Coffee Review: Cafe Volio Costa Rican

November 1, 2010 at 3:59 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a comment
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While on vacation recently Kim and I went to the West Side Market in Cleveland Ohio. We had a very good time. If you like farmers markets you would love this place. There are a lot of vendors and a lot of good food to try. Even if you are not familiar with Cleveland or urban driving the market is easy to get to. It is well worth a side trip.

One of the vendors we found tucked in among the produce was Volio Coffee (www.cafevolio.com). This spot is a hidden gem and is the only coffee among the produce vendors. They only roast and sell Costa Rican coffee. You can purchase whole bean or ground. While you talk with their representative you can enjoy a free cup of fresh made coffee too! We will be brewing and reviewing that style of coffee later, but let me tell you it was………

When we got home Kim wanted to try their light roast coffee first. It is 100% Costa Rican Arabica Coffee. The aroma coming from the auto-drip was good.  It spread throughout the kitchen and nearby rooms. The coffee had a bright, tart, citrus like taste. It was a little acidic but smooth with a light body. This coffee gets your attention in a good way.

Next up was the Chemex coffee maker and here the tartness was evened out. The citrus undertones are more pronounced and we thought it could almost make you pucker. The aftertaste lingers toward the back of the roof of the mouth. I made a little extra to try when it cooled down because we wanted to taste the flavor profile. Both of us thought this Costa Rican light roast would make an excellent cold or iced coffee.

Finally we used the French Press and the body seems fuller here. There is a natural sweetness and a good roast flavor. There is a touch of citrus and slight tartness. Kim thought this brew tasted good with both lemon curd and almonds. I don’t normally drink light roasts, but I was glad we tried this one. It has a good flavor and is one we would drink again.

If you like light roasts or want to try one for the first time we suggest you give this one a try. We don’t think you will be disappointed. We received this coffee for free and offer objective feedback. Until next time remember to stop and enjoy the coffee and conversations.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10

Coffee Review: 35 North Coffee Co. Sumatra Organic

October 28, 2010 at 1:31 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a comment
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Kim and I were recently on a nice vacation, visiting family and friends, enjoying some good conversations and sights, and tasting some good food and coffee. One of the things we got to do was be part of a bbq/picnic on a cool Saturday afternoon. No need to wonder, I did take a couple of different coffees and brewers so that I could make good coffee for everyone to try. One of the coffees we shared was a Sumatra Organic dark roast from 35 North Coffee Co. (www.35northcoffeeco.com).

Of the coffees we shared at the bbq this was the sure favorite. They put the roast date on the bag, something that I appreciate, and we brewed this coffee in its prime flavor time. I passed the bag around so everyone could smell the aroma from the beans. Those who were in the kitchen area with me got to smell the aroma from the fresh ground beans also. Everyone appreciated the good fresh aroma.

First up was the auto drip and there were some high expectations from some of the coffee drinkers. We were not disappointed because this Sumatra has a deep roast flavor that is somewhat fruity and sweet. It was not over roasted at all and has a little bit of a tart aftertaste. One person who is not a coffee drinker tried it and said that if they were going to drink coffee this would be the one.

I also took my Chemex coffee maker and Clever Coffee Dripper for folks to try the taste of different brewers. Neither brewer disappointed any coffee drinker. The CCD produced a somewhat deeper roasted flavor with a fuller body. The Chemex produced a clean, smooth, mildly tart flavor. One person thought they tasted a bit of Concord grape.

Times like these have become pretty fun for us. We enjoy the conversations about the coffees and brewers. I try to ask questions and let people talk. People are finding out how easy it is to grind whole beans and brew a good cup of coffee. We are getting good feedback about people going out and buying specialty ground coffee or buying grinders and whole beans.

Kim has also been using our coffee drinking time to try pairing the coffee with different foods or flavors. She thought this coffee paired well with both chocolate and vanilla. She thought it paired very well with lemon and that the lemon helped increase the brightness of the coffee. We could say that this was a very enjoyable cup of coffee. If you would like to try a dark roast coffee we highly recommend this one. We received this coffee for free and offer an objective review.

