Perkdup

Where have I been?   How is it that, I,  "lover of all things coffee and coffee-related," did not know that pasta is now being used as a biodegradable, earth friendly form of stirrer? I went into my local micro-roaster for a bag of delicious-ness, also known as Mocha Java, and was offered a free cup with my purchase.  I said, "Sure!" I walked over to the bar to add my one packet of raw sugar and a tiny splash of fat-free milk,  reached over for a stir-stick and was surprised to find that there weren't any. I noticed a cup with long sticks of something - maybe 'honey in a straw?'   Not wanting to show my ignorance, I hesitated to ask what the heck it was.  Finally, not seeing any spoons, I said to another customer at the bar, "Is this a stirrer?"  He said, "Yes, it's ( something which I didn't catch and couldn't pronounce ).  So, I proceeded to stir my coffee. Finally, as I walked out of the shop, I stopped and t

A big "shout out" to Cross Country Cafe , for sending me the "Half-Caff" K-Cup (R) from Green Mountain Coffee . I'm NOT a fan of decaf.  I repeat.  I am NOT a fan of decaf.  But this isn't decaf.  It's half-caff. I've been burning the midnight oil this week and I wanted to be able to complete my evening tasks without staying awake all night.  Hence, I thought it would be a good time to check out the "Half-Caff." I was pleasantly surprised.  Not only does this K-Cup have the great flavor I've come to expect from Green Mountain Coffee , it's only got half the caffeine.  That makes it perfect for that late night cup. Honestly, if I didn't know better, from the flavor, I'd swear it's the "real thing." Well, I mean, it is the real thing,  it's just not "fully-loaded," which is wonderful when I only need to be half-awake. Make sense?  Probably not. I better go make a

This  short video  profiles Jeremy Tooker from Four Barrel Coffee in San Francisco.  It's from MAVEA's "My Water. My Life." mini documentary series. Four Barrel is awesome coffee and they serve Dynamo Donuts.  Doesn't get much better. Four Barrel Coffee 375 Valencia Street   San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 252-0800

Get a free tea sample from Bigelow Tea in celebration of Hot Tea Month!  Details below: "Yes, you heard us correctly! “Like” us on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/bigelowtea ) and click on the FREE SAMPLE box just below our cover image so you can get your free tea sample in our retro foil and a .55 cents coupon off one box of Bigelow Tea. The free tea sample promotion is good until supplies last and we expect our 25,000 samples to go quickly so hurry on over and fill out our form and then let’s talk tea!  Be sure to enter via your computer and not your mobile device. Good luck!" (from Bigelow)   Bigelow Tea Blog Bigelow Facebook Biglelow Twitter Bigelow Pinterest Bigelow YouTube

It's Complicated.   That's pretty much how I would describe this Starbuck's Reserve Ka'u .  At 25.00 bucks for an 8 ounce bag of beans, it's expensive.  But, I had a gift card left over from the holidays and decided to treat myself. I won't try to elaborate and explain the flavors or notes, or get all "technical," but it is extremely good coffee with no bitter after-taste, at all.   Definitely for a "special occasion," but it's Inauguration Day and the MLK Holiday - doesn't get more special than that. From Starbucks.com The Ka’u region, which borders Kona on the island of Hawaii, has been recognized for its award-winning coffee and is home to these beans, cultivated on the slopes of Mauna Loa. The delicate tropical flavors captivated our buyers beyond expectation, leaving no doubt that we had to share this rare sip. Handpicked and processed in small batches by family farmers devoted to Hawaiian tradition,

Hello everyone! We have teamed up with Sprudge to bring this fun contest. Details are below. Happy Brewing! - Able Here ye, here ye, specialty coffee enthusiasts: a contest is afoot! The geniuses behind Able Brewing and the KONE metal brew filter are about to engage the public in a community event so fantastic, so outrageous, with such remarkable prizes, that we’re nearly bursting Xtreme Xcitement over our privilege to bring you this news. Able needs help finding the perfect KONE brew recipe. They like to know how the community is using their products, but more importantly, they need the perfect recipe to include on the KONE’s all-new packaging makeover, due out later this year. They’re turning to the specialty coffee community to source this recipe, and well…what they’re giving back to the community in return is pretty extraordinary. HERE’S THE SCOOP:

