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Showing posts with label Coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coffee. Show all posts


Sigg vs Contigo Thermal Coffee Mugs
Wednesday, December 24, 2008



Unfortunately the the other day I lost one of my thermal coffee mugs (one that I had for at least 7 years that I loved) and it was time to buy a new one. Last Christmas Erika bought me a SIGG thermal coffee mug which I was really excited about but after using was very disappointed. They turn coffee cold within 2 hours and leak water at the bottom. Their water bottles are still very cool and I use mine every day so don't confuse the two.

This past weekend we were at Costco where we came across the Contigo 2 pack for $20. Usually I tend to shy away from these "great deal" Costco bundles due to previous experiences but I decided to take a chance. I have to say I am very happy I did so and highly recommend these mugs to anyone who is in the market for one. They come in 2 styles stainless steel and plastic. The claims about spill proof and length of heat time are right on, these mugs hold heat like you wouldn't believe. The hardest part was getting used to the vacuum opening, the hole is much smaller and a bit more work to drink out of. You get the swoosh sound every time you push the button and it feels very futuristic as if you are always traveling around in an air lock. These mugs are also BPA free which is good although Nalgene has since switched as well. Right now I just have the travel mugs without the handle but may have to add one to my arsenal in the future.

http://www.gocontigo.com/index.html

Posted by mardenhill 12/24/2008 10:27:00 AM 73 comments  

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4.8.08
Sunday, April 06, 2008

Mark your calendars because Starbucks has an announcement to make at 12pm on April 8th, 2008. Run to the closest coffeehouse to be part of "Something Big" (according to the Ad).

While reading the comments within the Huffington Post regarding the story I came across this:

"fresh coffee. no older then 2 weeks from the farms. starbucks will be brewing new coffee every 30 minutes as opposed to every hour. it'll be freshly scooped coffee, not packaged grinded coffee bags like it was before. i think also a new pastry. "

It seems Starbucks has realized that the McDonaldization of their product has diluted the brand and its time to return to the basics. If this is true it will be a good thing because Starbucks has fallen flat as of late. I will admit, I am not a daily Starbucks customer, I may go a couple times a month but will buy their beans to grind at home. I rotate their coffee between other roasters to keep my taste buds alive and not bored of the same thing. I don't think of Starbucks as an evil empire, I believe they are genuinely a good natured company. From what I have read, the whole lawsuit regarding tips was overblown and full of misinformation. The company still has its faults and I would like to see their prices lowered but I don't expect that to happen anytime soon.

Anyways, I plan on checking out their announcement next week in hopes that there will be free coffee for those that attend.
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UPDATE:

Starbucks to launch new coffee blend Tuesday

SEATTLE -- Starbucks Corp. is hosting a nationwide coffee-tasting to celebrate the launch of its new "everyday" brew, a key ingredient in its drive to boost slumping sales.
Customers who line up at most of the coffee retailer's U.S. stores Tuesday will get a free 8 oz. cup of Pike Place Roast from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time (12 to 12:30 p.m. EDT).

Chairman and Chief Executive Howard Schultz says Pike Place Roast has a bold flavor, smooth finish and "subtle, rich flavors of cocoa and toasted nuts."

It will be freshly roasted, hand-scooped, freshly ground and brewed in small batches that sit for no longer than 30 minutes.

Starbucks will sell it -- both regular and decaf -- alongside rotating coffees of the week.

Posted by mardenhill 4/06/2008 10:42:00 AM 0 comments  

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Doma Coffee Roasting Company
Saturday, March 29, 2008

I just received my coffee of the month from Citizen Bean this afternoon and it hails from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The roaster prides themselves on sustainable practices both in their selection of beans and output. I received 1lb of the Carmela's Blend which is Rainforest Alliance Certified. The flavor is quite nice, there are hints of chocolate and the roast is complex and quite dark. It's not overly bitter and Citizen Bean included fresh cinnamon sticks in the shipment which I added to my cup. The cinnamon enchanced the flavor and added a bit of spice. I already had my morning coffee for the day but I couldn't wait until tomorrow to try the blend so I made a cup with the French Press for a nice afternoon pick me up. Normally I will use a conventional drip coffee maker but if I have time I will use the press and try to have at least 1 cup from each pound I receive this way.

You can read more about Doma at the website below.

http://www.domacoffee.com/

Posted by mardenhill 3/29/2008 04:15:00 PM 1 comments  

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Yemon Mocha - Sanani
Monday, March 03, 2008

More than four centuries ago, this vagabond coffee wandered through the bustling Yemen port of Mocha. This is a coffee that captures wanderlust, uniting a bold aroma, nutty and spicy flavors with a hint of the wild gypsy tendencies appreciated by coffee aficionados and surprising to the uninitiated. A toast to the adventurer in us all, Yemen Mocha Sanani is a rare coffee that should be savored. Well worth the indulgence.

http://www.ptscoffee.com/store/product_detail.php?c=139&s=51095

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This is my latest selection of the month from Citizen Bean and I just had my first cup this morning. The coffee is great, it has a nice aroma and smooth taste. There is very little bitterness here and the flavor finishes long with a bit of spice. The roaster is PTs Coffee and Jeff Taylor is one of only 4 certified International World Barista Competition judges. Basically, the guy knows his coffee and its a pleasure to taste his work.

Posted by mardenhill 3/03/2008 09:52:00 AM 0 comments  

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Ritual Coffee Roasters
Saturday, February 02, 2008



I just received my 2nd coffee selection from Citizen Bean and this month was from Ritual Coffee Roasters. The coffee was a single roast of Haicof Yirgacheffe, Ethiopian beans which are very light and easy drinking. The flavor is smooth with hints of fruit but not to acidic nor bitter. For people who need sugar in their coffee, this roast can easily be served black and still be enjoyed. From the website Ritual Roasters looks like a great coffee house and one you should visit if ever in San Francsico. This is one that I will remember for future coffee purchases.

Posted by mardenhill 2/02/2008 11:01:00 AM 0 comments  

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Coffee This Month
Saturday, January 12, 2008

http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/

This month's selection from Citizen Bean was a pound of Intelligentsia from Chicago. Citizen Bean packages it in their own bags but puts a banner around explaining what coffee it is. The banner stated that the coffee was Intelligentsia's Black Cat but I find that hard to believe. After looking it up on their website it seems like this blend is a dark roast used to make espresso but this coffee wasn't dark at all. The flavor was very smooth and enjoyable which had me thinking that it might be one of their other blends. Maybe I am wrong and it is indeed the Black Cat but from the description I beg to differ. I guess we will have to take a trip to Chicago and to the coffee shop and roasters for an official comparison. I am very happy with this selection and would definitely drink again. This is one to keep on my list when traveling. You can read more about them at the website above.

Posted by mardenhill 1/12/2008 07:08:00 PM 1 comments  

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