What may be even better than the good coffee from 35 North Coffee Co. is their involvement in the Baby Safe (www.thebabysafe.org) program. They have this to say on the back of the bag; “We’re not only passionate about seriously good coffee. We want to help others. That’s why a portion of our net proceeds go directly to Baby Safe, an organization helping abandoned children and at risk mothers in South Africa.” The following comes from their website, “It is our aim is to advocate for a voiceless generation of children within South Africa, both the born and unborn. We seek to rescue the unwanted and abandoned baby, offer support and hope to the pregnant mother in crisis, and empower and equip the new mother in need. Baby Safe is committed to offering life, hope, and options as an expression of Jesus’ desire to intervene on behalf of the helpless and we are devoted to seeing God supremely glorified through our mission.

“Whoever welcomes this little child in my name, also welcomes me.” – Jesus”

Here is another example of coffee roasters not only producing good coffee, but also trying to help improve the quality of life for others; in this case, children and mothers. We would encourage you to check them out. Until the next time, remember to stop and enjoy the coffee and conversations.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10

Sharing the Coffee

October 11, 2010 at 6:57 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a comment
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Webster’s dictionary defines, to share as, dividing or using with others. It may be me, but I think that sharing coffee helps make the whole drinking experience better. We had another opportunity recently to share some Newhall Coffee (www.newhallcoffee.com) with some friends at a dinner party. When we were invited I asked the host if I could bring some coffee and my Chemex coffee maker. He likes coffee so he was all for it.

I took an Ethiopian Harrar and a Tanzanian Peaberry along with my Chemex and grinder. The plan was to make one batch in an auto-drip, then another in the Chemex. We would drink it and talk about it and compare the flavor of the different brews. The good thing that I found out was that no one there had ever tasted coffee from the Chemex. They were all familiar with an auto-drip and most have had coffee from a French Press. This was going to be fun.

We started with the Tanzanian Peaberry. We brewed it in the auto-drip and 10 cups in the Chemex. It had a nice aroma and was slightly acidic. The taste seemed to go over the whole tongue, but leaves quickly. As I started to make the coffee people were spread out through the kitchen, dining room, family room and outside on the deck. As the aroma started to go throughout the house more people came into the kitchen. The Chemex drew a lot of attention.

As the coffee began to cool in the Chemex (www.chemexcoffeemaker.com) the guests wanted more of that and less of the coffee from the auto-drip. One man standing and looking at his cup said, “Man, this is good coffee.” It was beginning to cool and there were comments about the slight change in the taste. There were comments like, “slightly roasty, a little tart, bittersweet, and light.”

I did something similar with the Ethiopian Harrar and the taste from the Chemex was preferred over the auto-drip. This coffee had a milder aroma and a smooth, darker roast flavor. It also had subtle fruity and earthy undertones. Different conversations were going on through the kitchen and dining room, but when people made their way back for more coffee they chose the Chemex again. Of the two coffees we had after dinner the Tanzanian Peaberry was the overall favorite.

At these coffee tasting parties I am trying to give a brief overview of tasting coffee and trying to help others see how easy it is to make good coffee from whole beans. I also want to teach others about how many good coffee roasters there are. With the Newhall Coffee there is the added benefit of sharing about their “coffee for a cause” (www.newhallcoffeeforacause.com). They are trying to raise 1 million dollars to help win the fight against leukemia. They also have Operation Gratitude where they have donated over 4 million cups of coffee to service people in combat.

In the future I hope to tell you more about Newhall Coffees and their “coffee for a cause.” The coffees that we tried and shared at our friend’s party were good. They desire to make a difference in world by helping others. If you want to drink coffee and make and help make a difference we would encourage you try these coffees. We received these coffees for free and offer objective feedback. Until next time remember to stop and enjoy the coffee and conversation.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10

Coffee Review: Community Coffee Cafe Special Decaf

October 8, 2010 at 4:40 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | 2 Comments
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We like Community Coffee. Some of their coffees we like more than others, but overall they seem like a good company. It seems like they have an offering to satisfy every coffee drinker. As we continue to search for good tasting decafs this Café Special would soon be brewed. It is described as offering a satisfying semi-sweet, full bodied flavor that is perfectly balanced and strikingly distinctive. It is a medium roast with mild acidity and a full body.

There is a nice nutty aroma that greets you when you open the bag. This aroma is enhanced after the beans are ground. The aroma was not that strong as the coffee brewed in the auto-drip. It feels to me like a medium to light bodied coffee as you drink it. The acidity is very mild and the flavor spreads out over the tongue.

Next up was the Clever Coffee Dripper and I am liking this little brewer more each time I use it. The nutty aroma from the beans is very inviting. The grind for the CCD is similar to a French Press. I like to brew mine for about 6 to 7 minutes. The taste of the coffee is a little more pronounced with the nuttiness and a slight smokiness coming through. It is a little stronger taste

Finally we used the Chemex coffee maker to brew this decaf. There is a slight semi-sweetness and a mild acidity. The aftertaste seems to hit the sides and front part of the tongue. The body felt light to medium here.

This is an average decaf coffee. It is low cost and comes in whole beans which makes it inviting to try. It is o.k. but Community Coffee has some other decafs we would like to try. We received this coffee for free and offer objective feedback. Until next time remember to stop and enjoy the coffee and conversation.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10

Coffee Review: Land of a Thousand Hills Rwandan Decaf

October 4, 2010 at 10:53 am | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a comment
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We are always on the lookout for a good decaf coffee so we were looking forward to trying this one from Land of a Thousand Hills (www.drinkcoffeedogood.com). One of the things we appreciate about this roaster is how they trying to help the farmers in Rwanda. They focus on Community Trade, paying farmers a fair living wage for their coffee while working to build relationships and promote community. They grant micro-finance loans to widows and bikes to farmers through Sustainable Cycle. They care for orphans in Bukonya and build community with a sustenance farm and soccer filed. It really sounds like they are trying to help improve the lifestyles of the farmers through many good works.

As usual we started out with the auto-drip for an early evening cup of coffee. This water processed decaf has a nice roasted, spicy aroma which seems to be enhanced after grinding. It has a good naturally sweet flavor. There is also a little bit of tanginess to the coffee.

Next was the French Press and here the naturally sweet, roasted flavor comes through strong. Though this is a dark roast, it is not over roasted and the subtle flavors are not covered up. It feels like a medium body and has a spicy, cinnamon aftertaste. The aroma is more pronounced in this brewing style. It paired well with cinnamon graham crackers.

We also used the Clever Coffee Dripper to brew this coffee. For people who just want one cup of coffee this brewer is ideal. We find we use it more and more and like it a lot. The acidity is mild and seems to hit the front half of the tongue. This coffee is naturally sweet and has a clean feel. Both of us enjoyed the taste of this coffee.

Our friends who are decaf drinkers liked this coffee also. They also liked learning about Land of a Thousand Hills and what they are doing to help the coffee farmers of Rwanda. This seems like a good coffee roasting company/ministry. If you like decaf coffees we suggest you try this Rwandan Decaf. We and our friends enjoyed it. We received this coffee for free and offer objective feedback. Until next time, remember to stop and enjoy the coffee and conversations.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10

Coffee Review: Community Coffee’s Evangeline Blend

September 23, 2010 at 3:11 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews, Coffee Travel Mug Reviews | 2 Comments
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We received this Evangeline Blend with a travel mug  from Community Coffee (www.communitycoffee.com)and we were looking forward to trying them out. Community Coffee is family owned and operated and has been doing business out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana for a little over ninety years.

The Evangeline Blend is described as an exclusive gourmet coffee blend created to honor Louisiana’s most enduring legend. In the tradition of the poet Longfellow, this selection was crafted in honor of the bittersweet romance of Evangeline and Gabriel. We combine 100% Arabica coffee beans and dark roast them to produce a deep, semi-sweet flavor with no sharp edges. It is a dark roast, with medium-high acidity and a full body.

We still like to brew whole bean coffee at least three different ways for our reviews and first up was the auto-drip. The aroma from the both the bag and pot was mild. But it is the flavor that will get you. This coffee has a smooth balanced roast taste. It has a bright acidity and full body.

The next day we used the Chemex coffee maker and this brings out a little more of the tartness and brightness of the coffee. There is a fruitlike flavor too. Kim thought it went well with the orange marmalade on her toast. The aroma, though mild, is good. Kim and I both thought this brew had a pleasant aftertaste that seemed to stay on the tongue.

Lastly was the French Press and the flavor was a little stronger here. Since the aroma is mild you may be slightly surprised at the taste of the coffee. There is a little bit of a chocolate undertone and it seems to be naturally sweet. It is not too bold, but has a good, lingering aftertaste. It is simply a good cup of coffee.

If you have never tried Community Coffee and like dark roast coffees we suggest you try this one. We give it two thumbs up. We shared this coffee with a few friends and they all liked it. We like sharing coffee with friends and getting their feedback along with introducing them to coffee roasters they have not tried.

We also tried their travel mug and liked it. The rubber pad on the bottom is placed really well and helps keep the mug from sliding. The mug does a good job of keeping coffee hot too. It has gotten a lot of use. I haven’t taken it to a coffee shop yet to get filled up, but you never know! We received the coffee and mug for free and offer objective feedback. Until next time, remember to stop and enjoy the coffee and conversation.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10

Coffee Tasting Party

September 21, 2010 at 4:56 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews, Coffee Shop Reviews | 5 Comments
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What do Papua New Guinea, Costa Rica, Haiti, Mexico, and Nicaragua all have in common? They are all countries where coffee beans are grown. Recently we had the privilege of sharing some coffee from each of these countries with some family and friends. We actually tried a couple more coffees too! It would be the first intentional coffee tasting party for us. Man did we have fun. We have already had another and have plans for more in the near future.

Before the party I asked the host if I could bring some different coffees and brew them a couple of different ways so we could try something new. You see I come by teaching naturally. I like to take opportunities to teach whenever I can. I am also a lifelong learner and I think that one of the best ways to continue to learn is to teach about what you are learning. My wife and I have been learning about the roasting, grinding, brewing and tasting of coffee. I wanted to share some of that knowledge and coffee with some family and friends. So I had a plan to share about grinding, brewing and tasting one specific roasters coffee.

Hemisphere Coffee Roasters (www.hemispherecoffees.com) provided us with coffee. Their motto is “coffee with a mission.” We’ve reviewed some of their other coffees before. They are involved with direct trade with the coffee farmers and this works out better than fair trade. They care about improving the lifestyles of the indigenous coffee farmers. They have also started a non-profit agency to assist the coffee growers in Latin America called Care Cup International (www.carecupinternational.com). I encourage you to check out both sites.

Well Kim and I stopped in Mechanicsburg at the Hemisphere Coffee Roasters shop to meet Paul and Grace who started this ministry/business. We had a good time talking with them and getting to know them. We tried some coffee and they gave us some samples to give away and to brew and little cups to use. We appreciate their helpfulness and generosity! We hope to get back up there again on one of our trips.

None of the people at the picnic own or use a grinder or French Press. They usually buy coffee that is on sale in the grocery store. That has changed now. First I showed them how easy it is to grind whole beans. Then I made the same coffee in an auto-drip and French Press. We tasted the auto-drip first and then the Press. A couple of people weren’t sure if they liked the Press, but they did like the coffee in auto-drip.

We were drinking coffee in little cups so I kept making coffee to taste. I would pass around the bag of whole beans and ask them how they liked the aroma. A few people actually ate a bean of each coffee. Then I would let them smell the aroma after the beans were ground and again after the coffee was poured into their cup. I would ask them to try to describe the aroma.

