Mood & Mind - Asheville, North Carolina - moodandmind.com

Mood & Mind is a company that has not seen the last of me. I am a person who enjoys variety and doesn’t just want to try one thing from one company. I believe that businesses are about more than one product they sell. There’s a reason why they have so many products in their inventory. Each product says something about them and all the products put together tell the whole story. I want to hear the whole story. I don’t want one piece of it. The story is so much more complex when you’re dealing with coffee or tea companies.

I enjoyed every single tea I received from Mood & Mind. Their teas are fragrant and taste even better than they smell. They have teas for calming you down and teas for picking you up. They even have an instant coffee drink that pulled off the impossible. It made me want to drink something with instant coffee for the first time in my life. From the moment I tried this concoction, I made it a point to mix it with every cup of coffee thereafter. This mixture produced a cup that was like a mocha coffee with some spice undertones. I found it to be quite addictive.

I love doing business with companies that sell a wide range of a particular product. Mood & Mind fits the bill as a one stop shop for tea lovers. They have their teas and accessories like their travel cup, which I love, and their Tea Man tea infuser, which I also love and have a hard time getting away from my children. I would love to tell you about some of their other products, but I haven’t tried them. I would love to do so and turn that experience into a follow-up piece.

I don’t write reviews with the idea of them being one shot profiles in mind. I aspire to follow companies throughout every step of their progression. I feel like there are great things coming for Mood & Mind. I’m hoping that the support they receive grows exponentially going forward. I know that I will be paying attention to what they do regardless of whether they decide to establish a long-term relationship with me. You should check them out right away if you haven’t done so already. Pick up a bag of tea or two. Their products make wonderful gifts at any point during the year.

On Chain Restaurants/Coffee Shops and Your Freedom of Choice

I hate going to chain restaurants because they’re not accountable. Their corporate structure diverts any pressure away from decision makers to people who work in the individual locations. These individuals might have the best of intentions, but they’re not given the power to solve any real problems. Corporate demigods make halfhearted efforts to please people who are unhappy with them. We take these advances hook, line, and sinker, filling out their feedback forms and getting lost in their endless phone banks in the hopes that something productive will happen. Nothing ever happens and we’re left as unhappy as we were when the process started.

Why do we keep returning to these places? They have perfected a formula that maximizes their profits, which is understandable since they’re running businesses; however, this formula can be reached with sacrificing the quality of the product in the process. That’s not something that most chain restaurants are interested in doing. They feel like their product is high quality, even if the public is saying otherwise. Their bottom line is telling them that they’re doing great, so that’s the only thing they worry about. We make it so they don’t have any other worries.

We need to stop complaining about businesses online and start taking our business to the independent restaurants that need it. The same goes for coffee shops. Instead of going to Starbucks, you should go to an independent coffee shop and buy a cheaper, higher quality cup of coffee. Every major chain restaurant or coffee shop started as a hole in the wall place struggling to gain footing. We complain about not having alternatives when there are so many alternatives around us. If we don’t like Starbucks, we could go to another coffee shop and make them the new Starbucks.

I would never say I hope for the downfall of all the major chains. I go to them from time to time because there are so many around. You can’t drive down the street in most cities without tripping over a handful of Starbucks locations. That’s how they get you. Major chains know that you’re strapped for time, so they crowd the landscape until you see far more of them than their competitors. Look beyond the hoard of cookie cutter establishments and go off the beaten path. Never rest or settle until you have an experience that makes you a satisfied customer.

Sweeto Burrito - Riverdale, Utah - sweetoburrito.com

Sweeto Burrito and I have a complicated relationship. I had no knowledge of them prior their opening in Riverdale, Utah, a city that was once around the corner from where I lived. I jump at the chance to try anything new, especially when it comes in the form of something I enjoy eating or drinking.

I followed their Facebook page leading up to opening day. I was surprised to find out that they were having a first come, first serve event to introduce themselves to the public. I went to their event way before it was set to open. I arrived to find a parking lot full of people and cars 30 minutes to an hour before they were set to open their doors. I am a patient guy, so I thought I could squeeze in. I didn’t care if I had to wait for a long time. I was in it for the long haul.

I walked up to their door. Before I could reach for the handle, a woman on the other end opened it for me. She asked if I was here for the event and I told her that I was. She first says that the wait was between 30 minutes to an hour. I have waited that much before, so I didn’t care. I told her that was fine. An annoyed look came over her face. She quickly said “Well, we’re full in here” and told me that I should return on opening day.

I was livid. I went to their Facebook and bombarded them with all sorts of negative comments. I went overboard. I have a tendency to do that. I am trying to get better at that, but that’s another matter altogether. I just feel strongly that any company who sets out to serve the public should treat the public with a tremendous level of respect. I felt disrespected and I wanted them to know that. They got the message.

Their reply was very nice. They wanted to make it right and offered to provide me with lunch at no cost. I took them up on their offer and came back shortly after their location finally opened. I kind of liked what they gave me. I vowed I would come back later on.

A few months later I returned to order some of the other items on the menu. The food was wildly inconsistent, leaving my mouth confused in the process. I was left to struggle with the idea of coming back for a third visit or ditching the idea of Sweeto and me reconvening in the future. I forgot about this dilemma until my wife brought up the idea of getting one of their breakfast burritos a little while after that.

This is where things went south. My wife was not pleased with what we got from this visit. I liked it and became a fan of Sweeto because of it. I stopped going there because the people around me didn’t share this notion. I have this thing where I can’t bring myself to order food from a place when I know that I’m the only person who’s going to be eating it. I want to eat with other people.

I would love to open a formal line of communication between myself and Sweeto Burrito to initiate a formal review. We got off on the wrong foot and my past actions were regrettable. I am hoping that we can put these times behind us and become great friends going forward.

Hopped Up Coffee - Fort Collins, Colorado - hoppedupcoffee.com

Hopped Up Coffee from Flat Hat Coffee and Old Town Spice Shop completely changed my world. Naturally, as someone who has a coffee blog, I have tried more types of coffee than I can count. Most of the coffee I've tried smells, looks, and tastes like how I think coffee should smell, look, and taste. That all changed the moment I opened my first bag of Hopped Up Coffee. For one, the grounds had more of a Tea look to them with several different ingredients thrown into the mix. It didn't smell like coffee either. Regardless, I forged on and made a pot.

Before I go any further, I want to outline the only objection I have about Hopped Up Coffee. The bags in the box I received were too small. It only allowed me to enjoy this unique experience for a short time. Drinking this coffee is like watching a good movie that comes to a screeching halt, leaving you with nothing but rolling credits and disappointment. The only difference is that you have the option to watch the movie again. The same can't be said for when you slug down every bit of the coffee you have in front of you.

I don't fault the makers of Hopped Up Coffee for this issue. They make a great product and I hope to establish a stellar long term relationship with them. That being said, I do not recommend buying Hopped Up Coffee in the smaller size if you're buying it for yourself. The sampler pack is perfect as a gift. If you get someone you care about this sampler for Christmas, you definitely need to recommend that they level up if they like it.

My favorite flavor in the sampler pack was the Black IPA. It had the boldness I like and all the interesting flavors that come with this type of coffee. The other flavors were fantastic as well. I went through the whole sampler in three days.

