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Weekly Newsletter: 28th October, 2016

Posted on October 28 2016 by Holly Fike

ocean-header-2016Fair Trade Rwanda Dukunde Kawa

Last week my kids had their fall break, so we took the opportunity as a family to continue our national park tour.  Our original plan was to head north, and see Crater Lake, Mt. Rainier, and Olympic, but the weather was so stormy that we had a last minute change of plans.  Two weeks ago on Friday we drove to Pinnacles National Park, where it was not raining, and set up camp among the oak trees.  The next day we hiked through Bear Gulch Cave, which the kids loved, and went up to the Bear Gulch reservoir.

In the caves at Pinnacles National Park

In the caves at Pinnacles National Park

We also took a boat out to Channel Islands National Park, Santa Cruz island. That was certainly a highlight of our week, especially seeing dolphins both coming and going. We stayed on the ocean that night. After that we headed to Joshua Tree National Park, where we had the best camping spot among the boulders at the Jumbo Rocks campground.

The most interesting part of our week may have been stopping at Manzanar National Historic Site on our way home. It was a Japanese internment camp during the second world war, and they have done a great job of telling the stories of those who lived there. The theme as we walked around was that we’ve made mistakes as a nation and we need to remember them. It was good to discuss with the kids.

This week we’re all back to work and school, and it’s good to be in a routine again. Road trips are fun, but so are our daily lives. This week I have two coffees for you, since there was no newsletter last week. The featured coffee for this week was our Costa Rica Dota Santa Maria, which was the first carbon neutral farm in Costa Rica. It’s a sweet, smooth bean with brown sugar notes and a light vanilla finish. You can read about it in this newsletter from last year.

We are featuring our Fair Trade Rwanda Dukunde Kawa this week. This is a completely different tasting profile from the Costa Rican, so you are welcome to try whichever appeals to you. This coffee comes from a cooperative run by mainly women farmers, who have come together to process their coffee. They are giving back by helping build washing stations across the country. You can read what we wrote about this coffee (different crop, but from the same co-op) here and here. In the cup, this coffee has light citrus notes, with a medium body and a nutty finish.

You can try either of these coffees this week with the code road trip*. If you like to travel, I hope that you get out on the road soon. If you live nearby, enjoy your rainy weekend. Drink good coffee while you listen to the drops pounding down. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Fair Trade Rwanda Dukunde Kawa or Costa Rica Dota Santa Maria Tarrazu. Code expires on 11.03.16. 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.

 

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Weekly Newsletter: 14th October, 2016

Posted on October 14 2016 by Holly Fike

cloudy-skies-header-2016Organic Rainforest Alliance Java Kayumas Taman Dadar

Is there anything sweeter than holding a baby while he falls asleep? His breath slows and his body gets heavier, and you can feel his eyelashes flutter closed against your chest. It is such a calming moment. Have I mentioned lately how much I love being an auntie, and owning a business where baby can come to work daily? Being an auntie might be better than being a mom (sorry Becky), because I still get a full night’s sleep.

holly-tahoe

A beautiful fall weekend at Tahoe.

The weather today is a total change of scene from last weekend, when I had two days in Tahoe with two of my best friends. It warmed up to almost 70 degrees both days, and the fall color was splendid. We drove past groves of shimmering aspens, and maples that were on fire. Every beach had children playing in the water and families watching from the shore. It was a lovely, relaxing time.

This week we have an Indonesian coffee for you, from the island of Java. For many years, Javanese coffee was dominated by large farms, cultivated by the Dutch colonists. This low-lying coffee was decimated by leaf rust in the 19th century (see here), and coffee production moved onto small farms, in the highlands. This volcanic soil slowed production, but increased quality, and these are the beans that we have for you this week.

Organic Rainforest Alliance Java Kayumas Taman Dadar comes from small farms around the village of Kayumas. Taman Dadar means “flower garden,” and aptly describes the way the coffee is grown: “inter-cropped with parkia beans, avocados, erythrina, albizia, and leucaena trees, which produce food for local consumption and shade” according to our broker.

In the cup, this is an earthy bean, with soft milk chocolate tones and a walnut finish. It is a full-bodied, like a typical Indonesian coffee. You can try a cup on us this week with the code island bean*. Also, my brother-in-law Dave, who works at Carolines, is celebrating a birthday today. Happy birthday Dave! We’re so glad to have you around.

