The Kitchen Connection & Wine Shop
. . . your connection to the good things in life
Coffee Tips:
Featured Coffees Nicaraguan & Sierra Madre
Both Organic & Fair Trade Certified
Both $12.95/lb
Welcome to the world of Fair Trade coffees. Fair Trade products combine a fair price for farming families with rigid environmental standards. Buying Fair Trade Certified products gives farmers a chance to sell their goods at a fair price, which means that they can cover their costs, support their families, and invest in a better future. We carry two Organic & Fair Trade coffees and strongly recommend that you try them!
Join our Coffee Club!
No obligation and no card to keep up with.
We'll record your purchases and when you reach ten pounds of our delectable coffee (whole bean or ground) you'll receive the 11th pound absolutely FREE! No strings attached.
Coffees We Carry
Almond Amaretto
Black Forest*
Breakfast Blend*
Caramel Kiss*
Chocolate Eclair
Chocolate Raspberry Creme
Coffee Cake
Colombian (100%)*
Costa Rican
Cupid's Kiss
(February Only)
Dark French Roast*
Frangelico Creme*
Hawaiian Hazelnut
Holiday Cheer
(November & December only)
Irish Creme
(March only)
Italian Roast
Kona Blend
New Orleans Blend*
Nicaraguan (Organic Free Trade)
Orange Seville
Sierra Madre (Organic Free Trade)
Snickerdoodle*
Southern Pecan
Sumatra
Swiss Chocolate Orange*
Tiramisu
Vermont Maple Nut Crunch
White Russian*
* Available in Decaffeinated as well as Regular
Use water that tastes good. If the water flowing from your kitchen tap tastes bad, your coffee will taste worse! If the water tastes like a cool mountain stream, then it will probably make a great cup of coffee. If your water is questionable, experiment with various bottled waters to find one that makes the perfect cup of coffee, or consider adding a filter to your water system.
Make sure your equipment is clean. Coffee contains oil and leaves a residue on your pot every time you brew. Clean the pot with a non-abrasive sponge or baking soda.* Clean the coffeemaker itself regularly with white vinegar or a commercial cleaner.
Use freshly ground coffee that has been stored properly. Using fresh coffee makes a world of difference in the taste.
*Both Recipe & Tips from The Complete Coffee Book by Sara Perry
The world of coffee is complex and detailed. There are two basic types of coffee beans (1) Arabica, and (2) Robusta. Specialty stores such as ours will always carry the arabica beans. These beans receive special care and attention throughout their cultivation and growing process. The arabica beans are more delicate in flavor and sell at higher prices because of their quality and limited availability (one arabica tree will produce only one pound of coffee!) Harvesting high-grade arabica coffees is also very labor intensive. The arabica tree usually grows at high altitudes and is susceptible to disease, frost, and drought. It requires the right combination of sun, shade, and moisure to survive. All of these factors contribute to the quality and price.
Caring for Coffee
Coffee should always be stored in an airtight, sealed container. Refrigeration is recommended but may not be necessary if the coffee is consumed within a week or two. Refrigeration will not prevent the coffee from becoming stale, but it will slow down the process. If you choose to freeze your coffee beans, make sure the package is tightly wrapped and is airtight. Freeze in small containers because every time you open a large package, moisture enters it. The build-up of moisture and oxygen causes coffee to become stale.
Roasting
Coffees that you find in specialty and gourmet shops tend to be roasted darker than commercial, brand-name coffees. Roasting is the method by which the green coffee beans are heated to a temperature that brings out their best flavor qualities. Roasting each coffee to its peak shade and flavor is truly an art. Our coffees are roasted just for us at the time we place our monthly order so they arrive extremely fresh. They are stored in mylar bags from which the air has been removed.
American Roast:
Even, chestnut brown color
Full City Roast:
Dark brown color but with no traces of oil on the beans' surface
Vienna Roast:
Dark brown color with a small amount of oil on the surface
French Roast:
Very dark brown color with a large amount of oil on the surface (good for Espresso)
Italian Roast:
Almost black with large amount of oil on the surface (excellent for Espresso)
Old Fashioned Coffee Soda
Revisit your childhood and try this one- or two-straw drink again! I bet you've forgotten how good it is!
3 cups chilled, double-strength coffee
1 Tbsp. superfine sugar
1 cup half-and-half
4 scoops coffee ice cream
3/4 cup chilled club soda
whip cream for garnish
cherries or strawberries for garnish
Combine the coffee and sugar in a large pitcher. Blend in the half-and-half. Fill 4 glasses halfway with the coffee mixture. Add a scoop of ice cream to each glass. Fill to the top with soda. Add a dollop of whipped cream and top each glass with a cherry or strawberry. Top with cocoa powder or shaved chocolate if desired.*