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Weekly Newsletter: 28th September, 2018

Posted on October 9 2018 by Holly Fike

Coffee of the Week

Organic Blue Krishna Balinese

Happy Fall! The seasons have officially changed, and although the week was warm, today it definitely feels cooler. Today was a great day at our house–well, in a very small way. It’s good to celebrate the small things, right? For the first time we had seven eggs from our seven chickens–they’re all laying. When you’ve been waiting since April, it’s worth celebrating! I predict a lot of hot breakfasts in our future.

Yesterday we got a coffee delivery, so we’re all restocked with new beans. Today we’re featuring an employee favorite (and one that many of you have asked us about): our Organic Blue Krishna Balinese. This is also Rainforest Alliance certified, grown in the Kintamani highlands of Bali. Coffee was first grown in Bali at the end of the 17th century, so it has a long standing tradition.

This particular bean is grown with the Subak Abian farming system, a traditional Hindu philosophy and irrigation method that emphasizes harmony between humans, the environment, and God. The coffee is grown in the volcanic soils of Mount Agung, which erupted earlier this year. Despite the volcanic activity, most farms in the Kintamani highlands, a protected geographic designation, continue to produce coffee.

In the cup this is a delicious brew, chocolate-y and sweet. We’re excited to have it back in stock to share with you. This week you can keep reading to learn about Kelley, who may or may not have had a birthday sometime this month. What we do know for sure is that she was a darling baby, as evidenced by her picture. Also, on another subject entirely, there is another month of the Downtown Grass Valley Farmer’s Market. It runs Thursday nights from 4 pm – 7 pm, on North Auburn Street, by Foothill Flowers.
Enjoy your weekend, and drink good coffee.
–Holly Fike

Employee Profile

Name Kelley

Position Barista; Feminist Queen; Queen of Wholesale

Toughest employee? me

True story fiercely private

Spirit animal alligator, snake, Highland cow, Icelandic pony

I won’t eat my own words

Childhood goal princess farmer

Hobby? Smashing the patriarchy

I am happiest when I am dancing/doing wholesale.

Movie/book character Frida Kahlo/Cleopatra

Musical instrument can hum any song

 

 

Coffee Coupon

Want a free cup of our Organic Blue Krishna Balinese?
Use the code princess farmer at the register.
(Kelley’s childhood dream)

Code good for a 12 oz cup of our featured Organic Blue Krishna Balinese. Limit one per customer please. Valid only at Carolines Coffee Roasters, Grass Valley, CA.
Code/Offer valid until 10.04.18.

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Downtown Events, Employees, Uncategorized, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Weekly Newsletter: 28th September, 2018

Weekly Newsletter: 21st September, 2018

Posted on October 9 2018 by Holly Fike

Coffee of the Week

Ecuador Nuevos Horizontes, Camilo Goana Micro-Lot

We are in the middle of setting up new registers at the store, and it’s taking us hours daily to upload every item we sell. I promise, we won’t subject you to them until we get it working smoothly. It’s a work in process. Hopefully at the end of it we’ll be better able to serve you–that’s our goal.

Today and the rest of the weekend are also the Draft Horse Classic, and we’re open out at the trolley. All that to say that it’s a busy week, and thus this will be a short email. I don’t have an employee profile this week, but look for that feature to return soon–we have so many amazing employees to highlight!

Today we have a new coffee for you, from our friends at Capamaco Trading. Capamaco Trading was founded with the purpose of bringing south Ecuador coffees to the market (see their Facebook page here). Their mission is “Marketing high quality coffees, differentiated by origin, always maintaining traceability from the farm to the roaster, creating relationships of trust between producers and roasters interested in recognizing quality with a price that improves the quality of life of producers and their families . In addition, our interest as a company is sustainable economic development in communities.”

