Camano Island Coffee Roasters

Guatemala Light and Medium Roast

This month we are excited to offer a delicious blend of Guatemala Medium and Light roasts. This blend is my personal favorite and is a delightful addition to any occasion.  From the village of Trapichitos in Guatemala, comes this wonderfully rich, full flavored, original Guatemala coffee bean.  We carry Guatemala all year but for the month of September we’re blending the light and medium roasts of this exquisite bean.The result is a mellow, yet medium/full bodied coffee with slight hints of citrus.

Bean Notes: Sweet, tangy citrus tones give this organic coffee a very distinct yet distinguished flavor and aroma. One of our best morning coffees, this Guatemala coffee bean has both the aromatic qualities and taste complexity to set it apart from many coffees worldwide. It is often considered by coffee experts to be among the best coffees in the world.

Roast Notes: The blend of light and medium roasts brings together the complexity of the light roast with the depth and smokiness of the medium roast.  Our Guatemala Medium Roast is our darkest medium roast while our Guatemala light is a fairly light roast.

Country Notes: Our wonderful Guatemala Trapichitos bean has more than a great flavor to it. It’s the first coffee CICR has carried that has a direct connection to our relationship with Agros. Check out this link to read about Agros’ work in Trapichitos. The country of Guatemala is bordered by Mexico to the north, Belize to the northeast, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast. It is known for having some of the most desirable coffees in the Americas, producing dense beans from high elevations.

Most decaf coffees go through a process in which they are soaked in harsh chemicals to remove the caffeine. Since coffee is extremely porous it absorbs these chemicals and can change the flavor of the coffee. For those of you who drink decaf coffee, you may have noticed that our decaf bags portray “SWP” on the label. The Swiss Water Process (SWP) is a certified organic, environmentally friendly method for extracting caffeine from green coffee beans. Through an extensive process of soaking coffee beans in water and natural green coffee extract (GCE) 99.9% of caffeine is removed.

Before the process can begin, the green beans must be washed, soaked in water, and prepared for caffeine extraction.

Then the beans are soaked in water rich in GCE, a natural coffee substance which absorbs all caffeine from the green beans. Throughout the entire process the time, temperature, and GCE flow are carefully monitored, ensuring that all caffeine is effectively removed.

Related Links:
Order Coffee of the Month by the Bag
Papua New Guinea Light Roast
Papua New Guinea Medium Roast
Like Papua New Guinea Coffee on Facebook

CICR’s prosumers create real change everyday in many countries around the globe.  In our “Village Profile” we share success stories with all of you so you can see the direct benefit of your coffee purchasing in these countries through Agros International.

“My life used to be very sad,” describes Maria Griselda, a local villager in Cajixay, Guatemala, whose house and family life were torn apart by guerrilla warfare. Both Maria and her husband Diego worked as laborers on large farms, and eventually saved up enough to build a kitchen in their small home. When a guerilla conflict arose in their village, their home was set ablaze and burned down. Maria Griselda was devastated and lost all hope, and it seemed she would be destined to live in poverty forever.

When Agros International arrived in the village, they saw the need for small loans, land ownership, and home improvement for the local population. Maria obtained an enterprise loan and has worked hard to create change for herfamily. She is a leader at the Women’s Community Bank in her village, and currently tends to growing and exporting a crop of peas, running a general store, and managing the growth of her business. “Now I am able to enjoy the finer things in life and provide necessities to my children,” explains Maria. “This is because Agros does not just teach about production and revenue, but accompanied us during the whole process. For this we are so thankful to Agros and all the work that we have accomplished together. Thanks to this support, my income has improved, my family and I have better living conditions, and we are also able to help others in the community.”

Maria Griselda is punctual and responsible in making her loan payments. She is a good example to those in the community, and is finally filled with hope for the future. Maria stated about seeing others achieve their goals, “We also hope that we could be able to help other families in other communities that are going through the same situation of suffering and need somebody to invest in their potential.”