Hopped Up Coffee is a testament of why you should venture into the world of coffee with an open mind. There will be some things that will challenge your preconceived notions of what should be. And that's good. You should never go too long without having your firmly entrenched ideals thrown on their head. You never know what you will experience until you get up the courage to venture outside of your comfort zone.

Weed Coffee Roasting - Weed, California - weedcoffeeroasting.com

I enjoyed Weed Coffee Roasting for one of several reasons. First, the way the bags were lined up in the box was very eye catching. I know that seems weird. After all, the way bags are lined up in a box shouldn't matter. Much more emphasis is placed on the quality or look of the products themselves rather than how they're presented. I think that's wrong. I think more companies need to go out of their way to make their products look better and not just in the packaging.

I have mentioned several times that I love the way a product's packaging looks. I feel like it's awesome when a company chooses to perfect their products in every sense of the word. Every company needs to approach their business in this way. I couldn't even begin to tell you how many companies have sent me products with some of the most creative designs I have seen anywhere and not just in the world of coffee.

When I opened the box that contained their products, I was greeted with the most magnificent smell. I always know I'm in for a treat with a certain type of coffee by the way it smells. Out of all the kinds they sent me, I liked their XX Mud variety the most. The smell of that coffee was so bold I had to crack the bag open and brew myself a pot immediately. The resulting coffee was so dark it was almost demonic...but in a good way. I was flying high for the rest of the day after drinking a couple more cups.

As I opened bag after bag, I was taken into a world of wonderful tasting, smooth coffees. I didn't know what to think going into testing their coffee. I had never heard of Weed Coffee Roasting before. I wish I had heard about them sooner. I would've had more time to indulge myself and make their coffee a more prominent part of my life.

I continue to savor what's left of the package I got from Weed Coffee Roasting like it's the last coffee they will ever make. I don't know how much longer it will last. What I do know is I will enjoy every minute of it. I hope that I can establish some sort of relationship with Weed Coffee Roasting and this review is just the first in a series of many.

The Fancy Accent Tea Company - Grayland, Washington - fancyaccentteas.com

The Fancy Accent Tea Company was one of the few companies that left me wanting more. They sent over a sampler of a number of their flavors. I was worried when I picked out my first blend. The bag felt light and only had a small amount of tea in it. I dipped it into some hot water. The resulting tea tasted great, but it was dreadfully weak. The same thing happened with all subsequent tastings. I had to resort to combining several flavors into the same cup to get tea that was anywhere close to how strong I like it.

Apparently, The Fancy Tea Company has a loose leaf option, which would have been better for this review. Rather than taking a hard stance and saying negative about this company, I am going to render this review inconclusive. This means that I made a good faith effort to test this product and my results were underwhelming due to the lack of materials I had available. I hope to revisit this company if they’re willing to send more materials for a subsequent review. I understand if they refused to do so. It took me a long time to come to this conclusion because I felt that this company deserved that respect.

I apologize to The Fancy Tea Company for being unable to make any declaration regarding their product. They are ran by some of the nicest people I have ever come across. I blame myself for not being specific enough about what I needed to complete my tests. I like to leave the decision making process up to the companies I’m contacting. Perhaps that was a mistake. In the future, I will specify which products I want and the quantity I need of each of them. I don’t like doing this because it makes me feel like I’m being bossy.

This post is not the last you will hear from me about The Fancy Tea Company. I never reach out to the company with the idea of doing anything other than completing a review I’m happy with. This doesn’t mean that I’m incapable of delivering a bad review of a company. On the contrary, I am nothing but 100% honest with every word I put on the page.

I will denounce a company if they’re worthy of being denounced. The problem is that everyone in this industry knows what they’re doing. This puts me in a position where I am tasked to describe various shades of excellence. I feel like The Fancy Tea Company is just as excellent as many of its competitors.  

Baltimore Coffee and Tea

I have a thing for coffee and tea superstores. They have such a wide range of products and each one has taught me a great deal about this world. My luck with each of them has varied.

Coffee Bean Direct maintains regular contact. I've reviewed their coffee on several occasions and I'm currently working on reviewing some of their teas. I adore relationship I've had with them and I'm hoping it continues for as long as possible.

Fresh Roasted Coffee was receptive at first. I wrote a review about their coffee and sent it to them. They didn't give me any feedback on the review. Since that time, I have received no word from them. I am disappointed. I would love to re-open dialogue and re-review their coffee while also covering their various teas.

That brings me to Baltimore Coffee and Tea. This company has so many different products that they could be the superstore of all superstores. Normally, I fling messages off to any and every company. I approached things differently with them. I didn't want to blow this opportunity.

I'm not sure how much time actually passed before I wrote Baltimore Coffee and Tea. It seemed like forever. I fired off a message to them, expecting that it would be a long time before I got a reply. My wait wasn't too long, but it was long enough for me to forget about my original message.

I was ecstatic when I got a reply. They were suspicious as many companies have been in the past. I did my best to ease their mind. It must have worked because I later got a message from the president of Baltimore Coffee and Tea. I never knew that it'd be the last message I'd receive from their president and the company as a whole.

The message from their president centered on what products I was interested in. I replied with a list. No response. I kept sending messages periodically to make sure they knew that my list was a series of suggestions, not demands. It was no use.

I'm despondent over the fact that things have gone so poorly with Baltimore Coffee and Tea. I'm not sure what went wrong. I'm interested in doing whatever I can to fix it. You can add them to the list of companies I will never stop writing about, even if they don't give me the time of day.

Mt. Whitney Coffee Roasters - Bishop, Califorinia - mtwhitneycoffee.com

Mt. Whitney Coffee Roasters is a rare breed among their counterparts in the coffee industry. They take all the money they have left over after their expenses are paid to help children in Africa. You might think that a company that decides to operate this way would cut corners, but that’s the furthest thing from the truth when it comes to Mt. Whitney Coffee Roasters. The effort they put into their coffee is tremendous, creating a scenario where consumers are motivated to purchase coffee not only because the coffee is great, but also because the money that’s spent on it goes towards a good cause.

A lot of time has passed since I tried Mt. Whitney Coffee Roasters coffee or communicated with anyone who works with them. Companies like theirs are the main reason why I like to establish long-term relationships with the companies I cover. A coffee company evolves so rapidly over the course of a since year, let alone two or three years. I like to keep my coverage of coffee companies up-to-date. In order for that to happen, I have to revisit to revisit a particular company from time to time. I love seeing the way these living, breathing creative organisms work to take what’s already great coffee and make it better.

I have no hesitation in throwing my complete and total support behind Mt. Whitney Coffee Roasters. They have the all-around excellence that I look for in companies I would categorize as my favorites. Their inventory is not as stacked as what you will find with other coffee companies. Normally, I would cite that as something they improve upon, but Mt. Whitney Coffee Roasters is a different breed. Every type of coffee has a story to tell. If a single type of coffee has an interesting story, there’s no need to add more to the mix.

Any time I come across a coffee company that produces some excellent brews I take a look at their social media following. In the case of Mt. Whitney Coffee Roasters, their following could best be described as meager. That’s unacceptable. They deserve to have people chomping at the bit to fill their cupboards with Mt. Whitney Coffee Roasters beans. I don’t think that this article will get them there. What I do know is I will continue to sing their praises and tell anyone and everyone who loves coffee about the great things they’re doing. 

Nossa Familia Coffee - Portland, Oregon - nossacoffee.com

Nossa Familia Coffee has undergone a great deal of changes since I was introduced to them a number of years ago. When I came upon them, they were a fine organization that was capable of producing some of the best coffee in the business. There was something about them that seemed wholesome and down to earth. They still have these aspects to their organization that are very approachable; however, the years have been good to them. Their current web presence has a bit of slickness to it that enhances the solid aspects that drew me to them in the first place.

I enjoy any company that puts as much attention into the way their products look as much as how their products taste. I have seen many companies who have taken advantage of the same red, black, and white color scheme Nossa Familia Coffee uses. I will hand it to them for having some of the best looking bags of coffee in the business. If I didn't already know their coffee was tasty, I would want to reach for one of their bags. I know you would feel the same way if you decided to seek them out.

I would love to have the opportunity to see what Nossa Familia Coffee is like today. I am sure that their craftsmanship has only improved since their paths have crossed. I do not have any specifics regarding the actual flavor of their coffee. I do remember that it was exceptional and I enjoyed every moment I spent drinking it. The earlier version of The Coffee Encyclopedia was a disaster in every sense of the word. My notes from the round of testing I performed on their coffee fell by the wayside and became less and less coherent over time.

I regret the issues I have caused in the past with the coffee companies with whom I have interacted. The New Coffee Encyclopedia is a much different animal. Any company I’m working with now should find solace in the fact that this entity is something that’s headed for better things. I will re-engage Nossa Familia Coffee in the coming days in the hope they will come back to my side. I would completely understand if they didn’t. Regardless of the outcome, I’m 100% confident in giving them my wholehearted endorsement. They’re among the best coffee companies this industry has to offer and well worthy of your attention. 

Waffle Love - Throughout Utah - waffluv.com

Although Waffle Love does not fall under the topics of coffee or tea, I wanted to take a break from my regular coverage to give them a shout out. Since they’re an up and coming organization with multiple food trucks and a brick and mortar location in the middle of downtown Ogden, Utah, I am well aware that they will probably not pay me any mind. I don’t care. I want to open up another part of this site where I review and profile things that could easily be coupled with coffee or tea. Breakfast items like the ones served at Waffle Love definitely fit within this category.

What’s so great about Waffle Love? After all, waffles are something that so many of us have enjoyed throughout the years. We might have had them so often that we feel like there’s no need to have them other than every so often for no meal other than breakfast. Waffle Love makes it a point to turn everything that you know about waffles on its head. They have worked and tested each of their waffles to make sure that they’re absolutely irresistible from the first bite to the last.

I will be the first to tell you that they have achieved this feat. I attended an event just last night. To my delight, there was a Waffle Love truck stationed in the parking lot. I went over there and ordered something. While I was waiting, there was someone else standing beside me. I had never met this person before in my life, but they made it a point to tell me “Man, these things are so good they should be outlawed.” What followed was a rather spirited conversation about our shared adoration of all things Waffle Love.

I regrettably have not tried much of Waffle Love’s menu. I fully plan on doing so. Perhaps I’ll even get one of their menus and mark off which items I order every time I visit. Eventually, my checklist will dwindle and I’ll have to come up with excuses to start the list all over again. I have it on my list to make my way to their restaurant. I’m hoping I can establish some sort of communication between myself and them. I like to go into a place where the people are aware of me. It makes the dialog much more productive than what it would be if I were to come in as a stranger.

Here's a link to Waffle Love's Facebook for your consideration

Lake Missoula Tea Company - Missoula, Montana - lakemissoulateacompany.com

I was eager to get in touch with Lake Missoula Tea Company when I found out they were located in one of my favorite cities. I travel to Montana every year and the fact there’s such a great tea company up there and I haven’t been to it is astonishing to me. I fully plan to remedy this problem the next time I’m in the neighborhood. In the meantime, I would like to tell you how much I enjoyed trying their teas. When I pick a tea that’s just right, I want it to have several layers to it and smell so good that I’m excited to drink it.

Each bag of tea from Lake Missoula Tea Company was better than the last. After opening several bags, I thought I reached the end of their selection. I was surprised when I looked on their website and found they have dozens of other fantastic varieties.  I talked with someone from Lake Missoula Tea Company about something called purple tea. I didn’t even know that purple tea was a thing. I want companies like that in my rolodex, not the companies who take the weakness of my taste and encourage and enforce it.

I recently had a cold and I tried their Beat the Snot Out of You allergy blend. As I drank it, I was reminded of the tea my mother used to make me when I was younger and feeling under the weather. I looked forward to this tea every time I got sick because I knew that it would boost my mood at least for a little while. I feel the same way about this tea now. I’m currently hoarding the small amount of this tea I have left. I dread the idea of running out.

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not enlightened when it comes to tea. I started this project as someone who was all on board with coffee and unreasonably opposed to tea. I couldn’t pinpoint the reason why I stayed as far away from tea as I could. Usually, if I have negative feelings, it’s based in some sort of undesirable experience. I had the hardest time figuring out why I avoided tea. Anytime this has happened I’ve determined that these irrational feelings are more the result of a lack of understanding than sound reason and logic.

I appreciate companies like Lake Missoula Tea Company for enhancing my appreciation of tea while also broadening my knowledge of the various types that are out there. This review encompasses a small section of the teas they offer. I like to tell the whole story of a company instead of taking some of their products and using them as a means of interpreting what the entire organization does. I get that it probably seems redundant to review one type of tea after another. I prefer to approach things differently than all the other coffee and tea reviewing blogs. I want to invest my time and talents and treat these companies as well as I feel like they need to be treated.

There doesn’t seem to be a magic bullet when it comes to covering a company the right way. My goal here is to have reviews that propel companies into the stratosphere because each one of them deserves that status. I do not have that power yet, but I would like to have it one day. I have received many messages that question the way I review coffees and teas and that’s fine. I am neither a specialty taster, nor someone who has all the information about everything that’s brought to my intention. The arrogance that comes with both of those ways of thinking is appalling. That’s why I love Lake Missoula Tea Company.

Missoula is a city that’s not large or small. It’s more in the middle. You won’t have a hard time finding something happening in this city. Occasionally you will run across some crowds, but they’re not as intimidating as the ones you find in bigger cities. I’m well aware of the fact that not everyone will have the opportunity to get to this part of Montana. If you want to know what Missoula is like, order a few packages of tea from Lake Missoula Tea Company. Their tea will transport you onto the humble streets of Missoula and sit you in a cozy little shop on Main Street. 

Here's a link to Lake Missoula Tea Company's website for your consideration

On Why Coffee Makes Me Happy

Coffee is happiness in its purest form. I know that every time I feel blue I pour myself a cup of coffee and the world seems to slip away. I don’t know what it is. The boost from the caffeine is nice, but I don’t think it’s the only draw. I think that it has more to do with the distraction of being able to be by myself for a few minutes, enjoying my coffee and putting less focus on the worries of my life. Everyone who’s reading this article is probably saying “It’s just coffee. What’s the big deal?” I’m not expecting everyone to understand why I feel the way I do.

I am pretty sure I am not alone here. If I was, the coffee industry would not be a multibillion dollar behemoth that grows larger with each passing year. I appreciate entities like Starbucks for bringing even the most casual of coffee drinkers into the fold. Their efforts, while controversial to most in the smaller coffee sector, have made it so more people are exposed to what we all love. The more people who are on board with coffee, the more people who will become coffee lovers for life.

