Pretty excited to be featured in today's Matchstic blog. Thanks Alvin for the feature! Its fun to see more folks 'round Atlanta slowly discovering the legend of drinking coffee naked. Cream & sugar continue to request and require a more permanent vacation.
Since posting last year (apologies for the break), my focus has narrowed to single origin coffees. They are higher quality, directly traded, and of course, exploding with majestic flavor. Kenya & Guatemala have emerged as favorites, with Ethiopian Yirga still a ole' steady.
As demand has grown and cafe de oro (green bean) inflation has hit the wholesale market, my prices are up to $14 / lb. If it's outside Atlanta, shipping is $5 / lb.
If you want to join the movement, post your email in the comments field below.
Thanks Alvin.
#drinkcoffeenaked
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Update...offerings, pricing, shipment, orders
hi folks,
been a while...between roasting, managing the ever growing pack of wild children under the roof, and trying to hold down a job, well unfortunately this fledgling enterprise has fallen to third.
i'm STILL working through the first round of orders but beginning to take on new orders / customers. a couple of quick notes...
1) the offerings are expanding! the newest addition is a phenomenal Guatemalan coffee that features an incredibly balanced experience of a fruit forward flavor yet nutty / creamy body all the way from front to back. it might be hard charging my Yirga & Smooth As Molasses for favorite morning brew. i have green beans from Sumatra, Yemen, & new batch of YirgaCheffe that I'm happy to roast for you. Limited quantities of each, so let me know...
2) the pricing i'm moving to a flat rate pricing (from a two tiered pricing structure that varied with packaging) .... $6 for a half pound & $10 for a pound, packaged in compostable brown bags. If you'd like the Ball jar, it is also $10, for 13oz (all that will fit in the Ball Jar). One strategy that I recommend is to buy the Ball jar, then refill with paper bags...a fully sealable container helps keep the beans at optimal freshness.
for shipping, it will be $2.5 per pound. I'm essentially splitting that with you -- so you're welcome! :)
big time FYI, if you placed an order prior to Feb 1st, your pricing will be under the old structure.
3) Ordering will be limited per month! To keep a balanced life (yes, yes, sleep is overrated), I can only take on 3-5 lbs per week at this point. Your best bet is to lock in monthly supply of 1 lb or 2 lbs per month. that way I'll block out capacity for you.
As an fyi, I'm filling up, so one-offs are becoming harder to come by! Lock it up!
Thanks for all the support, patience, and fantastic feedback. This has been such a fun and rewarding experience. Almost everyone has at least tried the coffee naked & liked it! Its a revolution!
Drink Coffee Naked
been a while...between roasting, managing the ever growing pack of wild children under the roof, and trying to hold down a job, well unfortunately this fledgling enterprise has fallen to third.
i'm STILL working through the first round of orders but beginning to take on new orders / customers. a couple of quick notes...
1) the offerings are expanding! the newest addition is a phenomenal Guatemalan coffee that features an incredibly balanced experience of a fruit forward flavor yet nutty / creamy body all the way from front to back. it might be hard charging my Yirga & Smooth As Molasses for favorite morning brew. i have green beans from Sumatra, Yemen, & new batch of YirgaCheffe that I'm happy to roast for you. Limited quantities of each, so let me know...
2) the pricing i'm moving to a flat rate pricing (from a two tiered pricing structure that varied with packaging) .... $6 for a half pound & $10 for a pound, packaged in compostable brown bags. If you'd like the Ball jar, it is also $10, for 13oz (all that will fit in the Ball Jar). One strategy that I recommend is to buy the Ball jar, then refill with paper bags...a fully sealable container helps keep the beans at optimal freshness.
for shipping, it will be $2.5 per pound. I'm essentially splitting that with you -- so you're welcome! :)
big time FYI, if you placed an order prior to Feb 1st, your pricing will be under the old structure.
