Good morning coffee lovers,
Coffee roasting companies like Brown and Jenkins here in the Green Mountains of Vermont source our green coffee beans from many places around the world. In the last coffee blog I promised you a world tour of where those coffee beans come from and just what that means to you. As your tour guide, I will take you to Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Kenya, Mexico, Peru and some other exotic destinations. Pack lightly- just a cup of your favorite Vermont roasted coffee is needed. And we are off!
Coffee beans are seasonal just like any other crop. Summer is the ideal time for Central American and African coffees. So let's start with Central America.
You'll find that Brown and Jenkins carries Central America coffee beans from Costa Rica and Guatemala on a regular basis. Central American coffee beans (and South American coffee beans too) tend to have a light body and sharp acidity. These coffees are often described as being bright and having a clean finish. If you need a refresher on coffee characteristics just click on the link to an older blog where I discuss this topic.
Of course, in any region there are differences.
In Costa Rica, any coffee beans grown above 3900 feet are referred to strictly hard beans. A good hard bean is grown at altitudes between 3300 and 3900. Costa Rican coffees tend to be sweet and to have a lively acidity.
Guatemalan coffee beans have high acidity and medium body. Strictly hard beans (the highest grade) in Guatemala are grown at altitudes of 4500 feet and higher. The strictly hard bean label is referred to as a coffee grade. Our Guatemalan Antigua coffee is the epitome of characteristics of Guatemalan coffee beans with its sweet, full-bodied and well-balanced taste.
Give one of these Central American coffees a try, and in the next blog we will go to Africa and explore Ethiopian coffee beans, Kenyan coffee beans and more!
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Gourmet Coffee Roaster takes a World Tour
Good morning coffee lovers,
A few weeks ago I mentioned that a crew on a Christiansen yacht was taking our Brown and Jenkins' coffee beans with them on their two month cruise of the Americas. Well, that got me thinking that perhaps we should take a cruise that goes to the places our fresh roasted gourmet coffee beans here at Brown and Jenkins actually come from to begin with. What do you know about that Tanzanian Peaberry coffee or the Guatamalan Antigua coffee that you just ordered or drank?
So in the next few blogs I'll select some of our most popular, and flavorful, single origin coffee beans and coffee blends. I'll tell you what coffee characteristics are representative of their origin and what makes that particular coffee one you might enjoy. Our Vermont coffee is actually imported from some exotic locales; and each one offers very different characteristics in terms of things like aroma, acidity and body.
So look for a close up of Costa Rican Tarrazu and synopsis of Sumatra Mandheling. I hope you'll find it almost as eye opening as the coffee itself.
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
A few weeks ago I mentioned that a crew on a Christiansen yacht was taking our Brown and Jenkins' coffee beans with them on their two month cruise of the Americas. Well, that got me thinking that perhaps we should take a cruise that goes to the places our fresh roasted gourmet coffee beans here at Brown and Jenkins actually come from to begin with. What do you know about that Tanzanian Peaberry coffee or the Guatamalan Antigua coffee that you just ordered or drank?
So in the next few blogs I'll select some of our most popular, and flavorful, single origin coffee beans and coffee blends. I'll tell you what coffee characteristics are representative of their origin and what makes that particular coffee one you might enjoy. Our Vermont coffee is actually imported from some exotic locales; and each one offers very different characteristics in terms of things like aroma, acidity and body.
So look for a close up of Costa Rican Tarrazu and synopsis of Sumatra Mandheling. I hope you'll find it almost as eye opening as the coffee itself.
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Decision to Stop Selling Yemen Coffee Beans
Good morning coffee lovers,
I've had some questions lately, both from locals and members in the Coffee Break Club, and the decision to stop carrying the Yemen Mocha Estate blend and the Yemen Mocha Mattari coffee. Both were popular with our customers here at Brown and Jenkins. So why did we stop carrying it?
Frankly, the human rights situation is Yemen is horrible and sad. The treatment of women, young girls and others has organizations like Amnesty International up in arms. I won't get too political, but you can easily do a Google search and get the details. It was really a question of who we want to support as a coffee roaster, and this just wasn't situation I wanted to support.
As far that the coffee goes, Yemen coffee lovers might like the Indonesian Estate Java. This is a rich and full-bodied coffee with a nutty flavor that is getting rave reviews from those who have tried it.
What do you think about our pulling the Yemen coffee beans from our selection? Is it the right thing to do? Does it unintentionally punish people there who might make a living from the coffee business? Or you wish I'd stick to just talking about the coffee beans and leave the politics to the nightly news?
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
I've had some questions lately, both from locals and members in the Coffee Break Club, and the decision to stop carrying the Yemen Mocha Estate blend and the Yemen Mocha Mattari coffee. Both were popular with our customers here at Brown and Jenkins. So why did we stop carrying it?