From time to time, I debate quitting coffee once and for all, whether it’s something I’m personally feeling or the result of pressure from those closest to me. I crunch the numbers and determine the pros and cons of maintaining my habit. The result is something that never changes. I always figure out that my current levels of consumption might be problematic, but they’re sustainable as long as I keep them from going up. I also take into consideration the way coffee is making me feel. More often than not, it makes me feel better than I would have if I weren’t drinking it.

The fact that I love coffee is surprising to no one. After all, you’re reading a coffee blog that’s entirely written by me. It takes me back to a time when things were much simpler and I was in a place where I felt happy. I was exposed to it in an environment that made me feel comfortable and relaxed. My introduction to coffee had little to do with the caffeine part of it and more to do with how coffee brings people together. And that’s the approach I take in writing this blog.

On Timeliness and Collaboration

I am one of those people who believes that it’s better to do something late than not do it at all. Now, I don't prefer being late, but if something happens and I’m rendered incapable of doing whatever needs to be done on time, I always try to fulfill my obligations later on. I feel like I have reached a point in my life where I’m meeting or exceeding my obligations more than I’m falling short of them. It took a long time. Currently, I am going back through all the things I’ve missed in the hopes I will catch up, thus relieving my conscience in the process.

Writing is something that not everyone can do. Sure, any person can put words down on the page. Nearly all of us send countless emails or texts every day, but very few of us could be called writers. I am not about to say that I am the best writer in the world. Many times when I publish something I feel like I’m talking to myself. I like it when people decide they want to read my content. I will write the same way I do now even if I get a sizeable audience in the future. I like the way I write and I will never compromise it for any reason.

Bloggers get lumped in together too often. If one person writes about coffee, they’re compared to every other coffee writer. That’s not fair. I respect the other people who write about coffee. I don't dwell on the opinions of others. I know that my intentions remain good and that should make all the difference.

As someone who has been in the writing world for a long time, I have a lot of stories about the brutality I’ve encountered. Writing is a territorial game and writers will do whatever it takes to get their piece of the pie. I get it to an extent. You have to do what you have to do to get by; however, I feel like it’s unfair to discount someone who’s trying to do what they love. Collaboration has a way of making something creative even better, yet so many creative people are against collaboration in all its forms. People love to drink coffee together. Wouldn’t it make sense for them to write about coffee together?

I have reached out to all the places I’ve found that publish coffee. Apparently, based on the conversations I’ve been having with coffee companies across the country, there are so many other people doing what I’m doing. I have yet to find them. Time for that to change. Don’t be surprised if you see me pop up on various coffee related websites throughout the internet.

Mahini Mele Organic Farm - Kona Rose Coffee - Captain Hook, Hawaii - konarosecoffee.com

I would like to thank Kona Rose Coffee for providing me with the first full-sized bag of kona coffee I’ve had in my life. For some reason, due to the size of the bag I received, I couldn’t get a solid read on what their coffee was all about. Don’t get me wrong. It tasted great and enjoyed every minute I spent consuming it; however, I had a hard time getting enough of it. By the time I spent tasting this coffee was over, I struggled with coming up with the right words to describe it.

           

I guess the confusion I’m feeling currently has a lot to do with the proximity of Kona Rose Coffee and the start of my testing process. That’s also why it took me longer to write this review than the other ones about kona coffee. I wanted to come up with the right words to describe the output from this company. I approach every company the same way. I would rather take longer to write a review than release something I’m not proud of or would disrespect the company in any way.

I wish I had more glowing praise for the coffee. The lukewarm nature of my prose should not be seen as condemnation for their product. On the contrary, I thought the coffee was exceptional in every sense of the word. It simply didn’t elicit the reaction needed to produce mountains of text. I would recommend their coffee to anyone who’s in the market for kona. I’ve found that their products are available for less than their competitors in this genre.

I would happily welcome re-reviewing this product if I were given access to larger amounts of it. Recently, I decided that I would stop going for product samplers when I request products. Full-sized products are more worthwhile because they allow for additional tastings in the event that inspiration is somehow lacking. I do not fault any company who wants to provide me with a sample size of their product. I just feel like the reviews of companies who sent me smaller products are much less convincing than those of companies who sent me exactly what their customers receive.

I firmly believe it’s possible for a type of coffee to be great and not inspire the same feelings as coffees from other companies. This doesn’t mean that the coffee in question is somehow less than. Measuring the value of a cup of coffee is challenging because it’s all subjective. One person might like a certain type of coffee that everyone else hates. That’s okay. Finding the right coffee for you, whether it’s Kona Rose Coffee or something from some other company, is all a part of the journey.

Here's a link to Kona Rose Coffee's website for your consideration

Fresh Roasted Coffee - Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania - freshroastedcoffee.com (Part 2)

Click here to read part 1

I owe Fresh Roasted Coffee an apology. They sent me a considerable amount of coffee one year ago for me to review. I consumed and thoroughly enjoyed said coffee, but circumstances in my life prevented me from devoting enough time to writing reviews about them to my standards. That’s no excuse though. Their generosity is something I sincerely appreciate.

It has been a considerable amount of time since I enjoyed a cup of their coffee. I went through the stash they sent me rather quickly. I still remember each cup as if I had it this morning. That’s how good their coffee is. Since we last conversed through email, they have grown considerably and have added a lot of wonderful new varieties to their repertoire.

I love the shirt that they sent me and I still wear it on a regular basis. On the back, it says “Why be tired when you can be wired?” I couldn’t agree more. Those are words I apply to many different things in my life. They also show a tremendous passion that’s present within Fresh Roasted Coffee. The strength behind these words definitely lends to the quality of their coffee.

I feel bad that I have no real specifics to offer in this review. I would not want to speculate on how I felt about certain brands because the amount of time that has passed would make such an exercise nothing more than speculation. I do not want to do that because it would be a disservice to Fresh Roasted Coffee and everything they have to offer the coffee drinking public.

Their coffee is so full of flavor and each blend has its own unique flavor, which is different compared to other companies that package the same type of company under several other names. Flavor and strength are two big things I look for in a good brand of coffee. Both of these elements were present in every coffee blend I tried from Fresh Roasted Coffee.

Fresh Roasted Coffee is a company that’s on the rise. If their rate of growth over the past year is any indication, I expect that they will continue to climb through the ranks. They’re already a coffee that’s worth paying considerable attention to. Anything they can do to build on their reputation as a rising star in the coffee industry is something they should jump on.

A lot of coffees from smaller roasters tend to cost considerably more than what you would pay at the grocery store. That’s not the case with what you would buy from Fresh Roasted Coffee. They charge a rate that’s definitely reasonable considering the quality of the merchandise that you will get in return. At the prices Fresh Roasted Coffee charges, they’re a welcome entry in the marketplace.

This writer is at a loss in the face of the many blends that Fresh Roasted Coffee has to offer. On one hand, I understand that the lateness of this review might have tarnished what little relationship I had with them. On the other hand, I’m a coffee fiend who’s always looking to try something new. The varieties from Fresh Roasted Coffee surely will peak the interest of any coffee aficionado.

