You know that not only do I love to support indy companies but I love to support companies that are actually doing something positive in the world. Beuna Beans is one of these companies. Here’s why:

Buena Beans brings the coffee from La Violeta, Costa Rica to the American market and uses the profits to improve the local school. It is run by Kate Schneider, a former volunteer teacher in the town.

Kate spent a year living and working in La Violeta. She was impressed by the quality of the coffee and amazed by the history of the town. Coffee had pulled the community out of dire poverty over three generations. Thing is, there are no opportunities outside of small-scale farming for the generation of children growing up now and future generations.

With a few thousand dollars, the community could afford to build a secure space to house computers that it received as a donation. With the infrastructure already in place for an internet connection, the entire community could access the Internet through a free connection provided by the government. All they need is four walls and a roof.

Every purchase you make from Buena Beans is a direct action in support of global educational initiatives, sustainable development, and great coffee. They need to sell a total of 4500 lbs of coffee to meet this need. They have all ready sold a lot of that.  If everyone who reads this bought just one pound that goal would be met.

I am not getting paid for this. I just wanted to let you know that this is going on and you can be a part of it. I reviewed Buena Beans Cafe  la Violeta earlier in the year.

image: sxc

image: Buena Beans

The holidays are nearly upon us, folks. I like holiday cups but I hate the fact that once January hits they look kinda forlorn. I think this one would work for me most of the fall and winter. I love it.
Find it here on Amazon.
image: Amazon

I have a non-alcoholic  version  of White Chocolate Mocha as well. This is a great coffee to drink when you are relaxing and watching those old Christmas movies, the snow swirling gently outside your window…

White Chocolate Mocha

1/4 cup light cream
4 oz espresso
2 tablespoons white chocolate syrup
1 oz white chocolate, chopped
1 tsp Creme de Cacao
1 tsp Amaretto
Whipped cream

Heat cream until it almost boils. Remove it from the heat
Add the chopped white chocolate and whisk
Stir in the Creme de Cacao and Amaretto, whisk well.
Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the white chocolate around the sides of a heated mug
Pour in espresso and then …read more

It isn’t at all difficult to make your own coffee syrups. When you make your own you can not only have those that the coffee shops use; you can have anything you can think up.

The basic formula for coffee syrup is one cup of water to one cup of sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves and then simmer for about five minutes, or until the syrup is reduced by half. The different flavors come in when you add cinnamon or vanilla or whatever you like. As a general rule the flavors should be added during the …read more

I have come clean about a lot of stuff here. If you have read very long you have figured out I am really not a coffee snob at all; I just like really good coffee. You want to drink Maxwell House? Knock yourself out. If you like it you drink it, you wont get argument from me.

Unless you are doing a review, or are a coffee roaster (or similar) you probably should just enjoy the flavor.
What makes coffee perfect, to my mind, is the reason you are drinking it. I loved the coffee dates Marc and I used to have, …read more

I don’t know if you have ever bought tea online from the English Tea Store but they have some awesome tea and tea items. Until November 14 (2009)  you can get free shipping on an order of $20.00 by adding coupon code fall09.

We used to buy this tea when we had the tea room and I can tell you that the tea is very high quality. One of our favorites was called Casablanca, also one of Marc and my favorite movies! The prices are very reasonable and the coupon code makes it impossible to turn down a few tins of …read more

You know..sometimes we need something to remind us just how awesome we really are. I am having one of those phases in my personal life right now, where it seems that everything is working to make me believe that I am less than human; not good enough, not attractive enough, not smart enough, not (fill in the blank) enough.
So, this Wonderwoman cup is my pick of the week.
Isn’t it awesome?
Image:via Amazon

A little over a month ago I reviewed Cafe Latte at Town East Mall in Mesquite. I only go up there about once a month for a hair appointment so I am totally out of the loop as to the daily goings on. I was surprised when Cafe Latte was no longer there but had been replaced by Centaur Coffee. So…Mesquite residents, here is yet another review. Same location, different owner. Still Indy.

I had a mocha latte breve, because to me if it doesn’t have cream it just isn’t worth drinking. It was

O.k. browsing the internet today I came across a really cute idea. These homemade tea bags  are just awesome. They would make incredible Christmas gifts for the tea lover for sure.

I found them at Bonzai Aphrodite, which may be added to my top ten, because the blog, images, and stuff is amazing. Hey, you know I am impressed; I said awesome, incredible, and amazing in the first 55 words! Basically you take unbleached cheesecloth and fill it with your own personal tea blend. The result is an adorable, whimsical, cozy looking array of tea bags that would look fantastic in …read more

There is some indication that coffee slows liver damage from hepatitis according to the Reuters report I read this afternoon. In a study of 766 people with hepatitis-c related liver damage the coffee drinkers who ingested at least three cups of coffee per day had a 53 percent less chance of the progression of damage over a four year period of time than those who drank less coffee or none at all.

Interesting to note that coffee drinkers seem to have healthier livers over all according to the same report.
So, you want to detox? You probably need to just drink more …read more