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Weekly Newsletter: Fair Trade Organic Sumatra

Posted on October 3 2014 by Holly Fike

Staff Party Collage Fair Trade Organic Sumatra

Happy October you all! Can you believe it? It seems like September ran out the door when I wasn’t looking, and October snuck in with a dusting of gold and red leaves. The last few days have been so warm that it seems earlier than the calendar states. But today I looked at our aspen trees and a third of the leaves were a brilliant, flashy yellow. I guess it is fall.

You can win this mug!

A week ago at this time I was already at home, prepping for our staff barbeque. We had a great time. In exciting news, Mariah, our lovely employee pictured in the top right photo (the pregnant one), gave birth to a baby girl Monday morning. Congratulations Mariah!

I do have one more item to let you know about. It’s not as amazing as a new baby, but fun nonetheless. We got in some new mugs last week (this one and this one), and we’re giving one away. You can win the stainless mug pictured on the right by leaving a comment on our blog here.

Our coffee this week is the Fair Trade Organic Sumatra. This is a perennial favorite around here. For years the matriarch, Grandma Caroline, has chosen Sumatra as her favorite coffee. It is light roasted, with a bold, full-bodied, and nutty flavor.

Sumatra is one of the Indonesian islands, and the flavor is not a big departure from the Balinese that we featured last week. Tasting these at the same time you notice distinct differences, but without the side by side comparison you might not notice. This week you have the option of trying a four ounce cup of both of these, or sticking with the usual free single cup. The code is Indonesian coffees*.

Have a good first weekend of October. Enjoy being outdoors if you live in this area: it is supposed to be a lovely weekend. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Fair Trade Organic Sumatra or a four ounce cup of FTO Sumatra and Organic Balinese. Code expires on 10.09.14. 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.

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Employees, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Employees, Fair Trade Organic, Fair Trade Organic Sumatra, Free Coffee, giveaway, Indonesia, staff party, Sumatran coffee, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

New Stainless Mug Giveaway

Posted on October 2 2014 by Holly Fike

Our original stainless mug has a new smaller companion, and we’re celebrating. Not everybody wants a 16 ounce drink, so here is the 12 ounce version, in a matte black finish.

I took one home and Trace used it all day Saturday, with and without the lid. It stays cool on the outside, but keeps the coffee . . . well, I hate to say too hot, but if you want to drink it right away I recommend leaving the lid off for a bit.

To introduce this newest member of our mug family, we decided to give one away. Leave a comment below telling us what you would put in this mug, and you’ll be entered to win.

The winner will be drawn at random next Monday, October 6th, and notified via e-mail. Good luck!

Edited :: The winner is Joleen: congratulations! Thank you all for your fun comments.

Posted in Giveaway | Tagged giveaway | 39 Comments

A Coffee Day Giveaway

Posted on September 29 2014 by Holly Fike

Happy National Coffee Day! We’ve teamed up with Erin, over at the Outside Inn to celebrate all things coffee. She’s decorated a basket full of treats: our Special Blend coffee, one of our new diner mugs (coming to the website soon), a hand-crafted chocolate bar from Cello Chocolates, and a few other munchies.

To find out more about how Erin decorated the basket, check out her blog post here. If you’re interested in knowing more about her crafty techniques, she’s teaching a card making class at our local Ben Franklin this Wednesday night (10/1, 6-7:30 pm, $18, fall cards, details here).

For a chance to win this basket, leave a comment on this post and tell us what you’re drinking today. The winner will be randomly chosen and notified on Wednesday, 10/1/14.

Update: for more coffee day fun, check out Erin’s post of coffee love here!

Edited:: The winner of the gift basket is Diane Richards. Congratulations! Comments are now closed. 10.01.14

Posted in Giveaway | Tagged giveaway, National Coffee Day, Outside Inn | 58 Comments

Weekly Newsletter: Organic Blue Krishna Balinese

Posted on September 26 2014 by Holly Fike

Smoky Header Picture Organic Blue Krishna Balinese

It’s been quite a week around here, weather-wise. The header picture is the view down the street, and that’s smoke causing the trees in the distance to fade into shades of grey. In fact it got so smoky that school was cancelled on Tuesday, so on top of an inservice Monday, my kids had a four day weekend. We’re very grateful to the firefighters who are working hard to contain and extinguish the King fire.

What fun to need an umbrella!

Yesterday we had our first significant rainfall of the season, which meant that downtown looked like the photo to the right. I took that picture from under my paisley umbrella–it was lovely to need it. The rain washed the world clean, and today is smoke-free with jolly white clouds bobbing around the sky.

This morning was significantly cooler than the rest of September, and several of us showed up to work in boots. It is officially autumn. This is a wonderful time of year to drink coffee. It keeps your hands warm in the morning and wakes you up with a spring in your step.

