In the previous news post I mentioned that one of our business constants is sampling green coffee beans before purchase so I wanted to give you a small glimpse at our sampling process.

We taste and choose all of our samples as a group. Having multiple palates and voices helps ensure we’re picking the highest quality coffees to fit our flavor profiles (of course multiple voices can sometime make the decisions harder!). You may have heard us say it before; we don’t want to sell you something we wouldn’t drink ourselves!

We receive small samples of coffees from our broker to roast and taste. Sometimes it’s a group of samples from one country of origin so that we may compare and choose which one to buy. Other times we’ll get samples for coffees we have already booked and the sample is for our approval before final purchase decision. The size of the samples (around 250 grams max) generally only gives one or two roasts so we have to be meticulous. Samples are roasted on our sample roaster, a Quest M3, the day before we are going to taste.

While we don’t sample using the exact Specialty Coffee Association process, we follow our own protocol. The samples are prepared identically; same water, same weight, same brew process. Samples are tasted blind, usually only the roaster knows what/which, and served in identical wide mouth ceramic cups. We taste together but instead of talking as we go we write our notes/thoughts and discuss after everyone is finished. Each person gives their notes on aroma,taste and body for all the samples. Then we consider which sample fits our profiles, our customers tastes, our blends and our personal tastes. Once we’ve decided what to buy or approve then we consider how much to purchase for the season (just like food crops coffee crops are seasonal). So there you have the basics of how we pick the coffees we carry.

Our newest coffees are listed below, click on any of the links to read more:

• Guatemala Huehuetenango Rio Azul The Huehuetenango region always seems to bring great coffees to the table
• Ethiopia Guji 1 Natural Uraga This Guji from Uraga is a good one to try if you are usually a Harrar drinker, Coffee of the Month for October!
• Ethiopia Hambela 1 Natural Yirgacheffe is gone for now but this lovely Hambela is just delicious. Also Certified Organic
• Mexico Finca La Laja Honey A great limited offer with the expected chocolate notes and creamy body but also some fine brightness from the “Honey” processing
• Mexico Oaxaca Pluma San Agustin Loxicha Another great Mexican from Oaxaca
• Kenya Nyeri Rugi Mihuti An excellent representation of the Kenyan profile with good focus
• Yemen Mocca Hawari As unique as ever and sourced from a female owned & operated business which is very seldom seen in Yemen

Some reminders about our continued new operations;

We miss talking to you at the counter but the store interior will remain closed for the foreseeable future — We know you’re missing our to-go cups of coffee but we just can’t fit that service into our precautions at this time — Our website has been updated to include merchandise so even though you can’t come in you can still see and order coffee & tea accessories. We’re also happy to show you anything at the door — About ordering; We are open our regular business hours and orders can almost always be ready same day. We can take your order through the website, over the phone or at the shop door. You can have your order shipped, you can pick up at the door or you can order through Grub South for delivery. We are unable to provide curbside service — We greatly appreciate you wearing a mask while you interact with us at the door

As always, we are so grateful for your continued support and we hope you all continue to stay well!

Well by this point it’s just hard to believe it’s September already. Saying this year has been odd and trying is quite an understatement for all of us. Here at the store, we had to rethink a lot of what we do and how we do it, affecting not only us but our customers as well.

Through all of this there were a couple of things that didn’t change; Our customers continued support and the need to taste and buy green coffee. Since those are two of the most important keys to making our business run, we felt quite fortunate to continue to have both!

We’ve tasted several samples throughout the last few months. Below is a list of the newest arrivals. Click on any of the links to read more:

• Guatemala Huehuetenango Rio Azul The Huehuetenango region always seems to bring great coffees to the table
• Ethiopia Guji 1 Natural Uraga This Guji from Uraga is a good one to try if you are usually a Harrar drinker
• Ethiopia Hambela 1 Natural Yirgacheffe is gone for now but this lovely Hambela is just delicious. Also Certified Organic
• Mexico Oaxaca Pluma San Agustin Loxicha Another great Mexican from Oaxaca
• Kenya Nyeri Rugi Mihuti An excellent representation of the Kenyan profile with good focus
• Yemen Mocca Hawari As unique as ever and sourced from a female owned & operated business which is very seldom seen in Yemen

In addition to some wonderful new coffees, we also have a couple of new teas. These are limited offerings:

• Purple Bamboo Black A newer tea created from an existing cultivar in Yunnan Province, delightful body and balance of flavors
• Fragrant Fruit Mountain Oolong Lovely and delicate oolong with low tannins, also from a fairly new cultivar

Some reminders about our continued new operations;

We miss talking to you at the counter but the store interior will remain closed for the foreseeable future — We know you’re missing our to-go cups of coffee but we just can’t fit that service into our precautions at this time — Our website has been updated to include merchandise so even though you can’t come in you can still see and order coffee & tea accessories. We’re also happy to show you anything at the door — About ordering; We are open our regular business hours and orders can almost always be ready same day. We can take your order through the website, over the phone or at the shop door. You can have your order shipped, you can pick up at the door or you can order through Grub South for delivery. We are unable to provide curbside service.

