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Weekly Newsletter: El Salvador San Emilio

Posted on August 23 2013 by Holly Fike

El Salvador San Emilio

We spent last Sunday driving to Lake Tahoe via the scenic route. The top was off our 1968 Bronco, and we drove out of the smoke into a sunny Tahoe day. You don’t go very fast in the Bronco: it’s perfect for appreciating the river pouring over the granite, the rock climbers on the summit, all the sun bathers sitting on their decks around Donner Lake, and for counting the rafters on the Truckee River. We live in an amazing place.

This week I’m still adjusting to getting up with an alarm clock. It makes me especially appreciate all my employees who get up every morning and are at the store bright and early to serve you. I haven’t opened the store since the day before Jack was born, eight years ago and counting. Now I enjoy my few minutes to myself before the kids wake up. There aren’t many things better than sitting in a corner of the room with my favorite handmade mug (this one), watching the light change on the trees, and appreciating the quiet before the day begins. It helps my sanity. What’s your morning ritual*?

Trace roasted this El Salvador San Emilio yesterday, and the aroma as he handed us the bag of still warm beans was amazing: toasty and caramelly and comforting, like peanut butter. We immediately brewed a French press for all of us to share. The collective comments were: “mmmm,” “wow,” “nut and fruit,” and “as bold a Central American coffee as I have ever tasted.”

This is a pulped natural coffee, a term which refers to the manner in which the coffee berries are processed. It may be the reason why it has such a wonderfully strong aroma, and bold flavor. The cherry is stripped from the beans, as in a washed coffee, but the mucilage is left intact while the beans dry. This gives it the fruity notes especially. After drying, the beans are cleaned the rest of the way, before being packaged and sent to us.

We would love for you to try a cup of this El Salvador on us this week. Use the code in bold burgundy above to receive your free 12 ounce cup. I hope that it helps you get up in the mornings for the next week: I know that I will be depending on it. Enjoy!
–Holly Fike
*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of El Salvador San Emilio. Code expires on 8.29.13. 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 Local Beauty, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, El Salvador, El Salvador San Emilio, Free Coffee, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Hawaiian Molokai

Posted on August 16 2013 by Holly Fike

Hawaiian Molokai

What a week it has been! Wednesday was the first day of school for my crew, and they were up early in their excitement about a new year. It’s quite a change to be back in a routine. The second morning they were still cheerful, but they both admitted to being extremely sleepy. We finished Wednesday with our tradition of Lazy Dog ice cream, and Aunt Becky joined us, as you can see from the pictures above. It’s certainly nice for me to have more time in the office without interruptions. I fully expect that payroll will be done quite fast today.

This week’s coffee of the week is our Hawaiian Molokai. One of Trace’s favorite coffee experiences comes from Molokai, and he gave me permission to share it with you. In 2000 he went to the Philippines for six weeks on behalf of a local Rotary club. At the end of the trip he had scheduled down time in Hawaii, and he chose to go visit a coffee plantation supplier of ours on Molokai.

Trace with the Molokai bag

His hosts were more than gracious, allowing him free run of their farm, allowing him to stay in their guest house, and showing him all aspects of their coffee business. Molokai has since reopened a resort on the island, but at the time it was as sleepy and non-tourist-y as you could get. Trace said he went to beautiful beaches where he was the only human occupant. He left his wallet on the sand one day, didn’t realize it until later, and it was still there when he came back for it.

On one of his days there, his host said that he had something remarkable to show him. They hopped in a jeep and took off for the interior of the island. There, in the middle of nowhere, was a coffee tree*. Now you and I probably have seen coffee bushes. The word bush is a pretty apt description of the shiny leafed plant with white blossoms and red berries. I’ve seen a number of coffee plants over the years, and so has Trace, but none that could be described as a tree.

This “bush,” according to Trace, was the size of a valley oak, old and gnarled, but with coffee berries in the canopy above, way out of reach. The locals had originally told the farmer about a coffee tree on the island that had been there forever, and shown it to him. No one knew how it had come to be there–perhaps the seed was dropped by a bird passing overhead? It was an amazing sight, and that story is the inspiration for our chalkboard picture above our bulk beans (see below).

