It’s been pretty hot here at our roastery in Columbia, MD. Last week we had temperatures in the 100′s! Whether or not you drink your coffee hot or iced, you definetly want to drink something to help you stay hydrated in all of this summer heat. We have several new flavored coffees to tell you about, some of which are perfect for summer! And let’s face it, you’re probably going to need the caffeine for all of those summer road trips, barbeques, and driving trips to drop the kids off at summer camp. For those of you who can’t have the caffeine but just love the taste of good coffee, luckily nearly all of these new flavors are also available in decaf:

Raspberry Cream:  Our raspberry cream flavored coffee offers the ultimate tribute to summer with a fruity, fresh-picked taste. The flavor of ripe, succulent raspberrries mingles with a smooth creaminess for a delicious treat year round!

Hawaiian Hazelnut:  A tropical twist on the classic hazelnut coffee. The flavor of roasted hazelnuts combined with a touch of coconut. The taste will make you feel like you’re in the islands!

Caramel Crunch:  Smooth and nutty caramel nut flavored coffee combined with a touch of coconut cream

Heavenly Delight:  Delight your taste buds with this triple crown of flavor. Decadent chocolate mingles with creamy caramel and sweet vanilla. Truly heavenly!

Morning Buzz:  Need that extra boost of energy in the morning? Morning Buzz is loaded with the flavor of roasted hazelnuts, with a bit of added caffeine to help jump start your day. This item is not available in decaf.

These items are now available for purchase on our website under the “Flavored” coffee menu. Enjoy!

This week at Orinoco we will be giving away a free pound of coffee to one of our loyal Facebook fans. Not a fan yet? Don’t worry- there’s still time! In order to be entered into the giveaway, you must do the following:

1. Follow this link to go to Orinoco’s facebook page and “Like” us.

http://tinyurl.com/3kuh3k9

2. Partipiate in our summertime drink poll on our Facebook page. Tell us what summertime coffeehouse drink you love and you will be entered to win a free pound of coffee!

The winner will be randomly picked on Friday afternoon!

Thanks for being a fan, we appreciate your support!

http://www.cafeorinoco.com/?page_id=166&category=4&product_id=264

This just in at Orinoco! Panamanian Boquette is a strictly high grown bean, which means that it is grown about 4,500 feet above sea level, resulting in a harder and sweeter bean. We like how this coffee is farmed and processed without the use of child labor! Get yours today by following the link above.

The people have spoken, and the following coffees have been the most popular flavors over the last few months:

• Southern Toasted Pecan (Flavored Coffee)
• Colombian Supremo
• Tanzanian Peaberry
• Espresso Blend

If you’ve tried something on this list already and liked it, we strongly suggest you check out the others!

Have a favorite, but it’s not on this list? Leave a comment and tell us what your favorite Orinoco coffee is!

Order your Irish Cream flavored coffee today and you will be feeling lucky in no time!

And for a limited time only, get a free Harney and Sons Premium Irish Breakfast Tea (valued at $5.50) when you purchase two or more 1lb bags of our Irish Cream flavored coffee (regular or decaf). The box includes 20 teabags and will be automatically added to your qualifying order. DO NOT add the tea item to your online shopping cart, or you will be charged for it. The item will be added to qualifying orders internally at no charge. Please note that there is a limited supply of promotional items and they will be handed out on a first come, first serve basis.

Offer expires 3/12/2011 or while supplies last!

Everyone has been watching the markets recently to see where the economy is going. While some think things are slowly getting better, others look at signs such as continuously high unemployment rates and cost increases to gauge our nation’s progress.

Unfortunately for those in the coffee business, green coffee prices are at an all time high. In addition, other input costs have been steadily increasing over time. Many companies, including J.M. Smucker who produces Folgers and Dunkin Donuts brand coffee, have stated that they have no choice but to pass on their cost increases to the consumer.  

