The holidays are a crazy season for most. There’s a certain high-octane vibe to December and it’s easy to get caught up in the press of crowds and mob scenes (literally) for super-duper-killer-deals. The crazed hunt for gifts coupled with a dose of stress (both physical and mental) from all those gatherings and merriment can overwhelm the simple backbone of what it’s supposed to be about: doing good for others, spending time with loved ones, and maybe even contemplating what’s most important in that life you’re living.  It’s easy to see how doing more or finding ways to ‘do good’  might seem overwhelming, but here’s the deal… giving hope and joy can be SIMPLE and it can happen any time of year.

Perhaps you’ve heard the recent stories of ‘layaway angels’? If you haven’t, here’s the gist: in the past month quite a few individuals have been swooping in and paying the majority of layaway purchases for strangers (most of them for kid’s items and many were about to be reclaimed by the store). It’s a moving story (click here to see the news clip) and so far over $412,000 has been given to cover 1,000+ Kmart layaway accounts. Of course, not everyone can afford that kind of generosity, but there are no price rules to giving.

Everyone’s heard the stories of strangers ‘paying it forward’ and covering other people’s meal or drink costs. It’s such an easy gesture and is bound to brighten the day of whomever it benefits.. and that has to trickle outward. Things like that tend to spread in one form or another; in fact, sometimes it even gets viral. In 2007, one woman in Marysville, Washington made a habit of  paying for the person behind her in line… Her goal was to create an act of kindness that grew. The story goes, that at this one Starbucks store her efforts led to over 800 customers (by the time it ended) paying for someone else’s drink. And any money that was left over in this generosity wave went in to a donation fund for a toy drive.

Not too shabby…

Giving can also be a ritual, or a sort of touchstone in the memory of others, that helps the giver to keep their footing and simultaneously spread a dose of joy for themselves and others. Recently a great story surfaced about Dan Dewey (of Pontaiac, Michigan). Dan used to take his father in for chemotherapy treatments. On every visit, Dan would also hit the local Starbucks and get his father his favorite drink. Dan’s dad asked him to keep the tradition alive and help other people feel special and cared for at the chemo unit. And so, every Thursday morning Dan goes the chemo center, takes orders and then brings back a bounty in specialty beverages.

It may seem like a small thing, but Dan’s delivery is a bright spot for a lot of people. He used to pay out of his own pocket, but these days he’s made a lot of friends waiting in line at Starbucks and the store actually started a special account for him called ‘Dan’s Coffee Run‘ so other people can chip in, too. (See the original story from MSNBC here.)

Dan has kept his coffee run promise since 2007, long after his father passed away, but there’s nothing that says giving has to be focused on one group or a long term commitment. That’s the beauty of giving.

An act of kindness can be as simple as buying a hot drink or meal for someone who looks like they could use it. Giving can be random or precise, repeated or a one time gig. There are no rules. But be prepared for a little happiness and perhaps, if you aren’t careful, find the whole experience a bit addictive. That’s ok. There are actually studies out there that indicate that giving and thankfulness are really good for us (see my previous blog writeup about a great study here).

If you enjoy it, feel free to do more…

Forget holiday cheer? Tthe sugar & caffeine will keep you going...

The Holiday season has descended on the masses. The eggnog is stocked at the grocery store, lights wrap up trees like heavenly bundles, Christmas songs accost the senses in stores around the world and Starbucks has unleashed its holiday line of sugary caffeination. To make sure people are in the holiday mood, the coffee chain is offering 2 holiday drinks for the price of one.

Today is the last day for this two-fer deal. So, for those who frequent Starbucks, who’d hate to miss this score, get to your nearest Starbucks! For those who don’t tend to visit the coffee chain, it’s a chance to get a trio of truly desserty drinks with a winter flare for a killer price. (Just remember that they have their own unique language for sizes: Short, Tall, Grande, Vente –in that order). You have your choice of three holiday drinks: the Gingerbread Latte, the Caramel Brulee Latte or the Peppermint Mocha (if you get the nonfat, sugar free syrup, ‘skinny’ chocolate and no whip version, they assure that it’s only 100 calories for 12 ounces.).

