Coffees:

In- Laws Blend:

Looking for that special something to bring to Christmas? Here it is. Something delicious to have before anyone starts talking politics. Just might be good enough to get you written into great aunt Melva's will!

Available whole bean or ground- fresh roasted.

Black Sheep Espresso Blend is now better than ever!

We've hit upon a great formula and roast- for a delicious, heavy bodied espresso that carries through in milk with enough sweetness and spice to keep you wanting more.

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SALES:

All of our coffees are 10-35% off right now- through Christmas!
Travel Mugs are $5.00!!


Saturday, Dec 19th we will have a group of South Saint Paul Choir Alumni coming to sing Christmas carols. Should be around 7:00 P.M. I'll update this on Saturday.

Our good friend James Mossman is in recovery after open heart surgery and doing well. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers- and there is an online guestbook for James and family at:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jamesmossman   


   

Fall at Black Sheep Coffee Cafe

Seasons Greetings! By seasons- I mean the three we've had this week alone. Summer, fall, and Armageddon.

This is always a very exciting time of year for us here at the Sheep- and this season is the best yet. We've got several new coffees- some great retail and gift packages for the gift-giving season, and more.

Brazil Eulino Micro-Lot: Rich and buttery, with almond and bittersweet chocolate notes. Makes a deep, drinkable espresso- clean and toasty!

Available for a limited time for $11.99 for a 14 oz. bag!

NEW- Guatemala SHB Pacamara
We're calling this Guatemala Coshecha Organic. (It's Also above-fair-trade.)
The SHB stands for "Strictly Hard Bean" and Pacamara, is a varietal known for its long flat bean shape. Very sweet- very clean:
Here are the cupping notes from Cafe Imports.

Anise, chocolate, juicy, fruity, complex fruit acidity, sweet, creamy, caramel finish.
Available for $12.99 / 14 oz bag.
Oh by the way- here is an amazing link to Jamin's Photos from his and Tim's recent trip to Brazil.
Last year's Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza coffee we had was some of the best Brazil I've ever tasted, we're very much looking forward to the new crop!

Also- Black Sheep is proud to announce that this fall and winter we will be carrying the

AEROPRESS
Have you tried this thing?


So I'm thinking to myself, um..... this looks like a micro version of the Clover, Hello!!??
Turns out, it is. All you have to do is ignore the manufacturer's archaic instructions and reccommendations on brewing, and you have yourself an outstanding tool. So you load in coffee- pour your hot water over, stir, wait, and (here's the best part) To brew- you depress a plunger with however much force you want, it's fairly easy to generate the needed amount, just a few pounds. BUT- you can choose your own dosage, the filters don't taste like bleached paper- and you have a clean, individually made cup of coffee in -GET THIS- 60 seconds. Clean-up time is an additional *whopping* 10 seconds.

But let's talk about the coffee- isn't it about the coffee?
I recently took this thing on a fishing trip to the BWCAW. I decided to abandon my french press and cone pour-over just about immediately. We had the best coffee, quickly, easily, and cleanly, that I've ever had on a canoe trip. Now, don't get me wrong, we do have one of the best coffee brewers in the world here in South Saint Paul, and we're also roasting fresh, high quality coffee- but here- is a chance to get yourself that same quality (nearest to it that I have seen) coffee wherever and whenever you want it!

Am I gushing? So be it.
Ok so here's the diagram. $29.99 for the whole thing. You don't really need the funnel or scoop- but when you're in the kitchen they do a very nice job of keeping grinds off your counter. The stirrer is really just a spoon- but keeps you from over agitating by being just slightly smaller than the tube. There are dosing numbers on both parts of the brew chamber- helpful, sorta, but you're going to find out where you like your own coffee brewed very quickly.

Here's what I recommend:
One scoop- that scoop is a very generous two tablespoons- to three scoops total depending on how you like your coffee.