After we sipped some coffee I would ask them to try to describe what they tasted. It was a lot of fun listening to their descriptive words. Things like; I’m not sure, fruitiness, tingly, smooth, heavy, and full were used at different times. We even tried some Mexican decaf and one person who doesn’t like decaf liked it and thought it would be good in the French Press.

Overall the Papua New Guinea and Menno Blend were favorites. They are smooth, flavorful, and naturally sweet with a good earthy aroma. The Haitian coffee was liked too. Two people liked the dark roast Nicaraguan Maragojype the best. They thought it was a deeper, bolder flavor. All but one person liked the Mexican decaf.

We had a great time talking and tasting coffee. We gave away sample bags of coffee that we received from HCR. I also ground beans of each coffee we tried and put them in baggies for each taster to take home and enjoy. It was a lot of fun our pleasure to introduce people to the good coffees of Hemisphere Coffee Roasters. We truly hope it sends some business their way and helps their “coffee with a mission” grow. We received the coffee for free and offer objective feedback. Until next time remember to stop and enjoy the coffee and conversation!

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10

Coffee Review: Newhall Coffee’s Sunset Blvd. Blend

September 10, 2010 at 4:15 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a comment
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This Sunset Blvd. Blend is the second coffee from Newhall Coffee Roasting Company’s (www.newhallcoffee.com) “Taste of California Collection” for us to try. It is described on their site as being inspired by the culturally, historically, and aesthetically significance of Hollywood’s Sunset Blvd. The combination of cinnamon and vanilla brings out the bright taste and body of this bean. Perfect for those early mornings on the go!

The story of the McMullen brothers who founded Newhall Coffee in 1993 is on the bag. Their older brother died from leukemia and they have a goal to raise $1,000,000 to help fight the battle against leukemia. Proceeds from the sales of their coffee go to support this fund. We appreciate what they are doing to raise money and awareness for this cause.

Our plan was to brew the coffee two different ways and to share it with some friends and get their feedback. As usual the first up was the auto-drip. This coffee came to us ground which is the way most people buy their coffee. There was a nice spicy aroma from the brew. As we drank it we thought there was a mild brightness to it and the body was even and smooth. There was something about the coffee that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

While using the Chemex coffee brewer I was trying to distinguish what flavors were present and was having a hard time. You see I did not know this was a flavored coffee when we began to drink it. I told Kim that I was having a hard time picking out flavors and it was while online that I found out it is a cinnamon-vanilla coffee. We’ve had a couple of spicy coffees before and now I know why I was a little confused.

For us the flavor hits the front and tip of the tongue. The vanilla taste is mild and the cinnamon spice is more dominant. There is a touch of citrus there too. The blend has a pleasant aftertaste. Kim thought it paired well with the orange marmalade she had on her toast.  

Kim took some to work to share with a co-worker who drinks flavored coffee. She thought it was one of the best coffees that Kim had brought in to work for them to drink. She thought it had a really good flavor and she would not get tired of drinking this coffee. I guess that is quite an endorsement!

Overall we liked this coffee and if you are looking for a mildly flavored coffee we suggest you give Sunset Blvd. Blend a try. We would like to encourage all of our readers to think about supporting coffee roasters that are supporting worthwhile causes too. We received this coffee for review purposes and offer objective feedback. Until next time remember to stop and enjoy the coffee and conversation.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10

Coffee Review: Newhall Coffee’s Beatnik Espresso

September 2, 2010 at 5:34 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a comment
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We have been learning about coffee roasters that do more then make good coffee. There are roasters out there who give back to their communities and/or help the farmers who grow the coffee beans. One of the giving coffee roasters is the Newhall Coffee Roasting Company (www.newhallcoffee.com). They are a family owned roasting company with a conscience.

The founders’ older brother lost his battle with leukemia and in honor of their brother they started “Coffee For A Cure.” Their goal is to raise $1,000,000 to fight leukemia. Purchasing Newhall Coffee will help this fight because some of the proceeds will go to this fund. These are the types of things Kim and I want to learn about and support when we buy coffee. It is not just about the coffee but about helping others too. We want to pass that information onto our readers.

This Beatnik Espresso is described as a combination of three beans from Indonesia, South America and Central America that brings this espresso roast to a diverse and complex body, while producing a very mild and clean finish.

The South America bean of the ‘typica’ varietal is wet processed and sun dried. The Central American bean of the ‘bourbon’ varietal is semi-washed and sun dried to bring out its nutty and floral notes. The Indonesian is semi-washed and sun dried, bringing out the earthy and spicy notes.

We received the coffee ground and not whole bean, but we were still able to brew it three different ways. First up was the auto-drip and this dark roast has a good strong aroma. It has a heavy body, almost edgy and we both used a little cream. We aren’t used to this deep of a roast, but it did not need any sweetener and we liked it.

Next up was the Chemex coffee maker and the coffee tasted smoother here. The aroma is still strong and there is a slight acidity. We did not need to use any cream and it has a cleaner overall taste. We began to taste some of the subtleties of the coffee here. It was pleasant to drink and this was our favorite brewing method.

Lastly we used the Aero Press brewer which we are beginning to like more and more. I had mine espresso style and this is some strong coffee. Coffee drinkers will understand that I mean that in a good way. This is one of the strongest, deeper roasted coffees we have had.  We liked the flavor, but we could not drink this as an everyday coffee. If you like espresso or espresso roasted coffees then we suggest you try this Beatnik Espresso.

We do appreciate Newhall’s commitment to “Coffee For A Cure” and hope they have great success in helping to win the fight against leukemia. We received this coffee for review purposes and offer objective feedback. Until next time stop and enjoy the coffee and conversation.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10

Coffee Review: Hemisphere Coffee Roasters Nicaraguan Cafe Diego

August 31, 2010 at 7:35 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | 1 Comment
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This is the third coffee we have tried from Hemisphere Coffee Roasters  (www.hemispherecoffeeroasters.com) and this one is a dark roast version of the Café Diego. It is described as Nicaraguan coffee at its finest with good acidity and chocolaty undertones. It is grown at high altitudes in old shade canopy. We liked the light/medium roast we had before and thought this would make a good comparison.

It has a nice roasted aroma from the bag and the freshly ground beans. Kim said that she could smell the freshly ground beans upstairs. She thought there was almost a fruitlike aroma. Me, I just thought it smelled really good.

First up for the brewing was the French Press. The flavor reminded us of bittersweet chocolate and the acidity is mild. There is a natural sweetness as you drink it and a nice, not too tangy aftertaste. It’s a good morning cup of coffee.

Next up was the auto-drip and the overall flavor is a little milder here. I want to emphasize that the aroma of these beans is really good. The aroma fills the area where you are grinding and brewing the coffee. Even though there is a good roasted flavor it is not as strong as you would expect from the aroma or the color of the beans. We enjoyed this brew too.

Lastly we used the Chemex coffee maker. This was our favorite way to drink this Café Diego dark roast. I never get tired of the clean taste of coffee from the Chemex. You can taste some fruitiness and some dark chocolate. I would describe the aftertaste as pleasant with a mild acidity. The coffee beans were dark, but they were not over roasted. The taste from the Chemex was our favorite this time, though any of the three brewing methods produced an enjoyable cup of coffee.

If you are looking for a dark roasted Nicaraguan coffee we suggest you try this Café Diego from Hemisphere Coffee Roasters. We would also encourage you to visit their site and look into how they are helping coffee farmers. They work with Rosedale Mennonite Missions to help indigenous farmers and laborers improve both their lifestyles and communities. You can enjoy their coffee and help people in different parts of the world at the same time.

We received this coffee for free and offer objective feedback. Until next time stop and enjoy the coffee and conversation.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10

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