Daterra Estate…the consummate expression of Brazil terroir?

We are fanatical about cup quality at Badbeard’s and it should surprise no one that we’re excited to offer several coffee from arguably the most progressive and consistently excellent producer in the world, Daterra Estate.  They micromanage their vast hectareage, respectful of the land, the people who tend and live in it, and as a result have created a wonderful portfolio of special coffees, all organic and Rainforest Alliance® certified.  They have pioneered agricultural development from seed to package (see Penta® System ...page loads somewhat slowly!)) and risen to the top in a country which this year, despite estimates of crop reduction, will likely produce more than 3.5 BILLION pounds of Arabica coffee.

One of the great joys of the coffee business is taking in the smell of the green beans when they first arrive at the roastery.  In the case of Daterra products, this means breaking the seal of the 25 lb, nitrogen-flushed foil bag (packaged as such at origin) and getting a noseful of fresh grassy sweetness.  The beans have been painstakingly picked, processed and moisture-stabilized and arrive in optimal condition for roasting.  Shelf-life is greatly extended with the Penta packaging and the coffees have been known to improve over years. For the espresso connoisseur in particular, the Daterra experience is a must. We were particularly jazzed by the Sweet Blue microlot (pulped natural Mundo Novo varietal, less that 8,000 lbs. produced) and the Sweet Collection.  Both stand on their own cupping merits, notably for their distinct chocolate and fruity overtones, but as primary espresso components really shine.  Sweet Yellow is still shining. Exceptionally tasty in milk and soy-based drinks! No wonder several of the last world champion baristas have used Daterra coffees in their signature blends….enjoy!

Absolute have-to-haves for coffee lovers....one of the highest-grown and most reponsibly traded Yirgacheffes ever experienced from Anbassa Bunna, organic and WAYYY better than fair trade.  Also two surprises of new crop  Daterra Estates, Brazil's finest producer....stay tuned....

Of course if you've ever driven into the Willamette Valley wine region from Portland you've likely passed by, and hopefully stopped in to eat, at Tina's Restaurant on Hwy 99W in Dundee.  Chefs/owners Tina and David Bergen have been graciously offering some of the finest mostly locally-grown/cultivated foods for many years now, and are equally fine people as restauranteurs.  Stop in and end your meal with a shot of Badbeard's special Deep Cello espresso, then eat some more.

New crop (2009) Antigua Pastoral has hit the shores from Guatemala and promises the same beautifully balanced, classic Antigua profile offered in last year's Pastoral.

New for this year is the delicious, full-bore Sumatran offering from the Aceh region.  For more info click here

A nice reprint in the May/June issue of wonderful trade mag Roast of the rating assessment of This is MY (house)! coffee which appeared in the February Coffee Review (www.coffeereview.com) alongside two others.  Also an interesting synopsis of coffee advertisiments thru the ages with a screen cap of one of the revolving Badbeard logos...."peacocks prefer it....", in the ahoy mateys page (p. 26). Thanks Connie Blumhardt, shanna Germain and gang

What, you didn't know that Weinland's amazing new album "Breaks in the Sun" is getting its birthing partay this weekend at Mississippi Studios in Portland???!!! Get on it!  Tix are blitzing out this week...Saturday night, April 11, two shows...doors at 7.  I'll be playing on a few tunes with the bros...Check out the bar and think past the PBRs for a microsecond...there'll be a large quantity of Weinmark served, and the barfolken promise to come up with some special drinks.  Weinmark, of course, is Badbeard's band tribute coffee, a sumptuous melange of world-class java processed with near-copious quantities of our favorite whiskey.  Somewhere there's an archival CDBaby newsletter opining that Weinmark is the year's most unusual merch table offering.....and locally speaking (we're in PDX...is there anything NOT about local??) sales of bags of Weinmark generate proportional $$$$ for our favorite local, non-profit teen-mentoring organization, p:ear (www.pearmentor.org)  So pick some up and enjoy, support Weinland and p:ear simultaneously. The CD's fabulous, and if you have yet to experience Weinland in concert, NOW'S THE FRIGGIN' TIME dudes!

Andrea and I, yon Badbeard, are thrilled to be the only source for the exquisite new crop Kattehollay Peaberry from the Chikmagalur district.  This is an awesome coffee, grown at an unusually high 4500 ft elevation.  Sustainably-farmed of course, as are all of the coffees sourced by Karnataka Plantation Coffees...Kattehollay Estate being a client of KPCI's micro-nutrient program.  For those who have never tried an India coffee, this is a winner...

Badbeard's Coffee is proud to announce it's monthly coffee giveaway! Enter to win a free pound of Badbeard's super-premium fresh-roasted coffee, delivered free to your door and ready to grind!

Each month we will select a winner at random from all entrants that month. Only one entry per person will be accepted, but you can enter each month for an additional chance to win! Just think what you could do with the money you'd save with a free pound of coffee...ride public transportation a couple of times...switch to organic milk for a week...buy your friend one of those song-playing greeting cards...buy an extra pound of Badbeard's Coffee...there's no end to the possibilities!

Wouldn't you love a free pound of our coffee? What are you waiting for? Enter today!

Maybe, but it will also make you run faster! In The New York Times "Personal Best" fitness column March 25, Gina Kolata reported on the indisputable performance-enhancing effect of caffeine on both endurance and strength. Perhaps the most-studied drug in history, caffeine is believed to increase power output in muscle tissue by freeing calcium, as well as providing a mental boost. Additional research has recently shown that caffeine's ergogenic effects continue with regular use...no habituation. And unlike other performance-enhancing drugs that have very specific effects, caffeine improves performance in any sport or exercise.

Although you can simply swallow two 200-mg pills an hour before exercise, Badbeard has a better delivery mechanism...just grind, brew, enjoy and go!

No, not the movie. but the convening of the 2009 US Barista championship (USBC) at the Portland Convention Center from March 4 thru 6.  Should be an interesting and entertaining event, what with the new presence of the Nuova Simonelli Aurelia as the espresso machine at the forefront.  I've heard generally favorable reviews of the machine from more than a few Marzocco & Synesso regulars.

On Friday, March 5 at the noon-one thirty PM slot, Badbeard's will be offering a special Deep Cello espresso blend and a Daterra espresso blend for the 4th machine station, among the many NW and other roasters invited to kick in their offerings.  Stud-barista-in-the-making Ty Hauptman will be serving up killer shots and stuff, then repairing over to NE to work on his chest ink.

Thanks Phuong Tran!  Good luck to all the competitors!!  

PS....congrats to the Billy Wilson family on their 2 day old, 7#, 10oz capuccina, LOLA!!!!