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Weekly Newsletter: 6th November, 2015

Posted on November 6 2015 by Holly Fike

Guatemalan Antigua Bella Carmona

Last week my kids were out of school (yes, again), and Trace continued our national park tour and took them down to Kings Canyon and Sequoia. They had such a good time, and I loved talking to them each night and hearing about their day. I think that Caroline’s highlight was that she got to see snow, and Jack loved carving willow sticks and sleeping in a tent. They were both impressed by the size of the trees–in the header picture they are inside of a fallen sequoia.

Go to the Outside Inn blog for a chance to win. Photo courtesy of the Outside Inn.

We live and work in a beautiful place, but it’s good to remember the natural wonders of our state and our country too. Sometimes I get so caught up in the quotidian tasks of running a small business that I forget to appreciate the sights surrounding me. I did not go with them, but I did make a point of taking a walk each day to enjoy the fall weather we’ve been having. On our property the fall foliage is spectacular. It’s good to be outside.

In other news, there is currently a coffee mug giveaway over at the Outside Inn blog. Erin does a great job of highlighting the events and beauty of our area, and we joined her to add a few goodies to her giveaway. You have a chance to win the crate pictured by leaving a comment on the blog here.

This week we have our Guatemalan Antigua Bella Carmona coffee for you to sample. Antigua is such a well known coffee growing region that it is a protected designation, rather like champagne in France. These 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.

I always think that it is amazing to know the name of the person who grew your coffee beans. This is not anonymous corporate coffee: this is grown by Luis Pedro Zelaya. He is a well known Guatemalan coffee producer, and you can find his picture in an internet search. His care of these beans comes through: they are roasted light, and you taste the fruitiness from the high mineral content of the volcanic soil in which the coffee is grown. Isn’t that cool?

You can try this Guatemalan on us with the code California sequoias* this week. It looks like we have a chance of rain again this weekend, and at least one ski resort is opening today. That’s good news for our drought prospects. I certainly enjoyed the rain earlier this week, and it was fun to see the smiles on customer’s faces. There’s nothing like hot coffee on a rainy day. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Guatemalan Antigua Bella Carmona. Code expires on 11.12.15. 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 Coffee Descriptions, Local Beauty, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee Roasters, fall colors, Free Coffee, giveaway, guatemalan antigua, Guatemalan Antigua Bella Carmona, Guatemalan coffee, Outside Inn, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: 30th October, 2015

Posted on October 30 2015 by Holly Fike

Fair Trade Organic Sumatra

Happy Halloween! Yes, I know it’s tomorrow, but today was the downtown trick-or-treat, so we were all dressed up. We had a masquerade theme this year, which turned out to be great: you pretty much had to find a mask. I’m all for easy costumes. The best part of the day is seeing all the darling children come around. There are some awfully creative parents out there. You can see an album on our Facebook page here.

A crow and a peacock visited the store.

It would be hard to choose a favorite, but the clown family had certainly gone all out. And there was a darling Harry Potter (or Hermione?) who stood under three feet tall. Many princesses and firemen went by, and several homemade trucks and cars. The littlest trick or treat-er that I saw was dressed up as a Jelly Belly, complete with a bow decorated with jellybeans in her hair.

We stayed busy making drinks for parents and grandparents who needed a treat. If you’re around tomorrow, it will be a whole new round of costumes, so come check it out. Our employees do an awesome job of crafting original outfits. I can’t wait to see.

Today’s coffee of the week is our Fair Trade Organic Sumatra. This is always one of my favorites: full-bodied with strong chocolate tones. If you happen to be in possession of Halloween chocolate, this would be a nice morning pairing.

Sumatra is an Indonesian island, located to the far west of the archipelago. This coffee is grown in the northern highlands by the Junus family. They have built their own mill, so the beans are processed on site, and they are able to control the quality from seed to bag.

