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Showing posts from April, 2018

Ross Street Nicaragua, Finca Idealista Honey Process

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   Today I present a coffee from Ross Street Roasting. Ross Street Roasting Co. was founded in 2015 by small-town Iowa native, Brian Gumm. Brian spent a year and a half hobby roasting in his garage on Ross Street in Toledo, Iowa. The business scaled up from local word-of-mouth customers to begin serving cafés and retail stores in the Central Iowa area, as well as maintaining an online store that serves the entire US. In 2016, they moved into a 800 sq ft production facility in Tama, Iowa. In 2017 the business grew by over 160%, making significant progress on their mission to "Turn coffee drinkers into coffee lovers."    This is his Nicaragua, Finca Idealista Honey Process bean. Finca Idealista is the flagship farm of Ross' Direct Trade partner, Gold Mountain Coffee Growers. It sits on a mountaintop that borders a nature reserve, whose trees act as a natural air conditioner for its Paca & Caturra variety coffee beans. This cool microclimate lengthens the coffee

Quantum Guatemala, Huehuetenango

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   Today I am featuring a tasty bean from the folks over at Quantum Coffee Roasters. Quantum Coffee was started by Fidel and Diana Moreno. They are full time teachers in San Antonio, Texas teaching Physics and Math, respectively. Besides having a passion for education, they also have a passion for finding the best green coffee that can be sourced and roasting it just right. Their story begins when one day in class, a student asked if they would be interested in sampling some coffee he had roasted. Being completely intrigued and surprised that anyone would roast their own coffee, they responded with a quick yes! They had experienced the true flavors that coffee had to offer besides dark, darker, and darkest! They were hooked on freshly roasted coffee that hadn't been burnt down to its carbon backbone.They purchased the student's espresso machine, grinder and coffee roaster when he went off to college. Just like he did, they started giving away samples of their own roasted co

Amaya Gatare

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  Today I present my 2nd 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 Gatare bean; a natural Rwanda bean. Amaya notes flavors of strawberry hard candy, rooibos, and honey. I brewed this at my 1:12 ratio. Amazing syrupy body on this cold brew. Lots of berries in there ie blueberries, strawberries, etc. Super sweet and nice acidity. This bean was very 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 last month and he was able to set me aside some beans I

Irving Farm Los Alisos, Peru

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   Today I have for you guys a very nice bean from Irving Farm Coffee Roasters. Irving Farm Coffee Roasters was founded in 1996 when David Elwell and Steve Leven opened a neighborhood cafe in Gramercy Park. Shortly thereafter, they began roasting coffee in a converted carriage house in Dutchess County. Irving Farm offers an expansive seasonal rotation of single-origin coffees with unique flavor profiles alongside their roster of exceptional blends. Their quest for great coffee goes hand in hand with their dedication to lasting, sustainable relationships with farmers around the world. They take a personal and individual approach to each relationship they forge with farmers and co-ops.    This is their Los Alisos, Peru bean. A washed bean from the Chirinos Region. This coffee is certified organic by Natural Food Certifiers. I brewed this at my 1:12 ratio. Irving Farm notes flavors of fig, papaya, & cotton candy. This was a very refreshing & fruit-forward cold brew from the

Terra Nova Ethiopia

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   Today I have a tasty bean from the people over at Terra Nova out of New Hampshire. Terra Nova Organic Coffee Roasters was founded in a barn on an organic farm in Gilsum, New Hampshire in 2005. When the original founders of Terra Nova decided to move on to new pursuits, one of their young baristas and her entrepreneurial husband decided to jump in and learn the craft. In the spring of 2011, the coffee roaster was moved in the back of a pickup truck across the River Road and into the Murphy’s red barn where the business grew, new coffees were introduced, and Terra Nova made its mark on the regional coffee scene. In 2017, Terra Nova made another big move into their custom brick and mortar roastery and espresso bar, allowing the roasting operation to increase capacity while giving customers an exceptional cafe experience featuring their on-site roasted, high quality organic beans.    This is their Ethiopia bean. Terra Nova notes this bean to be bright and smooth with a rich body,

Argyle Ethiopia Yirgacheffe

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   Today I have a tasty bean from the people over at Argyle Coffee Roasters. Argyle Coffee Roasters is the creation of its passionate owner, Manny Carrera. Being from Costa Rica, Manny grew up surrounded by the traditions centered on coffee. After years of roasting on his own, he decided to be trained at Boot Coffee, in San Francisco. There he was taught the science, and art of coffee roasting. One day Manny looked around South Florida and noticed the coffee desert that surrounded him. With the intentions of showing people what the entire coffee roasting process is like, Manny is passionate about teaching others, and exposing the community to a more active participation in the coffee they drink. With Argyle Coffee Roasters being available to the public, the hope is that people could can sit around, share moments together, and drink better coffee.    This is their Ethiopia Yirgacheffe bean. It's a natural bean from the Koke Washing Station. I brewed this at my 1:12 ratio. Argy

Dogwood Cascara

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   Here I have a delicious tea/coffee 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 Cascara. Cascara is a dried fruit tea made from the coffee cherry. In the washed coffee process, the first step is to remove the seed (which is the coffee “bean”) from the cherry with a de-pulper. Normally, this skin is considered waste, or a byproduct of coffee processing. It is usually composted for use as a natural fertilizer in the farm later in the season. To create this tea, the pulp is collected and washed and then laid out to dry. This Cascara is from Finca Santa Lucia in the Llano Bonito de Naranjo region in West Valley, Costa Rica. It is 100% Caturra variety and 100% organic. At Helsar de Zarcero, Ricardo has built an entire

Blanchard’s Chelchele

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   Here I feature another 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 they have met so many people through coffee who have touched their 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 their opportunity to share stories with you.    This is their Chelchele bean. A natural bean from the Yirgacheffe Region of Ethiopia. Blanchard's notes flavors of rose hips, white nectarine, & raspberry. I brewed this at my 1:12 ratio. This was an awesome cold brew. So floral & fruity. Aroma of the beans was killer. Lots of berries & stone fruit. Super bri

Ross Street "Meow That's What I Call Light Roast!"

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   Sorry for the absence everyone. Been a few crazy weeks with work, etc. Ready to get back into the swing of things, full force. Today I present a coffee from my buddy Brian at Ross Street Roasting. Ross Street Roasting Co. was founded in 2015 by small-town Iowa native, Brian Gumm. Brian spent a year and a half hobby roasting in his garage on Ross Street in Toledo, Iowa. The business scaled up from local word-of-mouth customers to begin serving cafés and retail stores in the Central Iowa area, as well as maintaining an online store that serves the entire US. In 2016, they moved into a 800 sq ft production facility in Tama, Iowa. In 2017 the business grew by over 160%, making significant progress on their mission to "Turn coffee drinkers into coffee lovers."    This is his "Meow That's What I Call Light Roast!" blend. Iowa legends, RAYGUN, and Ross Street Roasting Co. have joined forces to create a fruity light roast blend perfect for drinking at home, i