Originally, I had a hard time tracking down Fresh Roasted Coffee. They’re far more visible now; however, they are not as visible as they deserve. People would rather settle for the lackluster beans they might find at the grocery store. Those brands produce nothing more than pitiful flavored water masquerading as the real deal.

You should leave that segment of the coffee market alone once and for all. Commonly available coffee brands are neither affordable nor of a noticeable level of quality. They are convenient and that’s all they have going for them. Anyone who decides to venture outside of their comfort zone and try something different will find that they should have gone elsewhere a long time ago.

Someone who’s looking for a different brew should look no further than Fresh Roasted Coffee. They want you to become as passionate about their coffee as they are. When you talk to anyone who works within Fresh Roasted Coffee, you will feel like you’re one of the family. They realize the importance of the role that they play in the operation of their organization and want them to come back for more.

Every time a coffee lover sticks with a brand that they love they tend to get tired of that brand over time. That’s not going to happen if you place an order with Fresh Roasted Coffee. They are coming out with new varieties all the time that are just as good, if not better, than all the ones that came before. Once you have grown weary of one blend, you could reach for another.

The length of this review might be long, but that’s with good reason. A good cup of coffee has a way of changing the way a person thinks about the world. The fact that it has been so long since I tried coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee shows how memorable their coffee is. Although it has been a year since I had anything from their portfolio, I hope it won’t be as long before I can enjoy their coffee once again. 

Fresh Roasted Coffee - Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania - freshroastedcoffee.com (Part 1)

Click here to read part 2

Fresh Roasted Coffee is another one-stop shop for all you need in the world of coffee. I had the pleasure of trying a pile of their coffees during the first stage of this blog. I swear I wrote a review about them, but I have yet to come across it. I had to dig deep in my memory banks to figure out where this review ended up. I sifted through my emails and discovered that I had written a lengthy review about them. I sent it their way for their consideration, which is a practice I have since discontinued. 

After waiting for a long time, I abandoned the idea of receiving any sort feedback, thinking the review was less subpar. I will publish this review as a second part to this series. I assure you that this review was written by me. The saved date on it is over two years ago, so there’s no guarantee that it’s similar to my reviews in terms of quality. I want this review to be shown to the world because I have a great deal of respect for this company.

This company has gotten onto my radar again because of their ample selection of both coffee and teas. I am working to build out my stash of tea reviews, so I would love the chance to try some of their teas as well. Although I have tried their coffee before, their rate of growth since I finished my last review about them has been tremendous. I know for a fact that they have changed their coffee for the better while also adding several new varieties to their repertoire.

I am dismayed at the fact that I haven’t heard from them in a number of years. I wrote to them recently and heard nothing once again. I understand that they might have some reluctance in dealing with me. I have no delusions of grandeur or thoughts that I’m deserving of any company's attention. All I know is I’m a coffee lover and I want to talk about coffee with other coffee lovers. What’s wrong with that?

Anytime I believe in a company as much as I believe in Fresh Roasted Coffee I want to throw my complete weight behind them. I want to be their friend and, most of all, biggest supporter. I will continue to write about Fresh Roasted Coffee, even if they make the decision that they don’t want to engage in a conversation with me. Regardless of what I hear from what source, I will talk about coffee in all its forms. Fresh Roasted Coffee is just one of those companies that does it better than most.

Here's a link to Fresh Roasted Coffee's website for your consideration

The Virginia Tea Company - Manassas, Virginia - virginiateacompany.com

I have written many times about what presentation does to one’s interpretation of a product. Virginia Tea Company is an organization that prides itself on how their products look just as good as they taste. I will be the first to tell you that they taste great. The best of the best in any industry can be measured by the loyalty their customers show them. To get their business of the ground, Virginia Tea Company started a Kickstarter campaign. In a 30-day period, their campaign was fully funded, giving them a multitude of resources to truly start selling their products to the masses.

They sent a canister that included their chai tea, some tea bags, and a tea infuser. On the side, there were also samplers of their caffeinated and herbal varieties. I found myself drawn to their chai tea because of its multifaceted flavors. It tastes sweet without actually being sweet. For some reason, it reminded me of some sort of baked good, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

I also enjoyed the samplers. I am always conflicted when I try out an assortment of anything. While I get excited at the idea of trying a range of products, I feel sad when the products in question are as great as those from Virginia Tea Company. I end up wanting more and regret the fact I consumed the only amount I had of the product. This conflicted feeling is the reason why I request full size samples whenever possible instead of focusing on the samplers.

I am not disrespecting Virginia Tea Company in saying this. I am saying that their product is so great that you would be better off ordering the full sized versions than the samplers. If you want to get a sense of what this company is about, you should buy the samplers right away. I guarantee you that they’re great and you should go for the full sized versions of their products.

Companies like Virginia Tea Company are the reason why I look to establish long-term relationships with the companies I review. There’s a distinct difference between companies with potential and great companies that also have potential. A company that’s both great and brimming with potential will just get better with time. I don’t want to be on the outside looking in as I see Virginia Tea Company reach the plateaus I know they have before them.

Here's a link to Virginia Tea Company's website for your consideration

White Lion Traditional Tea Company - Scottsdale, Arizona - whiteliontea.com

White Lion Traditional Tea Company is a company that does its job so well that it has turned me, a coffee lifer, into someone who’s now highly intrigued by tea. My previous experience with tea consisted of ordinary Lipton tea from the grocery store. This tea was so unremarkable that I didn’t want to touch tea with a 10 foot pole until the package from White Lion Tea arrived on my doorstep. Since my experiences with tea were so limited, I didn’t know what to think as I opened the box. I cracked it open and what greeted me was something I could best describe as a new beginning.

The package they sent me had several different types of tea in little tins with a tin filled with honey crystals sitting in the middle. I had no idea something like honey crystals even existed before I tried their product. I worked through all the different kinds before I came to a singular, definitive realization. I want to have White Lion Tea in my life going forward. If White Lion Tea were a person, I would want to invite them over for tea and have an enjoyable morning.

For me, coffee and tea is great when it’s presented in the most desirable fashion. Packaging can only go so far in determining the value of a product. The product itself has to be of the highest level of quality. A product that’s lackluster is still going to be lackluster even though the package is eye catching. White Lion Tea produces an exceptional product from start to finish. The packaging invites you to consume what’s within and the product itself does not disappoint. We should all demand this level of quality from all the tea purveyors we come across.

This post is the start of a section of this blog that focuses on tea. I will continue to find companies that sell tea independently. I also would like to learn as much about tea as I know about coffee. I don’t know why I waited so long to start to cover tea. It’s something that’s brewed very similarly to coffee. I feel like if I had known what White Lion Tea was all about before I contacted them I would’ve picked them for the first post of my tea coverage. We will see what happens with my relationship with White Lion Tea going forward. I’m hoping for the best.

Here's a link to White Lion Traditional Tea Company for your consideration

Kona Purple Mountain Coffee - Honaunau, Hawaii - konapurplemountain.com

Kona Purple Mountain Coffee likes to keep things simple with their top of the line 100% pure kona coffee. Other companies attempt to diversify their inventory with an assortment of single origins or blends. While there’s nothing wrong with that approach, you have to pay attention to companies that lay everything on the line for a single product. Coffee philosophies vary widely with people thinking that their coffee companies of choice need to have everything under the sun to make them happy, but the exact opposite is the truth.