Enjoy the rain today, and have a great weekend. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Organic RFA Java. Code expires on 10.20.16. 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.

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Weekly Newsletter: 7th October, 2016

Posted on October 7 2016 by Holly Fike

garden-header-windyMexico Altura Finca San Carlos

Because who can choose just one baby picture? From top: Archie napping while Mom works; Laughing with Aunt Holly; Hanging with Uncle Trace and Dad

Because who can choose just one baby picture? From top: Archie napping while Mom works;
Laughing with Aunt Holly;
Hanging with Uncle Trace and Dad

Happy October to all of you! In my extended family we a have a lot of birthdays in October (shout out to my amazing sister Katie, who is celebrating today). It’s a good month to be born, and a good month to celebrate those we love. I am having my own belated birthday celebration this weekend, going away with some girl friends for a 40th birthday party. From this vantage point, 40 seems young. Although I did receive a shirt that originally belonged to my Grandpa, proclaiming “forty isn’t old–if you’re a tree.” Ahem. Point taken.

I came down with a stomach flu this week, which rarely happens to me. Luckily it was fast and furious, and within 24 hours I was feeling better. Today I’m playing catch-up: how could there be so much to do when I only missed one day of work? Maybe it’s the time of year, gearing up for the busy holiday season. At any rate, today is the first time I got to try this Mexican Altura Finca San Carlo, and I’m looking forward to sharing it with you.

This is a single estate coffee, from a farm that goes back to 1896, when coffee was first cultivated on the Mexico/Guatemala border by a German immigrant by the name of Ludwig Hotzen. This coffee is high-grown (thus “altura”), on the slopes of the Tacana volcano, in the state of Chiapas. In 2013, this historic farm was bought by Alfred Klein, with help from our broker, Royal Coffee, and he is working hard to rebuild it after 85% was devastated by leaf rust.

The updated farm has an abundance of spring water, and they are committed to ecologically sound practices, like purifying all the water they use in processing. They are also committed to the migrant workers from Guatemala who pick their coffee, and provide housing, education, and medical care to them. All of this care is obvious in this fully washed and sun dried coffee. It’s a beautiful bean, creamy in the cup, smooth with a milk chocolate finish as it cools.

You can try this coffee on us this week with the code pumpkin season*. And yes, we do have pumpkin spice lattes available, for those of you who love all things pumpkin. ‘Tis the season. I hope that you enjoy your fall weekend, whatever you do. And no matter what age you are, go celebrate. I’m sure you deserve it. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Mexico Altura Finca San Carlos. Code expires on 10.13.16. 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.

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Weekly Newsletter: 30th September, 2016

Posted on September 30 2016 by Holly Fike

sunflower-header2Rainforest Alliance Nicaragua Santa Rita

Can you believe it’s the last day of September? Where did the month go? With two different camping trips with my kids this month, and trying to play catch-up the other weeks, it was a bit of a whirlwind for me. I am so grateful that I have wonderful and responsible employees who make it possible for me to have a flexible schedule. It is certainly a privilege to own a business where I can be available to my children and work with people who are and who feel like family.

Cousins getting acquainted

Cousins getting acquainted

I love autumn. I’ve been observing the progress of the local trees, the liquidambars and maples especially. The tops look aflame, with brilliant red that catches the evening sun. It’s slowly moving down the trees, and I keep finding magenta beauties as I walk the kids to and from school. We’re supposed to get our first good rain on Sunday (heads up), and Trace has been busy covering the patio furniture.

Our coffee of the week comes from the Santa Rita estate in Nicaragua. The Hacienda Santa Rita was started by two women in 1998, who saw an abandoned coffee farm and decided to take it on as an entrepreneurial adventure. They are committed to high environmental standards, while at the same time improving the quality of life of their workers. Within ten years, in 2008, they won the Rainforest Alliance Cup of Excellence for Nicaragua (see here).

The owners of the estate, Dania Baltodano and Desiree Pereira, have created a great website to showcase their coffee, and to explain their passion and vision. You can find it in English here. I enjoyed exploring the site, and getting a feel for their commitment to quality in all that they do. You can also see pictures of them, of the farm, and of the wet mill where they process the coffee.

This is high quality, single estate coffee, from a farm with a strong commitment to the ecology around them. They have even set aside 54 hectares of the property as a forest preserve. We have roasted this light and it’s a delicious bean. It tastes of chocolate and plum, with a lingering nutty finish. It has a nice acidity and a medium body. You can try a cup of this coffee on us with the code hello October* this week. Have a great weekend, and head out to the Celtic Festival if you’re looking for something to do. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Rainforest Alliance Nicaragua Santa Rita. Code expires on 10.6.16. 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.

