Cold Coffeehouse Beverages

When most people think about coffeehouses they think hot beverages. However, the national chains hold no exclusivity in the cold beverage arena. In fact your local coffeehouse will customize their iced and blended concoctions to your specifications. And it not just iced coffee and blended coffee drinks (frappes). Newer carbonated teas have hit the national scene this year, but ask your local coffeehouse if they have an even more tantalizing version. I know our coffeehouse can create a carbonated caramel red tea along with others. Even chai.
Where national chains may limit your choices of flavors, your local coffeehouse can produce an extremely large range of frappes, coffee or fruit, to suit your tastebuds. And your local baristi love feedback. It helps us to improve or reinforce the recipes being used. Never be intimidated to ask for more syrup or less. You never know what the possibilities really are unless you ask. Even if you have the beverage in hand and want something changed, ask.
In addition to the above beverages your local coffeehouse may carry shaved ice or sno cones, milk shakes, or fresh fruit.
So remember, your local coffeehouse is also your summer stop.

Different Kind of Coffeehouse

While McD's and *$'s duke it out across the street, we stand proud to be the ones peacefully on this side fitting in between. Not just physically but it is where we decided to be from the beginning. Not as upscale in the interior as *$'s, but not as "cheap" as the inside of a McD's. Better drinks, better people. Oh and locally owned and operated by coffee pros. We know this is a fairly self serving post, but the fact is while these chains wage war on each other, we need the local community to support local businesses. We live, work, and play here. Our money is spent here.

Congo Kiva Bourbon AA and India Elkhill Estate

Wow. Roasting is better than I imagined. The Behmor 1600 does wonderfully. I did learn to not go into a full second crack or smoke will ensue.
Congo Kiva needed to be roasted slightly lighter as I allowed it to go too far. I roasted the India to city and it had a wonderful flavor. Citrus and smooth. I can't remember a coffee sitting in the front of the mouth for so long.

Roasting - First Batch Excitement

It is really exciting the Behmor arrived in 4 days from initial order. Actually I am quite impressed with Roastmasters.com and Tea2Go. Both had their products in our place in less than a week from order.
Anyhow, finally burned in the roaster and allowed to cool yesterday. I then tried roasting my first batch of coffee. Costa Rican Santa Laura Tarrazu SHB. I actually roasted two - quarter pound batches at different profiles. Just the ease of operation out of the box makes me initially happy with the Behmor roaster.
We will be cupping the results this afternoon.

Notes from the Coffee Show

Freshly back from the Specialty Coffee show in Atlanta has given us many ideas. Some of which we will implement, other will be filed for use at a later date.

Tea --- We will be introducing a new tea line. Very convenient and easy to use, with no reason to take the bag out and discard. Look for Tea to Go by end of April.

Mug-- Want your papercup and sleeve AND not through them away? With our new ECO cups you will be able to do just that. Basically a tall, white porcelain cup with a silicon sleeve and lid. It mimics our paper cup, but in white. People will be wanting to see your cup as it resides on your desk.

Even fresher roasted coffee. We have high hopes as baristabob attempts to roast his first batch of coffee later this month. We will be keeping our existing coffee, but you may see some unique coffee in very limited quantities. We will only make the successful coffee available.

Biscotti and pound cake. These areas will be given a make over this spring as we prepare to test some new pound cakes and baklava. We discovered some good stuff. At least we hope we did.

So we invite you to give us your feedback as we implement some new ideas. As always, we appreciate your support of our locally owned business.

Baby Beans and Shaved Ice

Along with that are the candied coffee frappes and our Coconut Cream Pie Latte. Come and try.

To the right are the baby coffee plants grown from the coffee tree in the shop. We have started several other ones and will have them available once they mature.

Great article on the benefits of coffee lessening the pain of exercise here.

Look for baristabob's at the Williamson UNC yard sale April, 25, and The Dove House Benefit on May 2. We will also be looking for unique items for our customers at the Specialty Coffee Association of America's show in Atlanta the 17-19 of April.

Planning for Upcoming Holiday

St. Patrick's Day is almost here so it is time to decide on the final menu for the Easter Season.  One item we will add is the Coconut Cream Pie Latte.  I was amazed at its flavor and you will be also.  I will find the toasted coconut to top off this wonderous dessert.  We will also be adding a special surprise item to the store very, very soon.  Just in time for the warming of the weather.

We continue to be thankful and amazed at the amount of support from the local community.  Whether a weekly meeting among friends or a studious Saturday morning, each part of Mooresville is coming to visit.

If you follow this blog, then look for new signage and menu coming very soon as well.  Why?

After being open for one year, it was time to reflect on what does and does not make sense.  People seemed confused by an espresso macchiatto, so off it goes.  We have added more smoothie flavors so that menu needed updated as well.

We really feel as our business grows our operations will continue to be honed for efficiency without sacrificing customer service.  And if you ever see, either of us, not up to your standards please point it out.  We will take no offense as our goal is to serve you, our customer.