7-Eleven’s Darkest Before Dawn or Anytime Retailer launches darkest Brazilian roast coffee with mid-week $1 any-size offer DALLAS (Jan. 15, 2013) – To encourage coffee-lovers to try its latest, darkest roast coffee, 7-Eleven, Inc. is holding Dollar Coffee Wednesdays this month, when every size cup of coffee will cost just $1.  The new Brazilian Dark Roast is the leading convenience retailer’s richest, most full-bodied coffee to date.  Made from 100 percent Arabica beans, this premium blend starts with mountain-grown coffees from Southwestern Brazil, then is roasted dark to create a rich and full-bodied taste.     “We take great measures to ensure that our coffee is of the highest quality,” said Laura Gordon, vice president of brand innovation for 7-Eleven. “Every batch is tested by ‘Master Tasters’ to make sure 7-Eleven’s coffee offers premium taste, texture and aroma. The Brazilian Dark Roast is another example of 7-Eleven delivering high-quality roasted cof

It's Saturday morning and I'm playing pretend.  I'm pretending I'm on vacation.   I don't have anywhere that I absolutely have to be for two days.  So, why not make the best of it? Instead of brewing a whole pot of coffee, I'm taking it easy with the Keurig Brewer  and the K-Cup "Lake and Lodge" blend by Green Mountain Coffee. It's described as a "West Coast Blend," and its dark roast and smooth flavor is especially enjoyable on a lazy morning.   I don't like ratings, but on the K-cup meter, I would give it four K's out of five . I may not actually be at the "Lake and Lodge," but my coffee cup thinks it is. Available from Cross Country Cafe. www.crosscountrycafe.com Phone: 1-888-774-6939

You could say I'm on a Starbucks roll - I guess.  This will be my third Starbucks-related post in a week.  Anyway, I couldn't find the new Starbucks oatmeal at any of the locations near my work, so I asked a trusted friend to find it and bring me back the results.  And here's the review! So, I went into Starbucks moments ago and inquired about a new Oatmeal combination that is now being offered.  She said “so you want to try the new ingredients?” I said yes, and saw that she turned to a row of neatly packaged bags in a row tagged “new.”  This made me know that Starbucks was indeed marketing a new “combo” of ingredients for their same Oatmeal.  I do think it is the same Oatmeal but I notice that the cup/container they put it in has also undergone a facelift.  I always get my oatmeal “dry” because I like to add my own water to get my favored consistency.  I dumped all of the new ingredients in; fruit, nut & seed medley, fresh blueberries, and organic

  If you missed the cute gold Starbucks wrapper  for your coffee cup at Christmas, do not despair. I've got you covered.  Get it?  Covered.  (tee-hee) Anyway, email me below and I will randomly select one winner to receive a free "gold coffee cozy."  IMO it's better than a beer cozy. Bring in the New Year in style! Email me  Drawing ends Friday , January 11, 2012 at 8 p.m. EST

Out with the old, in with the new.  That's what the New Year brings. However, it's easier said than done.  It's often hard to part with old possessions, especially when it comes to coffee mugs.  They all have their own special story.  They remind us of where they were purchased, or who gave them to us, and how valuable they may be - whether monetarily or sentimentally. I'm thinking this is the year that I need to part with a few.  I've run out of space in my kitchen cabinets, my mug tree is full and the china cabinet is starting to hold a lot more than china these days. So, what to do with them?  I'm thinking that I need to find good homes for some of them.  It's hard to decide which ones to let go, but, it's easier when you think of them bringing pleasure to someone else. Which is why, I'm planning to clear out the cabinets this month.   I thought the Rescue Mission might be a good place to take them.  There are always families in tran

If you're like me, you want to take the holidays into extra innings.  At least, the holiday coffees. You can win a free 8 ounce bag of Starbucks Christmas Blend (whole bean coffee) . Email me   Feel free to include any comments or suggestions for the blog. It's my way of saying "Thank You" and "Every Day Should Be Like Christmas" Good Luck! Dottie (*Contest ends 5 p.m. EST Friday, January 11, 2013)