As always, we are so grateful for your continued support and we hope you all continue to stay well!

Now that we are back to offering the option of store pick up, we wanted to go over our policies so you know what to expect.

The store interior will remain closed to the public for the foreseeable future. With the size of our space we are not able to accommodate social distancing and can not provide a proper level of safety to our customers or ourselves. To-go coffee cups are still discontinued at this time but we will provide updates as we evaluate our plans for that service.

We can take your order through the website or over the phone. While we will take walk up orders at the door, we may not be able to fill your order on the spot, you may have to return later or make alternate selections. We attempt to prepare pick up and shipping orders same day but this is not guaranteed right now. We suggest ordering ahead rather than just coming to the store.

*If you come to the store: You will not be able to come inside – There will be menus but you will not be able to smell anything or examine any products – We recommend wearing a mask anytime you are out in public – Expect us to be using extra precautions when we interact with you – Please be aware of markings outside the door to help with social distancing*

*If you have any symptoms of illness, have tested positive for COVID-19 or have interacted with someone that has tested positive, please do not come to the store, place an order online or via phone for shipping instead*

For Pick Up Orders:

We are unable to provide curbside service for pick up orders.

Orders placed through the website: receive an email confirmation when order is placed — then receive another confirmation when order is ready for pick up

For call in orders: we’ll take your order — then call you back when it is available for pick up. If you don’t reach us and leave a message with an order, wait for confirmation that order is ready before coming to the store

If you place an order at the door: we may not be able to fill it as you wait — you may have to come back later or make alternate selections.

Between a high order volume, our small staff size and extra safety precautions (including not wanting too many customers waiting around outside the store), it can take us a bit longer to get an order together. Again we highly suggest placing an order ahead of time and waiting for confirmation that it is available for pick up.

For Shipping Orders:

We continue to offer the option of having your coffee shipped, whether you are out of state or at a local address. We especially recommend this for any customers that have any type of illness. Orders can be placed through the website or via phone. Shipping options are USPS or UPS, if you don’t have a preference we choose the lower price for you. *Please note that we have no control over how long a package takes after it has left our store. Our shipping partners are working extra hard right now at a time when they are understaffed so it’s not out of the ordinary for deliveries to take a little longer than we all might be used to.*

We appreciate your understanding of these policies as we continue to do our best to protect our patrons and ourselves in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Any updates or changes will be posted to our website and social media pages.

Hello Kaffeeklatsch Patrons, we’ve missed you!

With the lifting of Gov. Kay Ivey’s Stay At Home Order and the switch to the Safer At Home Order, we know you are all wondering when you can refill your coffee jars. The Kaffeeklatsch will be getting back to filling orders on Tuesday 05/05/2020 with a slow start and some limited availability.

From Tuesday 05/05/2020 through Saturday 05/09/2020 we will be roasting to refill our stock and fill our Monthly Mail Orders. During this week orders will be shipping only, no pick-up, and must be placed through our website. No call-in or walk-up ordering will be available. As stock is refilled we may not have all varieties and blends available. This will be reflected on the website so you can order from what is available only. Please note that orders might not be filled same day.

From Tuesday 05/12/2020 through Saturday 05/16/2020 we will continue to fill orders for shipping only, no pick-up. Orders can be placed through our website and we will begin taking phone orders, but no walk-up orders. Our coffee stock will be replenished at this time so all varieties, blends and flavors should be available on the website. Please note that orders might not be filled same day.

On Tuesday 05/19/2020 no contact pick-up and walk-up ordering will be available. The store interior will remain closed to patrons. As the date approaches, watch for updates regarding these procedures on the website and social media.

We hope you have all been doing as well as possible during the last month and that you and your loved ones continue to stay healthy during this pandemic. We can’t thank you enough for your continued patronage and understanding of our policies! – The Kaffeeklatsch Crew

We have been so thankful for all of our customers continued support during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of today Gov. Kay Ivey has issued a shelter in place order for the state of Alabama. For the safety of ourselves, our customers, our community and the country as a whole we feel that closing the store is the best option at this time. Health and safety are top priority for everyone now and we can only beat this by working together to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Please know that this is only for the time being and that we can’t wait to be back to work and getting our coffee to you as soon as is safe. Again we thank you all so much for your support during this time and throughout the years. We pass on all our love and care to you and hope that you may stay safe and healthy during these difficult times – The Kaffeeklatsch Crew, Grant and Kathryn, Joanna, Katie, Rita and Ross

*Orders for shipping and pick up that are received through the website by midnight on 04/03/2020 will be honored*

*Monthly Mail Order Customers orders will be shipped on 04/04/2020*

We have been blown away by our customers loyalty and need for coffee! We are so thankful for all the love and support and so pleased that we can provide a product that gives some comfort and normalcy during these uncertain times.

