Caffe Vita Coffee Roasting Co.

Greetings from Silverlake

2013-02-22T15:16:00.000-08:00

Those who have lived in L.A. for some time may recall that Caffé Vita takes over a space once occupied by a great gift shop named Uncle Jer's. Not that you would ever know this was once a retail store full of nifty knickknacks, fun toys and wonderful greeting cards: The space has opened up and looks bigger now than it did then, with plenty of laptop-friendly tables on the main floor and in an area upstairs. A La Marzocco espresso machine greets you when you enter, Clever drippers for brewed coffee line the counter and the shop's excellent cold-brew is made using the Japanese-style slow drippers you'll see standing tall behind the bar.

We're open Monday through Friday from 6AM-10PM and Saturday through Sunday from 8AM-9PM at 4459 W Sunset Boulevard. Join us.

Brew With Us March 2nd!

2013-02-15T13:23:00.002-08:00

The next session of Public Brewing School is March 2nd at our Capitol Hill location in Seattle. By popular demand, we've added another session in the afternoon for those who aren’t able to make it in the morning. We’ll taste all of our newest imports through an array of home brewing methods and end each session with a tour of our facility.

Classes will be held from 10AM-12PM and 1PM-3PM. To reserve your free spot contact trainingdept@caffevita.com and specify which session you'd prefer.

TONIGHT: GIVE 2013 Benefit Show

2013-02-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

Join us this evening at Barboza as we celebrate GIVE 2013 and future compilations like it. Jason Dodson, RA Scion, and The Can Can Castaways will be performing with Tilson as MC.

Tickets are $12 and we're selling VIP booths for $150. Booth purchase includes tickets and albums for 6, GIVE scouting badges, and a VIP gift box from our sponsors.

The celebration starts at 8pm. Buy tickets here.

See You in Silverlake

2013-02-09T13:15:00.000-08:00

GIVE 2013 Compilation Out Today

2013-01-24T12:13:00.001-08:00

Vita Records presents GIVE 2013, 27 tracks from leading Northwest artists with 100% of profits donated directly to The Vera Project. GIVE 2013 features songs from The Head and The Heart, of Montreal, The Vaselines, The Maldives, Shabazz Palaces, Lemolo, The Young Evils, J. Pinder, TilsonXOXO, Fruit Bats, and more.

The $10 compilation, which includes rare and exclusive tracks, was produced, curated and funded by Vita Records. GIVE will be available for download at caffevita.com/GIVE2013, as well as at all Caffe Vita locations, Redhook breweries, and Theo Chocolate, with more outlets to be announced later this week. These locations will carry GIVE packages, including download cards for online redemption, perfect for Valentine’s Day gift giving.

A benefit concert featuring Jason Dodson of The Maldives, RA Scion of Common Market, and performances by Rainbow of the Can Can Castaways (with more artists to be announced in the next week) will be held at Barboza on February 13th.

The full list of participating artists includes: The Head and The Heart, of Montreal, The Vaselines, The Maldives, Shabazz Palaces, Lemolo, The Young Evils, J. Pinder, TilsonXOXO, Brent Amaker and the Rodeo, The Physics, Don’t Talk To The Cops!, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, Sweet Pups, Pearl Dragon, Dude York, Telekinesis, OCnotes, TacocaT, Carissa’s Wierd, Dum Dum Girls, Vox Mod, Fruit Bats, SEACATS, Gold Leaves, Seapony, and Beat Connection.

GIVE 2013 is a true collaboration, with Seattle’s best and brightest donating their time, talent, and services. The full list of GIVE 2013 community partners includes: Caffe Vita, The Vera Project, Vita Records, Sub Pop, Polyvinyl Records, Fin Records, The Stranger, Kerri Harrop, Barboza, Girlie Press, Dropcards, Gary Mula and the Columbia City Theater, Steve Turnidge, Redhook, Theo Chocolate, and Dry Soda.

Public Brewing School is January 26th

2013-01-08T15:18:00.001-08:00

The next session of Public Brewing School will be held at our Capitol Hill cupping room on Saturday, January 26th at 1pm. Join us to practice a variety of home brewing methods as we taste all of our origin-specific coffees currently in production. This unique session of PBS will allow each student the opportunity to taste the different regional characteristics inherit from coffees of every major growing region.

If you’d like to reserve a FREE spot in the class, RSVP to trainingdept@caffevita.com. Classes are limited to 20, last two hours, and fill up fast.