This week you can try this Sumatra on us with the code costume week*. Enjoy your Halloween, and if you live locally, I wish you rain and snow on Monday. We could certainly use it, so I hope this forecast is accurate. If so, it will be a good day to drink good coffee–well, I suppose that’s true of every day!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Fair Trade Organic Sumatra. Code expires on 11.5.15. 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 Coffee Descriptions, Downtown Events, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Downtown Grass Valley, Fair Trade Organic Sumatra, Free Coffee, Halloween, Organic Sumatra, sumatra coffee, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: 23rd October, 2015

Posted on October 23 2015 by Holly Fike

Costa Rica Tarrazu Dota Santa Maria

Last week there was no newsletter, because we left the store in the hands of our capable staff (thank you all!), and hit the road. 2800 miles and seven national parks later, we pulled up in our own driveway again. It was a spontaneous trip, inspired by Chuck and Caroline’s offer to borrow their camper. We had no reservations and no plan beyond heading towards the Grand Canyon.

A family picture by the Tuolumne Grove giant sequoias in Yosemite

We did spend a day and a half at the Grand Canyon, and even camped there, but before that we visited Yosemite, Death Valley, Lake Mead, and the Hoover Dam. The scenery was so varied: from mountains to deserts, and the fall colors were gorgeous everywhere. After the Grand Canyon we went through Navajo Nation to Four Corners, Mesa Verde, Arches, and Canyonlands. Whew!

It was certainly a trip that the kids will remember. I know that I still remember the national parks that I visited as a child. On this trip, Mesa Verde, Death Valley, and Arches were all new to me. I especially loved our tour of the Balcony House in Mesa Verde, which included climbing a 32 foot ladder and crawling through an 18″ tunnel. That the ancient Pueblan people could create these cliff dwellings is truly remarkable.

We saw so many unique rock formations and geographical features that it is almost overwhelming to retell it. But it is the small details that I will cherish: yellow aspen leaves falling like a rainstorm while I sipped my coffee in Utah, and steaks over the coals of a campfire. Waking up before sunrise to hear Jack telling his sister that she must see how beautiful it was outside right now, with the morning glow silhouetting the mountains around us.

Each day brought new exciting sights (and sites), and each day began with a French press of our own coffee. This week we have our Costa Rican Tarrazu to share with you. I certainly recommend brewing it outside, near a campfire, but your kitchen counter will work too.

This coffee has a long name, because it is a single origin coffee from the Dota-Tarrazu region. Santa Maria in particular is well known as being at higher elevation and producing higher quality coffees. This coffee is grown by the Coopedota. Their website is here, and you can translate it to English on the top left. This is a cooperative that received attention in 2011 as “the world’s first carbon neutral coffee producer” (see here). They are committed to education and sustainability among their partners.

In addition to being environmentally sound, Coopedota produces excellent coffee. This is a light roasted Costa Rican, with sweet notes of chocolate and nectarine, and a medium acidity that creates a lingering citrus taste as you swallow. The aroma floats in your face, and it reminds me that Costa Rican coffees are known for a great nose. It invites you to drink.

You can try a cup of this Costa Rican on us this week with the code road trip*. We had a wonderful time, but it’s always good to be back home. The autumnal weather this week has been lovely, and reminds me why we live and work here in Nevada County. Enjoy your week, and drink good coffee!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Costa Rican Tarrazu. Code expires on 10.29.15. 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 Coffee Descriptions, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Costa Rica coffee, Costa Rican, Costa Rican Tarrazu, Free Coffee, vacation, Weekly Newsletter | 1 Comment

Weekly Newsletter: 9th October, 2015

Posted on October 23 2015 by Holly Fike

Organic Blue Krishna Balinese

Yesterday evening Trace pulled up in the driveway with Jack hanging out the window smiling from ear to ear. They went fishing on the Sacramento river with Mike, our deliveryman, and his wife Ellen. Jack had caught a salmon that was so big he could hardly hold it up for a picture. The trip was a birthday present for Jack, and I don’t think that a boy could have been happier.

A happy fisher-boy.

