what a great invention!

Discovering new products and getting new products around the shop is one of the best parts of my job. I love learning about new brewing mechanisms and teaching the staff about different coffee makers. Recently, we got a Capresso order in with lots of great things!

My newest favorite gadgets is the Capresso a la Carte-

ITS AMAZING!

 

The best part about this machine is that it doesn't just make coffee- it makes tea too!

There are interchanging filter baskets, one is labeled black for coffee and the other gray for tea.

Not only can you decide betweeen tea or coffee, but Capresso has an answer to the Keurig K-cups ... because you also have a one cup or full pot option. You can make one cup without having the wasteful plastic cups you throw away everyday.

I am a FAN!

I really like that I can pick what I want as opposed to it just being a coffee maker, and the quantity adjustments are really helpful. Way to go Capresso for making a machine that caters to the coffee/tea drinker!

Perks to this machine (a little infor from Capresso.com

Quick-heat pump brewing system can brew first single cup in less than 60 seconds

Brews 42 oz. carafe in less than 6 minutes

Innovative brewing system adjusts automatically to the amount of coffee in the filter to deliver mild to double strength coffee

Completely customizable brewing and size options

Programmable small cup, large cup and tea buttons

Optimal brewing with wide, maximum saturation and extraction brew head

Separate dishwasher safe coffee & tea filters for no flavor exchange

Quick brew, rapid steeping tea system

Removable 52 oz. water tank

Auto shut-off after 2 hours

Removable drip tray

Dishwasher safe coffee filter, tea filter, glass carafe and drip tray

Slim design, less than 7 inches wide

wildmelitta.

I am WILD about solid colored kitchenware. Vintage, new, but a variety of color is so inspiring to me.

solid color ceramic maker

(my one exception is Otagiri mugs which have crazy pictures on them and are all hand designed!)

My plates/bowls are all Fiesta, brightly lining my cabinets and hanging from the mug tree in my kitchen. I love mix-matching the different colors ... cobalt blue bowls and paprika colored plates, lime green saucer with a cornflower yellow mug. Mixing Pyrex bowls- just kill me! They are so cool with all the wild colors!

my melitta

I JUST LOVE IT! 

The colors bring joy to me, my kichen is a gathering place and the place I share the most with people with food or coffee.

Another kitchen MUST HAVE is my Melitta. I prefer two brewing mechanisms; my BUNN and my manual Melitta pour over. I love the conveince of my BUNN, but on a morning where I can laze around the house reading books and cleaning, I enjoy my Melitta. I like making cup by cup. I like having a cup of one variety of coffee and switching to another too, so the Melitta gives me that ability.

 

 While searching Etsy the other night I came across a little shop that had a lot of coffee accessories. I had to look. I own a vintage Melitta, with a little hard plastic filter holder and a beautifully designed carafe. I found it at Court Days, sometimes you can find little vintage booths (yard sales) there. I have used it a handfull of times and absolutely love it. In this Etsy store I found lots of SOLID COLORED Melitta makers.

I had no clue that Melitta made these, most of them are vintage, but the are so great! I love that they came with a ceramic carafe and a solid colored, matching filter holder.

Now I need one!

I wanted to share a few things that inspire me; coffee & certain vintage items. I love what I do and finding two things that go together in both areas is a lot of fun.

sinus, cold, flu season teas.

Welcome to Kentucky with the weather hot one day and cold the next.

It is difficult on the immune system to function and recover with such erratic weather changes, going from one extreme to the next.

Sinuses, flus, colds ... all are just yuck!!

Hot tea is a great way to sooth some of your symptoms. I was reaserching some of our teas here to see what was in them to soothe some of these sypmtoms and give ease to them. Several of our teas have great herbal additives that are good for what ails you. :)

 

Researchers have discovered that some herbs, in fact, destroy viruses. Besides fighting viruses and bacteria directly, herbs can relieve unpleasant symptoms caused by colds and flus.  Lavender is one that has been proven to inhibit viruses, but is also good for sleeping and soothing properties that calm the body's systems down, and Peppermint also carries an antiviral punch. Both of these herbs also foil bacteria responsible for infections in the throat, sinuses, ears, and eyes that often come along with the flu or a cold. In addition these herbs aid in relaxing your cough, in digestion, and encourage circulation. Even if you're in the thick of your sickness herbs will help you heal faster and stave off future illnesses.

Bergamot and Lavender also stimulate the production of infection-fighting white blood cells called leukocytes. Licorice seem to slow down viral replication by increasing the production of macrophages - white blood cells that devour viruses.

It's amazing to me what we can do with medicine, but it also amazes me what we can do without. Tea and herbs can definately help in assisting us to a easier recovery. Come check out what we can offer you and the herbs that can help you get back to the daily grind.

a cup a day.