Peru La Convención

2013-01-02T09:18:00.001-08:00

At the confluence of the Vilcanota and Yanatile rivers, there live a number of coffee-growing communities. Using organic methods, typica and yellow caturra are cultivated in the rich, clay soils. Thanks to the shade requirements of coffee cultivation, the forested area of this lush landscape has been preserved over generations.

Each cherry was distinct. We discovered jasmine-scented typica flowers and yellow caturra blossoms with melon aromas. After harvest, the cherries were pulped, fermented, washed and then sun-dried on solar driers. In a region prone to rain and high humidity, the drying process is the most critical step.

We sat down to a cupping with the farmers who grew this coffee. Their impressive attention to detail showed through in every cup. At that moment, it became clear that this particular coffee was the right fit for Vita!

Buy yours in our shop.

Introducing Drip Coffee Liqueur

2012-12-21T12:42:00.002-08:00

Our friends at Rain City have released Drip, a spirit that will redefine what you know as coffee liqueur. In the words of Daily Candy, "think Kahlúa, but a million times tastier." Drip begins with Caffe Vita cold brew and is blended with Rain City Vodka and just a touch of pure cane sugar for balance. The result is like an Americano with a kick.

More coffee, less sweet makes for perfect cocktails. Try our take on the classic white russian below.

THE VITA RUSSIAN

2 oz Rain City Vodka
1 oz Rain City Drip
Light cream

Pour vodka and coffee liqueur over ice cubes in an old-fashioned glass. Fill with light cream and serve. For a holiday twist, we recommend swapping the light cream for egg nog and garnishing with grated nutmeg.

To find Drip near you go here.

Holiday Record Postcards Have Arrived!

2012-12-19T11:03:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Christmas, Vita Records presents our latest limited-edition record postcard featuring a holiday track by Brent Amaker and The Rodeo. Best described as country new wave, B.A.R. encourages you to “give a smile, give a hug, give a kiss, give some love” this holiday season.

“A Very Brent Amaker Christmas” is playable on any standard record player and is available for purchase at all Seattle-area Caffe Vita locations.

THE DEAL

For $5, customers will receive the beverage of their choice and a limited-edition record postcard.

HOW TO GROOVE

For best sound, tape corners to any standard record on a turntable. Play at 33 1/3 r.P.M. On manual mode. Pairs well with our 2012 Holiday Blend.

Beanies from Bali

2012-12-17T11:41:00.000-08:00

We've got three new styles of hats to keep you warm through the new year. In a continued commitment to supporting the communities where we source our coffee, our latest line of beanies was knit in Bali by local villagers in collaboration with Spacecraft. Our 2012 Holiday Blend features coffee from nearby Flores, Indonesia.

Represent your favorite coffee in style while supporting fare wages and farming communities. The beanies are available at all of our cafes.

This Weekend: BLAK Designmart

2012-12-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again! Time to celebrate, support, and shop handmade design. The Brite Collective is presenting their 2nd annual holiday designmart in Seattle.

This weekend, Vita's bean room on Capitol Hill will be transformed as 30+ emerging designers, makers and artisans present and sell their works for the holiday season. A curated selection of limited-edition BLAK products will be unveiled this weekend only at designmart.

The pop-up will be open Saturday and Sunday, December 15th and 16th from 11AM-5PM. Stop in Saturday evening for a black-themed reception and meet the designers from 5-8PM.

For more information, check out the Brite Collective's Facebook page. See you there!

Announcing: Limited-Edition Holiday Blend to Benefit CoachArt

2012-12-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

Vita has partnered with The Vera Project to release a limited-edition, hand-screened bag of our 2012 Holiday Blend. 100% of profits go directly to CoachArt, providing free lessons in the arts and athletics for children with chronic illnesses and their siblings. The coffee is now available for purchase in our online shop.

For more than a decade, CoachArt has provided chronically ill children and their families in the greater Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Francisco Bay areas with “permission to play.” Currently, CoachArt works with over 500 volunteer coaches and 90 arts and athletics associations to serve nearly 2,000 students annually.

About the Coffee

Our 2012 Holiday Blend features two unique arrivals from the Southern Hemisphere. A vibrant coffee from the high jungle of La Convencion, Peru is paired with the distinctive island flavors of Flores, Indonesia to produce a richly spiced and deliciously sweet toned cup. Full-bodied, gentle acidity with hints of mulling spice and dark chocolate. A perfect complement to the season!

BUY NOW

December Deals Have Arrived!

2012-12-03T14:50:00.000-08:00

Hey, Seattle University and Seattle Central Community College students, faculty and staff! Your December Stretch Your Dollars deals from Vita, Via Tribunali Neapolitan Pizzeria and Pike Street Fish Fry have arrived. This month, receive 20% off your entire purchase with a valid school-issued ID.

Follow us on Facebook (linked above) for rotating specials throughout the school year and stretch your dollars deliciously!

Public Brewing School is December 8th

2012-11-27T16:06:00.000-08:00

Our next session of Public Brewing School is December 8th! We'll be featuring favorite home brewing methods and all students will go home with a bag of our 2012 Holiday Blend.

For more information and to reserve your free spot, email trainingdept@caffevita.com. Classes are held at our Capitol Hill location and usually run from 10AM-12PM.

Our Silverlake Pop-Up is Open at Rudy's Barbershop!

2012-11-26T15:16:00.002-08:00

Greetings from LA! Today marks the opening of our pop-up shop inside of Rudy's Barbershop Silverlake. We'll be serving up coffee and selling holiday blend now through December 31st. 100% of profits will go directly to CoachArt, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that promotes the art of improving lives by matching volunteer coaches in the arts and athletics with children affected by chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

The pop-up will be open Monday-Saturday from 9AM-4PM and Sunday from 11AM-4PM. We're excited to open our first permanent cafe in Los Angeles right next door to Rudy's Silverlake in January. Until then, stop by for a buzz and support a great organization!

To learn more about CoachArt, go here.

Vita Pops Up in LA to Support CoachArt

2012-11-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

Photo by kmoney

We're excited to announce the opening of our LA pop-up shop on Monday, November 26th inside of Rudy's Barbershop at 4451 West Sunset Boulevard. 100% of profits from all coffee drinks will be donated directly to CoachArt, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that promotes the art of improving lives by matching volunteer coaches in the arts and athletics with children affected by chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

For more than a decade, CoachArt has provided chronically ill children and their families in the greater Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Francisco Bay areas with “permission to play.” Currently, CoachArt works with over 500 volunteer coaches and 90 arts and athletics associations to serve nearly 2,000 students annually.

The pop-up shop will be open Monday-Saturday from 9AM-4PM and Sunday from 11AM-4PM. We'll be featuring French press samples of our 2012 Holiday Blend as well as 12oz bags for purchase.

To learn more about CoachArt, go here.

2012 Holiday Blend

2012-11-12T15:37:00.002-08:00

We're excited to announce the arrival of our 2012 Holiday Blend! This year, Vita's Holiday Blend features two unique coffees from the Southern Hemisphere:

A vibrant organic coffee from the high jungle of La Convencion, Peru is paired with the distinctive island flavors of Flores, Indonesia to produce a richly spiced and deliciously sweet toned cup. Full-bodied, gentle acidity with hints of mulling spice and dark chocolate. A perfect complement to the season!

This year's label has a classic feel, inspired by vintage vinyl. Our Holiday Blend is now available for purchase through our online store and at all of our cafes.

We look forward to celebrating the holidays with you!

Vita in SAVEUR Magazine

2012-11-08T14:23:00.004-08:00

Vita was featured in a round up of Northwest coffee landmarks in SAVEUR Magazine, along with Drew's own story of growing up immersed in Seattle coffee culture in the 80's:

In 1983 my two mothers, Meredith and Elyse, bought an espresso cart, parked it along Alki Beach in West Seattle, and unknowingly positioned themselves among a handful of coffee pioneers in the Northwest. A year later, I came along. I have spent my life surrounded by coffee.

To read the full story, go here.

Coffee For The Kids Starts Today

2012-11-05T11:51:00.001-08:00

Hey, Seattle! Coffee For The Kids starts today! This week, November 5th-9th, 10% of all sales from our Capitol Hill cafe go directly to The Vera Project, empowering youth through art and live music.

While you're here, gaze upon gorgeous show posters from Vera artists and be sure to join us for Capitol Hill's Blitz Art Walk on Thursday, November 8th, for an opening reception.

The Dogs of Gayo

2012-11-02T10:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Dog Day Friday! Our bean buyer Daniel took some time out of his whirlwind trip to Indonesia to pass along these great photos of the pups he's met there. Say hello to the dogs of our Farm Direct Gayo friends.

Vita NYC is Safe and Sound

2012-10-31T10:13:00.001-07:00

A huge thanks to all of you for your well wishes as our team in New York weathered the storm this week. We're currently open and serving hot French press by candlelight on the Lower East Side until the power comes back on.

