At Peace Coffee, we think that part of our work as committed fair traders is making connections between the global chain of people who work to deliver your morning (or afternoon, or midnight -- we don't judge) cup. Part of the larger picture of Fair Trade is drawing those connections between the amount of work that goes into a product and the livelihoods of its producers. While the ultimate way to do that would be to take every one of you coffee drinkers on a trip to visit the coop who grows the coffee in your favorite blend or single origin, that's a little beyond our scope. And, if you went to Indonesia when the coffee flowers were in bloom while the Minnesota winter was in full swing, we might lose a customer.

Instead (or hopefully just until you make the trip yourself), we've created MapMyBeans.com -- an interactive tool to bring you, the coffee drinker, a little closer to the amazing folks who grow your coffee. After lots of tinkering on Google Maps and the hard work of some great local geeks, we're ready to let you start exploring.

You can trace your favorite coffee selection across the globe, get some fast facts on the farmer coops, see some faces, and hear the words of some fellow travelers. If you want to know more, we've got links to in-depth farmer profiles, and, if you want to dig still deeper, all the contracts, invoices, even bills of lading and organic certificates for your favorite coffees (and maybe a few you haven't tried yet) can be found. We're posting these documents in collaboration with our importing partner, Cooperative Coffees -- it's part of our effort to change the face of trade from mysterious valleys and top-secret pricing to open sharing of information all along the supply chain -- in a word, transparency. In a global trade like ours, realistically, you can't go talk to the coffee farmer whose tree grew your pound of coffee the way you might shake hands at a farmer's market or visit your CSA's field. Take this as a virtual hand-shake, our way of bringing you into the transactions that make up our supply chain and make us proud to come to work everyday.

Take a look now and then check back again regularly -- we'll be adding more photos, additional resources (maybe even how to get there!) and much more.

*All our claims, both Fair Trade and organic are also independently verified by a third-party certifier, so the responsibility's not all on you to be sure we've got our i's dotted and t's crossed!

It arrived this week to our roastery and was cupped yesterday by our roasters Keith and Derek. The both agree that this is some seriously amazing coffee.

Order it online or stop by our roastery to get some before it runs out!

Next week we will be replacing our Ethiopian Sidamo with a delicious Peruvian Full City from the Cenfrocafe Coop! This is a buttery and sweet coffee. Smooth with hints of fruit spice and all with a dark chocolate base.You won't want to miss trying some of this exceptional coffee.

Many of us Minnesotans think about the winter months as a time to hibernate, hunker down with a good book and wait for the Alberta Clippers and subzero wind chills to give way to warmer weather. Some of us find ways to enjoy the winter weather by hitting the frozen lakes for some pond hockey or ice fishing. Despite the frigid temperatures and snow-packed streets, a few bold and dare I say "passionate" Minnesotans are still riding their bikes. This is my second winter season as a Peace Coffee Bike Courier and my tenth winter as a year-round bike commuter. I can safely say that so far, the winter of 2008/2009 has been the harshest that I can remember. After all these years, I think I've finally figured out the key to staying comfortable and having fun on my bike in nearly any kind of winter weather.

Trial and error has always been my preferred learning style, and I've tried a lot of different things over the years to help make winter biking a little easier. The following points are the major things that have helped me get through the winter biking season.

• Increase caloric intake. Cold weather makes your body work harder to stay warm so you have to keep the tank full. At a minimum, my breakfast consists of toast, 1 egg with cheese, fruit, coffee and juice. If I have it, I will also drink a large glass of whole, raw milk before I head out. I generally "graze" throughout the day because big meals tend to make me tired, so I'll have a couple small lunches and a few pieces of fruit or energy bars. For dinner, I'll eat whatever I can get my hands on.

• Don't overheat. Since everyone's body works a little differently, I can't say that my dress code will work for you. My tried and true outfit for temperatures between zero and 10F are the following: Carhartt overalls, Capilene long underwear, merino wool jersey, windproof/waterproof jacket with vents, merino wool socks, Lake winter biking boots, winter biking gloves with wool liners, merino wool beanie, snowboarding helmet and goggles. Below zero temps call for another wool sweater. The take away message: MERINO WOOL ROCKS!!! Find it on sale and stock up.


• Stay hydrated. This is possibly the hardest thing for me to do in the winter, partially because my water bottle freezes in about 10 minutes on some days, but also because I just don't get as thirsty in the cold weather. Drink lots of water, about 3 liters a day will do a world of good.

