National Coffee Day

I would celebrate like crazy, but EVERY DAY is coffee day at Triad Coffee Shops! We're having a great time keeping up with all the coffee shops we know and discovering new ones almost every day.


BOO! A spooky latte
at Cafe Roche.

So we'll reserve some celebration for the days to come. Keep watching the blogspot for the latest coffee shop news, and join our facebook page, too!

We love the e-mails, but don't be shy . . . you can post your coffee shop news & comments on the blogspot . . . just remember, CoffeeCat likes 'em all, so be nice.

Most Likely to Succeed

Do you have the rainy day blues? Do you need a new outlook on life? Are you feeling down in the dumps about anything at all? Then you must go to Greensborough Coffee on Friday night and see just how fortunate we coffee shop fans are.

A 28-year-old former refugee from Burundi named Ndabarushimama Christopher has seen the worst in human nature -- things we can't imagine and certainly don't want to think about. Yet he is making a name for himself as a talented, cheerful, giving human being. Thanks to Greensboro, this young man and his siblings have escaped the refugee camps and are building successful lives in the U.S.

Christopher will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. at Greensborough. Take the family and a pocketful of tips for this hardworking musician and, of course, your friendly neighborhood baristas!

Kudos to Triad Coffee Shops that give not-so-ordinary folks the chance to share their gifts with the Triad.

This is the week

It's OK to hide until you've had enough
coffee to adjust your attitude.
CoffeeCat understands.

to check out the great weekly events at Triad Coffee Shops! Every day of the week, there's something special planned - see the Events Guide. CoffeeCat won't be trying the French conversation club (it brings back bad memories of French 101, French 102, French 201 . . . uh, you get the idea!). But, I'd love to hear from someone who tries it and enjoys it! I will give you a virtual gold star!

On the other hand, if you feel like being grumpy and not going along with the program, as we coffee drinkers sometimes do, then avoid the crowds and special events, by all means! Sneak into a new coffee shop where no one knows your name, hide behind the newspaper, and drink coffee until you're in a better state of mind. Trust me, it works! In fact, I should be at a coffee shop right now!

Have a great week, coffee shop fans.

Coffee Road Trip: Raleigh

Larry shows tourists the
silos full of green coffee beans
waiting to be roasted &
distributed to coffee shops

Larry's Beans, a Raleigh coffee roaster that distributes freshly roasted beans on the East Coast, opens its doors twice a year for a free tour. What a treat for coffee shop fans! People of all ages - babies, their parents, their grandparents, 20 somethings, and even a couple of teenagers showed up to see where the magic of coffee roasting  happens. Everyone got to sample different roasts and brews (cold and hot), eat yummy gourmet appetizers, and listen to music by Freylach Time, the Klezmer Dance Band.

 The fans also got to see some of Larry's "greenovations" - little things that add up to an earth friendly business. Their delivery bus runs on biodiesel (recycled vegetable oil), the plant hosts a tank of biodiesel that serves Raleigh drivers, and the plant incorporates extensive use of natural sunlight and other energy-saving practices.

 Larry also explained fair trade practices and how the company partners with the farmers year after year to grow the best beans possible. This has helped Larry's develop unique, tasty, and dependable blends of coffee year after year.

The veggie bus delivers coffee
around the Triangle region



To get an invite to the next tour, you need to sign up for Larry's e-mail list. Larry's Beans are used in Triad Coffee Shops, including Washington Perk & Provisions, Tate Street, and Espresso Doctors (Kernersville). Look for the funny cartoon guy drinking coffee (he's on the bus, too).

Be sure to find out which roaster supplies your favorite coffee shop. Many of them offer tours for their fans!