Monthly Archives: November 2009

The Oregonian reports on Caffe Vita’s Barista Training Program for At-Risk Youth.

| November 30, 2009

In coffee-swilling Oregon, barista training helps at-risk young people find jobs, hope
By Larry Bingham, The Oregonian
November 28, 2009, 12:40PM

The pilot program, a collaboration between p:ear and coffee roaster Caffé Vita, aims to give homeless young people the experience they need to find work. At its core, the program is really about hope. In the worst recession in decades, when even college-educated people struggle to find work, it takes hope — and training — for someone with a tarnished back story and a spotty work history to land a job.

Chad Freilino spent eight weeks training five homeless young people how to become baristas as part of a collaborative pilot program between Freilino’s employer, coffee roaster Caffé Vita, and the nonprofit group p:ear. Nic Avery (center) and a young man who goes by “Jukebox” took the classes. In the coffee-swilling Northwest, barista training seemed a natural fit.

Chad Freilino, Caffé Vita’s Portland rep, and p:ear’s Sarah Dougher brainstormed the idea last year. Freilino knew of a similar program at YouthCare’s Orion Center in Seattle. Read the entire article here…

Vita Holiday Blend Has Arrived + Limited Edition Holiday Eco-Tins

| November 27, 2009

HOLIDAY BLEND HAS ARRIVED! Click Here To Order

Every fall our green coffee buyer cups endless coffee samples from around the world looking for a combination of beans to create a nuanced cup that says: HOLIDAY. This year we kept coming back to a handful of South American coffees that were brimming with warm and comforting characteristics.The profile couldn’t be more appropriate for colder weather and holiday cheer. Sweet rich aromas of milk chocolate, caramel and baking spice abound in the blend this year. The cup is perfectly well rounded cup with a medium body and well balanced mild acidity. Expect rich flavors of chocolate, caramel and nougat with hints of warm spice and cigar smoke in the finish. 12 oz bag. $11.00.

This year we worked with artist Robert Mercer to incorporate the drawings he crafted for VITA illustrating “the life of a coffee seed” . There are three different labels showing the journey from young seedling to ripe red coffee cherry.

HOLIDAY ECO-TIN + COFFEE. Click Here To Order

This year we are offering our Holiday Blend in a gorgeous hand silk screened re-usuable Eco Tin. The Tins are filled with 12oz of Holiday Blend, sealed, and ready for purchase. The unique design of the Eco Tin allows the container to remain airtight while a very fancy little valve lets the coffee exhale.. $15.95.

CAFFE VITA FREE HOLIDAY SHIPPING. Staring today. In-store and online through Dec. 24th.

| November 27, 2009

Thanks to you we’ve had a record year at our online store and in our retail locations. To show our gratitude we are offering FREE SHIPPING on all online and in-store orders over $25. Starting Friday November 27th stop by our online store or one of our six locations and do all of your holiday shopping in one place.

In each Vita location we have pretty little postcards (see below) that allow you to easily send a variety of coffee related goods to your friends and family.

Or pop over to our online store and fire away. www.caffevita.com/store


Our way of saying thanks!

NOTES FROM THE CUPPING TABLE

| November 25, 2009

We cupped some outstanding coffee today from Central and South America including an organic/bio-dynamic FARM DIRECT coffee from Panama. Panama Finca Dos Jefes, slated for an early December 2009 release- available at all CAFFE VITA retail locations as well as our online store @ www.caffevita.com

Panama Finca Dos Jefes is truly one of a kind. Grown in the lush green mountain highlands of Chiriqui province of Panama utilizing organic & bio dynamic principles/methods, this coffee screams perfection. Huge aromas of sun dried blueberry dominate the nose as nuances of cinnamon and dark chocolate permeate the air.
A full bodied coffee with moderate acidity exhibiting bold, prominent flavors of dark chocolate and blueberry dominate the cup with hints of spice and citrus zest dissipating throughout the caramel finish.

The natural process and adherence to organic and bio-dynamic principles no doubt gives this coffee its distinct character and complexity of flavor/aromas.
For more information on bio dynamic agriculture click here: http://www.biodynamics.com/biodynamics.html

Visit your local CAFFE VITA for more information on CAFFE VITA FARM DIRECT PANAMA FINCA DOS JEFES. Available early December 2009…

*Cupping will be cancelled this Friday, November 27 due to Thanksgiving festivities and will resume Wednesday Dec 2 @ 10 AM @ CAFFE VITA Capitol Hill-1005 E Pike St.

FREE weekly coffee cupping

| November 23, 2009

Just a reminder to stop by our Capitol Hill location- 1005 E. PIKE ST- EVERY WEDNESDAY and FRIDAY @ 10 AM for our FREE coffee cupping. Join us upstairs at our cupping table as we taste coffees from Africa, Central/South America and Indonesia. Don’t miss this great opportunity to expand your coffee palate/vocabulary, learn about the origins of coffee, discuss the issues surrounding coffee and of course, taste exceptional quality coffee.

This Wednesday look forward to some outstanding organic/biodynamic FARM DIRECT coffee from PANAMA, in addition to other exceptional coffees from around the world.

Again, FREE coffee cupping EVERY WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY/10 AM @ CAFFE VITA- 1005 E. PIKE ST.

Free 8oz Lattes Next Tuesday, November 24th @ The Capitol Hill Caffe Vita!

| November 20, 2009

Caffe Vita’s Capitol Hill location will be serving free 8oz Lattes in exchange for a $1 donation next Tuesday to help raise funds for Heroes for the Homeless. Heroes for the Homeless is a local non-profit organization dedicated to helping the homeless in King County by distributing emergency and longer-term food, clothing, and other outdoor survival supplies.

See you on Tuesday for this great cause!

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GIVE is LAUNCHED. 30 tracks from Seattle’s Best Artists LIve Now!!!

| November 17, 2009

WWW.GIVESEATTLE.ORG

SEATTLE, WA – Coffee Roaster Caffé Vita will launch GIVE on Tuesday, November 17th with 30 downloadable tracks from a wide variety of Seattle artists, all of whom have donated songs to benefit Arts Corps and local area food banks. The complete list of artists involved will reach nearly 40 by m-December.

A companion benefit concert featuring Grand Archives, D. Black and other artists will be held at the Crocodile Dec. 3. Tickets for the show are on sale now at www.thecrocodile.com.

The $7 compilation – conceived and initiated by Seattle coffee roaster Caffé Vita, which is producing, curating and funding the project – will be available online at www.giveseattle.org, as well as in Caffé Vita shops, Easy Street Records, Sonic Boom Records, University Book Store, The Crocodile, EMP, Neumos and Sorrento Hotel. These outlets will carry GIVE packages, including physical cards with a redemption code for the download, as ready-to-give presents.

A full 100 percent of sales will go directly to GIVE beneficiaries: Arts Corps, Seattle’s largest nonprofit arts educator, along with Ballard Food Bank, Rainier Valley Food Bank, University District Food Bank and West Seattle Food Bank.