NorthWest Coffee Guide

to keurig, or not to keurig? that is the question.

2010-11-05T21:44:00.000-07:00

We bought a Keurig. It's not here yet, but it should be here by 7pm on November 8, 2010. I am still at odds with myself over this machine. Is it cheating to have such a simple way to make coffee? I have a hard time not equating this contraption with a coffee vending machine. Granted, I have taste tested a few times, and the coffee is quite good. Also, the one we are getting includes the basket, so I can use my own freshly ground coffee if I so choose.

My husband is especially excited for this new phase in our life. He came home with Caribou k-cups (in anticipation for it's arrival). We love Caribou Coffee, though I must admit I am anxious for our local roasters to come out with k-cups.. Tony's, Dillanos, Raven's Brew, all you other great coffee roasters.. do you hear me?.. Papa, can you hear me?

must.. have.. coffee..

2009-11-29T22:29:00.000-08:00

I let this blog go for quite a while, yet it still keeps haunting me. I love coffee, and I love to talk about it. Can I make a living at it? Probably not, but I *can* keep talking about it. So here I go.

I love that I live in the coffee-drinking capital of the nation, and have access to so many different coffee shops and roasters. At most, we are only a block away from a fresh brewed cup of coffee, or latte, at any given time. Great for us addicts.. "coffee connoisseur" just sounds so much better.

I don't claim to know everything about coffee. Not even close, but I am an eager student. I prefer to have my coffee black. Love it to be dark, strong.. robust, but not bitter. My latest favorite find is Tony's Coffees & Teas "Cafe Carmelita." It is so rich and smooth.. full, but mellow. Perfect cup for getting through a cold winter day. I'd probably even drink it on a hot summer day.

So what direction is this blog going? I have no idea, other than the subject will be coffee. Let's all raise our mugs together!

where've you been? anything new?

2007-08-27T15:21:00.002-07:00

My heart is heavy. I have not been posting as I should be for the last month or so.. With the new school year upon us and the wedding season almost over (at least in my circle of friends/relatives), I will have more time for research (my code word for "indulgence") and reviews.

I've missed hearing from you all, so if there is a coffee (or coffee subject) that has not been spoken of that you feel is especially note-worthy, let me know!

So on a more exciting note, to kick off the new fall season, I'd like to start a "Coffee Mug of the Month" photo contest. What's the reward? I'll post the pic of your favorite mug here on my blog. You wanted something more? Attach your "mug" to an email telling me what brew you're pouring into your favorite coffee mug and why you like it (both the coffee and the mug) - I'll let the rest of the viewers know!

send it!

kudos to caribou coffee!

2007-07-13T15:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know they are not located in the Pacific Northwest, but I had to give a real quick 'shout out' to Caribou Coffee. While en route to Michigan, we had a fairly long layover in Minneapolis, and I was really craving some coffee. Our morning had started especially early, and we were experiencing some anxiety traveling with an infant and a toddler. I passed a Starbucks, and was tempted.. but then I saw that Caribou Coffee was EVERYWHERE! Knowing that they were a Minnesota based company (we like their granola bars), I figured what could be better than to try than the local coffee? It was fabulous.. the coffee, the service - you guys were so friendly, everything. I had the caramel high rise, and I was very pleasantly surprised that the coffee had enough punch to hold up under such rich caramel.

On our way home from Michigan, we had a rediculously long layover in Minneapolis again, so of course I thought I would try out the coffee, again, and just see if I was lucky the first time. No siree.. it was just as fabulous the second time (this time an almond macchiato) - good coffee, very friendly service. You guys are great at Caribou, and I thought you deserved to know!

looking for coffee beyond the northwest..

2007-06-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

We're going on vacation. We leave next week for 10 days in Michigan, my husband's home state. This should be an exciting time as we are going for a wedding and visiting family and friends that we haven't seen in about seven years (!!!) - but seriously, one of the first things i asked my husband about where we are vacationing, "where will we get our coffee?"

His friend that will be promising to love, cherish, and honor his bride next weekend is a fairly fresh coffee addict (we introduced him to the 'good stuff' during his vacation out here a few years back) - so he's been searching out good coffee for us.

Unfortunately, according to prince charming, the best coffee in town is on the college campus, in the library I believe.. I suppose we could go all '21 Jumpstreet' and try to blend in with the other college 'kids.' Maybe put some college decals on the stroller for our littlest one. Of course it IS summer break.. maybe we won't stand out so bad as we pull up in our minivan.