A great coffee company has to have quality products in their repertoire if they’re to be worthy of your attention. The people at Kona Purple Mountain Coffee have made a brand of coffee that's so good that you can taste how much work they put into it every time you drink a cup. You could drink this coffee from anywhere in the world and still feel like you’re sitting at their compound in Honaunau, Hawaii getting a cup of joe straight from the source. This is the kind of coffee that’s going to stick with you and that’s exactly how it should be.

Why should we settle for anything less than brilliance when you’re choosing a cup of coffee? The world has been lulled into a false sense of security due to the accessibility of ordinary brands of java. We don’t want to go out of our way to choose something special because we are given zero reasons to exhibit effort. Our desire to achieve instant gratification carries over into what we eat and drink on a daily basis. We feel like if we ventured outside of our comfort zone we would be disappointed. That’s not something you will have to deal with when you buy a bag from Kona Purple Mountain Coffee.

Out of all the types of coffee out there, it’s difficult to find one that’s better than kona. Choosing the right variety of kona comes down to selecting one that has a high level of purity. The marketplace is loaded with all sort of products that have the name kona on them, but they lack the credentials to stand up to something like what comes from Kona Purple Mountain Coffee. You should choose the best of the best, coffee that’s forged by the most precise, dedicated people in the industry. You deserve the bet cup of coffee the world has to offer.

Here's a link to Kona Purple Mountain Coffee for your consideration.

Coffee Bean Direct - Stockton, New Jersey - coffeebeandirect.com

Coffee Bean Direct is a company I’ve covered many times before, but I failed to address our most recent interaction. There was a time when I was highly interested in smoked coffee. I contacted them to see if they would enlighten me on the subject. They sent me a couple of their smoked coffees and I was wholeheartedly impressed. As of writing this review, it appears that Coffee Bean Direct no longer sells smoked coffee. This is a shame.

My shame quickly turns into delight when I see that they still have an ample selection of 128 different coffees. This doesn’t even include the 89 types of tea they have over on their Tattle Tea side. I knew about their tea selection well before I started branching out and investigating tea. While I have never tried any of their teas, I’m sure that they amazing considering their razor sharp dedication when it comes to coffee. I hope to be able include them in my review of teas at some point.

I hold Coffee Bean Direct in high regard. I keep coming back to them no matter how many coffee companies I come across. They have worked with me on several occasions and I appreciate how open they are with me. It has been awhile since I contacted them last. I will change that as soon as this article is posted. I could write about them until there’s an individual article devoted to every type of coffee and tea they have in their repertoire.

Even though Coffee Bean Direct doesn’t sell smoked coffee anymore, I couldn’t help but write about them. Something has to be said about when a company opens their doors and shows nothing but friendship. I have dealt with a considerable amount of companies who have given me the exact opposite treatment. In these situations, I go back to my philosophy about coffee, which I have gone over several times. For the people who love coffee, it produces some of the most organic interactions between them and their fellow man. Treating people with anything less than complete and total respect cuts the enjoyable parts of coffee out of the equation.  

Not many coffee companies offer as many products as Coffee Bean Direct, but, in the end, it’s far from a matter of quantity. Coffee Bean Direct doesn’t offer any product to the public unless it passes their high standards of quality. Everyone reading this story should give them a deep, long look and pick up a few of their products along the way.

Here’s a link to Coffee Bean Direct for your consideration

Venturing Outside Your Coffee Comfort Zone

Working in the coffee world requires a considerable amount of patience and diligence. You might think that you could reach for the big coffee companies and have that be the end of it. On the contrary, there are so many facets and players in this industry that it’s essential that you dig deeper if you want to truly understand. A person can go their entire life without trying more than one type of coffee. That's a shame. I was one of those people before I started this blog. All the types of coffee I’ve sampled since then have made the coffee people commonly reach for seem ordinary.

I want to shed the label of pretentiousness that people stick to smaller specialty roasters. There’s nothing pretentious about wanting a good cup of coffee. We should not settle for below average brew when there are so many other wonderful companies out there doing things the right way. The cost shouldn’t matter. The fact that we use affordability as an excuse is not acceptable. Our unwillingness to invest in something that's seemingly important part of our lives funds the mega corporations that push the below average grounds into the marketplace. Nothing will change unless we demand better.

No one will demand better unless they have a reason to do so though. Being able to buy coffee for a few bucks lulls the consumer into a false sense of security. They believe that what they are getting is good just because they can get it for less. Major grocery chains reinforce this problematic state of affairs by devoting their shelf space to nothing but coffee from the big brands. Little coffee roasters are forced to sell their wares online or in smaller coffee shops in their local area. Granted, every coffee roaster has the opportunity to work their way through the ranks. When they get to the mountain top, the chances of them being able to rub elbows with their more prominent competitors are slim.

Brand recognition is something that sinks anyone who wants to enter the coffee marketplace. A newer coffee company has no chance against competitors who have been around for a century or more. The fact that a company has been around forever is no excuse for their products being substandard in quality. It’s difficult for people who have had nothing other than the brands they can easily access to understand that what they’re working with is crap. Nobody likes to challenge their sensibilities or do anything that makes them uncomfortable. They find their coffee and that makes them happy. Why change things and risk being unhappy?

Life isn’t about maintaining the status quo though. You have to step outside of your comfort zone to experience what's really going on in the world. I did just that when I started this project. I got tired of drinking the same coffee day after day. I wanted to see what was out there. I wanted to send a message to the coffee world and see what it returned. 

Cythiana Farm (Absolute Palate) - Holualoa, Hawaii - absolutelykona.com

The current version of The Coffee Encyclopedia started partly because I wanted to try every type of kona coffee available. I wasn’t impressed with the results; however, I did receive word from some companies and their contributions were impressive. One of these offerings came from Absolute Palate, which provides coffee under the Cynthiana Farm and Hanalo Farm umbrellas. I was able to try their Cynthiana Farm coffee. I would love to sample their other brand. Whether or not that happens, I will leave it up to them.

As someone who loves the darkest of the dark roasts, I was weary when I opened the bag and saw that the grounds were light in color. My doubts were quickly dispelled when my nose caught wind of the wonderful aroma coming my direction. I couldn’t make my first pot fast enough. One pot turned to two and two pots turned to three. Before I knew it, this coffee became a regular part of my repertoire until I ran out of the grounds I received.

When it comes to coffee, it’s hard to imagine getting much better than 100% kona. Delving into this world creates a wide range of challenges because it’s difficult to come up with one definitive measure for good coffee. One person’s good coffee is another person’s swill from which they can't get away fast enough. Objectively, I believe that a wide range of coffee drinkers would agree that kona is a solid variety of coffee.

If you’re interested in kona, you should accept no imitators. So many companies try to come out with kona blends and pass them off as the real thing. Granted, since there’s less kona in the blends, people are able to get them for less while still getting some kona. At the same time, the difference in taste between these products is like night and day. You can call it kona all you want, but unless it’s 100% pure, you are missing out on the real deal.

If you’re interested in ordering 100% kona coffee from Absolute Palate, you can do so over at their website absolutelykona.com.  