3) Ordering will be limited per month! To keep a balanced life (yes, yes, sleep is overrated), I can only take on 3-5 lbs per week at this point. Your best bet is to lock in monthly supply of 1 lb or 2 lbs per month. that way I'll block out capacity for you.
As an fyi, I'm filling up, so one-offs are becoming harder to come by! Lock it up!
Thanks for all the support, patience, and fantastic feedback. This has been such a fun and rewarding experience. Almost everyone has at least tried the coffee naked & liked it! Its a revolution!
Drink Coffee Naked
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
THE FOUR PROMISES
Each batch of Bold Brew Micro Roast has the following tag:
Direct + 10% + 48Hrs + Hand = Drink Coffee Naked!
What does that mean?
I've found that even in roasting for friends, I have to constantly make critical "business" decisions: how I roast, what "brand" i want to project, what the product will be / become, and for what i want the "enterprise" to be known. In the spirit of my good buddies over at Matchstic, you realize that even in a micro-micro enterprise, you must put stakes in the ground.
- It is through these stakes that values are declared
- It is on these stakes that a house / a culture is built
- It is by the support of these stakes that customers are served and a brand is established
So what are the Four Promises of the Bold Brew?
1) DIRECT: Beans will be procured through direct trade whenever possible. Direct trade differs from Fair Trade in that it generally implies a focused, long term relationship with a group of farmers versus transacting over what can often be an arbitrary price that does nothing more than create market distortions through price-fixing. Starting out, I'm limited in my bean sources, but my commitment will be to start with at least 50% beans through direct trade, growing to 100% in 18months.
2) 10%: 10% of Profits will be reinvested into a farming community. This is above and beyond investments made as a result of a trading relationship (e.g. co-investing in better equipment, processes, or product). 10% is not a maximum, but a minimum that will be re-evaluated yearly to see how we can increase over time. It is a stake in the ground that while profits matter, giving back is a long term personal goal and reflection that life and legacy is bigger than money.
3) 48HRS: All coffee will be shipped or delivered within 48 hours of roasting. The coffee experience is highest 1 - 7 days after roasting, and your coffee roaster should deliver that experience to you. To be clear, 48 hours is a maximum -- the aspiration is that all coffee will be shipped / delivered within 4 - 12 hours after roasting.
4) HAND: All roasts will be sorted by hand before and after roasting. All beans are not equal and all roasts are not even. There's nothing worse than crunching into a rotten or an under / over roasted bean. The benefit of small batch roasting is that quality can be pushed to the highest level.
What do the Four Promises add up to? Well, to be fair, that is for the drinker to decide. For me, I've found that putting these four things together led me to re-discover coffee after 17 years of bad brews. I found delight in a naked cup and no longer needed the guise of a dollop of cream and sugar. I found that I wanted to know more about the origin of the coffee -- what made it distinct, what shaped its flavors, and who planted, picked, and prepared the beans. I found that as I enjoyed more, I was driven to know more and ultimately to do more.
Drink Coffee Naked is an aspiration -- not all want to or should want to eschew cream and sugar. But beyond how you drink the coffee, hopefully it becomes a metaphor for understanding what you are drinking and getting excited to pursue the story behind the cup.
Direct + 10% + 48Hrs + Hand = Drink Coffee Naked!
What does that mean?
I've found that even in roasting for friends, I have to constantly make critical "business" decisions: how I roast, what "brand" i want to project, what the product will be / become, and for what i want the "enterprise" to be known. In the spirit of my good buddies over at Matchstic, you realize that even in a micro-micro enterprise, you must put stakes in the ground.
- It is through these stakes that values are declared
- It is on these stakes that a house / a culture is built
- It is by the support of these stakes that customers are served and a brand is established
So what are the Four Promises of the Bold Brew?
1) DIRECT: Beans will be procured through direct trade whenever possible. Direct trade differs from Fair Trade in that it generally implies a focused, long term relationship with a group of farmers versus transacting over what can often be an arbitrary price that does nothing more than create market distortions through price-fixing. Starting out, I'm limited in my bean sources, but my commitment will be to start with at least 50% beans through direct trade, growing to 100% in 18months.
2) 10%: 10% of Profits will be reinvested into a farming community. This is above and beyond investments made as a result of a trading relationship (e.g. co-investing in better equipment, processes, or product). 10% is not a maximum, but a minimum that will be re-evaluated yearly to see how we can increase over time. It is a stake in the ground that while profits matter, giving back is a long term personal goal and reflection that life and legacy is bigger than money.
3) 48HRS: All coffee will be shipped or delivered within 48 hours of roasting. The coffee experience is highest 1 - 7 days after roasting, and your coffee roaster should deliver that experience to you. To be clear, 48 hours is a maximum -- the aspiration is that all coffee will be shipped / delivered within 4 - 12 hours after roasting.
4) HAND: All roasts will be sorted by hand before and after roasting. All beans are not equal and all roasts are not even. There's nothing worse than crunching into a rotten or an under / over roasted bean. The benefit of small batch roasting is that quality can be pushed to the highest level.
What do the Four Promises add up to? Well, to be fair, that is for the drinker to decide. For me, I've found that putting these four things together led me to re-discover coffee after 17 years of bad brews. I found delight in a naked cup and no longer needed the guise of a dollop of cream and sugar. I found that I wanted to know more about the origin of the coffee -- what made it distinct, what shaped its flavors, and who planted, picked, and prepared the beans. I found that as I enjoyed more, I was driven to know more and ultimately to do more.
Drink Coffee Naked is an aspiration -- not all want to or should want to eschew cream and sugar. But beyond how you drink the coffee, hopefully it becomes a metaphor for understanding what you are drinking and getting excited to pursue the story behind the cup.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Initial Public Offerings
Ok friends,
With much fanfare I announced the Bold Brew house blend this week: The Elephants Danced.
After a week of mixing, matching, and getting user feedback, we've expanded the initial offering to 3 blends and 3 single origins. The Elephants Dance was good, but I've found some different twists that I'm equally excited about.
I'm also excited to offer the Yirga single origin which is a personal favorite as well as single origin from Rwanda that comes via Land of a 1000 Hills cafe here in Roswell. 1000 Hills has developed a direct trade relationship with Rwandan farmers, paying a living wage equivalent for their coffee beans. This type of relationship and investment is an end-state objective for our efforts here and is a value to many of you as well.
We've already had the debate about blending versus single origin, but to recap, you blend to create a unique cup / flavor combinations that you can not get through a single origin. And yes, it can dilute single origin rawness and complexity if you're not thoughtful. But no, it does not mean you're catering to a weaker drinker or sacrificing the purity of your morning ritual. In fact, if done well, it can lead to a more complex, more satisfying cup.
The Blends
The Elephants Danced
This blend breaks all the rules. It combines coffee from more than 5 origins -- 2 Ethiopians, Kenyan, 2 Rwandans, & Brazilian Cerrado, a no-no in any serious coffee roaster's book. But hey, leave it to a rookie to stretch the ropes. This is a medium to full body blend that is gritty yet delicate. The aroma is dominated by the African flavors, coming close to my favorite Chinese tea, "hua cha" (flower tea), but yet by the time it hits the back of your throat, it has transformed into a dark, sweet, acidic earthiness that is not for the faint of heart. It is edgy and a bit unrefined -- eliciting both praise & regret, but hey, no one ever said that an Elephant Dancing would be elegant -- simply magical. It is a Bold Brew.
Bossa Nova (On the Blue Nile)
Bossa Nova grew from an attempt to simplify The Elephants Danced. The end result was a stunning combination of two very different origins -- Ethiopian YirgaCheffe and Brazilian Cerrado. This a medium bodied blend that harmonizes two complex beans, bringing the high-strung YirgaCheffe's bright, citrus zest to the front of the mouth and allowing the nuttiness they both share to segue to a smooth dark chocolate finish delivered by the balanced Brazilian. The signature of this blend is how the flavor profiles remain surprisingly separate and distinct from start to finish.
Blend X -- to be named...(taking suggestions)
BlendX follows the pattern of the world's oldest blend -- the Moka / Java. Much like the Bossa Nova, it weaves the Yirga's bright, citrus-spiced acidity into the Indonesian origins balanced, earthy-chocolate sweetness. However, the astounding difference is that the Bossa Nova features a dramatic shift in flavor from the front of the mouth to the back, while BlendX is creamy smooth all the way through featuring the taste of a molasses, dark chocolate wrapped citrus berry that is underpinned by hints of spice & a well-rounded earthiness. This mild to medium bodied blend is less aggressive than the Bossa Nova purely because no one flavor proves entirely pervasive, rather they weave together from start to finish.
The Single Origins
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
As you can tell, the Yirga is the foundation of all my blends. I absolutely love this intensely flavorful coffee -- it is incredibly bright with floral, fruit tones that range from lemon zest to orange spice. A mild roast leads to a lighter cup that when poured over ice borders on a refreshing cup of iced tea. It can have slight tones of nutty dark chocolate -- a common profile, but it is very slight and takes a deep back seat to the bright sunrise of East Africa.
Rwandan Bufcafe
This coffee comes directly from a village that has been part of the Rwandan post-genocide reconstruction. An incredible story and a large investment from a cafe right here in north Atlanta - Land of a Thousand Hills who have developed this direct trade relationship. The coffee has a more balanced profile than the Yirga, with fruity overtones, but grounded by a earthy, nuttiness, more akin to your Indonesian Sulawesi or Sumatra. It is a more medium bodied coffee that is worth the great story it represents. The price of this green bean provides a living wage to the farmers.
Rwandan Bukonyan
As with the Bufcafe, the Bukonyan is also harvested through the relationship with 1000 Hills & the investment to generate a living wage for the farmer. The Bukonyan moves even more towards the Indonesian end of the spectrum, retaining a touch of East Africa brightness but bringing a more full bodied cup of rich earthy goodness.
With much fanfare I announced the Bold Brew house blend this week: The Elephants Danced.
After a week of mixing, matching, and getting user feedback, we've expanded the initial offering to 3 blends and 3 single origins. The Elephants Dance was good, but I've found some different twists that I'm equally excited about.
I'm also excited to offer the Yirga single origin which is a personal favorite as well as single origin from Rwanda that comes via Land of a 1000 Hills cafe here in Roswell. 1000 Hills has developed a direct trade relationship with Rwandan farmers, paying a living wage equivalent for their coffee beans. This type of relationship and investment is an end-state objective for our efforts here and is a value to many of you as well.
We've already had the debate about blending versus single origin, but to recap, you blend to create a unique cup / flavor combinations that you can not get through a single origin. And yes, it can dilute single origin rawness and complexity if you're not thoughtful. But no, it does not mean you're catering to a weaker drinker or sacrificing the purity of your morning ritual. In fact, if done well, it can lead to a more complex, more satisfying cup.
The Blends
The Elephants Danced
This blend breaks all the rules. It combines coffee from more than 5 origins -- 2 Ethiopians, Kenyan, 2 Rwandans, & Brazilian Cerrado, a no-no in any serious coffee roaster's book. But hey, leave it to a rookie to stretch the ropes. This is a medium to full body blend that is gritty yet delicate. The aroma is dominated by the African flavors, coming close to my favorite Chinese tea, "hua cha" (flower tea), but yet by the time it hits the back of your throat, it has transformed into a dark, sweet, acidic earthiness that is not for the faint of heart. It is edgy and a bit unrefined -- eliciting both praise & regret, but hey, no one ever said that an Elephant Dancing would be elegant -- simply magical. It is a Bold Brew.
Bossa Nova (On the Blue Nile)
Bossa Nova grew from an attempt to simplify The Elephants Danced. The end result was a stunning combination of two very different origins -- Ethiopian YirgaCheffe and Brazilian Cerrado. This a medium bodied blend that harmonizes two complex beans, bringing the high-strung YirgaCheffe's bright, citrus zest to the front of the mouth and allowing the nuttiness they both share to segue to a smooth dark chocolate finish delivered by the balanced Brazilian. The signature of this blend is how the flavor profiles remain surprisingly separate and distinct from start to finish.
Blend X -- to be named...(taking suggestions)
BlendX follows the pattern of the world's oldest blend -- the Moka / Java. Much like the Bossa Nova, it weaves the Yirga's bright, citrus-spiced acidity into the Indonesian origins balanced, earthy-chocolate sweetness. However, the astounding difference is that the Bossa Nova features a dramatic shift in flavor from the front of the mouth to the back, while BlendX is creamy smooth all the way through featuring the taste of a molasses, dark chocolate wrapped citrus berry that is underpinned by hints of spice & a well-rounded earthiness. This mild to medium bodied blend is less aggressive than the Bossa Nova purely because no one flavor proves entirely pervasive, rather they weave together from start to finish.
The Single Origins
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
As you can tell, the Yirga is the foundation of all my blends. I absolutely love this intensely flavorful coffee -- it is incredibly bright with floral, fruit tones that range from lemon zest to orange spice. A mild roast leads to a lighter cup that when poured over ice borders on a refreshing cup of iced tea. It can have slight tones of nutty dark chocolate -- a common profile, but it is very slight and takes a deep back seat to the bright sunrise of East Africa.
Rwandan Bufcafe
This coffee comes directly from a village that has been part of the Rwandan post-genocide reconstruction. An incredible story and a large investment from a cafe right here in north Atlanta - Land of a Thousand Hills who have developed this direct trade relationship. The coffee has a more balanced profile than the Yirga, with fruity overtones, but grounded by a earthy, nuttiness, more akin to your Indonesian Sulawesi or Sumatra. It is a more medium bodied coffee that is worth the great story it represents. The price of this green bean provides a living wage to the farmers.
Rwandan Bukonyan
As with the Bufcafe, the Bukonyan is also harvested through the relationship with 1000 Hills & the investment to generate a living wage for the farmer. The Bukonyan moves even more towards the Indonesian end of the spectrum, retaining a touch of East Africa brightness but bringing a more full bodied cup of rich earthy goodness.
An Empty Seat
I took my first big trip alone this year -- with work to Sydney and Singapore. I love exploration but the first time, the specter of doing it alone hit me like a ton of bricks and all of a sudden it took on a different meaning. The trip led to lots of introspection, and over a fantastic French dinner in Sydney's Darlinghurst neighborhood, I jotted down these thoughts:
-------------------------
"The Empty Seat"
it was an empty seat
it stared with woeful verve
as long as i stayed
it sat still as the stone
that framed the room
it echoed the murmurs
that reverberated as simultaneously none
and yet at once coherent conversation
it blankly withered away time
as fork clanked from plate to teeth
it did not know the lovely tastes
that screamed with exuberant reverence at every bite
it did not care either
it did not ask, smile, pause, chuckle, answer
it was an empty seat,
mocking the delight it willfully witnessed
it was a seat,
i tried to ignore
-------------------------
"The Empty Seat"
it was an empty seat
it stared with woeful verve
as long as i stayed
it sat still as the stone
that framed the room
it echoed the murmurs
that reverberated as simultaneously none
and yet at once coherent conversation
it blankly withered away time
as fork clanked from plate to teeth
it did not know the lovely tastes
that screamed with exuberant reverence at every bite
it did not care either
it did not ask, smile, pause, chuckle, answer
it was an empty seat,
mocking the delight it willfully witnessed
it was a seat,
i tried to ignore
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Elephants Danced
The inaugural Bold Brew Roasting Co "house blend" is called "The Elephants Danced".
Now, let's be clear, coffee at its finest should be enjoyed from a single estate. After all, you wouldn't expect Bill Harlan to blend his fine Oakville wine with a crop of grapes from the Russian River. People don't pay $1000 for a bottle of Harlan Estate wine to get a hodge-podge of grapes. They want the terrior that Mr. Harlan has carefully cultivated on the slopes there in ol' Napa Valley.
In fact, perhaps my favorite cup of coffee is a pure batch of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. Wow, what a wake-up call! It is pure brightness, light in the mouth, full of citrus and orange spice, with an acute nutty chocolate finish. I'll gladly chill the left overs, pour it cold and naked into a glass at the end of the day, and get a rush of refreshing goodness that would beat the best cup of tea. Holy cow.
But alas, on the path to #drinkcoffeenaked, most folks like a heartier blend that is not so pronounced in one direction. Complex is the Yirgacheffe, but perhaps to distinctive for all.
So, we blend. And to be frank, blending is best for espresso where you need a certain "pow" for the coffee to not be overpowered by our friend, milk. In the espresso-based drink, the last thing you want is a milky, coffee-weak contraption that requires a shot (or 4) of hazelnut to make it drinkable (not speaking from experience of course).
So what is "The Elephants Danced"? It is a blend grounded in the Yirga -- so light & flavorful, I can imagine the sun rising over East Africa & all the creatures dancing at the thought of their bright morning cupping. And why the elephant -- well, they are a signature of Africa of course. But you say, "they are far from light & elegant & bright - they are heavy, saggy, plodding, and dull". Well exactly Sherlock. If you add a bit of weight to the Yirga, you give it a bit more weight, punch, and earthy goodness from the likes of Brazil or Indonesia. And to give it a splash of the tweeners, you toss in for good measure a dash of Central Am or Rwandan. Enough punch to be an elephant, but still enough Yirga to make even a 5 ton elephant dance a little ditty.
And there you go.
Of course, you can always request a single origin. Your choice.
For more on blending, here is a fun page to read from Sweet Marias.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Drink coffee naked -- its liberating.
Yours truly,
Cream & Sugar
Now, let's be clear, coffee at its finest should be enjoyed from a single estate. After all, you wouldn't expect Bill Harlan to blend his fine Oakville wine with a crop of grapes from the Russian River. People don't pay $1000 for a bottle of Harlan Estate wine to get a hodge-podge of grapes. They want the terrior that Mr. Harlan has carefully cultivated on the slopes there in ol' Napa Valley.
In fact, perhaps my favorite cup of coffee is a pure batch of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. Wow, what a wake-up call! It is pure brightness, light in the mouth, full of citrus and orange spice, with an acute nutty chocolate finish. I'll gladly chill the left overs, pour it cold and naked into a glass at the end of the day, and get a rush of refreshing goodness that would beat the best cup of tea. Holy cow.
But alas, on the path to #drinkcoffeenaked, most folks like a heartier blend that is not so pronounced in one direction. Complex is the Yirgacheffe, but perhaps to distinctive for all.
So, we blend. And to be frank, blending is best for espresso where you need a certain "pow" for the coffee to not be overpowered by our friend, milk. In the espresso-based drink, the last thing you want is a milky, coffee-weak contraption that requires a shot (or 4) of hazelnut to make it drinkable (not speaking from experience of course).
So what is "The Elephants Danced"? It is a blend grounded in the Yirga -- so light & flavorful, I can imagine the sun rising over East Africa & all the creatures dancing at the thought of their bright morning cupping. And why the elephant -- well, they are a signature of Africa of course. But you say, "they are far from light & elegant & bright - they are heavy, saggy, plodding, and dull". Well exactly Sherlock. If you add a bit of weight to the Yirga, you give it a bit more weight, punch, and earthy goodness from the likes of Brazil or Indonesia. And to give it a splash of the tweeners, you toss in for good measure a dash of Central Am or Rwandan. Enough punch to be an elephant, but still enough Yirga to make even a 5 ton elephant dance a little ditty.
