Coffee Reviews

Review: Miss Ellie’s Coffee – More Than a Pretty Face

April 10, 2017 By Joi Sigers

Miss Ellie’s Coffee New Orleans Roast (Perfect)

I always love the sweet life of being a food blogger, but there are times I love it even more than others – such as the times I’m sent coffee in exchange for telling my readers about it. Oh, yeah, that’s when I love it almost as much as my next breath.

I was recently sent a great collection of Miss Ellie’s Coffee, as well as a beautiful coffee cake – which was above and beyond cool of them – and it’s my supreme pleasure to tell you all about this wonderful coffee.

First of all, a reminder about my coffee reviews. I keep the reviews simple and pretty much in everyday Jane and Joe language. I don’t get too heavily into the extra details of a coffee because my food blog audience (like me) are most concerned about…

… the taste of the coffee.
… the value of the coffee.
… the people on the other side of the label.
… if this is a coffee they have to order online, what makes it worth the effort?
… and perhaps most importantly, what sets this coffee apart from the rest?

If we’re being honest, the question, “What sets this coffee apart from the rest?” is always the first question I ask myself when trying a new coffee. If I can’t come up with an answer, then Houston, we have a problem!

Fortunately, it’s been my experience that if people are willing to send you their coffee in exchange for telling your readers about it, they are confident about what they’re bagging and this confidence is almost, without fail, very well placed.

That’s certainly the case with Miss Ellie’s Coffee. When I eagerly opened the box of coffee (think 5 year old on Christmas morning), one look at the coffee bags gave me my first glimpse into one of the things that sets this coffee apart from the rest… as in all the rest.

This is the first time I’ve ever seen a bag of coffee carry the individual’s face.

And what a beautiful face, at that! I mean we’re talking Disney Princess level beautiful – but that’s beside the point. As the mother of three Disney Princess level beautiful daughters, I just happen to notice things like this.

Naturally, the loveliness of the face isn’t what truly matters. To me, it’s the bold confidence and warm friendliness.

Bold Confidence: To put your face (lovely or not) on a bag of coffee, you have to be very confident about that coffee. You have to feel darn good about what you’re bagging to stand behind it… well, in front of it, if we’re being literal. Almost always.. almost without fail… those who are the most confident are this way for a reason.
Warm Friendliness: The smiling face on the coffee bags says, “Let’s have a cup of coffee together!” to me. In fact, everything about Miss Ellie’s online presence carries the same warm attitude and that totally and completely stands out to me.

Miss Ellie’s Coffee is Truly Exceptional Coffee

We buy a lot of different coffee in our household. It’s a great passion and we love to try as many different ones as possible. I’m also (blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed…) sent coffee regularly to review on my food blog and (blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed…) tea to review on my tea blog. So, if I say someone has carved out an identity for themselves that stands apart from the majority of the rest – please take my word for it.

Each coffee we’ve sampled from Miss Ellie’s has rocked our coffee world. EACH one. We opened the New Orleans first – what can I say, we liked the name. It’s as deep as that.

I may have mentioned this on the food blog before, I’m not sure – but my first cup of coffee each morning is “Bulletproof Coffee.” This is a delicious and healthy technique for fixing coffee which involves a little real butter and nutritious coconut oil. If you click the link I just dropped (after finishing this coffee review, of course!), you can learn how to make it from the master himself, Dave Asprey.

Miss Ellie’s New Orleans Makes an EXCELLENT Bulletproof Coffee

Fascinatingly, we have found that not all coffee makes wonderful bulletproof coffee. I guess it’s really common sense, but it always fascinates me nonetheless. Some coffee makes okay bulletproof coffee, some makes good bulletproof coffee, some makes great bulletproof coffee, and some makes exceptional bulletproof coffee.

Miss Ellie’s New Orleans Roast makes some of the most exceptional bulletproof coffee we’ve ever had. In fact, I’ve never had a coffee that made a better one than New Orleans.

After my bulletproof coffee each morning, I go on to have 2-4 cups of pour-over coffee, so I was really anxious to see if the New Orleans roast was as fantastic on its own….. in a more traditional cup of coffee.

Was it ever?! This is simply a beautiful, beautiful coffee and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

From Miss Ellie’s Coffee: This medium roast New Orleans coffee is a blend of selected beans from Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Colombia. We chose this Nawlin’s roast because of the history of the south. Miss Ellie’s medium beans are hand roasted to perfection.

