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Weekly Newsletter: Ethiopian Sidamo

Posted on May 31 2013 by Holly Fike

Ethiopian Sidamo

Can you believe that tomorrow is the first day of June? School has one more week to go, and the baseball season is winding up in the next week too. I will miss seeing the darling faces of our farm team as they try their darnedest to catch or throw a baseball. The joy of farm league is seeing the progress from the beginning of the year until now. They have become a team in the last few months and Trace has done a great job instilling a love of baseball in them. This week we had a practice day, a game day and then another practice day, and all thirteen of them showed up. That’s commitment.

It’s mocha freeze weather!

One reason that little league has been so much fun is this great community that we live in. There is so much support for the coaches, and so many parent helpers that it makes the season fly by. That community is the reason that we are in business, and the reason that we choose to live in this area. Thank you all for being a part of our local team.

This week’s coffee of the week is half a world away from here, in an entirely different community. We are brewing our Ethiopian Sidamo, from the country known as the birthplace of coffee. As the legend goes, a goatherd was tending his animals when he noticed them dancing around after eating the red berries from a particular bright-leafed shrub. He munched on a few also, and frolicked with his goats. He shared the fruit with local monks, who used the cherries as a stimulant to stay awake during evening prayers–or so the story goes.

Coffee still grows wild in the highlands of Ethiopia, but it is also cultivated there. The coffee that we’re offering this week has a bright piquant taste, with a lot of berry tones. It is roasted light so that you can taste all of these flavors. It is distinctly different from last weeks Aged Sumatra, so come try a cup on us this week.

You can have a twelve ounce cup of this Ethiopian by using the code in burgundy above (it’s local team). I hope that you all enjoy the warm weather this weekend if you live locally. If you’re ready for iced drinks, we’ve got those too: the blenders have been going nonstop today!
–Holly Fike

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged baseball, Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Ethiopian Sidamo, Free Coffee, little league, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Aged Sumatra

Posted on May 24 2013 by Holly Fike

Aged Sumatra

The header picture is a panoramic of the store, filled with people who came to share their memories of Dave Harriman. It was a great event that allowed us to verbally appreciate a man who always had a hello and a helping hand for everyone. I’m pretty sure that he knew the names of each person who was there last night: he had an amazing memory. We all watched a YouTube video of Dave playing his harmonica, and you can check it out here. Thank you to all who attended: it was the best kind of community gathering.

We will be open from 7-3 on Memorial Day.

Before I forget to mention it, we will be open on Monday for Memorial Day, but our hours will be reduced to 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. If you are traveling this weekend, be safe, and find a minute on Monday to say thank you for those who gave their lives for our country. The many freedoms that we enjoy wouldn’t be here without them.

Our coffee of the week is completely unique. We once again ordered a bag of Aged Sumatra, since so many of you enjoyed it the last time we had it in stock. This is a coffee that is intentionally stored so that it mimics the taste of coffee that came on sailing ships years ago. That coffee was exposed to the sea winds, and spent a lot of time in passage. In contrast, this coffee is aged at least three years in a climate-controlled warehouse, but the effect is similar.

The taste of this coffee is different than any other Sumatra that we serve. It has the body and low acidity that you would expect, but the earthiness is pronounced, and it has more fruity tones than our other Indonesians. It is a complex flavor and the aroma is enticing and unusual. Aged Sumatra seems to be a love it or leave it kind of bean, and we would love to hear your opinion about it. Come on in and try it by using the highlighted code above (sea winds), and then leave a comment on our blog or our Facebook page to tell us what you think.

I am grateful for all of you who gave up your time this week to join us in remembering Dave. It seems that thankfulness is the theme of this weeks newsletter, and it is good to remember that this community that we live in is special because of all of you: the people who come in each day and become our downtown family. If you knew Dave, listen to some Bob Dylan in his memory this week: he would like that.
In gratitude,
–Holly Fike

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Aged Sumatra, Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Dave Harriman, Downtown Dave, Free Coffee, Memorial Day, Weekly Newsletter, youtube video | Comments Off

Our Friend David Harriman

Posted on May 18 2013 by Holly Fike

Next Thursday evening, May 23rd, we will be closing early to celebrate our friend Dave Harriman. If you knew “Big Dave,” and would like to share with us, come meet us at 5:00 at the store. You are also welcome to leave comments on this post with your memories, if that works better for you. We miss you Dave!