We have roasted this Hawaiian Molokai light, so that you can taste all the island flavors–okay, okay, that’s a bit of a stretch. You’re not going to find any pineapple or coconut notes, but this is a nice light brew with a gentle acidity and a strong nutty finish. Enjoy it, and imagine yourself on an uninhabited Hawaiian island while you drink: I know that I will this week! I need something to help get through the first full school week coming up. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Hawaiian Molokai. Code expires on 8.22.13. 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, Coffee tree, Free Coffee, Hawaiian Molokai, Molokai, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: San Agustino Forest Colombian

Posted on August 9 2013 by Holly Fike

San Agustino Forest Colombian

It’s fair week! Have you been to visit the Nevada County Fair yet? We have a great county fair, that showcases 4-H and FFA animals, and where all of the food booths are run by local non-profits. My kids enjoyed watching baby chicks hatch, gold panning, eating corn dogs, a family photo booth stop, dancing to live music, and playing BINGO. We’re planning on returning once more so that they can have a ride day: I think they’ve already chosen their favorites.

Tomorrow, however, is a day dedicated to the young lady pictured to the right: Mariah is getting married! We wish her and her fiance Jonathan all the best, and we can’t wait to attend their wedding tomorrow evening. Mariah is a hardworking woman with a great attitude* at all times, as I’m sure all our regular customers know. She always has a smile on her face.

This week’s coffee of this week is a new one for us. Our Colombian Supremo is this San Agustino Forest Colombian. It comes from the Huila region of Colombia, from small farmers who have committed to growing specialty coffee instead of the drugs that are common in the region. It is fully washed and dried in solar dryers that the farmers have come together to sustain.

I had a mug of this Colombian today with a slice of chocolate cake from Harmony Ridge Market. What a delicious combination! The coffee is roasted light, and the initial taste is very nutty, with a medium body. As you swallow you notice a pleasant liveliness that lingers and makes you want to sip more. I’ve packed up a pound to bring home and enjoy over the next week.

Whatever your plans for the weekend, and where ever you live, I hope that you enjoy some local treat: whether it’s a hometown event like the county fair, a friend’s wedding, a needed day at the river or some time to yourself. If you have kids and you are headed back to school next week, as we are, savor these last few days without a schedule. And no matter what, be sure to drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of San Agustino Forest Colombian. Code expires on 8.15.13. 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, Colombian Supremo, Free Coffee, Harmony Ridge Market, Nevada County Fair, San Agustino Forest Colombian, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Organic Blue Krishna Balinese

Posted on August 2 2013 by Holly Fike

Organic Blue Krishna Balinese

Last night was the fourth downtown Thursday Night Market, and the downtown streets were full of folks out enjoying an evening on the town. We especially enjoyed the live music, and the singing of our employee Roderick as part of the group Uncle Junior. The kids and I were dancing until the market closed. It was a vibrant scene.

I love the bright colors on this bag.

There are more pictures on our blog here, and Sierra FoodWineArt magazine has a series here. The Outside Inn blog had a write-up on the market here, and there is more information on the Grass Valley Downtown Association page here. The market runs through September 26th, so if you haven’t made it downtown yet, you still have time. We’re open every Thursday night until 8:30 pm, serving coffee drinks hot and cold to keep you going!

This week’s coffee of the week is one of my favorites. I love the flavor, but it has the added allure of arriving in a sack evocative of the islands where it is grown. In fact our staff has been flipping coins to see who gets the empty Balinese burlap bags. What’s not to like about coffee from a tropical island?

This coffee comes from small farmers in Bali, who work in cooperation as part of a Hindu religious group. According to our importer, these farmers are organized in a spirit of “Tri Hita Karana” (see article here), seeking happiness in their relationships between each other, the environment, and God. These are all plants that were established after a volcanic eruption in 1963 wiped out most coffee in Bali.

It might be a stretch to say that the happiness comes out in these beans, but they are certainly well-farmed, and the quality shows in the cup. The coffee is picked by hand, which helps insure optimal ripeness, and left to dry on raised bed. The taste is slightly floral at first, but finishes with the more earthy tones that you might expect of an Indonesian coffee.