At least that’s the way it works for me. This week’s coffee is our Organic Blue Krishna Balinese. It comes from the highlands of central Bali, where it is grown by farmers who are a part of a cooperative based on Hindu principles.

This is a washed coffee, as opposed to the natural Balinese that we recently carried. It is hand picked and dried on raised beds. It is organic and rainforest alliance certified, and you taste the care in the cup. We’ve roasted this light, and it is full-bodied, sweet, and finishes with a strong nutty flavor. It has a light taste of dried plums, but none of the fruit forward tones of the dry-processed Balinese we had previously. It is amazing how the processing can effect the final product.

This week you can sample the Organic Balinese on us with the code nutty flavor*. Enjoy your first week of fall. We’re having a staff party this weekend, so I’m sure that there will be some goofy pictures online. I love that our employees all hang out together anyway, so a party is always a good time. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Organic Blue Krishna Balinese. Code expires on 10.02.14. 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.

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Bali, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Free Coffee, Indonesia, Organic Blue Krishna Balinese, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Guatemala La Perla

Posted on September 19 2014 by Holly Fike

Guatemala La Perla

It’s hard to believe that a mere five days ago I woke up at the coast, less than a hundred yards from the ocean. It was a foggy, cool morning, and the first thing I did was brew a French press of coffee. We are so lucky to live and work in a state where you can drive from mountaintops to ocean side in a day. Even in a yellow ’68 Bronco.

There’s no good way to photograph a 300 foot tall tree.

We had the top off the Bronco, and the fog made it a bit chilly along the coast. But on Saturday morning we drove inland along the Navarro river, and the further we got, the warmer it became. I’ve never been down that stretch of road before, and the sights were amazing. We wandered the old growth redwoods at Hendy Woods State Park: it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve seen redwoods, they’re awe-inspiring.

Saturday evening we stayed in Yountville, the same place we honeymooned ten years ago. Trace discovered the same thing he did at that time: if you get up early, it’s hard to find coffee. Luckily we had our trusty French press to save the day.

This week’s coffee of the week is a Guatemalan masterpiece. I’ve been enjoying it all day long–I’ve probably had too much coffee today (is there such a thing?) because I like it so much. It’s smooth and balanced, sweet, but not syrupy. It has a medium body, and it would be absolutely decadent with the pain au chocolat that our baker added to the menu.

La Perla is a rather large estate in central Guatemala, that has placed in a number of Cup of Excellence competitions. It is employee owned, and run mostly by indigenous Mayan people. The coffee is grown at high elevations, which minimizes the yield and creates this strictly high grown bean.

You can sample the Guatemalan La Perla on us this week with the code medium body*. Also, I highly recommend going away once in a while–it was rejuvenating. My peace and patience levels rose while I was gone, and I feel like my pace slowed down this week. It probably also helped that no one was sick. If you manage even a short trip, do take good coffee, and a French press in case no one is open early. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Guatemala La Perla. Code expires on 9.25.14. 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.

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Local Beauty, Vacation, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Free Coffee, Guatemala La Perla, Guatemalan coffee, Hendy Woods State Park, Mendocino, redwoods, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Kenya AA

Posted on September 15 2014 by Holly Fike

Kenya AA
I’m in a bit of a rush today, because Trace and I are heading out of town as soon as I get done. We never had a chance to get away this summer–well, not the two of us anyway, so we’re both looking forward to this trip. Somehow, despite all my advance planning, it takes me longer to prep for a trip than my husband. I think it’s because I pack more. Don’t you need to pack shoes to match your date night dress?

Kenya pouring out of the roaster today

In reality, this week started out with sick kids, and I don’t think that I ever caught up. They both missed school for the first time this year, but quickly recovered and finished the week strong. A few days of a feverish family is a good reminder to me to be grateful for the good health that we usually enjoy. I seem to have successfully avoided getting sick, and for that too I am thankful.

In the interest of leaving as soon as possible on my 48 hour vacation (for which I am only mostly packed), here are a few quick notes on the Kenya AA that we are featuring this week. Kenya has a protocol for coffee that is run by the government. They are known for their marvelous coffees, and the care that goes into the beans. Kenyan coffees all come to auction and are sold by lots.

This Kenyan has the distinct winey characteristics and bright acidity that you would expect. It has lemon tones and the nose before you sip is almost floral. As it cools, you taste nuttier undertones, which linger at the finish. It is distinctly different from the El Salvador Peaberry that we featured last week.

You can try this Kenyan on us this week with the code bright acidity*. If you have not tried an African bean, you should sample it to see how different it is than most American or Indonesian beans. You may find that this is your new favorite coffee.
Enjoy!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Kenya AA. Code expires on 9.18.14. 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.

