Update: Congratulations to Debbie H. who has been named the winner of this contest! She likes her coffee “strong, with a hint of sweet.”
In the past few months Kirsty Hughan has become a great friend and colleague to Three Many Cooks. As we relaunch you’ll be seeing more of her work. Coming soon you can also visit her at her very own website/blog, The Good Taste Guide. Since Kirsty knows so much about coffee, we immediately turned to her when our nephew/cousin, Andrew Grassmick, sent us some of his Mad Cap Coffee. Here’s what she says…
This past weekend I woke up early to shoot USA Weekend videos with Pam and her daughters, Maggy and Sharon. Pulling into the driveway at eight o’clock, without yet having my daily coffee, I was glad to walk through the door to the smell of a freshly brewed pot. When I heard that the coffee was sent fresh from Maggy and Sharon’s cousin who works for a coffee roaster, I had to get my hands on it!
You see, I spent the year after college working on and off for a high-end coffee shop. The first thing you learn is how to make a perfect extraction from a bean. For us this meant brewing each cup to order in a wonderful little contraption called a Clever. On slow days, we did cuppings, essentially a wine tasting for coffee. This is where I picked up tasting terminology. Is the coffee floral? Or more citrus? Or is it chocolatey?
Mad Cap Coffee is refreshing, light, medium-roasted coffee. Its roast brings out the natural flavors in the bean very nicely. I love that when you pour yourself a cup, the coffee comes out a wonderful bright caramel color, something you like to see in a medium roast. When you take a sip, the coffee is light and complex, a difficult partnership. The taste is nuanced, able to balance chocolate and berry, or floral and citrus. If you don’t yet consider yourself a “drink my coffee black” kind of person, these coffees are a good way to give it a try. With a little simple syrup and a piece of a toast with almond butter, you have a wonderful afternoon pick me up.
The trend in the coffee community is to know your coffee farmers well. A good roaster will know how a farmer works the land, how he relates to light, and what the fruit he picks looks like. Mad Cap coffee is one of these good roasters. As they proclaim on their website, “We develop relationships with farmers. We purchase as much of our coffee directly from the farmer as possible.” Plus, Mad Cap has super baristas. Three have placed in various regional and national competitions, including one who snagged third place and another who grabbed fourth at the United States Barista Competition.
Looking to snag yourself a bag of Mad Cap Coffee? I’d recommend popping over to the Mad Cap Store and peeking at the tasting notes. If you know you prefer a deep, chocolatey coffee to a floral, fruity one, this is your chance to make sure you get the perfect bag for you. While you’re there, check out their blog, it’s a wonderful place to catch up on their exciting start.
For a chance to win two bags of their award-winning roasts, tell us how you take your coffee. Giveaway ends at 6 PM Eastern time on Sunday. We’ll announce the winner first thing on Monday morning on the newly designed Three Many Cooks. So head back to see who won… and check out our new look.
BTW, I like medium-strong coffee with a big splash of whole milk!
I like a dark roast, but not bitter! Love the smell of coffee in the morning brewing, yum!
I like it strong with half and half. Thanks for the giveaway!!
I like strong coffee, with a hint of sweet!
Debbie H.
My new favorite is to drink cold-brewed coffee that I make in a big mason-like jar and leave in the fridge for a day or two.
I like my coffee strong and black. Madcap coffee would fit in perfectly here in the Mad River Valley!
Hot and dark, from a Chemex! And maybe a splash of cream…for the second cup!
hot, black and fresh, with time to savor it!
I love it strong and rich with a bit of cream-NO sweetener.
Being a South Louisiana Cajun, I like mine hot, strong and sweet. The better the coffee the less sugar required. Anytime of day or night.
Love my coffee brewed using either the siphon method or good drip coffee. Like it black.
We like to grind our beans medium to fine with our French press so it’s kind of thick like Turkish coffee. A quick splash of soy or almond milk and I’m good!
Agave nector and cream.
I don’t drink coffee, but my mom (to whom I would give this if I win) likes it strong and black. I’m told by those who drink her coffee it will take the enamel off your teeth.
Hot, black and steamy. On cold mornings you can warm your hands on the mug!
I live for coffee – freshly ground, strong, hot and black!
I like mine bold with lots of vanilla soy milk.
I like mine french pressed with a bit of half and half to round out the flavor.
I “ruin” mine with sugar and a dash of milk. For my husband (former Navy), it is always black and strong. But we have both learned to appreciate good coffee. And believe me, it doesn’t come from Seattle. We love trying different beans, roasts, brewing methods. I think my fave is a light medium roast with chocolate and caramel tones that is brewed in a french press.
I like my coffee sweet!
Iced with sweetened condensed milk on a hot day, vanilla latte on a chilly day. If my day doesn’t include at least one of them, it’s a sad, sad day!
I take my french roast coffee with 1equal + 1 sweet and low and a big splash of 1% milk!
I like VERY strong coffee (can you stick a spoon straight up in it? Great, I’ll take it.), and lately, I take it black, which I find less comforting than my former brown sugar and half ‘n half, but can’t see to go back.
I like strong coffee with cream and some sugar.
mild roast.. not bitter.. thanks
as strong as you can make it with about a 1/4 cup of cream…..
Dark roast with a splash of cream.
french press with a splash of milk
Just a cup of good coffee. Add nothing. I do so enjoy coffee.