Jack and I had made the same trip six weeks ago, and although we had a wonderful day, he hadn’t caught anything. That made it extra sweet yesterday. We ate his salmon for dinner, and he was proudly recounting the tale of catching it and calling it “my salmon.” He was already hooked on fishing, excuse the pun, but I’m sure this confirmed it.

I know that the adults on the fishing excursion started their day with good coffee as they raced down the river. There’s not much better than a cool morning and hot coffee. I know it’s a recurring theme this time of year, and I’m sure it will be until spring comes around again. This week our coffee is our Organic Blue Krishna Balinese.

Most people think of Bali as a tourist destination, but coffee is grown there in the high countryside. This organic bean is also Rainforest Alliance certified, and comes from the Kintamani highlands in the northeast. It is grown on the slopes of Mount Batur (Gunung Batur), an active volcano. Coffee trees love volcanic soil, and around the world you’ll find coffee growing around and on volcanoes.

These beans are grown in the shade of citrus trees, which provides another source of income for the farmers. In another newsletter, here, I talked about the shiny leaves of a coffee bush nestled under the orange and green of tangerine trees. Doesn’t that sound lovely? You can also read about this coffee here and here. It’s a favorite that we’ve featured many times.

This coffee is roasted light, and it is full bodied with flavors of dark chocolate and plum. It fills your mouth with flavor. You can try a cup on us with the code first fish* this week. Although I suppose it would be more accurately “first salmon,” but that’s a bit long.

Have a great autumn weekend, whatever you do. In Nevada County, most of our schools take an October break for this next week. It’s always a good time for families and teachers to recharge. I’m looking forward to the change of pace and unscheduled moments with my kids. I’ll fill you in next week on how we spent our time off. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Organic Blue Krishna Balinese. Code expires on 10.15.15. 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 Coffee Descriptions, Local Beauty, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Bali, Balinese coffee, Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Free Coffee, Organic Balinese, Organic Blue Krishna Balinese, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: 2nd October, 2015

Posted on October 2 2015 by Holly Fike

Celebes Kalossi

Can you see the raindrops on the sign in the header picture? Maybe not, but I assure you that they are there. Our first rainy fall day coincided with the first of October yesterday. Since we’re in a drought, we celebrate the drops around here. I enjoyed drinking my morning coffee while listening to a steady drumming on the deck outside. And the whole earth looked refreshed when I drove to work.

Believe it or not, that’s a house on the bag.

Today it’s back to sunshine, so it didn’t last long. Tights and boots made an appearance on our employees, and I was glad to have my jacket as I walked the kids to school this morning. Hopefully more rain will be coming as the month continues.

On Tuesday we celebrated National Coffee Day, although I think it should be a daily occurrence. We gave away five pounds of El Salvador on our Facebook page. If you missed our contest, you can still win through today on the Outside Inn blog. It’s a collaborative giveaway with a chance to win all sorts of coffee related items.

Speaking of giveaways, our coffee of the week is our Celebes Kalossi, and you may have a free cup on us with the code rain drops* this week. This is a favorite Indonesian coffee around here. It is grown by farmers in the central mountains of this four-fingered island. We have called it Celebes Kalossi for years, named for the country and a nearby town. It is now more commonly called Sulawesi Toraja, for the country and the indigenous people. Whatever you call it, it’s a great coffee.

The Toraja people live in homes that look like giant boats (see the Wikipedia article here). The geography of the area is dramatic, with cliffs rising up into the mist above the coffee farms and rice paddys. They take great care of their coffee and you taste that in the cup. On the front of the green coffee bag is a print of one of their homes, as seen in the smaller picture above.

This would be a great coffee to get your day started on a rainy morning, or to sip with dessert on a cool autumn evening. It has notes of honey and a sweet, slightly nutty finish that would pair well with chocolate. Come try it this week, or order yourself a pound here.