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Free Coffee, Kenya AA, Kenya coffee, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: El Salvador Santa Rita Peaberry

Posted on September 5 2014 by Holly Fike

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.

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, El Salvador, El Salvador Santa Rita Peaberry, Free Coffee, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Fair Trade Nicaragua

Posted on August 29 2014 by Holly Fike

Squaw Tram Header Fair Trade Nicaragua

This week on Tuesday I took the tram up to High Camp at Squaw Valley for a hike with a class of second graders. My little girl was terrified on the ride up and down, but hiking around at 8200′ was a blast. They are studying rocks and every few minutes someone had a new find. It was great to see their excitement in learning and being outdoors.

Ready for Dinner.

Speaking of outdoors, how does your garden grow? August in Nevada County may well be the height of our local produce season: it seems like everything is ready to be harvested. It’s a good time of year to eat. I think tomatoes have been on our dinner table every night this week, and we’ve had two bountiful meals with friends where the fresh fruit off our trees was the table decoration.

Our coffee this week is our Fair Trade Organic Nicaragua. It comes from the Matagalpa department, in the northwest of Nicaragua. This is an area of craggy mountains, with coffee mostly grown by the indigenous population. Small farms dot the hillsides, and the coffee is certified SHG, or strictly high grown. This leads to lower yields, and higher quality.

You can read more about this fair trade cooperative here. By working under the fair trade umbrella, these farmers (many of whom are women) are paid more and their children have more schooling opportunities. This coffee is also certified organic, so the workers are not being exposed to pesticides.

Trace roasted this Nicaraguan light and in his words it’s “delicious.” It is nutty with chocolate tones as it cools. This is Labor Day weekend, and this would be a great bean to take with you if you’re traveling–especially if you’ll be outdoors on these cool fall mornings.

Enjoy your weekend, whatever you do. We’ll be open reduced hours on Labor Day, from 7 am to 3 pm, so come and visit if you’re in town. You can try a cup of this Nicaraguan on us with the code chocolate tones* this week. Trace and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary today, so we’ll drink to that. I’ll write you again in September–can you believe it? Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Fair Trade Nicaragua. Code expires on 9.04.14. 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.

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Garden, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Fair Trade Nicaragua, Free Coffee, Nicaragua, Nicaraguan Coffee, Squaw Valley, Squaw Valley tram, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Natural Ethiopian Sidamo

Posted on August 15 2014 by Holly Fike

Moonrise Header Natural Ethiopian Sidamo

Last weekend we went camping at Lake Valley Reservoir, for one last family getaway before school began. It was good to be outdoors. The kids loved kayaking across the lake and climbing up the rocks above our campsite. They did not join Trace and I in the tent, but chose to sleep on a tarp each night. Apparently tents are for grown-ups.

Posing for a first day of school picture.

On Wednesday they both went back to school. Summer break is over. We’ve been adjusting to getting up much earlier, and to getting ready with a deadline. The good part is that they both love school. Jack told Aunt Becky this morning, “you don’t have to ask me how my day is after school: it’s going to be good.” It does my heart good to know they love to learn.

Our coffee this week is a natural Ethiopian Sidamo. We’ve talked before about how the term “natural” refers to the dry-processing. This means that the beans are dried with the fruit still intact, usually imparting a fruitier flavor to the final product. This was the original method of processing coffee, and it is still prevalent in Ethiopia today.

Ethiopia is known as the birthplace of coffee. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, legend has it that a goatherd noticed his flock dancing around after eating some red cherries. He joined them in eating the fruit and soon he was gambolling along.

It’s hard to say how much of the story is true, but the history of brewed coffee does begin in north Africa and the Middle East. It was once used to help monks stay awake during prayers, and despite a ban on exporting fertile beans, it was eventually spread around the world.

Today coffee is grown in Ethiopia much the same way as it was centuries ago. These are small farms, spread out on hillsides, and the coffee is organic by default–there is not much access to pesticides. We’ve roasted this Ethiopian light, and it tastes vibrant, with strong fruit flavors. Cherries come to mind as I sip, along with currants and dried berries.

You can come in and try a cup of coffee on us with the code gambolling* this week. Gambolling is such a fun word to say, and so seldom used, that the English major in me had to choose it. I hope that you all enjoy your weekend–I know that we will. I think that sleeping in will be in order for two tired kiddos. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Natural Ethiopian Sidamo. Code expires on 8.21.14. 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.

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, coffee history, Ethiopia, Ethiopian coffee, Free Coffee, Natural Ethiopian Sidamo, Weekly Newsletter | 1 Comment

Weekly Newsletter: Brazilian Fazenda Pantano

Posted on August 8 2014 by Holly Fike

Goldpan Header Brazilian Fazenda Pantano

Yes, it’s that time of year again: the annual Nevada County fair. We were there for opening day, and the kids enjoyed gold panning, checking out the animals, playing Bingo, eating corn dogs, and watching the hatching chicks. We didn’t do any rides yet, so we’ll be back another day. It is always a fun family event, and my kids look forward to it each year. If you’re local, you’re sure to run into everyone you’ve ever known, and if you’re new to the area, you’ll probably make new friends.

