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Monteverde- Grille' 000 - Harfleur, France

Coffea BP 39, 76600 Harfleur, France, www.coffea.fr


Preparation:   Cuisinart Drip

Scores:  Scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being excellent

Aroma:  8
Balance:   9
Flavor:   9
Smoothness:   8

Likes:
     Bold
     Complex
     Full Bodied
     Sweet 
     Dark
     Lemony

Dislikes:
   

Summary:

Bonnie and Jim brought these 100% Arabica coffee beans back from France for me! (and some more that I have yet to try)  Awesome!  I asked Jim to tell me a little about where they found this wonderful coffee:
 
"Both were bought in Vence, France, an old walled village dating to the 4th century, about 30 minutes north of Nice.  The one in the vacuum pack was bought in the grocery store among an array of others packed like that.  Don't know much more than that, except that we picked it out for whatever consumer reasons people have ... red package, eye level, it looked like we would like it and probably you would too. 
The other, we spent 20 minutes sampling various coffees in the heart of the old village in a modern shop that was nicer than any Starbucks or Tully's or Peet's.  A patient and friendly sames woman spent lots of time making certain that we bought what we would like.  We got our own pound of the same as you got.  We tasted several bitter coffees and this stood out for its more mellow and smooth, yet strong flavor.  You will taste it differently, probably."

Now this sounds like a coffee shop that I would like to stop and visit.  The only problem is that I don't have plans to be in France anytime soon.  So, for now I will just have to close my eyes and take a sip and let my imagination soar!

This is a very complex and unique coffee!  The beans are dark and slightly shiny, but they still have retained the flavorful qualities of a lighter roast.  It nips and bites in a teasing way.  It is heavy and sweet but, packs a citrus punch finale.  The ground beans frothed and foamed when the hot water dripped slowly on them.  (As you know this is a very good sign of freshness!)  In summary, Monteverde coffee is bright, sweet and bold.  Serve this extroverted coffee in the late afternoon and immerse your senses and your palate with delight! Thank you Bonnie and Jim!!!!

***High in the mountains of Costa Rica, some of the world’s best coffee is grown.  It is called the Monteverde region. There are 75 small coffee producers there who grow their beans in an environmentally  friendly manner as they voluntarily restrict their use of pesticides.  The volcanic soil is very fertile and when combined with the climate of rain and the shade from the Monteverde Cloud Forrest, a truly wonderful coffee bean is created.


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Don't Let Rancid/Stale Coffee Beans Spoil Your Beautiful Sunday Brunch!

Photo Courtesy of Danny Tarlow

A good Sunday morning to you!  What is better than freshly baked blueberry muffins, pancakes from scratch, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice from you own orchard and a cuppa Joe with freshly roasted coffee beans?  I will let you answer that!

 How do you know if your coffee beans are truly fresh?  You wouldn't want to spoil this whole ambiance with stale and/or rancid coffee beans, would you?  Then keep in mind the following:

1.  Do the nose test.  Fresh coffee beans have a wonderful aroma.  When the UPS man delivered coffee to my house I could smell the beans through the cardboard box as soon as I opened the front door.  Also, I am sure the UPS man's truck was thoroughly engulfed with the fragrance.  You should have the same experience.  There have been times where I couldn't smell much of anything even after opening the bag itself.  This is a sign of staleness!

2.  The beans should be somewhat shiny as they will still have some oil on them.

3.  Your coffee will froth when you pour on the hot water.  (French Press, Pour Over or Aeropress)  This is also known as the bloom.  It is the coffee gasses being released which only happens with freshly roasted beans.

4.  The flavor should be full and interesting.  If it lacks flavor or some kind of interest then it is not fresh!

5.  Beware of vacuum packed bricks of coffee.  The coffee has been degassed and is already stale!

6.  Grocery stores have great sales to unload inventory.  This may be coffee that is three months old or older!

7.  Ground coffee goes rancid very quickly.  It will deteriorate within a few hours of being exposed to oxygen, moisture and light.  Best to grind and then brew immediately. 