• Stretch a little before and a lot after you ride. When I don't stretch after a long day in the saddle, I don't sleep as well that night and my legs take a lot longer to warm up the next day.

• Keep your chain, rims and break pads clean. For obvious reasons.

Of course, my favorite pre-ride routine entails sipping a hot mug of our Sidamo single origin coffee while looking at the weather forecast. My fellow bean hauler, Meagan O'Brien, put it best when she said, "Wool and butter help me get through the winter." Take these words to heart folks and get out there for some winter biking bliss!

Bike On,
Andy
Peace Coffee Bike Courier

Derek and I recently sat down and updated and re-wrote all of our flavor profiles. Each coffee has been updated in the same way. We start with an overall impression of the coffee. Next is roast level. Roast level is dependent on many things, but for simplicity sake has been divided into the basic options: light, medium, and dark. For both acidity and body each coffee is given two assessments. First is its intensity or quality, seconds is a notable characteristic. For example the Rio Azul's acidity is medium in intensity with a citrus characteristic. Finally, for both the aroma and flavor notes are the associations and characters that come with the cup of coffee. Enjoy exploring all of the updated information.

Here's what the new Guatemalan Light is like:
Overall Impression: Full flavored and robust with nice acidity and a clean finish, the perfect segue from a medium roast to a light roast.
Roast Level: Medium-light
Acidity: Medium, citrus, crisp, clean, and becomes intense as it cools
Body: Medium-heavy, full and creamy
Aroma: Cocoa, coriander, caramel & toasted pecan
Flavor Notes: Toasted hazelnut, cocoa, toasted cardamom, honey & cereal
Farmer Cooperative: Rio Azul Cooperative, Huehuetenango, Guatemala

I've been getting ready for a trip to the Rio Azul Cooperative in Guatemala over the last week. It's been a stressful and exciting time, from buying a ticket without even know if I had a place to go, to making reservations at the Hotel California in Huehuetenango. It is the first time that I've done a majority of the planning for a trip, with a lot of help from other people of course, but that is the way all good things happen. Rio Azul's coffee is what we use for our Guatemalan Light Roast coffee for about half of the year or more. I'll be sure to let you know how the coop is doing when I return.

Cheers,
Keith

There are many philosophies about the best combination of bike and gear for winter biking. Your best options will be different depending on what type of riding you plan on doing. Your terrain, length of ride, and your budget will be large influences on your choices. When starting out, do some research and get advice, then customize and experiment to find out what works for you. Lastly, have fun! Winter biking can be a great adventure.

CLOTHING.

Think Layers! Waterproof, windproof, and breathable outer layers are often the best, especially for your torso. Wool or synthetic under layers will help wick moisture and avoid cold, damp feelings. Usually you will have generated considerable body heat after 5 minutes so plan your clothing for that temperature or you will over heat (this usually means that you start out a little cold).
Layering Materials

Wool is natural and effective. It wicks moisture, is durable, resists picking up odors, and thin layers can be used during the summer too. Wool requires special care, so read the tag! Some wools absorb water vapor before it condenses quickly maintaining a warm and dry microclimate around you.

Synthetics offer good wicking, durability, and affordability. Moisture that doesn’t immediately pass through the fabric is not absorbed can condense. It is then moved via capillary action away from your skin. This can give synthetics a clammy feel at first when the water condenses, but they still wick exceedingly fast and effectively.

Fleece is a good option because it entraps air (its good insulation). It can be wool or synthetic, but either way it wicks moisture, is one of the warmest options, and is usually light weight. Fleece can be too warm when used under a shell so it can be saved for the colder days.

Polypropylene is often seen as a cheap option. Although polypropylene does not absorb water, it has no wicking properties. In order for polypropylene to wick, it must be coated in oils. After time, this coating wears off and your old polypropylene becomes useless.

Outer layers and Shells

Waterproof, breathable shells are often cited as the best for all conditions. There are many laminates that offer similar performance to the well known Gore-Tex.

Soft shells are gaining popularity because they can be more comfortable and release moisture better while still being windproof and highly water resistant. It is hard to find a fully waterproof softshell for less than $300, so don't plan on using cheaper ones for your full-on rain jacket.
In really cold conditions(well below freezing) waterproofness can be less important and windproofness becomes paramount.

Hands. Good wind resistant gloves or mittens are necessary for Minneapolis (with mittens and heavy- duty lobster mits being more important in the depths of winter). There are several gloves that are water and wind proof in full-finger, lobster, and mitten styles.

