scientific papers, peer-reviewed and published in leading journals, pointed to resveratrol."
"A highly beneficial antioxidant, resveratrol is not only capable of reducing the risk for coronary heart disease but other diseases, including cancers and aging-related cognitive decline. What could I do to make resveratrol a regular part of my diet?" stated Dr. Miller in a recent interview.
Dr. Miller's focus was to find another way, other than red wine, to consume resveratrol on a daily basis.
Dr. Miller was not a regular red wine drinker and was looking for alternative ways to make resveratrol a regular part of his diet. What about resveratrol supplements, or pills?
What could I do to make resveratrol a regular part of my diet?"
The problem is that “resveratrol is not very soluble in water,” Dr. Miller continues
The Lightbulb Moment
They're available. “But as I looked at them, I realized the resveratrol in red wine, which has these heart health benefits, is soluble and bioavailable. But the resveratrol in tablets is in a solid form.” The problem is that “resveratrol is not very soluble in water,” Dr. Miller continues.
On average, human bodies are about 60% water. “And so when we consume a pill of solid resveratrol, most of it just passes through. It's very wasteful. The benefits of solid resveratrol are unclear. I wanted to figure out a way to introduce resveratrol into my diet, and I wanted it to be a soluble and bioavailable form like it is in red wine.”
Ideas kept coming but nothing really stuck.
He considered other foods but none of them delivered as much resveratrol as red wine. “Blueberries have a tiny amount of resveratrol. Peanuts, likewise, have a tiny amount of resveratrol. There really isn't any other food that has a significant quantity of resveratrol.”
83% of US adults drink coffee every day
“I was literally in the shower one day thinking, how can I make resveratrol a part of my daily diet?” It was as if a light bulb went on in his head, and he realized that he had the answer, coffee!
“I'm a coffee lover and have been a coffee lover for a long time, and I realize that coffee has some attributes that could be very, very beneficial. Coffee could be the perfect vehicle for resveratrol.” Dr. Miller stated. “If resveratrol is naturally found in red wine, is it possible to put it in coffee?”
He then set to work. According to USA Today, as many as 83% of US adults drink coffee every day. This meant that Dr. Miller’s work could lead to an easy way for many US adults to introduce resveratrol into their diets as well.
“If resveratrol is naturally found in red wine, is it possible to put it in coffee?”
Inside the word resveratrol, just like a hug, you will find the word, Vera.
Thus, the name Vera was born. Inside the word resveratrol, just like a hug, you will find the word, Vera.
“I'm a coffee lover and I wanted to create a premium coffee that I would drink every day.” Vera Roasting uses 100% Arabica organic coffee beans purchased from small farms (in Central America) in a very ethical way. The farmers enjoy the profits of their labors.
Does the resveratrol change the flavor of the coffee? “No. It doesn't change the flavor, but it does impact the mouthfeel of the coffee. So if you think about red wine, you take a glass of red wine and swirl that around your tongue. It’s very smooth. Vera’s coffee is just a little more smooth than you're used to. And it's better for you.”
Does the resveratrol change the flavor of the coffee? “No. It doesn't change the flavor, but it does impact the mouthfeel of the coffee.
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Posted by: Kate Putnam
Vera Roasting Co
