Coffee Connection: Share a cup of coffee with friends

Join me for a cup of coffee? When was the last time you dropped into your neighborhood coffee shop to meet a friend? Or better yet, made a new one? OK- maybe not better, but still a good thing!

Remember how the local diner/coffeeshop used to be such a staple in small town American? Or if you're too young to remember, maybe you've seen a Norman Rockwell painting. If not, take it from me, it used to be more of an every day occurrence for local residents and friends to gather in a nearby establishment like diners and coffee shops.

I'm happy to say that we've got a little bit of that going on here in our Green Mountain roastery on Route 15. In rural areas like this, it's nice to have a place to touch base with others in the community. I'm seeing folks start to do that right here. Someone stops in for a cup of coffee, decides to enjoy the view, and before you know it they're chatting over local politics with a neighbor.

For me, that's always been one of the allures of good coffee: the connection. Yes, I also love the scent of a gourmet roast and the warm feel of the mug in my hands; but to follow that up with warm conversation is, truly, the cream in my coffee.

Now that it's autumn in Vermont and the fall foliage is picking up, we're also getting a lot of leaf peepers driving through on their way to admire the scenery. In fact, they come from all over the country. So if you're on your way up Route 15, swing by and stick a pin on the wall map to tell us where you’re from.

Coffee Bean Tutorial: Costa Rican Coffee Beans

In general, coffee beans from Central America are categorized as being mild in regards to acidity, and they sometimes convey tobacco flavors. Costa Rican coffee beans are grown at high altitudes that lead to better beans. There is an "executive order" in Costa Rica that bans production of anything but Arabica coffee beans, as the country works to keep its reputation as a quality producer.

Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen