El Salvador Santa Rita Peaberry
Can you believe that we are five days into September? The days are getting shorter, and the nights are getting cooler. It’s starting to feel like autumn is peeking around the corner, at least in the mornings. This was a short week with Labor Day on Monday. We were open, but since the kids were out of school, I only stayed long enough to take care of payroll.
Then the three of us drove down to Roseville so that my kids could try roller skating for the first time. It seems to be a skill that you keep forever, and I had no problem picking it back up, and circling the rink in a steady manner. It was difficult for the kids, though, and this was one of those rare instances where they were more worn out than I was. Despite their many falls, they both had a great time.
In both pictures, the peaberry bean is on the right.
As I sipped coffee on our ride down the hill, I thought about how much I love coffee. We have customers on occasion who have never seen the roasting process, and have no idea how their favorite beverage is made. It is a joy to show them green beans from around the world and to open their eyes to the care that goes into each cup we brew.
This week we have a peaberry from El Salvador as our coffee of the week. Speaking of care: these peaberries are hand-sorted from the regular sized beans. A peaberry occurs when only one bean grows inside a coffee cherry. Perhaps for this reason (I have yet to read definitive proof), it is higher in caffeine. They are smaller and rounder, as seen in the picture to the right.
This peaberry has great flavor. It’s grown in volcanic soil on the slopes of Ilamatepec Volcano in northwestern El Salvador. The coffee is 100% shade grown and the farm emphasizes social and environmental responsibility, according to this sheet. We’ve roasted this light, and it tastes initially of nutty cocoa and finishes with a sweet caramel tone. It has a medium acidity and a nice balance.
I’ll be drinking this El Salvador all weekend, I’m sure. You can try a cup on us with the code coffee cherry* this week. With the cool mornings I’m happy to wake up and sip coffee–well, I find it relaxing any day. Enjoy your weekend, and drink good coffee.
–Holly Fike
*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of El Salvador Santa Rita Peaberry. Code expires on 9.11.14. Limit one free cup per customer please. Valid only at Carolines Coffee Roasters, 128 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA. Code/Offer has no cash value.