Lobster claw gloves are the most versatile maintaining access to brake levers and shifters while still being warm by keeping your fingers paired up next to each other.

Mittens are probably the warmest option but don’t work with all styles of handle bar setup. They tend to work well with fixies without handbrakes, time trial bars (or flip n’ clips), and some flat bar setups.

Full-finger gloves are good for spring and fall riding before the weather hits rock bottom.

Feet. Keep footwear relatively loose, tight boots or too many sock layers can cut off circulation and cause numb toes. Wool socks with good loft are some of the warmest options.


For those who demand year round clipless riding, there are several biking-specific winter riding shoes. Consider getting a size or 2 larger than normal so you have space for extra socks.

Have a very good insole for clipless shoes as the the metal cleat conducts heat away from your feet. Wind-proof, insulated booties are also options, but they typically aren't as warm as winter specific shoes. Some folks recommend using clipless sandles with neoprene booties and layers of socks (kind of a mukluk approach).

Platform pedals (with or without toe clips/power grips) and heavy boots are a common option. In a pinch, a baggie wrapped around your foot in your shoe can help. Browse our feature items for some specific options.

To keep feet from getting wet in the first place, get full coverage fenders (as long as there is plenty of clearance between the tire and fender) and attach mudguards if you want extra coverage.

Headgear. Headgear ranges from headbands, to hats, to balaclavas. Fleece, wool, and neoprene are common materials. Consider how windproof, wicking, and breathable the piece is.

Balaclavas can keep you warm at colder temperatures and keeps your neck warm, but tend to get very hot, can be a hassle to get on and off, and can get soggy from breathing. Some balaclavas may have breathing vents which can reduce moisture build-up and fogging of goggles.

Neck warmers, muffs, and scarves are cheap and versatile and easier to adjust than balaclavas.

Goggles can make for a much more pleasant ride. Sunglasses can get so cold that they hurt where they touch the skin, but goggles are padded and still provide a wide range of vision. At low temps you should have no exposed skin or riding will be painful.

There are specific winter helmets available and snowboarding helmets work too. Helmet covers can block helmet ventilation holes, this makes the underlying headgear more effective.

EQUIPMENT

Ideas to think about include: studded tires, single speed tensioners for switching to a single speed, converting to a fixed gear, fenders to save your bike from the slush (make sure you have plenty of clearance), and lights for the increasingly dark winter hours.

Many people ride singlespeeds or fixedgears for the winter due to the lower maintenance needs, fewer parts that might get damaged, and the reliability of riding without derailleur. Any bike can be converted to a singlespeed (the parts required will change with different setups). With a fixed-gear you can also eliminate handbrakes which can also ice up.
On the other hand, It can be great having multiple speeds to choose from in variable terrain that winter often offers. When switching from a plowed path the the compressed snow of a city street there can be a huge change in the resistance you will face.

There are many different thoughts on tire size and type. Couriers and fixie riders tend to use thin tires that cut down through the slush to the base, reducing the floating feeling that wider tires can produce. Mountain bikers can take the opposite route opting for the widest, knobbiest/studded tires available. This provides traction and support in soft, messy terrain. Studded tires come in a vareity of sizes. 700 x 35 - 42 and 26 x 1.75 - 2.1 are the common sizes we stock.

Fenders can be great during slushy days, but beware of tight clearances between the fender and tire. Snow and ice can compact in the fender and slow your ride down considerably.
Lights are a must. It gets dark fast and the cars can have less visibility due to ice on their windshields.



MAINTENANCE

Winter riding is tough on a bike, so be prepared to put a little extra maintenance into the drive train during and at the end of the season.

To minimize the damage, clean your chain often. There are specific chain cleaning tools available for about $30 that clean the chain on the bike (no removal of the chain is needed). An extremely clean chain can also be obtained by removing the chain and putting it through a parts washer or by shaking it in a sealed plastic container with a cleaning solution (A power link on your chain makes this job easier). Use a chain lube frequently, frequency varies with conditions and choice of chain lube. We have found that some wax lubes don't last very long in the winter, but some folks still recommend them. Try T9 BoeSheild, Pedro’s Synlube, Phils, or possibly Purple Extreme (we are currently testing this one and will report back).
Regularly lube any cables your bike might have with Triflow or another light penetrating lube.
Storage: if you are able, store your bike securely outside or in an unheated garage. This can keep the ice on your bike from melting and reduces corrosion. In addition snow and slush won’t stick to it and you can avoid condensation problems
If you spray down your bike, let it dry completely afterwards

TECHNIQUE

Riding in snowy conditions is slower, but traffic overall is usually slower too. Leave yourself some extra time to arrive at your destination. Be cautious around vehicles because they have less control in poor conditions and they can't see as well with their fogged-up windshields. Have your route planned in advance, and choose an alternative just in case. Take into consideration that larger roads are plowed first and maybe easier to ride on if you are comfortable with the traffic. Residential roads tend to be nice and quiet, but riding conditions can be tougher. Bike trails in Minneapolis tend to be plowed relatively quickly and even when they aren’t, the snow is easier to ride in because the are no cars causing compaction and rutting.

