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What better way is there to say farewell to Fair Trade Month than to enjoy a cup of Alligator French Roast by Equator Coffees on the last day of October? I first experienced "Alligator French" about four years ago when an office mate brought some to work to share. She had purchased it from a fundraiser at her church in Marin County. I said, "this is like no French Roast I've ever tasted." Equator's Alligator French Blend is described by them as "Robust Earth Tones, Smoky Tropical Wood, Prunes and Walnuts." It's dark roasted from Ecuador, Ethiopia and Sumatra. It's no surprise that Roast Magazine named Equator the 2010 Roaster of the Year. And, of course, it's Fair Trade Certified by the C.C.O.F . Because Fair Trade coffee is not meant to be enjoyed only in October, but year-round. Equator Coffees & Teas 115 Jordan Street San Rafael, CA 94901 1-800-809-7687 Alligator French is just one of the many amazing roasts offered

That's because there haven't been any new or exciting teas that have caught my eye lately. That is until I spotted " Two Leaves And A Bud." No, this is not a "Cheech and Chong" movie. It's a line of organic teas. And they're super fancy. They come in these little "sachets," not bags. And not only are they cute, they have the cutest darn names like, " Better Rest Blend," and "Better Morning Blend." And there are so many different kinds of teas to select from - traditional (like Earl Grey and Jasmine ) and "new-agey" ones like "Organic Mountain High Chai," "Alpine Berry," "Pomi Berry," and there's even an " Organic Tamayokucha ." I could barely pronounce that one. You get the point. They have a huge assortment of teas to choose from. Did I mention they're super delicious? And, they have loose teas too, and cute little bamboo gift boxes of tea and tea

By now, you've more than likely heard all about the Clover (R) Coffee Machine. It's this fancy-schmantzy (uber-expensive) machine that brews one cup at a time for ultimate flavor. You can find it in very "select" Starbucks and other coffee shops. Well, guess what? I've been brewing one cup at a time (with optimum results) for years. Chemex(R) thought of that decades ago. However, my Classic Chemex made more coffee than we often needed to drink. So, I was thrilled to discover that there is a new Chemex Pint-Size Model (handblown) which brews one to three cups. It works just like the classic model and the coffee is just as delicious. No sediment, no burnt coffee. Just a delicious cup o'joe (or three). Check out all the Chemex models and accessories at: www.chemexcoffeemaker.com (I received a free Chemex(TM) Pint-Size Coffeemaker for the purpose of writing this review, which in no way influenced me because I had been a "Chemite" for years)

It's a rainy day in the Bay today. So I played hooky. Stayed home from church and baked. I did watch Joel Osteen on television, so that sort of counts - doesn't it? Just poured myself a big cup of hot coffee and am sitting down ready to write - warm snickerdoodles as my muse. And, the San Francisco Giants are going to the World Series. Who could ask for anything more?

What: Fair Trade Coffee "E-Tasting" presented by Green Mountain Coffee When: October 26, 2010 Time: 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) Cost FREE To join the call, go to: http://www.ustream.tv/GreenMountainCoffee www.greenmountaincoffee.com

I was reading a novel the other day by Carl Hiaasen entitled "Star Island" when it mentioned that someone had Sanka (TM) coffee in their pantry. When was the last time you've heard that brand mentioned? I mean we're so fancy now that we don't drink anything instant much anymore, unless we're stuck at a motel or visiting someone who just doesn't know what real coffee is, right? So, it got me to wondering if Sanka even existed anymore. Turns out it does. And then being my usual curious self, I wanted to know more and so I turned to our good friend, Wikipedia, and here's what it says about Sanka (TM) . "Sanka is a brand of decaffeinated coffee, sold around the world, and was one of the earliest decaffeinated varieties.[citation needed] Sanka is distributed in the United States by Kraft Foods. Decaffeinated coffee was developed in 1903 by a team of researchers led by Ludwig Roselius in Bremen, Germany. It was first sold in Germany and many

