Good Morning - January 28th - These dry days are numbered. The internet said 22% of ‘Merica is participating in Dry January and that’s up 5% over 2024. If you spent time in your fav sports bar watching the NFL playoffs you were partying with us and the other 78%. If you mocktailed your way thru January then get ready to hop back on that barstool for Wet February (that needs work). Retrain your liver before the Super Bowl.

This weeks grind:

• Let’s Make Drinks: Coffee concocktions to impress and wake up your friends

• Uber Coffee Dash: SMS Coffee subscriptions delivering fresh to your door.

• Coffee Grounds in the Garden: Can the morning cup lead to healthy crops?

From Beans to Bar: Coffee Lovers Happy Hour ☕️ 

You’re back in action and you want to fix up a drink that won’t knock your socks off and ruin your morning during the week. Everyone has heard of the Espresso Martini, but the other 2 might be new on your must try list.

Espresso Martini - The undisputed king of coffee cocktails, the Espresso Martini has seen a massive surge in popularity, with consumption increasing from 2% to 15% in 2024. - Learn to make it here.

Cold Brew Bourbon Cocktail - A refreshing summer drink that combines cold brew coffee, bourbon, triple sec, maple syrup, and heavy cream. It offers a perfect balance of bold flavors with the richness of coffee and the warmth of bourbon. - Learn to make it here

Carajillo - The carajillo is a delightful Spanish and Mexican coffee cocktail with a rich cultural tradition. This simple yet sophisticated drink combines espresso with a spirited alcohol base. Very easy to make and a perfect pairing if you’re getting ready to start a cigar on a weeknight. Perfect flavor that won’t leave you hungover in the morning. - Learn to make it here

SMS Coffee Sourcing Your Home Brew

65% of American’s drink coffee daily. We consume 1.62 billions pounds of coffee annually. We’re talking about a lot of coffee here, but where is everyone getting their coffee? 60% of you daily coffee drinkers admit to getting your coffee at the grocery store. We’ve all been down that coffee isle with the public grinder and white label beans. There is nothing wrong with buying beans at the grocery store. Plenty of great options sourced by the GM of the store.

What if you want to a little more control of your favorite go-juice in the morning. Coffee sourced from all over the world and offered up to you in the form of a text message. 3-4yrs ago Coffee McGregger and I stumbled across online services that will curate coffee from roasters all over the US and drop you a text once a week with options. Once you’re setup all you have to do is reply back with a single number. 1, 2, or 3 - and that’s how many bags will arrive at your door a couple days later.

We’ve personally used Fellows Drops & Pull & Pour. Keep an eye on the size of the bags they’re offering. Sometimes they’ll do a drop of a 4oz bag and you’ll have to be a serious taster of coffee to buy a pricey 4oz bags. Mocha Message is a new one on deck to try. We’re going to sign up and give an update after a couple months.

Perk Up Your Garden: Why Coffee Grounds can be a Natural Fertilizer

Coffee grounds can be beneficial for gardening, but their use requires careful consideration. Here are the key points regarding their advantages and best practices for application:

Nutrient Content: Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, which is essential for plant growth. They also contain potassium and phosphorus, contributing to overall soil fertility. This makes them a valuable addition to compost and garden soil.

Soil Improvement: When added to compost, coffee grounds help improve soil structure and increase moisture retention. They can also attract beneficial organisms like earthworms, which enhance soil health.

Acidic Properties: Coffee grounds are often cited for their potential to acidify soil, which can be beneficial for acid-loving plants such as blueberries and azaleas. However, the actual impact on soil pH is minimal when used in moderation.

What plants benefit most from your spent coffee grounds: Fruits, veggies, flowers, and water loving plants. After composting use with established plants.

Avoid adding directly to plants. It’s best to use in composting first. If you don’t have a composting pile use sparingly and never use on seedlings. Everything we found said moderation is key so don’t pour coffee all over the plants in your house.

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