Miss Ellie’s New Orleans in Bulletproof Coffee

Miss Ellie’s Colombian Roast

The next Miss Ellie’s Coffee we tried was the Colombian Blend. Naturally we tried it in a Bulletproof Coffee, first. We were anxious to see if it made as excellent a cup of Bulletproof Coffee as the New Orleans blend did. While it was absolutely delicious, I’d have to say that the New Orleans beans were EVEN better. This isn’t a knock, at all, against the Colombian.. it’s just a nod to the New Orleans.

The Colombian does, however, make every bit as wonderful a cup of pour-over coffee as the New Orleans. It’s rich, bold, and unmistakably Colombian. I love for a Colombian coffee to be proud of its heritage and this one is as proud as it gets!

Miss Ellie’s Colombian with Heavy Whipping Cream – Decadent and Delicious

When it comes to most coffee, if I’m not drinking it Bulletproof-Style, I drink it black. However, when it’s a Colombian blend, I love a little heavy whipping cream in my cup. It is simply HEAVENLY! Miss Ellie’s Colombian makes an absolutely perfect, ridiculously delicious cup of coffee – especially (in my opinion) with a little heavy whipping cream. Decadent and delicious.

As you can see in the picture above, I decided to celebrate the first day of baseball season (GO CARDINALS!!!) with the Colombian. For this baseball fanatic to choose a coffee as the one she celebrates the first day of baseball with is a compliment of the highest order.

The Colombian with whipping cream and the New Orleans in Bulletproof Coffee have become two of my newest and most treasured obsessions. They’re legendary, that’s all. Legendary.

Miss Ellie’s Coffee is, obviously, delicious (I hope I’ve thoroughly conveyed that fact!). It’s also very reasonably priced, so the value is definitely there. I love the way they go about their business – small-business values with a big-business approach. My dealings have been top-notch in every way.

I’m not sure if you order coffee online very often – I’d say we probably order more coffee online than we buy offline. Buying coffee (or anything for that matter) online is so quick, easy, and painless that it becomes your favorite way of shopping. Zero lines, you can order in your pajamas with your cat in your lap, the coffee is brought right to you… and did I mention you can order in your pajamas with your cat in your lap.

Absolutely my favorite way to shop.

I also received some sample-size packets of flavored coffees as well and will tell you all about them tomorrow. Not surprisingly, they’re each extraordinary – it seems Miss Ellie only Makes extraordinary coffee.

I guess that’s why she’s always smiling.

For more information, see Miss Ellie’s Coffee on Coffee.org.

Coffee Review: Kaldi’s Colombia Monserrate Elcy Causaya

February 17, 2017 By Joi Sigers

When you drink as much coffee as I do, it honestly takes a very special coffee to stand out from the rest. It’s not as difficult for a Coffee Roaster to stand out from the rest (consistency, excellence, and above and beyond customer service will seal that deal – all traits I strongly associate with Kaldi’s Coffee). However, when your world is filled with different roasts, different blends, different origins, different names, different flavors, different tones, etc… the coffee has to be exceptional to break free from the pack.

There are a few such coffees that have left (and for several, continue to leave) such an impression on me that I remember their names as well as I remember the names of my cats. Okay, well almost.

Kaldi’s Birds & Bees (as my husband can tell you, this is the one I measure all coffee to – it’s my coffee grail – as in “a thing that is being earnestly pursued or sought after.” I’m always looking for coffee that tickles my coffee fancy as much as their Birds and Bees does)
Kaldi’s Decaf Highlander Grogg (the best decaf coffee on earth, period)
Starbucks Kati Kati (whatever happened to Kati Kati – like, where’d it go go?!)
Kaldi’s Colombia Monserrate Elcy Causaya (I call her Elcy for short)

Review Continued Below…

Before we get to the last beauty (who just turned my “Top 3” into a “Top 4”), I have to ask, did you ever try Starbuck’s Kati Kati coffee beans? The first year they came out, I bought a bag in our local Starbucks. The bag was beautiful (all their bags are especially gorgeous – and I love that they’re “themed,” they match the region the beans came from), the beans smelled amazing, and the name was “love at first sight.” When we brewed it, it was obvious the flavor did the great name justice. PHENOMENAL. But here’s the thing, I waited all year for the “seasonal” coffee to come out again, but when it did, it was not the same. It was good, mind you, but it was no longer PHENOMENAL.