Posted in Celebrations | Tagged Celebration, Dave Harriman, Reverand Otis | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Costa Rican Tarrazu

Posted on May 17 2013 by Holly Fike

Costa Rican Tarrazu

Early on Monday of this week we learned that one of our beloved customers was no longer with us. Dave was a staple around here for many years, and we considered him a part of our local family. He was always ready with a smile and a loud hey-ya, hey-ya, hey-ya as a greeting when we walked by. My kids loved to hear him play harmonica, and he would often pull it out of his pocket just for them. Next Thursday (May 23rd) we are going to close early to remember Dave. We will close at four, and celebrate Dave starting at 5 pm. If you have a “Big Dave” story to share, come and join us.

A proud moment.

In other news, some traditions continue in their orderly fashion. Mother’s Day has come and gone–I spent mine in bed with a bout of the stomach flu, while my angel of a husband took care of everything, all week in fact. I’m finally feeling better. Yesterday I had been gifted a fishing trip with Mike, our deliveryman, and Becky, our manager. Since I was still under the weather, Trace and Jack and Grandma Caroline went in my place. I did point out that it takes three people to replace me!

The highlight of the day was that seven year old Jack hooked and reeled in his first fish. I received picture updates from Becky all day long, and I have never seen a bigger smile on a little boy’s face. He couldn’t stop talking about it when he arrived home: it was the best day of his life. He is definitely hooked on fishing for life, although trout out of the Yuba might not be as exciting after catching striper out of the Sacramento River.

Oh and we did get coffee shipments last week, so we’ve got some new coffees to share with you. Not that the coffee is an afterthought, but it was a week overrun with other things. Life has a way of doing that, doesn’t it? Sometimes we need the reminder that ultimately it’s all about the people with whom we surround ourselves. Coffee may be our business, but mostly we love it because it brings us into contact with all of you: our customers, family, and friends.

This week’s coffee is our Costa Rican Tarrazu. We just brewed a pot of this Central American bean for all of us to try. It’s incredibly light and smooth, with soft nutty tones. I think that because we’ve carried a Tarrazu for so long, we forget how wonderful it is. Sipping it today while I typed this, I was reminded why some people only drink Costa Rican coffee. It is remarkable. Tarrazu, by the way, is a highland area in the center of Costa Rica, about as far as you can get from either coast. It is known for its world-class coffees.

You can sample this Costa Rican on us by using the code feeling better highlighted above. My wish for each of you is a moment to feel as special as Jack did while reeling in his fish yesterday. May you be proud of yourself and flying high. Enjoy!
–Holly Fike

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Local Beauty, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Costa Rica, Costa Rican Tarrazu, Dave Harriman, fishing, Free Coffee, Local Beauty, Sacramento River, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Rwanda Dukunde Kawa Cooperative

Posted on May 10 2013 by Holly Fike

Rwanda Dukunde Kawa Cooperative

Oh boy, this week has flown by as my kids have taken turns being sick with the stomach flu. I haven’t been at the store much, and my mind has certainly not been focused on coffee. On the bright side, we are definitely past it today, and the sun is shining again. This should be a lovely weekend for getting outdoors as we have a baseball game and Mother’s Day to celebrate.

Being a mom to these goofy kids is one of my greatest joys in life.

I have been thinking about mothers lately, as my grandmother in Texas passed away last week. She was 92 years old, and an amazing woman who was her church organist for 67 years and taught piano lessons to many. I can picture the legacy she leaves as concentric circles growing ever larger: she had four children, fifteen grandchildren, twenty-four great-grandchildren and counting. Each of us have women who have affected our lives, whether they are related to us or not. Mother’s Day is a good day to remember them all.

I am blessed to have so many wonderful women in my life. My own mother is probably my greatest influence to my parenting style. My mother-in-law is one of my best friends (how is that for lucky?)–and that even though we worked together for years. I also have a stepmother who loves to spoil my kids with gifts and treats at every holiday and birthday. I am privileged to have grown up with a grandmother who was a teacher and always had the most engaging crafts for us when we visited weekly. In addition, I have many other female relatives, and then a supportive group of friends to boot. Thank you to all of you!.

In honor of women, we are featuring our Rwandan coffee this week, from the Dukunde Dawa Cooperative. This is a group of mainly women farmers who are working together to market their coffee internationally. They are also donating a percentage of their proceeds to other cooperatives so that they too can build washing stations (for coffee processing). You can see a few pictures and read a little more about it here and here.

The last time we ran this Rwandan, which you can read about on our blog, a lot of you came in and gave us great feedback on how much you liked the citrus notes that you taste first. I talked with one customer whose preference does not run to African coffees, but who loved this one. This Rwandan has more acidity than body, and if you aspirate it like you do in a cupping (pull it noisily over your tongue with a lot of air: basically slurping), the sides of your tongue almost tingle. As you sip, however, the depth of flavor in this bean takes over, and you get some earthy and nutty tones.

