Clouds I saw after the election which I thought fitting...and your questions answered - Friday, November 14th

hope_162.jpg"How long are you doing the farmers market?" Is the question everyone is asking me and it's a good one. I will be at the Wednesday market right up until Christmas which is how long the Wednesday market season lasts. The Saturday market, goes year round with stalwarts like Shannon Brynes and his famous greens. (there are other farms buy I can't recall them off the top of my head).

I will be at the Saturday Market the next 2 Saturdays, and away the 29th and December 6th (Out of town for Thanksgiving and at the Winter Shadow Art Show with my friends at the Michigan Design Militia and the Corner Brewery) See you Wednesday Dec 10th.

Tomorrow I have Fair Trade Rwanda!(and other great choices) This coffee is huge! Take all the coffees you've ever loved and put them together and brew them up cowboy style (without overheating the water) stir well and pour. Let it settle now you've got what I'm talking about tomorrow.
Come on down and see Kath and I for some Theater in the raw and we'll explain what Lobster Butter Love is!

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Posted by John at 5:07pm :: 2 comments
 

Tomorrow is the Big Day - Monday, November 3rd

I think tomorrow is going to be historic so let's get out there and choose a better history! Go Vote!

Your faithful roaster of fine coffee

Thank you everyone, for all the support!

Roos!

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Posted by John at 6:59am :: 2 comments
 

Coffee Class; November 2nd, 2008 1:00 PM at Kitchen Port Zeeb Road - Friday, October 24th

The vitals:
Where: Kitchen Port
When: November 2nd, 2008 at 1:00 PM till 2:00 PM (shopping after)
Subject: Espresso.
Cost: $10
Advanced sign up: Call the store 734-665-9188


Here's your chance to score on the long awaited Roos Roast Coffee Class for only $10! That's right! The price includes 10% off for shopping after the class (restrictions apply). This class will take place in the demonstration kitchen at Kitchen Port the kitchen supply on Jackson Road. (they have a TV cooking show ceiling mirror so you can really see everything)
The store is fun because it's tastefully laid out and has a great selection of valuable kitchen equipment. It's really a great setting for a class.
Make sure you sign up in advance as space is limited to 20 people and 6 have already signed up. I will be doing a 1 hour talk on espresso starting at 1:00 PM. Since the class is so short, please be on time.
On Nov 15th my buddy Max Sussman will be signing copies of his first cookbook "Freshman in the Kitchen" also at Kitchen Port.


See you at the market on Saturday.

Your faithful roaster

Roos

Posted by John at 8:32am :: 1 comments
 

The Busy World of Caffeinated People - Friday, October 17th

Have you ever thought that much of the worlds busyness was self imposed? Are we all addicted to the value of being busy? I see that when I talk to my mom on the phone and I say "I'm really busy." and she says "I'm busy too!" as if don't call me a slacker, punk ass son of mine! I may be retired but I'll work circles around you inspired on something like Tasters Choice. cowboy coffee_158.jpg

What is it, we're a more valuable component of society if we're busy?

What if some of the busyness was related to caffeine and a passion of coffee? I don't want to waste your time working out my consumption issues here on the Roos Roast blog but this is just how I write. Let's get busy.
Start by going here: monkey business

The guys at Main Street Motors are going crazy for the AeroPress! They have them in the office and will make you an excellent cup of Roos Roast right there in the shop while you wait to have you car serviced. I have not seen a more dedicated group of Techs! These guys know what a cup of coffee is supposed to taste like. Here is what Chip Smith said about the AreoPress: "Just wanted to say what a great call the AeroPress is. I love it and will never make coffee with the old coffee maker again. It's so great, I bought another for my neighbor. I love the coffee, the bike delivery and the entrepreneurial spirit!"

