Truman Cold Brew

   Today I present a bean from Amaya Roasting Company out of Houston, Texas. Amaya strives to carry only the finest quality coffee in their inventory and do so by working with respectable and responsible coffee farmers and importers. All coffee is roasted in a manner that highlights nuance and brings balance to the sweetness, acidity and depth of flavors. Because they strive to accentuate the complexity of this high quality produce, coffees are roasted from a light to medium roast coloration.    This is their Rosendo bean; a washed Colombia bean. Amaya notes flavors of concord grape, caramel, & graham cracker. I brewed this at my 1:12 ratio. Great caramel sweetness in this cup. Nice acidity with some nuttiness. Cold brew with some nice body & sweetness. Tasty.    Many thanks to Kirke & Amaya for the tasty beans. Was able to get a hold of Kirke before I headed down to Texas for work a couple weeks ago and he was able to set me aside some beans I picked up from a shop

   Here I have the 2nd bean I've featured from the folks over at Dogwood Coffee Co. Dogwood Coffee Company is a small, quality-focused roaster based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Quality is the driving factor behind what they do and building relationships is fundamental to their sourcing process and overall approach to doing business.    This is their Zamboni Cold Brew blend bean. This blend consists of a naturally processed Brazil bean & an Ethiopian bean. Dogwood notes flavors of chocolate, toffee, and fruity. I brewed this at my 1:12 ratio. Another tasty cold brew blend. Nice chocolaty body. Tasty caramel sweetness & body. The Ethiopian is present as well; adds some brightness & floral & berries & citric acidity to the mix. Tasty cold brew, for sure.    Many thanks to Ben & Dogwood for the tasty beans. They sent me an amazing care package, so I will have quite a few beans from these guys to share with everyone. Excited to featu

   Here I present a local bean to me, PT's Coffee Roasting Co out of Topeka, Kansas. PT’s was born in 1993 in Topeka, Kansas, out of Jeff Taylor and Fred Polzin’s simple desire for an excellent cup of coffee. Four years and two retail locations later, they began buying green coffee, roasting, and traveling to origin, forging the Direct Trade partnerships that have made PT’s a leader in the specialty coffee industry. Nearly 80% of the coffee they produce is acquired through their Direct Trade program. Exceptional coffee depends upon great partnerships, and their partners are selected for more than just their harvests—they are socially responsible and environmentally conscious. Currently they roast dozens of single-origin specialty coffees and signature blends for their retail locations, wholesale clients, and online customers around the world. They have been named Roaster of the Year by Roast Magazine and are among the leading roasters reviewed by premier industry resource Coffe

   Here I have another amazing bean from the people of Blanchard's Coffee Roasting Company out of Richmond, Virginia. Every coffee has a story to tell that includes the land where it was grown, the hands that nurtured it from seed to harvest, the craftsmen who roasted it, and the communities it supported along the way. Blanchard's Coffee Roasting Co. honors each coffee's story with a commitment to sustainability in the global coffee community through responsible sourcing, stewardship, and thoughtful roasting. Roasting better coffee is a continuing journey, one that includes their farmers and customers alike, and they are proud to share it with us.    This is their Rosedale blend. Named for the Richmond, Virginia neighborhood where their roasting facility is located, Rosedale is designed to be their most versatile offering, perfect for use as a brighter, more complex espresso, a sweet, fruity batch brew, or even a complex, floral hand pour. It is a blend of washed Cent

   Today I feature a special bean from the folks over at Water Avenue Coffee. On the banks of the Willamette River in Portland Oregon's Southeast Industrial District, Water Avenue Coffee Roasters, founded by industry pioneers, began roasting coffee in 2009. Seizing the moment by purchasing a vintage, French-built 1974 Samiac roaster from a company in Switzerland, and set about building a new business around it. Having dozens of years experience in training and consulting in the specialty coffee industry, Bruce and Matt saw a great opportunity also to develop and showcase a retail and roasting business in the same building as the American Barista & Coffee School, and share with new Water Avenue Coffee customers the decades of combined experience to offer an unsurpassed level of support. By bringing together great coffees and great people, Water Avenue Coffee stands out for its incredible products and unsurpassed customer service, even in a city where great coffee is often ju

   Here I have my 2nd bean from Rising Star Coffee out of Cleveland, Ohio. Their philosophy about coffee is simple. Buy dang good coffee and pay the farmer and the producer enough money to live and maybe even enjoy life. That’s it. Their coffee isn’t fair trade, free trade, direct trade, or any other model. Their coffee is Relationship Coffee. They know who they buy coffee from, and they know what makes their coffee unique, and they want to share that with us. When they roast, they roast to highlight the decisions of the farmers and the producers, to make sure that their personality and hard work comes through in our cup. Their coffees are sweet, lively, bold and clean. They are happy to say that all of their coffees are now certified Kosher, as well.    This is their Kanake bean. This is a washed bean from Nyeri, Kenya. Rising Star notes flavors of marshmallow, grapefruit, & orange soda. I brewed this at my 1:12 ratio. Great citrus acidity in this cup of cold brew. Nice syru