We have our usual coupon below that allows you to try this Rwandan on us: but you can also save some ink and use the code in burgundy above: wonderful women. I hope that you take this Mother’s Day to honor the women who have been important in your life, whether they are mothers or not. And to all those mothers out there who are so often overworked and under-appreciated: thank you, and Happy Mother’s Day!
–Holly Fike

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Holidays, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Fair Trade Coffee, Fair Trade Rwanda, Free Coffee, grandmothers, Mother's Day, mothers, Rwanda, Rwanda coffee, Rwanda Dukunde Kawa Cooperative, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Celebes Kalossi

Posted on May 3 2013 by Holly Fike

Last night we had an employee chocolate tasting and coffee cupping. Ned and Debi of Cello Chocolate were good enough to come teach us about the process of crafting their chocolate bars, and to let us taste all the varieties they offer. Their chocolates all have the same ingredients, and yet there are dramatic differences between bars. Chocolate has many similarities to coffee, in that you can blend it and add flavors/ingredients to it, or you can let the distinctions of the country of origin shine. Come on in and ask us about our favorites: I think that we all had our own opinion!

Debi from Cello Chocolate with samples to share

This week’s coffee of the week is one that we cupped last night. We tried three totally disparate coffees, as we usually do with an employee cupping, to make it simple to understand. It’s a good way to introduce the concept. When you place a bright African coffee against an earthy, bold Indonesian, the contrast is easy to spot. You get an idea what acidity means, how a full-bodied bean will fill your mouth, what floral or berry notes might be. It is really quite similar to tasting chocolate.

We tried this Celebes Kalossi next to our Natural Ethiopian Sidamo, which we highlighted here. This is the Ethiopian with so much blueberry taste that some people thought we had actually added flavoring to it. The Celebes, on the other hand, was described by employees as “earthy,” “toasty,” “like toffee,” and “mellow.” It is light roasted with medium body.

You can try this Celebes on us this week by mentioning the code in burgundy above: own opinion. It would pair well with the Venezuelan or the Bolivian Cello Chocolate bar. We’ll be posting a few more pictures of our cupping and tasting on our Facebook page, here, if you would like to see more of the fun. In the meantime, enjoy your weekend!
–Holly Fike

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged artisan chocolate, Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Celebes Kalossi, Cello Chocolate, chocolate, coffee cupping, cupping, Employees, Natural Ethiopian Sidamo, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Organic Balinese

Posted on April 26 2013 by Holly Fike

Organic Balinese

Last weekend we drove out to North San Juan to see the tulips at the Ananda Village. Our local paper ran a brief article about it here, and there were people lining up to walk through when we were there. The gardens are in full bloom, and the wisteria and the dogwoods were as impressive as the 11,000 tulips that were planted. If you have a favorite shade or variety of tulip, I’m sure you can find it there.

Taking in the view.

Afterwards Trace and the kids and I enjoyed a picnic lunch on the South Yuba. We are certainly lucky to live in an area where the view is scenic and wild no matter where you go. April can be a month of rain, and the river can be raging with snowmelt, but when we were there Sunday the sun was beating down and the frigid water looked inviting. It was clear as could be, with none of the algae growth that comes with the summer warmth. I’m pretty sure that my little boy (or not so little–where did the time go?) could have stayed and skipped rocks all day.

We did have weekend chores to do, so we continued on home. Starting on Tuesday this week, and going through the end of April, we’ve been giving away something every day on our Facebook page. You’ve got five days left to enter, so come on in and fill out an entry, or leave a comment on that day’s picture to win.

This week our coffee comes from an island known for its natural beauty. I looked online for photos of Bali, and they all seem to have brilliant azure water framed by verdant mountains. Talk about scenic! Coffee is best grown at higher elevations, and I can imagine looking down at the water from a coffee farm in the highlands.

The Balinese is roasted light and you taste an earthiness as you sip. It has more body than the Organic Java that we featured last week, and if you enjoyed the Java, you’re sure to like our Organic Balinese. It also pairs perfectly with chocolate and I highly recommend a Venezuelan bar from Cello Chocolate as an accompaniment.

