Our first batch of Panama Esmeralda was roasted today and lucky me had the chance to witness the whole roasting process at the Batdorf and Bronson Roastery in Olympia, WA. That is Scott Merle letting me take the 1st sniff of the green coffee minutes after is was loaded into the roaster.

This is the 1st batch of the roasted Panama being dumped into the cooling tray and - a Cup of Gold!

See more pictures - click here.

I will be posting more info later about the day and buying the Esmeralda at Tazza D’Oro beginning Thursday, Aug 7th- gotta go.

This is Mt Rainier peaking through the clouds at 25,000 ft and the plane was probably 100 miles away from the mountain! Couldn’t help but share this view it happens to be one of my favorites. I usually try to plan my seating on the side of the plane that I get to see Mt Rainier. Today I was really lucky, I had to change planes in Phoenix and the ride up to the Northwest gave us great views of Mt Shasta, Mt Hood, Mt Baker and Mt Rainier. What is even more amazing is that we could see all 4 mountains at once - Whoa moment! Once I landed at Sea-Tac the clouds took over and the view was gone.

The weather is awesome - 70 degrees, sunny with some clouds, the sea gulls are busy, the air smells of cedar and evergreen, the flowers are all in bloom and the emerald green of the Northwest provides an amazing background for the blue water, the colors of the wild flowers and the snow on the mountains.

After a few great shots of espresso from Batdorf and Bronson’s Dancing Goats Bar at the Market and their Coffee House on Capital and then another shot of espresso at Cafe Vita I set out to find myself a bike.

The guys at the Bike Stand were great. The bike is a tad small but a few more adjustments with the seat post and saddle will do it. I spent most of the evening riding around Oly.

I road out East Bay Road to Priest Point Park ( the view of the Bay is awesome) did some of the trails and then continued on East Bay to Boston Harbor Road. I had a hard time getting off my bike but I was exhausted after traveling all day. Ok, let’s review- Mt Rainier, excellent coffee and getting to hang out at 3 different espresso bars, the sights and smells of the Northwest all on a bike - Yes,Yes, Yes, I’m bringing home the Panama Esmeralda!

Today, I promised to do a post about the farm where the Panama Esmeralda is grown and how they nurture and process this magnificent coffee. I will do it, promise. But something bigger captured my attention today. One of these days I will get to make a more focused coffee blog after I get through all the experiences of being a coffee house owner - maybe!

As the owner of Tazza D’Oro, having the opportunity to work with Batdorf and Bronson in a joint venture to sell some of the finest coffee grown in the world is such a huge deal and dream - we strive to be one of the best. I always say that “I just want it to be about the coffee!” But every now and then I am reminded it is more complicated than that. I’m sure if I ever have the chance to visit one of the farms that grow all this magnificent coffee that B&B buys and roasts and we sell, they will probably say the same. Tonight was one of those experiences. I took EJ, Rachel (P) and Tone out for drinks and some food and a “supervisor’s meeting” at Point Brugge (Thanks Barry and Elaine). Before I could even get started on the issues we needed to address, their passion, commitment and enthusiasm for Tazza D’Oro and our goals completely dominated the meeting and our conversation. They also talked about how the rest of our staff feels the same and I agreed. The baristas at Tazza D’Oro continue to inspire me.

So much of what we do in the specialty coffee industry, for those of us who care and are committed to the quality of the coffee, comes down to our passion for the product and passing our passion onto our customers. Having a great cup of coffee or espresso at Tazza D’Oro is no accident. We train and work really hard. The farmers who grow our coffee and our roaster, Batdorf and Bronson, over a drink at Point Brugge, would have the same conversation I experienced with my guys tonight. Thank you, Rachel, Tone, EJ, Braden, Megan, Chase, Josh, Katie, Zach, Batdorf and Bronson and our Coffee Farmers. The Panama Esmeralda coffee is in the “right hands!” Yeah, damn right I’m going to Olympia!