This particular coffee is grown in the southeast of Ecuador, not far from the border with Peru, by Camilo Gaona. Sr. Gaona left his home to escape drought conditions 29 years ago and walked for weeks to Nuevos Horizontes to find land to establish his farm. This is a mountainous region, and the farm is located at over 5500 feet, in the province of Zamora Chinchipe. The coffee is fully washed, and it shines in the cup. It has beautiful citrus flavors, along with notes of sweet honeydew and caramel.

I wanted to send this short email to let you know about this special Ecuador Micro-Lot. We’re excited to share it with you this week. You can come try a cup for free on us with the code below. Enjoy your weekend, and drink good coffee.
–Holly Fike

Coffee Coupon

Want a free cup of our Ecuador Nuevos Horizontes Camilo Gaona?
Use the code DRAFT HORSE at the register.

Code good for a 12 oz cup of our featured Ecuador Nuevos Horizontes Micro-Lot. Limit one per customer please. Valid only at Carolines Coffee Roasters, Grass Valley, CA.
Code/Offer valid until 9.27.18.

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Weekly Newsletter: 14th September, 2018

Posted on October 8 2018 by Holly Fike

Coffee of the Week

Fair Trade Organic Colombia Tolima, San Pedro Indigenous Farmers

This week I was out of town Tuesday through Thursday, on a field trip to Lassen National Park with my daughter and her class. We had a great time staying in the cabins at Manzanita Lake, climbing Cinder Cone, exploring the Subway Cave lava tube, and visiting Cold Boiling Lake and the Sulphur Works (Bumpass Hell was closed). I had brought yarn and stir sticks, and the kids in my cabin had fun making God’s eyes in their free time.

Today it’s back to work, and catching up a bit after a week gone. A big thanks to our wonderful staff, who support this business so well. This week’s employee profile features Beau, who is leaving us to go on tour as a drummer with Dustin Thomas. It’s such a great opportunity for him, but we will miss his antics around here. Five years ago Beau got an interview by being persistent, introducing himself to Trace, Becky and I, and telling us how much he wanted to work for us. True to his style, he’s been a hard worker, done anything we asked, and always been helpful. We wish him all the best!

This week we are featuring our Fair Trade Organic Colombia Tolima, San Pedro Indigenous Farmers. How is that for a mouthful? I could shorten it to FTO Colombia, but I want you to know that it comes from the Páez indigenous group, in the department of Tolima. Tolima has been overlooked as a coffee growing area, because a high rate of armed conflict kept these farmers from safely getting their crops exported. The Asociación de Caficultores Indigenas de San Pedro (ASCISP) is working with these small farmers to break through the cycle of conflict to “produce quality coffee that will yield better earnings for indigenous families” (from our broker, here).

In the cup this is a delicious brew, roasted light so you can taste the terroir. I can testify that it is especially good when keeping your hands warm in freezing temperatures at Lassen! Actually, this coffee is a treat no matter where you drink it. It’s juicy and fruity, with notes of vanilla and chocolate. We carry Colombian coffees all the time, but this one stands out. You can come try a cup on us this week with the code below. Enjoy your weekend, and drink good coffee.
–Holly Fike

Employee Profile

Name Beau

Position Barista; Recycle Guy

Weird fact about you I took ballet for a year

Three word bio drums. drums. drums

Spirit animal rhino

Most recent song you jammed to “Stay” by Post Malone

Childhood goal other than to be a drummer (spoiler: he is), to be a math teacher
Heels or flats? Heels.

I am happiest when I am touring.

 

 

 

Coffee Coupon

Want a free cup of our Fair Trade Organic Colombian?
Use the code BASKETBALL at the register.
(Beau’s outdoor activity love)

Code good for a 12 oz cup of our featured FTO Colombia Tolima, San Pedro. Limit one per customer please. Valid only at Carolines Coffee Roasters, Grass Valley, CA.
Code/Offer valid until 9.20.18.

Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Employees, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Weekly Newsletter: 14th September, 2018

Weekly Newsletter: 7th September, 2018

Posted on October 3 2018 by Holly Fike

Coffee of the Week

Fair Trade Organic El Salvador Las Colinas

On Monday we had a last minute staff party, in the yard. If you aren’t a regular here, you might not know that we all enjoy each other’s company. We have a great group of employees, and a Labor Day barbecue was a perfect excuse to get together. The food was delicious (thanks Trace!) and we all had a wonderful time. It was also a send-off for Bailey, who leaves for Scotland this week.

I did write an email last week, but between the Dog Show out at the fair, dropping Jack off to go backpacking with his class, and a quick trip to Tahoe for our anniversary, I never quite finished. I do want to let you know about last week’s featured coffee, though, because I’ve enjoyed drinking it each morning.

Our Fair Trade Organic El Salvador Las Colinas, comes from the far west of El Salvador, near the Guatemalan border. The farm, Las Colinas, is owned by a group of 89 families, who bought the property in 1980, during agrarian reform, when larger properties were expropriated to the workers. They work the land collectively, and are able to process the coffee right on the farm, where they have both a wet and dry mill. The coffee is still traditionally hand sorted.

Speaking of traditional, this week we have a coffee that comes from an even older tradition, when coffees were brought around the world by sailing ship. Beans that traveled by sea, around the Cape of Good Hope, were exposed to the monsoons, and had different characteristics: they were lighter in color, bigger in size, and very low in acidity. While coffee is still mostly transported by cargo ships, the beans are sealed in containers, and they no longer change while they travel. Monsooned Malabar hearkens back to this earlier era of wooden ships, by exposing the processed beans to the monsoons.

Now, however, this is done carefully and intentionally, on the Malabar coast of India. The beans are spread and turned while being exposed to the wind and sea, in open-sided warehouses, until they increase in size and moisture content. This is a much sought after coffee for its richness and depth–and it is often used to make a creamy shot of espresso too. We are excited to have this in stock again, for you to enjoy.

We will be open out at the Roamin’ Angels Car Show at the fairgrounds this weekend, so come see us there. You can find us in the trolley. No matter what you do this weekend, drink good coffee!
-Holly Fike

Employee Profile

Name Rachel
 
Position Barista; Cookie Baking Expert
 
Fav Quote “All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.” –Gandalf
 
Craziest Injury I once broke my arm with my head.
 
Night owl or early bird? Night owl!
 
Signature dance move The “Post Malone”–basically a peace sign but leaning and walking backwards.
 
Always in your fridge Half & half and peaches.
 
Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter Spring and Fall. I love a transition season.
 
 
 

Coffee Coupon

Want a free cup of our Fair Trade Organic El Salvador? How about our Monsooned Malabar?

Use the code SCREAM SING* at the register.
(that’s how Rachel passes time while alone in the car)
 
*Code good for a 12 oz cup of our featured El Salvador or our Monsooned Malabar–your choice. Limit one per customer please. Valid only at Carolines Coffee Roasters, Grass Valley, CA. Code/Offer valid until 9.13.18.
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Weekly Newsletter: 24th August, 2018

Posted on October 3 2018 by Holly Fike

Coffee of the Week

Honduras Micro-Lot: Juan Angel Galdamez

I love living in a small town. I know that it’s not for everyone, but I enjoy walking to the bank and greeting people as I go. I like walking with my kids up to the local bookstore, where we know everyone and can always find a good recommended read. I appreciate when another local business owner stops by to drop off some cards she crafted. And walking down the street with darling Archie to pick my kids up from school is pretty fun too. Today he checked out the slide while we picked up some items from Caroline’s classroom.

I hope that you enjoyed our featured Costa Rica Finca El Cabuyal last week. I drank it every morning, while listening to the geese and ducks tell me that it was time to get up. The geese are always loud, but we have one female mallard that seems to think that she should try to match their volume. Together they make quite an early racket. They spend about half their time in the pond, but the rest of the time they love to spread out across the yard, joining the chickens.

