Life After Coffee

Stuck for a Valentines gift this year? Show your feelings with a big steaming pile of poo!

This isn’t just some plastic dog poop; it’s actually cappuccino scented hand soap. Available from Nope, It’s soap!

There is no doubt that your sweetheart will think of you every time they rub these little nuggets on their hands.

For just $7.95 (shipping included) this is definitely the shittiest gift since the Luwak Coffee gift pack.

If your relationship just isn’t ready for the gift of poo, maybe you need Cheetos Lip Balm. Now there’s a good idea. I’m sure this is made from the same orange goo that coats your fingers as you devour Cheetos.

Thanks again to Don Burleson for sending on these fine gift ideas.


valentines, poop, poo, turd, shit, dog shit, dog poop, cheetos

Green Mountain Coffee Roaster is a New England icon. Their coffee is served in everything from restaurant to gas station here in New England. Founded in 1981, today Green Mountain is the nation’s largest seller of double-certified Fair Trade organic coffee. Recently I had the opportunity to try two of Green Mountain’s Fair Trade Organic offerings.

Green Mountain’s Organic Sumatran Reserve is an appealing coffee with an earthy richness you could expect of an organic coffee from the beverage’s birthplace. This is a pleasant, medium bodied coffee which, while it doesn’t disappoint in the cup somehow left me wanting more. A decent floral nose is the highlight of this coffee and, though the flavor is somewhat earthy the aftertaste is clean and smooth.

The roaster’s PBS Blend is a Mexican coffee with an interesting story (see their site for details.) I found this coffee rather disappointing. While the coffee was smooth with very little acid and no bitterness it also lacked any defining flavor. A hint of caramel was all I could discern from what was otherwise a surprisingly ordinary cup of coffee.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters has a large catalog of coffees. Through the gourmet coffee revolution they have become ubiquitous in New England and, while I was not impressed with the PBS Blend, the Organic Sumatran Reserve is a good coffee for those shopping for a Fair Trade organic coffee.

Unfortunately Green Mountain has adopted the all too common industry trend of cutting back their bag size. Currently their coffees are offered in 10oz bags, both of these being between $7 and $8 per bag on their website. This equates to around $12/lb which, while not unreasonable, is a premium price for coffee. Part of this is undoubtedly due to the coffee being Fair Trade, the end result of which is the farmer seeing more of this money.

Conclusions: Despite the premium price, those looking for a good organic coffee should enjoy the Organic Sumatran Reserve but a lack of richness or any defining flavor left me disappointed with the PBS blend.

dining, food, coffee

Blanchard’s Coffee Co. is a small, relatively young, family owned coffee roaster in Richmond, VA. Started less than two years ago they are already well on their way selling their coffee both mail-order and in area supermarkets.

But the proof is in the cup. I recently got the chance to try several of Blanchard’s coffees. Here’s what I thought.

Blanchard’s Tanzanian Peaberry is an outstanding coffee. Well balanced with a good body, this is my type of coffee! It is rich without any taste of smoke or burn.

Ethiopian Yergacheff was also excellent with a medium-light body. I would recommend this as Blanchard’s best all-around coffee of the ones I tasted. Low acid and hints of florals make for a superb cup.

Brazilian Daterra Sunrise nicely rounds out the roaster’s offerings as a light bodied, very smooth coffee. Many light bodied coffees lack complexity and flavor but this one is a notable exception. With practically no acid the coffee has a very clean finish that will leave you wanting more.

Blanchard does a monthly decaf coffee and the one I got to try was a Columbian Decaf. It is a good representation of Columbian coffee with a medium body and good flavor. While not overly complex this decaf doesn’t sacrifice flavor and I would recommend it to those relegated to decaf.

Unfortunately Blanchard’s House Blend didn’t match the quality of their other coffees. The bean was very dark and oily suggesting it was over roasted and though it was not ovely bitter in the cup it had a smoky, burnt flavor. There was no real depth to the flavor of the house blend and I really thought it was not very good.

Blanchard’s Coffee Co. is turning out some fantastic coffee. Roasting small quantities they roast their coffee within days of shipping and their attention to quality shows through in their product.

With the single exception of their House Blend, this coffee is outstanding, and how can you beat a roaster who says on their about page: “If you are in Richmond, come share a cup of coffee with us and watch us roast!” I love these small roasters.

coffee, food, dining

With Christmas shopping season in full swing I figured I’d throw out a few suggestions for other people’s holiday shopping while successfully procrastinating doing my own. So here they are, in no particular order, your Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Kwanza, Decemberween, New Year or Yak Shaving Day shopping suggestions from Life After Coffee:

• USB Missile Launcher - While this list is in no particular order, this little piece of office ballistics is my top pick. Check out my review of it and don’t miss the other cool stuff at KlearGear.com
• Pink Flamingos - Now possibly endangered this may be the last year you can get these little plastic beauties. I know there are a couple under my tree (actually in it right now.)
• An Electric Chicken Cup - This rare gem may have to be a do-it-yourself, but I bet no one on your list has one!

And now the coffee related gifts:


• Kopi Luwak Coffee Gift Boxes - Fantastic coffee and a great gift box. Probably the most unique coffee related gift available.
• AeroPress Coffee Maker - A great coffee and espresso maker. Perfect for small batches and single cups. Check out my review.
• Easy Linux Commands - Okay, so this is a shameless plug for my book, but since it just came out it’s unlikely anyone on your list already has it.

Most of all, have a fun, happy and safe holiday season!

christmas, holiday, shopping

Well I certainly wasn’t beating down the door for the Nike + iPod Sport Kit but now DavidSteel.com has come up with an iPod accessory I could really use: an Alcohol Breathalyzer with Integrated FM Wireless Transmitter!

Yup, that’s right, soon for just $79 you will be able to pull out your iPod and check your blood alcohol content, then you can decide if it’s time to drive home to “Born to be Wild” or just mellow out and sober up to some Jim Morrison (ok, maybe someone else.)

Dubbed the iBreath, the device powers itself off the iPod battery, supports the full FM band (88.1 - 107.9) and claims accuracy within 0.01% blood alcohol content. I want one, don’t you?

Thanks to Will for sending this on to me.

drink, drinking, alcohol, ipod, apple, mp3, party, breathalyzer