Dude I'm in the middle of dinner with Donald Harrison of the Ann Arbor Film Festival Fame, Michael Flynn protector of true net metering, Solar Power in Michigan) Heidi Kumao has never had any problems with Verizon and is a brilliant professor at the school of art and design at U of M, Stephen Kinnard of Cordova Alaska (Democrat), Kath Weider extraordinary cooker of Italian Food and my future wife. And of course me.
We're here to remind everyone that you can't wear any political garb to polling places. You also need an ID. So bring your drivers license and don't wear your Obama shirt. We want everyone to be able to vote! Get out the vote.

Donald is twittering about the movies they're going to make tomorrow and the secret ingredient,(string) while Heidi photographs me blogging while everyone else looks on and comments. Kinnard: "Picking apples is Sexy." Donald is picking apples tomorrow with his sexy ex.
He's what I have to remind you of:
Cowboy coffee tomorrow at the Farmers Market. (See photos) Cowboy coffee is the wild combination of course grounds, boiling water, stirring and cold water sprinkled on top to encourage the grounds to settle. The result is an incredible strong cup of coffee that rivals the Clover while being much more rustic.

There is all kinds of stuff happening tonight, Art Walk, Play at the Yellow Barn with Roos Roast coffee, cool crisp weather, Ann Arbor Acting like Portland Oregon 10 years ago, the moon, clear nights.
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See you at the Farmers Market in the Morning leaning_158.jpg

Remaining your faithful roaster of coffee,

Roos

PS: To my editors please contact me if you see any errors I'm too busy to send this to be edited and wait for it to come back. I need to post it now!

Posted by John at 7:07am :: 3 comments
 

Roos Roast at Obama Campaign Head Quarters! - Thursday, October 9th

Fresh brewed Roos Roast is available right now at the Obama Head Quarters at the corner of Liberty and First in Ann Arbor. Get it while it's hot.
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Community in action, acting on ideas, sharing, listening and helping others. That's the Obama campaign. People making a differnce.

I'm so into this movement of empowering people!

Let's move away from putting people down by filling them with fear.

Yesterday at the market I released the new Roos Roast bumper sticker.

Here's what it looks like:
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Smile on your brother

Posted by John at 11:17am :: 6 comments
 

I haven't met a coffee that doesn't go with breakfast (I want to talk about Breakfast Blends) - Thursday, October 2nd

Check me if I'm wrong, but coffee and breakfast in the morning are aspects of the day similar to birds singing, the sun rising, opening your eyes, getting out to of bed, and realizing what day it is.

As long as you start with fresh roast coffee, good water, the grind is burr, and you're using the Aero-Press, you've got your coffee to go with breakfast.

What I'm getting at here is over the years I've heard and keep hearing requests for a "breakfast blend" and I'm always stumped. What coffee is NOT a breakfast blend? What coffee doesn't go with breakfast?

Breakfast blend came out of the vague vacuum of coffee industry marketing when there were 5 national roasters of coffee.

If someone has some thoughts on this, please let me know.

Posted by John at 7:14am :: 11 comments
 

Market Wednesday (scroll down for new long format) - Tuesday, September 30th

The Ann Arbor Farmers Market is where you will find stability and Roos Roast tomorrow.
Great fair trade, organic, H2O processed decaf from Ethiopia to calm your nerves after a rocky week on Wall Street, and the zany antics of the presidential race.

I will also be debuting the new Lobster Butter Love block print label along with "Rich French Neighbor, Organic Peru La Florida and Espresso Blend. (Currently featured at Cafe Verde People's Food Co-op.
Every bag of Roos Roast comes with a free block print! Hee Haw!lobbag_154.jpg



















I'm now contracting Andrew Brown, of Sparrow Market fame, to bike deliver the "Double R " when I'm too busy. His business is called "Green-speed." (Logo and website to follow.)greenspeed_154.jpg



















Lastly, Making beautiful latte art is harder then windsurfing these two picture prove it:
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Thanks for drinking Roos Roast and see you at the market.

Remaining your faithful roast of fine coffee.