I hope you enjoy your October weekend. We decorated with pumpkins for a dinner party a week ago, and it makes the house look like October. My daughter has been giving one away to everyone who visits. At the store our fall drinks have arrived: cinnamon lattes, pumpkin spice lattes, apple cider and a spicy Mexican cocoa. Whatever your preference, drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Celebes Kalossi. Code expires on 10.8.15. 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 Coffee Descriptions, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Celebes coffee, Celebes Kalossi, Free Coffee, Sulawesi coffee, Sulawesi Toraja, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: 25th September 2015

Posted on October 2 2015 by Holly Fike

El Salvador Cerro Las Ranas

Happy third day of autumn! I dressed for the season today, without checking the weather forecast, and I have to say that it’s a bit warm for leather boots and a knit dress. Oops. I do love fall, with its cool mornings that mean a cup of coffee warms your hands, but we might not be there yet. For sure the days are getting shorter: Caroline told me I must have woken her too early because it was too dark out. Sorry sleepy girl, but it will be dark in the morning for about six more months.

Learning about the native Maidu with ochre on her face.

I had a busy week on fieldwork with both of my kids: to the Roseville Maidu Museum and to the science lab at CSU Chico. The third graders learned about the local native Americans and how they lived (sooo different from the lives of today’s kids). It was interesting for me too, especially seeing the tools they used. The baskets are works of art, and I’m amazed at how nutritious acorns are.

This week our coffee is another from the Finca San Francisco in El Salvador. In July we featured the Laguna Las Ranas, or frog pond, from this grower (read about it here). This is another bean from the same farm, called Cerro Las Ranas, or mountain frogs. This farm is run by the Salaverria family, who also founded a mill, JASAL, to process their coffee.

Cerro Las Ranas is Rainforest Certified coffee, and it is a pulped natural process. This is also called a honey coffee, and it is a cross between a washed and a dry processed (natural) coffee. Some of the skin of the coffee cherry is removed, but then the beans are dried with the pulp intact. This certainly affects the taste of the final product, usually leaving a sweeter and fruitier taste.

This El Salvador Cerro Las Ranas does have those fruity tones: it is roasted light and tastes of stone fruit, like apricots and plums, with a sweet finish. If you loved the Laguna Las Ranas from the same farm, you’ll certainly love this option. They are processed similarly, have similar cupping notes, and both are smooth and easy to drink.

You can try a cup of this El Salvador on us this week with the code mountain frogs*. Enjoy the last weekend of September, and drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of El Salvador Cerro Las Ranas. Code expires on 10.1.15. 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 Coffee Descriptions, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, El Salvador Cerro Las Ranas, El Salvador coffee, Free Coffee, Rainforest Certified, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: 18th September, 2015

Posted on September 18 2015 by Holly Fike

Panama Boquete Casa Ruiz

Last week I was out of town, camping with my son’s class in the Sierra Buttes. On our second day camping we hiked to the lookout tower, the highest point in the header picture. It’s a fire lookout perched at 8500+ feet, and the view is stunning. Our trail was around five miles, round trip, with over 2000′ of elevation gain. The amazing thing is that not only did all the kids make it, but they did it with a good attitude.

Mom and son on the lookout tower

Their positive spirits made it a joy to hang out with them. Kudos to all the parents out there raising kids who are willing to persevere and to encourage one another when it is difficult. My favorite part of the day were the moments when Jack left his friends and came and held my hand for a bit. That doesn’t happen often in fifth grade, but it’s sure precious when it does.

This week we have a high elevation coffee for you, although I’m sure it’s not as dramatically steep as the Sierra Buttes. This is our Panama Boquete from the Casa Ruiz estate. You can read about Casa Ruiz here, and about how their family has been farming in Panama for over 100 years. They are committed to quality coffee, and to sustainability.

I like that they define sustainability not just in terms of their land, which is the most common usage, but in terms of the people who work the coffee. Their coffee is shade grown, and they do practice environmentally sound techniques, but they are also committed to educating and bettering the lives of the indigenous people who help with harvest.

The Ruiz family also provides a place for other local farmers to process their beans. Three generations of experience have allowed them to help others in the region. They value quality: their coffee arrived here in a GrainPro bag, a plastic bag with a vapor barrier that lines the traditional jute sack and preserves the coffee. The beans are beautifully even, and we roasted them light upon arrival. They have a wonderful mellow flavor with sweet chocolate tones. This is easy to drink coffee at its finest.

