We had a great customer cupping today at the Roastery, eight friendly faces from our retail cafe showed up to sample three different coffees and learn how we roast our coffee. Chris McLaughlin our head roaster roasted a batch of Big Ring Blend for everybody so they saw first hand how we roast our coffee.

Then it was off to the cupping table for three coffees to cup. First was a dark roasted Java that had a nice sweetness in aromatics but was more standoffish in its tastes. There was a tangy smoky caramelly flavored with a slight honey note on the back end. Of the three this was not my favorite.

From there we went to a nice Honduras Marcala Fair Trade Organic that was rich and sweet in the aromatic and softer much more accessible with chocolate, caramel and floral tones.

Lastly we cupped our Ethiopian Idido Misty Valley which was inviting and welcoming with big berries in the aromatics and a sweet sugary berry and chocolate tone in the cup. By far this is my favorite today and I am glad that Chris listened to me and roasted this slightly lighter than normal I really believe it brought out the sweetness and berries.

Our next customer cupping will be in January after the Holiday’s so stay tuned and we will let you know when it’s happening… Ron

Hi everyone, we’ve turned the soup and sandwich of the day up a notch with a 3 cheese grilled cheese and a bowl of Lobster Bisque soup. Come on in and enjoy on this rainy day-Sharon

Hi everyone, Don’t forget that this Friday is our Customer Cupping at our warehouse facility in Mickleton,NJ. It’s at 3pm and we have a few spots left if anyone would like to attend. Since it’s Halloween, I see it as a treat and not a trick.
Look forward to seeing everyone there.-Sharon

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Hi!  Thanks for stopping by the Crescent Moon Coffee & Tea blog stop.  It’s a place to discover great coffee and tea; explore the world through our travels; meet the farmers who grow our coffee; and join in the conversation.  So, visit often to see what’s up.

Later,  Ron  

We’re buying some incredible certified organic coffee beans from El Salvador – Los Milagros – grown in a micro lot by a group of incredible women. 

The coffee plantation is located near the Santa Ana Volcano, where the rich soil is covered in shade trees to keep it mosit and prevent erosion.  The shade trees are beautiful – mahogany, conacaste, conifers, cedar and bamboo.  And, they provide a place for migratory birds to nest.  In fact, Los Milagros protects the habitat of 3 bird species considered to be extinct.  So, the plantation is certified as Smithsonian “Bird Friendly.’’ You probably didn’t even know that such a certification existed!

OK – enough about the birds.  Here’s what’s so interesting about micro lot coffee.  Recently some farmers in Central America are becoming real entrepreneurs.  Not only do they grow coffe, but they also sun dry and prepare one day’s harvest at a time.  The Los Milagros group of entrepreneurial woman takes great pride in how they grow, dry and prepare their coffee beans in small batches. 

Their coffee is incredible!  It has notes of caramel in the aroma with hints of chocolate and red berries in the mouth.  Ahh!  I can almost smell and taste it as I write.  All of the coffee is dried on patios made of clay bricks, so the temperature remains constant, for 7 or 8 days.  Because of how the coffee is grown, dried and processed, you get a really consistent high quality cup every time.

Here’s the part that Sharon likes best.  Three families live on the plantation in homes with water, electricity and facilities.  Their children all go to school and they all have health insurance. 

Here’s a group of entrepreneural woman growing, drying and preparing great coffee while they’re able to have a good quality of life in El Salvador.  That’s why we’re so excited to offer their coffee.  El Salvador Los Milagros – it’s incredible!

And, wait ‘til  you taste how we roast it.