Perkdup

Contest ends at midnight on December 31, 2011. To be entered in a random drawing for a free bag of Founder's Blend (compliments of Community Coffee), please send me an email: accutype@aol.com

Well, it's December 31st. The last day of the year. It's good to be in the land of the living and drinking coffee. As I reflect back on the year, coffee-wise, I'm happy to say I've enjoyed some delicious old favorites and been pleasantly surprised by some amazing new coffees. No, I'm not resolving to drink less coffee. Coffee is one of my greatest pleasures and I have no intention of cutting back. I do, however, plan to open my blog to include more coffees that are not necessarily considered "gourmet," but coffees that wake up a good portion of America and that I have not reviewed or talked about here before. I'm still enjoying some wonderful holiday blends and "hoarded" a couple that should at least last for the first couple of months of 2012. Here's to a great last day of 2011 and a healthy and safe New Year. Imbibe responsibly, don't drink and drive and don't forget to have plenty of coffee on-hand.

I got a pound of Egg Nog Coffee from Cost Plus World Market . I haven't tried it yet. I'm waiting for a day off. Just in case I get a buzz. (snicker) Seriously, there's so much coffee and only so many cups. But, I've decided if Santa doesn't come to you, then you need to go to Santa. That said, I'm spending the next few days collecting all the holiday blends I can find left in the stores that I haven't tried yet. Stay tuned for a report. I'll let you know what I find.

Coffee so special that it's only available for a limited time. Bad News. No longer available from Community Coffee. Good News: You can win a free bag here. To be entered in a random drawing for a free bag of Founder's Blend (compliments of Community Coffee), please send me an email: accutype@aol.com 12 oz. Whole Bean Private Reserve® Founders Blend Founders Blend is comprised of four unique coffees from two continents. We begin with Colombia Toledo-Labateca, which is grown high in the remote Andes Mountains near Venezuela and is a rare social relationship coffee exclusive to Community Coffee Company in the United States. We next add Brazil Santos Bourbon, an old growth variety of Arabica that has become rare and highly prized. We complete the blend with two exceptional coffees from Africa, which come from the high mountain peaks in Kenya and Ethiopia, the birth place of coffee. Founder’s Blend is carefully medium-dark roasted to develop a sweet floral aroma with a complex w...

Yet another reason to buy a Keurig for yourself or a gift this holiday season. I'm a coffee gal, but who doesn't love a cup of hot chocolate during winter? My daughter is a hot chocolate-holic and she had been drinking the Great Escapes Hot Chocolate K-Cups . And she was very happy with them. That is, until, she discovered the Swiss Miss "K-Cup"(TM) . Swiss Miss(TM) K-Cups are so good. She's crazy for Swiss Miss(TM) and has been drinking a cup every night. They're not too sweet. But they're rich in flavor and not too "chocolate-y". Top with mini-marshmallows or a squirt of whipped cream and you've got heaven in a cup. K-Cups(TM) are taking over the coffee planet!! www.greenmountaincoffee.com

Everybody is mixing chocolate and caramel and sea salt it seems. Starbucks even has a salted caramel mocha. I received this amazing box of chocolate treats over the weekend. Needless to say, after tonight, there are no more. I can't remember which member of this household got the last chocolate, but it wasn't me!! These "Sea Salt Caramels" by Chocolate Chocolate are made from the finest chocolate (dark or milk) which covers a creamy caramel. The sea salt on top is truly what sets it apart from a regular chocolate caramel. I would venture to say that the sea salt caramel might be the next big thing. Right up there with the peanut butter cup. What a winning combination. After years of studying the art of handcrafting small batches of premium chocolates, founder Dan Abel came back to his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri to open his own candy company. His creations were the result of years of apprenticing with master candy makers across the country. In February...

This stuff is so good that Catahoula can't keep it on the shelves. Mainly because it's not something they carry year round. In fact, I pre-paid for mine just to make sure I didn't miss out. This Blue Mountain , a pure coffee, is lightly roasted and extremely mild. The first cup I reviewed, I brewed in my Capresso automatic coffee maker. It was good. But when I used the pour-over method with my Chemex and slightly more coffee, it was pure delight. (This is a limited offering and retails for 20.00 per half pound.)