Montana Coffee Traders - Whitefish, Montana - coffeetraders.com

Montana Coffee Traders is one of those companies I’ve had my eye on for a while. I am fond of those coffee places that try to make themselves into a one stop shop. They stock their shelves with every type of coffee imaginable, leaving their customers no choice other than to shop with them. I am disappointed that I have yet to hear from them despite numerous attempts to make contact. Normally I don’t get bent out of shape about such things, but Montana Coffee Traders is different. I want them to contact me and I want us to be friends.

My fondness for Montana is nothing new. I mentioned that in a previous review for another roaster located in that great state. I have not had the opportunity to try as many types of Montana coffee as I would like. Don’t quote me on that though. I make friends in the coffee world all the time and chances are a few of these contacts are from Montana. I’m not satisfied until I have bonds with Montana coffee companies on which I can depend. I want to be a part of what’s going on up there.

Back to Montana Coffee Traders. Outside of their large product selection, I admired the reasonable prices they charge for most of their coffees. Anyone who loves specialty coffee can tell you that it doesn’t come cheap. For a company to have reasonable prices on their coffees, it sets the bar for entry much lower and allows people to get into a world that's sure to turn their perceptions of coffee on their head. Some of their coffees run the price of your average brick of the good stuff; however, you will find that a majority of their inventory does not pack a wallop on your wallet.

As I attempted to get a better sense of what Montana Coffee Traders was all about, I checked out their Facebook page and read their reviews. I was impressed with how many people sang their praises. The lukewarm reviews that were there seemed to come from people with an ax to grind rather than anyone with a legitimate grievance. I like it when the loyalty a company has for its customers is reflected in what its customers have to say about it.

I hope to hear from Montana Coffee Traders soon and we can set something up. I am a big fan before I have ever even tried their coffee. 

Treeline Coffee Roasters - Bozeman, Montana - treelinecoffee.com

I have always had a special place in my heart for Montana. A lot of my family comes from there and I visit on an annual basis. When I had the opportunity to try the coffee from Treeline Coffee Roasters, two of my life’s great loves had a chance to intertwine. As with everyone from Montana with whom I have communicated, the people behind Treeline Coffee Roasters were nothing but cordial. I was hoping I would hear from them in timely manner and, to my surprise, I did.

Have you ever had a cup of coffee that makes you long for the place from which it came? That's precisely the feeling I got when I poured my first cup of coffee from Treeline Coffee Roasters. I have never been to Bozeman, which is where Treeline Coffee Roasters is located, but if I am ever in the neighborhood, I would love to pay them a visit if they would have me.

Treeline Coffee Roasters does some things I don’t see many other roasters doing.

First, their Roasters Choice option allows customers to put the decision making process in their hands. They lean on their expansive amount of expertise to select the type of coffee that's just right for you. This kind of option is something that many of their competitors would be wise to pick up on. Normally, you have to pick through a company’s sizeable product inventory before you find one product that seems interesting. This process is one that a lot of us have to deal with, but it doesn’t always produce the best results. Being able to rest easy knowing that you will get a great cup of coffee is a tremendous relief.

Second, their sampler pack allows you to choose several types of coffee without having to invest in large bags of each one. Each of their samples is enough for 6-7 cups of coffee. Finally, their GEO option is intriguing because it gives the average coffee drinker the ability to have great coffee from Treeline Coffee Roasters wherever they go.

I applaud Treeline Coffee Roasters for their creativity. They are willing to pull out all the stops to get their customers the product they know they will love. You can’t go wrong with a company that's so dedicated.

Spotted Cow Coffee Company - Mill Creek, Washington - spottedcowcoffeecompany.com

Spotted Cow Coffee Company is an example of one of the companies that started out humbly when I began this project and has turned into an admirable organization. I enjoyed talking to the people who run this business because I could tell that they were passionate about what they do. I know I have probably thrown that term around a lot, but it's an important quality coffee companies need to have for me to admire them. Spotted Cow Coffee Company has that in droves. 

Now, Spotted Cow Coffee Company does not have as big of a product selection as its competitors. That's not a problem though because every coffee they do sell is top notch. You don’t have to worry about scrolling through a large list of products to get to the one that interests you. As long as it says Spotted Cow Coffee Company on the label, you know it’s good.

I enjoy coming across coffee companies that are not bombastic in any way. I don’t feel like a company needs to show off to get their point across. They should let their products do the talking for them. Other companies might reach for gimmicks to dress up what’s pretty ordinary coffee. Spotted Cow Coffee Company has simple packaging with their logo on the front. Any time I get a bag that's dressed up in this fashion I know I’m in for a treat.

The beauty of Spotted Cow Coffee Company is not just their simplicity. I’ve encountered companies that had simple packaging to go along with their ordinary coffee. On the flipside, I’ve worked with other businesses that had great coffee and engaging packing. The presence of eye catching packaging does not mean a company has laid down on the job with their product. On the contrary, I believe it shows a great deal of effort, which carries over into what the drinker might be in store when they drink the coffee itself.

I would love to work with Spotted Cow Coffee Company if they would have me. I noticed that they do not have a blog on their website. Perhaps that's where I would fit in. Ball is in their court or, in their case, pasture.

Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters - Dallas, Texas - noblecoyotecoffee.com

The coffee I received from Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters was interesting because the beans didn’t smell very strong and the same thing could be said for the flavor. I enjoyed the mellow, yet balanced flavors I got from all their types of coffee. Once I was done finishing my first pot, I found myself practically floating. I didn’t realize how much caffeine was in this stuff. I wanted to keep drinking, but I had to take a break until the effects from what I had just finished wore off. Now, when you read the previous sentence, you might think that I’m knocking the coffee from Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters. That couldn’t be any further from the truth.

In choosing a type of coffee, I want one that's both flavorful and will keep me energized for a long period. I’ve had coffees that keep me energized while also tasting putrid and great tasting coffees that only resulted in a crash later. Neither one of these scenarios is enjoyable. Great coffee has to stick with you. It should not rely on a gimmick or hide behind deceptively decadent flavors. It should be able to stand on its own and support you throughout your day. That's what you get when you buy coffee from Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters.

Reviewing coffee has presented me with a unique situation. Out of all the companies I’ve reviewed, I haven’t found one that's bad at what they do. The fact of the matter is that you’re not going to want to become involved in this world unless you know what you’re doing. The coffee drinkers that make their way into the specialty coffee market won’t settle for the plain and ordinary. They can go to Starbucks or one of the other coffee behemoths to get that. Independent coffee roasters have to separate themselves from the pack. To accomplish this feat, they need to excel at their craft.

If you’re interested in ordering coffee from Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters, you can do so at noblecoyotecoffee.com. They have a wide range of great coffees to go along with their merchandise. For the people who become big fans of their coffee, they can enroll in the Noble Coyote Coffee Club, which allows them to sign up for recurring shipments of various Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters blend. I recommend this option because there’s nothing sadder than running out of their coffee.

Coffee Grinder: I Need a Better One

I like grinding coffee, but the grinder I currently have makes it no fun. As much as I would like to go out and buy another one, I recognize that my knowledge in this area isn’t exactly up to par and I would probably end up choosing a grinder that's just as bad as the one I have now or worse. I have heard that getting coffee in bean form means that you’re getting fresher coffee. Based on taste alone, I have not noticed a difference between the two forms in which coffee comes. At the same time, I bow to the expansiveness of the expertise of the individuals I’ve consulted.