Then, the coffee kind of disappeared. I waited for the next “season” again and it pulled a no show. Then the next – same.

Yet, I have always remembered the amazing, naturally sweet flavor and the hint of orange in the background.

Okay, fast forward to this week. My husband’s most recent Kaldi’s Coffee order included a bag of coffee we’d never tried before: Kaldi’s Colombia Monserrate Elcy Causaya. The first thing that caught me was (like Kati Kati) the name. Elcy. Beautiful name!

After I good-naturedly chided him for not adding a Birds & Bees and Decaf Highlander Grogg to the order, I anxiously tried Elcy. Guess what it reminded me of? Exactly! Kati Kati, the first year.

But it gets better.

Guess what it was even better than? Exactly! Kati Kati, the first year.

There is an unmistakable sweetness to this coffee along with an addictive citrus background. I have enjoyed Elcy in “Bulletproof” coffees (coffee with butter and coconut oil added, then blended) as well as on her own. It is excellent… let’s make that PHENOMENAL each and every way. I actually saved one of my cups of coffee of Elcy this morning and put it over ice. I pretty much live from one iced coffee to the next in the summer months, so this was my “Spring Training.”

Please don’t tell Birds & Bees, but it won’t be the only coffee I’m putting on ice this summer.

Kaldi’s Colombia Monserrate Elcy Causaya (Elcy) reminds me of enjoying a sweet, soft orange danish along with a cup of the best coffee in the world – but it’s even better. No calories and no sticky fingers!

PHENOMENAL.

If you love great coffee (and why would you be reading a coffee review if you didn’t?), you simply have to order a bag of Kaldi’s Colombia Monserrate Elcy Causaya right away.

World Vision Handcrafted Gifts

November 18, 2015 By Joi Sigers

World Vision’s Gift Catalog , Handcrafted Gifts, and Cafe Campesino Coffee

In many ways, we’re all becoming more socially conscious and compassionate. In fact, socially responsible giving is growing in popularity and statistics tell us that 95.4 percent of households now give to charity. Faith in humanity, restored!

When it comes to gift-giving, many people find themselves wondering which products actually help others or where they can find these gifts. In my opinion, World Vision is one of the first places to look if you’re looking to make a difference in the world. If you want to reach out and directly impact the lives of other people, look to World Vision.

Gifts With a Cause

It’s the holiday season and that means one thing: It’s time for the wonderful World Vision Gift Catalog! I was blessed to have a History’s First Blend Gift Set sent to me to review on Get Cooking and it’s more than my honor to do just that.

This particular World Vision gift set is the perfect gift for coffee lovers. It includes an absolutely beautiful hand-carved olivewood scoop and a colorful, beautiful bag made from African fabric hand-sewn by local women.

Although I’m someone who’s serious about as often as an elf on Santa’s staff… and tend to treat each day as a holiday… I want to get 110 percent serious for a minute. Maybe even two. As I’ve said before when talking about these remarkable gifts, each time I hold them, I’m overcome with emotion. The fact that these beautiful gifts were crafted by hands on another continent and can now be held in my own hands leaves me speechless.

No small task.

Hand-Sewn Bag from Africa and Handcrafted Wooden Scoop

The hands that crafted my treasured bag and wooden spoon lead a different life than our hands. The struggles they have make the perceived struggles we have want to run and hide. We feel discouraged when we think we can’t get our children as many gifts as we’d like, yet there are people around the world who are struggling to give their children food, water, shelter, shoes… things we take for granted.

When you stop and let this sink in, don’t you want (with every fiber of your being) to do something to help? Thank God for organizations like World Vision who make it possible to do just that. We don’t have to worry about our money going where it’s needed – they see to it!

The truly remarkable thing is that this beautiful program allows men and women to use their talents to help themselves and their communities. What’s more, by buying their remarkable crafts, we not only help them… we have items to treasure.

And I do mean treasure – I wouldn’t take anything for my wooden scoop or fabric bag. I have them proudly displayed on in the “coffee station” in our kitchen. The wooden scoop could easily be used to scoop beans and/or grounds and the bag would love to be a “sleeping bag” for opened bags of beans… and yet… in our home, “treasures” don’t multitask.

They simply sit out and remind us of our beautiful brothers and sisters who live halfway around the world. They remind us that we’re all in this together – some of us simply have easier lives than others.