You can try a cup of this Panamanian on us this week with the code lookout tower*. I have enjoyed the cooler weather this week, and especially the rain. Hopefully we’ll have more of the same in the week to come. It can only help with all the wildfires that have taken off in the last week. Enjoy your September weekend, and drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Panama Boquete. Code expires on 9.24.15. 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 Coffee Descriptions, Local Beauty, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Casa Ruiz, Free Coffee, Panama Boquete, Panama coffee, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: 4th September, 2015

Posted on September 4 2015 by Holly Fike

Fair Trade Organic Nicaragua

Today I wore boots for the first time. I know that it’s supposed to warm right up again, but the last couple of days with highs in the seventies and a steady breeze have felt like fall to me. If you look hard, you can find leaves starting to change color, and the kids and I crunched through the dried stacks in the corner of the parking lot this morning. It has felt like leaf stomping weather for sure.

Do we look alike?

I think that at least twice this week Becky and I came to work in nearly identical outfits. One day it was dark wash jeans and polka dot button down shirts (what are the odds?), and today it was nearly matching shirt dresses with a wide belt. It’s a twins kind of week. After it happened more than once, the staff said we must have a picture, so here you go.

For our coffee this week we have one of our most popular organic beans: our Fair Trade Organic Nicaraguan. This comes from a coop, PRODECOOP, in the northern part of Nicaragua. You can read more about them on the FairTradeUSA page here. I love that 30% of the farmers in this coop are women–according to the UN Women page, “if women farmers had the same access to tools and credit, there would be 150 million fewer hungry people.”

I know that’s just one statistic, but helping women does help families, and this coop helps women in particular. They focus on business development and education, and emphasize women’s roles. Their leadership is required to be at least 40 % women. Together they are able to bring their beans to a centrally located dry mill where their coffee is processed.

As a woman I love to support organizations that empower women. On top of that, this is a stellar coffee, rewarding their labor with a great bean. This light roast coffee had sweet tones of chocolate and nuts, with a medium to full body and a clean finish. You can try a cup on us with the code twin week*.

It’s good to think of those who labor to grow our coffee with Labor Day coming. We will be open from 7 am – 3 pm, if you’re in town Monday. For those of you traveling, I hope you have a lovely three day weekend. You can come try the Nicaraguan later in the week. Whatever you do, drink great coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Fair Trade Organic Nicaragua. Code expires on 9.10.15. 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 Coffee Descriptions, Just for fun, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, coffee, Fair Trade Coffee, Fair Trade Organic Nicaragua, Free Coffee, Nicaraguan Coffee, Organic coffee, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: 28th August, 2015

Posted on August 28 2015 by Holly Fike

Costa Rican Tarrazu El Pedregal Caturra

We are all feeling grateful around here today, because our plumbing problems are finally solved. A big thanks to all of you who put up with the lack of a bathroom for the last ten days–and especially to our employees who were willing to hike across the street during their shifts. If I haven’t said it recently, I think that we have the best staff: they have a good attitude even when it’s not going smoothly.

A great day at the ballpark.

Yesterday was a much needed relaxing family outing. We went to another San Francisco Giants game, this time with Becky, our manager, and her new husband Dave. My kids got a day off school, and we all had fun cheering for a win against the Chicago Cubs. After a splendid seafood meal at Scomas, we ran to catch the last ferry back to Vallejo, and were rewarded with the above view. What a day.

Today we’re back in the swing of things here at Carolines Coffee. We’ve got a new coffee for you: a Costa Rican Tarrazu El Pedregal Caturra. This is a single estate coffee, grown by Alejandro Solis on his El Pedregal farm. He also owns his own micromill, called Don Oscar, where the coffee is processed. This allows for quality control during fermentation, pulping, and drying–which all translates into a great cup for you and me.

