Sept 29, 2009: National Coffee Day!

by: Brandon Cummins

For those who may not know… Today, September 29, 2009 is officially National Coffee Day.

All across the country, different organizations have been rallying together to stir up, or rather brew up, some form of celebratory goodness for National Coffee Day; participating locations offering everything from a free cup of coffee (some McDonald’s), to others releasing a new line of instant coffees (“VIA” from Starbucks).

And while not everyone may appreciate coffee at an “aficionado” level, it can’t be denied that its presence in our society has become ubiquitous across the entire nation. Who can’t recall the jingles so often burned into our brains: “The best part of waking up…” or remember Juan Valdez, the brandsake of Columbian Coffee; or hasn’t seen a Starbucks in a bookstore, on a streetcorner, on television, in a magazine, in an airport, etc etc etc…

For some, it may be the only thing (or at least the main one) getting you up and around in the morning. For others, it’s a sacred ritual waiting for every last drip to brew. Coffee can definitely be an artform… and baristas / growers / roasters therefore become the artists.

And although the day is nearing its end, I finally find myself able to sit down and celebrate. Because it’s never too late to enjoy a good cup of java.

I’ve traversed my way to “The Roasterie Cafe” in Brookside; a small neighborhood cafe near the Kansas City metro area brewing up locally roasted coffee from the larger “The Roasterie” Label. So what is it that makes this particular spot, and this particular cup of coffee special?

The Roasterie has “The Clover”.

While this technology isn’t necessarily “new” by any means, and since its launch has been picked up by Starbucks, The Roasterie has one of only a few machines (that I am aware of) around the nation. Even Starbucks only has it in a select few locations. So what makes this machine so special? I could go into detail describing the process by which it works, albeit awkwardly (I recommend Googling it if you’re interested), but I think I could sum it up by saying it brews a tasty and very “nuanced” cup of coffee.

The end result retains much of the delicate notes you would otherwise lose in the traditional brewing process… and it does so by brewing one cup at a time, to specific settings that the barista has preset for that specific cup / roast / blend.

I opted to enjoy a cup of “Coorpol of Brazil”. This is a Light/Vienna Roast with a nice lush and buttery body, with some delicate spice, floral, and dark cherry notes (there’s a savory buttery-ness that shines through once the temp drops too!). The nose is very subdued but has a nice bouquet; more of a tease of what’s to come. If I were to compare it to a wine, which I’m sure seems sacrilegious to some (hey, I don’t deny I’m still a novice w/coffee), I’d say it has the nose and essence of a chardonnay, married with the mouthfeel of a light pinot noir, and the lushness of a ripe shiraz on the palette. It was quite tasty, down to the very last cool sip.

Oh… and if you’re ever by The Roasterie… I can’t help but recommend their pastry selections… I’ve never been disappointed: Quiche, Cookies, Muffins, Breads, and today: strawberry cupcake

So here’s to coffee! From the first sip, down to the last drop, it was a tasty tasty drink!

Happy National Coffee Day!

Brandon is the founder of From Sip to Drink, and a self-proclaimed “drink enthusiast”. He currently resides in the Kansas City metro area.