Organic Balinese has been an employee favorite since we first brought it in. I’m excited to drink it at the store for the next week: it really has an amazing taste. Come on in and try a cup on us by using the code “employee favorite.”* Enjoy the Nevada County Fair next week!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Organic Balinese. Code expires on 8.08.13. 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 Bali, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Free Coffee, Grass Valley, Organic Blue Krishna Balinese, Thursday Night Market, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Thursday Night Market Pictures

Posted on August 2 2013 by Holly Fike

Last night we enjoyed walking around downtown Grass Valley, listening to the live music, and checking out the produce offered by local farmers. There were crafts for the kids, vendors selling handmade items, and dancing in the streets.

Carolines Coffee is open until 8:30 pm every Thursday night while the market runs (until September 26th), and you can stop in and enjoy a coffee while you wander the event. The entertainment schedule is posted here, if there’s someone you would like to see.

Posted in Celebrations, Downtown Events, Local Beauty | Tagged California, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Cirino's Bloody Mary Mix, Downtown Grass Valley, Grass Valley, Holbrooke Hotel, Lazy Dog Ice Cream, live music, local events, Nevada County Makes, Thursday Night Market, Uncle Junior | 2 Comments

Weekly Newsletter: Celebes Toraja

Posted on July 26 2013 by Holly Fike

Celebes Toraja

I am in the lovely town of Manteca today. Actually, we haven’t found much to do in Manteca, but there is a very nice baseball park, which is why we are here. Jack has a tournament at the Big League Dreams field. It’s an amazing sports complex, where the fields are designed as replicas of major league fields. Pretty exciting for an eight and under team! Plus staying in a hotel is pretty exciting for my kids.

Meeting each other for the first time.

For the last week we’ve had guests visiting, and it was a wonderful experience of hosting lots of family. We enjoyed seeing two of Trace’s brothers and their wives, Trace’s uncle and his wife, and one of our niece’s with her husband and 5 month old baby. Baby Cooper is Grandma Caroline’s first great-grandbaby. Not only does Caroline have a legacy of a coffee shop that we continue in her name, but she is the matriarch of a family that keeps growing. We are honored to be related to her.

This week’s coffee of the week is one of Caroline’s favorites. Her first choice is our Gayo Mountain Sumatra, but this comes in a close second. Celebes is an Indonesian island, that I always think resembles a hand. It has actually been renamed Sulawesi, but the coffee still comes in a bag with the old Dutch colonial name, Celebes.

We brewed a pot of this Celebes Toraja in a French press in our hotel room this morning. Although the water might not have been the proper temperature, we thoroughly enjoyed the full-bodied, earthy taste as we woke up. It has a light acidity and a chocolate taste as it cools.

Wherever you might be this weekend, be sure to drink good coffee. This weekend is the annual Agony Ride fundraiser for the CEM ranch, and my brother and sister-in-law are riding. We’ll be headed to at least three more baseball games this weekend, but I’ll certainly be thinking of those friends and family committed to their bikes for twenty-four hours. Our very own Ruth Welch, employee extraordinare, is riding–check in with her next week to hear how many miles she accomplished. Best of luck to all of you riders: may the wind be at your back and may your tires stay full!

You can sample this Celebes on us by using the code chocolate taste* this week. Cheers!

–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Celebes Toraja. Code expires on 8.01.13. 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, Uncategorized, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Agony Ride, baseball, Big League Dreams, CA, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Celebes Toraja, CEM Agony Ride, Free Coffee, Indonesia, Manteca, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Organic Honduran

Posted on July 19 2013 by Holly Fike

Organic Beneficio Santa Rosa Honduran

At our house we’re about halfway through the summer break. It’s been a hot week, and my kids have spent it swimming or picking blackberries, with a movie date to see Despicable Me Two thrown in. I’ve kept cool by hanging out in the office at the store, as usual. As the temperatures have increased each day this week, it has certainly felt like we’re heading into the dog days of summer. It’s perfect weather for a mocha freeze or an iced tea, and we appreciate that so many of you have stopped in!

Becky in Honduras

This week’s coffee of the week is an Organic Honduran. It is grown in the central highlands of Honduras, and it is a SHG, or strictly high-grown bean. You also see the designation SHB on coffee bags, which signifies strictly hard bean, and the two terms are fairly synonymous. They indicate that the coffee is grown at a high altitude, which leads to lower production and a denser bean–the quality and taste tend to be higher in the cup. This newsletter from our coffee broker, Knutsen Coffee, relates a story of the same bean, from the same estate, but grown at different elevations, and how the higher grown bean was unanimously selected as the favorite in a blind cupping.