History’s First Coffee Blend Gift Set

Cafe Campesino Coffee

This year’s Handcrafted gift set for coffee lovers includes a bag of Cafe Campesino coffee along with the GORGEOUS hand-sewn bag and equally GORGEOUS handcrafted wooden scoop. Although we’re a coffee loving family to the point of fanaticism, we’d never heard of Cafe Campesino.

By gosh we’ve heard of them now!

Ethiopian Yirgacheffe and Sumatra Permata Gayo create the first known mix of coffee. When it comes to describing the flavor, think citrus with a hint of chocolate. The flavor is fantastic – smooth and downright exotic.

We tend to order a great deal of coffee online and are fascinated with trying different blends and different brands. The fact that this particular coffee was so good and the fact that they partnered with World Vision for something so extraordinary means that this is a brand we’ll be ordering regularly. In other words, look for plenty of Cafe Camesino reviews in the future.

They also have coffee merchandise and.. be still my Crazy Tea Chick heart… tea.

Looks like I’m going to keep the postal service and UPS busy in the coming year.

World Vision's Handcrafted Gifts: Hand Sewn Bag from Kenya

Gorgeous Hand-Sewn Bag from Kenya

I hope you’ll click through any of the links and read more about World Vision and the AMAZING Hand Crafted Gifts. Any of these beauties would make the most amazing gifts! They aren’t just gifts people will enjoy for a day, a week, or even a month. These are gifts they’ll treasure a lifetime.

Is This a Beautiful Smile or What?!

When you click through and browse through the online World Vision Gift Catalog, be sure you see each of the four pages. These handcrafted gifts are simply gorgeous – you can see a few in the image above. Each comes with its own guaranteed moments of emotion each time you look at them.

Gifts from the World Vision Gift Catalog

The 2015 World Vision Gift Catalog contains more than 250 poverty-fighting gifts, ranging in price from $16 to $39,000 that improve the quality of life for struggling children and families in the U.S. and around the world.

Useful Links:

Coffee Review: Kaldi’s Ethiopia Buufata Konga

November 9, 2015 By Joi Sigers

Kaldi’s Ethiopia Buufata Konga

Before getting to the coffee review, allow me to say that this is not a sponsored review or solicited in any way. I’m simply a lover of great coffee and get excited when I see coffee done right. When this happens, I want to tell other coffee lovers so they can share in the excitement.

Coffee takes a lot of steps before it ever reaches your morning cup. From harvesting to bagging there are more steps than we ever think about while sipping the final product.

With so many steps, there are a lot of things that could go wrong. I’m sure, like me, you’ve tasted coffee before and wondered, “Did they get any of the steps right??”

With Kaldi’s Coffee, I’ve learned that, when they’re involved, there are no missteps. From the beans to their people, they don’t just get it, they get it right. Recently while savoring a cup of my personal favorite coffee, Kaldi’s Birds & Bees, I asked my cat (try not to judge me), “Are we sure Kaldi’s didn’t invent coffee?”

There are always bags of Kaldi’s Coffee in our kitchen and it’s a safe assumption that if you see that they’ve released a new coffee, you can just go ahead and ask us how it is.

We’ll know.

{Review Continued Below…}

Perfect Coffee for Thanksgiving: Kaldi’s Ethiopia Buufata Konga

One of the new coffees that blew us completely away is Kaldi’s Ethiopia Buufata Konga. You can read its bio here: Ethiopia Buufata Konga. More importantly, you can order some for yourself – but first let me tell you why you’ll want to do just that.

If you’re a coffee drinker, you know that part of the fun is detecting certain flavors or hints of flavors in coffee. Ethiopia Buufata Konga has had several of these flavors associated with it:

mango
cinnamon
strawberry
chocolate
blueberry

I do detect a bit of strawberry (especially in a fresh black cup) but I get completely different flavor associations than most people.

I get…

nutmeg
autumn

{Review Continued Below…}

Kaldi's Ethiopia Buufata Konga - Perfect Autumn Coffee

If Autumn Were Coffee: Ethiopia Buufata Konga

Each time I lose myself in a cup of this wonderful coffee, I’m struck by how deliciously “autumn” it tastes. I don’t mean autumn in the sense of pumpkin – I’m talking more about the “spirit” of autumn. Crisp, fresh, distinctive, and fragrant with just the right amount of spice.

Make no mistake about it, the flavor would be glorious any time of year – in whatever season you happen to find yourself. However, Autumn and Ethiopia Buufata Konga are a match made in coffee heaven.

