coffee pairing | the modern barista

Ethiopia Gedeb with apricot-ginger fruit roll ups

August 22, 2016 by jocelyn 1 Comment

Ethiopia Gedeb is one of the newer coffees at the Roastery, and will be hitting all Reserve stores in September. Have you ever had a coffee that you just couldn’t stop drinking? That is Ethiopia Gedeb for me. I have a doppio espresso of it every morning since I got it, and have been making small batches of cold brew to drink in the afternoon. It is one of those coffees that is just delightful any way you brew it.

Ethiopia Gedeb is complex cup, with honeysuckle aromas, and notes of apricot and ginger. Since this coffee has become part of my morning routine, I wanted to pair it with a quick and easy on the go snack. What better than a fruit rollup?…

Theo chocolate tasting

August 21, 2016 by jocelyn Leave a Comment

Theo chocolates + Starbucks

Theo chocolate is based in Seattle’s Fremont district. They make the most incredible chocolates! Starbucks was testing Theo peanut butter cups in select stores, and my friend Melody went to Theo chocolate to get an up close and personal tour. During her tour, she sent me a message, saying she needed my address “right now”. I sent it along, and a few days later, a huge box of chocolates was on my doorstep, compliments of Theo chocolate. Thank you Theo chocolate & Melody! I put together a coffee tasting with the seven chocolates I was sent (actually, there is one missing because I had to taste test it 🙂 )…

Kopelani Blend cold brew pie

August 16, 2016 by jocelyn Leave a Comment

I am still obsessed with Kopelani blend. It has been my go to bean for cold brew for a few weeks. It makes the perfect cold brew, slightly sweet, rich, and heavenly. Kopelani translates to heavenly coffee, and I couldn’t think of a more appropriate name. Since I have been making Kopelani cold brew non stop, I thought it would be fun to make something with the cold brew. This coffee forward no bake pie has a Kopelani infused crust, cold brewed Kopelani inside, and ground Kopelani on top as a garnish. Layers of flavors and textures, all using this amazing coffee….

Colombia El Quebradón with homemade s’mores

August 10, 2016 by jocelyn Leave a Comment

It’s national s’mores day, and I wanted to do something fun to celebrate! This pairing has been on my “to do” list since Colombia El Quebradón appeared at the Roastery in May, but with moving and other tastings, it just got pushed back. Once I noticed national s’mores day was coming up, I knew I had to get my act together and make this a priority.

For three months, this idea of a snickerdoodle s’mores has been kicking around in my head, and when I have an idea in process for that long, it tends to evolve, and turn into something so much more complicated. So here it is, in all its glory.. Colombia El Quebradón paired with snickerdoodle & saffron graham crackers, a brown sugar marshmallow, milk chocolate and fresh strawberries. This is a seriously delicious bite, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to have store bought graham crackers again….

Kopelani Blend with tropical popcorn mix

August 5, 2016 by jocelyn Leave a Comment

Once again, Kopelani has returned to Starbucks stores. This tropical inspired blend made it’s debut in 2008, exclusively on the Hawaiian islands. A blend of coffees from East Africa, Latin America and 10% Kona coffee, the name Kopelani translates to heavenly coffee, and this coffee definitely lives up to it’s name.

This years blend of Kopelani is a bit different. The 10% Kona has been swapped out for 10% Ka’u, and the roast intensity has been turned way up! This dark roast has roasty sweet and caramel notes, and is prefect hot, iced, or my favorite; as a shot of espresso!

This is a limited time offering, and it will go fast (it always does)! Available in Starbucks stores and online!…

Papua New Guinea Lamari Mountain with chocolate strawberry donuts

July 29, 2016 by jocelyn 2 Comments

Papua New Guinea Lamari Mountain

Papua New Guinea Lamari Mountain first appeared at the Roastery in April/May. I remember this very well, as I spent a few hours at the Roastery, left, and for whatever reason, went back later in the evening. Bags of this coffee were sitting on a shelf, and they were not there earlier! Absolutely delighted, I grabbed a bag and took it home. This coffee has since launched in select Starbucks Reserve stores across the country.

Papua New Guinea is one of the most remote and exotic places in the world. The rugged terrain and lack of infrastructure make it difficult to navigate but also presents an opportunity to discover great coffee. Coffee from Papua New Guinea have always been my favorites. They are generally very herbaceous, but the Lamari mountain is different. It has a bright acidity with strawberry notes and a smooth mouth feel. I wanted to celebrate the strawberry notes in this coffee with a chocolate and strawberry donut!…

Brazil Fazenda California with chocolate hazelnut biscotti

July 10, 2016 by jocelyn Leave a Comment

Brazil Fazenda California is easily one of my favorite reserve coffees that has launched so far this year. This low acid, medium bodied coffee has layered flavors of hazelnut and lemon. When I first tasted this coffee, I was instantly blown away by the hazelnut notes; so intense! Of course, when I think of hazelnut, I think of Nutella, so I wanted to do a nod to that.

I like to challenge myself in the kitchen. As a general rule, I do not like biscotti. It is too hard and crunchy, and it always taste stale to me. Coffee and biscotti are a classic combination, and maybe if I make it myself, I would like it (homemade is always better!)

The verdict. I like biscotti now….

Colombia Café Mujeres with mandarin orange lava cake

July 9, 2016 by jocelyn Leave a Comment

Colombia Café Mujeres was the Starbucks Reserve subscription for the month of June, and I had a heck of a time trying to get this coffee to my house!

My reserve subscription, even though I had updated my address before we moved, went to our house in Washington. I tried re-routing it with FedEx, I reached out to neighbors to watch for it, but the coffee had vanished. A friend suggested that I contact a partner on the reserve team, and she quickly sent a box to my new address in Michigan! I was so excited! Seeing that little black box on my doorstep is something I look forward to each and every month. Even more so since the Roastery is no longer in my backyard. I wanted to do a special tasting as a thank you to Jessica for coming to my rescue!…

East Timor Red with mini pineapple upside down cakes

June 22, 2016 by jocelyn Leave a Comment

A few weeks before we left Seattle, I was hearing rumors about a sun dried coffee from East Timor. My interest was piqued.

At that time, Reserve stores were featuring an East Timor peaberry from Cooperative Café Timor (CCT). This coffee comes from the same cooperative, a collaboration between Starbucks and CCT. Starbucks wondered what a natural processed coffee from East Timor would taste like, and the result is a powerhouse of fruit flavors highlighting pineapple and black cherry

East Timor Red made it’s debut at the Roastery exactly one week after I moved away. However, I am so thankful for my friend Melody, who keeps me up to date with all of the Roastery exclusives! Thank you, Melody. I couldn’t do this without you 🙂

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Colombia Santana El Bolsón with sun dried tomato & thyme scone

June 20, 2016 by jocelyn 1 Comment

On one of my last trips to the Starbucks Roastery, I was sitting at the experience bar waiting for a friend. The bar partner, Zach, was dialing in espresso shots for the Colombia Santana El Bolsón. It was a great time, I tasted this coffee as espresso at several different shot times. What stuck with me was how savory this coffee was, bursting with herbaceous notes of thyme, with a juicy acidity. We so rarely see such a savory coffee. We see lots of notes of fruit, and cocoa, but thyme and tomato are few and far between. These coffees usually are my favorites, and the Colombia Santana El Bolsón is no exception….

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