One scoop: Clover-like
Two Scoops: Low Acid, Chocolatey.
Three Scoops: Like Cold-Press or Toddy, just sweet and dense, no acid.

Water should be just off boil, not 175 degrees like they say- more like 200.
Stir.
Stir just until grinds begin to sink- neutral buoyancy is what we're after.
Wait 15-55 seconds- no really... it's delicious anywhere in that range.
Press. You can easily stretch the press portion anywhere from 5 seconds (pressing hard) to 20 seconds (almost no force.)


Stay tuned for the Music Blog- link is just below this one.
Stay tuned for New coffees and more Gift ideas and events!

Pete the Sheep.

Roast Blog Update September 2009

FALL 2009-



There are certain people who are blessed with great friends. Others are blessed with a great family or a great community. Still others may be blessed with a fantastic job that they love, great coworkers or a wonderful partner.

I am blessed with all of these things. I get to find and share delicious things, work with talented people who are passionate about what they do, and participate in the craft and ongoing process of feeding and nurturing my community.

I am so grateful for that opportunity. Thank you- to all of our customers who have supported us through what (reportedly) has been one of the worst economic downturns in our collective lifetime.

I am pleased to announce that Black Sheep Coffee Cafe is still here and going strong!
We have several new menu items, more than a few new coffees- new staff- music- events-

Let me share just a few of those with you.

Coffees:

NEW_ Kenya Kirinyaga -
A fully washed, patio dried Kenya from 1800 metres elevation. Red currant, sweet grapefruit, delicious as a light single origin espresso as well.
This one has outcupped some very famous Kenyan coffees with bigger names behind them, so we're pleased to be able to offer some of the best Kenyan coffee of this season at very reasonable prices.

NEW_Costa Rica Helsar Villa Sarchi-

Helsar de Zarcero is located in the West Valley of Costa Rica in the Llano Bonito de Naranjo microregion. This micromill was started by three families with the goal of adding value and providing traceability to the high quality coffee grown on their land. Ten families now work to produce and mill coffee at Helsar de Zarcero. Sustainable practices are used throughout the farm. Organic fertilizers are fermented on-site by mixing coffee cherry pulp and molasses, along with mined zinc, boron, and other minerals. Micro-organisms are cultured from soil collected on nearby mountains and added to the natural fertilizer in order to provide disease protection to the coffee plants. Helsar de Zarcero is committed to producing high quality microlots, and it shows in the cup, which is consistently round, rich, and very sweet. This particular microlot is the Villa Sarchi varietal, which is unique to Costa Rica. It is a mutant of Bourbon that was found in the small town of Sarchi.


NEW Ethiopia Gerbicho Leila- Natural Process Sidamo.

Natural Process- refers to the drying stage- the coffee cherry is picked ripe and allowed to dry whole, in this natural state, until it shrivels like a raisin. The seed is essentially imbued with the character of this process- and can result in some really wild strawberry, lime, and sweet blueberry notes- above and beyond the fermented soil character of the sidamo region.
Really quite bold and sweet- you can smell it brewing across the street...

NEW- Brazil Eulino-

Micro Lot Brazil- clean peanut. I know that doesn't sound like much- but are you a fan of Peanut Butter? The real stuff? Then you know how addictive good peanut butter can be. This is just like that, you'll find yourself surprised at how satisfying it is in its singularity.



Events and happenings- Heatherlyn tonight at the sheep!

Check out our Music blog for more events!

Also,
Wedding!- I will be getting married to Ms. Katherine Woodman on September 20th- next sunday- and we will be closing early for the event. We're having a carnival themed party with events, games, mini-donuts and cotton candy and sno cones and corn dogs and more!
Stay tuned for details- and photos.

Website re-launch.

We've decided to take another go at the online store. We're going to put all of our best store retail specials, coffee delivery specials, roasting offers and wholesale catering info back up online in an all new store. Stay tuned for details!

