Perkdup

Here come the holiday blends! Over the next few weeks, I'll be featuring holiday blends from various roasters, big and small. First up, Starbucks Christmas Blend . Rich, nutty smooth with a good aftertaste. Perfect for a chilly morning like today. $6.95 for an eight ounce bag. (Goes well with the Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bar)

Everyone appreciates a hostess who offers a slice of cake with that cup of coffee, but what about the gal or guy who offers up a "Cake Pop" to go with that coffee? My niece in Miami turned me onto Bakerella's blog about a year ago. I thought, "this is the cutest stuff I've ever seen." But, did I have the nerve to try it myself at home? No way. Do I have the nerve now? Not yet. But, with the step-by-step technique offered in this recipe book, "Cake Pops," published by Chronicle Books , I plan to challenge myself. "Bakerella" (aka Angie Dudley) offers over 40 tips, tricks and recipes for mini-treats, each one a work of art. There's something for every taste and celebration from the basic cupcake bites and balls to more elaborate creations like reindeer and sheep and game balls and puppy pops. Perfect for the person on your shopping list who can appreciate a little "baking therapy." Angie Dudley is the creator of Bak...

What's Black and White and cute all over? These IMUSA Stackable mugs that's what! I saw these in a "youtube" video tutorial for the Keurig Brewer and just had to have them! They're perfect for smaller kitchens and dorm room use too. It says that they're for Capuchino use but it's just the rize size for a smaller cup of coffee. If you drink smaller cups you can drink more of them, right? IMUSA makes a bunch of different styles of colors of these guys and you can find them at retailers everywhere or online at: www.ChefLatino.com Perfect for holiday giving or getting.

Starbucks Holiday Cold Cups are Back!

"Copyright September 27, 2010, CareerBuilder, LLC - Reprinted with permission. One-third of workers need this to get through the workday! By Kate Lorenz on Sep 27, 2010 in Featured, Fun stuff, Job Surveys, Work As a rule, I hate alarm clocks. But there’s no alarm clock I hate more than the one that goes off on a Monday morning. This morning was no exception and hitting the snooze button was not an option; I had an 8 a.m. breakfast meeting with my boss. These are the times I’m most thankful for a hot, steamy cup of the coffee. What can I say? I’m just not one of those people who jump out of bed bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for work every morning. Bing: Forget the coffee – take a nap In honor of the recent National Coffee Day, Dunkin’ Donuts and CareerBuilder released a study on the beverage that keeps the nation’s work force productive and energetic. Turns out that 32 percent of workers said they need coffee to get through the workday, and 43 percent of coffee drinkers reported t...

The AeroPress is an extreme coffee extraction device. With today’s use of the word “extreme” to describe Sports and Leisure activities; it is indeed the correct choice of adjective to describe how this method gives you the most from your two scoops of precious java. The AeroPress delivers an intense cup of Espresso like coffee. Dense, syrupy and sediment free is the final product from one firm and steady pressing via this duo-tubular, plunger effect, barista tool. The completely satisfying finish is a cup of Joe in customizable degrees of intensity. But, what I like about this piece doesn’t end at consumption. The easy sliding coupling is a breeze to clean. Unscrewing the screen holding the compressed coffee affects a simple cleanup. I like simplicity of use when employing a device to reach a desired effect and the AeroPress does it all for me. Realize the simplicity and intensity that is AeroPress .

Review coming soon. . . www.capresso.com

Any coffee that Stumptown roasts is going to be good. I'm convinced of it. This Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Tumticha by Stumptown is smooth with "nutty" base notes,completely non-acidic and tastes like heaven. From Stumptown: " Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Tumticha . Tumticha is the quintessential example of the classic Yirgacheffe flavor. It’s another offering from the famous Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmer’s Cooperative Union. The Tumticha Cooperative is composed of over 2100 farmer members. After careful cherry selection, these Ethiopian Heirloom varietals are depulped with McKinnon depulping devices, fermented upwards of 24 hours, washed in channels and dried carefully on raised beds in the sun. Jasmine, citrus blossom and black tea aromas find cohesion within a pinot-gris-like mouth feel with transparent flavors of huckleberry, raspberry, and white grape in this intensely sweet yet complex Yirgacheffe." I have so much respect for this coffee that I refuse to make it in an el...

Which makes my new Aladdin sustainable travel mug not only functional but trendy. It's called "ecycle" which means that its Aladdin's own proprietary mix of recycled plastics. This mug is made from 97% recycled food grade polypropylene containing 25% post consumer content and is recyclable where plastic is collected. On top of all that, it looks hecka cool and keeps my coffee piping hot. (BPA Free) Save the planet and look good while you're doing it! http://www.aladdin-pmi.com/

So good, it tastes like Christmas! (Limited offering) www.communitycoffee.com

It's Cafe Orzo (TM) , the Italian Caffeine-Free Alternative . "Made from organic roasted Italian barley, Care Orzo(TM) has been the traditional caffeine-free brew of choice for centuries in Italy." And because it's 100% caffeine-free , your little ones can enjoy it too. So, the next time you want something that's not caffeinated, there is another option. I made a pot for the folks at work and literally 9 out of 10 who sampled it said they would drink it again. It brews up just like coffee in your electric coffee maker, pour-over or French Press. What will they think of next? www.cafeorzo.com