Winning Wednesday: Starbucks' Bella Vista

This is my all time favorite coffee. It was discontinued a few years back (I think around 2003) and I'm so happy that it's back!

It's called Costa Rica Bella Vista F.W. Tres Rios (phew...), and is categorized as a medium roast. It is a really "bright" (high acidity) coffee so it pairs well with citrusy foods that complement its acidity, like lemon bars or strawberries. I love the first sip of Bella Vista in the morning, you literally feel the coffee lift your ears (its hard to describe). This coffee is great no matter how its made, but is of course at its best when made in a French press (paper filters tend to trap the coffee beans' oil which is where the flavor is).

Here is the "official" description:

"In the rolling hills outside San Jose, this coffee is cultivated on one of the region's oldest and last remaining estates. Guided by a proud tradition of quality and the long-term support of Starbucks, the owners have perfected time-honored farming methods to harvest and process the beans right on the estate, and established social programs to improve the farmers' livelihoods. Always a favorite in our tasting room, Bella Vista is surprisingly complex with a satisfying citrus sparkle, floral notes evocative of orange blossoms and a refreshing finish."

My description:

"It's delicious!"

So next time you are at Starbucks pick up a pound or two (I don't think they brew it as the coffee of the day) or at least ask the barista to sample the coffee. You'll be glad you did.

Tech Tuesday: D+Caf

Wow! Not all "advances" in technology are as impressive as the LHC, but this may come close.

Essentially a test strip for your beverage to "detect the decaf scamsters". You simply place this strip in the questionable beverage and it uses the same immunoassay technology of pregnancy tests to determine if the concentraction of caffine exceeds 20mg (in a 6 oz. serving).

I don't know where these people have been getting their coffee? I haven't really seen any news regarding scores of people dying from drinking caffinated coffee or evil corporations making money hand-over-fist by selling the leaded version verses decaf (especially since decaffination is an added process that removes the naturally occuring caffine in coffee/cocoa beans and is therefore more costly).

I understand that there are people with caffine sensitivities and others with moral/religious convictions preventing them from drinking the legal stimulant, but is there really enough of a market for these things?

On a side note, speaking of pregnancy tests, I wonder if I ingest enough caffine in the day for one of these strips to come up positive? Hmmmm...

If you're interested in purchasing a 20 pk. of these babies here's the link:
http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2008/12/how_to_detect_the_decaf_scamsters.html

Source: Gizmodo via Discover Testing via MIT Technology Review via Medgadget

Wow! This blog is so popular that...

...Target has begun to market for Tepid Coffee. Okay so not really, but a week ago or so when I was in Target I saw this "Commuter Mug" in the "oh crap I don't know what to get section". You know the section that has all of the random gifts and gadgets in the solid red boxes. Well for ten bucks you can pick up this mug that plugs into your car's accessory outlet (formerly known as a cigarette lighter) and it will keep your beverage at one of three tempertures: Hot, Warm, or Tepid. Honestly though, who wants their coffee tepid? I just get busy working and forget its there so it ends up becoming lukewarm. No word yet on the accompanying "Stale Muffin paper bag" though.

Confession of a Cheating Heart

My Sweet White Chocolate Raspberry International Delight,

I am sorry, but I must end our torrid affair. I've run our situation through my head time and time again. I thought I wanted more, but now I realize I was wrong. French Vanilla Coffee Mate and I were having some problems and then you came along. I was weak and partook of your raspberry goodness, but nothing will ever be as good as the vanilla I know and love. I apologize, but this is how it must be.

-Brandon

REALLY strong coffee

Anyone who knows me, knows that I like my coffee pretty strong. If I can see the bottom of the mug, its too light.

A few months back Starbucks switched from brewing coffee every hour to every half hour. Obviously the purpose of the change was to provide fresher brewed coffee. To avoid wasting coffee they switched from brewing "full" batches to "half" batches (but doesn't that make the half batch the full batch now? Sorry, that's neither here nor there). Now that half as much coffee is brewed at a time, they run out quicker. In order to avoid making the customer wait for a new pot, a lot of time they do the ol' "tip the carafe" trick. If given the opportunity to wait for the coffee...take it! Several times I have enjoyed the first 3/4 of my cup when my mouth is suddenly infiltrated with hundrends of coffee grounds. Here is a picture from the last time it happened, the proverbrial "straw".

The thing that sucks the most is if you get your coffee to go, you have no idea this is going to happen until your sitting at your desk and all of a sudden a pile of coffee bean corpses are in your mouth. As I said, I like strong coffee now chewable. Its getting so bad I might start brewing my own coffee at home... nah, that sounds like a lot of work. :)