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Weekly Newsletter: 23rd September, 2016

Posted on September 23 2016 by Holly Fike

lassen-headerSulawesi Toarco Jaya AA

I spent most of this week at Lassen Volcanic National Park, with my son’s sixth grade class. Although I’ve been there before, I learned more about volcanoes on this trip than any other. Did you know that all four types of volcanoes that exist in the world can be found in the park? Thanks to Ranger Jean, who gave a great presentation to the kids, I know this and many other facts about Lassen. Northern California has such amazing topography, all within hours of Nevada County.

jack-lassen

Before our hike up the Cinder Cone

It was also fun to observe the weather change as we drove through the park, and then home on Thursday. It had hailed on us in the morning, then the sun had waved hello. As we traveled the park highway, we were up high enough that it was snowing on us. Our final hike of the trip, to Bumpass Hell, got cancelled since it was 32 degrees and blowing snow sideways at the trailhead. The kids were disappointed, but it was pretty fun to see snow in September–especially since it hit 76 degrees as we dropped into the Central Valley on our way home.

Today we have a coffee that we last featured a year and a half ago, in April 2015. I have to say that my favorite part of each morning while camping was the coffee. It kept my hands warm and my energy levels up. I enjoyed our micro-lot Honduran from last week, and I would have loved this Sulawesi Toarco Jaya AA. It’s a full-bodied bean, low in acidity, with strong walnut tones and a vanilla finish.

One unique thing about this bean is the company that processes and exports it. PT Toarco Jaya is a Japanese and Indonesian collaboration, a company that is working to improve the coffee in the east Tana Toraja region. They have a model plantation, Pedamaran, that you can read about on the Utz page here. For the last forty years they have been implementing sustainable and environmentally sound practices to create high quality coffee.

You can try a cup of this coffee on us with the code September snow*. Happy autumn equinox yesterday, and welcome to fall. This is definitely one of my favorite seasons–I pulled my boots out of the closet this morning. It is the Draft Horse Classic and Harvest fair this weekend, along with many other fall-themed local events. Enjoy your final week of September, and drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Sulawesi Toarco Jaya AA. Code expires on 9.29.16. 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.

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Weekly Newsletter: 16th September, 2016

Posted on September 16 2016 by Holly Fike

coffee-header-hondurasHonduras Santa Elena Catracha: Maria Adela Nolasco Micro-Lot

A few nights ago, a crack of thunder overhead woke me up. I got out of bed to watch the lightning ripple across the sky, mostly cloud-to-cloud, looking like an uncoordinated baby playing with a flashlight. It was beautiful, and unusual for our California summer. I was drifting back to sleep when the soft drumming of rain woke me back up. It barely wet the ground, but the smell of the wet earth kept me smiling each time I awoke the rest of the night.

We’re halfway through September, and there is definitely a hint of autumn in the air. The kids and I got out our fall decorations (some homemade pumpkins from Make Local Habit, and turkey feathers we’ve collected from our local wild flock). It’s darker in the mornings and we’ve been lighting candles as we get ready for school. All these add up to make my hot mug of coffee even more delightful. It keeps my hands warm on these cool mornings.

This week we have a micro-lot Honduran, from one farm. It comes from the La Paz district, in the western part of the country, not far from the border with El Salvador. The farm is called El Mango, and it is two acres at around 5000 feet elevation. This coffee is grown by Maria Adela Nolasco, and it is the main income for her family. You can see her name on the coffee bag in the header (how cool is that?). According to the Royal Coffee page here, her coffee income has allowed her to send her 17 year old to college.

This coffee is a result of the Catracha Quality Project. You can find their website here, and read about how they are trying to improve lives by increasing the quality of coffee produced around Santa Elena. This project is supported by Royal Coffee, and you can read about that partnership here. They are committed to educating the farmers and introducing standards to the production process.

I am excited to drink this at home this week. I love coffees with a sweet and nutty flavor profile, and this fits the bill. It is roasted light, but it has a full body and it’s delightful. You can come in and try a cup on us with the code fall beckons* this week. Join me in raising your cup to Maria Adela Nolasco as you drink this Honduran. Thank you Sra. Nolasco.  Enjoy the final half of September, and drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Honduras Maria Adela Nolasco. Code expires on 9.22.16. 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.