   Here I have my 2nd bean from the people of Elemental Coffee Roasters. Elemental Coffee Roasters is a small-batch roastery and cafe in Oklahoma City, OK. They source, sample, import, roast and deliver the finest coffees available in the world. They are a community-driven company dedicated to producing the finest coffee while providing their customers with the best service imaginable. Elemental seeks to generate a passion for coffee in both individuals and companies as they partake in ongoing sourcing projects.    This is their Organic Saucha bean. This is a washed bean from the Tolima Region of Colombia. Elemental notes flavors of walnut & apricot. I brewed this at my 1:12 ratio. Nice stone fruits, sweet & nutty. Very balanced and nice body. This made for a tasty cold brew.    Many thanks to Elemental for the tasty beans. Go check them out here:   elementalcoffee.com

   Here I have my 5th & final bean from the folks over at Stovetop Roasters out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Stovetop wants us to know a few things. Coffee begins its life as the pit of a cherry. These cherries are then picked at the peak of ripeness, and brought to a processing facility. The goal of a producer is to remove the outer layers of the cherry, as well as dry the bean to the proper moisture content. How they decide to do this is referred to as the processing method of the coffee (natural, washed, pulped, honey, etc.) After processing, the beans are packaged in burlap, sent through customs, and shipped. Why does Stovetop feel it is important to understand all of this? As a coffee roaster, they are simply another step in a large process. There is so much effort that goes into harvesting, sorting, processing, packaging and importing their coffees. It is their mission to honor the hard work of those before them by doing their part beautifully. They do not roast their

   Here I have my 5th bean from Hotbox Coffee Roasters. Hotbox was launched in 2015 when Oskar Blues Brewery’s founder and craft beer canning innovator Dale Katechis bought and learned how to roast on a small roaster as a hobby in the back of the Longmont, ColoRADo Oskar Blues’ Brewery. Hotbox Roasters focuses on sourcing high-quality Arabica coffees from regions around the world. After sourcing, the beans are then carefully roasted by the Hotbox Roasters crew in Longmont to bring out the most unique and natural flavors. The whole bean coffee is then canned in infinitely recyclable Crowler® cans. The roasted beans are available nationwide in individual Crowler cans as well as tiered subscription services.    This is their LXIX Espresso blend. Hotbox notes flavors of toasted hazelnut, juicy peach, & citric acid. I brewed this at my 1:12 ratio. This blend is a mix of 50% natural Ethiopia Hambela & 50% washed Colombia Excelso. Like I mentioned before, proper ratio & roas

   Here I have for everyone the second bean I've featured from Branch Street Coffee Roasters. Branch Street has a passion for all things coffee. They work closely with importers to find the best coffee available on the market. When a special offering becomes available, they get a call. Their coffee roasting method is what really sets them apart. They proudly use a Diedrich specialty coffee roaster to bring out flavors and characteristics that put their product in a league of its own. Each coffee is carefully studied and tasted before they design a roasting method that will enhance the flavor for that particular bean. To ensure freshness, they fire up the roaster several times a week and small-batch roast only the amount they need. This ensures that the coffee is as fresh as it can be, and it is loaded with flavor when it hits your cup. It is the attention to detail and the passion for coffee that allows them to brew the perfect cup, every time.    This is their Honduras Finca

   Here I present to you guys my 2nd bean from the great people over at Muletown Coffee Roasters out of Columbia, Tennessee. Muletown believes in creating products that make their customers' EVERYDAY a little better. Muletown Coffee is an approachable, simplified take on small-batch coffee. It's ethically sourced, fresh roasted, no-nonsense coffee for everyday people.    This is their natural Ethiopia, Kembata bean. Muletown notes flavors of summer strawberry, apples, and honey. I brewed this at my 1:12 ratio. Tasty natural Ethiopian cold brew, right here. Berries, strawberries, fruity. Nice citrus acidity. Nice and bright coffee. Great sweetness. Very tasty.    Many thanks to Austin & Muletown for the tasty beans. Go check them out here:   muletowncoffee.com

   I know I haven't done any chocolate bars for you guys in quite some time, but they don't come through my mailbox as often as the coffee (bummer, I know). But recently I reached out to Tony's (after seeing them in my local World Market store) and they have been kind enough to supply me with some of their bars for me to share with everyone.    In 2005 Dutch investigative reporter Teun (Tony) van de Keuken launched an investigation about the use of slavery within the cocoa industry on his consumer report show Keuringsdienst van Waarde. He was literally shocked to discover that most of the chocolate on supermarket shelves was harvested by slaves—worse, by child slaves. He decided to do something about it. On November 29th 2005, Teun decided to lead by example and make 5,000 Fairtrade chocolate bars. Tony’s Chocolonely was born. The very first Fair Trade Tony’s Chocolonely bars hit the supermarket shelves in 2005. In 2006 they became legit by registering with the

   Here I have a bean from LostCoffee out of Castle Rock, Colorado. LostCoffee was established in Castle Rock, Colorado in 2010 by John Paulsen & Scott Gaerte. In the October of 2010 they signed their first lease at their former Limelight location. While construction on Limelight Ave. began, the Perry Street store lease was signed in December of that same year. As of July 2017, LostCoffee stores can be found in Castle Rock, Denver, and Aurora. On February 10th 2011, the Paulsens and the Gaertes opened their first store at 390 Perry Street in Castle Rock. The very address in which the families became friends many years before. Today the company is powered by three stores and a roasting facility.    This is their Ethiopia, Yirgacheffe bean. LostCoffee notes flavors of bergamont, citrus, and berry. I brewed this at my 1:12 ratio. Another tasty Ethiopian bean; I love this region. Another sweet, floral, citrus cup of cold brew. Oranges, limes, honeysuckle, berries. Really enjoyed

   Here I have a tasty bean from Dogwood Coffee Co. Dogwood Coffee Company is a small, quality-focused roaster based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Quality is the driving factor behind what they do and building relationships is fundamental to their sourcing process and overall approach to doing business.    This is their Ethiopia, Reko bean. The Reko washing station is named for the nearby mountain and village in the Kochere region. This is the fourth year that Dogwood has offered coffee from the Reko washing station. This bean is fully washed and sun dried. Dogwood notes flavors of limeade, perfume, and candied ginger. I brewed this at my 1:12 ratio. Another super Ethiopian bean. Very floral and sweet. Definate citrus & floral cold brew. Nice stone fruits. Honey sweetness. Super bright & tasty cup of coffee.    Many thanks to Ben & Dogwood for the tasty beans. They sent me an amazing care package, so I will have quite a few beans form these guys

   Here I feature a tasty bean from Blanchard’s Coffee Roasting Co. Blanchard’s was founded on the simple principal of roasting good coffee for good people to enjoy. Over the years we have met so many people through coffee who have touched our lives. Coffee is inherently a social beverage. Strangers and friends, alike, gather around coffee because it warms our bodies and energizes our minds. From first dates, to business deals, to reunions with old friends, conversations begin and linger over cups of coffee in cafes, conference rooms, and around our childhood kitchen tables. Good People, Good Coffee is our opportunity to share their stories with you.    This is their Colombia Finca El Ocaso 18/18 bean. This bean is the result of an experimental drying process. The farmer used alternative processing methods to accent the best qualities of the Red Tabi bean, allowing it to ferment in the cherry for 18 hours, followed by pulping, and another 18 hour fermentation before drying on rai

   Here I have my fourth bean from the amazing roasters known as Stovetop. All their beans I've featured so far have been great! Stovetop obtains their coffees from multiple sources, and they strive to be as transparent as possible with their process. There are currently two ways they buy their coffee; one being direct trade. A direct trade relationship means the roaster is buying coffee directly from the source. This often means the roaster has traveled to a coffee farm, developed a relationship with the owners, and bought some of their crop. While Stovetop is excited to pursue this opportunity in the future, their current direct trade relationships have resulted from meeting farmers and producers in person at a coffee event or trade show and forming a relationship there. Their goal is to only work with ethical producers that they know and trust. These producers treat their workers well, use ecologically sound farming, harvesting, and processing techniques, and provide a consi

   Here I have a tasty bean from Rising Star Coffee out of Cleveland, Ohio. Their philosophy about coffee is simple. Buy dang good coffee and pay the farmer and the producer enough money to live and maybe even enjoy life. That’s it. Their coffee isn’t fair trade, free trade, direct trade, or any other model. Their coffee is Relationship Coffee. They know who they buy coffee from, and they know what makes their coffee unique, and they want to share that with us. When they roast, they roast to highlight the decisions of the farmers and the producers, to make sure that their personality and hard work comes through in our cup. Their coffees are sweet, lively, bold and clean. They are happy to say that all of their coffees are now certified Kosher, as well.    This is their Butagana CWS bean. This is a honey process bean from Kayanza, Burundi. Rising Star notes flavors of praline, malt, and tart grape. I brewed this at my 1:12 ratio. This was a very interesting cup of cold brew. I got

   Here I have another tasty bean from Hotbox Coffee Roasters. Hotbox was launched in 2015 when Oskar Blues Brewery’s founder and craft beer canning innovator Dale Katechis bought and learned how to roast on a small roaster as a hobby in the back of the Longmont, ColoRADo Oskar Blues’ Brewery. Hotbox decided to put their craft coffee in cans to pay homage to their roots. Not only do cans fit right into their active lifestyle thanks to how durable and portable they are, but they have found they also protect their coffee products better than bottles or bags. Did they mention our aluminum cans are infinitely recyclable? Yea. That’s rad.    This is their Kenya Dig It bean. This is a single origin offering from Hotbox; a washed AB bean. I brewed this at my 1:12 ratio. Hotbox notes flavors of lemon & chocolate. Even though is a darker roast than most beans I cold brew, this still made for a very nice coffee (but I do plan to brew this as a pourover as well). This had some nice crit