This weekend is the Downtown Grass Valley Car Show, so if you enjoy old cars, come on down! I’m sure that we’ll be busy blending up mocha freezes in this nice weather. You can also sample a cup of the Balinese on us by using the code in bold above: summer warmth. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Downtown Events, Giveaway, Gourmet Foods, Local Beauty, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Ananda Village, anniversary, artisan chocolate, Bali, Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Cello Chocolates, Downtown Car Show, Free Coffee, giveaway, mocha freeze, Organic Balinese, outdoors, river, South Yuba, Spring, summer warmth, tulips, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Organic Java

Posted on April 19 2013 by Holly Fike

Organic Java

We celebrated our anniversary (thirty-one years!) by giving away twelve ceramic mugs on our Facebook page this week. If you missed the action, we’re thinking about a giveaway a day for next week, so come on in and fill out an entry form, or check out our Facebook page to stay up to date!

In the last few weeks we have brought in three new local items: raw chocolate from Nomad Organics, tea from the Nevada City Herb and Tea Company, and chocolate bars from Cello Chocolate. In the above photo are the herbal teas: isn’t Heather’s packaging great? She blends herbs which she sources as locally as possible into delicious remedies/teas. We sampled the VitaliTea and all of us loved it.We also had the chance last Wednesday morning to meet with Debi and Ned from Cello Chocolate. All of their bars are 65% chocolate, which they source from around the world. Although each bar had the same ingredients, they each had their own flavor profile, based on their country of origin. If this sounds familiar, it’s quite similar to the way that different coffees have different aromas and tastes because of where they are grown. Coffee and chocolate naturally complement each other–they’re even grown in the same tropical areas around the globe–and we believe this will be a wonderful addition to our gourmet food offerings.

This week we have a coffee for you that hails from Indonesia. This Organic Java Taman Dadar has a medium acidity, a medium body, and a smooth and mellow flavor. It is not as bold as our Sumatra Mandheling, although Sumatra and Java are neighboring islands. It does fill your mouth as you sip, and the earthy tones that linger as you swallow are definitely reminiscent of other Indonesian coffees.

This particular Java is from independent farmers in eastern Java–instead of from the government co-ops from which we have sourced in the past. You can read more about their history and their organic practices here. We have it on sale this week for a dollar off per pound, or you can sample it for free by mentioning the code herbal teas. Enjoy!

–Holly Fike

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Giveaway, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Cello Chocolate, Free Coffee, free mug, giveaway, herbal remedies, local product, Nevada City Herb & Tea Co., Nomad Organics, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

New Menu Boards are here!

Posted on April 15 2013 by Holly Fike

We have new menu boards! These chalkboards have been a long time coming, and a collaborative process of many. We started talking about new menus quite some time ago, and our store manager, Becky, came up with the idea for an entire chalkboard wall to match our other chalk signage.

Trace agreed to build the boards, and carefully measured the entire wall. If you recall, we previously had multiple whiteboards, and the background was a muted wallpaper. Jen Quilici has painted the walls a neutral taupe color, and she also painted many coats of burgundy on the trim so that they would gleam. Trace cut and painted the boards with first magnetic paint and then chalkboard paint–they’re versatile!

Our graphic designer, Grady Fike, put together the wonderful design for the new boards. In the marvel of modern technology, he e-mailed the plan to the talented Tracie VanWicklin, who executed the design. She used a digital projector and her own artistic skills to craft our boards. It was hours of work on her part.

Last night after the store closed Tracie, Becky, Trace and I worked to install the boards. Tracie still had to write the section where the two boards joined. Trace attached it all to the wall and cut all the trim with the help of a chop saw in the back of his truck: a temporary workshop that has stood us well in the past.

The pictures below, from left to right, top to bottoms, chronicle our Sunday night: (first row) lifting the boards into place; Trace attaching them to the wall; (second row) Tracie setting up the projector; Tracie’s work box; working on the Grab and Go section; (third row) the workshop outside; and Becky doing some touch-up paint.

The final picture is of the finished product: come on in and see them in person!

Posted in Store Improvements | Tagged chalk signs, chalkboards, Grady Fike, menu boards, Store Updates | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Fair Trade Mexican

Posted on April 12 2013 by Holly Fike

Fair Trade Mexican

What lovely weather we’ve had this week, don’t you agree? It was downright warm around here, and I was inspired to paint my toenails and pull out my box of sandals for the first time since last fall (except for that trip to Hawaii). At our house we’ve been absorbed with Little League practice and games. Trace is managing Jack’s farm team, which is coach-pitch, and there’s nothing more fun than watching my husband throwing a ball to our son. Besides that, the farm players try so hard, and they’re so darn cute–it’s great to watch!

Coffee bushes of MICHIZA, in Oaxaca. Photo courtesy of Coopcoffees.