The aroma of fresh coffee and the warm mug pressed against my lips ready for my morning taste of freshly roasted, freshly ground coffee is the start of my day- today. Nothing is better than being in the still of the shop- before customers and staff arrive and getting the bar ready to serve our product to people. Getting their morning cup of coffee is their ritual; and mine too. Everyday we make and have a delicious drink, sip a cup of tea, or pour a cup of black coffee for ourselves or for someone else. It's this place, the service, and the product that keep peolple rolling in. Every month we have a new coffee calendar that we create to serve/showcase a new coffee everyday, that way people can taste and try what we roast and offer. Today's coffee of the day is Copenhagen. As if Vienna Roast wasn't absolutely amazing on it's own, we added half Colombian Supremo to it. This blend is in my top 5 favorite blends. Why? Because as simple as both elements are in the blend they birth a whole new flavor on my palate. It's the best of both worlds- between dark and light beans. Colombian Supremo is grown along the foothills of the Andes Mountains where climate is temperate and moist. We carrry the highest grade of Colombian bean and roast is medium making it rich, superbly balanced, sometimes with a nutty flavor. Vienna Roast is a vienna raosted Colombian bean; making it slightly spicy, full bodied, and oily. These two combined make a delectable and rich blend. It is a great morning coffee and evening, because like I said ... it's the best of both worlds!

time for tea.

Starting my morning drives to work I often wonder what my choice will be between coffee and tea. Usually coffee wins, only because I need that morning wake up jolt to get myself in gear. Recently, I have come to enjoy and love the ritual of tea and its soothing, healing properties. In the same way people share conversation and laughter over a cup of coffee, tea drinkers have their traditions of 'afternoon tea' and much of the same. In the evenings I have been enjoying a cup of tea and have found that it is a good ending to my days ... a peaceful, uninterrupted time I can grab a book; read and sip, & it gives me a solution to my local honey collection that's been sitting in the cabinet :). The process of tea is what draws me in; first you have to boil your water (which takes time), then you have to steep your tea 3-5 minutes, wait for it to cool and then enjoy. Soething about taking a few minutes to sit and be silent and wait is calming. It's in those few minutes that my heart beat a little slower and my mind takes a break from running. Tea is good for all kinds of things ... and I learn something everyday. Some teas are recommended for cardiovascular health, weight loss, cognitive and bone health, and in general a prescription for good health. Take some time to get to know tea, give it a try!

new line from Republic Tea Co.

Republic of Tea is so good! No matter what I've gotten from them I have always enjoyed it. They know tea! 

We've recently started carrying more Rooibos tea from them with really nice, eye-catching labels and the tea is pre-bagged in a unique tea tin full of information and great descriptions as to what is in the tea. Which is really helpful especially if you are searching for one particular herb that isn't carried in bulk. This new tea line is geared towards getting you ready for your New Year's Resolution workout or replenish what you used after you are finished. They all have weight loss herbs in them and refreshing herbs to help recover. So encouraging and helpful! 

 We are carrying Get Hydrated, Get Restored, Get Burning, Get Active, and Get Limber ... 

What's in them ... I wondered the same thing, so let me tell you!

Get Hydrated- an organic green rooibos (naturally decaffeinated) mixed with Hibiscus, to boost refreshment and re hydration  dates (which replenishes the potassium and electrolytes), with black current and rose-hips extract to add even more electrolytes and antioxidants. If ever a tea was "cool" this would be it! 

Get Restored- After a hard workout we need something to help rebuild. Detoxify, balance sodium and potassium, take in essential nutrients  A base of organic green rooibos combined with Ramon nuts (known for potassium) and chicory root (which aids in a quick recovery). Milk Thistle seeds help support detoxification, carob balances blood sugar, and grape seeds to give you a boost of antioxidants protection! ARE YOU READY?

Get Burning- Are you feeling sluggish? This spicy herbal blend will rev up your internal engine! "Spicy" increases the body's metabolism and resistance to stress. This tea also had an organic rooibos tea base with Holy Basil (which increases energy and stress), Cordyceps (a Traditional medicinal herb used by Chinese athletes to boost energy and endurance, and the KICK of chili peppers. This tea stimulates the body with spice.  

Get Active- Exercising should be a part of our daily habits ... some of us are disciplined and some of us are NOT! This tea is designed for both parties. An organic green rooibos base with Holy Basil (which is rejuvenating and helps the body adapt as it copes with physical stress) and Licorice root and Maca root (these 2 support the endocrine system). The endocrine system keeps all our systems in balance! A great start to any workout! 

Get Limber- We all need a little assistance when it comes to taking care of our joints. This tea helps reduce inflammation  and allow joints, ligaments, and muscles to stretch more fully. Another organic green rooibos based tea with Turmeric (an anti-inflammatory) Cat's Claw and Yucca extract (which is great for relieving sore joints), and lastly Ginger Root (which helps reduce post-exercise inflammation). This is a 5 Star team of goodness you must try pre-exercise.  

and it's gone ....

Where has all the time gone?

Everyone says that time flies, especially here under the blanket of great drinks, customers, and satellite radio :) ... but really as cliche as it is time has flown by and another year faces us all.

I was walking through the shop the other day and semi-reflecting on the year 2012. What we did good and bad, hoping that we remained true to what we do and giving people quality customer service and great coffee & drinks, what 2013 was going to look like ... all these things rolling around in my head- I am excited! With every new year there are new opportunities and faces we get to meet, our town in thriving and growing (and so are we). We have such an amazing connection working at a LOCAL coffee shop with our customers and the rituals they following in pursuing coffee. We get to see sides of people's lives and be in the epicenter of change and conversation, meetings and engagements, learning and trying new thing ... it's really kind of neat! We are constantly growing and are challenged by the people who come in here.

We've had a great year! Coffee Times has had a great year. :) We've accomplished exactly what we should have; connecting with our community and loving coffee. We've shared our lives with you and let you share yours here. We appreciate that! We hope that this next year we can do a lot of the same and more. New products, new events, and new inspirations!