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-15/earnings-preview-j-m-smucker-co-.html

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jm-smucker-raises-coffee-prices-by-9-2010-08-03

Coffee prices already have a history of volatility, due to crop conditions, currency exchange rates, and speculation in the market. Further increases in ingredients have led many coffee companies to increase prices which ultimately affects you, the consumer. Considering all this, what impact do you think this will have on your morning coffee ritual, if any?

Valentine’s day is just around the corner. Do you have a gift for your someone special? Forget about chocolate and flowers, how about trying something new this Valentine’s day… get them the gift of coffee!

Here are some mouthwatering suggestions to keep your Valentine happy this year:

Flavored Coffees:

Chocolate Raspberry Torte: Velvety smooth milk chocolate as seen in the finest gourmet shops. Delicious, yummy, red raspberry notes with a fresh, hand picked appeal.

Chocolate Covered Cherry: A classic combination that will be sure to keep your mouth happy. The perfect blend of creamy chocolate and the taste of red ripe cherries. Perfect for your “someone special”.

Chocolate Truffles: A heart-filled candy favorite, this chocolate truffle flavored coffee is reminiscent of dark chocolate dusted with the finest European cocoa powder. A decadent treat!

Chocolate Caramel Truffle: The perfect melody of rich chocolate and creamy caramel flavor. A delicious dessert coffee.

You can find all of the above mentioned coffees in the flavored coffee tab, or just type them in the search bar! In addition, be sure not to forget about our very own Valentine’s Blend, a non-flavored coffee. Extremely smooth and with very low acidity, you and your Valentine will fall in love with this delightful blend of Sumatran, Colombian, and Indian Monsoon Malabar coffees.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

November is already here, and although we can’t believe it, December is right around the corner. Take a word of advice from us, get your holiday shopping done early! As much as everyone loves holiday cheer, decorated shop windows and holiday deals, we’re pretty sure that no one likes sitting in traffic in the mall parking lot for hours and fighting through the crowds. Our holiday coffees come in designer bags, and make great and easy gifts. What makes it even better is that you can order them right here online and have them delivered to your door. Now you can get your holiday shopping done without ever having to leave the house! They taste and smell so good, you might just want to get a couple extra for yourself!

Chocolate Covered Candy Cane

Nutcracker Suite

Midnight Sleigh Ride

Old Man Winter

Orinoco proudly supports the Fair Trade movement with a great selection of Organic/Fair Trade coffees and teas. We work with Transfair USA, a non-profit third party certifier of Fair Trade products, to guarantee that the Fair Trade products that we purchase and sell are produced and traded in a way that is economically, socially, and environmentally responsible. Buying Fair Trade products allows you to support a movement that promotes the well being of the families and communities that produce the products, while also ensuring that farmers have the resources available to them to work towards sustainable practices that protect our planet Earth. Fair Trade month is a time to celebrate the movement and its impact on farmers and producers around the world. If you have not yet tried Organic/Fair Trade coffee, we highly suggest that you do! You can find Fair Trade coffee on our website, and browse the Numi tea section for some great organic and fair trade teas. Every Fair Trade purchase makes a difference!

For more information about the impact of the Fair Trade movement, check out www.transfairusa.org

Fall has arrived!  We have some great new items for the season that we wanted to share with you.    Our Autumn Brew coffee is a smooth and creamy pumpkin flavor loaded with oven-fresh flakey pie crust flavor and warm aromatic spices.  This coffee comes equipped with a great designer label, which you will see to your left, and is a great idea for any gift for the fall season.  Going to a dinner party?  Grab a bag for the host and you’ll surely be the talk of the party for bringing the best coffee!

As  the season starts to cool down a bit be sure to try our Witches’ Brew.  This coffee has subtle maple brown sugar sweet notes, sprinkled with warm, freshly shelled walnuts.  This also comes with the designer label that you see to the left.  Both labels were created by a local artist that attended The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). 

In addition to these great fall classics be sure to check out wonderful teas from Numi and Harney & Sons.  There are many great flavors that are sure to put you in the mood for Fall!