WHAT IS CASCARA?

IT'S NOT A MYSTERY, BUT WE'LL DROP SOME KNOWLEDGE.

Cascara is the simply awesome and (to us) the better part of the coffee cherry – the fruit, not the bean! The bean is the seed of the coffee cherry. Surrounding the bean is the vibrant red fruit; this makes the Cascara.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

Just like the bean, which makes your regular old cup of joe, the coffee fruit contains caffeine. However, while a cup of coffee contains anywhere from 100 - 150mg of caffeine, Up to Good Energy Pops contain 70mg of caffeine per can, making for a much more pleasant, vitalizing experience with no burn out. What also sets Cascara apart from the coffee bean is that it is also higher in antioxidants and other nutrients, making it energizing and healthier.

WHAT HAVE FARMERS BEEN DOING WITH THE COFFEE FRUIT UNTIL NOW?

In traditional coffee farming the beans are harvested for roasting, but the surrounding coffee fruit is discarded once it is separated from the beans. So far only a few coffee farmers produce Cascara. That means billions of pounds are wasted globally every year! This not only contributes to food waste, but negatively impacts the environment by allowing mountains of coffee fruit to decay on landfills and potentially poison water sources.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO CHANGE THIS?

We partner with small coffee farmers in Central America, who practice sustainable agriculture, to source Cascara for our beverage. At the farm-level, Cascara requires the same attention to detail in processing as coffee beans. Coffee cherries that have been meticulously ✓ grown without herbicides or pesticides, ✓ picked by hands, and ✓ naturally dried and processed without excessive water usage will ultimately lead to a better beverage when properly brewed. We sun-dry the coffee fruits to perfection on raised beds and then brew our energizing concoctions. In short, we are rethinking the coffee fruit to bring you a new, friendlier energy boost.

WHAT DOES CASCARA TASTE LIKE?

Although it comes from the coffee plant, Cascara tastes nothing like coffee. Because it’s brewed from a dried fruit, it more closely resembles an herbal tea. Typically, there is a natural sweetness to the flavor profile that may be complimented by tangy or floral notes. For our beverage, we add other organic ingredients and bubbles to produce a potent and refreshing experience. Try it out and let us know what you think!