Answerer: Dan

There is a lot of debate on this question and the real answer ultimately depends on each person and their individual tastes.  In the coffee industry, the generally accepted answer is: French Press.  Personally, I also subscribe to the theory that the French Press provides the perfect extraction method to enjoy each and every subtle nuance of the coffee. Typically, if you enjoy really tasting the flavor of the coffee and want to spend more time

thinking about what you are drinking and less time thinking about other things, this is the best way to go.  I can’t even begin to describe how many French Pressed cups of coffee I’ve enjoying while having a “What about Bob?” moment (if you’re unsure what that means, watch the movie and pay particular attention to the family dinner that Bob thoroughly enjoys).  If you look back on previous blog posts, you’ll see that Matt also really enjoys a good French Pressed cup of coffee.

On the other hand, there is another recently discovered method of coffee brewing that seems to be making waves in the coffee community.  I’m sure that many of you have seen the “Pour-over” method of brewing coffee.  Here at Camano Island Coffee Roasters, we use a  porcelain, cone-shaped filter holder to brew cofee.  It’s important that the filter is made of porcelain, because it brings through the specific flavor nuances that will not be present when brewed with a plastic filter.  This device should also have ridges inside to separate the coffee filter from the porcelain, which allows the coffee to flow through at a proper rate to prevent bitterness.  Even as French Press enthusiasts, Jeff and I both agree that it’s hard to beat a properly brewed cup of pour over coffee!

This morning, when you brew that first cup of the day, try a French Press or Porcelain Pour Over!

Ask us Your Questions!
If you’re like many of our Prosumers, you have many questions about coffee that you’d like answered.  We’re dedicating a section of each of our Pulse emails to answering those questions!  If you have a question you’d like addressed, please email us at talk@camanoislandcoffee.com (or just reply to this message – we’ll get it!)

Bean Notes:
As one of Camano Island Coffee Roasters’ “Roaster’s Reserve” coffees, the Colombian Excelso is the perfect combination of nuttiness, sweet caramel tones, along with a touch of spice on the undertone. Specifically, the nuttiness shines through. If you’re one of the many that love nutty coffee’s, this coffee will quickly become one of your favorites!

Country Notes:
Colombia has around 46 million people and is the third most populated country in Latin America.  It is bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil, to the south by Ecuador and Peru, to the north by the Caribbean Sea, and to the west by Panama and the Pacific Ocean. Colombia is one of the world’s 17 “megadiverse countries” (most biodiverse per unit area).  (see Colombia’s entry on Wikipedia for more information)

Roast Notes:
Our Colombian beans are roasted to a medium/light color.  A lot of people equate Colombian beans with some of the darker roasts around but we’ve found that the flavor is best when roasted to this level.

Related Links:
Colombian Coffee on CICR’s Website
CICR’s Coffee of the Month (best for ordering at the discounted price!)

The Sheaffer family is on a mission to help others, to grow closer as a family, and to make a difference in the world. In November, 2010, they began to sell and give away their possessions and prepare their family for one year of giving. Around the start of 2011, they packed up the family and the essentials, and left for a road trip around the country.

The Sheaffer’s believe that you don’t have to be rich to be able to give. They value their family, and together with their two daughters, they volunteer to help out wherever they are needed. They have found ways to give time, energy, support, and joy to people across the United States and have volunteered for over 50 organizations. They are currently travelling around the U.S. and volunteering to serve or give in any way they can!

The Sheaffers have been long time supporters of Camano Island Coffee Roasters, and we are excited to see the great work they continue to accomplish! They recently let us know that they posted a Camano Island Coffee sticker on their trailer and that they are helping to spread the word!

On their blog, the Sheaffer family gives a pledge of all the things they will do along the way! Here are some of the things they have already accomplished or are hoping to soon!

“We hereby pledge:

• To spend intimate, quantity time with our family.
• To actively help the poor, the sick, the lonely, and the helpless.
• To value, protect, and advocate for children.
• To de-emphasize the importance of “stuff” in our lives.
• To bring publicity to good causes and good people.
• To live with intentionality, as if this year was our very last.
• To observe the needs in our country/community – and then do something about them.
• To give – every day.”

Check out the great work that the Sheaffer family is doing across the U.S.!

Check out these links for more information:

1. Give Every Day on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/givingeveryday
2. Give Every Day’s Blog: http://www.giveeveryday.com
3. Tim Sheaffer’s Twitter: http://twitter.com/timsheaffer/
4. Stephanie Sheaffer’s Twitter: http://twitter.com/stephsday/

The gardening season is in full swing, and with it, we look for the best way to curb the growth of those persistent weeds while continuing to nourish our soil. Burlap bags are made of biodegradable, natural fibers, which break down in the soil and provide a rich layer of nutrients for your plants. If you haven’t thought of using burlap, now is your chance to learn a little bit about it and see if it’s a possibility for you!

