Thinsulate Insulated Coffee Carafe Cozy

November 11th, 2012

There are coffee cozies for French presses so why not design one for carafes used with automatic drip coffee brewers?

That’s exactly what Koffee Kompanions did!

Noting that coffee carafes with electric coffee makers are the same size and shape as many teapots, we tried our large tea cozy on a 12 cup carafe and found it a perfect fit. We designed the Coffee Carafe Cozy with the same fabric print used for Kozee Y – Architecture of Coffee used on French presses. It has the same 200 weight Thinsulate Insulation by 3M that is in all our other products. Your coffee will stay drinkable for at least 60 minutes!

Want to move your coffee carafe to your office, work station, or craft area? Put a cozy on it. Don’t forget your Kup Kap for your mug. You won’t have to hurry to finish your coffee before it gets cold!

Want to move your carafe to your dining table? A cozy not only keeps your brew hotter, longer but also makes your table setting prettier!

Want to surprise someone special with breakfast in bed? You know what to do!

Posted in Coffee, Guest & Entertaining Ideas, Kup Kap, Tea Tabard, Unique Product Uses | 1 Comment »

Boulder Caffeine Crawl After Party – Boulder Organic Coffee & Boca Java coffees

October 31st, 2012

When the three tour groups finished visiting the shops on the Boulder Caffeine Crawl, they gathered in front of Foolish Craig’s restaurant for the After Party and a raffle. Everyone had a raffle ticket in their goodie bag. They could buy more tickets to increase their chances of winning a prize.

The grand prize was a Baratza Vario-W grinder worth $575. The winner was very excited because he enjoys grinding fresh beans from a local roaster and brewing with his French press and espresso machine!

While the crawl walkers gathered, more coffee was served from Boca Java Direct Trade Estate Coffee and Boulder Organic Coffee.

The money collected from the sale of the raffle tickets was donated to Environment for the Americas, Conserving Birds by Connecting People. The group offers education programs about birds and their conservation.

Jason, owner of Caffeine Crawl, passed out the prizes as ticket numbers were called out.

Perry won two bags of coffee beans from Boca Java Direct Trade Estate Coffee!

I won two Kup Kaps from Koffee Kompanions; however, I declined the prize and someone else went home happy with the two Kup Kaps.

Enjoy the complete photo album of the 2012 Boulder Caffeine Crawl. When you see how much fun everyone had, perhaps you’ll join us in 2013 for the Denver Caffeine Crawl!

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Boulder Caffeine Crawl – The Boxcar Coffee Roasters

October 27th, 2012

Shop #5 on the 2012 Boulder Caffeine Crawl was Boxcar Coffee Roasters. The business shares its location with Cured so don’t be confused when you walk in. Beverages are served to the left and food is bought to the right.

This isn’t a steam engine. It’s an Ideal Rapid coffee roaster built in Germany in 1929 by Ferdinand Gothot Maschinenfabrik Gmbh. It’s built with heavy iron castings to keep the roasting temperature extremely stable. Vajra used his mechanical skills to restore and modernize it. Roasting experts consider it one of the most unique roasters in the country.

Vajra was set up to begin the demonstration when we walked in. He said they have a unique brewing method they call “cowboy coffee.” Just as the cowboys placed their grounds in water boiled over a campfire, Boxcar’s baristas immerse freshly ground coffee in 200-degree water taken from a special water dispenser.

They continue to heat it in a large pre-heated lab beaker placed on a custom-built mantle. This mantle heats and tumbles the brew until a sweet smell rising from the grounds indicates it’s ready to pour. Baristas then drop in ice to settle the grounds and stop the “brew momentum” before pouring it through a strainer to create a rich, non-acidic, slightly sweet cup of coffee.

Here’s a close view of the custom-built mantle Boxcar had to create in order to fit the round base of a typical oversized lab beaker.  Once the beaker is in place, they continue heating it to a low boil (203 degrees in Colorado), so they can produce the “cowboy coffee” described above.

The crawl walkers were eagerly waiting to enjoy their fifth caffeine fix for the day!

Because Boxcar’s method produces such a rich, heady brew, it is especially good poured over ice.  Perry usually prefers hot coffee over cold, but he said this brew would get strong reviews from his iced-coffee-drinking cousins in Wisconsin!

Enjoy more 2012 Boulder Caffeine Crawl photos!

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Boulder Caffeine Crawl – the Cup Espressocafe

October 14th, 2012

Shop #4 on the Boulder Caffeine Crawl was the Cup Espressocafe on Pearl Street. After shooting photos, I chatted with Wendy, one of the owners. She answered several questions, we shared some of our business experiences as women in the coffee industry, and I showed her the Kup Kollar donated for the goodie bags.

Our samples were brewed Kyoto style which is a popular method in Japan. The water slowly makes its way down the brewer at a rate of one drip in forty seconds. It takes about two hours for the first drip to hit the bottom carafe. The drip is adjusted as the coffee blooms. A filter at the top spreads out the drip to avoid tunneling in one spot.

Wendy is preparing our samples while questions are answered.

Our cup of Toddy fair trade coffee had a slice of banana nut bread on the saucer for an added treat. I didn’t need a Kup Kap because the coffee was poured into the cup over ice.

Real men eat quiche, so I suspect there are many real men coming in to the shop!

I asked Wendy why were there hockey skates displayed near the ceiling of the shop. She told me that she is a HUGE hockey fan. Having spent many hours in ice rinks watching hockey games as a hockey mom and a fan of the Air Force Academy Falcons, I understand her enthusiasm!

Enjoy more 2012 Boulder Caffeine Crawl photos!

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Boulder Caffeine Crawl – The Laughing Goat Coffeehouse

October 2nd, 2012

The Laughing Goat Coffeehouse on Pearl Street was our third stop on the Boulder Caffeine Crawl. Their specialty is world class espresso. The coffeehouse promotes the arts with weekly readings, musical performances, and gallery showings.

The two presenters sat on a piano bench. Jason of the Red Tennis Shoes asked one of many questions queried by the group.

After tasting his sample Perry wrote, “The espresso-based Americano has robust flavor with just a slight lingering hint of the unroasted bean, which gives it a distinctive following taste. Crema on the surface is rich and consistent.”

For you laymen, Perry means “a great cup of coffee!” 

The laughing goat hangs above the counter.

For tea drinkers, The Laughing Goat offers several selections of tea from the company ‘two leaves and a bud’. There were tea bags and coupons in our goodie bags.

Along the back wall of the coffeehouse there was a shrine to the arts, writing, intellect, sciences, and wisdom. Enjoy more 2012 Boulder Caffeine Crawl photos!

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Boulder Caffeine Crawl – Ozo Coffee

September 24th, 2012

Four days before the Caffeine Crawl, Perry had a business meeting in Boulder. We stopped in at Ozo Coffee because our son recommended the shop. Perry ordered a 12 ounce cappuccino in a latte cup. He said it was excellent and was pleased to have two full shots. His orange scone tasted homemade and fresh. My refreshing orange juice was poured behind the counter. The staffer asked if I wanted it over ice. My chocolate chip cookie was soft, chewy, and delicious.

The friendly staff gave us excellent customer service. They were upbeat and seemed to enjoy working the coffee scene. The shop was very busy the entire time we were there.

Our second Boulder Caffeine Crawl stop was Ozo Coffee on Pearl Street. The staff brewed the same coffee and a 1 to 17 ratio of coffee to water measuring to exact gram in three different brewing methods. They used a French press, Chemex, and Pour over coffee brewers.

The Crawl walkers watched and learned while the staff demonstrated the three brewing methods.

The staffer is labeling the sample cups with the name of the brewing method used.

The staffer is pouring coffee brewed in the Chemex into the sample cups.

Samples drunk! Perry’s taste buds reported, “The Chemex produced an intermediate medium robust flavor and carried a floral taste. The Pour over had a lighter, weaker flavor but isolated the flavors of the beans. My favorite, the French Press, brewed a bold, strong coffee with the flavor of all the beans blended together.”

