Coffee Tasting Parties Are Delicious!

One morning as I was sipping my morning latte I was thinking of a fun”themed party” idea.  I’ve thrown many wine tasting parties in the past and also tea parties, but why not a coffee tasting party?  Often times my friends and I will meet at the local coffee house to chat and relax, so why not bring that into my own home!  Here are my thoughts on what my coffee tasting party so successful.

1. I sent out pretty little invitations shaped like coffee cups.  I went to the local Target and found cute and quite inexpensive invitations that simply stated “You’re invited!”.  I mailed the invitations three weeks before the date of the party.  I asked that guests would RSVP any regrets, otherwise I assumed they would show.

2. I set the party for early afternoon in mid-Autumn.  Who wants to drink a lot of caffeine late at night or when it is hot as hell out?  Well, probably a lot of people, but not me.  I think a cool Autumn day is more conducive to drinking hot, steamy coffee.

3.  I brought out my collection of eclectic cups, plates and accessories for the party.  I find that many people, like myself, have a hodge podge of cups, mugs and even plates.  It is perfect for throwing a coffee tasting party as everyone can pick and choose their dinnerware!

4. I had my trusty Keurig by my side!  I love the simplicity of the Keurig and how quick and easy you can brew many different kinds of coffee.  Another wonderful thing about Keurig is the fact you can brew a plethora of beverages.  Some of the guests brought their children, so I had no problem brewing up hot chocolate, apple cider and Chai tea for those who did not wish to drink coffee.

5.  I had a variety of creamers, sugars and additions on hand to sweeten up those cups of Joe.  I had little pitchers with skim milk, heavy cream and half and half.  I also offered brown sugar, raw sugar and vanilla scented sugar (purchased online).  I also had a couple different syrups in vanilla and hazelnut flavors.

6. I made sure to serve lots of snacks with the coffee tasting such as: coffee cake (duh!), donuts, biscotti, muffins and even some candied bacon apple tarts.

7. Last on the list is – have fun!  We talked, nibbled on sweets and listened to music.  It was a lovely and relaxing afternoon.

8. As a “thank you for coming” gift I gave everyone miniature bags of coffee.  My local grocery store sells them for a $1 and it brews one pot.  I put a little bow on each one and handed them to the guests as they departed.

After the party I received many thank you notes and emails about what a great time everyone had – and for me, that was the best part about the coffee tasting party!

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Customize your coffee: Create personalized beverages at home

(ARA) – Home personalization has extended to new heights, going beyond the trend of creating customized kitchens to creating customized beverages. Consumers are brewing up personalized specialty coffee drinks on par with those in high-end restaurants and coffee shops. In fact, “do-it-yourself flavor” is among the top 10 beverage trends of the year, according to The Food Channel, a leading online source for food industry trends.

This trend is due, in part, to the uncertain economy. Recent research from the International Food Information Council found that 79 percent of consumers cite price as a key factor in deciding which drink items to purchase in a store. With equipment and recipes readily available today, consumers are embracing this DIY trend and cutting costs by making their own custom drinks at home.

Whatever your taste preference, it’s easy to create personalized beverages for yourself, your family and guests to enjoy all winter long.

Hot-coffee indulgence.
According to the National Coffee Association, gourmet coffee continues to be a significant portion (37 percent) of total coffee consumed. If hot coffee is your way to pamper yourself, endless varieties are available, from classic French roast to Hawaiian Kona and New Orleans chicory.

Choose to brew your way.
To make great coffee, start with the right coffeemaker. Look for one that fills easily and lets you create large or small batches and different brew strengths. For instance, Calphalon’s Quick Brew 12-cup Coffee Maker offers both regular or bold custom brew settings – plus the flexibility to brew up to 12 cups at a time when you have a crowd, or just one to four cups for smaller groups. Brewing up to 25 percent faster than comparable standard coffee makers, the Calphalon Quick Brew 12-cup Coffee Maker won’t keep your guests waiting either.

Add creme to your cup.
Once you’ve brewed your coffee, personalize it further with coffee creamers. They’re available in everything from traditional vanilla, almond or hazelnut to enticing new combinations like honey-vanilla creme and white chocolate caramel latte.

Make it special.
Many specialty coffee drinks are also easy to make at home, such as mocha coffee, gingerbread coffee, almond coffee and Irish coffee. They can often be made with just a few simple ingredients from recipes on websites such as allrecipes.com and others, providing a fun way to top off a dinner party or savor alone by the fireplace.

Create a new blend.
Research shows more coffee lovers are buying whole beans and grinding them at home for a fresher, richer flavor. Take your coffee grinds one step further and become a true “Roastmaster” by creating a whole new blend of your own. Mix and match flavored beans or beans from different coffee-growing countries to develop new tastes and sensations you won’t find in your average cup of coffee. For peak flavor and the ultimate freshness, package your blend in an airtight container and store it in a dark, room-temperature location.

So go ahead and turn yourself loose in the kitchen. It’s easier than ever to customize your cup.

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The Kau district's Ka Lae Point, the Southernmost point of the USA

When most people think of premium Hawaiian coffee, the first word that comes to mind is “Kona,” but Ka’u coffee is gaining in popularity, as was clear in the first Ka’u Coffee Festival that was held on April 27th in Pahala.

The crowd-drawing event celebrated the farmers that grow the coffee as well as the culture of Ka’u.  

The festivities included a coffee tasting, fun for the kids, and a coffee recipe contest, among other activities.

You can catch videos of and about the fest over at Big Island News.

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• Use  a reusable shopping bag while you’re out and about
• Carry a reusable coffee mug with you
• Also have a reusable water bottle on you

Taking these tiny steps are a great way to improve your carbon footprint!

Coffee lovers everywhere can celebrate Earth Day in a coffee-lovin’ way at the following places:

Charlotte, NC:

Blynk Organic will be hosting a free organic and direct trade coffee tasting 7 am – 4 pm today in celebration of Earth Day. It’s located at located in the lobby of 200 South Tryon St. uptown Charlotte.

Knoxville, Tennessee:

At Blackbird Coffeehouse, Bring your own travel mug (20 oz. limit) today and receive 50 cent coffee or 50% off any specialty drink!

Canada:

Planet Organic Cafes in Canada are offering free cake and organic coffee today. Also, get a free Planet Organic recycled shopping bag with any purchase today only.

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Does the same apply to seeing the cosmos in a cup of coffee?  I think so.

Duke physicists claim to have seen exactly that – principles of the universe in a cup of coffee.  The Science Blog reported that:

A Duke University professor and his graduate student have discovered a universal principle that unites the curious interplay of light and shadow on the surface of your morning coffee with the way gravity magnifies and distorts light from distant galaxies.

They think scientists will be able to use violations of this principle to map unseen clumps of dark matter in the universe.

Light rays naturally reflect off a curve like the inside surface of a coffee cup in a curving, ivy leaf pattern that comes to a point in the center and is brightest along its edge.

Mathematicians and physicists call that shape a “cusp curve,” and they call the bright edge a “caustic,” based on an alternative dictionary definition meaning “burning bright,” explains Arlie Petters, a Duke professor of mathematics, physics and business administration. “It happens because a lot of light rays can pile up along curves.”

It just goes to show how much one can glean from the little things in life - I think William Blake would be proud.

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