You're out of excuses for why you don't own a Keurig brewer. Now, Starbucks(R) is making "K-Cups"(R) ! Don't get me wrong, there's nothing better than a pot of freshly brewed coffee, but with the addition of Starbucks to the K-Cup(R) roster, you're going to have to put up a pretty decent argument for not buying a Keurig(R). It's perfect for those times when you don't feel like firing up the coffeemaker, or you want to break the ice with new guests or change the subject with that second date that's going horribly wrong. I sampled the French Roast and Breakfast Blend . There are even Tazo(R) Tea K-Cups ! Yup. You heard right. My personal favorite is the Starbucks French Roast but I've always been partial to the "parlez vous Francais." So, quit stalling. Surf on over to the Keurig(R) page and finish your holiday shopping. Your aunt doesn't need another clock. :)

The early bird doesn't always catch the worm. I'm sure you all heard about the "12 Days of Christmas" promotion from Starbucks . Well, the 12th day - was on the 12th of December - last Monday. And, the deal of the day was free drip coffee every day for the entire month of January when you purchased the "12 Days Mug." I thought to myself, "I am not going to get caught up in this madness. Each store probably got one mug. I'm not getting up at 4 a.m. just to get a mug. I don't need another commuter mug." Blah, blah, blah. Well, I walked into a Starbucks (location shall remain anonymous) on yesterday (Tuesday!) and what did I spy but one little mug sitting all by its lonesome. So, for 19.95, I have a collectible and cute mug for the holidays and can look forward to 31 days of free java. Can't touch this.

"I used the 8-count when I inserted the chai latte into the Keurig. I smiled when the water commenced brewing because the “color” was perfect – just the way I like it. Creamy-caramel color. I did not notice the aroma until I purposely put the cup closer to my noise – instantly I noticed the “cinnamon” and “chai” aromas which started my salivary glands. Wow! The taste is amazing…just the right amount of sweetener…the cinnamon tasted really good. There is also a hint of “tanginess” but not bitter. This is definitely a wonderful product. Can’t wait for the Second Cup." (reviewed by Maritza of San Francisco) www.Cafe-Escapes.com

How many people remember the character actor Bill Saluga? He was better known as Raymond J. Johnson. He did this schtick that was hilarious and drove people insane at the same time. And it was all about his name. Now, how many people order coffee under their real name? I know, personally, I often make up a name when ordering a fancy drink at a coffeehouse. I mean, it's just easier sometimes. It's noisy, the barista is busy and do they really care who I am anyway? So, instead of using my real name, I'll use a nickname or maybe I'll just say "Sue." It's not like I'm signing a contract, right? And who doesn't like to play pretend? I started giving this more thought the other day when I went for coffee with a co-worker. Her name is Carol but she ordered her latte under "Coco." And I turned to her and said, "Did you say Coco??" And that's when I learned that I'm not the only one who plays the name game. She said ...

Thanks to Tim Manhart, the roastmeister and owner of Catahoula Coffee , I'm enjoying a cup of liquid gold this morning. Malabar Gold . The thing I like most about visiting Catahoula is that you never know what treasure you'll find. Yesterday, I happened upon Timber as he was roasting a batch of Malabar Gold . Malabar Gold is a rare find and it won't be around long, so you'll want to order yours today. Retail Price: Around $9.00 for eight ounces. A real bargain for coffee this good. www.catahoulacoffee.com *Monsooned Malabar is a variety of dry processed coffee beans. The harvested and processed beans are exposed to the monsoon winds for a period of about three to four months, causing the beans to swell and lose the original acidity, resulting in a sweet and syrupy brew. The coffee is unique to the Malabar Coast of Karnataka and Kerala and has protected status under the Geographical Indications of Goods Act. The name Monsooned Malabar is derived from exposure to...

Who cares if it rains in Seattle a lot. Turns out it's the only place you can get Pike Place Special Reserve . Last month, I told you about the neat gift my niece brought me back from a trip to Seattle. A "Special Reserve" that's so special , you can only find it at a couple of Starbucks locations in Seattle. Well, after admiring the packaging in my curio for several weeks now, I finally cracked it open. Oh. My. God. This is like no other Pike Place blend I've had. It's a deep roast, bold and smoky. Sort of made me feel like 1930s film star when I was drinking it. Anyway, maybe they're "Sleepless in Seattle"* because there's so much good coffee, you don't want to sleep! If anybody knows where I can find this stuff without traveling, please let me know. Amazing. (* 1993 film directed by Nora Ephron and starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan)