Well, here it is: Our first official news letter. We’re going to try to write one every couple months to keep you updated on new coffees, teas and what’s going on at Cosmic Coffee. This newsletter is best enjoyed while sipping your favorite coffee or tea.
Sumatra: Kokowagayo, Café Femenino Foundation This single origin coffee is certified organic, Fair Trade, Small Producer Symbol (SPP)**, Grade 1, double picked, semi-washed and/or fully washed. Wow right? It has aromas of a well aged sherry oak cask, sun baked grasses and wildflowers on a summer hiking trail with flavors of coconut flan with a dusting of cocoa powder, a drizzle of vanilla bourbon sauce and a garnish of fresh rose petals. Want to learn more about this producer? or visit Sumatra — Café Femenino (cafefemenino.com)
Nayarit Mexico: This single origin, washed processed certified organic coffee comes from the municipality of Presidio de los Reyes where the population is about 96% indigenous Cora. The coffee farms are far back in the mountains accessible only by a four-hour mule ride. We feel very fortunate to be able to offer this coffee to you. It’s a medium roast that really shines as a pour over. (If you’re wondering; we use a Hario V60.) We got aromas of an orange tree in full bloom and dried plums that have been soaking in maple syrup with flavors that start with toffee, dried figs and black currants and end with a sweet tart apple as it cools. It has a medium body with medium low acidity. We have about a hundred pounds of this coffee that Carlos will be roasting over the next couple of months.
Did you know we also have tea? We put the same care into sourcing our teas as you have come to expect from the coffees we offer. The offerings are limited right now but no less sublime. This month we’re featuring the Japanese Sencha. It comes from a family owned and operated tea farm in the Shizuoka prefecture in Japan. This Chumushi style loose leaf medium steamed green tea is beautifully balanced with aromas of steamed rice, butter lettuce and freshly mown hay on a warm summer morning. In the cup the mouthfeel is soft, smooth and velvety with a touch of sweetness and slight astringency. It tastes of sugar snap peas and steamed brown rice. Click here to buy
This serene beautiful label was created by the super talented Santa Cruz California based artist Krista Pollock. Check her out at kp_tapestries.com.
On the Radio: We hitched a ride with Jake and Elwood in the Bluesmobile. Here’s some of what we’re listening to:
- Don’t Worry ‘bout Me Mighty Sam McClain
- Midnight Train Buddy Guy
- Bad Woman Blues Beth Hart
- I Drink Alone George Thorogood
- Evil Koko Taylor
- I’ll Play The Blues For You Joe Bonamassa
- Hound Dog Big Mama Thornton
- Sweet Home Chicago The Blues Brothers
In the Art Room: We’d like to share with you some artists whose work we like. George Gama is a fine art photographer in Los Angeles CA. (Full disclosure he’s also my brother in law.) He specializes in photographing Low Riders and Chicano culture but will pretty much take a picture of anything that catches his eye in and around LA town. You can check out his work on Instagram @newer_89 I grew up in an area that was largely Hispanic and I remember seeing the Low Riders cruzin’ every Sunday up and down Santa Clara Street even though there were signs posted everywhere saying “NO CRUISING”. Kinda makes me miss my Mary Janes and Ben Davis.
Where ever you are thanks for being here.
Until next time,
Jolynn
*The Café Femenino coffee program is one-of-a-kind ethical sourcing model committed to ending the cycle of poverty affecting women coffee farmers across the world. Café Femenino provides direct compensation to women farmers, along with the opportunity and resources to enact positive change in their communities and on their own terms.
**The SPP (the acronym of the Spanish name, Simbolo de Pequeños Productores )The Small Producers’ Symbol, SPP, is a label that represents an alliance among organized small producers to build a local and global market that values the identity and the economic, social, cultural and ecological contributions of products from Small Producers’ Organizations