Thing is, I can’t get them anymore. They closed the Starbucks locally that was good and left the one where all the really lazy people work open. Not sure how that worked but it did. Anyway..I figured it was time to learn how to make my own copy cat gingerbread latte.

If you want to make this really easy start out with the JazzyBird Espresso.

Gingerbread Latte Recipe

• 2- 4 oz espresso shot
• 2 tbs Monin Gingerbread Syrup
• 1/2 cup of whole milk steamed and frothed
• 3- 4 tbs whipped cream
• 1 tbs candied ginger
• 2 tbs caramel sauce
• Fresh grated nutmeg

1. A quick way to steam milk without a steamer is to heat it to a simmer on the stove (or in the microwave) and carefully blend it until it is frothy. Be careful though. It is very hot and if it flies out of the blender it will burn you.
2. Add the espresso shot to a warmed coffee mug.
3. Stir in the syrup
4. Add the milk
5. Put whipped cream on top, drizzle with caramel syrup, sprinkle with grated nutmeg and add the candied ginger

Serves 1

image SXC

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And all through the house

Not a creature was stirring

Because we usually drink coffee black ’round here.

The 29th was, in fact National Coffee Day and if you follow me on Twitter (and if you don’t you certainly should Marye Audet) you know that I had a very ….very …special visitor. Yes…it was……

Coffee Claus!

Coffee Claus Arrives in this Jazzy Sleigh

Oh….You know, here in Texas we require alternative methods of transportation  for Coffee Claus…Need a closer look?

Sleigh Detail - Is that Jazzy or What?

Once Coffee Claus got here he poured me an iced coffee and he and Marc found my National Coffee Day present…..Marc was maybe a little too enthusiastic about MY gift from Coffee Claus.

Ohhhh! Is that for ME?

And then Coffee Claus, Marc, Kyrie, and I had a nice chat before Coffee Claus had to leave to head to other parts of Texas.

Told Ya there Was a Coffee Claus!!!

So there you have it. For those of you who did not believe me that there really really IS a Coffee Claus, well I submit my proof right now!

JazzyBird is growing by leaps and bounds.. They are now in the WholeFoods in Dallas and Arlington, as well as Houston I think.  It is exciting to watch this company grow. I am not sure but I think that I was the first to blog JazzyBird and contact Shari.

Love to see small companies flourish. Be sure to harass your WholeFoods manager about getting Jazzy with it.

images:MaryeAudet

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And no matter how cool you are..you just gotta stay cool. Here is a great way to do it. This iced coffee recipe is worth buying old fashioned soda fountain glasses for. Seriously good. It was a big hit at the tea room.  It calls for 4 oz of espresso. Here is a GREAT place to use that JazzyBird that is still in the freezer.

Mocha Chiller

• 4 oz espresso, chilled
• 3/4 cup  coffee  ice cream
• 1/2 cup ice cubes
• Chocolate syrup
• Whipped cream

1. Blend the espresso, ice, ice cream, and sugar in a blender until smooth.
2. Squirt chocolate syrup around the inside of a tall, frosted glass
3. Pour in the espresso mixture
4. Top with whipped cream and a garnish of grated chocolate or chocolate syrup.

Makes one and I bet you won’t share.

Image:rafragoso, sxc

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But I just read that the roaster supplying McDonalds with their espresso coffee blend is Distant Lands in Tyler, Texas. Distant Lands is the same eco-friendly roaster that is supplying Panera. The beans are not organic but I believe that they are Fair Trade coffee beans.

Anyway, I like Panera coffee. That means that more than likely I will like McDonald’c coffee… and the thought scares me. You can read more about that here in the Chicago Tribune.

The Bible, in Proverbs, talks about things that the earth can’t hold up under. Things that are just too weird. Well..this may be one of them.

McDonald’s can’t get environmentally concerned and serve good coffee, that’s like Sonny Bryans BBQ place starting to serve only vegetarian meals. It is the end of the world as we know it!

It could add a whole new Happy Meal concept though. A little Happy Meal bag with a couple of biscotti, a macchiato, and maybe a section of the New York Times?   It could work!

If McDonald’s REALLY wanted to sell a lot of coffee they would turn to the brilliant, albeit criminal, minds in Malaysia.

Sometimes I know I have missed my calling and should be in marketing somewhere. Other times I know that I took way too many hallucinogenics as a teenager in the 70s and should probably be listening to Black Sabbath at 78 speed. You decide which it is tonight..I am going to bed.

Image:SXC

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In fact, almost before I had the post published that announced I had found this intriguing item and was asking for samples..well Shari had emailed me agreeing to send them.

They got here the very next day.  You know, I have worked with several companies. Some are fun to work with because of the real-ness of the people involved.  Some prefer to be a *corporation*.  JazzyBird is a fun company….and they are generous.

Have I mentioned how much I like generosity in a company?  I do.

So, I got numeorus samples.  Each small cup is filled with fresh espresso and then frozen.  You run the little cups under hot water, release the espresso ice into a cup, and microwave until hot without boiling.  You then have an espresso shot..

Which you can turn into a latte by adding 1/2 cup milk or cream….and a little sugar….and….

Really, whatever you would like.

Also, this stuff is going to be fantastic for recipes like tiramisu…

O.k…so…how does it taste?

This is truly some of the best espresso I have had.  I like it alot.  For about 45 cents a serving you don’t need the expensive espresso maker, you don’t need the timer, you don’t need anything except a freezer, a cup, and a microwave.  This is a great idea and a great coffee..and I imagine that it won’t be long before JazzyBird is available everywhere.

What can you do? Contact JazzyBird and let them know that you are interested and where you are.  Contact your local Wholefoods, or specialty store and let them know that this product is out there and you want it.  Companies rise and fall based on consumer opinion.  Let’s start supporting the small companies and let the big corporations know we are tired of the junk they serve us.

I will be publishing an interview with Shari in the next few days.  I think you will find it interesting.

images:marye audet

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Well, you can.  JazzyBird Coffee is picking up  the hole in the coffee market, so to speak.  Consumers who want their specialty coffees can have them at home without a  lot of equipment or expense.  A freezer and a microwave will just about do it.

JazzyBird makes espresso shots that you keep in your freezer and microwave as needed.  They cost works out to about 45 cents a shot.  They even have a decaf version.

The coffee, out of Louisiana, is being carried by a number of stores but they are all within the state.  There are two stores in MS. that carry it as well.  This is such a great idea that I imagine it won’t be long before you can find it locally.

The next question is..how does it taste? I can’t answer that.  I have contacted the company about getting some samples so if they send them, I promise to let you know what I think.  It is a cool idea for sure.

image:via JazzyBird

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The beans are dark and shiny, small and plump, without a lot  of broken or cracked coffee beans in the mix.  The aroma was about average on opening the bag, deep coffee scent but without any depth or complexity..you smell coffee.  Which is good, I mean you wouldn’t want to open a bag of espresso and smell hay, or asparagus, or something, right?

But I mean that there were no secondary notes.  Just coffee.

The coffee brewed up nice and dark.  We did almost double the amount of coffee we used.  I am wondering if it is the Arabica beans that they use, if we got a batch that was not as fresh as it could have been, or if they just roast a less robust coffee?  This was my one disappointment with Silver Joe’s.  The advertising is very extreme but the coffee is very couch potato.  Not a bad coffee at all, very good in its own way…but not extreme.  Nothing unexpected, no depth or edginess.  A little flat.

I do recommend trying the Silver Joe’s Coffee.  It  is a nice coffee.  Just don’t expect to get swept off to exotic places as you drink the cup… Maybe Iowa.

Image:Silver Joes

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If you remember that Irish Spring commercial then you are old.

I remember it.

Ahem….Anyway the University of Barcelona has done a study on the effects of a strong cup of coffee on men and women.

For the study they used 668 volunteers.  This is odd.  Why not 670?  665? Nope.  668.  Healthy volunteers.

And I think it was weird they felt the need to say “healthy volunteers.”  I mean who chooses sick people to test coffee?

They gave volunteers espressos, one containing 100 mgs of caffeine and one containing 5 mgs and men reacted more strongly to women to the 100 mgs.  The researchers said that they thought some of it was psychological because many of the men also reacted favorably to the decaf.

I refuse to make a comment about that.

Anyway, interesting study.  Now, could someone explain to me why in the world someone needed to get some sort of grant to fund a study to find out information that no one needs?

image:morguefile

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Love your coffee? Gotta have your lattes and espressos?  Well then, you might need something like this to make life bearable.

You know you want this.  You know….I want this!

Starbucks online is having a giveaway and you can enter to win this Ascaso Espresso machine.  This machine is touted as being the flagship of the Ascaso line.  It just doesn’t get better than this..and look! It comes in orange! (I am one of those weirdos that loves orange)

You have only until December 31, 2008 to register so you better get over there!

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Hmmm….

South Africa has created a new product that is it terming red espresso.  Apparently it is pretty good because it won the title of Best New Product in the Coffee Association of America’s Specialty Beverages category this month. Red Espresso has only been on the American market for eight months.

The espresso is made from espresso ground rooibus tea.   It is also on the top ten list for the World Tea Expo.

So, what do you think? Can a tea be an espresso? Is it just another advertising trick to get people to spend money? Would you try it? It is being touted as a healthy alternative to coffee.

I don’t know how I feel. I get tired of things that are offered as a healthy alternative to….xyz. To me, tea is tea and coffee is coffee. And Red Espresso? It sounds like a Stephen King novel to me.

Thoughts?

Image:Marye Audet 

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