You’ll find you need to ride in an easier gear to cope with the snow, and that you may want to lower your seat a touch to have a lower center of gravity and to make it easier to put a foot down if you slide. Be aware of your body posture and relax your upper body as it tends to stiffen in response to the slick roads. Make small corrections if your bike begins to fishtail rather than large ones. Don't use your front brakes in slippery conditions because it is paramount to maintain traction and steering control with your front wheel. Finally, enjoy the quiet!

A final tip: Don't lock up next to the road before they plow the street.


More Resources:
www.bikewinter.org
www.icebike.org
http://www.safecycling.ca
http://thehubbikecoop.org/

This is from our advertisement in the Onion Newspaper this week! We hope everyone has a delicious meal with your family & friends this Thanksgiving. Hopefully your meal will end with pumpkin pie & a cup of hot Peace Coffee (and a walk around the block!).

We've been excited for the release of our Ethiopian Sidamo for quite some time. The green beans arrived to our roastery last Friday. Derek roasted them up that day and assured us that the coffee tasted as good as the original sample we received a few months ago. This coffee is bursting with notes of lemon, green apple, orange peel & a touch coriander.
When we tried the original sample we were so excited that we sent a pound of it (along with our Yirgacheffe) to be cupped by Delta Sky Magazine for a coffee review issue they were doing for this November. They ended up loving them both. Click here to read their review of them "Bean There Drunk That"!
You can order a pound of this it on our website: peacecoffee.com/order

We ran a contest in the Onion newspaper last week asking folks to send us their best carved pumpkins. We weren't sure what kind of response we'd get, since pumpkin carving seems to be a lost art these days. But to our surprise we got two amazing emails with photos of unique versions of the Peace Coffee turtle carefully & skillfully carved. Check out the submissions below!
Amy's Peace Coffee Pumpkin Submission:




Katie's Peace Coffee Pumpkin Submission:






Both of these contributors will receive 5 pounds of Peace Coffee. Amazing work Amy & Katie!
Have a Happy & Spooky Halloween and please don't smash any pumpkins, because they have feelings too.

Jim from Diedrich was out here for three days last week getting us up and running on our new CR-70 roaster. Derek and I spent Thursday and Friday playing around with a couple of our coffees. The controls are mind-boggling. We have full control over airflow and flame in ways that we could only dream of before. This allows us to play with more variables while we roast, giving us the ability to bring out even more flavors and nuances in our coffee. We are beyond excited. As we get our coffees up and running, Derek and I will be cupping them together every morning and making decisions about what that day's batches are going to be like. We have already cupped five different Guatemalan Dark roasts and are thrilled with the incredible variance in flavors. Next up... French Roast.

Cheers, Keith

Derek taking notes about the roaster from Jim at Diedrich.

Keith roasts the first batch of coffee on the Diedrich!
Keith and Derek cupping the first five roasts off the Diedrich.

Peace Coffee's delicious Ethiopian Yirgacheffe received an 89 point score on Coffee Review. Reviewer, Kenneth Davis, blind assessment of the coffee described was:
Tangy citrus, berry and mild, perfume-like floral aromas. Lemony bright acidity and full, juicy mouthfeel. Lemon-toned citrus carries from aroma to cup but is balanced by an elegant sweetness and hints of blueberry. Clean yet tart finish

His second review was of our Guatemalan Light Roast which was scored just one point below the Yirg. It received a worthy 88 point score. He assessed it as:
Complex aroma: butter, raisin, aromatic wood, hints of flowers and dark chocolate. In the cup the dark chocolate notes move forward, with continued suggestions of raisin and flowers. Medium body. Simple, rich finish.

To read the complete reviews of these coffees go to:
Peace Coffee Ethiopian Yirgacheffee
Peace Coffee Guatemalan Light Roast

We got our much anticipated Diedrich CR-70 Kilo Roaster on Wednesday, Sept. 24th! Here are a few pictures of it being unloaded and fork-lifted into our space. Yes, it was as challenging as it looks!