And here are just a couple photos of some of our new desserts. It is, after all, the season for dessert. Don't ask me why. I don't know.


Also- if anyone reading this is also attending the Lebowski festival this weekend- please contact me with any photos or reviews you might have- we're big fans.

Spring Cleaning! March Update 2009

First let me say- SPRING- oh my goodness!! Spring. Wow! Really?? Wow!

Ok, got that out of my system.


Next up is the Saint Patrick's SPECIAL-

Buy a $15.00 Gift Card- get a FREE DRINK on us!

That's right. FREE DRINK.
Plus the gift cards have a beautiful little green hat wearing sheep- designed by the lovely and talented Ms.

New Coffees!!

The Beloya is almost here, and we've just received some amazing Brazil. We've picked up Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza- two lots, one for espresso, one for brewed coffee. Both are amazing coffees. We're offering the Brazil for 16.99 a pound, and so far it's flying out the door. So that everyone can have a chance to taste this great coffee before we run out, and while it is fresh-

MAKE A NEW ACCOUNT ON OUR ONLINE COFFEE STORE- and receive a pound of our new Brazil Fortaleza for only $9.99! Available for in store pickup of local delivery.

Let me say that again- sign up online - purchase a pound of our new Brazil Fortaleza for only $9.99! Recession Buster deals!
You'll find a button on the website store HERE-
limit one per customer with Credit card purchase. Local delivery is billed by actual mileage from a gas efficient vehicle- scooter (90mpg) when weather permits and Hybrid (44mpg) otherwise.

We're also repainting and organizing our signs, changing our menu to spring vegetables and soups, and starting to bring back our
FRESH SQUEEZED LEMONADE!-
$2.25 a glass- Just lemons, filtered water, granulated sugar.

Also, starting next week- we will be brewing FRESH ICED TEA selections every day.
Remember, ICED TEA is only $1.00 every TUESDAY!

Sorry for all the shouting.

February Update:

HAPPY VALENTINE'S!

In this update:

Coupon- read on to find upcoming special offers!
New Coffees!
Roasting Blog Update
Seasonal Menu Changes- Valentine's day Specials!


New Coffees:

Tanzania Peaberry:
A mild, aromatic cup with a balanced complexity as it cools. Great body and mouthfeel.

Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Wondo Worka B-
You may notice this coffee shares the same name as a coffee we already offer- delicious clean ferment flavors of berry, citrus, and wine, but Ethiopia B offers something more complex, the very fine black tea notes of an Oolong. Truly a coffee to be savored, perfect for a Valentine's day Gift.

Valentine's Day Specials-

Look for our Valentine's Mocha- served from February 9-16 only!

Single Origin Jamaican Dark Chocolate-
From Rogue Chocolatier- this is an amazing opportunity to try a simply stunning beverage- the complexity and sweetness of true artisan chocolate, paired with a custom espresso blended for this one drink- available only for Valentine's day week!

Stay Tuned for more details, and a photo.
We will also be baking some special Valentine's Desserts, we're working on recipes right now.


Roasting Blog Update:

On samples and sampling.
We've tried a lot of great coffee- and even more bad coffee-
That is to say, lots and lots and lots of very poor coffee.
Why do we do this- you ask?
So that you do not have to.
We can honestly say that our coffee compares to the best coffee available in our region and our nation. You won't find a cup this good at our prices anywhere else. We are one of only two shops in MN serving true specialty coffee-


Each week we sample new coffees, looking for the best flavor, the best aromas, but with an eye towards value. You would pay 20$ for a great bottle of wine, that, when opened will last perhaps only one meal. Coffee should be fresh, served at peak, given the love and respect it needs to brew a beautiful experience for you and your loved ones.

Ask us about brewing great coffee at home.
We sell brewers, grinders, we can even help you with water!


And now- the -COUPON- Print this out, or simply tell us you saw it online, and save the paper. We trust you.


May all your sips be blessed with perfect
crisp
clean
bliss.