Ethiopia Buufata Konga: Perfect for Thanksgiving

If you’re like me, you go to great lengths to plan perfect holidays. Everything. Must. Be. Perfect. I’ll let you in on a secret, I had my Thanksgiving menu planned by the second week of August. What would you expect from someone who has conversations with her cat?

I’ve gone back and edited the menu. Right beside “Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Pies with Homemade Whipped Topping,” I wrote in all caps KALDI’S ETHIOPIA BUUFATA KONGA.

While I love this coffee all by itself and with everything from oatmeal to pancakes, I’m pretty sure it was born to pair with slices of sweet potato and pumpkin pie.

It’d also add a whole different dynamic to the Thanksgiving meal, itself, and could even make leftovers downright sexy.

Cup of Autumn Coffee

A reminder about my coffee reviews: I usually leave the details about a coffee’s origin (what I call its bio) and roasting (its history) to the coffee dealers and other coffee reviewers. I’m a food blogger, after all, so flavors and food-pairings matter most to me and (I suspect) to my readers/foodie friends. I will stand outside in the cold for an hour looking for just the right “reflection” in a cup of coffee… nailed it, below!… but I am simply a coffee lover who wants to share her love of coffee – pure and simple.

I will always let you know, in my own words, why you’ll love a particular coffee. I love few things more than talking about great coffee.

Just ask my cat.

Kaldi’s Coffee and Autumn: Two of My Favorite Things

More Kaldi’s Coffee Reviews:

Kaldi’s Coffee New World Mocha Java Blend

Kaldi’s Coffee: Birds & Bees

La Colombe Coffee: Why This Has to Be the Next Coffee You Buy (Review)

July 19, 2013 By Joi Sigers

Now that I’ve gotten my raving review of Dangerous Grounds out of my system, I’m free to totally concentrate on my review of La Colombe Coffee. This coffee is so spectacular and uncommonly perfect that it deserves nothing but my complete attention.

Some of us love coffee so much that we’re as associated with it as much as Garfield is with lasagna. A few of us have a passion for coffee that puts Garfield to shame. He only wishes he could reach our level of devotion.

I’ve been a lifelong coffee fanatic. I actually had my first cup of coffee when I was around 5 or 6. My parents weren’t loco – my mom was actually acting on the advice of my pediatrician. I had chronic asthma and my doctor wanted me on as few medications as possible. A few times he had to hospitalize me – placing me in an oxygen tent that (for whatever reasons) scared the living daylights out of me. He told my mom to give me coffee each morning, as well as when I was having difficulty breathing. She added so much milk, sugar, and dollops of Cool Whip that I’m convinced she came up with the first frap.

I’m hoping that early in my coffee-drinking career I never feigned or exaggerated breathing difficulty, but I’m not making any promises.

So, you see, many people will claim that they’ve been drinking and loving coffee most of their life but a few of us literally can’t remember a time when we didn’t drink coffee.

As with most things in life that we love and rely upon, sometimes we take them for granted. There are even times when they become “commonplace” and “ordinary.” I guess I never really thought about the possibility of this happening with coffee until I recently tried La Colombe Coffee.

Every now and then, not only do we need a reminder of what truly FINE coffee tastes like, we need a reminder of what the COFFEE EXPERIENCE should be.

Put simply, we need to fall in love with coffee all over again.

Each time we’d watch an episode of Dangerous Grounds, I’d think about La Colombe. I’d imagine just how amazing coffee would be when someone as passionate and devoted as Todd Carmichael is involved. Each time my thoughts go my taste buds worked up, I’d hose them off by thinking, “Wow. That coffee probably costs a fortune.”

I’d watch the lengths Todd Carmichael would go through to find the perfect beans, the perfect growing conditions, the perfect aroma, and the perfect taste – and with each step, my perceived notion of “a fortune” grew. At one point I was convinced one would need to take out a loan for a single bag.

I’m delighted to say I couldn’t have been more wrong. La Colombe coffee actually costs the same amount I give for my previous favorite beans. But here’s the thing – after just one cup of the first La Colombe coffee we tried (MEXICO), I realized I would have given just about any price they’d asked! Coffee isn’t just a beverage, coffee is an experience and La Colombe doesn’t just “get” this fact, they “own this fact.”

My husband has said several times that the Mexico coffee is the best coffee he has ever had in his life. While he has loved each of the La Colombe coffees, the Mexico coffee remains his favorite. I can certainly understand why – it’s simply outstanding. As for me, it’s one of the three best coffees I’ve ever had. The other two that tie?