Burlap bags are usually made out of several different ingredients, with the two most common being Jute and Hemp. Jute is a small, soft plant which is grown mostly in Bangladesh and some parts of India. It thrives in wet/monsoon climates and is the second largest natural fiber grown around the world after cotton. Jute leaves are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, beta-carotene, iron, calcium and vitamin E. The leaves of the Jute plant historically were eaten to restore youth and good health.  Jute is woven into burlap bags, along with hemp, agave, and vegetable fibers, and is then exported all over the world.

To use burlap bags in your garden, follow these easy steps!

1. Choose the location in which you would like to use your burlap bags. I usually place mine in areas with tough weeds or along garden paths.
2. Place the burlap directly over the weeds and layer if necessary. If you have time, you can choose to dig up the weeds before covering them with burlap. This can lead to stronger weed prevention!
3. After placing the burlap in your garden, cover with sand, soil, bark, or rocks. This simple step before planting will fortify your garden soil with rich vitamins and will keep weeds at a minimum.

Tip: If the weeds in your garden are extra persistent, first place newspaper or cardboard beneath the burlap to create a stronger wall between the weeds and your plants.

Here at Camano Island Coffee Roasters we know our customers are generous and give so much every day. Whether it is your time, energy, or money, giving can be exhausting emotionally, physically, and monetarily. We’re proud of our model of not asking for donations. Purely through our Prosumers purchasing responsibly, we have seen so much positive change for farmers in Central and South America through land ownership.

One of the greatest ways we see our customers give is through our Coffee Lover’s Club. With each package you order, $1 goes toward establishing land ownership and helps break the cycle of poverty. You are also helping to create a reliable and sustainable market for high quality coffee through your responsible purchase.

This year, we are working on creating more opportunities to give back to the coffee farmers and their families through land ownership, encouragement, sustainable farming techniques, and quality coffee standards, and we hope you will continue to help create a real change in the coffee community. We will be adding creative, new updates and opportunities on ourFacebook page, Twitter, and Blog!

We hope you will continue to stay committed in your sustainable coffee purchases, and we look forward to seeing progress in villages all over Central and South America! Make sure and stop by our Facebook page this month for details on our exciting new sweepstakes! There will be several opportunities to win great coffee prizes and learn more about how you can make a difference through your love of coffee!

Jeff – CICR

It’s back, by popular demand!  Our blend of Papua New Guinea Medium Roast and Sumatra Medium Roast is a favorite with many of our customers.  Our “PapuaMatra” is a yearly blend that brings such a huge demand, we need to purchase a lot of extra coffee beans!

Bean Notes: Both the Papua New Guinea bean and the Sumatra Bean enjoy a very loyal following.  Both are uniquely different yet come from a similar area.  Our Papua New Guinea (Jeff’s favorite coffee) has a subtle chocolaty tone that when coupled with the Sumatra’s dried fruit tones produce an unparalleled flavor.  The Sumatra provides a deep, heavy body to compliment the bright tones of the Papua New Guinea bean.

Country Notes: The Indonesian Islands consist of many fragmented provinces such as Papua, Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and more.  If you didn’t notice, all of those countries are well known for growing exceptional beans!  The biggest thing that sets our Papua New Guinea and Sumatra coffees apart from those others is that we have sourced top grade, arabica, certified organic, fairly traded, and shade-grown coffees from our Papua New Guinea and Sumatra farmers.

Roast Notes: Keeping both of these coffees in a Medium Roast profile helps to accentuate the nuances of each bean.  We’ve tried darker roasts (resulting in the bright flavor notes being roasted out) and we’ve tried lighter roasts (which we ended up making the two coffees compete too much for flavor).  In the end the Medium Roast for each of these created this amazing aromatic, flavorful blend.

Related Links:

Papua New Guinea Medium Roast - On CICR’s Website

Sumatra Medium Roast – On CICR’s Website

Coffee of the Month – On CICR’s Website

Our Sumatra Facebook Page

Our Papua New Guinea Facebook Page