Give Your Monday Morning Mug a Kick in the Pants with Kicking Horse Coffee

Kicking Horse Fresh Roasted Coffee Beans

Coffee is very romantic to me. There is something so soothing about waking up, with one leg still in a slumber and the other making its way toward the coffee maker. Opening the can and getting that first concentrated smell of beans that puffs out when the lid is lifted. Scoop, scoop, scoop. Grinder rattles the beans into a fine grind and then the cold water starts to drip through the coffee machine, creating an aroma of morning magic. And with a steaming, big handled mug gently gripped — the kind you can comfortably fit four fingers in — I settle on the couch and enjoy each sip of the rich, earthy goodness that starts my day with a comforting warmth {and caffeine kick}.

More than 50% of Americans drink coffee daily and as often as 3-4 times per day, which means we’re consuming more than 350 million cups of coffee a day. That sounds less romantic and more like a statistic on caffeine addicts. We’re a nation of convenient $4/cup coffee consumers who like to walk into the chain coffee counters and order our grande, skinny mochachinos with whipped cream to go. But what if you diverted that $4 towards a can of really kick-ass coffee — would that change the way you kicked-off your day?

You may remember when I wrote about my discovery of Kicking Horse Coffee at the Fancy Food Show a month ago. Lost in rows of food purveyors and low in energy, I stumbled up on their booth and a new love. My new friends at Kicking Horse Coffee were good enough to send me a can to enjoy from the comfort of my couch, and with that steaming cup in hand I want to spread the love, convert you all, and get you excited by the fact that our northern neighbors are now distributing this kickin’ craft blend in America. Here’s the scoop:

Kicking Horse Coffee Three Sisters Blend

Shakespearean Love:
I’m a sucker for creativity. Name your coffee blends something like Kick-Ass, 454 Horse Power or Cliff Hanger Espresso and you’ve not only gotten your point across, but gotten me really excited to try something that sounds more like a fun excursion than just another plain ole cup of joe. The trio of peaks known as the Three Sisters are just outside of Banff National Park near Canmore, Alberta. It is among the most photographed vistas in the Canadian Rockies and the blend I’m sipping right now pays homage to it with a triple punch of light, medium and dark roasts of Indonesian, Central and South American beans.

Quality Stands on its own Four Feet:
Beyond the name, this coffee stands strongly on its own four feet. Focused on roasting and packaging small batches daily and selling only whole beans, Kicking Horse Coffee ensures premium quality and freshness is maintained from can to cup — it’s no wonder they are outselling all other brands in Canadian grocery stores {including Starbucks!} My Three Sisters blend is a brew with a medium roast, but bold aroma and flavor that is smooth and conveys creamy, chocolately characteristics. With 17 different varieties to choose from, there is undoubtedly a brew to suit your tastes. Another cup please!

Horse with a Heart:
Kicking Horse Coffee is committed  to sustainability — through community and environmental initiatives and responsible business practices.

• Certified Fair Trade — the company supports its farmers, regardless of the world market, which means paying fair prices and following fair labor, environmental and quality standards. As the largest cash crop in the world, this really does make a Kicking impact.
• Certified Organic — farmers who grow coffee organically use renewable resources, conserving soil and water to sustain the environment for future generations. They protect human health by avoiding pollutants, pesticides and herbicides. And they create an ecosystem that’s healthy for wildlife and birds.
• Sustainability — coffee blends come in cool black cans with primary color tops which catch the eye and look cool hangin’ out next to your coffee maker. But more importantly, they are North-American-made from recycled steel and can be recycled after use. Cans are the most recycled container in the world and that means less in the landfill. Recycled steel uses 75% less energy to reproduce and can be recycled an infinite amount of times — that means you might see your can again…as a coffee maker!

The only thing left to say, is you must try it yourself! You can find it on Amazon or in a growing number of grocery stores in select states — click HERE to find a location near you and start brewing.

“Life is too short to start drinking the wrong cup of coffee”
— Kicking Horse Coffee

BREW@HOME
{tips on how to brew a kick ass cup at home}

1. Grind — Grind just before use and use just enough beans for the coffee you’re making. The grind size should be between .75 mm and 1 mm. If the grind is too coarse it will make the coffee taste weak. If the grind is too fine, it will make the coffee taste bitter or too strong.
2. Water — Water makes up 99% of a cup of coffee. If your tap water tastes good to drink, it’s good to make coffee with. Use it cold and freshly drawn from the tap.
3. Measurements — The suggested proportion is two heaping tablespoons for every ¾ cup of coffee. More if you’re bold, less if you’re not..
4. Timing {french press} — The brewing, or ‘contact’ time, should be 4 to 4½ minutes. Check the grounds after brewing. Has all the coffee come in contact with the water? Are there any dry grounds of coffee? Your cup’s final optimum temperature is 140-162°F.
5. Storage — Coffee absorbs odors and deteriorates when it contacts air. Keep your coffee tightly rolled in its valve bag or sealed in its can until you’re ready to refill the grinder. Store in a dry, cool location, but not in the fridge or freezer.
6. Enjoy!

Looking for More Specialty Food Discoveries?
Summer Fancy Food Show: Full Belly and Learnings Digestion
Do This!: A Taste of What to Expect @ Artisanal Premium Cheese Classes
Do This!: Vote for The Chocolate Gallery Cafe for Best Breakfast
Going Back to the Old Country @ The New Yasmeen Bakery
recipe goodness :: gourmet grillin’ with white truffle corn