La Colombe Ethiopia
La Colombe Panama

When it comes to our favorites – La Colombe’s got it on lock.

La Colombe: Mexico – Finca El Retiro

The Mexico – Finca El Retiro coffee is really something special. You taste it in each sip – and, believe me, you’ll finish every drop in your cup. This is a light roast coffee, but seems to have more flavor and personality than a lot of light roast coffees. There’s also a hard-to-describe but near-impossible-to-miss little flavor of cocoa behind this beautiful coffee. Make no mistake, it’s 100 percent coffee and no one will ever mistake it for chocolate – but there’s an amazing little flavor there that’s worth getting out of bed for.

Read more about Mexico – Finca El Retiro by clicking the link. You’ll find ordering information, growing conditions, and a lot of other fascinating facts. A 12 oz bag is just $12.95. I’m not kidding or even exaggerating when I say I’d have paid at least twice that.

La Colombe: Panama – Hacienda La Esmeralda

La Colombe Coffee Panama – Hacienda La Esmeralda is also ridiculously Heavenly. It costs a bit more than the Mexican coffee but the experience is more than worth it. As I’ve often said when writing my coffee reviews (or any reviews for that matter), I pay close attention to the first words that pop into my mind. After enjoying a few sips of this coffee, I distinctly remember thinking, “PERFECTLY LOVELY.” And, yes, my thoughts were in all caps. Whereas the Mexican coffee had a delicious cocoa flavor in the background, this one has a bit of a “fruity” flavor in the background -it’s out of this world fantastic.

Read more about the Panama – Hacienda La Esmeralda coffee by following the link.

La Colombe: Ehiopia- Gera

The La Colombe Ethiopia – Gera coffee knocks my socks off every time I drink it – whether I’m actually wearing socks or not. There’s something “pure” and deliciously traditional about this beautiful coffee. In fact, if I were told to brew a cup of coffee for someone who’d never had coffee before and to try to convey to them why coffee deserves the classification “Eighth Wonder of the World” with a single cup… I’d reach for my bag of Ethiopia coffee beans.

You simply will not find a better ambassador for coffee than this!

While the first words that sprang to my mind after enjoying the Panama coffee were adverb-licious and downright flowery, the first words out of my mouth after trying the Ethiopia – Gera didn’t tiptoe threw any flowers or adverbs. After just one sip, I announced to my cat, “Now THAT’S what I’m talking about!”

Coffee how God intended coffee to be.

Read more about the Ethiopia – Gera by clicking the link. To experience the “Now THAT’S what I’m talking about!” moment for yourself, order a bag of this coffee today!

Okay, here I am, at the end of the review. Naturally I’m going to celebrate by brewing a cup of La Colombe coffee (Ethiopia – Gera). I’ve come to a couple of conclusions after attempting to write this review:

It’s almost impossible to tell you how delicious these coffees are. You really have to experience them for yourself. Trying to tell someone else how amazing something tastes is kind of like trying to tell someone how beautiful a child’s smile is. Some things simply have to be experienced to be appreciated. Children’s smiles, being in love, rain, coffee….
The level of perfection La Colombe coffee achieves, ironically comes down to one word: RESPECT. I say “ironically” because with each episode of “Dangerous Grounds,” I’m always left speechless by the respect Todd Carmichael, the producer, the director, photographer(s), network (Travel Channel), and everyone involved have for the individuals they meet along their journey. They respect these beautiful people and their customs, beliefs, food, rules, laws, and their way of life. They never lose sight of the fact that they are guests in these people’s world and they always seem genuinely honored when the welcome mat is extended. This level of respect for the coffee growers carries over to a respect for the coffee, itself. Finally, the respect extends to all of us who buy La Colombe coffee. They respect us enough to give us what we’re looking for – an opportunity to fall in love with coffee all over again.

Fidalgo Bay Coffee – You Can Taste the Class

February 9, 2009 By Joi Sigers

Fidalgo Bay Coffee

There are certain things in this world that I consider myself to be an expert on: Raising daughters, cooking, Dean Koontz books, herbs, chocolate, polar bears, and coffee. Definitely coffee. The girl knows her coffee.