Speaking of Trace, for years we did not carry Mexican coffee, because the beans gave Trace extreme allergies. He would sneeze until his eyes were bloodshot, without pause. I imagine that it was something that was sprayed on the beans before shipping, some kind of fumigant, but it could have even been in the burlap sack. Keep in mind that we’ve been in business for 31 years this month, and the regulations for agricultural pesticides have changed a lot since 1982. What ever the reason, we did not order Mexican coffee until the advent of more organic options in the last ten years.

The lack of Mexican options around here has strictly been a matter of health: Mexico produces some great specialty coffees. The organic ones that we’ve cupped lately have had great depth of flavor. This week’s coffee is from Oaxaca, from a co-op named MICHIZA, which stands for the six different ethnic groups that are included in the co-op. You can read more about them on their website here, and on the Fair Trade Proof page here.

The cooperative specifically works to advance and promote women, and I loved the picture of the coffee farmer above. In a machismo culture, any place where women are supported is significant. We’re proud to offer a coffee from MICHIZA. More than that, it is good coffee. It is roasted light, and it is very mild with nutty and carmelly tones. It has the sweetness of roasted hazelnuts, so it pairs perfectly with chocolate for a pick-me-up.

Oh, in other news, the winner of this week’s giveaway is Liz. We’ve got another chance to win this week: one of our hot travel mugs, filled with the drink of your choice. Come on in and enter! You can use the code of the week to sample our Fair Trade Mexican at the same time (it’s burlap sack). It’s also on sale this week for $12.99 a pound. Enjoy!
–Holly Fike

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Giveaway, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged Carolines Coffee Roasters, Fair Trade Mexican, Fair Trade Organic Mexican Oaxaca, Free Coffee, giveaway, MICHIZA, mug giveaway, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Weekly Newsletter: Burundi

Posted on April 5 2013 by Holly Fike

Burundi

It’s always fun to have giveaways going on: it means that there is a lot of interaction on our social media. We enjoy hearing from all of you. The winner of the cold tumbler was Curtis Kinner, and this week we’ve got a whole new giveaway going on. You can check out our blog here to read about your opportunity to win a free pound of coffee.

This week has been a whirlwind as I’ve attempted to catch up after our wonderful vacation last week. Whew! Each day my checklist has gotten shorter, and I think that I’ve finally done all the laundry and even better, I got it all put away. What’s that you say? It’s the weekend again, and there’s a whole new pile to wash? Such is the circle of my life.

Did you enjoy the warm weather on Wednesday? What about the rain yesterday? I got outside with my camera while the sun was bathing the world in gold, and photographed some of my favorite spring flowers. The apple blossoms in the header picture are from an old gnarled tree that gets no tending whatsoever and is awash in delicate pink blossoms. The rebirth of spring is amazing to me each year.

Coffee has a season too, and the farmers who grow and harvest your beans are dependent upon the weather and the cycles of the equinox. They pay attention to the sun and the rain a lot more closely than I do. Harvest times vary around the world, and even from one farm to another. Some estates are shipping now, some are harvesting, and some are in the middle of their growing season. The great thing about coffee, as opposed to many crops, is that it stores so well.

This week’s coffee is in from Africa: it is our Burundi Mpanga. Trace roasted it light and you can taste nutty flavors, and only a light acidity in comparison to many African coffees. It’s easy to drink, and we’ve brought back our coupon this week so that you can try a cup on us (use the code apple blossoms). You can still enter our month of giveaways: we’ve got entry forms at the store. Good luck!
–Holly Fike

Post Script: the giveaway over on the Outside Inn blog is still going on. Check it out here!

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Giveaway, Local Beauty, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged blossoms, Burundi, Carolines Coffee, Carolines Coffee Roasters, Free Coffee, giveaway, Spring, Weekly Newsletter | Comments Off

Week #2 Giveaway: One Pound of Coffee of your Choice*

Posted on April 5 2013 by Holly Fike

You can win a free pound of coffee by leaving a comment on this blog post!

For the second week of our anniversary month, we’ve decided to give away a free pound of coffee.* Again, you can enter in three ways: by stopping by the store and filling out an entry form, by leaving a comment on this blog post, or by leaving a comment on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear why you love our coffee!

As a reminder, the Outside Inn giveaway of a coffee crate is still active: click on the link here to leave a comment for a chance to win.

*Winner will be chosen on Friday, 4.12.13. Free pound value not to exceed $25. Coffee will be shipped only within the continental United States. Prize must be claimed before 4.30.13.

Edit:: The winner is Liz! Go ahead and enter our new giveaway for another chance to win!

Posted in Giveaway | Tagged anniversary, Free Coffee, giveaway | 30 Comments

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Our Friend David Harriman

New Menu Boards are here!

Week #2 Giveaway: One Pound of Coffee of your Choice*

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