Spring Local Produce and Summer Coffee Flavors in Vermont

Good Morning Coffee Lovers,

The feel of spring and the flavors of summer have arrived at Brown and Jenkins and the Green Mountains of Vermont! Spring has opened the floodgates for floods and tornado watches as well the lush greenery and local produce.

While the flooding is a driving hazard, the local produce is to be celebrated. That is why we are hosting the Cambridge Farmers Market on the second Saturday of every month. Event details:

• Where: Brown and Jenkins Coffee Roasters, Route 15 and Route 104, Cambridge, VT
• When: Second Saturdays, from 10-2
• What: Fresh local produce, plant seedlings, maple syrup, eggs, crafts and more delicious prepared food
• Plus: Kids crafts and music
  

This is a great way to meet your neighbors and tap into the local harvest of the region.

As for the tastes of summer, we are always thinking a bit ahead here at the roastery. That's because Vermont temperatures can go from 40 degrees to 80+ in a heartbeat. That means it's time for summer flavored coffees like:

• Tropical Oasis coffee

• Coconut Rum Latte coffee

• Ginger Peach coffee

• Banana Maple coffee

These flavored coffees are delicious either hot or as iced coffees because our master coffee roaster Glenn takes such care to roast the beans to perfection.

So take a minute to stop and taste the coffee, the local produce, and everything else we have to offer in this unique corner of the world.

Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen

Vermont Coffee, Tourism and Vodka

Good Morning Coffee Lovers,

As spring brings the Green Mountains into full bloom we here at Brown and Jenkins are starting t0 see the influx of tourists who choose Vermont as their vacation destination for the spring and summer months. In fact, our Lake House Blend Coffee is named in honor of summers spent on the pristine local waters of Lake Champlain, Lake Carmi and so many more nearby vistas!

Local Vermont Vacation Destinations

If you don't know, our state is a haven for hikers, campers, kayak-ers and canoe-ers. History buffs seek out our covered bridges. And locals swarm to the swimming holes among the Lamoille River.


In fact, with gas prices so high, I'm noticing more and more locals opting for "stay-cations" where you take advantage of sites near home. And we have some truly unique destinations from the pedestrian Church Street out in Burlington to the breath taking hiking trails up along Smuggler's Notch right in Jeffersonville.

Smuggler's Notch

Also in Jeffersonville is the Smuggler's Notch Distillery. Unlike the prohibition era for which Smuggs was named, you can freely buy Smuggler's Notch vodka make with Vermont spring water. What a fun gift or souvenir! And if you find the process of roasting coffee beans interesting, I think you'll find the vodka making process intriguing too.

Not that I'm suggesting you add a splash of anything to your daily Celebes Kalossi coffee! In my opinion, it can hold up on its own! Still- Vermont has a lot to offer.

Let me know your favorite local spots and recommendations so that I can share them with our coffee community.

Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen

Vermont Coffee: Drink to Your Health

Good Morning coffee lovers!

Spring is fully here in Vermont. From the large picture window of the Brown and Jenkins roastery I can see the lush Green Mountains (that are vibrantly green thanks to all the rain), many birds, and flowers in bloom. I don't know about you, but the sight of sun and the feel of warm breezes always makes me want to take better care of myself.

Eat fresh, organic veggies.
Talk a walk along the Lamoille River.

Coffee Health Facts

Of course, if you know me at all, you know where I'm going with this. I've written some past blogs on the health benefits of coffee. Still, they come out with new stuff every day.

Since the beginning of 2011 studies have been published in regards to:

• Prevention of Type II diabetes in women (UCLA)
• Lowered risk of stroke in women (Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association)
• Reduced risk of breast cancer in post menopausal women (Swedish Karolinska Institute)
  

While I love these health benefits from drinking coffee, did you know that coffee has long been used topically in exfoliating scrubs, bath bars and serum to soothe dry skin and even more severe eczema? You can find a whole line of these products over at the Body Coffee website.

But please, don't ask to roll around in the coffee beans here. Our master roaster frowns on that. He says it might throw off the flavor of the Papua New Guinea coffee beans he's roasting right now. Can you smell it?

Of course, the taste of coffee tops all other benefits in my book.

Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen

Coffee for Vermont Green Up Day and Mother's Day

Good Morning Coffee Lovers,

Nothing says Vermont like Maple Syrup and a great respect for the earth. You'll find the Vermont maple syrup in this year's Mother's Day Breakfast Box gift basket. You can find the homegrown love of nature anywhere you look here in the Green Mountains; but it's evident in full force this Saturday, May 7th on Green Up Vermont Day.

Since 1970 Vermonters have set aside this one day to get together and improve the natural environment that makes this such a beautiful place to live. So, on the first Saturday of May, locals donate their time and energy to pick up any trash that is detracting from the area's native beauty.

What a weekend!

You can spend some time improving your corner of the world on Saturday, and then honor the woman who brought you into it on Sunday.

Earth Friendly Vermont Coffee Uses

Here are some coffee related tips to help you enjoy your Brown and Jenkins Special Blend coffee , and your planet, at the same time:

• Compost your coffee grinds and the paper filter
• Invest in a cloth filter that can be reused
• Use your coffee grounds in the garden
• Use the leftover coffee in recipes
  

The only limit is your imagination.

Vermont Coffee Community

Whether you are a Vermonter or a coffee club customer from far away- I want to hear your ideas! The coffee connection I always talk about thrives on the sense of community that I feel both here in Cambridge, Vermont, and with those of you who connect with me over the web. Thanks for being a part of our community!

Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen