Good Morning Coffee Lovers,
On many mornings in the past, you would find me savoring a cup of freshly brewed Ethiopian Sidamo coffee. It's one of my favorites and also one of our most popular regional coffees. These days, however, I save those precious bags for Brown and Jenkins online and local coffee customers.
Coffee Trouble Brewing Overseas
Over the past several months a combination of bad weather, increased demand for premium coffee, and commodity speculation have wrecked havoc with coffee prices in places like Columbia and Ethiopia. As for our beloved Ethiopian Sidamo, I've been lucky to purchase a single bag at a time from my supplier.
Ethiopia is Africa's 4th largest coffee producer, but it's not the only one to experience hard coffee growing conditions. Sadly, other regions on that continent have been hit hard too. The Tanzania Coffee board reports that drought conditions there are likely to reduce the country's coffee production by about 20% from now until July of 2012.
Vermont Coffee Prices
What does that mean for Brown and Jenkins coffee prices, and your access to other regional favorites like Indonesian coffee , Guatemalan coffee, or Brazilian coffee?
Nothing yet in terms of prices. Obviously, it might make getting your favorite coffee a bit more difficult for a while depending on what those regions experience. Don't worry. If that happens I'll source out some delicious coffee bean alternatives.
Remember, you can still stop in and get a cup of coffee for a dollar; and you can still buy fresh roasted beans at our Cambridge roastery on Route 15, or online.
I will keep a watchful eye on the world coffee prices for little while. Just keep checking in and I'll let you know what's brewing.
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
Friday, July 29, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Flavor of Vermont Summer Coffees
Good Morning Coffee Lovers,
How are you spending the summer? Hopefully, you are taking some breaks from work and your daily routine to spend time in the garden, near the water, outdoors, or just with the people you love. Here at Brown and Jenkins we are enjoying the summer coffee flavors, and the feelings they invoke.
Ice Cream Man! Ice Cream Man!
Do you recall hearing the familiar pied piper tune and running as fast as you could after the ice cream truck as a child? Or maybe a lot more recently? If you do then you need to taste this summer's Tropical Oasis coffee.
Somehow, our master roaster has managed to infuse fresh roasted coffee beans with the flavors of vanilla, orange, and coconut! This is a full-bodied coffee that will take you back to memories of Creamsicles, and summers gone by.
Meet You at the Lake House
This month's featured Lake House blend is inspired by lazy days at that cottage by the lake. Kids and dogs dock diving, cocktails at sunset, and this mellow medley of Columbian and Tanzanian coffee beans to welcome the sunrise.
OK- you may not have a cottage on Lake Champlain or Lake Elmore. And you may prefer to sleep until the birds wake you on your vacation. In either case, this is the perfect summer coffee to prepare yourself for an early kayak ride, or a relaxing sit on the porch.
Vermont Farmers and Exotic Coffee
Here in the Green Mountains our farmers work hard during these summer months to grow and harvest the fresh, local and organic sustenance our region is famous for. They are the inspiration for this summer's Farm House blend coffee. We have taken two of our customer favorites, the Sumatra and the Estate Java coffees, and combined them to create a great summer pick-me-up whether you are fresh from the field, or just enjoying a break in your day.
However you enjoy your summer, I hope you'll stop by to chat with myself and all the locals that define Brown and Jenkins, and Vermont.
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
How are you spending the summer? Hopefully, you are taking some breaks from work and your daily routine to spend time in the garden, near the water, outdoors, or just with the people you love. Here at Brown and Jenkins we are enjoying the summer coffee flavors, and the feelings they invoke.
Ice Cream Man! Ice Cream Man!
Do you recall hearing the familiar pied piper tune and running as fast as you could after the ice cream truck as a child? Or maybe a lot more recently? If you do then you need to taste this summer's Tropical Oasis coffee.
Somehow, our master roaster has managed to infuse fresh roasted coffee beans with the flavors of vanilla, orange, and coconut! This is a full-bodied coffee that will take you back to memories of Creamsicles, and summers gone by.
