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 The next coffee harvest is underway on our family's coffee farms. Our nephew recently posted this photo of the beautiful coffee berries that have been picked and a video of the work to sort and process them which we share on our Facebook Page. Holiday flavors, holiday events and coffee gift ideas are also on our mind.
Much more below. But first a quick reminder that we'll be doing our December coffee deliveries on Friday, December 9. If you live (or work) in Minneapolis or St. Paul and some suburbs, we can add you to our free delivery route. If you don't live in these areas, we're happy to mail coffee to you. Just get your coffee order to us before noon Wednesday, December 7 by contacting us at coffee@vfamilycoffee.com or ordering through our website. Our next delivery date will be Friday, January 13th.
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 Coffee Harvest
Our oldest nephew Max recently stopped at the coffee farm in Rio Negro to help his uncle Avilio with the coffee harvest. He posted a few photos and a 20 second video of the work underway. First, the ripe coffee berries are picked by hand. Then they are washed and run through a grinder that separates the coffee beans from the pulp. The worker swinging the basket in the video is sorting coffee beans from other debris. To his left (and in this picture) you'll see sorted coffee beans still coated with a sweet syrup from the berry that will be left to ferment for about 24 hours to infuse the beans with great flavor before washing and spreading them out to dry. (The generator shown in the video is run by water from a nearby stream and provides electricity to several houses on the farm). All in all, it seems to be a good start to the harvest which promises to be plentiful!
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 2016 Holiday Flavors
Our new holiday flavors have been well received and we've ordered lots more. Still it is best to get your request in quickly to make sure we can fill your needs.
BONFIRE: Sweet, creamy icing swirled in spicy cinnamon and fresh bread...an amazing aroma wafting from your cup...very reminiscent of grandma's Hot Fresh Buns...perfect for chilly nights (and mornings) to warm you up!
CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT CREAM: Rich Honduran beans combined with sharp dark chocolate and rich nutty taste of gourmet hazelnut. This special brew is a perfect holiday treat.
CONFUSED SANTA: Is it March? Is it December? We asked Santa for his favorite coffee flavor when he comes down the chimney...and my, Santa is confused! He wanted a delicious Irish Cream coffee, with an extra (large) splash of rum and a dash(er) of hazelnut...topped with whipped cream and nutmeg. What Santa wants, Santa gets.
DRUNKEN UNCLE: Yes, we have one too….and it’s delicious! Picture yourself around the fireplace basking in the soothing tastes of Kahlua and Irish Cream laced with Gran Marnier.
ENGLISH TOFFEE: A tad of caramel, a touch of chocolate, a spot of cream, very British, very buttery, very good.
 All five of these flavors will be available in the coming 2-3 months in 8 oz packages, whole bean and ground and in limited quantities of decaf for $7.50. Respond to this email or use our new website store (the old one is still available for a bit longer too) to place your order. (And of course our regular flavors continue to be available during this time as well.)
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Holiday Events
It's the time of year for great holiday sales. Here are just a few that we know of.
Sibirica Holiday Boutique - first 3 weekends of December. Saturdays and Sundays 10 am - 6 pm, December 3&4, 10&11, 17&18. 996 Oxford St N, St Paul, MN 55103. Sibirica Holiday Boutique is a unique opportunity to find gifts from local artists in a relaxed home shopping atmosphere. Enjoy a glass of wine or hot cider while you shop. Say hello to friends you know and make a few new ones. Pick up a bag of Velasquez Family coffee!
 Union Depot Holiday Bake Sale - Saturday, December 10th, 10 am - 5 pm. Union Depot, 214 4th St E, St Paul, MN 55101. Union Depot's 4th Annual Holiday Bake Sale will host the top Twin Cities bakeries for a day of cookie, candy and holiday shopping with select MN Makers. Admission is $5 for adults and includes a free tote bag. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Merrick Community Services Food Shelf.
Christmas at the Monastery - Saturday, December 10th, 4-7 pm. St Paul's Monastery at 2675 Benet Rd, Maplewood, MN 55109. Gourmet Hors d'Ouevres and Seasonal Beverages, Silent Auction, Bakery and Candy Shoppe, Wine Wall, Mystery Gifts, Ornaments, Cards and Gifts -- AND Velasquez Family Coffee! Tickets are $40. All proceeds from Christmas at the Monastery benefit the community of Sisters, their ministries and the care of their elder Sisters.
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 Coffee Gift ideas
Of course you know that coffee makes a great gift. Here are a few ways to expand on that idea.
Coffee Subscription Gift certificates. Give 6 or 12 months of coffee to a friend or loved one. We'll send you (or the gift recipient) a colorful gift certificate explaining the gift. Coffee will be delivered each month for free to people in our delivery route area, or we can also mail a coffee subscription for the added cost of postage. You can pick the type of coffee or let them pick.
Coffee mailed for you. Make it easy on yourself and let us mail your coffee gifts for only the extra cost of postage. We mail nearly 40 packages of coffee each month anyway, so it is easy to do a few more. We can even include a note from you if you wish.
Extra coffee with your December order. Simply order extra coffee with your coffee order. It never hurts to have an extra bag or two on hand for guests or for unexpected gift needs. Coffee makes a great gift for teachers or to bring along for your hosts if you are traveling. Give it alone, or include it in a gift basket with other goodies.
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 The Optimism of Uncertainty
At the close of this tumultuous year, we offer two helpful reflections.
Historian, Howard Zinn in his essay "The Optimism of Uncertainty" reminds us of the possibility inherent in uncertainty. "If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places -- and there are so many -- where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction."
New York Times Columnist, Tom Friedman in his latest book Thank you for Being Late: An Optimist's Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations, encourages us to "dance in the eye of the hurricane." "These accelerations in technology, globalization and Mother Nature are like a hurricane in which we’re all being asked to dance. [Rather than] build a wall against these howling winds of change....I think the challenge is to find the eye. For me, that translates into building healthy communities that are flexible enough to move with these accelerations, draw energy from them — but also provide a platform of dynamic stability for citizens within them."
As we close out one year and prepare for another, we wish you opportunities of peace, connection and joy in the midst of the storm of life swirling around us!
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Velasquez Family Coffee
Shade Grown | Hand Picked | Sun Dried | Fair Trade
Directly from our Family to You
www.vfamilycoffee.com
coffee@vfamilycoffee.com
651-587-5356
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