The truck is fully loaded with the roaster, afterburner, vacuum suckers, large tubing and more!

This is part of the space ship we also ordered with the roaster to bring fair trade coffee to the moon.

We got part of the load off the truck.

Jamming it through the door! A team effort. Thankfully nothing was damaged.

Here comes the cooling tray.

The cooling tray is reunited with the rest of the roaster in their new home at Peace Coffee!

There are still a lot of pieces that need to be put together. Folks are working on the assembly today.

Meanwhile our roaster, Meagan O'Brien, found a great new hiding spot in our new roasters chaff collector.

The Urban Assault Ride at Peace Coffee was a blast. On Saturday afternoon the Big Wheels arrived at Peace Coffee. We tested them out down the hallways of our building and set up an obstacle course in our roastery that weaved under pallet racking and around sacks of coffee. We thought about hiding one behind our roaster for future races but we are too honest for that.
The morning of the race we carted them out to the parking lot. The lines were long at the beginning because we are so close to the race start at theFreewheel Midtown Bike Depot. Folks had to wait between five to ten minutes to get on one of the 12 big wheels. Each team member had to do two laps around a crazy course set up in the parking lot. None of the brakes on the big wheels work so riders had to use their body weight and feet to whip around the cones.









Some folks rode the race in costumes. By far the best one was the Hawaiian Shirt guys riding a old Schwinn Tandem bike with two bloody mary's in pint glass with celery attached to the handle bars, and a cooler for keeping the beer chaser on ice. If you want to try this on your bike check out the Soma Coffee Cup Holder, it's obviously good for morning than coffee for your commute. Some folks come prepared with maps to get them to all the checkpoints, while others had prepared days and even weeks in advance. The MacGyver Team, who were the top female team finishers, told us they used google maps to plot their winning route and even did some training rides to get them in shape. They also attributed their win to the fact that during pre-race training rides every ten miles or so they would grab a beer during their ride. Peace Coffee Roaster Derek De La Paz, had a great race. His team, the Bottle Rockets, had an impressive 18th place finish. Derek, said some of the challenges could have been a little harder but overall it was a beautiful day to ride and that the big wheels course really winded him.
For the complete results go to: http://www.urbanassaultride.com/2008results-Minneapolis.phpFor pictures of the start and the after party click here:
http://freewheelbike.com/page.cfm?pageId=345
For all the check point photos :
http://www.marricphoto.com/new_marric_site/Minneapolis_Urban_Assault_Ride.html

To everyone who came and visited us at the Great Minnesota Get-Together. We brewed coldpress by the five-gallon-pail-full and had a wonderful time serving it up and chatting with all of you. Our voices are still recovering, but we'll back in full swing for the Saint Paul Classic on Sept. 7th. Don't forget to get your registration in for the Urban Assult Ride on Sept. 21st. Your favorite local roaster (us, right?) is one of the five checkpoints. It's going to be awesome (and there's no day-of registration) so find your partner and get that check in the mail.

(For a full list of Peace Coffee sponsored events, click here.

This Friday, August 15th, brings the start of the Eat Local Challenge, an awesome opportunity to explore the bounty of Minnesota’s harvest. With so many options like watermelon, sweet corn, and brats on locally made buns – there are infinite ways to celebrate our summer.


But what about beverages?

In conjunction with the Eat Local Challenge, Peace Coffee is launching a Drink Local Challenge. It’s true, coffee arabica is a tropical plant and will not grow in our zone four conditions. But there are many great reasons to choose a local roaster. First off, our roast-to-order scheduling keeps us on our toes but it means you get fresher coffee. Further, all of our staff lives in the community, supporting our local economy. Finally, we sponsor many local events every month making this a vibrant place to live.

But local liquid substance can include more than just coffee:

Clean Minneapolis Tap Water - Yum!

My personal favorite way to drink local.

And don’t forget about the local breweries. Surly, Flat Earth, and Summit are all fantastic breweries right here in our backyard. We can’t fail to mention the atmospheric Town Hall Brewery that still has Cara Java Brown, a limited-time beer brewed using a special, one-time-only Peace Coffee Blend developed by roaster extraordinaire Derek.

With all these local ways to stay caffeinated, hydrated, and inebriated, the Eat Local and Drink Local Challenges inspire us all to think about the many ways we can live more locally.