The staff patiently answered questions from the Crawl walkers.

Perry, my loyal helper, took notes for me while I shot photos. Enjoy more 2012 Boulder Caffeine Crawl photos!

Posted in Cities to visit, Coffee, Coffee & Tea shops, Colorado, Entertainment/Events, Kup Kap, Kup Kollar, Other beverages | No Comments »

Boulder Caffeine Crawl – Piece Love & Chocolate

September 19th, 2012

The day after the Boulder Caffeine Crawl, I made a mug of hot chocolate from a tin I bought at Piece Love & Chocolate, our first tour stop. The lovely shop was decorated with fall colors and Halloween items.

Owner, Sarah Amorese, taught us several interesting things about chocolate. Everything in the store is

made with chocolate,

is about chocolate,

 

or has chocolate in it.

Delicious chocolates begin with cocoa pods filled with pulp and seeds.

There were wall shelves filled with many varieties of chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate!

We were served two samples. The first was a cup of warm Sippin’ Hot Chocolate, a silky blend of cream, milk, and white and dark chocolate with a dash of chili pepper in it. . The second was a dark chocolate truffle. Thank you, Sarah for our delicious caffeine fix!

Enjoy more 2012 Boulder Caffeine Crawl photos!

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2012 Boulder Caffeine Crawl by The LAB

September 12th, 2012

Founded by Jason Burton, The LAB connects specialty beverage companies with consumers through social media, public relations, and networking. LAB team members share beverage news and create unique marketing solutions for the industry. They plan events and travel to cities across the country. Last weekend The LAB team came to Boulder, Colorado for a Caffeine Crawl.

Each person received a goodie bag with a Barista magazine, water bottle, Caffeine Crawl button pin, cute mug, Two Leaves and a Bud teabags and coupon, Wholesome Sweeteners and coupon, Yelpstick lip balm, and a raffle ticket. Koffee Kompanions added a Kup Kollar cup wrap!

The crawl walkers gathered at 13th and Pearl Street between 10:00 and 10:30 am. The weather was Colorado perfect!

These kool red tennis shoes led our group for about 5 hours of adventure and fun!

Jason of the kool tennis shoes, used his phone to shoot photos, keep in touch with the other tour guides, and receive game information about his 5 year old son’s first soccer game. Having stood on soccer field side lines for many games played by my daughter and son, I shared his excitement when he read that his son had scored a goal!

Jason, clip board in hand, explained the drill. The aloof man wearing black is Kent. He and Naomi led two other groups of crawl walkers.

Sean and Colleen helped carry our goodie bags and my backpack. Colleen used her phone to send photos to her friends and tell them where she was along the Crawl route.

It was time to move down Pearl Street to our first stop. The kool red tennis shoes were on the move!

Enjoy more 2012 Boulder Caffeine Crawl photos!

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Flying American Airlines from the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference 2012

September 3rd, 2012

Waiting in the Dallas airport, we heard Perry’s name called. When he returned from the American Airlines desk, he told me, “The bad news is we were bumped from our exit row seats. The good news is we were put into first class.”

We were served a wonderful meal in our comfy seats – moist baked chicken, sweet potatoes with a creamy sauce, and a fresh salad with artichokes, black olives, tomatoes, and mushrooms. The peanut butter cheese cake was yummy! My Pretty Pink cup wrap kept my diet coke icy cold.

After eating our meal, Perry sipped a second mug of hot coffee covered with a Kup Kap while he read on his Kindle.

I love taking photos out the plane window!

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Last day at Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference 2012

August 28th, 2012

I saw this cup in the hotel lobby. I assumed the drinker wasn’t attending the Mayborn Literary Conference because they received recyclable cup wraps in their goodie bags!

The napkin says, “Recycle it – again.” It explained how the napkin was made from recyclable materials then asked the user to recycle the napkin when he/she finished using it.

Someone needs a lesson in saving the planet! 

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