Our manager Becky lived in Honduras for a semester in college (see the header picture). Her recollection of the small family farms there is of very hospitable people, who offered you hot coffee, with sugar, no matter the heat. It would be impolite to turn down their generosity, so she drank coffee everywhere she walked. She recalls coffee grown under the shade of the tall trees, with vines hanging down, and farmers roasting their own beans in a cast iron pan.

The Beneficio Santa Rosa has a great website, here, if you read Spanish. Becky (who does) greatly enjoyed reading about this processing plant/cooperative that is helping to bring these individually farmed coffees to market. If your browser will translate for you, look it up. They’re doing an amazing job of promoting and processing these coffees, and bringing a better life to these farmers.

We roasted this coffee light, and it is easy to drink, even on such a hot day. It is balanced, with a medium acidity and lingering sweet notes at the finish. Honduran high grown coffees have often been used in espresso blends, or even as a sole espresso bean. Whether you like to start your day with straight coffee, or an espresso drink, this would be a good coffee to try. Come on in and enjoy our air conditioning this weekend, and tell us what you think. You can try a cup of Organic Honduran for free by using the code tall trees*. Enjoy!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Organic Honduran. Code expires on 7.25.13. 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 Beneficio Santa Rosa, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Free Coffee, high altitude, Honduras, Honduras coffee, Knutsen Coffee, Organic Honduran, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Fair Trade Organic Guatemalan Huehuetenango

Posted on July 12 2013 by Holly Fike

Last Wednesday we had the pleasure of attending a San Francisco Giants game with our indefatigable deliveryman, Mike, his lovely wife, and our wonderful store manager, Becky. We all met at the store at 7:00 am, and drove together (yes, the kids came too, so there were seven of us in the car!) to the Vallejo ferry. As I walked out of the store with my mug for the road, a customer stopped me to say that the free coffee code for the week should be “Becky bucks.” So here you go, Bob, Becky bucks it is.

Family Picture with the World Series Trophies

The rest of our Wednesday was simply splendid. Well the game did not go so well as a Giants fan, since we were swept by the Mets, but we managed to enjoy our day anyway. A ferry ride, a ballgame in San Francisco, a cable car ride, walking the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral, a fresh seafood dinner at the Ferry Building, and then an evening ferry back to our waiting car. What could be better? The weather was sunny and the company was cheerful: I do believe that a great time was had by all.

Back in Grass Valley, we got a new green bean shipment yesterday, and this morning Trace roasted our coffee of the week, a Fair Trade Organic Guatemalan. This coffee comes from the Huehuetenango region of Guatemala, in the western highlands, close to Mexico. It is produced by a group of women farmers, as you can read about here, and grown in the shade of fruit trees. I thought it was interesting that the coffee crop is grown among cardamom plants: Guatemala is the biggest exporter of cardamom in the world, although it is native to India.

The taste of this Guatemalan does not remind me of cardamom, but it does have sweet nutty flavors. We just brewed a pot for an employee tasting, and the comments were: “caramelly,” “a little bit tangy,” several references to “mellow,” and “easy to drink.” It has a medium acidity, and medium to light body. Leave a comment on our Facebook page and tell us what you think.

You can use the code Becky bucks to try a 12 ounce cup for free this week (one per customer per week please). Enjoy your weekend! If you’re looking for something to do locally, with the weather predicted to stay hot, check out the pictures of the South Yuba river on the Outside Inn blog, here. The river is always a good option in the unwavering heat of July. Be safe and stay cool.
–Holly Fike

Posted in Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Fair Trade Organic Guatemalan, Free Coffee, Grace Cathedral, Guatemalan coffee, Guatemalan Huehuetenango, San Franciso Giants, Vallejo Baylink Ferry, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Organic Rainforest Alliance Uganda Okoro

Posted on June 28 2013 by Holly Fike

Organic RFA Uganda Okoro

Last weekend our family enjoyed sharing Trace’s Father’s Day gift of a San Francisco Giants game. We took the ferry from Vallejo, which may well be the best part of the trip. Since we went on Saturday, we had great weather, before the rain hit at the beginning of this week. It’s hard to believe that there was over an inch of rain a mere four days ago, with the temperatures hovering around 100 degrees today! Our trip was a complete success, and we even had the opportunity to enjoy a cable car ride to dinner. We finished the evening watching the supermoon rising over the water and the lights playing on the Bay Bridge as the ferry sped back to Vallejo.