"Troublemaker" by Janet Evanovich and her daughter Alex Evanovich with art by Joelle Jones Reading this book reminded me of my appreciation of the symbiotic relationship between illustration and cloud text and the seeding of a fertile imagination which was my youth. Comics, now PC’d as graphic novels, could always occupy an otherwise calm and uneventful Sunday afternoon, with mental activity that took the place of dodge ball and marbles. Janet and her daughter Alex jump off to a great start in this piece with Voodoo, kidnappings and two self proclaimed gumshoes that show what the “bad cop-bad cop” relationship is all about. Alex Barnaby and Sam Hooker , individually and collectively, know how to gum up the workings of a freelance crime investigation. But for the grace of good “juju” the two keep the thrill moving to the point of “see you next volume.” As for the illustrations, Joelle Jones is indeed gifted and draws attractive figures with great detail. Her input to thi

I'm definitely ready for takeoff this morning. Enjoying a cup of Rocketfuel (TM) Sumatra 44 blend . I must admit, I was a little afraid of a coffee with a name like Rocketfuel(TM) . I mean, what if I took off and didn't come back down. To be perfectly honest, this morning I couldn't care less if I did. Just kidding God. :) Seriously, this is great coffee. The Sumatra 44 blend is organic, fair trade premium Indonesian Sumatran coffee and Arabican Espresso. Bold and beautiful. But, I'm not going to try to find a bunch of adjectives to describe it because it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know or enjoy good coffee. Check out their site and see out what they have to offer for yourself: www.rocketfuelcoffee.com And while you're at it, learn a little about the company's owner, Lisa Rotenberg. She's pretty amazing in her own right. http://www.lisarotenberg.com/

Having three friends over for coffee! I set my Sunday morning off with "Three Amigos" Blend from Catahoula Coffee . It's a Mexican coffee and the beans were roasted at three different periods of time. Clever, huh? I've never had a coffee I didn't love from Timber. And if you're not near Catahoula, no worries. You can order online. www.catahoulacoffee.com Catahoula Coffee Company 12472 San Pablo Ave. Richmond, CA 94805 510. 235.0525

"We will forgive you. Your mug won't. Do you have beans for the weekend? You should think of your mug." Happy Friday!

I love guests who come bearing gifts. My sister dropped by this weekend (well, she's not really a guest), but anyway, she brought me a "red" bag of Community Coffee Between Roast Coffee. She said, "I've had this in my trunk for a week for you." What good is coffee in a trunk? So, I brewed up a pot for the two of us. It's not too light and not too dark. Perfect for any time of the day and especially Sunday afternoon gossip. Community Coffee offers these "Red Bag" sales from time to time, so you might want to add their website to your favorites. I did. www.communitycoffee.com

Peet's Turkish Coffee Recipe INGREDIENTS 8 oz fresh, cold filtered water 8 tsp coffee 4 tsp sugar ¼ tsp freshly ground cardamom (4 pods) Cinnamon (optional) Makes four, 2 oz servings Originally named "Peet's Coffee, Tea & Spices", Peet's has a long history of offering high quality spices, in addition to fresh roasted coffee and hand-selected teas. In honor of this heritage, we invite you to experience Turkish coffee. * Turkish coffee is prepared by boiling finely powdered coffee beans in a traditional Ibrik (a pot), often with spices and sugar resulting in a strong, flavorful cup. This method dates back to the 16th century and is common throughout the Middle East, North Africa, Caucasus, and the Balkans. Try this simple brewing method at home and discover the ancient tradition of Turkish coffee with the rich, strong taste of Peet's deep-roasted coffee and top quality spices. BREWING INSTRUCTIONS Grind coffee to a powder using the finest setting on your

That's easy. Five bags of Community Coffee it is! www.communitycoffee.com In observance of National Coffee Day, September 29, Community Coffee (TM) is bringing back this special can't-miss offer! Five for $20 includes both 12oz. and 16oz. traditional coffees. Use promo code FIVE. Valid until midnight Monday, October 4, 2010. Offer excludes 32oz. coffees.