Between our workload and our desire to protect everyone we do need to make some more changes to our operations. These changes will go in to effect starting Tuesday 03/24/2020.

At this time the store will no longer be open to in-store shopping or payment.

Orders can be placed on our website, www.kaffeeklatsch.com, or by phone, (256) 539-1636. Orders can also be placed through Grub South in Huntsville.

Shipping Orders

Shipping orders will continue as usual as long as there are no disruptions to USPS or UPS services. Orders may take up to 24 hours to be shipped. You will receive an email confirmation once your order has shipped.

Delivery Options:

• Orders may be placed through Grub South. They are able to provide no contact delivery, follow instructions on their website for this service.
• Our staff is able to deliver to the 35801 zip code. We may consider an address outside of 35801 if you are still in close range to the store. Ask when you call or order online and we will check your address. Your delivery will be no contact. If you are ordering through the website please note your request for delivery in the ‘order notes’ area at checkout.

No Contact Pick Up

We are still offering order pick up at the store but will have a new process. Orders must be paid ahead. Once your order is complete we will call to let you know and give you further instructions about pick up. Please do not come to the store if you have not heard from us.

At this time we will continue to operate within our normal store days/hours. We are working very hard to get orders processed same day but we just can not guarantee it at this time. Please understand it may take up to 24 hours and that we will contact you via email confirmation or phone call as soon as your order is ready for shipping, delivery or pick up.

We will continue to serve you as long as we can. Due to the uncertainty of what may happen, our shopping options may change at short notice. We will post updates on our website and social media. We offer all our hopes that everyone can stay as healthy as possible and we thank you so much for your continued support.

– The Kaffeeklatsch Crew – Grant and Kathryn, Joanna, Katie, Rita and Ross

For 44 years our commitment to quality, consistency and service have been driving factors of our business. Most important to our continued ability to operate, though, is our customers. Without you we wouldn’t be here today. Considering the current world situation regarding COVID-19, to protect you the customer and our staff, family and friends we have made some changes to how we are going to operate. We will update any further changes as they happen. We offer our sincerest hopes that we can all weather these tough times as best as possible.

In Store Policies:

• We are following rigorous cleaning/disinfecting procedures for all areas, especially areas with more chance for multiple person contact.
• To-go coffee cup service will be discontinued until further notice.
• No public restrooms will be available until further notice.
• We request that anyone who has any signs or symptoms of any illness or anyone who may be immunocompromised please refrain from coming to the store.
• In order to keep a minimum number of people in the store please try to only send one family member in or only those making a purchase.
• For the time being we ask that all in store shopping be “look, don’t touch” and only items you are going to purchase be handled. We can answer any questions regarding items to assist you.
• Only staff members will handle coffee/tea jars and work equipment. Unfortunately, we need to discontinue allowing customers to smell coffees and teas for the time being.
• We will be using a no contact payment method. For debit/credit cards only the customer will handle the card and no signatures will be required so you do not have to touch the Square screen, the card reader will be sanitized between all customers. We will still accept cash and check and ask that customers place payment on the counter for staff to pick up, change will be placed on the counter for customer to pick up.

Coffee Buying Options:

• The store is currently still open for in-store shopping Tuesday thru Friday 9am to 4pm and Saturdays 10am to 3pm, please see policies above.
• Orders may also be placed via phone: (256) 539-1636, our website: www.kaffeeklatsch.com, email: klatsch@bellsouth.net or through Grub South in Huntsville: www.grubsouth.com.
• We will continue any shipping orders in Huntsville and throughout the country as usual unless there are disruptions to USPS or UPS services.
• Grub South is offering no-contact delivery service, please see their website for more information.
• During this time some local delivery is available via our own staff. Customers located in 35801 zip code are eligible for this service. Orders must be paid ahead and will be delivered with no-contact.
• Customers can request no-contact pick up orders as well. Orders must be paid ahead and will be placed by the store entrance when ready.
• While we are usually able to have orders ready the same day, during this time please allow up to 24 hours for your order to be ready for pick up or shipment. Please do not come for your pickup order until you have received confirmation that it is ready.

Remember to consider not just how COVID-19 affects you but how it affects all those around you, people you know or not, we are all in this together. Again we offer our love, care and hope that we can all get through this with as minimal impact on our lives as possible and that we may handle the impacts as best we can as they come. Take care of yourselves and help others as you can

– The Kaffeeklatsch Crew, Grant and Kathryn, Joanna, Katie, Rita and Ross

Well here we are in the busiest season at The Kaffeeklatsch for our 43rd year! We always look forward to being here for all your holiday needs, whether it’s entertaining, gifting or receiving.

