Perkdup

I got really excited when I heard that this new Starbucks Reserve (TM) coffee was coming a few weeks ago. And as timing would have it, Starbucks Reserve Zambia Peaberry Terranova Estate arrived in my local Clover (TM) store just around the same time as payday.  Woo-hoo. Chocolately, fruity, flavorful, dark and smooth.    I love Peaberry* coffees and this one lives up to the hype. 14.95 for an eight ounce bag.  I won't brew it every day, but it sure makes Sundays special.  And a pretty good motivator on Monday mornings as well. Limited offering. *   Peaberry , also known as  caracoli , is a type of  coffee  bean. Normally the fruit ("cherry") of the  coffee plant  contains two seeds ("beans") that develop with flattened facing sides, but sometimes only one of the two seeds is fertilized, and the single seed develops with nothing to flatten it. This oval (or  pea -shaped) bean is known as peaberry. Typically around 5% of all coffee beans harve

Peet's 2014 Anniversary Blend is just as delicious as previous years.   However, this year, instead of going for the tried and true, I went " noveau " with the "single-serve" cup. When you think about it, it's sort of weird to have a "single anniversary," except I suppose anniversaries aren't reserved just for unions but anything that happens every year. So, the wonderful Anniversary Blend is happening again this year, but in a different way. You traditionalists can still opt for the regular coffee (whole bean or ground).  As for me, I'm all about trying something new.  A bit pricier per cup than the regular coffee, but convenience comes at a price. Same great flavor - served up in the singular. Available on for a limited offering, so get it while you can.  Otherwise, you'll have to wait a whole year.

Capresso EC50 Stainless Steel EC50 Water Reservoir "The Perfect Shot" I have had this Capresso EC-50 for a couple of months now. I've waited to write this review because I wanted to be absolutely sure that this machine was really as good as it appeared.   I've been fooled before by affordable espresso machines that work well for a couple of cups and then the problems surface. I can honestly and comfortably say, for the money, this is it.   For 99.99 (that's under a hundred bucks), you can have perfect espresso, cappuccino, lattes and more.   Keep your coffee shop visits to a minimum.  This thing will pay for itself in no time. To sum it up: Visually appealing Not confusing Minimalistic control Very smooth espresso Nicely finished Good platform for the cups Allows you to customize your espresso (allows you to add more water, less water) Perfect every time And l

I can say, without reservation that Fonté Coffee is one of the best coffees I have ever had.   Imagine my delight when I had the opportunity to "e-chat" with Fonté's Founder and President Paul Odom. How old were you when you had your first cup of coffee? PO:  I must have been 3 or 4 years old when I took a sip of my Father's coffee.    I remember it being pretty bad. Today I might refer to it as sour and underdeveloped.    I did notice that with enough sugar and milk it was much more tolerable,  but I am purist at heart and enjoy the aroma and the flavors without adding anything else. Where did you learn to roast coffee? PO:  Seattle. I learned how to roast coffee on a little 25 kilo Probat I purchased  from a failing Seattle coffee company. Who was your coffee mentor? PO:  Steve Smith. Without a doubt, Steve is the most tenured coffee person in Seattle.    When I met Steve in 1992 we made

Who knew that lurking in the aisle of my neighborhood chain drug store would be one of my "new" favorite single-serve coffees? I walked into the store and picked up the weekly ad and saw that coffee was on sale for 5.99 for 12 single serve cups.  I thought my eyes were deceiving me when I realized it was Yuban coffee!  I didn't even know Yuban came in a single serve.   It may be "new," but, it's still got the same old flavor that I remembered. I'm not too elitist to say that some of the best coffees are the old-timers. I'm happy to see that Yuban has "reinvented" itself and entered the single-serve game.  It's all about staying relevant, without compromising yourself just to be " en vogue ." Perfect for that end of the day "light and easy cup," just before I settle down to watch mindless TV!