And there you go.
Of course, you can always request a single origin. Your choice.
For more on blending, here is a fun page to read from Sweet Marias.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Drink coffee naked -- its liberating.
Yours truly,
Cream & Sugar
Monday, December 07, 2009
cream & sugar need a vacation
a letter to friends announcing the start of something small, but hopefully significant...
----------------------------------------------------------------
friends,
3 years ago I spent time in Guatemala working with coffee farmers, and what had been a passion for exquisite coffee morphed into a bigger idea to one day merge that passion with my desire to impact the world -- particularly the disadvantaged. And as (RED), fair trade campaigns, & most recently Starbucks like to remind us, coffee farmers are disadvantaged.
After talking a big game in the last 3 - 4 years about impact, the world, coffee, etc ... I figured it was time to put up or to shut up and I think I'm ready to start exploring what this looks like. This is not a new niche and I still don't know what this dream / this concept will become. I'm not quitting my day job anytime soon (& perhaps never will) -- because I really do enjoy it & I also think Wells Fargo would like me to honor my mortgage ;).
I'm writing you for three reasons:
1) Each of you have encouraged me over the years. Thank you!
2) I've ordered a real-deal coffee roaster that I'd like to pay for, and if you want to be a test case for the Bold Brew Roasting Co, I'll be happy to offer you a hand roasted pound of coffee:
- $10 / lb in my signature (& eco-friendly reusable) Ball jars
- $8 / lb in a plastic bag
- You pick the blend & the roast
- I cover shipping on your first order (for out of towners)
- For taking a chance on these early days, if this ever goes anywhere & I reach the ideal price point of $13 - 15 / lb, I'll lock you into $10 in perpetuity.
- If you ever don't like a batch, its on the house.
- I'm always happy to send small tasters if you're not yet interested in a full pound or giving up your Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, or otherwise mediocre coffee ;).
3) I hope we each step out of our comfort zone and try one idea that's peculating in our heads.
As I perfect the product, build a brand & customer base, & improve distribution, the goal would be to directly trade with specific farmers. And one day I hope to create a physical space in urban areas that draws conversation, ideas, art, personal exchange, and culture in the way that Paris' Left Bank saw in the early 20th century. One day...
As for the subject line...the coffee I've been roasting these last 9 months has converted me from a "cream & sugar guy" to "drinking coffee naked". I figured that my old friends cream & sugar were happy I discovered such good coffee -- they've worked hard for me (& you) all these years & needed a vacation.
I invite you into this exciting step but more importantly hope that we can push each other to take our own personal leaps.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
drink coffee naked - its liberating.
your truly,
cream & sugar
----------------------------------------------------------------
friends,
3 years ago I spent time in Guatemala working with coffee farmers, and what had been a passion for exquisite coffee morphed into a bigger idea to one day merge that passion with my desire to impact the world -- particularly the disadvantaged. And as (RED), fair trade campaigns, & most recently Starbucks like to remind us, coffee farmers are disadvantaged.
After talking a big game in the last 3 - 4 years about impact, the world, coffee, etc ... I figured it was time to put up or to shut up and I think I'm ready to start exploring what this looks like. This is not a new niche and I still don't know what this dream / this concept will become. I'm not quitting my day job anytime soon (& perhaps never will) -- because I really do enjoy it & I also think Wells Fargo would like me to honor my mortgage ;).
I'm writing you for three reasons:
1) Each of you have encouraged me over the years. Thank you!
