HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Watch out for the ghosts and goblins haunting the night this Halloween, and stay warm after trick-0r-treating with a large cup of our Pumpkin Pie Spice coffee. Come into the roastery today dressed in your costume and get a free sample bag of coffee. Or just come in like your scary self and get a trick...errr...I mean treat...

Even John is getting into the spirit...


Interested in the real story behind Halloween.
Check out this site...
http://www.history.com/minisites/halloween

Have a spooooookkcoffeeeeee Halloween!

Coffee Vocab: ACIDITY

To many people ACIDITY sounds like a bad thing in coffee, but depending on your tastes it could be a really pleasing thing. Acidity in coffee is not a measure of its PH level, but rather a way of describing the high, thin notes in flavor. You sense acidity as a dry, tart sensation around the edges of the tongue and at the back of your palate. Acidic coffees are often perceived as winey or fruity, because their astringency is a reminiscent of a good, dry wine. Darker roasting mutes acidity. If you are interested in trying one of Vienna Coffee Company's more acidic coffees try our Colombia Supremo.

ON SALE NOW: Vienna Coffee Company Mugs

Vienna Coffee Company is pleased to announce they are now selling mugs. These high quality, natural ceramic mugs are only $5.99!!! These go perfect with a bag of our monthly special Pecan Pie or next month's special Pumpkin Spice. Or looking for a holiday gift idea? Give a mug with our NEW Christmas Cookie flavored coffee and a delicious dipping Nonni biscotti. 

Thank you to Maryville City Fire Department

Yesterday, we had a little excitement at the roastery. A small fire sprang up in our roaster. But please don't worry, nothing terrible happened. We didn't even miss a day of roasting, and nothing burned besides a little chaff accumulation on the roof. The fire department was right on it. Our wonderful Maryville City Fire Department and Police answered our call within less than 5 minutes. Now that's fast! We offered all of them some of our Ethiopian Yirgacheffe and our monthly special Pecan Pie coffee.  One of the officers asked, "What time is the fire tomorrow?"  And the chief exclaimed, "Out of my 35 years of service, this is the best smelling fire I've ever been to." So at least we had that going for us!  We would like to take the opportunity to thank our Fire Department and Police for all of their help.... THANKS!

Weekly Promotion: Elect a Latte

Vienna Coffee Company is proud to announce the start of their weekly promotions. Each monday check out our blog for that week's deal...

  

This week in celebration of Election season we want to spur interest in politics. Therefore, we would like for you to practice your voting skills and vote for your favorite latte. To vote for your latte of choice leave a comment on this blog or email Jamie at jamie@viennacoffeecompany.com. 

After voting come into the roastery, and Jamie will make you that exact latte with latte art and all for FREE!

Recycle, Reduce, Reuse

Continuing in the green movement, Vienna Coffee Company uses Recycling Bins. Since the beginning, VCC has recycled all of its corrugated cardboard waste. We also compost all the chaff and scrap coffee (please contact us if you need some nitrogen building coffee grinds for your compost.)

Also our employees use ceramic mugs instead of disposable cups when we enjoy our morning lattes or coffees. (Perks of working at VCC... free coffee!) 

In fact, VCC helped New Providence Presbyterian Church serve Vienna Coffee and Harney & Sons tea (another product VCC sells) in ceramic mugs instead of disposable cups after their morning services and tuesday night's Welcome Table. 

The more we can reduce the amount of waste going into landfills the better! And what better way to make you feel at home at NPPC then reusing a custom made mug every week! If you want to know more about recycling in Blount County check out their site...

Keep Blount Beautiful

Hill's Fresh Produce and Specialties

If you are ever out in Crossville, Tennessee stop into Hill's Fresh Produce and Specialties.  Not only are the owners delightful, the store is very well laid out with delectable goodies for all ages. Everywhere you look you will find homemade candies.  They also supply homemade spices, specialty cooking items, produce, bulk bins of flaxseed, granola, lentils, etc. Even better, they have a marvelous display of Vienna Coffee! If you are looking for some great specialty craft roasted coffee and want to check out someplace new, Hills is definitely a place to go. We give them two scoops up... two scoops of coffee that is.

NEW PRODUCT!!!! Apple Cider

VCC is proud to announce we are now selling Mountain Spiced Cider!

MMMMM.... this is some great 100% natural cider!  

It's getting colder everyday and what better way to curb that cold than a Hot Buttered Rum Cider??? Sounds good to me.  Try one of their delicious recipes.

Fair Trade Month: Faces of Fair Trade

The month of October is Fair Trade Month!

In celebration of Fair Trade month... we invite you to come to our Roastery and buy a 12oz. bag of any Fair Trade coffee and receive a second one 1/2 off!!!  Just mention our ad online.

Please visit TransFair's website for more information and events near you.

National Businesswomen's Week

Thanks to President Herbert Hoover the third week of October has been designated as National Businesswomen's Week. Founded in 1919, Business and Professional Women/USA (BPW/USA), a nonprofit organization that is committed to career advancement and professional development for female professionals nationwide, has celebrated this annual awareness-raising event ever since.

Fact: In 1999, 255,000 women in their 70s, 80s and 90s were employed or actively seeking employment in the United States, an 80 percent increase since 1985. The U.S. Security Administration project that more than 7 million people aged 65 and over will fill the labor force by 2020, and 3 million of them will be women.

VCC is lucky to have 5 wonderful businesswomen working for them...

Without their hard work, VCC wouldn't be the company it is today!  So if you work with and/or  know any women in the business world, show your appreciation for them this week by buying our Fairly traded, organic Cafe Femenino coffee which supports women on all ends of the coffee process. From women farmers, sellers, buyers, and roasters...

We thank you for your support and give appreciation to all of those hardworking businesswomen!

Christmas Cookie

Santa here. I heard that all you want for Christmas is Vienna Coffee. Sounds like a great idea. I just had the friendly people at VCC send me 100 cases of their new Christmas Cookie flavored coffee, and wow. It might not last until Christmas. Mrs. Claus, the elves, Rudolph and I have fell in love with the oatmeal cookie flavored coffee. It's going quickly, but don't worry the people at VCC are well prepared. I'm sure they will be able to make more... Or if you can't wait or want to buy it for gifts for your friends or family, check out their website www.viennacoffeecompany.com or go to the roastery directly.

Have a very merry Christmas!

Santa

p.s. Thanks for the coffee and cookies!

VCC going Green

Recently, Vienna Coffee Company decided to go more green. Trying to lessen the environmental footprint on the earth, the owner, John Clark, invested in a Ford Hybrid Escape to help make their deliveries.  Earlier in John's career he was an environmental chemical engineer, and is adamant in keeping up with his environmental background. 

So as you are driving, biking, walking, running around town and see a white vehicle like this one...

HONK AND WAVE at your local coffee roaster!  

Adding to VCC's attempt of using less fossil fuels, you also might see Jamie or Erin (two employees of VCC) riding their bikes to work.

In fact, if you come in next week on your bike, Jamie will make you a free latte including her latte art!

Come in and see us!

Latte Art and La Armonia Hermosa

Some people have been asking about latte art. This delicate art is not required on a great latte but it helps to show when a shot is pulled perfectly, and shows when the milk is frothed correctly. Basically it's just the frosting on the cake, but isn't it a beautiful cake? Here is a great example from a superb barista trainer and coffee shop co-owner in Cincinnati, Ohio. Les Stoneham received 9th place in the Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition a couple years ago. He is also helping to start up a direct trade coffee co-operative in Santa Maria de Jesus, Guatemala. Please check out their website for more information... www.laarmoniahermosa.com. We are happy to be joining in this venture. In the near future we will be roasting and selling some of their coffee. So check back to find out when we will have that available!

This is my attempt at latte art. I was trained by Les, but please note I haven't done latte art in almost a year.  What do they say? "Practice makes perfect," and I obviously haven't been practicing.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

It's coming up on the Holiday season, and we would like your advice. Here are a few travel mug ideas we have come up with. We would love to have your opinion on which of these might become your next favorite travel mug...  To respond please just leave a comment!

Thanks in advance!

Smoky Mountain Knife Works and Foothills Fall Festival

This weekend Erin, John, and Chuck are setting up a booth at Smoky Mountain Knife Work's vendor's rep weekend.  VCC and Remington will be doing a joint venture with Smoky Mt Knife Works and this weekend is the beginning stages of this venture. 

The World's Largest Knife Showplace hosts this annual event in their massive retail showroom in  Sevierville, TN. Vendor Representatives come from around the world to share their product knowledge. There will be giveaways and special events for the whole family, including knifemaker demonstrations, knife and tomohawk throwing demonstrations, a re-enactment of the battle of Boyd's Creek on Friday at 4:30pm, and much much more! 

Sounds like a fun weekend! If you can take yourself away from the Foothills Fall Fest

ival, then come on down to Sevierville and see VCC and other vendors show their wares.

If you are in the Maryville area you should check out the Foothills Fall Festival.  USA Today said, "The Foothills Fall Festival is one of the Top Ten Fall Festivals to attend in the country!"

While you are down at the festival go to the vintage, Capitol Coffee and Theater (127 Broadway Ave.) and enjoy some of VCC's yummy brewed coffee or go to Lamar Amburn's Produce Market (222 W. Church street) and buy a bag of our fresh coffee. Perfect to take the chill off while roaming around the festival.

Blount County Food Connection

It's another dreary day today in beautiful Maryville, Tennessee, but it's hopping at the roastery. With the flavorful smells of roasted coffee wafting through the air,  we are preparing our space (which we just recently renovated... come check us out!) and teaching new staff in preparation for our new 35 Kilo roaster.  Check in later to find out when we will have it up and running (it'll be a great thing to come see). 

Also today we are proud to support Blount County Food Connection in donating a large amount of coffee to give to their families that they provide food for. If you are also interested in donating, they are always eager for donations. Please check out their blog...

http://blountcfc.blogspot.com

Rachel Rising and Unveiling Cafe Femenino Project

On Oct. 2, 2008 at a moving and powerful concert, Rachel Rising, in support of a battered women's home, Haven House, Vienna Coffee Company unveiled their newest coffee to their already high quality selection of speciality coffees...

Welcome to the Cafe Femenino Project!!!

Our excitement for this coffee is high and we hope it will catch on quickly.

Here is how the project works...

VCC has chosen to participate in the Café Femenino Project roasting these Fair Trade Certified, specialty grade, organic coffees and distributing them throughout our region. VCC has selected Haven House (www.havenhousetn.org) as their sponsored local women's organization as allowed by the Café Femenino Project. After paying the women growers a fair price for their green coffee, VCC roasts the beans in small batches to bring out the optimal flavors from each variety.  A portion of all coffee sales then go directly to aid the women at Haven House. Disenfranchised women are being helped on both ends of the project.