Monday, July 11, 2011

Ever Expanding Exotic Variety of Fine Coffees You Can Buy In-Store and Online



Good Food

Me in my backyard, 1960
Vintage family photo by my Daddy, MommyBlogExpert.com

One of my earliest and fondest memories as a child is of coffee. Yes, coffee: not hot chocolate, hot spiced apple cider, or any other kid-friendly warm drink. 

Back in the 60s when I was a preschooler I remember going to the local A&P -- a huge eastern seaboard full-size grocery chain -- with my dad to shop since my mother didn’t drive then.

These trips were really special, especially when we needed coffee which my parents both drank every morning.  At the store, I’d go with my Daddy to the coffee aisle and there he would let me choose a bag of coffee beans.  Together we’d dump this into the self-serve electric coffee grinder that was attached to the shelf.  This was the high tech gadget of the times and magically, in what seemed like seconds, the machine would return fresh ground coffee into the bag right there in the store.  I can practically still smell that aroma now.

As a kid, for sure, I loved just the scent of that fresh ground coffee.  I didn’t started drinking it myself, though, until I was a college student and have been sipping java ever since.  As late as the 1970s, I don't recall there being any such thing as flavored coffee beans, whole or ground – I don’t even think you could buy fresh ground decaf, only instant Sanka was available.

For well over a decade now it seems that the variety of flavored coffees to take home that you can buy at your local market or coffee shop hasn't stopped expanding.  This is even more so true now, because you can even purchase a variety of flavors of coffee online from many of the same companies.
New England Coffee Booth at SheCon 11 New Media Expo in Miami
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

My latest coffee discovery is a northeastern regional brand I’d never heard of before I came across it at a Miami new media conference because I now live on the West Coast.  It’s called New England Coffee and I had the chance to savor several of the company’s scrumptious blends at SheCon 11 one of the industry's important mommy and women's blogging conferences recently.  Flavors I tried there included the  New England Breakfast Blend, $6.49/12 ounce bag and Hazelnut Crème, $6.49/11 ounce bag.  As a coffee aficionado I enjoyed the rich and fresh taste of both of these.

At the time, though, I have to admit that I was slightly disappointed, thinking that I would not be able to buy this brand when I returned to California.  That is, until I chatted up the New England Coffee booth hostesses to learn more about this company.  What I found out was that their gourmet coffees are available in specialty stores and grocery markets in a number of different states, primarily in the east and as far west as Texas.  You can also buy many of the quality products including flavored coffees, tea, novelties and gift items online.  And, in fact, some types are available exclusively on the Internet.
New England Coffee Breakfast Blend & Hazelnut Creme Varieties
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

I hope to have the opportunity to try some of New England Coffee’s flavorful varieties that are now available via their website, such as Pistachio Ice Cream Coffee,  Blueberry Cobbler Coffee, $6.49/11 ounce bag and Chocolate Cappuccino Coffee, $6.49/11 ounce bag.  Watch for another report from this coffee lover soon -- once I’ve tasted some of these other yummy-sounding flavors which are supposed to be really delicious as iced drinks which sound like just the right thing for the hot summer months.

About New England Coffee
A third generation family business based in the Boston area, New England Coffee has been around for more than 90 years.  Today, they are the largest coffee roaster in the northeast and all their products are certified kosher.


What's the most exotic coffee of any brand that you've ever tried and loved?  Have you ever had New England Coffee and, if so, what's your favorite flavor?

FTC Disclosure:  As mentioned above I tasted New England Coffee's Breakfast Blend and Hazelnut Creme varieties at SheCon 11.  I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

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