This week we have a new coffee for you, a micro-lot Honduran grown by Juan Angel Galdamez. Sr. Galdamez’ farm is located on the far west side of Honduras, in the department of Ocotepeque, close to the border with Guatemala and El Salvador. This coffee is high grown, at over 4600′ elevation. I looked up the weather today, and it’s raining and 75 degrees Fahrenheit–not actually so different from our temperatures, minus the rain. Juan Angel has been growing coffee for 15 years, and he has his own mill to process the beans. This allows for great care in the entire production.

In the cup this Honduran tastes of smooth caramel, and it has a pleasing brightness as it cools. I’m taking a pound home to enjoy, thanks to Juan Angel Galdamez. Our weather continues to be pleasant, if smoky, and this coffee will be great to start my day. I wish you all a nice weekend, with good coffee. Keep reading for a snapshot of sweet Sophie, who after 4+ years of working here, leaves us soon to pursue a career in elementary education. Best of luck Sophie!
-Holly Fike

Employee Snapshot

Name Sophie

 
Three word bio Goober, sweetness, sunshine
 
Weird fact I never match my socks
 
Spirit animal a mouse
 
Outdoor activity I love climbing rocks!
 
Guilty Pleasure watching friends and eating chocolate or cake or cookies
 
Pet peeve when people interrupt
 
True Story I went car camping with Ruth for a week and we didn’t shower EVER!
 
Other deets I am leaving here to go work with little ones and become an elementary school teacher
 
Barista Secret Anything with half & half is yum!

 

Coffee Coupon

Want a free cup of our Honduras Juan Angel Galdamez?
Use the code STRAWBERRIES* at the register.
(Always found in Sophie’s refrigerator)

*Code good for a 12 oz cup of our featured Honduran coffee. Limit one per customer please. Valid only at Carolines Coffee Roasters, Grass Valley, CA.
Code/Offer valid until 8.30.18.
Posted in Coffee Descriptions, Employees, Weekly Newsletters | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Weekly Newsletter: 24th August, 2018

Weekly Newsletter: 17th August, 2018

Posted on October 3 2018 by Holly Fike

Coffee of the week

Costa Rica Finca El Cabuyal La Ortiga Tarrazu

Hi everyone. I took a hiatus from this newsletter for the summer, without an explanation. It turned out that our summer was so jam packed that I couldn’t fit everything in, and this is the item that got dropped. My apologies for the lack of communication about it.

One part of this full summer was preparing for the fair last week. If you did not know, we ran the Califia Cafe on behalf of the fairgrounds, and you could find us out at the Nevada County Fair every day last week, pulling espresso shots and listening to the karaoke in the Special Events Tent. This was our first event in the trolley, and we were delighted that it ran smoothly. Shout out to Elyse, who was out there opening every morning–and to all of our employees who worked extra shifts to get it all covered. You all are great!

This week school started, and in my family we are slowly getting back in the swing of things. I am waking up to an alarm clock again, and sitting and enjoying a cup of coffee before the kids get up. This morning I drank this Costa Rica Finca El Cabuyal La Ortiga Tarrazu which we’re featuring this week. We have carried this delicious Tarrazu once before, and you can find that information here. You’ll find in that post that this farm was a wedding gift, and that Manuel Carranza Navarro and Maria De Los Angeles Molina Navarro work together to support their two sons and to carefully produce this coffee.

Their finca is located at above 6000 feet elevation, so this is high grown and dense coffee. They have their own micro-mill on the property, so these beans are under their control from start to finish. You’ll taste that in the cup: this Costa Rican has notes of summer nectarines, and sweet cream. As it cools is has a lingering cocoa flavor. Mmmm. To try a cup on us this week, look for the coffee code down below.