Frankly, the human rights situation is Yemen is horrible and sad. The treatment of women, young girls and others has organizations like Amnesty International up in arms. I won't get too political, but you can easily do a Google search and get the details. It was really a question of who we want to support as a coffee roaster, and this just wasn't situation I wanted to support.
As far that the coffee goes, Yemen coffee lovers might like the Indonesian Estate Java. This is a rich and full-bodied coffee with a nutty flavor that is getting rave reviews from those who have tried it.
What do you think about our pulling the Yemen coffee beans from our selection? Is it the right thing to do? Does it unintentionally punish people there who might make a living from the coffee business? Or you wish I'd stick to just talking about the coffee beans and leave the politics to the nightly news?
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
Friday, June 18, 2010
Father's Day and Vermont Coffee Gift Ideas
Good Morning Coffee Lovers,
Got a Dad in your life who loves his coffee? While you are considering just the right coffee gift for Father's Day here are some cool coffee facts to wow your Dad:
Got a Dad in your life who loves his coffee? While you are considering just the right coffee gift for Father's Day here are some cool coffee facts to wow your Dad:
- It takes about 4,000 coffee beans to get one pound of roasted coffee. (This should really make him appreciate the gift of a pound of freshly roasted Vermont coffee beans: I'm not just giving you a pound of coffee beans Dad, I'm giving you 4,000 coffee beans!)
- Summer is the best season for Central American and African Coffees. Send him a Guatemala coffee like Guatemalan Antigua for Father's Day when these beans are at their peak. Save the Indonesian coffees for a winter holiday gift.
- Guatemalan coffees, and other coffee beans from the Americas are best know for clean, bright and mild flavors.
Now that Dad knows a little trivia about his cup of Joe, he'll be in the perfect situation to appreciate your gift and, hopefully, share a cup with you.
You've got 5 days to find the perfect gift for the big guy! Whether you sign him up for the Coffee Break Club or just spend some time with him over a cup, let him know that you appreciate him.
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Green Coffee Beans and Your Health
Good Morning Coffee Lovers,
Have you noticed that green is the catch phrase for everything healthy these days; for the earth and for our bodies? Green tea has long had the reputation as the healthy drink of choice and making passionate coffee drinkers like myself feel a bit guilty that tea just doesn't do it for me. Well here is some interesting news on the health benefits of green coffee beans.
According to HealthGuidance.org there is a green coffee bean extract that trumps both green tea and grape seed extract for antioxidant benefits. This is because it taps into the cholorgenic acid that gives coffee most of its health benefits like neutralizing free radicals and regulating metabolism. Without getting too scientific and discussing things like cafestrol and diterpenes, I can tell you that the report says that drinking this concoction is shown to increase the effects of painkillers and migraine medications, to lower the risk of diabetes and increase the body's fat burning ability. (The last is why you might have seen reports on drinking green coffee to lose weight.)
Sure we sell green coffee beans, but I have to admit I just love the smell and taste of freshly roasted gourmet coffee here at our Vermont roastery. So if you are looking for Father's Day coffee gift baskets, I'd really recommend that you give Dad something like a tried and true Columbian Supremo unless he really wants to try green coffee.
The roasting process is what makes coffee beans taste like the coffee we love. I don't know what this green coffee extract drink tastes like, but I hear it's more like a tea than a coffee. Frankly, that's just not my cup of- well, you know what I mean!
The use of green coffee beans at this point is interesting. What's your take? Ever tried it? Would you?
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
Have you noticed that green is the catch phrase for everything healthy these days; for the earth and for our bodies? Green tea has long had the reputation as the healthy drink of choice and making passionate coffee drinkers like myself feel a bit guilty that tea just doesn't do it for me. Well here is some interesting news on the health benefits of green coffee beans.
According to HealthGuidance.org there is a green coffee bean extract that trumps both green tea and grape seed extract for antioxidant benefits. This is because it taps into the cholorgenic acid that gives coffee most of its health benefits like neutralizing free radicals and regulating metabolism. Without getting too scientific and discussing things like cafestrol and diterpenes, I can tell you that the report says that drinking this concoction is shown to increase the effects of painkillers and migraine medications, to lower the risk of diabetes and increase the body's fat burning ability. (The last is why you might have seen reports on drinking green coffee to lose weight.)
Sure we sell green coffee beans, but I have to admit I just love the smell and taste of freshly roasted gourmet coffee here at our Vermont roastery. So if you are looking for Father's Day coffee gift baskets, I'd really recommend that you give Dad something like a tried and true Columbian Supremo unless he really wants to try green coffee.