Whenever my husband (Michael) is near Murray, Kentucky, he stops for a cup of coffee at the Fidalgo Bay Coffee Shop. One morning, however, the cup proved too flimsy for the lid (or his “golf grip hand” was too strong) and coffee went all over him and his ipod. Not a completely happpy ending.

He mentioned it on his business blog. I believe it was more of a “Watch out for this type of thing before it happens to you” type of thing than a gripe fest.

Months later, he had actually forgotten about it. We had been back to the coffee shop quite a few times and always enjoyed their delicious coffee and friendly baristas.

A few weeks ago, however, Michael got an e-mail from someone with Fidalgo Bay. She told him that they had seen his post, were very sorry, and would like to send him something to make amends. She asked for his address, but he was thinking that everything was cool and that she didn’t need to send anything. THEN, the man that I love so dearly realized that she would probably be sending coffee and he coughed up our address.

I didn’t even have to hit him on the back.

I’m here to tell you that when Fidalgo Bay makes amends, they make amends. In addition to two gorgeous travel mugs featuring their beautiful logo, they sent:

12 oz. bag of Organic French Roast Whole Beans
12 oz. bag of Daybreak Blend Whole Beans (What I’m drinking at the moment!)
12 oz. bag of Organic Cafe’ Selvanica Whole Beans
12 oz. bag of Sunset French Whole Beans
Box of Numi Breakfast Blend Organic Full Leaf Tea Bags
Box of Numi Gunpowder Green Organic Green Tea Bags

It was Christmas in January!

My oldest daughter and I are huge fans of the Fidalgo Bay Breakfast Blend tea (a black tea with a personality so strong he can substitute for a cup of coffee at a moment’s notice). The caffeine is higher in this tea, so when we do grab a cup of Breakfast Blend instead of coffee, our body doesn’t seem to realize the switch. It’s brilliantly convenient when we simply don’t want to make a whole pot of coffee.

I’m equally thrilled with the Numi Gunpowder Green Tea. I’m already a huge fan of green tea, but I’ve had trouble getting my husband to drink it. Whenever I offer some to him, he just crinkles his nose and makes a face like I just offered him pickled squid. But get this: He tried the Gunpowder Green tea and now even requests a cup of this green tea! It does have a extra special taste and can win anyone over to team Green.

Speaking of green, I LOVE that these teas, as well as many of Fidalgo Bay’s coffees are organic. Just what does that mean, you may ask? I’ll let the words on the bag of Organic French Roast explain:

Beans are allowed to ripen slowly under a canopy of shade trees, which provide a natural habitat for animals and migratory birds. No chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used. Each harvest is hand-picked and sundried in the open air to preserve the natural character and earthy flavors of these special coffees. Even the pulp residue reproduced during the drying and milling process is composted and recycled into organic fertilizer for future plantings.

This is a costly process. That’s why we pay a premium to farmers who are dedicated to preserving these high quality, socially responsible farming traditions. It’s a commitment you’ll savor with every cup of our Nature’s Crest organic coffees.

Fidalgo Bay Daybreak Blend Coffee Everyone’s a winner – the farmer’s, the farmer’s families, the coffee drinkers, and Fidalgo Bay, of course, who secures some AMAZING coffee and a stellar reputation.

Fidalgo Bay coffees are very, very special. They have a spirited personality, an intoxicating aroma, and a remarkably delicious flavor. I just ground the last of the Daybreak Blend this morning. Fidalgo Bay Daybreak Blend has a fresh, rich, nutty flavor. It’s easily one of my favorite coffees I’ve ever enjoyed.

I also love the Fidalgo bay Sunset French Coffee. It’s a bold, rich, coffee with a strong sense of itself. Before I brewed a pot of this beautiful coffee, I read on the bag that it had a “Smokey Finish.” A million question marks marched around my head – A smokey finish..what??? After I tasted my first sip, though, the question marks turned into exclamation marks and they stopped marching and started dancing. There is a delightfully delicious smokey finish and it’s one you and your own dancing exclamation marks would have to experience for yourself.

Actually, you’ll want to experience all of Fidalgo Bay’s coffees because, I can honestly tell you they don’t seem capable of making a disappointing or even average coffee. I only wish they were available in grocery stores! However, they do have a website, which means you can buy online – and we all know how easy that is.

Visit Fidalgo Bay Coffee today and order a couple of bags of their rich, delicious coffee. Then watch for your delivery and prepare to be blown away. You don’t drink Fidalgo Bay Coffee, you experience it.

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T-fal… As Good as Good Gets

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