If you’re one of the few who have this cup, keep it safe.  It’s now going to be a collector’s item – Buddy Brew just changed their logo.

It’s funny that my favorite coffee and my favorite beers all have dogs on the label.  I think if I ever start a publishing company, just for luck, I’ll use the image of a dog as a logo.  I’ll name it after my old Golden Retriever, Sunny.  “Sunny Golden Girl,” was her registered name.

I miss that dog.  Anyway…

“Shorty” isn’t the name of a dog, it’s the name of a friend.  Not my friend, but the friend of the owners of Buddy Brew.  They have a kind of funny story on their website about how he’d come over and tasted some coffee, and told them it was the best coffee he’s ever tasted, and the Buddy Brew folks realized they’d accidentally mixed two different bags of beans together – and then spent hours getting totally wired figuring out exactly what they’d mixed so they could recreate it.

And recreate it they did, and named it after their friend Shorty who helped discover it.

Shorty’s Blend (which I had at a full city roast) features the strong, natural taste of chocolate and toasted cashew, lightened with some nice vanilla notes, and finishing with a mild, pleasant woodsmoke aftertaste.  It’s a medium body coffee with low acidity.

I’d call it a good “all day” coffee, and also think it would work as a desert coffee.

Talk about happy accidents.  This “Shorty’s Blend” is most definitely a groovy brew.

You can find it and other wonderful coffees at BuddyBrew.com, and no, this is not a sponsored advertisement.  I am a paying customer.  I just happened to really like their coffee.

It was a dark and stormy night…

No.  Really.  It’s a dark and stormy night.  I just raced an ice storm north from Davenport to Chicago.  Tomorrow morning I’ll have to chisel my way into my car.  It’s the 9th circle of frozen Hell out there.

It’s nice and warm in my cottage, and I just brewed up some Columbian Supremo that Buddy Brew sent me, settling in to do some work before recording a podcast – drinking coffee because I have to be sharp and alert to keep up with the witty banter of the show hosts – and also, to be efficient, try and squeeze in a review.

This coffee is sharp and snappy at the onset, giving a crisp tartness supported by a rich undercurrent of wood smoke.  It is really good.  Delicious.  And I’m not just saying this because I consider the Buddy Brew folks my friends.  It’s a very good brew, good even after you’re done because it finishes with a creamy, milk-chocolaty aftertaste that lingers for a good while.

As you’d probably guess, I have a high caffeine tolerance.  I can drink a double espresso and fall asleep.  But this bean seems to pack an extra punch because after just one mug I’m wired and wondering if maybe it was a bad idea drinking it in the evening.

The lights are flickering.  I may loose power soon.  Going to finish this up and post it before I do.

Buddy Brew’s Columbian Supremo Popayan = a groovy brew!

Cowabunga! Surf’s up!  It’s California blend in the French Press this morning.

There is snow outside the window as I type this.  I sit here thinking about California, a long way away from me at the moment, but a place that fills my childhood memories.  Curvy coast highways, wild and powerful beaches, cable cars and giant redwoods.  Hollywood and Humboldt.

This coffee blend is aptly named.  Mild and laid back — but not Kona laid back, not like that Hawaiian coffee that puts me to sleep — this is California laid back.  It puts me in a relaxed but alert, contemplative mood.  Introspective.  Creative.

It has a bold first wave, not strong as much as flavorful, and as that washes across your palate it fades nicely like a sunset’s warm glow, ending smooth and rich.  It finishes with a nice, mildly-tart aftertaste that hints lightly of hazelnut and perhaps the ghost of French Roast.

I find this coffee does well in both a coffee press and also in a plain old drip maker.  If I were to classify it, I’d say it’s more an afternoon coffee than a morning blend, and perhaps even a dessert coffee.  It’s not one to chug and forget, but to savor, linger over, and — if you’re so inclined — use to fuel some nice daydreams.

Like, perhaps, being somewhere too warm for snow.

UPDATE: Their site is now up and running.

Newhall Coffee Roasting Company was kind enough to send me some of their fresh roasted beans to try, but as I originally wrote this review, their website appeared to have problems and now it’s down altogether.

It’s a shame, too, because this Patriot blend of theirs is good.  In fact it’s very good, though the flavor is not complex.  It’s a mild, low-acid delicious coffee with a strong undercurrent of dark chocolate.  That sums it up right there.

Mild, delicious, with strong coco notes.

Everyone I’ve had sample it has said the same thing.  “I like this one.”

Created specifically to honor Americans in military service, a portion of the proceeds of this blend go toward sending coffee to those on active duty.  From their website (when it was up):  “In honor of American Patriots serving this great country, we have created the Patriot Blend. These Patriots deserve our support and that is why with your purchase of this bag we are sending free coffee to an active duty military man or woman as a ‘Thank You’ for their service. It may seem like a small thing, but a little ‘cup of moral’ goes a long way for Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, and Marines away from their home.”

The plan apparently was that, when you logged into Newhall Coffee’s website, you would actually be able to read letters from the troops that have already received some of this free coffee.  The letters weren’t there, though, and when I contacted Newhall Coffee about this, they stated there was a problem with their web development partner.

I feel for them about that, because like I said, as I write this their website is now down completely.  Hard to send traffic their way if their website is down!  But try it anyway, it might be up later:  www.NewhallCoffee.com

I hope it does clear up.  Having your website down really sucks.

Anyway, thank you to Newhall for sending some very groovy coffee, and also thank you for showing America’s Armed Forces some support!