Perkdup

Kicking off the three-day weekend with a cup of one San Francisco's finest coffees. Martha & Bros. Since 1987, Ms. Martha has been roasting some of the finest coffees on the West Coast. This morning, I'm being transported from Paris to Columbia with Martha & Bros. "North Beach Blend." Ms. Martha says about the NORTH BEACH BLEND: "The strongest of our blends is made up of French Roast and Colombian Supremo. It makes a strong and flavorful cup. Beats French Roast in strength and flavor." I'm lucky that there's a shop near my work, but you, too, can enjoy Martha & Bros. at one of her cafés or in the comfort of your own home, visit the website for more information and locations. www.marthabros.com

How does a coffee blogger run out of coffee? Obviously, I'm working too hard and not paying close enough attention to what's important. I got up this morning to fix myself a pot of coffee - it's Wednesday - and I usually like something "special." But, there was no there - there. Canister was empty. Pantry. Nada. My world was crashing right before my eyes. I had to go on a scavenger hunt looking for remnants of coffee ground up into tiny little plastic bags. And the tiny bit that was left in my grinder. I was able to scrounge up enough for a small pot, but that left me to ponder the bigger question - "What the heck have I been thinking about lately?" So, off I go - on a mission - gotta replenish my stash! Peace, Dottie

Thank God, It's Friday! And this is one of the mornings where I am easing into the day. Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the brew. It's really nice when that brew smells like this pot of Peet's Sumatra Blue Batak that I just made. This is good stuff. Bold. But not too bold. Complex but not 'mixed up,' mild but gets the job done. It's a limited offering, so you might want to get yours today. For tomorrow, it may be gone. We can do this!!

Today is a special day. Which calls for a "special" coffee. Like Fonté Coffee's F2 Blend . I'm "toasting" my mom this morning. And even though she is no longer with me, I know she could appreciate this blend. There's nothing she liked better than a cup of gourmet coffee on a Sunday morning. So, Mama, this cup is for you! F2 Blend by Fonté $17.50 per lb. F2 is the signature espresso blend at our Café and Wine Bar in downtown Seattle. F2 was designed to display the full range of complexity characteristic of the most recent developments in espresso preparation. Based on sweet, creamy sun-dried bourbon from Brasil it features bright accents from estate Guatemalan and Kenyan offerings, and a hint of untamed earthiness from full bodied Indonesian coffees. www.fontecoffee.com

There used to be a famous character in coffee commercials whose tag line was "100 percent Columbia, because that's the richest kind." He didn't lie. I seriously had reservations about ordering this coffee because it was pre-ground. I prefer whole beans to get all the freshness. However, freshness was not an issue with this Community Columbia Toledo-Labateca PRIVATE RESERVE Coffee . This rich and delicious coffee was the perfect way to start my Hump Day. One more cup this afternoon and I might make it "over the hump." There's also a really neat story behind this coffee - here it is: "In 2001, Community Coffee Company established a long-term agreement with the farmers of Toledo and Labateca in Colombia, helping to unite two towns that had experienced political and religious differences. Since that time, 100% of their local economy has been dependent on the revenue generated from their coffee. As part of this special relationship, we guarantee the ...

I like to play a little game. In this game, I use a specific coffee canister to pour all the remnants from each day's coffee grind. At the end of a week, I end up with is a mixed bag of coffee which I like to drink on Monday mornings. Sometimes, I have enjoyed this mix on other days of the week, but Monday morning is my preference. Today, I'm enjoying a blend of Peet's Anniversary, Starbucks Tribute, Catahoula's Malabar Gold and Thanksgiving's Beaujolais . This eclectic blend has given my day the extra jolt (pun intended) that I need. I can only imagine what other surprises this Monday will bring! Enjoy your week.

I've been waiting for weeks for this annual offering. Starbucks Three Region Blend . I was pretty excited last week, when they started brewing it for the bold selection at my local Starbucks . I had a mid-morning cup every day this week. It was so good that I had to pick up a bag of beans to brew at home. Can you say dark? Can you say delicious? Starbucks Three Region Blend . A limited offering. What are you waiting for? Go get yourself some - now! From Starbucks: Combining the finest beans from each of the planet’s three coffee-growing regions – Latin America, Africa/Arabia and Asia/Pacific – this is a blend that’s all about timing. We have to wait for the precise moment when the coffee from each of these regions reaches their peak of flavor and freshness. Then, without letting one region overpower another, we carefully blend them to create distinctly harmonious layers. As you sip, notes of lemon and current come to life, balanced by a lush bouquet of flowers and herbs. It...