We’ve got an updated look for this newsletter, and a new feature: an employee profile each week. We’re kicking it off with Bailey, since she is leaving us soon to travel the world for college. We’ll all miss her, with her hard work and spunky personality. Best of luck in all your future endeavors Bailey!
-Holly Fike

Employee Profile

Name Bailey
Position Barista; part time daughter to the rest of the staff
Childhood goal To be a better speller. P.S. It didn’t happen.
Weird fact I absolutely love writing analytical essays.
Spirit animal I’d like to say wolf, but in reality I’m probably a Corgi
Spring/Summer/Winter/Fall? Fall because it rains and you get to wear plaid!
You wouldn’t believe it, but I am going to college in Scotland.
Barista Secret Maple breves are the best drink ever.

 

 

 

 

Coffee Coupon

 

Want a free cup of our Costa Rican Finca El Cabuyal?

Use the code RAVENCLAW* at the register.
(That’s Bailey’s Harry Potter house, and she’s proud of it)
 
Code good for a 12 oz cup of our featured Costa Rican coffee. Limit one per customer please. Valid only at Carolines Coffee Roasters, Grass Valley, CA.
Code/Offer valid until 8.23.18.
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Weekly Newsletter: 8th June, 2018

Posted on June 8 2018 by Holly Fike

Aged Sumatra

The last two weeks have been so nonstop that I haven’t written a newsletter. My apologies to those of you who count on it. The kids have been busy, Trace and I have been busy, and I ran out of time in my day. Today is the last day of school for my kids, and our weeks will proceed at a slower pace after this. A big thanks to all of you teachers out there who have put up with all of the crazy this year: we appreciate you!

Looking down at the camera after a ride

I’m thinking of teachers especially because I got to spend most of this week with my daughter’s class, camping in the redwoods near Santa Cruz. This was a reward field trip, at the end of their two year loop with the same teachers. These kids are amazing. They have been camping so much that they have the system down. In fifth grade they can set up their own tents, wash the dishes, and help with the food prep. Parents still come along, but we do less each year. It was a lot of fun to see their responsibility shine, and to see the joy they had at the beach and on the rides at the Boardwalk.

In the last two weeks we have featured our Papua New Guinea Nebilyer Valley, and a new Costa Rica Las Trojas Superior. You can look both of those up on our website for more information. You will also find this week’s special coffee, one that we have not featured in a long time. This is an Aged Sumatra: a truly unique bean. We have been unable to find this for a few years, and Trace was delighted find a source recently.

In general, coffees are sold as “new crop:” picked, processed, and exported in fairly short order. That is the accepted best practice for treating green coffee. Historically, however, coffee traveled via sailing ship, and it was exposed to sea air and had a higher moisture content–leaving it very smooth and creamy. These conditions are emulated in a coffee like our Monsooned Malabar, which is carefully monitored in an open sided warehouse during the monsoon season. This Aged Sumatra undergoes a similar experience. It is not old coffee, but new crop coffee that is carefully monitored in a warehouse over time for an aged effect.

In the cup this tastes of dried fruit, with a smooth, bold and creamy flavor. You can try it on us this week with the code Boardwalk bliss*. Let us know what you think. And to all of you in the midst of graduation season, we want to extend our congratulations. Enjoy!

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Aged Sumatra. Code expires on 06.14.18. Limit one free cup per customer please. Valid only at Carolines Coffee Roasters, 128 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA. Code/Offer has no cash value.

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Weekly Newsletter: 18th May, 2018

Posted on June 8 2018 by Holly Fike

Tanzania Rainforest Alliance Edelweiss Estate

I know, I know . . . every week I have a new picture of poultry for the header. This time it’s the ducks in the spotlight. They were running around the yard together, and when they finally slowed down I had to take this shot. They’re practically posing. All the birds are getting bigger and keeping us entertained with their antics. So far we’ve left the chicks and ducks in a pen during the day, but I think they’re almost big enough to start roaming the property. That will be fun to see.

