Please contact us via cheers@cravenscoffee.com or 800-214-BEAN (2326) so we may serve you. Thank you for entrusting Cravens Coffee with your holiday wish list.

YULETIDE BLEND
We blend a distinguished trio of coffees grown under sustainable conditions to celebrate the holidays – and honor our faraway friends and farmers for all they do so well.

Costa Rica Monte Crisol’s sweet, tangy, up-front flavor lends sparkle, then perfectly matched with Mr Irham’s IKA Sumatra Mandheling providing a fruity, spicy body at the finish. We include just enough French Roast to elevate the complexity.

Cravens Yuletide Blend – our way of sharing the warmth of the season with you. Cheers!

Flavor Profile: Bright, full flavored, rich finish
Primary Origin: Costa Rica Monte Crisol
Roast: Combination light and dark

Available at area grocery stores and coffee shops serving Cravens Coffee.

CRAVENS COFFEE GIFT BOX
Not only does coffee make a delicious gift but an eco-friendly one as consumable items leave less imprint on our environment.

This season’s Cravens Gift Box includes 2 coffees: Yuletide Blend and and newly sourced Ethiopia Abaya Yirgacheffe.

If you would like a different coffee selection in your gift box, your wish is our command!

Roasted and packaged with care.

Thank you for sharing Cravens Coffee this holiday season.

It is a pleasure serving you,

As promised, I’m pleased to report on a recent coffee trip to Rwanda. I’ve just returned from the “Land of a Thousand Hills” serving on another international Cup of Excellence® jury. You may recall from past reports, the Cup of Excellence® is a non-profit organization founded by a small group of dedicated coffee experts who, in partnership with source countries, conduct a competition and auction as a way to discover phenomenal coffees and financially reward the coffee farmer. While the winning coffees won’t be on US soil for some time, the story of Rwanda’s recent state is worth sharing.

Bustling streets of Kigali, capitol city of Rwanda.

Rwanda has recovered and evolved into a vibrant country nearly 18 years since the unimaginable genocide. President Paul Kagame is astutely aware that aid money does not flow forever, nor do Rwandans want it to as they work hard to be self-sufficient and industrious. Rwanda strives to be a business hub and center for East and Central Africa. The road system is improving, streets are clean, a new airport is under construction (although I will miss the giant artichoke) and a massive Convention Center is rising in the city center. There is a palpable energy in the country.

Coffee quality is soaring as reflected by a challenging Cup of Excellence® competition. Jurors from 13 different countries made up an eclectic group, including Germany, Norway, Japan, South Korea, England, Russia, Czech Republic, Lithuania, United States, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Rwanda. By day 3 the jury had identified the top 10 coffees and we were ready to rank in order. For the first time a coffee received a ranking high enough (90 points +) to receive the President’s award.

The grand COE awards ceremony was an outdoor event attended by 2,000 people featuring tribal dancing, music and heartfelt speeches. I will never tire of the unbridled joy of the farmers who win this competition. Designed in 1999 to elevate the idea that the very best coffee in the world is something extremely special, the Cup of Excellence® changes lives of farmers for the better.

Cupping for Excellence.

Along with the process of discovery and identification of the best coffee in the country, these trips are an opportunity to visit and determine the best growing regions, washing stations and milling operations in source country. Familiar with the Western Region, I chose to visit the Northern, Eastern and Southern regions of Rwanda as part of Cravens’ unique verification efforts. As with all source countries I have visited, it is illuminating to see farms, villages, people and processes first-hand as a standard for Cravens Coffee purchases.

Cravens Coffee will participate in the COE Global Internet Auction in late October. Once shipped to the US, roasted and packaged this Rwanda COE coffee should be available for you early 2013. As always, we will keep you posted!

It is a pleasure serving you,

p.s. What else can we do for you? Reach us at cheers@cravenscoffee.com or on Facebook, anytime. As always, thank you for entrusting Cravens Coffee to source and roast your specialty coffee.

By mid-week of my visit, Edwin and I set out for Mondul Estate, the home of Mondul Peaberry purchased by Cravens Coffee for the second year. Once off the main road from Arusha (recognized by safari travelers destined for the renowned Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater National Parks) we crossed the Masai tribal homeland, around Mount Kilimanjaro’s neighboring Mount Meru and into the highlands. The Burka owners purchased Mondul from an Italian family several years ago. In 1931 two Italian brothers identified this land with it’s mountain spring water source and were determined to plant coffee. Interestingly, the coffee estate came with a wheat farm, which sits in the valley at the base of Mount Meru – a stunning view from the Mondul Estate ridgeline.

