15th Ave Coffee & Tea

Hello Everyone!

The last week I have been starting to get busy with the details for Roy Street.  You might have guessed something was up based on the sudden lack of blogging! 

The good news is that I just got my long awaited relief pitcher, Jesse Kahn who will be managing 15th Street so I can move on.  He will be posting soon so that you can get acquainted and so you can continue to have insight into what is going on in our world, while I run from meeting to meeting trying to get all the last minute details put together.

When we are ready to open the doors I will start posting again and give you insight into all the well kept secrets of what Roy will look like, taste like and sound like.  Stay tuned, there are some awesome details to come!  Thanks for all the support so far, I can’t wait to surprise you with the great things on the way!

Jacob

10/27 Synergy 8-10.  Jazz Trio not to be missed!

10/28  Washington Middle School 7p-9p.  Welcome!  We are very excited to hear you and give you a great place to play!

10/30 Tamara Lewis- 8-10.

Returning Favorite Tamara Lewis.  If you have not seen her yet you are missing out!  We are so proud to bring her soulful singer/songwriter performance to our store.  You will be inspired as you listen to her perform.

http://www.tlewismusic.com/

10/31  C3 7-9.  Back for an encore performance!  A blend of folk, rock & pop music that becomes all their own.

11/1  WoodnBrass  4-6.  Special Matinee Performance!

http://www.myspace.com/woodnbrass  Wood and Brass are Ben Obee and Michel Navedo. Ben grew up on Whidbey Island Washington where he played bass and sang lead vocals in punk and rock bands while studying jazz and classical theory composition and orchestration. Ben later attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston where continued to study and expand his musical knowledge. Based on his knowledge of jazz and classical music he began composing and conducting his own compositions with small ensembles at the school. Today he lives in Seattle where he still plays and records in rock bands as well as jazz and folk ensembles. Michel Navedo has been playing trumpet for thirty years. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in New Orleans, Michel has a formal education in Jazz and Classical Performance and Music Composition. He has played and studied music around the world in groups performing Salsa, Flamenco, Samba, and a wide variety of other world music; as well as, Symphonic, Big Band, Hip Hop, Psychedelic Rock, Fusion, and his own original laptop/electronic music. Michel performs regularly, and composes and teaches music out of his home studio in Shoreline, WA.

Friday Oct. 23 @ 8pm

Stephen Ashbrook-

“Stephen Ashbrook is a Portland, Oregon-based singer songwriter. Ashbrook rose to fame in the mid-1990’s in his home state of Arizona, riding the wave of the Tempe music scene while performing with his band Satellite. Many bands, including the Gin Blossoms, The Refreshments and Dead Hot Workshop found success with this guitar-driven rock music. Ashbrook has toured with the Peacemakers, among others.” – Wikipedia

www.stephenashbrook.com

Saturday Oct. 24th @8pm

Returning favorite Ed Zincavage @ 15th Ave.  His music is Finger picking, Folk, Blues, with Slide Guitar and Harmonica.

http://www.edwardzincavage.com/home

Jason Chen is one of our tea suppliers and tea guru.  He just returned from China where he spent 7 days in the fields and 7 days working with the suppliers of our tea serveware.  His depth of knowledge has been indespensible in helping us source the best teas I have ever tried.

On his return from China he brought several Ti-Kwan-Yins for us to try.  The above photo is of two of the three teas.  The one on the left is $200 a pound and the one on the right is $400 a pound.

If you notice the one on the left is lighter than the other.  The reason is that the finishing step for the two create the two distinct styles of Ti-Kwan-Yin in China.  The one on the left is fired on a charcoal fire for around two hours leaving bright floral notes of orchid or rose and an aguave like sweetness.  The one on the right is put on the charcoal fire for up to six hours to deepen it’s flavor and bring out honey notes and stone fruit flavors. 

I was very impressed with the quality of these teas, but it also helped reinforce in my mind how great our teas are.  The house Ti-Kwan-Yin stood up very nicely with the others, even though they were of exceptional quality.

After our tasting, Jason showed us the pictures that he took on his trip.  He is as talented at photography as he is with sourcing great tea.  The pictures of the workers picking and processing and of the markets where the tea was sold, took us on a journey to places that are hard to describe with just words.  Pickers smiled as they had their very first photograph taken, excited but shy of the process.

Please come in and take that journey for yourself when you can.  Thanks Jason for all your help! 

Click this link for more information on Ti-Kwan-Yin.  http://www.streetlevelcoffee.com/2009/09/17/iron-goddess-of-mercy/

So Fall is in full swing!  Every time I sweep in front of the store I am reminded of that.  It’s my favorite time of year, that’s why I live in Seattle.  We usually have 3 months of Summer and 9 months of Fall!

As we enjoy our creature comforts and get ready to hibernate, I was trying to figure out the perfect coffee for enjoying in front of my fireplace.  Hands down it has to be Sumatra.  The deep warming flavor and woodsy aroma make it perfect for me. 

Last season must have been the perfect year for coffee in Sumatra because what we are drinking right now is truly great.  The mushrooms and earth that are usually predominant are set off by an intense herbal quality that balances out the velvety mouth feel.

Like any grape growing region, coffee regions vary every year based on the weather, rainfall, soil balance, and cultivation just to name a few factors.  Sometimes different coffees from the same region are blended to balance these changes and make them less noticeable year over year.  Other times amazing qualities show themselves as coffees are roasted, and this year Sumatra is a true Jewel.

The Sumatra that I put in the Clover this morning was roasted five days ago.  It doesn’t get any better than that.

So find a piece of pumpkin cheese cake, put a few more sticks of oak on the fire, and brew up a french press of Sumatra.  Snuggle up with the tiger and practice your hibernation.  After all, that’s what you worked so hard all summer for!

For more on Sumatra, click this link and select the island on the right.  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/flatpages/businesstechnology/coffee.html

Friday 10/16 @ 8pm

Gayle Cloud is a local, award-winning singer/songwriter. Working with a mélange of genres and international influences, Gayle’s lush melodies, sensual “world” rhythms and rich vocals create a fresh sound with an emotional appeal. Gayle debuted as a performing artist in Paris where she attracted a devoted audience over the five years she lived in Europe. She then moved to New York for several years where she played with some of city’s finest musicians. She returned to her beautiful hometown of Seattle a couple of years ago where she continues to perform and create music.

Gayle just returned from NYC, where she is nearing completion on her second CD of original work.  She is delighted to play at the 15th Ave Coffee and Tea, which is a wonderful intimate venue.  Playing some of the tunes from her upcoming and previous CD, she will be on keys and joined by Steve Stoudt on percussion.

http://www.gaylecloud.com/

Sat 10/17 @8pm

“Jon has a keen sense of timing, lyrical timing that is, able to turn
phrases and paint verbal pictures in a way that will open the
listeners eyes to his perspective on things. He has spent many years
and many miles playing in coffee shops and venues around the country, all the while taking with him his ability to tell stories and craft intimate and honest songs. He has been likened to Ryan Adams, James Taylor and Will Ferrell (not so much for his music, more so for his personality and hair).

A captivating storyteller while singing, and well, telling stories
between and behind the songs, you will surely be enteratined for the hour or so that he performs. And with an upcoming debut solo release, you can be sure he will have new songs, as well as some old favorites.”

You can here some of those old favorites here…

www.myspace.com/jonwilliamjohnson

Hope to see you all there!

Sun 10/18 @ 8pm

Wood and Brass- Jazz standards.  Trumpet and Upright Base.  Duke Ellington songs.

Friday & Saturday October 9^th & 10^th, 2009.  8:00pm

Brother/Sister: Mark Holt & Kimberlee Holt Tully have taken their brand of Blues, Jazz & Americana Roots music too Starbucks Coffee Company Stores in Sun Valley, Idaho & Yakima, Washington.  Mark & Kimberlee  taped “Northwest Today” an  NBC Television Affiliate Morning Live Remote at Starbucks Union Gap, Washington store in December of 2008.

Mark & Kimberlee are happy too announce they will have the opportunity to bring their sounds too Starbucks new’ 15^th Avenue Coffee & Tea on Capital Hill in Seattle, Washington.

I asked Major to recap an opportunity he had to cup with several great local roasters.  Here is his recap and a link to the final article…

I was thrilled to be included!  About a month ago I got a call from Melissa and I talked about one of our goals for 15^th ave and Roy street.  Quite simply put—that we hoped that the perception of some folks that we are not real coffee people at Starbucks could be changed. I had a chance to bring one of my favorite coffees, Sumatra.  As we had just received a batch of fresh roasted Aged Sumatra I took some of that along as well.  We had both on the table alongside some great coffees brought by the others there. We did not ever get into ‘better or worse’. In fact it was a very cool, albeit brief, chance to talk coffee, taste great coffees and share stories. 

I really enjoyed meeting the guys who founded Atlas and seeing their great space was amazing.  Their cupping tables made from bowling alleys were fantastic! Jeff from Zoka has always been someone I have admired and a chance to chat a bit with him was also a treat.  I had heard him speak at an SCAA panel presentation but never met him in person.

I hope that we get a chance to see everyone who was there on that Friday again both at 15^th ave, Roy Street and at their places. 

Here are two links to Melissa’s article.

 http://bit.ly/n9Ccq 

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/flatpages/businesstechnology/coffee.html

Here on the hill life can be a little rough!

Sometimes when you walk outside you get your paws wet.  When you wear genuine fur it’s easy to get mud spots. 

If it rains too hard all the smells get muddled and its really hard to check your pee-mails. 

This is Alexander who worked night and day for the past several months to become 15th Ave’s Pooch of the Month.  His regime was incredibly strict.  No treats or bully sticks after 7pm, he would walk his owner at least an hour every day, and most important of all were the six hour naps.  What dedication!

Sometimes in a trendy Seattle neighborhood you have to step up to the challenge and be willing to strut your stuff in a Euro style photo shoot. 

Bending all the rules and doing your own thing are critical.  Sometimes it requires getting over some large hurdles like being the first dog on a catwalk. 

With so much pressure to succeed you need to take some time for yourself.  Being an A-list dog, you still have to expect the Puppy-ratzi to show up at any moment to interrupt a good nap.  After all, it’s a dog’s life.

Once you have truly gained the fame that you know you have deserved all along, it’s important to use your new found freedom to take your pack for trips.  The PNW gives you great options, from beachcombing to skiing, enjoy it, you’ve earned it!

IADL

Live Music this week Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Here is a list…  Come Join Us!

Friday Oct. 2nd.  Returning Favorite Tamara Lewis.  If you have not seen her yet you are missing out!  We are so proud to bring her soulful singer/songwriter performance to our store.  You will be inspired as you listen to her perform.

http://www.tlewismusic.com/

Saturday Oct. 3rd join Ed Zincavage for a great night here @ 15th Ave.  His music is Finger picking, Folk, Blues, with Slide Guitar and Harmonica.

http://www.edwardzincavage.com/home

Sunday Oct. 4th  Local artist Ben Eksted will bring his acoustic/soul music to our store for the enjoyment of all.  We can’t wait to hear it!

http://www.myspace.com/benekstedt