This Costa Rican is sweet, with a nice acidity, a medium body, and great chocolate tones. We brewed up a French press of this today, and it was delicious. I’m looking forward to taking some home to drink this week. You can try a cup of this on us with the code Giants fan* this week.

I hope you all enjoy your weekend. In our household Saturday ballet practices are beginning for the Nutcracker, and I know that many of you with kids have soccer going on. However you spend your weekend, drink good coffee. Cooler weather is coming, and there’s nothing better than a steaming mug when the temperature drops. Enjoy!
–Holly Fike

Post Script :: For those of you curious about such things, I forgot to explain the rest of the name. Tarrazu is the region where the coffee is grown, El Pedregal (scree or large stones) is the name of the farm, and Caturra is the variety of arabica coffee–a low growing cultivar of Bourbon first discovered in Brazil. It is especially good when grown at higher elevations, with lower yields, as in this Costa Rican.

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Costa Rican Tarrazu El Pedregal Caturra. Code expires on 9.3.15. 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 Coffee Descriptions, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Costa Rica Tarrazu El Pedregal Caturra, Costa Rican coffee, Costa Rican Tarrazu, Free Coffee, Tarrazu coffee, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: 14th August, 2015

Posted on August 14 2015 by Holly Fike

Mexico Altura Oaxaca Sierra Juarez Especial

Happy fair week you all! If you live locally, I trust that you’ve been to the fair, or will be heading there soon. In our family attending the fair is an annual tradition. For many years we ran a booth out there, so both kids have visited the fair since they were babies. We no longer manage a booth (and we certainly appreciate those of you who do!), but we make a point of taking the kids each year. It’s a summer highlight for sure.

Being goofy with Mike on the ferry.

We also attended a San Francisco Giants game this week: ending the summer season with a week of fun. Our deliveryman Mike and his wife Ellen came too. Except for the fact that the Giants lost, it was a perfect day: complete with a ferry ride, a water taxi, sea lions and seals, and a great seafood meal at Scomas.

This week we have a new coffee with a long name: our Mexican Altura Oaxaca Sierra Juarez Especial. What’s in a name? Well, to parse it, we have the country of origin (Mexico), it’s high-grown (Altura), the state of origin (Oaxaca), the mountain range where it’s grown (Sierra Juarez), and the fact that this is an exceptional coffee (Especial). It’s a mouthful (I couldn’t resist the pun), but it is descriptive.

This Mexican is a partnership between Royal Coffee (one of our brokers), and coffee growers in Oaxaca whose coffees have been decimated by leaf rust. In order to help the farmers, they are searching for quality coffee in the region, immediately paying a premium price, and then storing it in a warehouse and packing and processing it for export. This gives the farmers an income while they wait for replanted crops to grow.

We’ve roasted this Mexican light, for a delicious, medium-bodied sweet cocoa taste. It’s delightful with a bar of Cello Chocolate, if you need a dessert treat. These beans are fully washed and it has a clean flavor that reminds me of some of the great Costa Rican coffees.

You can try a cup of this Mexican Altura Oaxaca Sierra Juarez Especial on us this week with the code water taxi*. If you are back to school this Wednesday, like we are, I wish you a wonderful last few days of vacation. Enjoy the change in schedule, and remember, there’s always coffee to get you through this first week! Cheers.
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Mexican Altura Oaxaca Sierra Juarez Especial. Code expires on 8.20.15. 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 Coffee Descriptions, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee Roasters, Free Coffee, high grown coffee, Mexican coffee, Mexico Altura Oaxaca Sierra Juarez Especial, Oaxaca, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: 7th August, 2015

Posted on August 7 2015 by Holly Fike

Guatemalan Antigua Bella Carmona

Can you believe we’ve completed the first week of August already? Where did the summer go? Yesterday was the final Thursday Night Market, and in less than two weeks school will start. We’ve been working hard to celebrate the last days of vacation. There’s been lots of time spent outdoors and in the pool, and we’ve had friends over daily. It’s good to see kids completely relaxed heading into the school year.

