Welcome to the January edition of Fresh Brews, a round up of everything awesome to weird in the coffee world and blogosphere. If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, you may remember me putting together a round up weekly. Writing the round up weekly was a little too overwhelming, so now I’m working on a monthly recap of my favorite coffee news articles and blog posts. You can find these articles and other blog posts on a more frequent basis via the Daily Shot Of Coffee Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Muddy Dog Coffee: 10 Ways to drink better coffee in 2012
If your new years resolution was to drink better coffee, Muddy Dog Coffee wrote the perfect article for you. If your new years resolution wasn’t to drink better coffee, what’s wrong with you? Just joking.

Eat Drink Better 17 Things You Didn’t Know about Coffee
I know way too much about coffee, but this neat-o info graphic showed me a couple of things that I didn’t know.

National Geogrpahic: How Coffee Changed America
Tea gets all of the spot light in American history, but it was our friend coffee that changed America for the better. Don’t believe me, check out this article/infographic.

The Salt: Drink Coffee? Off With Your Head!
Part 2 of our little history lesson. Coffee is widely accepted in our culture now, but in the past drinking coffee could land you in jail or worse.

I Need Coffee: Roast Your Own Coffee
If you’ve been debating roasting your own beans, here’s an article that will guide you through the process. I’ve been thinking about roasting my own coffee for years now, I think in 2012 I’ll finally have to make some time try it.

Baristing: Review of Reviewing
Over at Baristing, Alex examines who asks us coffee reviewers (and reviewers in general) to review and why should we do it in the first place.

Passion For The Pint: How To Use Coffee In Your Next Homebrew
A little bit of a shameless plug for my other blog, but if you’re into homebrewing and you’re reading Daily Shot Of Coffee, here’s an article that you can probably use.

Creative Loafing: Spice up your morning
If you’re coffee is getting a little boring, the fine folks over at Creative Loafing have some ways to spice up your coffee life.

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Stay connected via Facebook and Twitter for all sorts of random coffee geekery.

Photo by Swiv.

Fresh Brews: Things You Don’t Know About Coffee, Roasting Your Own Coffee And More is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Today is National Coffee Day, a day where all across the country you can get coffee for free, watch television shows about coffee, even listen to this blogger on the radio and a whole lot more.

For the second year, I spent hours scouring the internet to find out who started National Coffee Day and why, but I’ve come up short both years. I have a feeling it was a coffee company, sort of like how the card companies created Valentine’s Day, but I’m not complaining. I may not know the history of the day, but I do think it’s one of the most important days of the year, however I am slightly biased.

There’s many, many different ways to celebrate National Coffee Day. It can be as simple as drinking a cup of coffee with a friend or venturing out and trying out a local independent coffee shop.

Here’s a few other ways to celebrate the caffeinated holiday:

(Shameless plug alert) If you happen to be in the area of Abbotsford, BC in Canada, you can hear me chat with the CQKC morning news guy about coffee. If you’re not in that area you, can check out their live stream.

Coffee shops across the country are honoring the day with free coffee. The largest chain to offer free coffee is 7-Eleven. They’re giving away free medium sized coffees from 7am to 11am. You can try their coffee or one of their cappuccinos or lattes.

My friends over at Filterfresh, a national coffee products and services provider to businesses, are giving away $300 and coffee for a whole office. Participate in their coffee survey and you’ll be entered to win.

In case you’re one of those late night coffee drinks like myself, you can tune to CNBC and watch the documentary “The Coffee Addiction.” This documentary captures the extraordinary journey of coffee from bean to cup. It airs at 9pm EST. If you check out the CNBC Facebook page, you can also enter to win a free year of coffee.

If that’s still not enough caffination for you, check out these coffee quotes, coffee songs and eight ways to improve your coffee.

And here’s a little heads up, later today we’re running a contest to give away a PUR water filter (because water is the largest ingredient in coffee) to one lucky Daily Shot Of Coffee reader.

Update: Contest is now live. Enter here!

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Photo by P!XELTREE.

Happy National Coffee Day 2011 is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

I spent a lot of time reading about coffee online. Once a week or so, I like to share some of my favorite stories that I’ve found in the past week and call it the Fresh Brews. The stories are funny, entertaining, interesting and sometimes every once in a while, they might make you think.

So without any further delay, here’s this week’s Fresh Brews. I hope you enjoy!

I Need Coffee: Simple BBQ Coffee Rub for Steaks, Pork and More
I love cooking with coffee, almost as much as I enjoy drinking it. Here’s a recipe from one of my favorite coffee sites, that I’m going to have to try very soon!

Coffee Business Strategies: The Ridiculous Kona Coffee Safeway Class Action Lawsuit
I thought I knew everything about the different levels of Kona (100%, blend, etc) and what they really meant. However, it turns out that I’ve got a lot to learn still. This was an eye opening story.

Bundle VIA Seattle PI: Seattle spends a lot on coffee, but these cities spend more
Here’s a cool infographic that shows which cities are the most caffeinated. Is your city on the list?

Texas Coffee People: Random Picture Friday #27: Evolution of a Coffee Addict
I think we can all relate to this nifty little graphic!

Fresh Brews: French Press Hack, Coffee Rub For Grilling And More is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Welcome to another week here at Daily Shot Of Coffee. Fresh Brews is my (semi) weekly round up of everything going on in the coffee blogosphere. I never know what I’m going to find when I’m reading the coffee blogs, but I can guarantee that it will be random, interesting, informative and sometimes funny. Enjoy!

Coffee & Conservation: K-Cups are now recyclable! Not really.
I was semi-excited when I heard that some K-Cups were now recyclable. I don’t think K-Cups are perfect, but I do like them when I’m in a rush before work. However, after I read this article, I was pretty disappointed with the K-Cup recycling plan. And here’s another article you might find interesting from Coffee & Conservation.

Starbucks Melody: The butter coffee tasting: Starbucks Anniversary Blend
Normally, I like my butter on popcorn or pancakes. However, there might be something too doing a coffee tasting with butter. Maybe. I’m still not completely convinced, I may have to try it out for myself.

Coffee Detective: Is coffee an effective hangover cure?
I’ll admit that I’ve been hungover once or twice in my life, but it was purely for research purposes over on my beer blog. I swear! Anyways, I never thought that coffee was good for treating hangovers because it made me dehydrated. It turns out that maybe it is good for treating that dreaded feeling after a night of drinking.

My Coffee Pro: Coffee Grounds and Gardening Tips
Throwing my used coffee grounds in the garbage feels like such a waste. Chase over at My Coffee Pro has some tips on how to put those coffee grounds to good use in the garden.

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Photo by happykiddo.

Fresh Brews: Coffee Butter, Gardening Tips And More is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Greetings friends and fellow coffee lovers, and welcome back to my table here in the corner of this cafe. We’ve got a lot to get to today, so let’s get to it.

Last week, I had the good pleasure to finally try two of Counter Culture Coffee’s roasts at Istria Café in Hyde Park—their Finca Nueva Armenia and a selection from a microlot, located on the same farm, called Grotto. Ever since I started taking coffee really seriously a couple years ago, I’ve been told over and over again by various coffee lovers who know way more about the topic than I ever will, “You havegot to try Counter Culture Coffee.” Now that I have finally tasted, I have seen  that their coffee is good and that I really should have taken the advice of my peers a long time ago.

Since their inception in 1995, Counter Culture Coffee has been at the forefront of not only bringing only the highest quality coffees to the public, but has also been demonstrating a commitment to fairness and sustainability with every person involved in the process (in 2008, they even established their ground-breaking Counter Culture Direct Trade Certification) and a commitment to the education of their employees, the employees of the stores that serve their coffee, and even to the general public.

Scattered across the country east of the Mississippi River, Counter Culture has established a program called Counter Intelligence—an educational program designed to keep the general public informed about the many subtleties and nuances of the coffee industry. Counter Intelligence features a curriculum that is made up of courses, seminars, and hands-on training—it’s a school for baristas, coffee connoisseurs, and appreciators alike with classes like Beginner and Intermediate Espresso Lab, Origin Field Lab, and Comparative Cupping. Counter Intelligence also features a free-to-the-public coffee cupping on Friday mornings in all of their regional training centers(in Asheville, NC; Chicago, IL; Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Durham, NC; New York City, NY; Charlotte, NC; and Philadelphia, PA).

Obviously, Counter Culture Coffee is providing a lot of avenues for coffee lovers the world over and a lot of programs and practices to get excited about. And as excited as we here at the Table In the Corner of the Cafe get about direct trade, sustainability, and commitment to employees and general public, we get just as excited about the quality and taste of the coffee a roaster is producing. This is, after all, a coffee review table.

The two coffees I tasted at Istria last week are both from the Finca Nueva Armenia farm in Huehuetanango, Guatemala. The farm, owned by brothers Jorge and Javier Recinos, is regarded highly by coffee professionals all over the world, having won a number of international coffee tasting contests and has also become one of the first certified organic coffee farms in Latin America. The farm is nestled in the Cuchumatanes mountain range, where their coffee grows at elevations of 1200-1900 meters—perfect conditions.

The first coffee I tasted was their Finca Nueva Armenia, named for the farm it comes from; this coffee is grown in the lower levels of the farm, at elevations of 1200-1700 meters. The second coffee was their Grotto, which is grown in a microlot located at the very highest point of the farm, at elevations of 1700-1900 meters. One farm, two growing locations. However, despite the fact both coffees come from the same farm and are grown and harvested by the same people in somewhat similar conditions, I was surprised to find that the two of them tasted radically different from each other.