Tentatively petting a horse.

This week our coffee comes with a QR code, that links you here. How cool is it that you can follow the bean all the way to the farm where it was grown? If you don’t follow the link, this Brazilian Fazenda Pantano (fazenda means farm in Portuguese) comes from the northwest part of the state of Minas Gerais, in Brazil.

This is an area known for their more specialty coffees. Since Brazil is one of the world’s largest producers of coffee, much of their production in the past has been about quantity, not quality. The Cerrado Mineiro region is making an effort to designate their coffee as high quality Arabica beans.

We’ve roasted this Brazilian light, and when we brewed a French press today it tasted like you were chewing on the beans: nutty, with good acidity, and a flavor that lingers. It would be a perfect complement to chocolate (and we just got a restock of Cello Chocolates).

Have a wonderful weekend you all. Enjoy the county fair* if you live locally, and enjoy your summer if not. I have my twentieth high school reunion this weekend (hard to imagine since I’m only twenty-nine!). Looking back is a good reminder to me to appreciate each day, and the experiences that make us who we are. In the meantime, keep drinking good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Brazilian Fazenda Pantano. Code expires on 8.14.14. 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.

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Local Beauty, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Brazil, Brazilian Coffee, Brazilian Fazenda Pantano, Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Free Coffee, Nevada County Fair, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Kenya AA

Posted on August 1 2014 by Holly Fike

Kenya AA
Trace and I took his ’68 Bronco up to Lake Tahoe last night, to celebrate his 50th birthday. We had the top off, which was lovely as we left the 90 degree weather in town, but we did get rained on from about Big Bend on. After a quick stop in Truckee to buy a light parka, we were on our way, slightly damp, but still enjoying our adventure. It was a refreshing drive. On our way home the clouds had moved on, so that we could star watch while the wind swept us downhill. What a beautiful place we live.

The windblown birthday boy.

This week our coffee comes from Africa, with this Kenya AA bean. AA refers to the highest grade of Kenyan coffee. This coffee is grown in the central part of the country, on the slopes of Mt. Kenya. It comes from small farms who come together to process their coffee in Murang’a county.

The flavor profile of this bean is completely different from the central American coffees we’ve featured recently. This Kenyan has a bright acidity, floral tones, and a sweetness of caramel as you sip. It’s lively, and makes you want another taste. It would be great hot or iced.

We are now less than two weeks away from school starting again. I have time to spend with my two favorite* children
before that happens. In the meantime, I hope that you all stay cool this weekend. If you’re looking for rain, try the high country–it is certainly a nice change in weather as you rise in elevation. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Kenya AA. Code expires on 8.07.14. 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.

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Free Coffee, Kenya, Kenya AA, Kenya coffee, Lake Tahoe, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Guatemalan Atitlan

Posted on July 25 2014 by Holly Fike

tomatoes and strawberries Guatemalan Atitlan

The produce was lovely last night at the Thursday Night Market. There are three more weeks left, so you still have time to visit this fun and family-friendly event. It features live music, local vendors and artisans, and food and treats of all sorts. Most of the stores are open late, including The Artist Workshop if you need a place to take the kids. We make a lot of mocha freezes for folks out walking around!

I had to buy flowers last night: they were gorgeous.

This week’s coffee is once again a central American bean. We seem to have traveled that direction and stuck lately. We’ve gone from Mexico to Honduras and Costa Rica, and now we’ve gone back northwest to Guatemala. This coffee comes from the volcanic mountains around Lake Atitlan, on the Pacific side of the country. This is one of the eight growing regions in Guatemala, which you can read more about here.

Trace roasted this light so that you can taste all the nuances of flavor in this bean. It’s great coffee, with nutty flavors and a sweet finish. This is more a chocolate sweet than the floral or honey tones of last week’s Costa Rican Miel. It would make a good dessert coffee, or a morning accompaniment to a baked good in your local coffee shop. I’ll be drinking this at home this week, a nice treat* as summer winds down.

I have a little girl sitting in the back office patiently waiting for her mother to be done working. I think that I better send out this newsletter and take her home for a swim. May you all find somewhere to cool off this weekend (it’s supposed to be hot!). And whether you take it hot or iced, enjoy good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Guatemalan Atitlan. Code expires on 7.31.14. 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.

Posted in Downtown Events, Uncategorized | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Free Coffee, Guatemala, Guatemalan Atitlan, Guatemalan coffee, Thursday Night Market, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

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