It’s a great deal is good at ALL their coffee shops. So swing by while there’s still time.

Looking for a winter drink that doesn’t come from Starbucks? Most coffee shops in Boulder offer at least one drink specially designed to make you think of fireplaces on a snowy night; Ozo Coffee (with two locations in Boulder) offers a Pumpkin Spice Latte that adds a blend of spices (cinnamon, cloves, and more) to thier pumpkin syrup for a wintery drink with a bit of a kick and they also have a decadent, single-origin chocolate from Costa Rica you can ask for in your mocha… it’s dark, complex and divine with peppermint or any of their specialty mochas. The downside: at Ozo you won’t be finding a 2 for 1 deal.

Feel like something Saxy?

You can tell a lot by a name. Saxy’s Café sounds like a cross between a boutique and a trendy bar and that maybe exactly what they are angling for. Saxy’s takes clear shots at sophistication (complete with small chandeliers and marble countertops) but also maintains a comfortable, spacious, ‘beatnik’ vibe. It’s a stylish mid-sized café that’s often overlooked by virtue of being a few hundred feet from the Pearl Street mob scene – just beyond the Western end of the Mall (on 10th Street).

While its coffee is not earthshaking, it is good and is sure to appease those caffeine cravings. Plus there is an array of other benefits found at Saxy’s… Like gluten free foods? They’ve got treats to keep you happy whether you prefer wheat or have to go without. In fact, they have one of the most decadent little dark cacao treats you’ll find in town. Ritual Chocolate is a locally made, delicate disk of joyful cacao bliss. With just two ingredients (organic cacao and sugar) the complexity in the flavor is enough to stop you in your tracks (really). Ritual Chocolate is showing up in a few café’s and their chocolate orbs (they’re definitely not bars) are well worth the ‘boutique’ cost. Added bonus, one of the owners of the small startup, Robbie Stout, also tends bar at Saxy’s. So, if you’d like to know about quality chocolates, look no further.

When building bridges to other cultures, start with some common ground: coffee

With the capture of Ratko Mladic (the former Bosnian Serb general accused of ordering the massacre of over 8,000 Muslims in 1995), there was a lot of news centering around these Balkan states. While their recent history still echoes with the aftershocks of nations struggling to overcome lifetimes of ethnic division and a 3 years of war starting in 1992, there are at least a few items that, regardless of one’s cultural heritage, serve as ties to unite the Balkans as well as much of the Middle East, North Africa, and Caucasus countries (like Armenia). One of those is their unrivaled love for rich, sweet and potent ‘Turkish’ Coffee.

Each of these regions has their own adaptations of this special coffee brew but at their heart the Turkish Coffee experience is quite similar. This is owed in a good part to the influences of the once vast Ottoman Empire that expanded and contracted over a massive area throughout its 600 years (from the early 1300’s – 1900’s). Today it has many names, but whatever the locals call it, this caffeinated shot of bliss tends to hold true to an old Turkish saying, “Coffee should be dark as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love.”

They aren’t kidding. A finely ground coffee (finer than espresso) is prepared by gently boiling it and (often) a healthy dose of sugar till the mixture foams in a specially designed, long handled pot with a narrow neck (called a cezve). This brew is then served – grinds and all. Most cafés don’t offer Turkish coffee, but if you want to try it in Boulder then the news is good. The Brewing Market’s main store at Folsom and Arapahoe recently started serving it (with other locations to follow).

Established in 1977, the Brewing Market coffee chain has been working the Boulder coffee scene for quite a while. Their foray into Turkish coffee isn’t a surprise when one considers the history of its owner, Artine Yapoujian. Artine grew up with his Armenian family in Lebanon, where he learned how to brew a mean cup of coffee. It was only a matter of time before their special ‘Turkish Blend’ found its way into a Turkish style, specialty drink.

Their Turkish Coffee is also graced with a single, cracked cardamom seed. This small touch adds a delicious, tangy spice that continues to shift as the drink ages. Also, don’t expect a Bosnian style 8 to 12oz cup of heady, dark coffee; the Brewing Market experience is more like the ‘traditional’ Turkish version and is served in shot sized portions. $2.50 will get you a single espresso sized glass and $3.50 will get you two.

