The Drink: El Salvador Santa Elena Farm From Jim’s Organic Coffee
Type: Light Roast USDA Organic
Overall Rating: 3.75 Out Of 5 Coffee Mugs

Earlier this year, I tried Jim’s Organic Coffee Sweet Love Blend, one of the better coffees that I’ve ever bought on a grocery store coffee. However, the El Salvador Elena Farm takes it to a higher level.

The El Salvador Elena Farm has a story that begins five years ago, when a near-by volcano exploded and covered the area with ash. The farm was destroyed, but instead of giving up, they went back to work and used the ash that was rich in nitrogen to convert the farm to organic. The result was that the trees flourished and the coffee they produced was completely different then before the explosion.

The El Salvador Santa Elena Farm had a light aroma that was overflowing with flavor. I picked up everything from melon to oranges to spices. It definitely caught my attention and made me take note.

The coffee had a taste that was a light roast nutty flavor. The first thing I picked up was a grapefruit flavor. I also picked up on a hint of grapes that became more wine-like as it cooled down. It had a spicy after taste. Overall, the flavor made for a very interesting morning cup of coffee.

A 12 ounce bag of El Salvador Santa Elena Farm will cost you $11.50 on the Jim’s Organic Coffee website.

The only thing that I didn’t like about this coffee was the “best by date” was a year from now. Minor complaint, but I know that this coffee wouldn’t taste as good as it does today a year from now.

Dark roast fans will probably want to stay away from this coffee, but I loved it. It earned a well above average rating of 3.75 on the Daily Shot Of Coffee scale.

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Fine Print.

Coffee From A Volcano: El Salvador Santa Elena Farm From Jim’s Organic Coffee is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Decided to have some fun with this week’s poll. I don’t know about you, but it would take a lot for me to give up coffee for a month. How much money would it take for you to give up coffee for a month?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

I can’t imagine my morning without coffee, but if you gave me $3 million dollars, I might think about it. Okay, who am I kidding. If there is anyone out there who wants to pay a big chunk of my car payment, I might be willing to go without coffee for thirty days for $300.

What’s your answer and why?

Last week’s poll was a little bit more serious: “Are you worried about the high coffee prices?“

Eight-three percent of you said “No, I haven’t seen a change.“

Ardee-ann said:

I haven’t noticed any changes yet in coffee prices.

Nate said:

Perhaps coffee beans will replace gold? I’m not too concerned right now. It’s a supply and demand issue and seems to have affected garbage brands more than it has specialty coffee.

PurelyCoffeeLover said:

I’m not so worried about the coffee bean recent prices, since so little of the price actually goes into coffee served in restaurants. I just wished that more of the coffee sold benefits the farmers, such as some of the fair trade. Really I wish that Fair Trade Coffee wasn’t necessary at all!

However, 17% of you did say if the price of coffee keeps going up, you’re going to switch to water.

Todd said:

The price hike of east African beans and Yemen really hit hard this year. Just to make the staple, Mokha Java, cost 3 to 4 time more this year than it has in the past. Also with the price increase it became hard to find a Kenya or Yemen that cupped half way desent. I do hope it levels out this season. It hurts going from $6.00 lbs green to $9. to $14 lbs green. and explain to your customers why the huge increase.

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Photo by Pocheco.

Poll: How Much Would It Take To Make You Give Up Coffee For A Month? is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

I’ve had a lot of exciting coffees come into the Daily Shot Of Coffee Kitchen. However, Community Coffee has sent bag after bag of quality coffee that has stood out, so I’m excited to announce that they are officially part of the Daily Shot Of Coffee supporters.

Community Coffee promises Louisiana’s most distinctive coffee, made up of 100% Arabica beans selected by the founding family, the Saurage’s. They describe their coffee as “a perfected a full-bodied yet smooth flavor that reflects the extraordinary culinary traditions of Louisiana.” Community Coffee is served in some of the best New Orleans restaurants and is drank homes across the South.