Back to my grinder. The grinder I bought is the most inexpensive one on the market. It fits barely enough beans in it to make a 12 cup pot. When I reach a point where you would think that the beans are ground, I open up the top, see what I think are grounds, and pour it into my brewer’s filter. To my disappointment, little shards and chunks of unground beans rise to the surface. Mind you, this comes after shaking and grinding for much longer than any reasonable person should.

On to the grinder I would prefer. I’m looking for a grinder that has the potential to devour anywhere between ½ to a whole pound of coffee without even thinking. I want a grinder where I don’t have to push a dopey little button on the top for it to do its thing. I have seen grinder-coffee maker combos and they have me curious. I’m not sure whether this combination works, but it’s something I’m going to look into further. I want to have a coffee setup that makes it so people who have been in the industry for years don’t look at me like I’m a rube.

Cooffee is to be enjoyed in its best possible form. I hope that having a terrible grinder doesn’t mean that I’m missing out on the beauty of certain types of coffee. I want to have all of the pieces needed to make the best possible cup of coffee. Time and time again, I have companies balking at me whenever I ask for ground coffee. I tell them that it’s because my grinder stinks, which it absolutely does, and they are likely left wondering if their coffee is in good hands. Regardless of what equipment I have on hand, I would hope that this blog is a testament to my ability to talk about the world’s greatest drink.

If you would like to help me get a better grinder, don’t hesitate to drop me a line at allenglines@gmail.com. I’ve thought about putting together an Amazon wish list of things I need to take this blog to the next level. I have been reluctant to pull the trigger on this initiative for fear that it might make me seem like I’m desperate. Who knows. Odds are it will come along eventually. If it does, you’ll be the first to know. Hyuk hyuk!

Langenstein Farms Kona

Many thanks to John Langenstein for introducing me to his awesome coffee. Looking back on my emails with him, it seemed like I was terse and standoffish. I don't know why I come across that way. It probably has something to do with my eagerness to reply very quickly. In my opinion, any time spent crafting an email beyond a certain point is wasted. I want to get back to whoever it is in a hurry. I don't mean to come off the way I do. My approachability is something on which I pride myself.

But I digress. In initial emails, Langenstein seemed reluctant. I know my emails didn't ease his mind. I thought that, based on his initial trepidations, I would never receive a package from him. I'm glad that I was sorely mistaken in this assumption. Before long, a package from Langenstein Farms arrived on my doorstep. I had a hard time figuring out what was more beautiful, the packaging or the coffee itself.

One of the awesome things about this project is when I come across a type of coffee that makes me excited about what I'm doing. The 100% Kona from Langenstein Farms definitely fits into that category. Between the addictive flavor of this coffee and it's enticing aroma, I had a hard time putting this one down. I know you will too if you order a pound or two from them.

You can order coffee from Langenstein Farms through kona-coffee.com. They have many different formations of their coffee available. Each one will surely impress you.

Although Langenstein Farms is one of those companies that doesn't need my involvement regardless of how big I become, this is a company I'm going to keep my eye on. When a company does coffee right, everyone should stop what they're doing and pay attention.

A lot of companies make great coffee, so narrowing down the list of possibilities to a chosen few is quite the undertaking. The best way to approach this conundrum is to not compare these companies to each other. Coffee companies share some similarities; however, picking your favorite one is like picking your favorite kid.

Langenstein Farms is in a category all by themselves. Somehow they're able to produce coffee that's so simple and complex all at the same time. I don't know how they do it. I'm just glad that they do.

On My Review Process

I’ve been asked many times about my review process. Truth be told, I don’t have one. My goal for this blog is to reach as wide of an audience as possible. To accomplish this feat, I need to use the broadest terms possible when writing my reviews. I realize this approach might turn off the more technically minded coffee aficionados. That's a risk I’m willing to take though. I want people to read my words. I don’t want to put myself in such a specific niche that I’m unable to relate to even the most astute of audiences.

I approach this blog from a writer’s perspective. I have an extensive background in technical writing, but I’ve also done a considerable amount of creative stuff. This eclectic skillset has made it so I’m able to understand very technical concepts while also being able to take those concepts and present them in the simplest terms. A lot of people might look at that approach and consider that I’m somehow “dumbing down” the world of coffee. That couldn’t be any further from the truth. If anything, I’m looking to shine a light on certain parts of the coffee world that might have been previous inaccessible to the average coffee drinker.

I don’t want any conversation to come down to a difference between coffee philosophies. The fact that I’m unenlightened about the technical side of coffee doesn’t mean I am unwilling to learn. I wouldn’t be writing a blog about coffee if I knew everything about it. I know that seems like a strange thing to say. I am more focused on learning about something when I know I have to write a piece centered around the topic. The amount of knowledge I had when I started this project pales in comparison to what I know now.

Going forward, my process won’t change. I try a type of coffee and then write a review as drink more of it. My review might meander and talk about things other than the matter at hand. It’s all part of the journey. In the past, I have written a great deal about removing limits and restrictions on writing. That's how I choose to approach this project. No fuss. These are just organic posts from a guy who isn’t a coffee expert, but has a passion for coffee. In the end, isn't that enough?

On Why I Do Things the Way I Do Them

Whenever I decide to write about a company, I reach out to them and let my intentions be known right off the bat. As part of this correspondence, I request free samples of their products. I take this approach for a number of different reasons. First, I have no funding for this project and I don’t know when that status is going to change. At this time, I am unable to devote any of my personal budget to what I’m doing here. Perhaps that will change at one point somewhere down the road. The odds are against it though.

The most likely scenario for getting this project funded is corporate sponsorships. I don’t know what form that's going to take because the last thing I want is for my content to be affected as the result of an agreement I have with someone else. I did that kind of writing at one point in my career and I hated it. My content would start off as honest and then become considerably less so as the sponsors sunk their teeth into it. I would never want something I worked hard to create to be split apart and sold to the highest bidder.

At the same time, I want to get to a point where I have funds available that I can use to buy coffee that inaccessible through other means. I have tried for years to add some international flavor to this project. Outside of a couple of Canadian coffee companies, I have been woefully unsuccessful. I want that to change. To make that change, I would need to get some sort of funding source to pay for at least the international shipping charges. I absolutely never planned for this blog to only focus on American brands of coffee.

Fundraising to me has always been something that has made me uncomfortable. I have consumed content from creators who have gone out of their way to pander and beg for as much money as they could. While I understand that's the way some people have to do business, I do not want to do business that way. For me, the more these creators pleaded for cash, the less I focused on their content. If I were to implement any fundraising protocols, I would do so in a way that readers wouldn’t notice. The requests for cash would not be frequent. They would come only in the event that a need presented itself.

I want the companies I contact and the people who read this blog to realize that I do not request products to slight anyone. That's the absolute last thing I want to do. I am not a fool. I am well aware of the fact that every coffee company is in the business of making money. I do not want to take cash out of their pockets. As soon as I can pay for the coffee I’m reviewing, I will do it in a hurry. I would want nothing more than for that to happen.

That being said, I do not want my intentions to be misconstrued. The act of providing me with complimentary products does not guarantee a glowing review. Granted, many of my reviews have a positive spin on them; however, I came to these conclusions on my own. The companies I’m reviewing did not provide me with the information needed to come to these conclusions.  Throughout my process, I will maintain my objectivity and operate with the utmost level of integrity.