The roasting process is what makes coffee beans taste like the coffee we love. I don't know what this green coffee extract drink tastes like, but I hear it's more like a tea than a coffee. Frankly, that's just not my cup of- well, you know what I mean!
The use of green coffee beans at this point is interesting. What's your take? Ever tried it? Would you?
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
Friday, June 11, 2010
Gourmet Coffee or Grounds for Suspicion?
Good Morning Coffee Lovers!
June is the month for Dad's and grads. So what do you think about gifting an exotic gourmet coffee that sells for $180 a pound? Yikes! What a tempting aroma and taste must be in this cup o' Joe, right? But wait. Before you get too excited, let me tell you exactly what you get from this highly prized Luwak coffee.
The Luwak is a member of the weasel family that lives on the island Java and eats coffee berries. As the berries pass through the Luwak's body, after being eaten, a natural fermentation takes place and the berry seeds (coffee beans) come out of the Luwak intact. The specially treated coffee beans are then gathered, washed, roasted and sold to coffee connoisseurs. Yum! No, really.
Rest assured that Brown and Jenkins will NOT be jumping on the bandwagon and selling processed weasel doo-doo at $180 per pound. However, if Dad or a grad would enjoy a more reasonably priced Ethiopian Yrgacheffe then just visit our website.
Isn't the world of coffee a fun place to explore?
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
June is the month for Dad's and grads. So what do you think about gifting an exotic gourmet coffee that sells for $180 a pound? Yikes! What a tempting aroma and taste must be in this cup o' Joe, right? But wait. Before you get too excited, let me tell you exactly what you get from this highly prized Luwak coffee.
The Luwak is a member of the weasel family that lives on the island Java and eats coffee berries. As the berries pass through the Luwak's body, after being eaten, a natural fermentation takes place and the berry seeds (coffee beans) come out of the Luwak intact. The specially treated coffee beans are then gathered, washed, roasted and sold to coffee connoisseurs. Yum! No, really.
Rest assured that Brown and Jenkins will NOT be jumping on the bandwagon and selling processed weasel doo-doo at $180 per pound. However, if Dad or a grad would enjoy a more reasonably priced Ethiopian Yrgacheffe then just visit our website.
Isn't the world of coffee a fun place to explore?
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
Friday, June 4, 2010
Vermont Coffee Beans Around the World
Good Morning Coffee Lovers,
Imagine traveling around both American continents on a yacht! That's what our Brown and Jenkin's coffee beans are doing right now. On April 30th I packed and shipped an order of freshly roasted gourmet coffee beans to Christiansen Shipyards in Vancouver, Canada. Their special request for this online coffee order was that I send enough coffee beans to accompany them on their journey down west coast of North America, around the southern tip of South America and back up the eastern coast.
The brand new 160 foot Christiansen Yacht is expected to take two months to complete the cruise. Then they will cruise the coast of New England and will order more once they are stateside. So now, in addition to the world map and United States maps we keep full of pins representing visitors on our walls here at the coffee roastery, I may need to add a map for the travels our coffee beans take! I can't blame them. I wouldn't travel the globe without my coffee either.
Local Alert: Look out for Feel Good Fridays here at Brown and Jenkins. You'll find sales on your favorite coffees like Mocha Java which is the pick of the day. Look for other freebies and discounts. You can also get this information on our Twitter and Facebook links.
A March study on coffee sales, done by the National Coffee Association, reports that coffee sales here in the US remained stable over the past two years. I guess that's not so surprising for those of us who love their coffee!
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
Imagine traveling around both American continents on a yacht! That's what our Brown and Jenkin's coffee beans are doing right now. On April 30th I packed and shipped an order of freshly roasted gourmet coffee beans to Christiansen Shipyards in Vancouver, Canada. Their special request for this online coffee order was that I send enough coffee beans to accompany them on their journey down west coast of North America, around the southern tip of South America and back up the eastern coast.
The brand new 160 foot Christiansen Yacht is expected to take two months to complete the cruise. Then they will cruise the coast of New England and will order more once they are stateside. So now, in addition to the world map and United States maps we keep full of pins representing visitors on our walls here at the coffee roastery, I may need to add a map for the travels our coffee beans take! I can't blame them. I wouldn't travel the globe without my coffee either.
Local Alert: Look out for Feel Good Fridays here at Brown and Jenkins. You'll find sales on your favorite coffees like Mocha Java which is the pick of the day. Look for other freebies and discounts. You can also get this information on our Twitter and Facebook links.
A March study on coffee sales, done by the National Coffee Association, reports that coffee sales here in the US remained stable over the past two years. I guess that's not so surprising for those of us who love their coffee!
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
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