Be warned, the staff has a tendency to OVER sugar the Turkish coffee. It’s a good idea to request only a teaspoon (not a tablespoon) to start and see if you’d like more. Remember, the grinds are STILL in the coffee so make sure you give your drink at least 30-60 seconds to cool and settle. Though it’s espresso sized, ‘shooting’ this dark little dream of a drink is a very bad idea. So, as soon as you taste grit, it’s time to stop drinking.

Click this how-to video to see how you can make Turkish Coffee at home.

BeanScene Magazine reports that the oldest coffee house in Europe (Café Baum – Leipzig, Germany) has an entrance graced with a sculpture that depicts an Ottoman offering cupid a cup of coffee. Turns out that this symbolises the meeting of the Christian western world with the Islamic east. Even in 1694 they were hopeful that coffee could be a bridge between cultures. Here’s hoping that little things like sitting down over a commonly beloved cup of coffee can help to bridge ethnic divides and start a dialogue that highlights our common ground. Not in the Boulder area? Check out your local Indian and Middle Eastern restaurants. Many serve thier own version of Turkish coffee.

When do you know you have a problem?

I’m sitting in Boulder’s Atlas Purveyors coffee shop and find myself double fisting it. One drink just wasn’t enough. This is obviously an indicator of my addiction. How can I explain myself? It’s not that I forgot that I already had one. Nope. I wanted something tried and true and couldn’t help but also hanker for the excitement of something new and untested. I am aware of what this may say about my state of mind.

Let’s just focus on the obvious; I now have two drinks in front of me.

Today the old faithful is the Atlas’ Pearl Grey Latte. It’s been months since I last had one. Like any good addict, I ultimately overdosed and had to take a breather but now I’m back for more.

For those out there who love chai but are interested in experimenting, this is a swell alternative to try—as long as you like a bit o’ bergamont. The Pearl Gray tea is a potent Indian black tea mixed with blue mallow flowers, bergamont oil and vanilla bean. Add in your choice of milks and a touch of vanilla agave (I always request half the agave. It really doesn’t need more.) and its a cup of happiness waiting to be slurped and savored.

So that’s drink numero uno…

This is the place. Photo by Mark Gammon

On to the newcomer who has momentarily captured my attention, Comfort Coffee. I’d heard about it from another regular and decided to try. It’s an Atlas’ specialty drink that you won’t find on any menu so you have to hear about it from someone to know you can ask for this sweeter twist to the Cafe Au Lait. Purists will frown at it and continue on their merry way, but if you like your coffee with cream and sugar… grab yourself one.

Comfort Coffee is about 75% coffee that’s topped with milk, cinnamon and vanilla agave. Unlike a traditional Au Lait, EVERYTHING is steamed together, turning each drink into a slightly creamier puddle of caffeination. The cinnamon harkens on a subliminal level to winter holidays around a fire… so I can see why it’s becoming so popular, even if it is too sweet for my taste. (As usual, I’d cut out about half the agave/sweetener.) Give it a try though, you may find it’s all the comfort you need…

That’s all I have for now. The buzz is strong, the Chemical Brothers are playing and I shall do my best not to vibrate into an alternate dimension. At least not today…

Ciao

I'll take a coffee... and make it green.

There is no giant recycling emblem stamped on the building or anything inside to alert a visitor that they’ve entered an uber green cafe. If anything, the building’s design hints at its earlier incarnation as a Dunkin Donuts but this coffee shop is a far cry from those humble beginnings. Since it opened Folsom Street Coffee has made a name for itself (with those in the know) as a trendy, eco-savvy café and now their coffee and sustainability efforts are better than ever.

Even six years after opening, Folsom Street Coffee remains the only coffee shop in Boulder county to be awarded the “Zero Waste or Damn Near” award from Eco-Cycle (they recycle and compost 95% of their waste) and their list of environmentally sustainable achievements continues: among other things they received the “Waste Reduction” award from the Center For Resource Conservation, are P.A.C.E. (Partners for A Clean Environment) certified, use zeroscaping to minimize water use, are 100% wind powered and use compostable cups and utensils for to-go orders.

