Bongo Java Supports Local Dairy

TRUCKLOADS of respect for Bongo Java (the following came from a newsletter I receive from Bongo Java):

Coffee Prices. As someone who has for a long time been pushing for higher prices to coffee farmers, I have mixed feelings about the recent big rise in coffee prices. Rising prices means that coffee farmers will be getting paid more -- something I've supported for a long time through our efforts of paying more than the Fair Trade price for coffee. However, with our coffee costs going up as much as 60% for some coffees, this means that for the first time in a long time Bongo Java will be raising its coffee drink and pound prices.

Read more about coffee prices.

Local Dairy. We are darn proud and excited to announce that all the milk we use inside Bongo World will be coming from a local dairy. We are teaming up with Gammon Family Dairy. The premium we're paying for local milk is darn worth it for two big reasons: 1) Quality. Our baristas who have tested the new milk rave about how much better our lattes taste. 2) Local. As a company who has preached "buying local" we feel this change makes us feel better. and 3) Buying from a small-scale dairy matches our goal of buying coffee from small-scale farmers.

The Good Cup

Guest Blogger: Jessica Auville

It’s no secret to anyone who lives here in Nashville that – despite its small town southern feel – Nashville is a constantly expanding city. While most residents love to see the growth of our beloved metropolis, that growth can sometimes lead to the sacrifice of small town treasures.  For instance: a consistent sense of community and the existence of places where the owners remember your name and your face. Luckily places like The Good Cup in the Grassland area of Franklin still manage to provide that refreshing sense of small town community.

A small OPEN sign and a chalkboard featuring an inspiring quote greet you at the lovely wooden framed door just before the scent of coffee and pastries do. If you are lucky – as I was – you have the chance to meet the two owners, Mike and Amanda Taylor, and their sweet daughter Mycah.   And from what I gathered that doesn’t seem to be rarity. Many of the patrons who came in during my visit were greeted by name followed by stories of the daily happenings of life as well as the condition of family members and friends. The sense of home - community - and a meeting place is immediately recognized.

This special place actually had its beginnings in 2003 as a coffee stand in the corner of a candle shop managed by Ann Sale. When the candle shop closed, Sale expanded her stand to take up the entire space. As the counter can attest to - its pattern pounded out by hand with quarters - the shop was a home grown effort fueled by passion for community, coffee and creativity.

Therefore it was only natural that Sale sell her shop to someone equally as impassioned for coffee -Amanda Taylor and her husband Mike. Taylor moved to Nashville for her husband from Colorado and eventually quit her job in order to work at the Good Cup. Her passion for coffee originated in Thailand where she worked to start a coffee shop from the ground up only to leave the day after the grand opening. It had always been her dream to own a coffee shop, which she finally did two years after joining The Good Cup team.  Since then she has intentionally stayed true to the roots of the business - providing great coffee and promoting the community - but her small tweaks have not gone unnoticed or underappreciated. From the “take a book - leave a book” system to the presence every Thursday and Saturday morning of live jazz musicians.

“I just feel like there are so many creative people in the area. I want people to know about them,” said Taylor. A space to actualize those wants is exactly what she has created.  The showcase of local talent starts in the pastry display case; The Good Cup features food from Purecake (cake made from all pure ingredients and sold only in The Good Cup), The Pink Cupcake (bite sized cupcakes), as well as locally made biscotti brought to you by Pam Hayes.  In addition local talent Renee Miller makes scones and Katie Widmaier brings you delicious harvest bars.

But The Good Cup’s focus on local brilliance doesn’t end with delicious treats. Everything from all natural/essential oil soaps made by The Olive Branch to locally made greeting cards from Cardish Charm can be found lining the shelves and walls in the quaint one room coffee shop.  If you’re interested in accessories, check out the hand-bags made from recycled burlap coffee bean bags: environmentally friendly and stylish and created by local artisan Melissa Brown.

And let’s not forget: it wouldn’t be Nashville without music and the arts. If you are looking for new pieces by local artists check out Lydia Hejny ‘s iconic paintings featured on the walls. In addition to the ambiance created by the jazz music featured weekly The Good Cup hosts concerts frequently - sometimes a couple of times a week and routinely each Friday - of local acts with all original music. The Good Cup is truly a triple threat display of local art, food, and music.

