Craft Roast Soul

Equal Exchange is an example of a company going the extra mile to ensure farmers are fairly compensated for their product.  They promote the idea of the "citizen-consumer", which entails each of us being mindful about the impact of the products we buy and the companies we support.  From Equal Exchange Co-President: "We now know that we cannot possibly succeed in our goal to transform the food system without the active, deep and committed participation of  citizen-consumers  like you. An authentic Fair Trade system requires democratic organizing of producers in the South, worker democracy for businesses in the North, and active citizen involvement in the North." Be sure to check out their website for full details on their mission and how you can get involved.  This is a great mission statement for any coffee company or consumer to be aware of.  These are issues that pertain to the wider food and farming industry as well, not just the coffee ...

One of my very favorite places to go for coffee in West Michigan is the 205 Coffee Bar in Holland.  A relative newcomer to the scene, the 205 has attracted quite a crowd and a reputation for quality. They feature original drink concoctions that you won't find at other shops, and feature homemade syrups and whipped cream to go with your latte.  They feature fresh roasted coffees from Michigan based roaster "Stovetop Coffee Roasters".  The house blend is my personal favorite.  It's a medium-dark roast with notes of hazelnut, cocoa, and vanilla.  This time of year they are offering a "Holiday Blend" as well, which will pair perfectly with all of your Christmas food traditions. They do fun things for the community as well.  Last year they opened for a few hours on Christmas Day and offered free coffee and baked goods.  The idea was to give people who didn't have anywhere else to go on Christmas a warm, inviting space to hang out in. Speaking...

This week I've been drinking Deeper Roots Summer Punch blend.  Fruit punch isn't exactly a term I expect to describe coffee with, but it is very accurate.  The fruity, citrus-y notes in this coffee do indeed remind me of a fruit punch.  Yet the coffee isn't just a fruit bomb.  It has enough of that roast-y bold flavor to be an everyday coffee. I had mine hot both times, but I can imagine this would be very good as a cold brew or iced coffee as well.  Deeper Roots is a Cincinnati-based roaster that supplies coffee shops and some restaurants in the area.  They also operate a couple of cafes of their own.  They offer an excellent line of coffees and are committed to sustainability in each area of the supply chain.  Even their coffee bags are eco-friendly! Check out their page on sustainability here. I tried it at Trailhead Coffee in Newport, KY.  Trailhead is a newer addition to the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati coffee scene.  They are...

Hatchet Coffee out of Boone, North Carolina continues to impress. The latest I have tried is the "Origin of the World" Columbia, Cauca. It's a very well rounded Columbian coffee with the milk chocolate, nutty, and floral notes I love in Columbian coffees. This could easily be an everyday go-to coffee. It features more of Hatchet's distinctive, beautiful bag art. Their bags are some of the most eye-catching I've seen. Very colorful, interesting art style with every panel on the bag being decorated. This coffee rivals Hatchet's Blue Ridge Blend for my favorite from their offerings. The bag art for the Blue Ridge Blend still takes the top spot in my opinion though. Check out Blue Ridge Blend, Origin of the World, and other great coffees by visiting Hatchet Coffee's online store. Check out the bag for the Blue Ridge Blend:

The Food 360 Podcast recently featured interviews with Todd Carmichael, co-founder of La Colombe, and Master Barista Georgio Milos of Illy. Both interviews were fascinating, and I admire both companies.  Check out the episode on Apple podcasts or iHeartRadio  Food 360 With Marc Murphy  - Apple Podcasts Food 360 With Marc Murphy  - iHeartRADIO Visit La Colombe and try them today! Shop for Illy Coffee Learn about Illy Coffee

Today I'm kicking things off by featuring a coffee I'm really excited about from Smokin' Aces Coffee Co out of Lexington, KY. I've been impressed with everything I've tried from them lately, but this one might be my favorite so far.  Santa Catalina Guatemala, a washed coffee from the Antigua region, it's the kind of of coffee you can drink all day. It's bold enough for a nice morning cup, but light enough that you can enjoy it in the evening also. Very flavorful with notes of milk chocolate, plum and orange.  Check out their website and order some to see for yourself! Smokin' Aces Coffee Co.