Posted by John at 4:48pm :: 1 comments
 

Recalling my cafe days and a personal search for that elusive awe inspiring cup. (of coffee) - Tuesday, September 23rd

What is this blog post about?
It's about the amount of time I wasted in cafes trying to write a masterpiece.
Who cares, it was worth it. Truthfully, I spent the last decade of the 21st century and a small part of this 22nd century wasting time and money procrastinating in cafes all the way from Portland, OR to the Hawaiian islands, and then overseas in places like Hong Kong, New York, London and Paris. I'm not trying to sound like a Gucci tag but I was on the move, cooking and looking for that elusive cup.cafe_153.jpg Fast forward to the present and this past weekend when I had a deja vu moment from my cafe daze.probat_153.jpg
After a busy day at the farmer's market on Saturday I zoomed off to Stratford, Ontario for dinner with good friends and Hamlet. Now this morning Kath and I are so lucky to hit cafe Balzac, a Stratford favorite. The cafe has this hard edge metropolitan feel, and tastefully done antique coffee stuff including an old Probat half bag roaster which they actually use to roast all their beans. It's not uncommon to see men in beret spouting politics or pontificating on the state of Canadian theater in this place.
I was looking forward to the forgotten sensation of sipping coffee on a lazy Sunday morning while writing in my journal, only to be let down. Even though they roast their own beans, the Mocha-Java brew tasted like hot water brewed from charcoal. They're simply taking it too dark.
But who cares? The atmosphere at Balzac is awesome and I'm on holiday! It also helped me recall my preferred choice for these circumstances: double espresso pulled long for that great cup of coffee. (I should have pulled out the Areo Press!) The espresso at Balzac is great and when in Stratford this cafe is a must!
See you at the Market on Wednesday.
Your Faithful Roaster
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Posted by John at 7:59pm :: 6 comments
 

Feels like the moon, with people and food! - Monday, September 22nd

For those interested I'm at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market and the bounty is on and Roos Roast is here. The temperature is currently 56 with the first light hitting the sky. See! I'm in the Sand Lot sandwiched between Biscotti Barb and Mike from Zingermans Creamery Come as you are and see you soon .
Roos.

Posted by John at 2:54pm :: 1 comments
 

The Produce Station and Sparrow Market ( keeping it real.) - Thursday, September 18th


It's morning, I'm drinking 3/4 Ethiopian Yirgacheffe with 1/4 Peru La Florida pressed out of the Areo Press(full cup) and it's tasting so sweet. Try it your own self sometime! (Yes, this means buying two different varieties of my coffee and MIXING them to great result)

The light is pouring in and I can hear the Carolina Wren. I'm still sad about the passing of David Foster Wallace, my favorite writer…so in his honor I'm wearing my blue tennis top and a head band ala Luke Wilson in The Royal Tenenbaums

I have to tell everyone about the art of staying small and two exciting new places (deep local) to get your Roos! "Get Roosted!" as Jeremy from Arbor Teas says. Though the title of this post MAY have given you a small hint, let’s have a drum roll anyway... The Produce Station on South State Street and Sparrow Market in Kerrytown! Both fantastic local businesses.

At the Station, Andrew, the staff and I are all very excited to add Roos Roast to their great line up of food and drink. Organic Lobster Butter Love is already in the store. "Don't put the coffee down!" November is going to be "Roos Roast Month." What does that mean, you ask? It means I'm developing a Produce Station Blend and they will be brewing up the Roos right there in the store all month long. Lovin it!

You’ll also find Roos Roast alongside your favorite local cuts of meat (and cheese and groceries and veggies and everything else) at Sparrow Market. This way, when you buy up everything at the farmer’s market, I can send you right next door! Bob Sparrow is pumped up and so is the staff, so pick up the vibe and get the buzz going.

Thank you for reading and writing. See you at the market. Your faithful Roaster

Posted by John at 6:22am :: 3 comments