Enjoying the ferry ride home.

I hope that you have had a great week also. I’ve been gearing up to be out of town next week: paying some bills ahead and working on the schedule in advance. The kids and I are headed to Colorado to visit my sister and her three girls. She’s eight months pregnant, so it should be a low-key trip, mostly appreciating each others company. I am so blessed to have two sisters, both of whom I count among my best friends.

I am packing up coffee to take with me, and this week’s coffee of the week will definitely be in my suitcase. This is our Organic Ugandan coffee, which is also Rainforest Alliance certified. Last week we also had an RFA coffee, and I failed to discuss what that means. The Rainforest Alliance, as you can read about here, ensures that the coffees they certify are using sustainable farming practices. A lot of coffee is grown in parts of the world where deforestation and strip clearing are common practices. Coffee grows well in the shade of native trees, and the Rainforest Alliance is emphasizing environmentally sound habits through their marketing on behalf of these products.

This is the first time that we have carried a Ugandan coffee, to my knowledge. This bean comes from a cooperative, as do many of our specialty coffees. It is a washed bean, with a very clean and crisp flavor. It’s light roasted and you taste citrus tones as you swallow, which comes from the acidity of the coffee. You can try this on us once this week by using the code native trees. Come in and tell us what you think of this Ugandan coffee: actually, tell one of my marvelous staff, because I will be on vacation!
–Holly Fike

Posted in Vacation, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, coffee, Free Coffee, Organic Rainforest Alliance Uganda Okoro, Organic Uganda, Uganda, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Rainforest Alliance Indian, Arabidecool Estate

Posted on June 21 2013 by Holly Fike

Rainforest Alliance Indian, Arabidecool Estate

What do you do during summer break when your parents own a coffee shop? Well some days you sit down at a free table and color, or eat a bagel. Other days are busy with golf camp, baseball camp, or VBS. Creative time at The Artist Workshop is always good, and we even have “school at the store–” workbooks and crafts to keep both kids engaged while mom and dad work. I often find my social little girl out sitting with customers that she has adopted as friends. Thus the days of summer fly by.

This week the store has been packed with tourists, and we’ve had a lot of fun visiting with people from around the world. This week I’ve met folks from Australia, France, Germany and Taiwan. Each had a different reason for being here, and I love that this Gold Country draws such a diverse group. It is an amazing spot to live, and the enjoyment of others helps me to remember how lucky we are to be in Nevada County. The fascination that others have with the roasting process reminds me how unique it is.

Our coffee this week is completely new to us. The only Indian coffee that we have carried before is our Monsooned Malabar. This coffee is also from the west coast of India, but it hails from the Baba Budangiri Mountains. The story goes, as related here, that these plants come from beans brought back from Yemen by a saint. Coffee has a great history!

When we sampled this coffee yesterday, it was love at first sip. The tones were so sweet that our manager, Becky, brought in a chocolate bar today that perfectly complemented the coffee. She was eating it last night and kept flashing back to the flavors of this Indian bean, so she shared with the rest of us today. It really was a remarkable pairing.

This light roasted Indian has caramel and nutty tones, and it holds its flavor while it cools. This is our first experience with this Indian coffee, so we would love to hear what you think. Leave a comment on our blog or our Facebook page and tell us your opinion. You can sample it on us for the next week by using the code in red above: amazing spot. Enjoy!
–Holly Fike

Posted in Coffee Descriptions | Tagged Arabidecool Estate Indian, Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Free Coffee, Indian coffee, Rainforest Alliance, Rainforest Alliance Arabidecool Estate Indian, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Panama Boquete

Posted on June 14 2013 by Holly Fike

Panama Boquete
Ahhh, summer. It has arrived. Actually, the term summer has been confusing in our house, since I keep commenting on how glad I am that summer started, and Caroline has informed me that it is actually still spring until the end of June. She’s right, but now that our schedule has flown away with the last day of school, it definitely feels like the warmth and freedom of summer is here.