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Still, the café has had to pick and choose its battles. When they opened, the café went with a roaster in Utah, Salt Lake Roasting, instead of a local company. Folsom’s owner, Chris Warner, is the first to admit that it wasn’t an ideal situation, given their mission, but he knew the Utah roasters and respected their product.

A view of Folsom Street Coffee from the inside... lots of light and some communal seating.

Chris went on to say, “Everything else we did as green as possible, except for our coffee. Of course, we have been thinking about switching roasters for a long time, but that’s a big change -like swapping out the engine of a car (while it’s still running).”

Fortunately, times change and last August Folsom Street made the switch. They now serve Conscious Coffee, a Boulder roaster, and the impacts are obvious (and not just in carbon footprints). Conscious Coffee’s own dedication to environmental and societal sustainability are a perfect match with Folsom Street’s goals.

In a field packed with enthusiastic roasters Conscious Coffee stands out (direct sourcing, minimal waste, really fair trade with small family farms, only organic beans, attention to quality, and exceptional roasts). In November Roast Magazine named them their coveted Micro-Roaster of the Year. A cappuccino made with Folsom’s proprietary blend, Tuku Espresso, results in a perfectly balanced, mellow, rich, subtlely hued drink that has kept regulars and newcomers coming back for more.

It’s safe to say that Folsom Street’s drinks have never been better. If you’re interested in a visit, be prepared for a full house. Folsom Street Coffee isn’t small but tends to fill up with students and working Boulderites. It’s proximity to campus, consistently good drinks, friendly/hip staff and free parking area keep business booming.

So, stop by. You’re in good hands. Just be sure to separate your trash, compost and recyclables into their appropriate container. This is one cafe that’s serious about keeping things green.

Turning that phone into your mobile bank...

Want to pay for that bagel and coffee with your phone? Well, if you’re one of the 30% of the population with a smart phone, odds are you won’t have too long to wait. Right now, you have a few options too.

There are a lot of apps out there; Apple’s iPhone alone has over 300,000 apps and sprinkled among them are purchasing programs for various stores and companies. Here are a couple of phone apps on the market that turn your phone into a credit card for coffee… and more.

The top pick for innovative coffee shop app goes to Splick-It. This app is a dream for people on the go.  Imagine you’re running late for work and want to avoid a long line of caffeine craving insomniacs. Splick-It has a simple, intuitive menu set up and makes it easy to order from your phone. It allows you to add notes (like: make that a skinny, flat latte with whipped topping… I’m having a bad morning.), select a time for pick-up, and pay with the click of a button. Then just grab it and go. No line, no fuss, no problem.

The drawback of this app is that it is still in limitted release around the country. It’s in use at about 50 participating locations in the Boulder/Denver area (and a couple of other Colorado cities). They are also found in Chicago, Lynchburg – Virginia, Tacoma – Washington, and Moorpark – California. They are expecting to grow a lot in LA and Chicago this year. So, if you’re in those cities, this is an app that you’re going to want. For those of you who live in Boulder, here are a few locations you can use Splick-It’s grab and go app: Amante Coffee, Atlas Purveyors, Brewing Markets, Corner Coffee Bar, Flatiron Coffee, Great Harvest, Pita Pit, Saxy’s Café, Snarf’s and Treppedas.

I feel so special. I have my own barcode.

On the whole most smart phone purchasing apps aren’t quite as convenient. They simply turn your phone into a credit card using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology imbedded in the phone or the app actually creates a personal bar code on the phone’s screen that you swipe over a scanner. All things considered, aside from not having to sign, these don’t really make buying a coffee more convenient… at least not yet.

But if you like Starbucks Coffee and you want to give it a try, you can test drive their mobile app. It allows users to access their account (just like their membership card) and then creates your very own barcode. The coffee megolith’s app works at selected stores in the U.S. Currently they have several hundred regular stores and 1,000 Target stores where you can use it.

With membership cards and perks for stores on the rise and America’s love for plastic, being able to ditch a thick wallet could have its perks. Prepare yourself, this is just the first wave of apps. Someday soon, you’re bound to find yourself able to wield that phone like a mobile bank just about everywhere else.