Ending August?

Somehow or other August is coming to a close and I really can't believe it. That means in a few weeks I'm going to be a Dad and it also means that the true coffee-season is upon us.

September and October should bring a marked uptick in the number of cups of hot delicious brew served and with the rate that I am roasting coffee that is going to mean additional days of roaster activity to keep up with demand.

I can't wait!

Also in September we will be vending at the Taste! Organic Connecticut event at the Topmost Farm in Coventry CT. All three of the farmer's markets we attend continue through September and with kids back in school and everyone back from vacation I have a feeling they are going to really take off. Stop by Billings Forge in Hartford on Thursday mornings, the Simsbury market at Sismore Square after 3pm on Thursday or 11-2pm at the Nathan Hale Homestead on Sundays to pick up bags and have a cup.

This Sunday at Coventry is Blues and Brews and I can't wait. There will be a bunch of local and and craft beer brewers and I can't wait to give them a try.

GreenDrinks at Bean & Leaf!

We're having a GreenDrinks gathering at the shop tomorrow night. It's a chance for like-minded people to get together and talk about the eco/sustainable/environmental challenges facing us today, what we can do about it, what we have done about it and how we can help each other.

Stop by. Start a conversation. Bring your business card and a nice organic wine or beer. Bring a thought or two about something you've been thinking about and share it around with the group.

Great Success

Today was a good day for Bean & Leaf. Through storm and weather and traffic Hugh and I showed up and installed a beautiful Bunn brewer at our newest account. I cannot wait for the coffee they are going to brew in that machine. Every batch at our shop is precise and delicious through an identical machine. The old machine we just switched out for this new account was the exact opposite. They are going to be psyched.

Our new account is in Ridgefield which is a great little town in western CT, south of Danbury and just east of the New York border. This town has been participating in the EPA's Community Energy Challenge and we are hopeful that fresh, organic and eco-friendly will be key selling points beyond the obviously deliciousness of our coffee.

We are thrilled to be roasting for Cafe Svago, and if you are ever in the area please stop in and have a cup.

Emergency Order

Here is a very interesting article from the NYTimes that tries to address the many different things you may have heard about whether coffee is good or bad for you. And the good news is that on the whole, coffee is definitely a good thing.

What a week. I was at the farmer's market on Sunday when I get a call from a brand new client with an emergency coffee order. Their usual coffee distributor didn't show so it was up to Bean & Leaf to fill up their hoppers and keep them brewing. Putting the finishing touches on this new account and once everything is fully functional and locked in we'll have another shop serving our beans all day every day.