2) I've ordered a real-deal coffee roaster that I'd like to pay for, and if you want to be a test case for the Bold Brew Roasting Co, I'll be happy to offer you a hand roasted pound of coffee:
- $10 / lb in my signature (& eco-friendly reusable) Ball jars
- $8 / lb in a plastic bag
- You pick the blend & the roast
- I cover shipping on your first order (for out of towners)
- For taking a chance on these early days, if this ever goes anywhere & I reach the ideal price point of $13 - 15 / lb, I'll lock you into $10 in perpetuity.
- If you ever don't like a batch, its on the house.
- I'm always happy to send small tasters if you're not yet interested in a full pound or giving up your Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, or otherwise mediocre coffee ;).
3) I hope we each step out of our comfort zone and try one idea that's peculating in our heads.
As I perfect the product, build a brand & customer base, & improve distribution, the goal would be to directly trade with specific farmers. And one day I hope to create a physical space in urban areas that draws conversation, ideas, art, personal exchange, and culture in the way that Paris' Left Bank saw in the early 20th century. One day...
As for the subject line...the coffee I've been roasting these last 9 months has converted me from a "cream & sugar guy" to "drinking coffee naked". I figured that my old friends cream & sugar were happy I discovered such good coffee -- they've worked hard for me (& you) all these years & needed a vacation.
I invite you into this exciting step but more importantly hope that we can push each other to take our own personal leaps.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
drink coffee naked - its liberating.
your truly,
cream & sugar
Friday, November 13, 2009
BoldBrew Fall Mix volume 1
1. The Hardest Part / Postcards From Far Away. Coldplay. LeftRightLeftRightLeft.
2. Swept Away (Sentimental Version). The Avett Brothers. Mignonette.
3. So Here We Are. Bloc Party. Silent Alarm.
4. The Sun Also Sets. Ryan Adams. Easy Tiger.
5. Secret Meeting. The National. Alligator.
6. Song About a Man. Deer Tick. Born on Flag Day.
7. To Ohio. The Low Anthem. Oh My God Charlie Darwin.
8. Babylon II. David Gray. White Ladder.
9. The Perfect Space. The Avett Brothers. I And Love And You.
10. About Today. The National. Cherry Tree.
11. The Way That He Sings. My Morning Jacket. At Dawn.
12. Sweet Li'l Thing. Eels. Blinking Lights And Other Revelations.
13. Orange Sky. Alexi Murdoch. Time Without Consequence.
14. Falling At Your Feet. Bono & Daniel Lanois. The Million Dollar Hotel.
15. What a Wonderful World. Innocence Mission. Now The Day is Over.
16. With My Eyes Closed. The Raveonettes. Lust Lust Lust.
volume II, aimed to be the uptempo companion to this decidedly laid back fare, is under construction and has been for weeks now. lacking chemistry. oh well.
2. Swept Away (Sentimental Version). The Avett Brothers. Mignonette.
3. So Here We Are. Bloc Party. Silent Alarm.
4. The Sun Also Sets. Ryan Adams. Easy Tiger.
5. Secret Meeting. The National. Alligator.
6. Song About a Man. Deer Tick. Born on Flag Day.
7. To Ohio. The Low Anthem. Oh My God Charlie Darwin.
8. Babylon II. David Gray. White Ladder.
9. The Perfect Space. The Avett Brothers. I And Love And You.
10. About Today. The National. Cherry Tree.
11. The Way That He Sings. My Morning Jacket. At Dawn.
12. Sweet Li'l Thing. Eels. Blinking Lights And Other Revelations.
13. Orange Sky. Alexi Murdoch. Time Without Consequence.
14. Falling At Your Feet. Bono & Daniel Lanois. The Million Dollar Hotel.
15. What a Wonderful World. Innocence Mission. Now The Day is Over.
16. With My Eyes Closed. The Raveonettes. Lust Lust Lust.
volume II, aimed to be the uptempo companion to this decidedly laid back fare, is under construction and has been for weeks now. lacking chemistry. oh well.
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