Burka Estate cupping room for
Cravens Coffee selection

The Mondul Estate is blessed with high altitude, nutritious soil, ample fresh mountain spring water and a perfect climate. Together with Edwin Agasso’s quality control program, meticulous tree maintenance and a new Pinhalese wet milling system, Mondul is producing coffee you are sure to enjoy. Cravens Coffee is pleased to offer Mondul Estate Peaberry as either a single origin or signature blend. Beginning in October, look for these two coffees in area grocery stores or on line at cravenscoffee.com

KILIMANJARO BLEND

In the foothills of Kilimanjaro, on Mondul Mountain, this distinctive East African coffee offers a wine-like profile to an exotic blend.

Flavor Profile: Winey, berry, juicy, fruity, full bodyPrimary
Origin: Tanzania Mondul Estate Peaberry
Roast: Combination light and dark

TANZANIA MONDUL ITALIAN ROAST

A rare East Africa high altitude coffee with deep volcanic ash growing conditions – so extraordinary we bought the entire Peaberry lot. A Cravens exclusive!

Flavor Profile: Unique, exclusive, tangy, juicy, depth
Primary Origin: Tanzania Mondul Estate Peaberry
Roast: Dark

I am in the final preparations for a trip to Tanzania and a trek up to the Mondul Farm to see their harvest in full swing. I am honored to have seen harvesting in many coffee growing regions over the years, but this will be the first time in East Africa. There is nothing like the baskets of coffee cherries coming in for milling to really understand and appreciate a particular origin and, in this case, farm. Mondul Farm is located on the slopes of Mondul Mountain in the heartland of the Maasai people. The coffee is shade grown with a natural mountain spring water source. This year we purchased their entire Peaberry crop (two beans grow together forming one bean for an intense, citrus-y flavor profile) and we will be looking to secure the same in 2013. I love this coffee both as a brew by the cup with a Hario filter and even as single origin espresso.

The trip continues with the 2012 Rwanda Cup of Excellence, where I will be one of the International Judges determining their best coffee of the year. The Rwandan coffee industry has experienced a roller coaster ride over the past several years. International aid organizations and large multi-national roasters, all with good intentions, seemed to “pull” Rwanda around in a multitude of directions. They are finally settling down and understanding the importance of diversifying their international customer base for the long-term health of an improving coffee sector. The preview tasting (cupping) of the coffees has been very highly touted as the best ever. The week of judging will include getting out into the “land of a thousand hills” to see how their coffee is rising in quality and consistency.

This will be my third trip to Rwanda, the first 10 years after the genocide. It is always a remarkable experience and privilege to visit this extraordinary country.

I look forward to sharing the experience, and the coffee, with you upon my return.

As always, thank you for entrusting Cravens Coffee to source and roast your specialty coffee,

This is where you come in! Whether you are receiving this eNews as a restaurant owner, grocery buyer, espresso driver thru operator, office manager or a valued coffee drinker maybe you know others who would like to share in your Cravens Coffee experience?

Here’s a little bit about what we do.

DOUBLE SHOT
You’ll find two products at Cravens Coffee: pioneering customer service all businesses need and deserve, and true specialty coffee. When we partner with the retailer we bring a list of services which include:

• Training in the finer points of espresso or coffee making, at your place or ours. A refresher course also comes with the package.
• Tailor-made espresso and drip coffee tasting to identify a perfect fit.
• Assign an account manager to handle all aspects of ordering, product rotation, and quality assurance.

ESPRESSO DRIVE THRUS
Running an espresso drive thru is not for the faint of heart. You work hard and for long hours. Here’s one thing Cravens does to make the work a bit easier: We’re a great resource for espresso equipment, and we’ll monitor it every month for accurate calibration and the perfect espresso pull.

RESTAURANTS AND CAFES
How do they do it? The logistics of turning out great food and memorable experiences isn’t easy. Here is one thing Cravens does to lend a hand: Help eliminate equipment costs by offering drip coffee brewing, grinding, and serving equipment – for free.

GROCERY STORES
With thousands of products and thousands of Customers each day, we can only imagine how many variables you juggle. This is what Cravens can do to lend you a hand: Roast all Cravens Coffee to order and display “best by” dates on all our freshness-sealed valve bags. Clean bulk bins every week and calibrate grinders monthly. Display fresh merchandising and point of sale materials which are always relevant and helpful.

OFFICE COFFEE
Coffee makes companies go around. Allow Cravens Coffee to create an office program tailor-made for you.

What else can we do for you? Reach us at cheers@cravenscoffee.com or on Facebook, anytime. As always, thank you for entrusting Cravens Coffee to source and roast your specialty coffee.