Notes From the Road: PNG YUS

2012-10-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

The mist rolls into Yawan.

Our green bean buyer, Daniel, is currently traveling in Papua New Guinea. Here are his latest notes from the road:

Flowers were in bloom everywhere. Next year's harvest!

As I prepare for the next leg of my journey through the coffee lands of Asia-Pacific, I have a few moments to share a bit of what I’ve witnessed during my second visit to Papua New Guinea and the YUS Conservation Area.

This project is a collaboration between Caffe Vita and the Woodland Park Zoo’s Tree Kangaroo Conservation Project (TKCP), aimed at improving the livelihoods of the farmers of the YUS Conservation Area through quality development and providing a market for their unique coffee. The Conservation Area is the first ever in Papua New Guinea and it protects 180,000 acres of diverse environment including pristine cloud forest that is the habitat of the endangered Matschie’s tree kangaroo. The landowners who have pledged this area live in villages along the Yopno, Uruwa, and Som watersheds, with coffee representing their only major source of income. Caffe Vita’s purchase of the highest quality from last year’s crop was the beginning of what we hope to be a long and fruitful relationship that will benefit both conservation and community.

Berau shows us a tree he planted in January.

Though it has only been slightly over a year since my last visit to YUS, the farmers have made significant strides toward improving quality and strengthening the coffee community. Coffee gardens have been cleaned and pruned: seeds planted, shade cover improved, and drainage ditches dug. Knowledge and training has spread from village to village, broadening the high standards of picking, fermenting, and drying that we began to implement last year. Many new solar driers have been built and we have refined the designs further to make them more effective.

A frame for a new solar dier with the farmers of Worin.

A new solar drier.

I was able to spend many hours speaking with the farmers of YUS and motivation is high after the purchase from last year is already having tangible effects throughout the area. Funds from the purchase have been invested in new pulping equipment, solar driers, and most significantly in the education and livelihoods of the future generations of YUS.

Future coffee growers of Mungku.

The past two weeks have been challenging yet rewarding and as I continue on my way towards Indonesia I leave with the knowledge that we have made significant progress towards implementing changes and proposing ideas that will continue to improve quality and strengthen the community of coffee growers of YUS.

Save the Date: Coffee For the Kids

2012-10-22T13:17:00.001-07:00

Mark your calendars! Vita's teaming up with The Vera Project for the 2nd annual Coffee For the Kids. For the week of November 5th-9th, we'll be donating 10% of sales from our Capitol Hill cafe to support The Vera Project's mission to provide quality, affordable, concerts and classes to people of all ages.

Join us for Capitol Hill's Blitz Art Walk on Thursday, November 8th, for an opening reception featuring screen-printed show posters by Vera designers.

Public Brewing School October 27th

2012-10-19T08:30:00.000-07:00

Join us for Public Brewing School on Saturday, October 27th with Ross! We'll feature home brewing methods like Chemex, pour over, French press, Bialetti, and siphon.

For more information and to reserve your free spot, email trainingdept@caffevita.com. Classes are held at our Capitol Hill location and usually run from 10AM-12PM.

Notes from the Road: Papua New Guinea

2012-10-11T09:33:00.003-07:00

Creating a stencil for our bags.

Our green bean buyer, Daniel, is currently traveling in Papua New Guinea. Here are his latest notes from the road:

I've been in the port city of Lae, Morobe Province for the past three days hastily preparing the first portion of the second harvest from the YUS Conservation Area for export to the United States. While the logistics of transporting and processing coffee are usually challenging, Papua New Guinea takes the prize for being the most difficult. The extremely rugged terrain and lack of infrastructure has lead to the isolation of many peoples, while contributing to the incredible diversity of the country (over 800 distinct languages), is not the most conducive to purchasing the amazing coffees of this land. Small aircraft remain our most viable option to transport the coffee, but the one aviation company that services the airstrips of YUS has not been very helpful to say the least. Fortunately, just yesterday, the remainder of the coffee from Sapmanga has made it out. We have been running all over town, purchasing jute, marking the bags, milling the coffee and finally delivering to the export warehouse. The vessel is due to embark on its journey to the U.S. later this month.

Milling and bagging the coffee.

Unloading the export to warehouse.

Tomorrow morning I will fly into Sapmanga with Benjamin and Dono and spend the following six days hiking to the villages of Gomdan, Mungku, Boksawin, Worin, Toweth, and Yawan to meet with the farmers.

We will keep you updated on Daniel's travels as he shares photos and stories from this amazing trip.