This is what is really going on in the office . . .

Last weekend we spend all of Saturday out at Lucchesi Vineyards, which was a beautiful spot for a wedding. It couldn’t have been more picturesque, and the event came together flawlessly. The food was great, the dancing was fun, and the bride and groom looked like a perfect couple. Cheers to you both.

This week’s coffee has me humming the Sound of Music–that’s my association with the edelweiss flower, native to Europe. In researching why this Tanzanian coffee bears such a European name, I discovered that coffee was originally planted here by German settlers. You can find the Edelweiss Estate website here, and read the history for yourself. Isn’t it amazing that with today’s technology we can connect directly to the farms where our coffee is grown?

Edelweiss Estate is located in north central Tanzania, on the Ngorongoro Caldera, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. You can read about the caldera here, and discover that it has the world’s highest density of lions. The Caldera, which is the largest unbroken caldera in the world, “harbours a range of endangered species, such as the Black Rhino, Wild hunting dog and Golden Cat and 500 species of birds.” The estate itself harbors various wildlife, and not only is it Rainforest Alliance certified, but they also grow macadamia nuts and have planted over 50,000 trees.

This Tanzania Rainforest Alliance Edelweiss Estate coffee is pretty special, and we’re excited to offer it to you. In the cup it tastes of sweet caramel and citrus tones, with a bit of green apple tartness. The nose is floral like a Meyer lemon, and you’ll want to drink more. You can try a cup on us this week with the code Black Rhino. I hope that you enjoy your weekend, and drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Tanzania Rainforest Alliance Edelweiss Estate. Code expires on 05.24.18. Limit one free cup per customer please. Valid only at Carolines Coffee Roasters, 128 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA. Code/Offer has no cash value.

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Weekly Newsletter: 11th May, 2018

Posted on May 18 2018 by Holly Fike

Guatemala Antigua Bella Carmona

Today we’re hosting a rehearsal dinner for my sweet niece, who is getting married tomorrow. We’ll be out in the yard, enjoying the perfect weather. Spring is such a beautiful time for a wedding: nature wears her showiest garb, practically decorating the outdoors with intention. My daughter has the honor of being in the wedding, and she’s excited to wear a beautiful full length dress and walk down the aisle. And family has been coming into town all week, so that’s an added bonus. Congratulations to Natalie and John!

Yes, she actually fell asleep while getting her haircut

It was lovely last weekend to be outside, getting ready for a party. We hosted Jack’s baseball team on Sunday, and we learned about our very social geese, who wanted to join the crowd. They are happy as long as there is someone in the yard with them–if they don’t find anyone, they run up on the porch to look for a friend. We finally had to put them in their pen since they were excessively under foot.

This was a busy week, as all of these May weeks will be. I think the whole family must be tired, because Caroline fell asleep while getting her hair cut. I got through each day with several cups of coffee, and this week we have our Guatemala Antigua Bella Carmona for you. If your May is incredibly busy too, this is a good solution. We’ve featured it before, a few times, and you can read about it here and here.

Antigua is known for exquisite coffee, so much so that it is a protected district of origin, like Champagne in France, or the Brazil Mantequeira de Minas that we talked about last month. This particular bean is grown by Luis Pedro Zelaya Zamora and his family. As I wrote previously:

Handmade cards available through Mother’s Day

“Sr. Zamora is a fourth generation coffee farmer, with a formal education in agronomy. With that background he is able to blend tradition and experience with innovation: you’ll find solar dryers and cutting edge drying techniques at their farm.”

In the cup this is delicious and easy to drink, with notes of caramel, green apple, and sweet raw sugar. You can try it on us this week with the code wedding weekend*. This weekend also happens to be Mother’s Day, so find some time to celebrate the women who have been mothers in your life, whether related or not. And on a similar note, there are two days left to pick up a handmade card in our pop up shop. It would be perfect for Mother’s Day!

