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My sister went to Miami last week and brought me back - you guessed it - coffee! Pilon Coffee . I had never seen this brand before but apparently it's a staple in every household in Cuba. She brought me the "Pilon Gourmet Espresso." Don't be turned off by the word "espresso," it's a dark roast which can be used for drip or pour over. I won't lie to you and tell you it's not strong. It is. But it's good. However, I think I now know why Ricky Ricardo talked so fast!! Not planning a trip to Miami or Cuba soon? No worries. You can order online. http://www.javacabana.com/ Cafe Pilon's history dates back to 19th century Cuba. It has been brewed and served in Cuban homes since the 1800s, and its taste and aroma remain unbeatable. The Java Cabana family continues the Cafe Pilon tradition today.

No room for an espresso machine in your kitchen? No problem. This device takes up little room, as it fits in your hand! Uses a small gas cartridge for pressure. Great conversation piece at parties. Downside: At $169.00 retail, it's a little pricey. "The stylish mypressi TWIST is a revolutionary espresso maker that will change how, and where, you enjoy delicious espresso and espresso-based beverages. The TWIST is perfect for the home and office with its quick, quiet operation. It is incredibly easy to use, and makes deliciously smooth espresso with perfect crema time after time. The TWIST requires no external power to produce single or double shots from either fresh ground coffee or ESE pods. Just add fresh ground coffee or a pod, pour in some hot water and pull the trigger. No pumping required. The TWIST delivers the full 135 psi (9 bars) from small, standard gas cartridges that have been used in kitchens, cafes and restaurants worldwide for over 80 years. Each cartridg

Peaberry, also known as caracoli, is a type of coffee bean. Normally the fruit of the coffee plant develops as two halves of a bean within a single cherry, but sometimes only one of the two seeds gets fertilized so there is nothing to flatten it. This oval (or pea-shaped) bean is known as Peaberry. Typically around 5% of all coffee beans harvested are of this form.* Caribou Coffee made my morning with their limited offering "La Minita Peaberry." This is what they say: Caribou Coffee is the only coffee shop to offer the incredibly rare peaberries from the renowned Hacienda La Minita in Costa Rica. Peaberries occur when only one bean develops in a coffee cherry (instead of the normal two) soaking up more flavor imparting vibrancy in their solitary development. This intensified energy superbly balances flavorful notes of milk chocolate and a sugarcane sweetness. La Minita is 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified™ coffee . Tasting Notes: Tart cherry flavors sweetened with milk ch

I love to browse. I especially love to browse in discount stores. You can always find a ton of things that you want but really don't need. Today, I just wanted to get out of the house and out of my head, so I went to my "secret" bargain shop. I didn't want to spend a lot of money, but I wanted to leave the store feeling - you know, satisfied. It was my lucky day. Stumbled upon a pair of really cute readers. That's right, readers. You know you're getting old when you brake for readers. Anyway, I got a really cute pair of readers and the most adorable set of coffee napkins from Ideal Home Range(R). I would tell you the name of the bargain shop but that would ruin the secret. ;)

Enjoy a croissant with your cup today :)

If you don't have a rooster in your neighborhood, here's the next best way to jump start your day - Community Coffee Breakfast Blend. A medium-dark roast with a nice little kick. Bold (the way I like it). No bitter after-taste and at 7.99 for a 12 ounce bag, it's an honest price for gourmet coffee. "Breakfast Blend" is from Community Coffee's "Private Reserve" (R). And, oh, feel free to drink it at lunch or dinner or any time you want a serious cup. Bonjour! www.communitycoffee.com

The tag line is my inside joke for those of you who do themselves the favor of picking up “Cheesemonger – A Life on the Wedge” . This treatise is written by an accomplished purveyor of all that is milk based, fermented, and aged. He does well at injecting his background into each chapter and allowing one to get a feel for why he delivers in somewhat of a rant-ish flavor. His passion is evident, which gives this book its “stink” (inside joke). All cheese/food topics are kicked around. He talks about pricing, producing, protecting, and purchasing. He even touches on his personal views on the ultimate conundrum of “Eat to live versus Live to Eat”. I think you will find this book delicious…grab a sample (another inside joke). http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/cheesemonger:paperback (Reviewed by JRS)

Coffee Drinks Espresso- the base for all espresso-based drinks A method of quickly extracting the heart of coffee flavor, under pressure, from specially roasted, finely ground Arabica beans. 1-1/2 ounces of Espresso is known as a "shot" and serves as the base of many delicious coffee drinks. Single A shot of espresso; 1-1/2 to 2 oz. Double Two single shots of espresso or 3 oz shot. Caffe Ristretto A short shot, but with the same amount of coffee as a full shot, just concentrated. Americano An espresso coffee drink that has been diluted with hot water to make the flavor less intense. Cappuccino Espresso with equal parts steamed milk and frothed milk (foam). The frothy "cap" may be garnished with sprinkled chocolate or cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla powder or sugar crystals. Dry Cap The above drink with less steamed milk and extra foam. Caffe Macchiato Espresso marked with 1 to 2 tablespoons of foamed milk. (Macchiato means "marked" in Italian.) Caffe con Leche Es

Today I did something different. I took my doggie for a nail trim and afterwards, instead of running into Starbucks for the familiar, I turned into Jack In The Box (TM) for a cup of their "Kona" Classic coffee. I spilled a little on me and my car because my dog gets very excited meeting new people at the drive-thru. He jumped into my lap just as the woman was handing me my coffee. I can say this - their coffee is hot! At around a dollar for a small, it's definitely not a bad cup of coffee. And while I'm sure the fine print says that it's a Kona blend, it's definitely NOT Kona. But, it's decent, it's quick and it's fresh. And, yes, I would definitely buy it again.