So here I am putting this question out to any Midwestern Coffee Lovers (MCL's) in the Big Rapids, Michigan area (If i'm not mistaken, I believe this is the base of the ring finger for lower Michigan).. where, oh where, will I find a good cup of joe?

here we go.. it's moka joe's coffee!

2007-06-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

Hoping for ‘beginner’s luck,’ here I sit writing my first review for NorthWest Coffee Guide. It took me a while to figure out who would be my first subject.. or victim, I guess, depending on how this review turns out! All kidding aside, I was not real familiar with Moka Joe’s coffees until Gigi’s Café opened its doors across the parking lot from my office - where I have a real job. Thus began my love affair with Moka Joe.

On a recent trip to the grocery store, I was looking for another brand of coffee for a gift to give to my mother-in-law (also a coffee lover herself). The ‘other brand,’ also quite good, was not sold there. As I continued to peruse the coffee aisle, the flashy cobalt blue bag caught my eye! The ‘other brand’ may not be there but Moka Joe is! Hooray! So as I grabbed a bag of grounded for her, I thought, “I want some too!” and Timor! it is.

Of course I took it home and couldn’t wait to open the bag. The excitement of a new blend was just too much to ignore! And sure enough - there was no disappointment. The smell - so rich, earthy, a little nutty and slightly smokey. I could hardly keep from holding my mug under the coffee machine - impatiently waiting for it to brew. I was a little concerned that it would be a lighter coffee than what I prefer, but don’t be mistaken by the color of the grounds. They are a little lighter, and very ruddy in color, but this coffee tastes almost the same as the smell when you open the bag.. no bad surprises! It’s a very robust, earthy, slightly nutty tasting coffee - almost fruity sweet. There is no sharp, burnt flavor, and the aftertaste is pleasant. I was so pleased by this coffee, being rich and smooth and warm and perfect for the rainy Northwest day that was among us.

Just how did I make mine, you ask? I used our Bunn ThermoFresh coffee maker (It’s very important to have a coffee maker that brews HOT! in order to get the fullness of the flavor of coffee you are making). I measured 1 rounded (not heaping) teaspoon of coffee per cup, and then added one extra teaspoon for ‘good measure.’ You definitely get your money’s worth from this coffee - no over-measuring is needed. I like my coffee very strong, so I definitely wasn’t disappointed. For those of you who don’t care to cut your coffee with a knife, I suggest you be very modest in your measuring.

So back to the name of this Moka Joe blend.. just what IS Timor! Come to find out, it’s an island at the south end of the Malay Archipelago, divided between the independent state of East Timor, and West Timor, part of the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. According to local mythology (thank you, wikipedia), the island of Timor was a giant crocodile… which really is appropriate, because if you try to grab my cup of Timor! I might just bite your head off.

Note: you can find a link to Moka Joe on my NorthWest Coffee Guide website: http://www.nwcoffeeguide.com/ They are listed under the "Roasters" section for Washington.

coffee snobs unite!

2007-05-14T21:56:00.000-07:00

I found another coffee snob! I found another coffee snob! I found another coffee snob! Well actually, this coffee snob found me, but the point remains - there is a community full of love out there for coffee snobs. Is this "coffee snobbishness" a new concept to me? Of course not, but to find other people pursuing similar "support forums" for other coffee addicts in the northwest is well.. oh I'm getting all verklempt! *sniff*

So who is this other coffee snob, and what does he offer? Well check it out for yourselves, folks.. the name of his site really says it all: http://www.neverenoughcoffee.com... because there really is never enough coffee.

Wear your addiction proudly across your chest, or on your head, or announce it on your mug, send a postcard, put a magnet on your fridge. Know other coffee snobs? Find a gift for them here.. really the options are almost endless.

the heat is on..

2007-05-14T21:06:00.000-07:00

"How can you stand to drink coffee on a hot day?" I remember asking my mom when I was quite young. Her response was, and still is, "Oh, it helps keep me cool." Wha...? I think it's just and excuse to cover her addiction. Although, being the addict myself - I can totally understand this now. The weather is warm now, the windows and doors are all wide open - even at 9:27pm.. and what am I thinking about? Man.. would a cup of coffee taste good right now.

So what is the remedy for keeping cool on a hot day?
Drink a cup of coffee!

What is the remedy for staying warm on a cold day?
Drink a cup of coffee!

What's the remedy for 'tying one on' the night before?
Drink a cup of coffee!

What's the remedy for a headache?
That's right folks, drink a cup of coffee!

What's the remedy for rush-hour traffic?
Well.. that probably lies more within the Department of Transportation, but a cup of coffee can help make it more tolerable!

coffee snob? whatever..

2007-04-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

according to my husband, i'm a coffee snob. i asked him what he meant by "snob," and he just peered over his glasses at me with the "you know what i mean" look.

i tried to forget about his comment, until this morning when i threw out that blasted pot of coffee. watching the steaming blend of beans and water swirl down the drain caused my conscience to taunt me, "coffee snob.. coffee snob.. coffee snob." how do you plug the ears of your conscience?

in my defense, what was supposed to be coffee (black) turned out to be more like tea (not so black). the second pot wasn't so great either (yes, i know how to make coffee but someone brought home the wrong filters) but i decided it was just plain WRONG to waste yet another pot. however, let's get back to the point: so i like my coffee black as night, so i prefer my no-whip peppermint mocha from one coffee house and my non-fat sugar free almond latte from another, so i don't like the taste of my latte or mocha or cappuccino when i make it at home (i hate our machine - long story), does that really make me a "coffee snob?"

and i'd like a straw please.

mary mary, quite contrary...

2007-04-10T14:06:00.000-07:00

...how does your garden grow?

Have you ever wondered if your used coffee grounds could be put to better use than filling the ol' garbage can?

Several years ago, I recalled something my biology teacher from highschool shared with the class. He talked about how every morning he would have his cup of coffee outside on his deck. Following his daily habit, he would throw the last little bit of "joe-gone-cold" off the edge, which always landed on about the same spot amongst his tomato plants. Sure enough, when the tomatoes had ripened, those that were inadvertantly victims of the cold coffee turned out to be the largest, reddest, most juicy and flavorful tomatoes of his garden.

For plants that love acidic soil, splashing the soil with your left over cold coffee, or folding in those used coffee grounds, is a fantastic fertilizer! Why waste it on the landfills?

Hint: If you need more than what you create yourself each day, many coffee houses are more than happy to supply you with their leftovers!

lessons learned

2007-03-22T22:25:00.000-07:00

Okay.. so things aren't going quite as smoothly as I'd like them to, but I will be the first to admit that I'm a bit of a rookie here with a budget the size of a mustard seed. For one, my website skills are being stretched to the max, and being a mom of a toddler and an infant, I'm finding that I'm not getting as much done as quickly as I'd like to.. big surprise, huh?

I've started on Oregon Roasters, and I've put up some of the coffeehouses and drive-thru's for Washington. Hopefully I'll be able to figure out some of the issues I'm having with the quantity of coffeehouses vs. the space I have to post them :p

Then I've got the issue of how to make this pay for itself. I've got an idea or two, but getting the page functioning well and making it more appealing to the public eye will have to come first.

triple me!

2007-02-07T15:09:00.000-08:00

that's about what it's going to take to keep up with all the responses to our new website! thanks to all of you who have responded. this has been so much fun thus far, and we really have high hopes for the future. if we can just get on google to hurry up and index the site, that would be helpful! for those of you who have the google toolbar and like the site, please click on the smiley face to let google know! we'd appreciate it.

so what's next? we're still in the process of contacting roasters, houses, drive-thru's, etc. so keep checking for more to show up. hopefully by the end of this week/weekend, we will have plowed through the remaining states for the 'roasters' section: oregon, idaho, and alaska. then we start on the coffee houses and drive-thru's.

here we go...

2007-02-05T20:38:00.000-08:00

so here we go.. the site is up and running, www.nwcoffeeguide.com. no major problems to report yet, and i'm in the process of trying to tame the ideas down into two categories. "what i can do NOW," and "what i should do LATER." i'm having so much fun, and so far, roasters, drive-thru's, and coffeehouses are coming on board. where will this site lead? not sure. my plan for this blog is to start reporting on coffees we've taste-tested, and giving you our insight on brands you may not heard of. for now, keep checking the site as more and more varieties are being added daily! check it out, please! let me know what you think.. what's working, what's not working, what you want to see.. what you think would be useful from one addict to another :)