I know that school vacation is stressful for some people, but I find it very liberating. My children actually get along better when they spend more time together. We have had a 9:00 am commitment every morning this week, and I have no idea why it was so simple to be there on time, when it was such a struggle to get to school merely a half hour earlier. Whatever the reason, I am loving our relaxed pace.

This week’s coffee comes from a tropical climate, where Summer reigns. The average temperature in Panama Boquete is approximately 75 degrees. This is a region that boasted a world record price for their coffee a few years ago: a testimony to the quality that can be found in these beans. I have never visited Panama, but if you look up photos on TripAdvisor, here, it looks like a marvelous place to travel.

Coffee loves volcanic soil, and this mountainous region on the western side of Panama boasts the dormant Volcan Baru, the highest peak in Panama. No wonder that coffee does so well here! Higher-grown coffee is generally of better quality, because the beans are denser, and the crop tends to be smaller. This bean in particular comes from Casa Ruiz, and you can read about their family business here.

We’ve roasted this light, so that you can taste all the sweet and nutty tones of the bean. The aroma is floral, but the predominant taste is a smooth almost hazelnut flavor. This is strictly from the characteristics of the green bean: we don’t add any flavoring to the coffee.

Come on in and sample this Panama by using the code in bold above: relaxed pace. I hope that you too are enjoying your summer, whether your routine has changed or not. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, coffee, Panama Boquete, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Mt. Oku Cameroon

Posted on June 7 2013 by Holly Fike

Mt. Oku Cameroon

This has been a nonstop week for my family, as we had an activity every day in addition to our normal school and work requirements. Last Sunday my boy turned eight, and we celebrated all day long–I don’t think that you could have had a better eight year old birthday than he did. Tomorrow we have our last baseball game and we’re hosting a party for the team at our house. Today is my birthday. That might be why, despite the busy days and the extreme heat, I’ve had a wonderful week.

Growing up, birthdays were a big event in my family. You got to choose what food you wanted to eat and what you wanted to do. As a small child each birthday meant we had a new “privilege:” the ability to answer the phone, or be allowed to cross the street without a grown up. That is probably why I love birthdays in particular and hot June days in general. Both remind me of those wonderful childhood moments and the joy of feeling special–like Jack did on his birthday.

This week we have a unique offering for you. We have a limited amount of this coffee, although we are hoping to figure out how to obtain more. Chris Jackson, who resides in Cameroon, brought us this high-grown Arabica directly from the growers. For those of you not up on your African geography, Cameroon is on the west coast of Africa (I can remember Chris describing it one time as the armpit of Africa, right where the coastline curves). Mount Oku is in the northwest corner of Cameroon, and coffee is grown on the slopes there.

Chris shared his pictures of the processing plant with us. In the header photo you can see the coffee being sorted and graded by size. In the picture to the right, you can see another part of what I think is part of the drying process (but feel free to correct me with an e-mail here if I’m wrong). The coffee that we received is beautifully processed, meaning that it is visually without defect and very clean and consistent in the green bean. Trace roasted it light, and we all sampled it yesterday.

This Mt. Oku Cameroon coffee has great flavor in the cup. There are a lot of berry and chocolate tones as you sip, paired with a snappy acidity. It would be delicious paired with a dark chocolate bar. If you love bright African coffees, or if Yemen or another Arabian bean is a favorite, you will enjoy this coffee from Cameroon. We have never been offered beans from Cameroon before, so come and try it right away if you are interested. Until we can figure out how to import more, when it is gone, it’s gone.

As usual you can try the Cameroon coffee by using the code above (hint: it’s hot June days). I hope that you all feel special this week, and celebrated, whether it is your birthday or not. I am so lucky to be surrounded by people who cherish me: my staff all sang to me as I walked in this morning, which was completely embarrassing, and my desk was covered with gifts and flowers. If you do not have the same type of work environment, take a moment and celebrate yourself this week. And enjoy your June–in my opinion it’s the best month!
–Holly Fike

Posted in Celebrations, Coffee Descriptions, Mt. Oku Cameroon | Tagged birthday, Cameroon, Carolines Coffee Roasters, coffee, Free Coffee, Mt. Oku Cameroon, Weekly Newsletter | 1 Comment

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