• Finca Nueva Armenia: The first of the two was a pretty challenging cup of coffee. A lot of different flavors—some flavors which aren’t terribly common in coffees, as a matter of fact—presenting themselves at different points of the coffee’s temperature made this coffee one of the more interesting roasts I’ve had in some time. Immediately post-brew, the Finca Nueva boasted a well-rounded body that was warm and inviting—a sweet, almond nuttiness prevailed the flavor and the aroma had that peanut buttery scent that is so common in Central and South American coffees. However, as it cooled, the nuttiness didn’t just dissipate—it disappeared entirely, and was replaced by a sharp, pungent juiciness; the type of pungent juiciness found in granny smith apples or green grapes that makes your lips pucker up. It wasn’t so sour that it rendered the coffee undrinkable—it was delicious, in fact—but it was sour enough that it surprised me once the sweetness was gone. Once the coffee got to room temperature, though, the flavors dulled quite a bit, which was simultaneously relieving, as it gave my palate a much-needed rest from the flavor overhaul, and a bit of a letdown, as I never want to taste the end of a cup of coffee’s life. Fortunately, it left just enough aftertaste—not much, but enough—to stick with me for a short while.

The Bottom Line

Counter Culture Coffee: Finca Nueva Armenia and Grotto Microlot is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Now is your chance to win a great coffee book, an amazing piece of coffee art and help out a good cause. We’ve paired up with artist/writer Dave Wonicki, who was generous enough to offer a copy of his book and original artwork to help out The Marine Corps – Law Enforcement Foundation.

Check out the charity auction on eBay.

The Marine Corps – Law Enforcement Foundation helps the left-behind sons and daughters of America’s fallen heroes. Through the their donors, they have distributed aid with a value of more than $50,000,000.00 to eligible children.

This includes scholarships to children of Marines and Federal law enforcement personnel who were killed on duty or died under extraordinary circumstances while serving our country at home or abroad.

In the past, the Foundation helped the children who lost a parent from killed in the attack on the Pentagon, children who lost parents on the USS Cole, the children of the Air Force personnel killed at Khobar Towers and the twelve children who lost their parent on the space shuttle Columbia disaster.

Dave Wodnicki saw the need to help out this wonderful charity and contacted me to help promote and host this auction (via Ebay). Dave is actually doing most of the hard word, putting up his own artwork and a copy of his book.

In a little bit more detail, here’s what Dave is offering: a copy of his book Coffee Quest (signed by author & numbered serial # 0002) and a framed print titled “Ahhh Coffee SV” (Serial number # 0003) The artwork comes from his series called the Coffee Coolection TM and comes with one Certificate of Authenticity (laminated), signed by author and dated. The retail value is $70 and 100% of the auction price, will go to The Marine Corps – Law Enforcement Foundation.

Enter your bid on eBay.

I can tell you that his work is amazing and if you love coffee as much as I do, you’ll love his artwork and book. Even if you’re not interested in the charity auction, pleasure share this post with your Facebook and Twitter friends to help get the word out about this great cause.

The Daily Shot Of Charity Auction: Signed Coffee Book And Artwork is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Got some very exciting news. We’ve partnered up with author/artist Dave Wonicki to do a charity auction starting next Wednesday to help out The Marine Corps – Law Enforcement Foundation.

The Marine Corps – Law Enforcement Foundation helps the left-behind sons and daughters of America’s fallen heroes. Through the their donors, they have distributed aid with a value of more than $50,000,000.00 to eligible children.

This includes scholarships to children of Marines and Federal law enforcement personnel who were killed on duty or died under extraordinary circumstances while serving our country at home or abroad.

In the past, the Foundation helped the children who lost a parent from killed in the attack on the Pentagon, children who lost parents on the USS Cole, the children of the Air Force personnel killed at Khobar Towers and the twelve children who lost their parent on the space shuttle Columbia disaster.

Dave Wodnicki saw the need to help out this wonderful charity and contacted me to help promote and host this auction (via Ebay). Dave is actually doing most of the hard word, putting up his own artwork and a copy of his book.

In a little bit more detail, here’s what Dave is offering: a copy of his book Coffee Quest (signed by author & numbered serial # 0002) and a framed print titled “Ahhh Coffee SV” (Serial number # 0003) The artwork comes from his series called the Coffee Coolection TM and comes with one Certificate of Authenticity (laminated), signed by author and dated.

I can tell you that his work and if you love coffee as much as I do, you’ll love his artwork and book. I’ll have all of the details for you in a post next wee, so make sure you tell your family and friends or anyone who you think might be interested about this charity auction that starts next Wednesday.

