Perkdup

How do you feel when you get to the bottom of the bag of one of your favorite coffee bean offerings? Well, the way I see it, there's two ways to look at it.  You could say, "Darn, this coffee is so good and I'm almost out."  Or, you could say, "This coffee was so good, but I can't wait to see what new coffees are out there right now to try." I'm opting for "Door Number Two," because for every good coffee you've had, there are two new ones that you don't even know about. The change of seasons always brings out a new crop and I've gotten several emails this week alone about new roasts.   And while Catahoula is always one of my favorites, and "Mokka Java," takes me back to many fond memories and places, I know that there are many other artisan coffees (and some grocery store brands) looking for a good home. Change is nice, right?   So, don't think of the bag as being almost gone - think of the new cof...

I've talked here before about how disappointing it can be when your coffee shop "loses it." Sometimes they get it back.  And then other times, it's like a rotten apple.  The unhappy barista's attitude spills over to her co-workers and what you have left is a place that serves the same blend every day, doesn't bother to stock the case, treats you like you're in a cattle call and ruins the entire coffee experience. For it is an experience.  It's more than just walking up to the counter to order a cup of coffee.  If that were the case we could just sit at our desks and drink the "office swill" every day. I've been very reluctant to report my feelings to "big brother" because nobody wants to be a "coffee narc."  And, on the other hand, I feel that a big part of my daily coffee experience is being lost because I'm not able to take advantage of the perks (pun intended) of having a major coffee chain in my offic...

"Alta de Dota" Hello, Monday! I can't think of a better way to start the week than with a hot cup of Peet's Alta De Dota Costa Rican Coffee . Full-bodied and balanced with a bold delivery that says "We're Peet's and we take our coffee seriously." The last roast is coming up this week (June 18th), so you won't want to wait.  Order yours today. Forewarned is forearmed. Peet's Alta De Dota 15.95 per pound. In   Peet's  own words: We celebrate the return of our exceptional Alta de Dota Costa Rican coffee, from an innovative co-op that has been a partner of Peet’s for many, many years. Grown with care and regard for the land and for the people, Alta de Dota has special meaning to us here at Peet’s. The name Alta de Dota was chosen purposefully—referring to both the high elevation at which this coffee is grown (between 5,000 and 6,000 feet) and the high quality of the coffee. The Costa Rican town of Santa Maria de Dota is pe...

I'm not much for flavored coffee, but when Community Coffee sent me these single serve cups to try, I couldn't resist the French Vanilla.  So easy to make and enjoy. The aroma is wonderful.   And the best part is that while you definitely get the essence and aroma of vanilla, the taste is very subtle and doesn't take away from the flavor of the Arabica coffee. Community is one of my favorite coffees and reasonably priced for every day use. You don't have to be in Louisiana to Laissez Bon Temps Roulez! Available online at Community Coffee .

"Longitude 123 W" My love of coffee is no secret which is why instead of a tee-shirt or magnet, if I'm lucky, my family and friends bring me coffee gifts when they travel. My sister recently returned from Vancouver with a bag of 49th Parallel Coffee . While well-known throughout Canada, we don't see much of this stuff here, so it was a nice treat. She selected a medium roast, Longitude 123 degrees W, which produces a mild cup of good old-fashioned "diner-style" coffee. And the roast date is right on the bottom of the bag, so you know it's fresh! Canadians are pretty nice coffee people. Here's to the weekend!

EARL GREY TEA MACARONS What's better than tea and cookies?  How about tea in a cookie.  As in Earl Grey macarons. I recently discovered a macaron treasure.   Chantal Guillon Macarons in Palo Alto.  There's also a shop in San Francisco. Fortunately, this shop is over an hour away, so I won't be going there every day.  Otherwise, I'd have to get another job to support my 'macaron habit.'  I love French macarons. This place has every flavor you could imagine and they don't compromise on quality or taste.  They're so light and crunchy on the outside and absolutely delicious.  Before you know it, you might have gobbled up half a dozen! The flavor wasn't overpowering, but subtle while right on the flavor of Earl Grey Tea. And, like everything else these days, you can order online. Délicieux!

Peets Brazil Minas Naturals (Smooth, Nutty, Naturally Sweet!) Single serve is making me lazy.  Better than making me crazy, right? They sure do come in handy after a hard day's work. Just plop one in the machine and presto!  Coffee. I might actually get some reading in tonight before I hit the hay. This evening, I'm totally digging the new Peet's Brazil Minas Naturais Single Serve Cups.  Honestly, they have gotten their measurements down to a science.  Well, technically, I guess it is science.  Coffee science.   Single Serve coffee makers - the best invention since the dishwasher! "Naturally processed coffee cherries from the Minas Gerais region are sweetened by the Brazilian sun."  (From Peets Website)