The Year in Coffee: 2009 is the Time for Change!

Resolutions are fraught with intention and hope and, too often, tossed away too quickly. We'd like to suggest a resolution that's easy to keep, exciting to do, and will bring you infinite comfort and joy all through the year: change your coffee routine to, well shall we say, perk life up! Visit a coffee house that you've never been to, order a cappuccino instead of dessert, make a savory or sweet dish with coffee. Coffee is the affordable pleasure, and you can enjoy it all 12 months of the year. For example...

Resolutions are fraught with intention and hope and, too often, tossed away too quickly. We'd like to suggest a resolution that's easy to keep, exciting to do, and will bring you infinite comfort and joy all through the year: change your coffee routine to, well shall we say, perk life up! Visit a coffee house that you've never been to, order a cappuccino instead of dessert, make a savory or sweet dish with coffee. Coffee is the affordable pleasure, and you can enjoy it all 12 months of the year. For example:

JANUARY:
In honor of the new guard, explore the elegant taste of Kenya AA  with its marked winey taste and syrupy finish or Hawaii's Kona, with its soft sweet caramel edge. Each is a great way to toast the inaugural celebrations.

FEBRUARY:
Treat your sweetheart to his/her very own espresso machine, and a tin of deep roasted, Italian espresso to fully explore this wonderful gift Add some chocolates and you'll be nominated Mate of the Year!

MARCH:
It's almost spring, and time to grow your involvement in unique coffees. Perhaps a little Papua New Guinea? Always in short supply, always a satisfying cup. Brew in a French press to elicit every precious drop.

APRIL:
Don't sweat the 15th; you can still afford a great cup of coffee even after you send that check in with your forms. We suggest a smooth, sensuous cup of Costa Rica, followed by a jigger of coffee liqueur to soothe away any lingering frayed nerves.

MAY:
Remember Mom! She'd love a brand new coffee maker and a hefty pound of her favorite coffee. Or, surprise her with a flavored selection with chocolate, mint, or caramel and tell her why you love her!

JUNE:
Gift the new bride and bridegroom with an electric water kettle, a gold-filter, and his-and-her coffees, perhaps a Mysore for him and an Indonesian blend for her. Plus a silverplate scoop with their monogram!

JULY:
Temperatures are rising, so bring out the ice and condensed milk for creamy iced coffees. Choose deeply-flavored Guatemalan, and you're guaranteed to quench your thirst and
sate your coffee cravings.

AUGUST:
Every grad off to college needs a pound of freshly-ground beans courtesy of the local favorite coffee shop, and a French press. Open an account at the shop to insure a pound of coffee for your favorite freshman all year.
 
SEPTEMBER:
Take a coffee break this afternoon of Nicaraguan coffee made with a hint of pumpkin spice sprinkled on the grounds before brewing. It will carry you through the rest of the day with delight

OCTOBER:
There's no trick to treating your work colleagues, bring freshly-ground Colombian coffee to the office today and a bowl of candy corn or mini chocolates. Everyone will feel like a kid again!

NOVEMBER:
It's the season of gratitude, so why purchase a Fair Trade coffee that enables coffee farmers to get better prices for their arduous work? Go a step further and buy organic coffee; good for the consumer, the soil, and the farmer.

DECEMBER:
Wind down between all the hectic preps for the holidays. Treat yourself  to a proprietary blend all your own. Perhaps one-third each Sumatra, Costa Rican and Columbian and experiment! Greet the new year with a mugful of coffee cheer!