Whatever your next week brings, enjoy the sunshine, and drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Guatemala Antigua Bella Carmona. Code expires on 05.17.18. Limit one free cup per customer please. Valid only at Carolines Coffee Roasters, 128 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA. Code/Offer has no cash value.

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Weekly Newsletter: 4th May, 2018

Posted on May 18 2018 by Holly Fike

India Rainforest Alliance Arabidecool Estate

As a business woman and resident chauffeur of two tweens, I spend a lot of time driving around this county to different events and activities. This week spring has been dressed in her finest frock: pink and white blossoms cascading from the dogwoods, roses opening in the sunshine, and the azaleas and rhododendrons strutting their bushes of flowers. It’s beautiful out there. In the early morning slanted sunlight the wildflowers glow, and the fields on our way to school are purple, yellow and white like a rumpled floral bedsheet.

Cousins on the playground on a sunny day

This week the weather warmed up. Today we were able to take the chicks outside before we left for school. They practice flying now: first one and then the other startling and hopping into the air. They barely get off the ground, but it’s awfully cute to watch them try. The ducks are a week bigger too, and they love the water: jumping into a shallow dish and swimming. And the geese eat grass happily as long as there is someone around. They’re extremely social, and if you walk away, they follow, while squawking wildly.

I hope that you have something in your life that gives you as much joy as these baby birds have been giving us. Goslings, chicks, and ducklings: they make us smile. Starting our day taking care of them is new to all of us, but we’re learning. I’ve been getting up, brewing my cup of coffee, and heading upstairs to check on the poultry. The ducks and geese are messy, and need fresh food, water, and bedding in the morning. The chicks seem easy by comparison: besides wood chips in their water they’re pretty clean.

Whatever your morning routine, I hope that you have a good supply of coffee. This week we have a new bean for you, from India. We don’t often get coffees from India because most of their crop is consumed in country. This bean comes from Chikmagalur, in Karnataka, near the Baba Budangiri hills. Chikmagalur is known as the coffee region of India, ever since around 1600 when Baba Budan brought back 7 coffee beans from Yemen on a pilgrimage to Mecca. As legend has it, those smuggled seeds were the beginning of coffee in India. There is a shrine to him in the area where this coffee is grown.

This is a fully washed bean, from the Arabidecool Estate. It is Rainforest Alliance certified, and the estate has a forested area set aside, and practices water conservation to protect their environment. This is an area of India where tigers and elephants still roam (thank you Neel for the information!). Can you imagine that? Some of the world’s largest mammals strolling through your coffee farm? That must be something to see. We have roasted this light, and in the cup it is as unique as its origin. It’s sweet with the tang of green apple and caramel. Delicious.

Tomorrow is the downtown Car Show, which is always a fun event. It’s a good one for the whole family, if you’re looking for something to do. It runs from 10 am – 3 pm, and you can find more information here. Then next week we have a fun event in the store: we have a pop up card shop that will run Monday – Friday, from 6-12. These are handmade coffee cards, made by Erin over at the Outside Inn. If you are a coffee lover, these are the cards for you–and you have time to pick one up before Mother’s Day.

You can try a cup of this Indian on us with the code Mowgli* this week. The Jungle Book is Archie’s favorite movie, and since it takes place in India, it seems an appropriate choice for this Rainforest Alliance Arabidecool Estate. Enjoy your weekend, whatever you do, and drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of India Rainforest Alliance Arabidecool Estate. Code expires on 05.10.18. Limit one free cup per customer please. Valid only at Carolines Coffee Roasters, 128 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA. Code/Offer has no cash value.

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Weekly Newsletter: 27th April, 2018

Posted on May 18 2018 by Holly Fike

Fair Trade Organic Mexico Oaxaca UNECAFE

My daughter is required to read as homework every week. This week she has done an excessive amount of reading, both because she started a new series, and because she has decided it’s a good way to babysit the geese. Every morning this week the kids have taken the goslings out to play on the lawn before school. It’s about the cutest thing that you ever did see. The kids are all bundled up, and the geese are big enough to follow them around.