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Weekly Newsletter: 9th September, 2016

Posted on September 9 2016 by Holly Fike

grass-lake-headerKenya Kirinyaga Kainamui AA Top Grainpro

I had the fun of camping with my daughter’s class at Plumas-Eureka State Park this week. It was a great time of being outdoors, hiking, walking in the creek (brrr!), and building crew. Camping as a class certainly causes the students to learn to work together, in a very hands on manner. It was a joy to see them helping each other. I particularly liked watching them problem solve how to build a shelter in the woods with limited time and resources.

After our hike up to Grass Lake

After our hike up to Grass Lake

Today was back to work for me, with a bit of catch up after a few days off. It’s amazing how those emails pile up. I am so lucky that Becky is back from maternity leave, and that she can stay on top of a lot of the office work while I am gone. Although I did miss my daily baby visits.

This week we have our Kenya Kirinyaga Kainamui AA Top Grainpro–but that’s rather an excessive name, don’t you think? Let’s call it Kenya AA. This Kenya is grown in the Kirinyaga region, south of Mount Kenya. It is fully washed and processed at the Kainamui factory, or mill, and packaged in Grainpro bags–inside of the usual burlap.

Kenya has a unique system for processing coffee. There are mills, or factories, all over the country, and small farmers are arranged into cooperatives to bring their coffee to market. In the country of Kenya, coffee is sold weekly at auction, overseen by a national coffee board. You can read more about it in the Coffee Review, here. It has been a successful system for many years, rewarding the best coffees with high prices.

This Kenya AA is a blend of two Arabica cultivars: SL28 and SL34. These are both plants that were developed by Scott Laboratories (SL) at the behest of the Kenyan government from the 1930’s to 1950’s (see article here, and many other places online). They were looking for drought and disease resistant coffees, and instead came up with an amazing flavor profile that is the reason for much of Kenya’s renown.

This is a beautiful bean in the cup. It has a sweet floral aroma, and tastes of melon tones with a pronounced lemon acidity. You can try a cup on us with the code Kenya cultivars* this week. Bonus points if you can remember what the two cultivars are called. Enjoy your September, and drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Kenya AA. Code expires on 9.15.16. 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.

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Weekly Newsletter: 2nd September, 2016

Posted on September 2 2016 by Holly Fike

bay view headerCelebes Kalossi (Sulawesi Toraja)

In case you haven’t yet turned the calendar page, it’s September folks. Can you believe it? I have definitely noticed the days getting shorter, and I even put on a cardigan for my walk to school this morning. Our predicted highs are only in the 70s or 80s: a sure sign that autumn is coming. The corners of the parking lots are starting to fill with the brown crunchy leaves that are so fun to rustle through. We’re in the waning of the summer.

Look who came to visit! Archie, being held by his uncle with his proud papa looking on.

Look who came to visit! Archie, being held by his uncle with his proud papa looking on.

Last weekend Trace and I celebrated our anniversary in the city. We enjoyed a SF Giants game during the day, and drove to Napa for stellar food along the river in the evening. We are so lucky to live away from the crowds, and yet have world class destinations close at hand. Northern California is amazing like that.

In other news, the best part of my day is when Becky comes to work, and I get to be the auntie. There’s not much better than holding a baby. It’s so fun to get a daily baby fix. And his hard-working mama is great too–I missed my office companion. Babies that come to work with you are one of the best perks of a small business.

This week we are featuring our Celebes Kalossi. I’m actually never sure how to label this coffee. We’ve carried it for so many years that most of you know it as Celebes, but the proper title is Sulawesi Toraja. Celebes is the old European name of this Indonesian island, which is today known as Sulawesi. We’ve taken to using the names interchangeably.

The Toraja part of the name refers to the indigenous Toraja people. I wrote more about their elaborate, boat-like homes and their unique culture that celebrates death here. This coffee is grown in the mountains of South Sulawesi, on the southwestern peninsula. If you look at a map of Sulawesi, you’ll see that it looks rather like a four fingered hand, with four distinct peninsulas. This is a land of many extremes.

This Celebes is so delicious: it’s always a popular choice. It’s full-bodied with nutty and chocolate tones. I could drink it all day–although you are probably all aware that I might be rather biased. You can try it for yourself this week with the code cool mornings*. If you’re in town, we will be open on Labor Day, from 7 am to 3 pm. Enjoy your three day weekend, and drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Sulawesi Toraja (Celebes Kalossi). Code expires on 9.8.16. 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.

