Coffee Shops and online access.

I'm hanging out at Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan this evening and there coffee is very good here.

Of course, I had to add some pumpkin and spice syrup to my cup of java to celebrate the winter season holiday weekend and I'm glad I did.

Online access here is free and it's also a good place to "people watch." Some coffee shops charge for access, one well known one I won't mention here, but this is nice here at Sweetwaters', I've been here all night.

Coffee history goes way back......

First coffee house? in Istanbul, Turkey (1475)

First to "soften" coffee with cream and sugar?
a Europeon, of course, in Vienna (1529)

First coffee shop in New York City?

the Tontine Coffee House, (1792) it became the New York Stock Exchange because of all the business conducted there.

Where Starbucks got its start? in Seattle, (1971) with 8000 locations. all over the world.

reference: coffeetea.about.com/od/history1/a/shophistory.htm

Your favorite coffee shop!

With gourmet coffee shops around every corner it's hard to choose a favorite.

Selection of different kinds of coffee and coffee flavors are abundant at every shop.

The place I purchase coffee at the most, of course, is the one that's most convenient.

Immediately inside the lobby of the hospital I work at is a wonderful coffee stand. It is conveniently placed in a spot for me to purchase a cup on my way up to my office.

Interestingly enough, they've named it "Java Joe's," (St. Joseph Hospital thought this out well didn't they) and their coffee's is just as good as any other in the area that I've tried.
Convenience triumphs over all.

Any way you look at it your still saving money....

I noticed brand name coffee costs anywhere from $5.49 - $11.99 for a 12oz bag while in the supermarket the other day.

Even paying $12/ounce for the very best bag of coffee is less expensive than buying it at a gourmet coffee shop by the cup.

Just doing a little math shows one ounce of coffee from the grocery store at $1 an ounce makes two cups of coffee, which just doesn't compare to $1.50 for one cup of coffee at the gourmet coffee shop.

Coffee for a cause ......

Java Hope Project Coffee's purpose is to eradicate poverty by empowering marginalized American women to own and operate their own coffee shop or coffee cart business. They have partnered with a co-op in Ethiopia so coffees can be imported to the USA from Ethiopian women farmers.

"CLICK HERE" ....
....to find out more about how this organization is making a change in people's lives.

I found this product at Krogers.

Good Espresso at Home for Less says "Good Housekeeping Magazine."

With the economy being the way it is these days, why not "espresso" at home for less?

Espresso is basically a concentrated cup of coffee brewed by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground coffee. In other words, lots of caffeine and coffee taste in a little shot of coffee.

And if this is your "cup of tea," so to speak, and your looking for ways to save money over time, you might want to take a look at the three Espresso Machines, "Good Housekeeping Magazine" is recommending for use in your home. Their September issue has an informative article at the ESPRESSO link below.

"CLICK HERE - Espresso at home"

The Freshest Pot of Coffee Possible.....

The freshest pot of coffee possible is going to be one that was taken off the warming burner as soon as the coffee is done brewing. Pour your pot of freshly brewed coffee in a thermos or careffe to keep it hot.

Want an even fresher cup of coffee? Buy whole bean coffee and grind it right before you brew it.

If you can buy your coffee beans from some place that roasts them, then grinding and brewing freshly roasted beans will give you and even better tasting fresher cup of coffee.

Could one other step give your coffee the very best taste yet? Yes, if your coffee beans are freshly picked, then roasted and ground right before they are brewed.