First thing Saturday morning I head back to the Pacific Northwest because on Monday, Batdorf and Bronson will be roasting one of the finest coffees grown in the world - Panama Esmeralda! Beginning Thursday, August 7th, Tazza D’Oro will be selling and serving the Panama Esmeralda and I promise you’re gonna want some of this coffee. The first time I tasted the Esmeralda I was struck by it’s smoothness and incredible sweetness. This coffee was like no other coffee. My first sip was bursting with tropical fruit- pineapple, mango and papaya. I have been totally obsessed ever since. The Panama Esmeralda has won first place in every competition it’s been in!!!

Back in May, Batdorf and Bronson provided Tazza D’Oro with an amazing opportunity - we were involved in the auction of this exceptional coffee. At the end of the day, 2 micro-lots were won from batch 8 and Tazza D’Oro will be offering this special micro-lot Esmeralda coffee to Pittsburgh over the next few months.

Tomorrow I will be posting info about the farm where the Esmeralda is grown and processed and why this coffee is so special. Friday, you will have all the details about how we will be brewing and serving the Esmeralda and how you can purchase whole beans from us. Monday will be all about the roasting and cupping of the Esmeralda while I hang with Scott Merle, Green Coffee Buyer and Roastmaster at B&B.

As usual, I will also be sending my now famous postcards of my Northwest experiences. I’m pretty sure this one will include a trip to Mt Rainier - it only seems fitting, the day before the roasting of a coffee that is just as magnificent!

Thanks to the Trib and writer Jodi Weigand for doing a great article in today’s paper about Tazza D’Oro and our caffeinated cycling fans. Perfect day for the article to appear too because this is the last day in the Alps for the Tour de France and the famed L’ Alpe d’Huez is up. At least a million fans will be lining the course today and the pandemonium is absolutely crazy as the riders race up an excruciating climb through a tunnel of screaming fans! Check out the article here.

This is the Batdorf and Bronson roastery in Olympia. This is our Panama Esmeralda coffee! Yeah, it’s really here! Learn more »

So a few months back our really rad TV took a spill right in front of the espresso bar and Learn more »

This is a picture of Tone breaking Commandment 10a - Dude, you can’t covet our new crop coffees! Learn more »

Ok, for all those who have emailed us about the Tour de France - yes, we are watching the Tour and yes, Tazza D’Oro and Amy are glued to the TV watching the daily races. We prefer the 8pm coverage, but the live coverage usually occurs around 8 -8:30 am. We have the Tour running at all coverage times at Tazza D’Oro and if you click on this link you too can have the coverage times. You can also go to the Tour de France web site and check it out when you are “working” - click here .

If the TV ain’t on when you come into Tazza D’Oro, hit the power button on the TV and our channel is set for the Tour. Oh, and Maillot Jaune = Yellow Jersey, overall leader of the Tour de France. Although, I prefer the (maillot a’ pois rouges) polka dot jersey = King of the Mountains. Vie le Tour -the greatest sporting event EVER! Check it out.

Tazza D’Oro will be closed on July 4th and open again at 8 am Saturday, July 5th.

This is also the week that Bike Fest is in full swing. Several Bike Fest rides and events will be happening at Tazza D’Oro this week too. (Click here to check out all the Bike Fest events.) Tazza D’Oro’s own Emily Jackson has organized the 2nd Annual Cream-Cycle Alley Cat Race which will take place on July 4th from 2:00p to 5:00p. The Cream Cycle is a ice cream themed scavenger hunt/race with checkpoints located through many city neighborhoods with a huge ice cream buffet at the end of the race (more info - cremcycle2.pdf).

And beginning on Saturday morning, Tazza D’Oro will be kicking off the Tour de France. You can come and watch the Tour daily and sample some of our French Press brewed coffees.

I’m sorry to say that I will be missing all the great bike events, races and parties this week cause here is what I’m doing…
See you Sunday!