So how about those of us not lucky enough to live in the immediate Franklin area; can we expect The Good Cup to grace us with its presence anytime soon? According to Taylor, an expansion probably isn’t in the works yet as she explained the summer time is slow and other extraneous matters saying, “I think I’ll know when the time is right”. Til then I know I’ll be taking the fifteen minute drive that is more than worth it. But don’t take my word for it – try it out yourself!

Here is the website for The Good Cup as well as links and contact information for some of the vendors mentioned above. Enjoy getting your local on!

www.thegoodcup.com

www.CourtureCoffeeBags.com

www.thepinkcupcake.net

Jessica Auville is an undergraduate student at Belmont University and a native to the Nashville area.  Fueled by a combination of strong coffee, good company, and never being too busy to window shop, she has an innate appreciation for all of the incredibly diverse local businesses. Although plans for relocation due to school may be in the works she’s thrilled to be a part of the TNBuyLocal team helping the Nashville community gain easy access to the richness of the culture around them.

Free WiFi

Belmont/Vanderbilt

Bongo Java

Cafe Coco

Fido

Grins Cafe

Sportsman’s Grille

The Dog of Nashville

Brentwood

Connection Cafe

The Perch

Downtown Nashville

Cocina Mexican Grill

Copper Kettle Sobro

Crema

Fattoush Cafe

East Nashville

Allium

Bongo Java East

Sip Cafe

Sky Blue Coffee and Bistro

The Ivy Sandwich Shop

The Wild Cow

Franklin

9 Fruits Smoothies

Bunganut Pig

Crag at Cool Springs

Franklin Bistro

Maxximo Jo’s

Merridee's Breadbasket

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant

The Factory

Green Hills

Copper Kettle Cafe

Crows Nest Restaurant

Provence Breads & Cafe

Hendersonville

Barefoot Charlies

Nana Rosa

The Neighborhood Knit Shop

Wired Coffee Company

Melrose

12 South Taproom

FiddleCakes

The Frothy Monkey

The Melrose Neighborhood Pub

The Smiling Elephant

Fiddlecakes

Fiddlecakes is a sweet little cafe on 8th Avenue South in Nashville that carries a wide variety of vegan and gluten-free goodies. Soon, they'll be a coffee bar too! They've got seating inside and out, free WIFI, and lots of gifts and party supplies to boot! Stop in and say hello!

Roast Inc: A Trip Around the World, All in One Cup

A little about our coffee:  what you will experience is something very special.  The beans are either from a single estate, or from a cooperative of farmers.  Coffee, like good wine, varies from year to year.  This year, a bean from a particular co-op may be excellent, but next year, not so much.  We only serve the very best, and like wine, some beans are limited and only available for a few months a year.  The great thing is that we're always bringing in new and exciting beans, providing you with the best coffees from around the globe.  Africa, Indonesia, South and Central America are all as close as your French Press, or Drip Pot.

I personally cup every bean that I roast before I send it to you.  I develop the roast profile for it, and each bean has a different one to bring out every nuance that is hiding in its hard green shell.  We are very proud to roast the top coffees produced in the world including Cup of Excellence coffees.  Cup of excellence are chosen over a five day jury selection, and the winner goes to auction.  This is very prestigious for the growers, as it can bring a premium for their coffees for years to come.  So not only can you get the best coffee in the world, but you get it roasted fresh, and delivered to your house.

As with all agricultural produce, coffee spoils.  We only deliver fresh roasted coffee.  Our beans are always delivered within 5 days of roasting to ensure you always get the freshest coffee at your door.  Contrary to popular belief, coffee doesn’t keep -- so enjoy your coffee now, and come back next week for a fresh roast.  You wouldn’t keep milk around for 2 weeks, and neither should you keep old coffee.  As my grandmother would say, “drink up, butter cup!”

You have a couple of options for getting your fresh roast delivered:

• Order anytime from RoastInc.com


• Sign up for weekly shipments (delivery for Nashville residents)

Once a week, you'll get a bag of our freshest and finest coffee.  If you are on vacation, no worries!  Just let us know, and we’ll resume delivery the following week

Returning to the Country of Origin

Great Coffee is all we do.  Simply we provide the very best of what is grown, put the perfect roast to it and provide it to you at the perfect time.  We love the coffee and the culture that grow these coffee’s.  In fact we love them so much we give back directly to each of the countries that we buy coffee from.  Malawi Roast, funds are going directly back into Malawi, Vietnam Roast, right back at ya.  We send a minimum of 25% of our profits back out for charitable causes, and directly into hands in the country.  So as you enjoy your craft roasted coffee, you can feel good that you are benefiting someone in need.