8.  Taste test......if it tastes like rubber, cigarette ashes or like some kind of chemical then it is bad.

9.  Stomach ache.......it may not be the acidity, but rather rancid oils.

I think you must get the picture by now.  For info. on coffee storage please go to my coffee storage post.

Make your coffee drinking experience a great one and enjoy every sip.  Now it is time to sit down and enjoy this delicious Sunday!!!!
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Il taboulè di Pascale

Quando ho chiesto a Pascale cosa avrebbe preparato per il pranzo del corso, mi ha risposto: il mio taboulè, è così buono che, ogni volta che lo propongo, tutti me ne chiedono la ricetta.E così è stato... durante il pranzo di pausa, al corso di pizza in teglia e croissant, alla Tenuta San Marcello, nelle marche, più di una persona le ha chiesto come lo preparava.Era così bello a vedersi, oltre che
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Crazy Goat Blend - klatch Coffee - California

 Mural In Boulder City, NV


Preparation:   Mr. Coffee Maker

Scores:  Scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being excellent

Aroma:  2
Balance:  3
Flavor:   2
Smoothness:  3

Likes:

Dislikes:
    Bland
    Sour aftertaste
    No Flavor
    Watery

Summary:  Ok..... I tried this medium dark roasted coffee twice and both times I really didn't like it.  It lacked flavor, in fact there was no flavor!  I would even choose a light roast over this if it was flavorful!  I am being generous with a 3 for the overall score.  The name of the coffee was the only thing unique and exciting.  I detected no aroma and or fragrance that was noteworthy.  There was a long sourness on my palate that definitely was not a pleasant experience.  Then, I tried adding cream and sugar.  This helped in the fact that I at least had the flavor of cream and sugar.  Not my cuppa coffee!!!  Blah, or should I say Baa....Baa....Baa!!!!!!
 
Overall score:   3

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I bucatini cacio e pepe di Franco

Non fatevi trarre in inganno dal nome di questo piatto, non è la comune cacio e pepe. Ma neppure chi l'ha preparata è una persona comune, né la cucina o il posto dove questi meravigliosi bucatini sono stati preparati lo sono.L'Isola di Rosa è davvero un'isola, un posto fuori del comune e fuori dal mondo. Franco ne cura l'essenza, anche nella preparazione dei piatti.Gli ho chiesto: Franco, come
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Columbia, San Agustin - Sight Glass Coffee - San Francisco, California




Preparation:   Mr. Coffee Drip

Scores:  Scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being excellent

Aroma:  9
Balance:   8
Flavor:   9
Smoothness:   8

Likes:
     Aroma
     Intense Flavor
     Freshness
     Sweet and Spicy
     Fruity

Dislikes:
   

Summary: Douglas brought me these freshly roasted coffee beans direct from Sight Glass Coffee in San Francisco.  The roasting date is May 12th and that brings a big smile to my face!

This coffee is comforting and spicy with mild notes of grapefruit at the end.  The flavor is outstanding.  Now this is a great coffee!  It is a light to medium roast and it bites.  It is intense and very bold.  The citrus finish gets my salivary glands working overtime as it is long on palate.  A  great Latin American coffee to have in the afternoon to pick you up and see you off. 

Keep your eyes open if you are looking for this small vintage coffee bar and roastery.  It is nestled in at 270 Seventh Street, San Francisco, CA.  I think the coffee and beans are on the expensive side, but worth the trip if you have a true coffee affection! 

Very enjoyable and highly recommended!  Thanks Doug!

Overall score:  9

*** Do you know that the sight glass is the viewing window into the drum where the coffee is roasted? 
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Il pane a pasta dura


Lo avevo detto qui sul post della veneziana, tra le mille cose da fare, durante la pausa (pausa per modo di dire) dei corsi, sono riuscita a fare un pane niente male, e se è per questo anche un risotto senza foto... insomma della serie: alleluja, ho cucinato ancora!

Il risotto era una cosa che avevo in testa da un po', il pane l'ho fatto perché, be' se pure durante il giro di corsi, si fa un
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