They are the largest family-owned retail coffee brand in the US. Their Company started as a small country store in Baton Rouge, where more than 90 years ago, founder Henry Norman “Cap” Saurage brewed his coffee. The coffee became so popular that he named it “Community” in honor of his loyal friends and customers. Cap eventually turned his attention away from the grocery store and devoted all of his time and energy to making great coffee.

Today, Community Coffee Company is so much a part of people’s lives and spans so many generations that it has been dubbed the State Coffee of Louisiana.

If you haven’t tried their coffee, try Community Coffee out for yourself and see what you think. If you have tried it, and I know more than a few Community Coffee fans are regular readers, what are you favorites from Community Coffee?

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Photo by INeedCoffee / CoffeeHero.

Community Coffee: Introducing Daily Shot Of Coffee’s Newest Advertiser is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

I hope that everyone had a great summer and spends today relaxing and drinking lots of coffee!

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Photo by pzed.

Happy Labor Day is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

The Drink: Newhall Coffee’s Beatnik Espresso
Type: Espreso Blend
Overall Rating: Three Out Of Five Coffee Mugs

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. 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

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Fine Print.

Newhall Coffee’s Beatnik Espresso Review is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

I am a fan of dark roasted coffees…they make me tingle with delight. They have such body, strength plus an ability to stand up and make you pay attention when you drink them. Dark roasted coffee is, in my very humble opinion, the kind of coffee that makes coffee drinking worthwhile.

I have been drinking Celebes Kolassi for a while. I am on my second pound of it so I am no stranger to this earthy, smoky Indonesian brew, however at the recommendation of a friend I made my brew a little stronger. I put three scoops of Celebes Kolassi in my French press pot instead of my normal 1 1/2. I should have been prepared. Hello, now this was a cup of stout and I mean STOUT coffee. It slapped me in the face and got my attention.

I drank the first two sips black and then chickened out by adding some evaporated milk and two cubes of sugar to my coffee. I was able to drink it but knew that I would not be making a three scoop pot of Celebes Kolassi again. Wowzer!

I immediately, okay 30 minutes later, made another pot with just a tad over 2 scoops of Celebes Kolassi in the pot and this one had the attention getting factor my friend had described and was very smooth, sassy and rich. I did add a little evaporated milk but that was just because I like the way it adds a hint of caramel to the complex flavor.

I am sold on making my Celebes Kolassi a bit stronger than I had been making it. The flavor is more intense but oh so very satisfying. My mouth is still filled with joy and it has been almost an hour since I completed my second cup of coffee, so you have to know this was a happy experience.

I think my lesson is to mix things up a bit when you are brewing coffee…does it need to be a little stronger, do you need to cut back just a bit on the amount of coffee you are brewing or have you perfected the brew to your satisfaction? I think we can all play with our coffee and find a new level of intensity in our cup. As for me I may never try three scoops of Celebes Kolassi again but if I do I will be ready for it to make me snap to attention and not take a single drop for granted.

Enjoy your coffee!

Ciao!

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Photo by Csizmadia Tamás.

Hello Celebes Kolassi! is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

You never know what is going to happen next in the coffee world. Fresh Brews is a weekly attempt to wrap up everything going on in the news and on the blogs.

Coffee Blogs

An Interview With Artisan Roaster Tony X. Williams of HypnoCoffee
Every coffee bean has a story, go behind the scenes and meet the roaster behind Hypno Coffee, a coffee roasting company in West Virgina.

Coffee Beef Stew Recipe
Here’s a recipe that I hope to try very soon. It combines two of my favorite food groups: meat and coffee. Another case of what else do you need?

French Press #Coffee Techniques
Nate shares his detailed step by step instructions for making the perfect coffee with a French Press.

Wine. Coffee. All In One.
I’ve heard of coffee soda, coffee beer, but this is the first time that I’ve heard about a wine that tastes like coffee. I’m going to have to keep an eye out for this one.

Coffee News

Coffee May Combat High Blood Pressure
More proof that coffee is good for you! Step aside tea, “Older people with high blood pressure who drink one to two cups of coffee a day have more elastic blood vessels than people who drink less or more, Greek researchers report.”

The problems stirred up by coffee cups
Coffee may be good for us, but it’s not so good for the earth. Listen to this podcast about the problems coffee cups and k-cups are causing.

Spurred by Warming Climate, Beetles Threaten Coffee Crops
And more bad news. A tiny insect that thrives in warmer temperatures (think global warming) is devastating coffee plants all around the globe.

Starbucks brings vanilla, mocha, caramel and cinnamon to its instant coffee
What do you think? Are you interested in flavored VIA? I’ll at least give them a shot, however instant coffee under any name still makes me nervous.

Hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend!

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Photo by Rob Qld.

Fresh Brews: Coffee Wine, Flavored Instant Coffee From Starbucks And More is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Since I first caught a glimpse of the Presso, this espresso making gadget has been on my radar. The Presso is an environmentally friendly espresso maker. It uses only a little elbow grease and the power needed to boil a cup of water in a kettle. And I’m proud to announce that Presso USA is the newest sponsor here at Daily Shot Of Coffee.

The Presso can be used anywhere that water can be boiled. It creates 5 to 10 bars of pressure depending on how firmly the arms are pressed down. It’s easy to clean and made of recyclable aluminum. If you are looking for an espresso maker that’s environmentally friendly and portable, you have to check out the Presso.

Have you tried the Presso? What did you think of it?

Introducing Presso USA: Daily Shot Of Coffee’s Newest Advertiser is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

The Drink: Guatemala Fina El Injerto From Kuma Coffee
Type: Whole Bean Direct Trade
Overall Rating: 3.75 Out Of 5 Coffee Mugs

I loved the last coffee that I tried from Kuma Coffee, the Panama Elida Estate Natural, so I couldn’t wait to brew up a pot of the Guatemala Fina El Injerto another coffee from the same roaster.

Guatemala Fina El Injerto had a nutty aroma mixed with a sweet scent that reminded me of a fruity candy from my childhood. I couldn’t exactly put my finger on it, but if you try this coffee and can figure out what candy it is, please share with me because it’s been bugging me since I took the first sniff. I was able to determine small hints of tangerines and limes that Kuma Coffee mentions in their description. A more floral scent came out as the coffee cooled down.

This coffee had a medium roast flavor and a slightly darker back end. It felt light and very dry feel on my tongue.

Their description doesn’t describe it, but I’m pretty sure that I was picking up chocolate flavors. I also tasted the lime, like it was dipped into the coffee real quick, then taken right back out.

A bag of Guatemala Fina El Injerto costs $14. It’s totally worth it for the interesting flavor and because it’s direct trade. I’m more than willing to pay more for quality, especially if some of the cash is passed on to the farmer.

The Guatemala Fina El Injerto was good, well above average with a score of 3.75. The Panama Elida Estate Natural is still my favorite, but you’re not going to go wrong with either one.

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Fine Print

Guatemala Fina El Injerto From Kuma Coffee Review is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

I have an addiction to coffee and a growing t-shirt collection. T-shirts with bands that’s no one has ever heard of, more NY Yankees t-shirts than one person should ever have, but not enough coffee shirts. This t-shirt from Coy Clothes, titled “Coffee Junkie” helps solve my coffee t-shirt shortage.

Coffee? Crack? Coffee. Hands down. Here we have a medium, charcoal slim fit shirt with a cream coffee patch. The “too damn close” patch in the back collar gently reminds people to keep their distance.

- Coy Clothes Description

The shirt from Coy Clothes isn’t cheap, $45 but it is made out of bamboo. It’s comfortable to wear and easy on the earth.

Coy Clothes has one other coffee shirt, “Are We Out Of Coffee?” They also have other retro images that range from sweet to naughty and a catchy text to go with it.

Huge thanks to Coy Clothes for sharing one of their t-shirts with me.

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Fine Print.

Coffee. Cheaper Than Crack T-Shirt is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee