On balance, it was a good Memorial Weekend. While Saturday was cool and drizzling a little rain, Sunday and Monday were great, and lots of folks stuck around well into Monday afternoon to enjoy it. We’re pretty sure an average Memorial Weekend is 55° and rainy, so this one was a bit above average. Meanwhile, I’m fighting to get the garden and patio into summer shape, but like everyone else around here, I’m still behind. As of last night the pond is running, but I did not spy any frogs.

Today is chilly after some cold fronts moved through, but Tuesday was 97° and we had the same hot weather that the rest of the country is getting. A few people were heard to complain about the heat, and they have been dealt with. We have been waiting for the warm weather, and despite skipping Spring, it looks like we have jumped into summer with both feet. Remember last month’s contest? David S. correctly predicted that May 22^nd would be the first day to break 80°, and he won the online gift certificate.

Reservations are up for the summer, and coming in sooner, so if you have been dawdling on booking your accommodations, it’s time to wrap that up. There were stories last summer of folks calling up in late July, expecting to be on a lake, and furthermore asking for deals. Didn’t happen last summer, and it won’t happen this summer.

I was given some bad information last month. MacBeth gift store has actually merged with and moved into Cottage Collections (next to the Athletic Club). Then, one of our favorite artists Greg Sobran has moved in next door with Thyme Out. Our friends from Sleeping Bear Realty now have an office just west of Ruth Conklin.

Our BBQ for Sue was a great success, and I thank those of you who attended, and those who were so kind as to send a check. We made a big difference in Sue & Patrick’s life!

Time to get back out and work in the yard. See you all for the Fourth!

Since I was on vacation the first of the month, this newsletter is a little later than usual. Or, I could blame that March snowstorm I predicted last newsletter. Anyway, the snow has finally left, and this weekend’s sleet has been downgraded to rain. I’d prefer sunshine so I could rake the leaves up. Moose and I will probably hunt for leeks when it’s not sprinkling, and the moisture will keep wildfires at bay until things green up in the next few weeks. Glen Lake looks lovely!

There is lots of activity in the Glen Arbor area as businesses gear up for the summer. Many changes, and some new additions, and I’ll give you the run-down in May. John and I have a few things planned for the cafe, but nothing too outrageous.

Thanks to those of you who gave website suggestions. I’m certainly open to any more thoughts about changes or improvements we can make.

Ten years ago many cafe customers clamored for paper cups over the foam cups, and purchased them 7:1 that summer. So, we raised the price (paper costs double) and switched. In ten years not one person has asked “where can I recycle my paper cup?” What we’ve learned is that polystyrene cups are less expensive to produce and transport, have lower energy requirements, and produce fewer greenhouse gasses than the paper cups. They don’t require an insulating sleeve. And they both take the same plastic lid (made of polystyrene). And now Dart Container has an active foam cup recycling program (they make picnic tables and benches out of them). So here’s the question: should we switch back to foam?

Last month I told you about the surge in the price of green coffee, and it continues to rise. In May we’re going to raise the retail price of beans (wholesale has already gone up), and organics are going to be much higher, on a par with decaffeinated coffees. They’ve always been a little higher, and something we could absorb, but not any longer. So, here’s your warning and chance to stock up. As always, the five-pound bulk bag is discounted 10%, and ten or more pounds of coffee qualifies for free shipping. We’re simply passing on the raw cost of the beans and associated processing and transportation. We’ve all been to the gas station and grocery store, so I know this isn’t a big surprise to anyone, but at least you can plan ahead for a month or two and take the sting out of it. May is when we break into our new coffee contracts (which are much higher than last year’s). Naturally, if the price drops, we’ll follow suit, but both demand and inflation are taking their toll on the open market.

Oh, and if you are in the grocery store, those 12 ounce bags of Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts are now 11 ounces (they were 12). Leelanau Coffee will remain 12 ounces (or 8 ounces, depending upon the location) on the store shelves, and just as you asked, we’ll continue to send you full pounds and half pounds of coffee

Finally, I was able to get the anemometer working again on the weather station (the wet and snow kept me off the roof), and you can follow us at Weather Underground, or on our website.

Happy Tax Day!

Greetings, Coffee Lover!

Last month I blathered on about the lovely snow. Surely most of you are cursing it now. I think I heard that the only State not to have snow was Florida. We continue to have a great winter up here, but did dodge that blizzard that hit the Midwest last week.  Some beautiful fluff is falling at the moment.

Now, even though the blizzard missed us, we were not unaffected. Green beans were supposed to arrive on both Tuesday and Wednesday last week. I should have taken a photo of the Bean Rack on Thursday morning: it was bare. So, bits and pieces of orders were done, and over the weekend and today we’ve just about caught up. “Just in time” delivery works well, except during country-wide blizzards. Meanwhile, FedEx actually ceased pickups for a couple days, because they couldn’t move the packages. So, if you are missing yours, hang on for a couple more days and it should magically appear.

February in Northern Michigan is great because not only do we have snow and lots of weekend visitors, but the sky is often sunny and blue. We also look forward to the Chili Cookoff, noon-3 on Saturday, February 19th, with lots of outdoor revelry in the snow.

Valentine’s Day is this month, and many of you give your sweetheart the gift of coffee. I will make Coffee Bark for the next week if you’d like to put that in a gift, so you’ll find that online in the Specialty Foods section. You’ll also note that I turned on Pancake Mania if you wish to build that into a custom gift. Otherwise, all of our usual gifts are available, and coffee is still fat-free and calorie-free, meaning you can uphold those weight-loss resolutions after the weekend’s Super Bowl food festivals.

The contest last month was to guess the average cost of sending a gift in November and December. That was kind of a trick because it is higher during the Holidays as more larger shipments go out, and more gifts are sent farther afield. The correct answer was $7.50357, or $7.50 for short, and the top five guesses were within 35¢ of that figure. Congratulations to Ellie, Janet, Fran, Larry, and Ginny! I sent you emails with your award.

Of course most of you will remember that our old flat-rate shipping price two years ago was also $7.50. The average over the summer was $6.90, meaning that most of you continue to save, two years into the switch to actual cost shipping. So, we think that is a success, and helps you order Leelanau Coffee and yet control costs. The Post Office says they have a new even better option for the Midwest, and we’re going to see if FedEx’s Smart Post is up to snuff now. So stay tuned as we try and deliver for you, from the roaster to your mailbox.

The Groundhog said that Spring is just around the corner, and sure enough pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training next Sunday, while March Madness is 33 days away (Selection Sunday). Speaking of basketball, didn’t Michigan topple State? Brady Hoke’s awesome presence is already being felt!

See you one of these weekends!

Greetings, Coffee Lover!

December First, and as if on-cue, fluffy snow is falling outside my window, and it is settling in the garden at our neighbor Thyme Out. And, it’s sticking to the sidewalks, parking lot, my car (the brush is home in the garage—fail!), so on my luncheon jaunt to Riverfront Deli I’ll have to watch my step.

It’s the holiday season, and yes, Leelanau Coffee Roasting is eager to help you with your gift giving. From one or two for friends and family, to large orders for a corporation, we’re always here for you. The catalog pre-sale is over, and Cyber Monday has passed, but our own tradition of Green Saturday is coming up on December 4th. Why green? Because you’ll save 10% on your internet orders (sorry, no phone, fax, or mail orders) when you type the coupon code green at checkout. Buy some more presents for your loved ones, or treat yourself. You can choose to have them shipped later, and many can be upgraded with our Gift Crate or Holiday Box.

The Red, White, & Blue continues to be a favorite gift box, with two pounds of coffee of your choice, one pound of our organic pancake mix, 8 ounces of local maple syrup, and 8 ounces of Michigan dried blueberries. And we’ve seen a surge in gift orders for Mud of the Month (we send a different coffee to your recipient each month, and bill you as we go). If you did not receive a catalog in the mail, you may always download it here. And, everything is on the website. Oh, and if you wanted a coffee mug, hurry: the last shipment is in, and moving fast. I may have to take them offline this weekend.

The van miles contest was a huge success, and we actually chose three winners. They received a separate email, and I found that it proved Swarm Intelligence.

Yes, we all love the summertime here in Glen Arbor. And fall’s color tour is also grand. But for many of us, the Holidays are an equally enjoyable time of year, sharing meals and good times with friends, decorating the Christmas tree, garden shrubs, my station wagon…and looking forward to quiet cross country treks in the woods with Moose (my dog; we don’t have Meese up north).

Have a wonderful holiday season, and call on us if we can be of help. We have lots of funny-looking elves here in the office.

Greetings, Coffee Lover!

October was a delightful month, with very little rain, a lot of sunshine, and some pleasant temperatures. The bicyclists were particularly pleased. And now we’re in November, and looking ahead to that 50/50 prospect of snow for Thanksgiving. It is likely time to hang the icicle lights before the sleet flies.

November is also when we mail out our Holiday Catalog, so those of you on the mailing list should watch for that in a week or two. However, if you would like to download it to your computer, here’s the link   Coffee makes a great gift, and the Mud of the Month is a terrific gift to send year ’round.

Early Bird Gift Orders (phone, mail, or online) receive a 10% discount when placed before November 21st.  If you would like multiple gifts to be sent to you, just make one order.  If you’d like us to deliver them to your recipient, make out individual orders.  Either way, use the coupon code “GIFT2010” (without the quotes) to secure your Early Bird 10% discount, select your desired delivery date, and in the comments area you can tell us your card greeting.  Of course, you may also phone us at 800/424-5282 where one of our elves will gleefully assist you!

Internet security is an important topic, and something I’m asked about regularly. How safe are your online transactions with coffeeguys.com? Very safe. Your credit card information goes from your computer to the bank, gets charged, and then the number vanishes. We never see it, and it is not saved anywhere, providing the highest level of security available. Leelanau Coffee Roasting values your privacy and security, and this is just one way we protect you.

Do you have any coffee pots, airpots, or thermoses with built up coffee stains? Want to know how the professionals clean that? It’s easy. Fill the container with HOT water, as hot as you can muster (if a coffee pot, just brew some water). Add two tablespoons of Cascade powder (for a coffee pot or airpot) and let soak for half an hour. Use a bottle brush to lightly whisk the container and you should see the coffee stain vanish. This also works on percolators.

And on the subject of percolators, if you are going to brew coffee for Thanksgiving in that lovely 30-cup avocado green West Bend percolator, remember that ½ pound is the perfect amount of coffee. We can even expertly grind it for your percolator.

It’s been a while since we have had a contest, so here’s a new one for you. Guess how many miles are on our Leelanau Coffee delivery van, and the closest answer wins a $25 online gift certificate. The van was purchased new on August 1st, 2005, and I recorded the miles on Monday morning, November 1st. You have until the 15th to enter your guess here.

Have a wonderful November, and let us help you with your holiday giving and entertaining.