The Coffee Project

If you're friends with my husband Sam on Facebook, you may have seen some things from him in the last couple of weeks about coffee. I know. Not wine? What's up with that?

This is a new project Sam started with Picacho Coffees to do offer a sommelier crafted coffee available through Picacho and at East End Wines. So, why do you want to have a wine guy help "craft" your coffee?  If you've ever met a coffee geek, you might notice that they're not all that different from wine geeks: they like to take a liquid and pick it apart and show you exactly why it is you like it (or don't like it). Sam gave me a spiel about coffee is a natural fit after you've already practiced breaking down flavors for wine and beers and sake into all these different types of aromas and textures and blahzeeblahbloo (that is a technical term for whatever it is your sommelier husband says after the first 3 minutes of talking about wine, beer or sake)...   I also figure after you drink a lot of vino, at some point in the next 24 hours, you're probably gonna need a cup of coffee, amirite?

At any rate, they're going to start offering two different blends: 529 Plan and the East End Blend. (The 529 Plan is a bit of an inside joke about where the Sam's proceeds from this little project will go. It's also why our son's names are crafted into the label--that's a grasshopper under a rowan tree).  The 529 Plan is a light-medium roast and the East End Blend is darker. Right now, both of them are caffeinated, but there's a plan to get some decaf in the mix sometime in the future.  You can read more sommelier-esque notes about both blends below, though I will tell you, I have no clue what Arusha is. I thought it was the stuff that gave you the poison ivy rash, but a quick dictionary check tells me that's urushiol. I was close.

They're having a tasting THIS FRIDAY at East End Wines from 5-8pm to introduce the coffees, so I'm sure Sam can tell you all about it.. Check it out if you're around!

Notes from the Sammelier:

Coffee – 529 Blend – Light-Medium Roast, Balanced Brightness, Medium Body – 13.57 for a 12 oz. bag – Tasting Note – Floral, Caramel, Spice from the Blue Mountain, Arusha, Kent, Lemon, Caramel, Tobacco from the Bourbon, Caturra, Catuai. Why we chose it for a wine shop – A noticeable brightness from acid, floral notes like those from hops and aromatic white wines, lemon like Chardonnay or Semillon, caramel like beer malt and Oregon oak, reminiscent of spicy tones brought by various wine grape varietals and oak influence from the aging of wine in cask, especially Oregon and Allier, France, which can also add smoky tones. Tobacco notes are also readily sensed in many Cabernet Sauvignons and Sangiovese.

Coffee – East End Blend – Medium-Dark Roast, Mild-Balanced Brightness, Medium-Full Body. 13.57 for a 12 oz. bag – Tasting Notes: Brown Sugar, Oak, Spice from the Caturra, Catui, Typica, Cacao Nibs, Cane Sugar, Orange Peel from the Bourbon varietals. Why we chose it for a wine shop – Tempranillo acts as a great frame for oak, as does Chardonnay, and the popularity of these varieties prove that people like it. Spice comes from oak, Nevers, France, Merlot has a spice cake note, Syrah / Shiraz, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo, Malbec, Petite Verdot, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Gris, Picpoul. This has a darker, more oaky feel, for people who like more full-bodied wines with some oak aging providing more structure.