Meet You at the Lake House
This month's featured Lake House blend is inspired by lazy days at that cottage by the lake. Kids and dogs dock diving, cocktails at sunset, and this mellow medley of Columbian and Tanzanian coffee beans to welcome the sunrise.
OK- you may not have a cottage on Lake Champlain or Lake Elmore. And you may prefer to sleep until the birds wake you on your vacation. In either case, this is the perfect summer coffee to prepare yourself for an early kayak ride, or a relaxing sit on the porch.
Vermont Farmers and Exotic Coffee
Here in the Green Mountains our farmers work hard during these summer months to grow and harvest the fresh, local and organic sustenance our region is famous for. They are the inspiration for this summer's Farm House blend coffee. We have taken two of our customer favorites, the Sumatra and the Estate Java coffees, and combined them to create a great summer pick-me-up whether you are fresh from the field, or just enjoying a break in your day.
However you enjoy your summer, I hope you'll stop by to chat with myself and all the locals that define Brown and Jenkins, and Vermont.
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
Friday, July 15, 2011
Who's Drinking Brown and Jenkins Coffee?
Good Morning Coffee Lovers,
Like a "who's who" of the local landscape I share cups of Ethiopian Sidamo or our summer Lake House coffee with friends, neighbors, locals, and tourists on a regular basis. If you've been into our Vermont based Brown and Jenkins coffee roastery you've probably seen my colorful wall map. It's completely laden with pins representing all the spots in the country, and world, that our clients come from.
Yet, it never ceases to amazes me; I never truly know just who is drinking our coffee.
We all come into contact with so many amazing people on a daily basis. But if we don't take the time to chat over a cup of coffee we miss out on a chance to get to know some of these fascinating folks.
Case in point.
The other day a woman came by who was staying at Suzanne's B&B just down the road here in Cambridge, VT. She was in to buy some coffee and, as I often do, we started to chat.
It turned out that she is Maria Rodale of the Rodale, Inc. publishing family. Yes, you know them. They publish Men's Health Magazine, the Biggest Loser books, Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, and a lot more. Maria herself tackles online venues like the bilingual Magazine Le Chef and the organic foodie's favorite, Maria's Farm Country Kitchen.
Turns out she has been a Brown and Jenkins coffee customer for over 10 years!
It was so fun to chat a bit and find out just who's been drinking our coffee. And I never would have known if not for my passion for building a coffee community cup by cup. I highly recommend it!
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
Like a "who's who" of the local landscape I share cups of Ethiopian Sidamo or our summer Lake House coffee with friends, neighbors, locals, and tourists on a regular basis. If you've been into our Vermont based Brown and Jenkins coffee roastery you've probably seen my colorful wall map. It's completely laden with pins representing all the spots in the country, and world, that our clients come from.
Yet, it never ceases to amazes me; I never truly know just who is drinking our coffee.
We all come into contact with so many amazing people on a daily basis. But if we don't take the time to chat over a cup of coffee we miss out on a chance to get to know some of these fascinating folks.
Case in point.
The other day a woman came by who was staying at Suzanne's B&B just down the road here in Cambridge, VT. She was in to buy some coffee and, as I often do, we started to chat.
It turned out that she is Maria Rodale of the Rodale, Inc. publishing family. Yes, you know them. They publish Men's Health Magazine, the Biggest Loser books, Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, and a lot more. Maria herself tackles online venues like the bilingual Magazine Le Chef and the organic foodie's favorite, Maria's Farm Country Kitchen.
Turns out she has been a Brown and Jenkins coffee customer for over 10 years!
It was so fun to chat a bit and find out just who's been drinking our coffee. And I never would have known if not for my passion for building a coffee community cup by cup. I highly recommend it!
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
Friday, July 8, 2011
Taste of Summer in the Green Mountains
Good morning coffee lovers,
As we prepare for tomorrow's 2nd Saturday Farmer's Market here at Brown and Jenkins coffee roasters, our neighboring farmer walks in for his daily cup of Lake House Blend coffee. As you know, being a part of this local Cambridge, Vermont community is as important to me as roasting and brewing a perfect cup of coffee! I love that I do a small part to offer a bit of peace and pleasure in a cup to our hardworking, local community. This should give you an idea of what summer actually tastes like here in the Green Mountains.
2nd Saturday Farmers Market
If you are local, or just in the area, be sure to come by tomorrow and see what our Green Mountain entrepreneurs have to offer. Natural beef from Boyden Farm (our neighbor), artistically crafted jewelry, maple candy, locally grown and made jellies, tie dye creations, and more will be available. I also hope we'll see some organic veggies once our farmers recover from the soggy fields our recent rains have created. If not, a quick trek to Valley Dream Farm will net you some great deals on fresh, local produce.
Cambridge Artists and Entrepreneurs
If you went to the 4th of July parade last week you probably saw some of these folks drive by on their tractors. Or maybe you stopped by our booth for the launch of the new Cambridge Artists and Entrepreneurs (CAE) group. We just launched a website that will offer great info on all that is available here in Jeffersonville, Cambridge and the Smuggler's Notch, Vermont areas.
New to Brown and Jenkins?
By the way, new customers should visit our website for a coupon code to save 10% on your first time purchase. Whether you are nearby, or far away, a loyal customer or new, I hope you are enjoying the sights, smells and tastes of summer.
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
As we prepare for tomorrow's 2nd Saturday Farmer's Market here at Brown and Jenkins coffee roasters, our neighboring farmer walks in for his daily cup of Lake House Blend coffee. As you know, being a part of this local Cambridge, Vermont community is as important to me as roasting and brewing a perfect cup of coffee! I love that I do a small part to offer a bit of peace and pleasure in a cup to our hardworking, local community. This should give you an idea of what summer actually tastes like here in the Green Mountains.
2nd Saturday Farmers Market
If you are local, or just in the area, be sure to come by tomorrow and see what our Green Mountain entrepreneurs have to offer. Natural beef from Boyden Farm (our neighbor), artistically crafted jewelry, maple candy, locally grown and made jellies, tie dye creations, and more will be available. I also hope we'll see some organic veggies once our farmers recover from the soggy fields our recent rains have created. If not, a quick trek to Valley Dream Farm will net you some great deals on fresh, local produce.
Cambridge Artists and Entrepreneurs
If you went to the 4th of July parade last week you probably saw some of these folks drive by on their tractors. Or maybe you stopped by our booth for the launch of the new Cambridge Artists and Entrepreneurs (CAE) group. We just launched a website that will offer great info on all that is available here in Jeffersonville, Cambridge and the Smuggler's Notch, Vermont areas.
New to Brown and Jenkins?
By the way, new customers should visit our website for a coupon code to save 10% on your first time purchase. Whether you are nearby, or far away, a loyal customer or new, I hope you are enjoying the sights, smells and tastes of summer.
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
Friday, July 1, 2011
Red, White, Blue and Brown and Jenkins
Good Morning Coffee Lovers,
I'm cheering this Independence Day weekend with the summer flavors of our Tropical Oasis gourmet coffee blend. Here at Brown and Jenkins we'll be getting into the local holiday spirit by hosting a booth at the 4th of July Parade right in Jeffersonville.
Come see me for free iced coffee, and hot coffee, at the Cambridge Artist and Entrepreneurs' booth. I'll be there to help sign up local business owners and tell folks about this great addition to our local business scene. Look for the new web portal that will launch in the next month. It will feature things to do here in the Cambridge, Jeffersonville, and Smuggler's Notch, Vermont areas.
Plus, it will be a great way to encourage more businesses in our area. And that is something to salute on the 4th of July, or any day of the year! The small businesses, and those who run them, make our community thrive and are truly the spirit of independence.
Coffee for the 4th of July
Aside from drinking a cool iced coffee on a hot summer day, you can use ground coffee to create some delicious foods for your holiday cookout. Try adding coffee powder as a dry rub to your steaks, ribs, chops or burgers. I use it to make some special baked beans that my family loves.
If you are local, be sure to stop by the parade in Jeff. If you are an online customer, send me your favorite coffee inspired recipes for the 4th so I can share them here or on my Cookin' with Coffee blog . Can't wait to be in touch!
Until our next cup,Sandy Riggen
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