Coffee: All about "with" and "you"

photo by Gservo's Photography

A major coffee company recently found through Facebook and Twitter research that the two most used words were ‘with’ and ‘you’. Two little words that rose to the top of all coffee industry jargon to encapsulate what drinking this little brown gem was all about.

Its not new news that coffee is a centerpiece of people’s lives, but it is profound in how big it is. Our favorite experiences involving coffee are being able to share that moment in time with others. From brainstorming ideas, getting critical feedback, arguing over flavor points, to sharing in the absolute beauty of a perfectly grown, roasted and brewed cup of coffee – truly, we can’t get enough.

When sharing in a cup of coffee or shot of espresso we tend to lean in a bit more – listen to what the other is saying – to be more present, per se. Maybe it’s the added benefit of the caffeine, maybe it’s the stop gap in our day dedicated to taking time for ourselves and another...maybe it’s a sorely needed ‘slow down’ in this ever-quickening, fast paced world. Whatever it is, our experience is ‘with’ ‘you’.

We encourage you to find great coffees that are ‘worth slowing down for’ - you can get those at Kohana Coffee. Create the experience with those you care about or want to know more. And in the mean time, share with us a favorite memory or shared coffee experience you've had - we love to hear them.

Girls drinking coffee in the city!

Victoria Lynden and I had the great pleasure of being in New York last week - many things are good about this but getting out of our 'day to day' had to be at the top. As a coffee enthusiast I looked forward to new shops showcasing specialty coffees and seeing how coffee niches are ever evolving. The trip, although NOT all about coffee (which I was reminded on several occasions), did not disappoint. With pre-trip help from @gservo and a general refining of my 'list of wants' - I forged a small window of opportunity where I could get visit my inner coffeegeek.

On my short list was McNulty's Tea & Coffee where we sell Kohana's Org Ethiopian Harrar, Org Ethiopian Sidamo and Org Sumatra. David Wong, who runs the store with his father, is the perfect coffee conversationalist and we love being included in this 115 yr old shop of choice coffees and teas. We enjoyed a lovely cup of Puerto Rican Yauco Selecto he just brewed - it was one of his favorites and has always been high on our list. If you have a chance - go there, it's in the village, and check out the Kohana coffees he carries.

Another stop was the Ace Hotel, home to the more recently appointed Stumptown Coffee Roasters. If you want and appreciate great coffee beans/roasting/presentation - go here. I like a brewed coffee that tastes exceptional down to the last sip of a cup and it passed my test. The Ace hotel vibe was a perfect high end coffee environment.

These are two of many experiences but the take away is that we never stop learning about what's out there, what's trending upward, how educated our consumers are and how truly appreciative the buying world is of great product. It keeps us on our toes and makes us want to be better at what we do.

Help us help Haiti...please

Our world is a wondrous place but sometimes we are also devastated by it. Being in the coffee industry as well as officing with an international company Alliance Abroad Group - we are super conscious of what's affecting other parts of the world. Right now we're centered on Haiti.

Kohana Coffee is donating $1 for each new Facebook friend or Twitter follower as well as taking $1 from every online coffee sale to Haiti earthquake relief and the word is really getting out. I'm astonished at how quickly that news spread and our donation dollars have increased - thank you to anyone/everyone who's helped this effort - I'm thrilled. Please Retweet and Share on Facebook - it can only help.

Last night I got an email notice from Causemail.com showcasing different organizations and direct links for donating through Facebook Charity Gift Shop. Although our efforts are not combined, I appreciate the work they did to compile the links and general information.

If you want to help but don't have the dollars - 'follow' us on Twitter or 'friend' us on Facebook, we'll donate the dollars. If you feel led to do more please check out these organizations that help to get resources to our friends in Haiti.

• Oxfam - Water, sanitation, health and shelter equipment
• UNICEF - Children care
• CARE - Food, hygiene kits and water, as well as deliver emergency health services
• American Red Cross - Shelter and overall care
• World Vision - Children sponsorship and care

Why are there no posts here???

I'm not sure what it is - maybe writer's block - but I haven't written a post in over a month. Maybe it's that we we're busier than ever in December - maybe its that other parts of the business are pulling me away from quiet time in front of my laptop - maybe its that I don't really have anything to say.

For those of you that know me - you know the last part just isn't true. As a matter of fact, give me too much coffee and you'll have a hard time shutting me up (Kohana team quit rolling your eyes). I spend quite a few waking hours pouring over coffee mags/newsletters/books/websites and am constantly thinking, 'that would be a great to blog about'...folding down page corners, scribbling notes where I can. So its not for lack of material or things I want to talk about - I find the coffee industry as a whole to be one of the most fascinating out there.

Regardless of the quest to find my 'reason', my resolution for 2010 is to get off my fence post and just do it. You all can hold me accountable. Please.

Happy Twenty Ten to everyone out there that's listening!

Piper

P.S. and for those interested in the beautiful Chemex brew happening above - well that's @BaristaOnDuty's incredible Pan Crafted "Piper Roasted" Ethiopian Limu that I was fortunate enough to receive. "Wow" is all I can say and THANK YOU!

it's just been too long...

Since I last posted -- and that's only because we've been so immersed in our coffee roasting. From working to find the best green coffee available to developing the purest roast profile for each bean - we throw ourselves into the process like it's the most important part of our lives. And, for all intensive purposes...it is. Coffee is what we live and breathe (and sip, savor, explore) and if we don't totally love what we do it would show through.

We know you are discriminating consumers - we are too. I guess that's what we love about you and what makes it all worth while. If we find something that blows us away we KNOW you are right there ready to experience the same. That’s why we snatch up opportunities to sample our coffee because each and every time we do the coffee sells itself. We’re so stoked when people turn on to the Kohana Coffees – it’s like finding your ‘clan’.

Our promise is to keep on doing what we do with the hopes that you’ll do the same. Find us out there if you’re ready for a great coffee treat – we know you won’t be sorry!

Fall means specialty coffee....

and that means we're out reminding folks who we are, what we sell and where we sell it. Kohana Coffee has been so blessed this past year. We've broadened our horizons and become a bit more 'main stream'. We love the restaurants, stores, websites and brands we work with - they are some amazing groups. And we love that people are finding us on the internet and buying our coffee that way.

If you see us in Central Market, Whole Foods, Breed and Co, Blue Dahlia Bistro or at Cissi's Market - please come by and sample the coffee as well as chat for a while. You know we love to talk about what we do and why we do it.

Long story short - we thank all of you out there that have been with us this far - your support is making us who we are.

Piper

Music-Coffee-Music-Coffee....Coffee!

Well, we're all recovering from Austin City Musical Festival '09 -- it's taken most of the week. So much excitement - so much great music - so much coffee adoration - so much mud! I have to admit it felt a bit like a small Woodstock as I watched the mud divers going at it.

Being in the Artist's Lounge was an awesome experience. Not so much just hanging out with incredibly talented musicians - but being able to treat them to great coffee that they all appreciated was our pleasure. Our favorite line was 'I heard about this amazing coffee that I had to come try' -- that, in itself, was music to our ears.

I took some video - mostly before the heavens opened on Saturday and I was fearful for my borrowed camera. It gives a festival snapshot for those that didn't get to attend - and a bit of what it looked like behind the scenes.

Thanks to our Kohana team of Nicku and Nate - they made it happen! And thanks even more to everyone who fell in love with Kohana Coffee...we appreciate you more than you know.

Piper