“Modern businesses should be defined as much by what they give as by what they get … Consumers are the most important part of the business cycle and they care about the world they live in … Companies being as socially responsible as they would be as if they were their consumer’s neighbors.”

I wish I’d kept the article to give credit where credit is due. The journalist did a wonderful job defining how we at Cravens Coffee and so many other small businesses feel about doing business.

Join us this month as we recognize just a handful of important works in our corner of the world with our Community Coffees. With the purchase of these coffees, a portion of the proceeds benefits the sponsoring non-profit organization.

Benjamin’s Blend is 16 years in the making and who’s name sake is our first born son, Benjamin. With the blessings of our own healthy children we learned early on the importance of contributing to the well-being of all children in our community. When you choose this full-flavored coffee with unique Central American sparkle you are making a difference. Here are a few of the many organizations who have benefitted from the sale of Benjamin’s Blend over the years:

ICARE Coeur d’Alene, ID
Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery Spokane, WA
Watson Children’s Shelter Missoula, MT
Children’s Home Society Spokane, WA
Child Abuse Network Spokane, WA
United Way Eastern Washington, Western Montana, Northern Idaho and Western Colorado

Find Benjamin’s Blend in area grocery stores or on line at cravenscoffee.com.

Vanessa’s Blend is inspired by the important work of The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. VBCN is dedicated to keeping children safe and strengthening families while building a healthier community. With your purchase, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this blend helps prevent child abuse and neglect.

Cravens Coffee has the honor of custom crafting Vanessa’s Blend as a Colombia Huila based coffee combined with a bright, lively Costa Rica Monte Crisol and Indonesia for richness and body. The Valencia family prepares this high grown Colombia coffee for us with nutty and caramelly notes. A full-flavored and nicely balanced cup.

Find Vanessa’s Blend in area grocery stores or online at cravenscoffee.com or learn more at vanessabehan.org. And don’t miss Vanessa’s Promise Benefit Luncheon on June 5 at the Spokane Convention Center celebrating 25 years of service.

Grounds for Giving. Providing help and creating hope.

Last year, Catholic Charities Spokane assisted over 70,000 families in crisis regardless of religious, social, or economic background. Grounds for Giving is a unique blend created with diligence by the good folks and works at Catholic Charities with the goal of furthering their mission. Enjoy this bold, full-flavored, fair-trade coffee and Cravens Coffee will donate a portion of the proceeds on your behalf helping to create stability in our community.

Inquire about this special blend of coffee at catholiccharitiesspokane.org.

The results are in! We are pleased to report sales of Coaches vs Cancer Blend thru March Madness! Because of your community minded support we are able to send another child to Camp Goodtimes this summer. We appreciate your confidence in Cravens Coffee and the value of creating AWARENESS for this important cause. Thank you for the opportunity to work together on this very special venture. With good intentions, good things happen!

As always, thank you for entrusting Cravens Coffee to source and roast your specialty coffee,

p.s. Whether you have ‘friended’ us in the past or are new to facebook, please follow Cravens Coffee on our new page so we may better serve you.

Because we don’t have coffee shops (we leave that to our trusted friends in retail who serve Cravens Coffee) we can’t give you a free cup of coffee on Earth Day like some. But we are able to honor this day in our own way by recognizing the farmer, keepers-of-the-land.

At Cravens Coffee we are reminded every day of the importance of Mother Earth for growing the fine coffees we source. And we know of no better stewards of the land than farmers. The journey of a coffee bean is not a simple one. The best coffee in the world is grown at high altitudes, warm days, cool nights, leading to enhanced development of the sugars which leads to the more dramatic and spectacular flavors in coffee.

On a personal note, our children’s great-grandfather was a potato farmer, their grandfather was an apple orchardist and now Becky and I have the privilege of working with and supporting the coffee farmer. As long as there are people in residence, our planet and the farmer need each other.

Click here to show your support of Earth Day and the famers who care for the land.

For over 40 years our country has recognized Earth Day. Neither are we perfect nor the same in our actions to help preserve our home planet and far be it for us to preach. Rather, we suggest a few humble things we can do this day, or this week or this year to help reduce the impact we are having on the earth. Who knows who you’ll inspire?

1. Bring your own bag when you go to the grocery store.
2. Increase your awareness of electricity use.
3. Buy locally. Locally produced foods travels less and taste best!
4. Reduce. Re-use. Recycle. Yes, it’s cliche but putting it into action is not.
5. Pick up garbage. Even if this doesn’t make the Top 10 Save-the-Earth list each year, it’s bound to make Mother Earth look and feel better.
6. Buy your coffee from a trusted source. Yep, we couldn’t resist this one – it’s our way of honoring the caretakers of the land.

As always, thank you for entrusting Cravens Coffee to source and roast your specialty coffee,

p.s. “From Farmer to Roaster to You“ is an exclusive Cravens Coffee series featuring highly sought after beans from direct farm visits. We currently highlight the good works of Alex Rechsteiner’s Tanzania Mondul Estate Peaberry. Tangy, juicy and syrupy in the cup.

Over the past three decades the Komen Foundation has aided in the betterment of women. As nurturers who have a unique ability to care and share and make the world a better place, the power of women is forever. In honor of those who help make a difference for others, we offer this custom blend of coffee with a deep, sweet, lively flavor.

Forever Blend is this month’s Cravens Community Coffee. Proceeds from the sale of this special blend support the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s noble, tireless campaign to help save lives.

FOREVER BLEND

Flavor Profile: Deep, sweet, lively flavor
Primary Origin: Colombia Huila Valencia
Roast: Combination light & dark

Perhaps you’ll consider Forever Blend as a gift to yourself or others in honor of a beautiful woman in your life? And Mother’s Day is just around the corner!

Find Forever Blend in locally owned grocery stores or on-line at www.cravenscoffee.com for a limited time. Visit Cravens Coffee on Facebook to learn more about upcoming events and Spokane’s Race for the Cure on April 22nd! Live in Eastern Washington? Walk, Run, Stroll or Sleep In for The Cure by visiting www.komeneasternwashington.org.

It’s tourney time. Brackets, Basketball and Blends. Coffee blends, that is… for two favorite teams.

GONZAGA UNIVERSITY ZAGS BLEND

Flavor Profile: Dark chocolate, rich, intense
Primary Origin: Sumatra Mandheling IKA
Roast: Combination light & dark

A perennial basketball powerhouse like Gonzaga University wouldn’t drink anything less. An accomplished blend of intense full flavor, this unique combination of dark and light roasts guarantees each varietal is roasted to it’s perfect point.

UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA GRIZZLIES BLEND

Flavor Profile: Creamy, earthy, full-flavored
Primary Origin: Sumatra Mandheling IKA
Roast: Combination light & dark

The Grizzlies love their coffee so much, they’ve made it one of our most popular blends. Central America and Indonesia beans meet head-on to deliver a cup of hearty character and dynamic flavor. A fitting tribute to the Griz!

Available at area grocery stores and coffee shops serving Cravens Coffee or online at cravenscoffee.com.

This unique coffee had our full attention since the very first cupping. If you like the earthiness of Sumatra coffee you will enjoy this sweeter, fruitier profile of an old favorite.

Offered by the Tribal Aromas Co-operative in the Simbu Province of the Central Highlands of Papua New Guinea, this coffee is grown at higher altitudes in rich, black volcanic soil. The Tribal Aroma co-op is a collection of indigenous tribes whom pride themselves on small subsistence plot farms, where coffee is specially hand-picked and hand-pulped. Organically grown and certified.

Flavor Profile: complex fruit notes with distinctive grapefruit nuances, cedar aroma, chocolate finish.
Roast: Combination light and dark

We’ve secured of small lot of Organic Papua New Guinea for a limited time. Find this earthy, richly sweet coffee at area grocery stores, cafes and espresso bars serving organic Cravens Coffee.

COACHES VS CANCER BLEND
Again this year, Cravens Coffee is honored to bring you Coaches vs Cancer Blend. A special custom blend created by Marcy Few, Robin Rice and the folks at Coaches vs Cancer. We took care to combine just the right coffees for a full-flavored, hearty cup. Perfect for brewing at home or creating your own espresso work of art.

Marcy and Robin chose a coffee grown by Cravens’ friends at family-owned Finca Vista Hermosa in Guatemala. Grown in the highlands of this beautiful country, this coffee has a spirited flavor. Just like our wonderful Zags!

Thank you for choosing Coaches vs Cancer Blend. With your purchase we’ll donate proceeds to help send a child to Camp Goodtimes this summer. This local camp brings respite and joy to children battling cancer.

Look for Coaches vs Cancer Blend at locally owned grocery stores throughout the Inland Northwest during the months of February and March or on our website at www.cravenscoffee.com. Go Zags!

As always, thank you for choosing Cravens Coffee. It is a pleasure serving you,

p.s. Whether you have ‘friended’ us in the past or are new to facebook, please follow Cravens Coffee on our new page so we may better serve you.