Coffee is not a word, it's a sentence!
- Coffee is not a word, it's a sentence. We just saw this posted in a Mississippi coffee shop yesterday and thought it appropriate.
- More summer-like weather is forecast for Portland next week so come see us for all your cold brew coffee and brewing supplies.
- For those who love to BBQ, check out this recipe!
- Check out our coffees on Amazon.com. Seven varieties are available through Amazon Prime so enjoy the convenience of Free Shipping! www.amazon.com/shops/stjohnscoffee
Many thanks for your on-going support!
Mount & Crew
Would I really tell someone NOT to drink coffee???
The concept of me telling someone not to drink coffee seems foreign. However, this past week, I received an e-mail from someone asking if our coffee was "gluten-free"? My initial reaction was ... I won't mention what I said.
After considering the question, I decided I should do some research to see if there was anything definitive before responding to the e-mail. Here's what I found.
Apparently, those who are gluten intolerant, may experience gluten-like side effects when drinking coffee due to similarities in the proteins present in coffee being similar to proteins in gluten.
Another culprit is when coffee is processed in the same facility as products containing gluten, there can be cross-contamination that takes place. And while I don't believe any of the coffees I purchase have been processed in this manner, I cannot guarantee it.
So the long and short of it is that for folks who find themselves gluten intolerant, you may want to find another option to coffee. I can't believe I just said that!
This Monday, we will be closed for the Fourth of July. If you are on schedule for home delivery on Wednesday, there will be not any interruption to your normal delivery.
The big news on the jazz scene is that on August 8th and 9th at 7:30 pm, Alan Broadbent will be returning to Classic Pianos for two shows. For those of you who are familiar with Alan's music... you'll know what his performances are like. Electric, profound, intimate and humble are just a few adjectives that come to mind.
He's performed at Classic Pianos multiple times and I've attended each of his performances. I have yet to be disappointed. If you would like to experience one of his shows, please call Peggie at Classic Pianos and reserve your tickets. They're guaranteed to sell out quickly. Peggie can be reached at 503.546.5622.
Be sure to check out our selection of coffees on Amazon. You may find them here - www.amazon.com/shops/stjohnscoffee.
Thanks for your continued support!
Mount & Crew
Time for the Portland Rose Festival!
Greetings Everyone,
This weekend marks the beginning of The Portland Rose Festival. And unlike 
many years, it looks as though the weather will be stellar. It all begins this Friday evening with opening night Fireworks and continues on for the next couple weeks.
For those of you from outside the Portland area, the Portland Rose Festival is an annual celebration which has been going on for over 100 years. There are parades, firework displays, concerts, etc. Pretty much something for everyone.
Last week, we had the pleasure of traveling to Scotland. It was my first trip to Europe and I must say, I've never heard many good comments about the coffee so of course, I had to check it out.
And, I was pleasantly surprised. There seemed to be limited choices from grocers but what was available in the cafes was for the most part, pretty good. However, there were only limited options when it came to organic coffees. We only found one cafe specializing in organic coffees and healthy food options.
Perhaps it's time to open a second location of St. Johns Coffee Roasters in Scotland?!?!
We also had the opportunity to have "high tea" while in Scotland. We went to the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh which was quite special.
As many of you know, one of my favorite methods for brewing coffee is the pour-over. After seeing t
he server pour our tea (photo attached), it gave me new inspiration for the "art of the pour-over" presentation. However, don't count on it anytime soon. :)
And the BIG NEWS is, next weekend (June 4th), is the opening weekend of the St. Johns Farmers Market. It always a big day with lots of new vendors as well as many who have done the market since its inception.
We'll be ready with plenty of both hot and 
cold brewed coffees as well as healthy snacks, organic juices and sandwiches. We also have received a new shipment of grinders from Baratza as well as Hario hand grinders, perfect for camping trips.
Speaking of camping, we also have the Aeropress coffee brewers in stock which include a zippered tote for simplifying travel.
I think that's it for this week. Many thanks for your continued support and keep the coffee flowing.
Mount & Crew
Be ready for Memorial Day!!!
Memorial Day is generally the kick-off to a season of bbq'ing so I thought I'd share a recipe for dry rub for any type of meat you choose. Oh and of course, one of the ingredients is coffee. Duh!
BBQ COFFEE RUB
- 1/4 cup finely fround coffee
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1/2 tablespoon cayenne
Many of you probably remember the amazing Brazil Grota Sao Pedro we had last year but sold out. Well, I have g
ood news. It will be returning to our line-up in the very near future. Last time we described it as being like drinking Cremè Brulee and I have a feeling this year's crop will be comparable. Perhaps more like Tiramisu. :)
If the Memorial Day weather proves too hot to serve your guests hot coffee, consider brewing some cold-brew coffee. We have a large selection of Toddy Brewers and accessories and ar
e happy to teach you the process. It's quite simple. Or, if you decide you'd like to serve something with a little "kick" to it, consider a coffee martini. We can show you how to make those as well! They're delicious!!!
Meanwhile, have a great weekend and keep the coffee flowing.
Mount & Crew
More new faces!!!
This week we'd like to welcome another new member to our staff. In addition to a passion for excellent coffee, Kirk Sanchez brings a nice quiet energy and attention to detail and I believe is going to be a nice fit here at the shop.
This Saturday is the 54th annual St. Johns Parade and 10th annual St. Johns Bizarre. The past few years we've been blessed with beautiful, sunny weather for these events but it doesn't look like we're going to have a repeat performance of that this year.
These two events draw thousands of people come from miles around because it is the proverbial "small-town" parade filled with marching bands, car clubs, etc.
In any regard, we'll be here ready to serve lots of organic and fair trade coffees, both hot and cold-brewed as well as delicious French pastries and Spielman bagels to keep you fueled.
And don't forget, we now have a nice assortment of organic juices from Columbia Gorge Organic Juices.
I'm often looking for different ways in which coffee can be used and found this recipe the other day which sounds like a splendid refreshment for a hot summer day.
Ingredients
Directions
- In a small bowl, stir together the water and coffee. In a blender, combine ice cubes, coffee mixture, milk, sweetened condensed milk and chocolate syrup. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.
Beginning today, St. Johns Coffee Roasters' coffee will be available in the Greenway location of Whole Foods Markets. If you live or work in the Southwest area of Portland/Beaverton, stop in and check out this beautiful store. It's located at 12220 SW Scholls Ferry Road - Tigard, OR 97223.
And this Saturday, Greg will be handing out samples of our coffee at Chuck's Produce in Vancouver from 11 am - 2 pm. Stop by and say hi if you're in the area and sample some REAL.GOOD.COFFEE.
We're also scheduled to receive a new shipment of the Baratza grinders tomorrow. We recently sold out but thankfully, the company is located in Seattle so it was a quick-fix. If you're not familiar with the Baratza grinders, come in and ask for a demo.
This was the grinder that changed my life.
Meanwhile, have a great weekend and keep the coffee flowing. I hope you're able to make it to the St. Johns Parade and St. Johns Bizarre.
'Tis Tax Time!!!
So it's tax day. I'm not sure what else I can say about that. :) I'm always reminded of the Beatles song, "Tax Man", on this day.
For those of you who need a little more "mojo" to get you through your taxes, we have plenty of caffeine related beverages and whole bean coffee to help you.
It has been a huge week for us here at the shop. We worked very hard to deliver our first order of organic and fair trade coffees to Made in Oregon stores in addition to our regular group of retail stores offering our coffees. 
Made in Oregon stores are located in all major Portland shopping malls as well as three locations at the Portland International Airport.
One new addition to our line-up is the Market of Choice store in West Linn. They'll be offering two of our coffees in bulk bins as well as an assorted variety of our packaged coffee. If you live in the West Linn, Clackamas or Lake Oswego areas, there's now a new location from which to purchase our coffees.
And, we've added a new sandwich to our line-up of healthy food options. It's a toasted brioche with sunflower butter and apricot jam. Check it out when you're in the shop next.
New coffees were ordered this past Wednesday and are scheduled to arrive next Monday. Among them are a new Ethiopian Dry Processed Yirgacheffe which differs from our current "washed Yirgacheffe". Typically, dry-processed coffees yield a fuller body as well as possessing all the characteristic flavors so I'm very anxious to try it.
We also purchased a new variety of coffee from Sumatra. I was told it has prominent notes of chocolate, caramel, and vanilla. Sounds like a Snickers bar in a cup! I can't wait to try that one!
And just a bit of a warning... the delectable Guatemala Finca Bourbon is getting low. We've ordered a new Guatemala to take its place which we've had before and has always been very very good.
But for those of you who have developed a fondness for the Guatemala Finca Bourbon, there's no time like the present to enjoy it.
Taryn is on her way out the door to the Hillsdale location of Food Front Cooperative Grocery to sample some of our coffees available there. If you're in the area, stop by and say hi. She'll be there from 11 - 2 today.
Meanwhile, I hope you have a fantastic weekend we'll hope to see you in the shop.
Mount & Crew
Considering the bee crisis...
Recently, the following article from RealSimple Magazine was shared with me and I thought it appropriate to share with you since we provide and offer for sale, local honey from P&P Apiary. 
Eco quandary - Considering the bee crisis, is it bad to buy honey.Not at all! Since 2007, the US has lost about a quarter of its beehives each year due to pathogens, parasites, pesticides, and poor nutrition. "Buying honey helps beekeepers offset the cost of maintaining colonies and keeping bees healthy," says Christina Grozinger, Ph.D., the director of the Penn State Center for Pollinator Research.Opting for local varieties supports producers near you, but purchasing supermarket brands is OK, too, says Becky Masterman, Ph.D., the program director for the University of Minnesota's Bee Squad, which promotes healthy bee populations. "Commercial companies are often cooperatives that buy regional honey from beekeepers," she says.Bees are responsible for more than just our honey supply. Up to a third of our food supply depends on the work of pollinators, such as bees. So how can you help combat the loss of beehives? In addition to supporting the beekeepers by buying honey, plant flowers as a food source for bees, and skip the pesticides.Kaitlyn PirieSome of you may have noticed that the coffee descriptions and pricing information have returned to our "offerings" chalkboard. Next up is the consolidation of all our "random" chalkboards into a single menu!A big thanks to Marly Beyer for her artistic talents.
Beginning in March, PBS will be airing a new documentary entitled Coffee: The Drink That Changed America. The story follows coffee from its beginnings in Ethiopia, through the Middle East and Europe and into America. The theme of the show is that coffee is associated with social disruption and change. Learn a
bout coffee's evolution from the "excrement" of the early English coffee houses to the artisan wave we are currently in. Lots of history and ably and humorously (of course) hosted by Dean Cycon of Dean's Beans Organic Coffee Company. Check your local PBS affiliate for viewing times.
Until next week, I hope you're able to get out and enjoy this beautiful weather we're having. It has made for some amazing motorcycle commutes this past week.
Our larger umbrella tables will be going back out today so come by and enjoy your favo
rite caffeinated beverage along with a baguette sandwich or pastry while basking in the sun!
Many thanks,
Mount & Crew
rite caffeinated beverage along with a baguette sandwich or pastry while basking in the sun!