Coming Soon: The Daily Shot Of Charity Auction is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

What’s up coffee lovers? I hope you all had a great weekend with lots of coffee, stayed dry and out of the wind. Now that we’re back to work for another week, here’s some coffee related articles to keep you caffeinated this week. Fresh Brews is my weekly round up of my favorite articles that I find in the coffee news world and blogosphere. Enjoy!

Ripple Rounds
Like the photo above? Earlier this year I featured another work from Stephen over at Urban Products. He creates wall mounted single serve capsule holders called the Ripple Rounds. They look more like wall art than a storage unit and he just came out with a new model that you can check out over at Urban Product.

Muddy Dog Coffee: 6 Hurricane preparedness tips for coffee lovers
Hopefully all of you coffee lovers out there made it through the hurricane alright. These tips won’t help you for Irene, but now is the time to prepare for the next storm.

Environmental Geography: Beyond Fair Trade
Here’s a quick look at a book that I just added to my wishlist, called Javatrekker: Dispatches from the World of Fair Trade Coffee.

Caffination: Coffee Uncovered, Tool Or Hobby
Paul over at Caffination is always finding great coffee related stories and products over at his site, but this is one article that he wrote and I think every coffee lover should read because there is a lot that we can relate to in it.

Take Part: Business Is Shrooming: Back to the Roots Grows Gourmet Mushrooms From Coffee Grounds
I’ve heard of a lot of cool uses for used coffee grounds, but this might be one of the most unique and innovative that I’ve seen so far. Plus, I love how the article starts.

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Photo by pixonomy

Fresh Brews: Hurricane Tips, Beyond Fair Trade And More is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

It’s been a little while since our last edition of Fresh Brews, between work and vacations, things have been pretty hectic. Since it’s been so long since the Fresh Brews, let me tell you a little bit about it. Fresh Brews is our (semi-) weekly round up everything going on in the coffee news and blogosphere. Each week is different and topics range from serious to down right crazy. Here’s this week’s edition:

City Brew Coffee: A Fresh Brewed Partnership to Conquer Kids’ Cancer
There’s a lot of great coffee companies out there that are doing more than their part out to improve the world. City Brew Coffee, a coffee roaster in Montana is raising funds for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization that raises money to cure childhood cancers. Sounds like a win/win to me, great coffee and it goes to a great cause.

Caffination: Iced Coffee Paradox
Hot times, summer in the city…that means it’s time for some iced coffee. There’s a lot of different ways to make iced coffee and new ways seem to magically pop-up every summer, however Pzul has one simple solution to all of the iced coffee chaos.

Coffee Business Strategies: Jonathan’s Card: a karma macchiato?
Here’s a story that I was following while I was gone on vacation. You probably heard about the guy that gave out his Starbucks card for anyone to use. Did you know that he worked for a start-up that worked with Starbucks? Yeah, there might be more to the story then what the news was reporting.

Sprudge: Extra Hotter Than Hell: KISS Coffee Shop Coming To NYC?
If you love coffee and love KISS, what could be better than a KISS themed coffee shop. I don’t exactly like KISS, but if the coffee was good it could be an entertaining stop during my visit to New York.

And on a side note, make sure to check out our sponsor Go Coffee Go for premium coffee from the country’s best roasters delivered right to your mailbox.

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Photo by JcOlivera.com.

Fresh Brews: Iced Coffee, Coffee Curing Cancer And More is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Fresh Brews is normally my weekly round up everything going on in the coffee world. This week, I’m going to expand it to include some of the “best of” because I’ll be heading off on a vacation and I don’t want you to get too under caffeinated while I’m gone.

Just a heads up, email responses and comment approval will be slower (probably non-existent) until I get back. I’m going to try this thing called not checking my email. We’ll see how it goes.

Coffee And Conservation: What does “organic” really mean?
Find out what the organic label on a coffee bag really represents? Who does organic coffee really benefit the most?

Espresso News And Reviews: How Consumer Reports does more harm than good for good coffee
Consumer reviews may do a good job of reviewing cars and appliances, but as The Shot points out, they have no clue when it comes to reviewing coffee.

And here’s some articles from this blog to keep you caffeinated while I’m gone:

16 Of The Best Coffee Quotes
Am I missing any of the best quotes about coffee?

24 Uses For Coffee Filters
Who knew there so many other uses for coffee filters?

14 Great Songs About Coffee
If I had a coffee shop, this would be a big part of the playlist.

24 Must Read Coffee Blogs
And if you get a little bored, here’s some reading to keep you perky while I’m gone.

Cheers!

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Photo by esther**.

Fresh Brews: Summer Vacation Edition is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee