This past week we’ve seen a 12 year high in green coffee prices on the NYSE. We certainly saw a great deal of fluctuation last year. When we look back at the rally between the Canadian and the American dollar, buying coffee futures must give brokers endless sleepless nights!

We aren’t likely to be moving our prices this week; it takes some time before the future contract prices filter down to consumers and their morning java. I do know that we’ve seen our fixed costs increase in all facets of the business and at some point it will translate into overall price increases.

Our goal remains quality, fresh-roasted fair and responsible coffees for in-house and home consumption – really great single origin, rare micro-lot coffees that come alive with the patient coaxing of the experienced artisan roastmaster. If you aren’t a newsletter subscriber, you can still join by visiting our home page and start receiving monthly updates of noteworthy coffees.

Sleepless nights encouraged.

Whether on your porch at home, veranda or lakeside dock, you can enjoy this coffee made in a French Press by combining all your ingredients while waiting for the water to boil.
3 tbsp coarse fresh-roasted coffee
sugar to taste
1 tsp cinnamon, cocoa powder and anise seed
dried orange peel
Add hot water to blended ingredients, wait 2-3 minutes, press and enjoy!

Even when I’m on vacation, coffee lurks nearby, waiting to foist its opinion in my general direction.

I’ve been reading this morning’s Globe and Mail which comments about the stressful effects that high energy drinks are having on young people.  In as much as caffeine is typically associated with coffee (it does help productivity and focus) here are my two cents worth.  When we’re talking about a drink, any drink, ask yourself just how large i.e. how many ounces is it?  and many a day are you putting back?

The paper states that a 237ml (about 8oz) coffee contains approximately 135mg of caffeine.   A recent Harvard study suggests that a healthy daily caffeine intake is about  150mg.   A small coffee in this shop is 12oz these days and from my general observation, we sell more large coffees.

Espresso which is extracted under pressure creates a much stronger tasting coffee but with much less caffeine.  So if you’re stressed about your stress levels, stress less with espress-o!

“Coffee intoxicates, without inviting the police; it excites a flow of spirits, and awakens mental powers thought to be dead.”
John Ernest McCann, 20th century

or

“Coffee surely makes the politician wise and see through all things with his half-shut eyes.”
Alexander Pope, 18th century

or

“I’m the captain of my soul, independent – on the whole – but my freedom and my courage die a-borning and I wander in a coma if I miss the fresh aroma of a fragrant cup of coffee in the morning.”
Binton Braley, 19th century

We’re just in from a week’s holiday in Newfoundland where there are all kinds of independent coffee houses, had to taste a few and see how we measure up amongst the clan. Not all coffees are created equal! Like the resurgence of brew pubs in England, above all, taste matters. If you can stop by for a cool one, try the home-brewed chilly coffees and steeped iced teas, plus a very pleasant squeezy lemonade not from powder or mix.

Chico Schel, photographer/artist during May, announced the sale of “Flume Blu” to Peter Donatelli a local area teacher.  As is customary with Chico, a donation was made to purchase a bedroll kit from Sleeping Children Around the World or www.scaw.org.  Thanks again for a great show.

Every week someone will ask if we have any more of those fabulous 100% biodegradable jute coffee sacks and very often we do!

In this picture I place newspaper on top of an area where I don’t want grass or weeds to grow and then put a coffee sack over – presto! in no time flat the area is ready for planting more vegetables or flowers. Here the sack marks a pathway between the garden beds.

But that’s not all at all…. we have requests for:
- “coffee sack” races for kids
-as potted plant coverings as gifts
- for zone shy wrapping i.e. rhodos especially in the fall
-as a biodegradable garden and leaf waste receptacle

Three rare and unusual coffees – Kaffa Forest Ethiopian 100% organic.  The Kaffa Forest people clear out the underbrush around the wild coffee plants and harvest a truly amazing coffee.  More honey process Costa Rica award-winning beans, clean and butter.  Estate Brazilians, really smooth and flavourful (think about it – we never carry Brazils, they must be good!)

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