Robusta is in the house! Now through Saturday approx.

Yes, most specialty coffees are from the arabica coffee strain. The Robusta strains have higher caffeine (significantly higher), produce more crema (nice for espresso blends), but are often lower quality (boo hoo).

This is a good one! Try it out if you come by soon. Only 15 pounds total available, so do or die.


It is Blupet Estate AA Sitara Robusta from India! From the karnataka Indian Plantation. . Thanks Greg (from GCBC) for distributing this one...

Cheers you coffee geeks!

-Nimbus

Here is some background on this coffee:

Karnataka Plantation Coffees is the premier importer of Indian coffee for the US (IMO). They have given beans their own grading system based on size and quality, and Ujwala (the beautiful owner of the business) is very well-connected over in India. These robustas are high-grown and washed, and treated like arabica throughout the process resulting in a very clean product. Their Sitara (Bright Star) AA grade robustas made a big splash this year, getting notice for their unprecedented quality and potential as a SO coffee. I have tried the Sethamuran Estate regular and peaberry, which are both very palatable as straight robusta. As a SO espresso, this bean won a barista competition, and if you can handle going into warp drive (2.5 to 4x the amount of caffeine as arabica) it is quite tasty. From the Karnataka website:
Quote
Sitara - (bright star) - is the crème-de la crème of the Robusta harvest far surpassing the Kaapi Royale. Connoisseurs in the Italian & American market have much admired the individuality of this washed blue-green coffee with bold beans & minimal defects.

Farmer Jason at Ray's on Saturday, Dec. 6h.

Saturday, Leone Ray turns 6 (whoohooo!), and we have Farmer Jason coming, and then at night it is Bardstown Road Aglow...Hope to see ya....

Here's the press release on Farmer Jason:

Farmer Jason Show - kid/family showSaturday, December 6th, Ray's Monkey House, 1578 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, http://www.raysmonkeyhouse.com/, (502) 459-4373 Show-time: 1:00PM, Ticket price: $5.00
Jason Ringenberg/Farmer Jason Information
There are photos suitable for print (both B&W and color) for Farmer Jason athttp://www.farmerjason.com/presskit.htm and Jason Ringenberghttp://www.jasonringenberg.com/01_jr_content_%20pages/14_jr_presskit/jr_presskit_frameset.html
Jason new album BEST TRACKS AND SIDE TRACKS 1979-2007 was just released on Yep Roc Records. The double CD set is a complete overview of Jason's solo career to-date including his pre-Scorchers band Shakespeare's Riot and new versions of Farmer Jason and Jason & The Scorchers favorites. A co-bill or the right support spot is fine.
Jason & the Scorchers received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Americana Music Association in Nashville, TN in September.
For over two decades, first as front with country-rock pioneers Jason and the Scorchers and now as aninternationally acclaimed solo artist with three solo cds under his belt, former Illinois farm boy JasonRingenberg has blazed a path as both innovator and interpreter of American country music. Jason has spentthe past three years touring the U.S. - even Alaska, all over Europe, and Australia. A hard-working performerwho travels light - just him, his guitar and his trademark yelp-Ringenberg has earned the moniker "the rockinest folksinger that ever lived!" The Scorchers recently celebrated their 20th anniversary with re-issues on Yep Roc Records.They toured with artists such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Carl Perkins, and REM among many others. http://www.jasonringenberg.com/

Jason Ringenberg's "twin brother" (wink wink), children's music star Farmer Jason, has been drawing sellout crowds with his rollickingdelivery of catchy songs and good times. He has a video program based on his songs playing on several PBS TV stations around the country."Rockin' In The Forest" explores a musical woodland where children experiencenatural wonders and receive subtle lessons on ecology, fitness, and history. He performs at schools, festivals, public libraries,museums, and other performing art spaces all over the globe. He recently performed at the ACL Fest in Austin, StagecoachFestival in Southern California, Big State Festival in Houston, Winnipeg Folk Festival in Canada and Old Town Schoolof Folk in Chicago. Disney's Family Fun Magazine named "A Day at the Farm with Farmer Jason" one of the top five children cds of the year.You can find out more information at http://www.farmerjason.com/.
Thank you for your time.

Soup!!!! Hot, yummy, homemade

Title says it all, homemade hearty veggie soup. Green beans, corn, potatoes, fake meat (seitan), white beans, onions and more....TASTY. Served with bread for $3.75.

Warm yourself up, also look for rotating varieties...

Cheers!

-Nimbus

Weekly Activities Updates

Nights of the week ACTIVITIES List !!!!


Mon, 7:30,
Movie Night (documentaries, environmental, political, activism etc)


Tues, 8pm-midnight
Bluegrass Jam, open to all. We get some great players here, but beginners are welcomed with open arms. Or just come to watch, listen and hang out.



Weds, 8-close
Singer songwriter /open stage


Thurs, 7-close
Awesome acoustic music by Shine-ola


Fri, 8pm-midnight
Jazz open stage


Sat, Kids storytime 4pm-4:45, Kids open stage (kiddie carnival) 5pm-7pm
then
8-close
Live Music TBA



Sun, 7pm- 10 pm
Euchre Night - please sign up at the shop. Prizes! All welcome.

Ethiopian Sidamo Korate and Upcoming Events

Hi!!!!

I don't know if I've yet mentioned our wonderful new Ethiopian, a natural processed Ethiopian Sidamo Korate -organic of course. It has a bunch of fruity flavors, mostly berry and some that are hard to identify. But they come through very strongly, accompanying a pleasant sweetness and some chocolate caramel flavor. I've been roasting it both medium and dark, and the dark roasts have really surprised me in how well the flavor comes through. Usually, in a darker roast, the fruitiness will be long gone, but in this bean it is obviously pronounced, leaving a nice rich full bodied cup. Give it a try when you're in... (french press recommended).

Upcoming:

1. Heidi Howe will be giving a special Family Concert Saturday, Sept. 6th, 4pm. She teaches Kids Rock! Music Classes at Louisville School of Rock in Industrial Park. Join us for this free afternoon show...

2. Mon (9/8), screening of "1932: Speak Not of Parties But of Universal Principles" Lyndon Larouche's film about a political journey through the history of the United States.

3. Tuesday (9/9), our Bluegrass Jam continues. 8pm to midnight...the first two weeks have gone really really well, with great turnouts and plenty of good music, so grab an instrument, or just show up to have a beer, coffee, tea, etc and watch...

3. Weds, 9/10...A Special Event with a filmmaker from Durham screening their film at 8:30, followed by a short Q and A, and then their band (also from Durham) plays a set, then our own Julia's band plays from 10:30-close. The film is called "Seeing Through the Fence" and is a grassroots documentary about veganism, animal rights, and human responsibility. Their band is called Beloved Binge and reminds me a little of both the B-52's and the Violent Femmes.

Julia's Band is "Say Darlin' Say" - they are a mix of bluegrass and old-time. All women, playing Banjo, Fiddle, Mando, guitar and lots of harmony vocals. They don't play out often, so don't miss this show!! Best yet, it is all FREE!!!!

4. And a new great band playing friday night...I'll tell more about them shortly! (There name is Break Zero, and they'll be playing BOTH friday and saturday nights!!)...kind of acoustic grunge - hard to categorize, but original music mostly....

G'night

-nimbus

Live music and upcoming events

Stuff coming right up...

Sunday Aug 24th 8pm: Crittenden Free plays "Songs of Protest" Free! Acoustic, with a folkish sound but definite Punk influences....should be a lot of fun!

Monday, Aug 25th: Movie night continues with "The 11th Hour" ....Leonardo DiCaprio's magnficent movie about the environment....7:30 showtime.... FREE!

Tuesday, Aug 26th: Bluegrass Jam/Open mic...bring an instrument or your voice, or just show up to watch. We start at 8pm...This will be a weekly event! Julia hosts this evening, and she'll be performing as well...YAY...

Thurs, Aug 28th: OBAMA acceptance speech party! Watch on a big screen with a bunch of us! We'll start gathering around 7pm...

Cheers,

-Nimbus Couzin

Beer and Wine now at Ray's Monkey House!`

Well, I applied in late April, and it took until Mid august to get the licenses, but we finally are selling beer and wine at Ray's.

Expect to see at least three local beers on tap. Currently we have two from Browning's and one from BBC. Cumberland is supposed to do an espresso stout for us soon. And New Albanian Brewing will be making us one of their first accounts in Louisville (they're waiting for their Kentucky license to come through - any day now).

Here's a preliminary beer/wine list...expect additions soon!

Oh! Happy hour 3-7 weekdays, and all day Sunday. During Happy Hour we sell draft beer for only $2.75 (cheap!), and all bottled beers are $1.00 off. Wine is $1.00 off also. PBR longnecks are always a happy hour price of two bucks.



On Draft
Bell’s Two Hearted Ale (Kalamazoo, MI) $4.00
BBC Amber Ale (Louisville) $4.00
Browning’s Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout (Louisville) $4.25
Browning’s She-Devil (Imperial Pale Ale) $4.25
Stone Arrogant Bastard (San Diego, CA) $4.25
Bottles
Anderson Valley Hop Ottin (CA) $3.50
Avery Karma (Boulder, CO) $3.50
Avery Old Jubilation $3.50
Bell’s Amber Ale (Kalamazoo, MI) $3.50
Bell’s Pale Ale $3.50
Bell’s Porter $3.50
Bell’s Oberon $3.50
Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout $3.50 Boon Frambois ‘95 Marriage Parfait (750ml) (Belgium) $14.00
Dogfish 60 Min. IPA (Delaware) $3.50
Franziskaner Heffe Weiss (Germany) $3.25
Franziskaner Hefe Dark (16.9oz) $4.25
Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale (Cleveland, OH) $3.25
Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold $3.25
Great Lakes Edmund Fitz. Porter $3.25
Great Lakes Holy Moses White Ale $3.25
Guinness Draft Bottle (Ireland) $3.50
Mackeson XXX Stout (England) $3.25
Newcastle Brown Ale (England) $3.50

North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout (Ft. Bragg, CA) $4.25
North Coast Red Seal (Ft. Bragg, CA) $3.50
Pabst Blue Ribbon (Wisconsin) $2.00
Pyramid Apricot (Seattle, WA) $3.25
Pyramid Hefe (Seattle, WA) $3.25
Rogue Dead Guy (Newport, OR) $3.50
Rogue Mocha Porter $3.50
Samual Smith’s Organic $4.25
Samual Smith’s Taddy Porter $4.25
Sheaf Stout (Australia) (25 oz) $5.25
Spaten Optimator (Germany) $3.25
Woodchuck Cider (Pear, Granny Smith, Dark and Dry, or Amber) (Vermont) $3.25 Young’s Double Choc. Stout (16.9 oz) (England) $5.25



wine Menu

Pinot Evil Pinot Grigio and Pinot Evil Pinot noir. These wines are both imported Italy and France respectively. Our two tasty house wines feature monkeys on the label. The Grigio is a simple crisp white with tropical notes. The Noir is equally light and easy to drink. Both of these wines are perfect for the patio or just as an afternoon delight. $5.00
Round Hill Chardonnay, This is from the Rutherford Wine company, a subsidiary of the largest organic grape producer in the USA. Grown throughout California and produced in Napa, this is a fantastic wine for the money $6.00
Paringa Shiraz, From South eastern Australia this wine is big, jammy and easy to drink. Imported by the grateful palate wine company, this is sustainably farmed and truly delicious. $6.00

Stay tuned for more wines coming soon...

Wheelchair ramp is finally done...Yippee

After about a month of on and off construction, we've finally finished our wheelchair ramp on the side of the building. Inspection passed, so it is open to business! So we are now more handicap accessible. (our bathrooms were built to be ADA compliant).

Jeremy did the bulk of the work for this beast, including the framing. Greg and I did a bunch of work also. Thanks guys!

I'll post some before, during, and after pictures here shortly!

Cold Brewed Iced Coffee

Hey all....

I'm behind on writing, but I'll post a few posts and then add some pix ASAP...how about that?

We finally started doing COLD BREWED coffee for our iced coffee! The way it should be done! No more espresso shots over ice for us, which both creates bitterness and melts the ice, thus watering down the final drink.

We're cold brewing using a commercial Filtron. Really simple. We grind the coffee (lots, 4-8 pounds) and add room temp water (3-6 gallons). Then wait. And wait. After 24 hours, we open the spigot, and - thanks to a double filter, out comes nice strong concentrated coffee. Very cool.

The cold brewing reduces the acidity by about 80%. The caffeine still makes it through, so you end up with a nice smooth mellow brew. Yummy. We've been using the Ethiopian Sidamo Korate for this one, and once I tried our new Nicaraguan. They both came out great..... yay! Progress!

Cheers!!

-Nimbus

New Arrival....Rain Maxwell Bolduc Couzin

I'm finally getting around to posting some pictures of our new baby, Rain Maxwell! He was born May 27th (three weeks after his "due date") and weighed in at 8 pounds 9 ounces. They measured 21.5 inches long, but a week and a half later at his first checkup he was 23.5 inches. Big kid! He has been eating well, and is up around 11 pounds already. He and mommy are doing great!

Special thanks to Jessica for her Birthing From Within class, and of course Amy and Juliet, and everyone else who helped us along the way....

-Nimbus


Here are a few pictures:

Hi everyone,