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Weekly Newsletter: 26th August, 2016

Posted on August 26 2016 by Holly Fike

Tomatoes headerGuatemala Antigua Bella Carmona

I know not everybody loves tomatoes, but we sure do in my family. And there’s nothing better than fresh off the vine. The header picture was taken in the garden yesterday, and that’s the scene all over our tomato beds: all the stages right next to each other, including the empty stem where one was picked yesterday. My kids also have the fun of a garden at school, which was featured in our local paper today, here. My daughter was excited to be on the front page.

Delighted about her bugs

Delighted about her bugs

I spent the day today on fieldwork with my daughter’s class. They searched for “bugs and slugs” in one of our local parks, and had a great time being observers. It was such beautiful weather outside–only in the 80’s–that I think they could have stayed all day. I know that I enjoyed it.

This week we have a fun coffee comparison for you. We wanted to show you the difference in two coffees from the same country. If you’ll recall, last week we featured our Fair Trade Organic Guatemalan Huehuetenango, which was from western highlands of Guatemala. This week we are showcasing our Guatemala Antigua Bella Carmona, also from the highlands, but this time in the south of the country.

This Guatemalan comes from Antigua, which is such a well known coffee growing region that it is a protected designation, rather like champagne in France. By comparing these two coffees, you see the difference that a growing region can make.  This week’s beans come from two farms, both owned by Luis Pedro Zelaya: Bella Vista and Hacienda Carmona.

Luis Pedro Zelaya comes from a line of coffee farmers, and he is able to call upon over 100 years of family experience. At the same time, he has established innovative processing and drying techniques to improve the quality of his coffee. You can read more about his operation on the Royal Coffee blog here. Royal Coffee is our broker, and they have been carrying this Bella Carmona for years.

In the cup these two coffees have more similarities than differences, but we thought it would be interesting to point out the differences. The Huehuetenango has more body, and more of a chocolate flavor. The Bella Carmona has a bit more acidity and fruity tones. This week you can try the two side by side (ask for a 4 ounce cup) with the code garden grown*. And enjoy your final few days of August: September is just around the corner.
–Holly Fike

*Code good for a free 4 ounce cup of Fair Trade Organic Guatemalan Huehuetenango and a free 4 oz cup of Guatemala Antigua Bella Carmona. Code expires on 9.1.16. 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.

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Weekly Newsletter: 19th August, 2016

Posted on August 19 2016 by Holly Fike

zinnia mothFair Trade Organic Guatemala Huehuetenango

On Wednesday my kids went back to school: what a change in our schedule. The hardest part is getting out of bed in the morning. I have total empathy for them, because it’s hard for me too. I haven’t gotten up in the dark since school got out in June–we fully embrace a summer schedule, or lack thereof. Both kids are enjoying their new classes, and walked out of school the first day with smiles on their faces. That makes my mama heart happy.

First day of school.

First day of school.

With the kids in school all day I am able to have more time at the store. I love the freedom of my job that allows me to get everything done at different times of day throughout the year. I also appreciate our amazing staff who work so hard to take care of so much for me. This week we also had the fun of Becky coming back to work for a while each day. That meant that part of each day I got to hold my new nephew. Hurrah!

Our coffee of the week is our Fair Trade Organic Guatemalan Huehuetenango. Huehuetenango is a region in the western highlands of Guatemala, which borders Mexico. The farmers are part of the GUAYA’B cooperative, whose website is here. They are mostly indigenous people, according to the Fair Trade page here. The co-op helps them with micro loans, education, and getting a fair wage for their beans. The co-op is now working towards being SMBC certified, to help the migratory birds.

In the cup this is a sweet drink, with tones of chocolate at the finish. It’s a delicious brew, and would be perfect to start your day, especially if you’re starting early, like me. I’m taking home a pound today. You can sample this Guatemalan on us with the code school days* this week. Enjoy your August weekend, and drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Fair Trade Organic Guatemalan Huehuetenango. Code expires on 8.25.16. 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.

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Weekly Newsletter: 12th August, 2016

Posted on August 12 2016 by Holly Fike

Kayak header 2016Natural Ethiopian Yirgacheffe

Last week I was working hard to get out of town early for the weekend, and finally decided to skip sending an email so that I could leave. My apologies to all of you who missed it, but I did have a lovely time. Trace and I got away to Tahoe for a night, and then it was on to camping for the weekend with my amazing sister. I say amazing because she had taken my two kids and her four since Wednesday, and I only came up on Saturday. Thank you Katie!