Throwback to gold panning at the fair. This was serious stuff.

Next week is the Nevada County Fair, an annual event enjoyed by many. I love to see the creative entries, from quilts to photography and animals. My kids like those too, but they’re also excited about the rides. Our local fair is unique in that the food booths are all run by non-profits, and most attendees have a list of favorites to visit. Carolines Coffee is proud to sponsor the Sugar Pine Lodge, filled with FFA projects, and you can also find our coffee at the Calvary Bible Church cafe.

This week we have a new Guatemalan Antigua coffee for you. The Antigua region is so well known for great coffee that it has a protected designation, rather like Champagne does in France. This Bella Carmona comes from two farms owned by Luis Pedro Zelaya Zamora. According to this, Luis is a “fourth generation coffee farmer . . . with over 100 years of family knowledge and a formal education in agronomy.”

That tradition and education produces a beautifully processed fully washed coffee. We’ve roasted it light and it tastes of chocolate with a finish of oranges–almost like Cointreau as it cools. It has a medium body and it is delicious to drink. I’m taking home a pound for the next week, and I’m looking forward to it as a morning treat. With the cooler weather for the last few days, I’ve really appreciated my early brew.

You can try a cup of this Guatemalan Antigua Bella Carmona on us with the code fair week*. If you live locally and have a chance to get to the fair, have fun! We’ll be there at least one time this week (who am I kidding? I’m not sure we’ve ever been just once). I hope those of you teachers, students, and parents of students have a great end of your vacation. Stay safe, and drink good coffee.
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Guatemalan Antigua Bella Carmona. Code expires on 8.13.15. 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 Coffee Descriptions, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Free Coffee, Guatemala coffee, guatemalan antigua, Guatemalan Antigua Bella Carmona, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: 31st July, 2015

Posted on August 7 2015 by Holly Fike

Sulawesi Toraja (Celebes)

Last week on Wednesday we boarded the Coast Starlight Amtrak in Sacramento and rode to Seattle for a week. The train was lots of fun, although I found it hard to sleep with all the stops. The kids didn’t mind at all, though, and we loved seeing the views. The best part was going through the Cascades in Oregon and along the Sound in Washington. There were even guides in the observation car to tell you what you were seeing.

I didn’t love the gum wall, but the company was good.

We went to Seattle to visit Andrew. He is in the Navy and stationed outside of Seattle–so we got to spend the weekend together in the city. We spent most of our time eating good food, trying good coffee (and some not so good), and walking around. The kids loved taking the ferry boats, especially when we drove on in our rental car.

This week we are featuring our Sulawesi Toraja, formerly known as Celebes. Celebes was the Dutch name for the island of Sulawesi, so the two names refer to the same place. Toraja is a group of indigenous people in south Sulawesi, where coffee is grown at high elevations. The geography of this area is breathtaking, and the villages have a unique boat-like architecture.

This coffee is roasted light, and it has been a favorite of our customers for many years. It roasts beautifully and tastes of sweet toffee with a nutty finish. It is full bodied and rich. If you enjoy other Indonesian beans, this is sure to be a favorite.

I can’t send this e-mail without mentioning that today is the birthday of one of my favorite people: Trace Fike. He is our roaster extraordinaire, and he’s been working here for over thirty years (yes, he started young). He can roast coffee, fix espresso machines and coffee makers, manage the money and talk to the customers all with a smile on his face. Besides all that he takes care of his family, and I’m proud to call him my best friend–and my husband. Thanks for another great year babe!

You can try a cup of this Sulawesi on us with the code gum wall* this week. This was not one of my favorite sights, but now I can say I’ve seen it. We were out of town for the worst of the Lowell Fire, but we kept updated from afar via Yubanet. A big thanks to them for the information, and an even bigger thanks to all the firefighters who kept our homes safe. We appreciate you.
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Sulawesi Toraja (Celebes). Code expires on 8.06.15. 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 Coffee Descriptions, Vacation, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Celebes, Free Coffee, Sulawesi, Sulawesi Toraja, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

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