Another auntie gets to meet sweet Lucy

They usually start with running in circles, but the kids get tired of it before the geese do. Then everyone sits on the lawn and Fred and Ollie (the geese) eat grass while the kids watch (and read). Those geese are growing like weeds: their feet are especially big. The chicks are darling too, and have started stretching their wings and trying to fly. And then last weekend we went to the feed store and came home with five ducks to add to the poultry collection. They might be even cuter than the goslings–they’re much smaller.

I started this email newsletter last week, but I didn’t get a chance to send it, for the best of reasons. My sister is visiting, and the day got away from me. But I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to tell you about this week’s special, so this is a quick note about our Fair Trade Organic Mexico Oaxaca UNECAFE.

This is a delicious drink, with beautiful nutty and chocolate tones. It comes from a group of farmers in Oaxaca, who are mostly from local indigenous groups, and 40% of whom are women. They are organized as Unidad Ecológica para el Sector Café Oaxaqueño, or UNECAFE, and they partner with a number of different programs to improve their coffee. According to our broker (Royal Coffee),

“UNECAFE members currently participate in the following projects: Agroforestry and Carbon Sequestration, The Chatino Center for Ecological Agriculture, The Community Learning Center, and The Coffee and Sustainable Development Fund.”

You can come try a cup of this Mexican on us this week with the code sisters*. I know that not everyone is as lucky as me, to have two sisters as best friends, and I want to express my gratitude for both of these amazing women. I am so blessed to have sisters like you. Thanks for coming to visit Katie! Have a great week, and drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Fair Trade Organic Mexico Oaxaca UNECAFE. Code expires on 05.03.18. Limit one free cup per customer please. Valid only at Carolines Coffee Roasters, 128 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA. Code/Offer has no cash value.

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Weekly Newsletter: 20th April, 2018

Posted on April 20 2018 by Holly Fike

Burundi Buzira-Muruta Washed

The sun is shining, the sun is shining! That sounds rather like Chicken Little, but I’m excited about the golden sphere drying out the earth today. As our rainy weather has dragged on (and yes, I do appreciate that we’re not in a drought), I have been looking forward to sunshine and warm weather. Today was simply lovely: the apple trees are blossoming in the yard, and I think the grass has grown another foot since Trace mowed yesterday. We took the goslings out to play this morning, and they are excited about the new young grass too.

This is what we do when the sun shines: ice cream!

It’s halfway through April, and we had a baseball game canceled this week for snow. Jeesh. Jack was able to get two other games in this week, though, so that was fun to watch. Although sitting in the stands watching your kid pitch is both nerve-racking and chilly! Between baseball, ballet, and new chicks and goslings to take care of, it’s been a busy week.

This week we’re traveling across the Atlantic ocean from Brazil, last week’s special, with over 7000 miles of coastline, to the small landlocked country of Burundi. You can learn a lot of geography studying coffee. Burundi neighbors Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the the west. It is in the eastern part of central Africa.

This coffee comes from family farms in the northern part of Burundi, and this is a beautiful offering from the Buzira washing station, owned by Salum Ramadhan. It is fully washed, and in the cup shows bright grapefruit tones, with a softer melon finish. It’s sweet like sugar cane, and has a lovely acidity.

This Sunday is Earth Day, and you can find a list of local happenings on the Outside Inn blog, here. You’ll also read in the post that we are offering $1 off the drink of your choice if you bring in your own cup. In addition to that deal, use the code Ice Cream* for a free cup of this week’s Burundi special. Enjoy the sunshine, and drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Burundi Buzira-Muruta Washed. Code expires on 04.26.18. Limit one free cup per customer please. Valid only at Carolines Coffee Roasters, 128 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA. Code/Offer has no cash value.

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