Cousins all in a row

Cousins all in a row

The kids had such a great time camping, hiking, kayaking, and swinging off an awesome rope swing. They slept in their hammocks and went swimming to cool off. I know that the time I spent there was relaxing and splendid–there’s nothing like getting outdoors.

This week all six cousins have already spent two days at the fair. They loved looking at the animals and exhibits, and then yesterday we had a ride day that must have been a lot of fun since they cheerfully stayed until past 10 pm!

Last week, the coffee I did not write about was our Fair Trade Organic Nicaraguan. It is a fully washed bean from the mountains of northwest Nicaragua, grown on family farms. The farmers come together to process their coffee at the Promotora de Desarrollo Cooperativo de Las Segovias–a co-op that also helps with increasing coffee quality. There is a full roast analysis and description of the beans, along with more information about the co-op on the Royal Coffee blog here.

This week our featured coffee is a natural process, meaning that the beans are dried with the mucilage still intact. This leads to a fruitier flavor, and you’ll notice that even in the aroma of our Natural Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. The coffee comes from the Kochere region of south-central Ethiopia, from indigenous heirloom cultivars. Since coffee originated in Ethiopia (we wrote about the legend of Kaldi the goatherd here), this is coffee as it has been enjoyed for centuries. You’ll drink coffee history in this cup.

We’d love for you to try a cup of this Ethiopian on us this week with the code fair week*. If you haven’t yet made it to our county fair, I was struck again this week by how unique it is. The setting is beautiful, all the food supports non-profits, the exhibits are heartwarming, and the animals are raised with care. It’s really a remarkable event. You have the rest of the weekend to attend–I know that we’re planning on going again.  But whatever you do this weekend, drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Natural Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. Code expires on 8.18.16. 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.

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Weekly Newsletter: 29th July, 2016

Posted on July 29 2016 by Holly Fike

announcementCosta Rica Monte Crisol SHB

Last Saturday I had the privilege to be at the birth of my nephew, Archie Robert Skolak.  This was my first opportunity to attend a birth, besides my own, so I have no room for comparison–but it was a beautiful experience.  It is so hard to go through labor, and Becky was so amazing and strong.  Wow.  Dave and Becky are in love, and little Archie is doing great.  They are enjoying being a family of three.

Welcoming Archie

Welcoming Archie

For those of you who know Becky as our wonderful manager, she will be off work for a while. She is planning on coming back to the store–we’re flexible–but in the meantime our great team of employees have got it under control. And if we need help, Becky is just a phone call away 🙂

This week we have a new Costa Rican coffee for you: perfect if you happen to be waking up without much sleep (yes, I’m talking to you new moms). It’s summertime, and those of you traveling and camping can probably use a new brew too. Even in the heat wave we’ve been having, I’m enjoying drinking my coffee in the morning while watering the garden.

This Costa Rican comes from the Palmares distict, in the mountains north of the capitol of San Jose. It is processed by the Cooperativa de Caficultores y de Servicios Múltiples de Palmares (COOPEPALMARES), and you can find their website here. Hopefully that link takes you to the translated page–if it seems stilted, it was originally in Spanish.

According to our broker, the coop COOPEPALMARES has “a state of the art processing facility with certifications in quality and environmental management from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).” They also run two supermarkets in the town of Palmares, and offer their members “access to low interest loans and healthcare for families.” Beyond all that, the coffee is cleanly processed, using recycled water, and they also have an organic fertilizer plant.

Like many of the best Costa Ricans, this coffee has a great aroma that fills your nose as you take a sip. It tastes sweet, with notes of chocolate and light apricot. It’s delicious. You can try a cup on us this week with the code baby boy*. I hope that you all enjoy your final weekend of July, and drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Costa Rica Monte Crisol. Code expires on 8.4.16. 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.

Posted in Celebrations, Coffee Descriptions, Employees, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Weekly Newsletter: 29th July, 2016


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530 273-6424 | 800 600-6424
 map-marker Carolines Coffee Roasters
128 S. Auburn St.
Grass Valley, CA 95945
clock Monday-Friday: 6am-5:30pm,
Saturday-Sunday: 7am-5:30pm 

Fridays for
Cornish Christmas: 6am-9pm