Our Holiday Schedule:

During December we will have normal store hours through Saturday 12/21. We will be Open Monday 12/23 from 9am to 2pm and Tuesday 12/24 from 9am to 1pm (in case of last minute needs!). As is tradition at The Kaffeeklatsch all cups of coffee are on the house on Christmas Eve, so if you’re in the neighborhood drop on by!

From Christmas Day, Wednesday 12/25 through Friday 01/03/2020 the store will be Closed for our winter break. Don’t forget to stock up before we are closed! We will return to regular business hours on Saturday 01/04. Any orders received during our break will be shipped by Tuesday 01/07.

New Coffees & Teas Available:

We’ve got some lovely new coffees in stock, great for sharing with holiday guests.

Timor Fair Trade Organic is back in stock. We’re pleased to offer a crop from Cooperativa Cafe Timor again. It’s a lovely, rich coffee with a full body and a bit of sweetness. Notes of chocolate galore, toffee and subtle fruit notes. Available for $15.95 per pound. In December we will feature Timor as Coffee of the Month for $14.95 per pound.

Another great coffee back in stock is our Panama Los Naranjos Volcancito. This crop comes to us from Finca Lerida and is produced by Sonia Amoruso, one of the few women involved in specialty coffee in Panama. This coffee has a sweet aroma and a soft, medium body. Notes of cocoa, stone fruits, subtly floral and a pleasant sweet brightness like a lemon pound cake, just delicious! Available for $17.95 per pound.

We’ve got some fantastic new teas in stock as well. They’re so new they haven’t all made it to the website yet but we wanted to give an introduction.

Simao Organic Yellow, $18.50 per quarter pound, is a great tea for anyone trying to get in to green teas, it’s delicate with more subtle notes.

Masala Chai, $5.50 per quarter pound, lovely spiced tea. Winter Walnut, $6.25 per quarter pound, a scented black tea, nutty and floral. These are great choices for the cold weather season.

Rose Corolla, $7.95 per ounce, is beautiful and full of flavor. One of the best dried flower teas we’ve tasted in a while, it also looks so pretty in a glass teapot!

Gift Ideas for Coffee Lovers:

If you are looking for something special for a coffee lover in your life we’ve got some great picks.

Our Coffee Lover’s Blend is always a treat. Exquisite aroma, exceptional flavor and great body. Available for $29.95 per pound.

Our Costa Rica Geisha is distinctive with several different flavor notes. Different notes will come through at different temperatures making a wonderfully entertaining cup of coffee! Available for $49.95 per pound.

Our Yemen Mocca Sanani is unique and highly flavorful. It’s unlike any other coffee in the world! Available for $24.95 per pound.

We have some great t-shirts available. Our Jabez Burns Roaster is featured on long and short sleeve styles, the short sleeve styles are on sale! We also have some of our past stock gray long sleeve with a cup and bean design on sale as well.

As always gift certificates are available in any denomination or a “Coffee of the Month” delivery is available for up to one year. Please call us with any questions or assistance with ordering and gifting.

We Appreciate Your Patronage and Wish You a Wonderful Holiday Season!

Our Coffee of the Month is our new offering from Tanzania, Edelweiss Estate Peaberry RFA. This lovely, focused coffee is sweet and smooth with a good medium body and notes of rich chocolate, citrus and stonefruit. The beautiful Edelweiss Estate is perched on the slopes of the Ngorogoro Caldera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Three generations of the Vohora family have cared for and expanded Edelweiss Estate since 1969. Available for $14.95 per pound for the month of October, regular price $15.95 per pound.

We also have a lovely new offering from Guatemala, Quisache El Volcan. Farms located in the Acatenango volcanic growing region tend to have ideal coffee cultivating conditions. Distinctive climate patterns, forest covered peaks allow coffee cherries to ripen slowly and develop more flavors, and volcanic ash that enriches the soil. Traceability and coffee processing are strictly managed in this area to uphold the distinctive Antigua coffee profile. A creamy body with notes of chocolate, a hint of cinnamon and subtle, sweet fruit notes. Available for $15.95 per pound.

Available for a short time only we have a special offering from Mexico, Finca San Carlos Maragogipe. Alfred Klein, owner and operator of Finca San Carlos, has had quite the journey in bringing the farm and Maragogipe varietal back in action. For a more in depth look at Alfred’s story check out this three-part article by Royal Coffee. This coffee has nuances of fudge and milk chocolate, caramel, juicy stone fruit and subtle tart berries. Wonderfully rich and creamy body. Available for $17.95 per pound while it lasts!

Check back for more new coffees arriving in the next few weeks as well. For those customers that have been missing the one-of-a-kind Bali Kintamani, you’ll be pleased to know we approved our sample so it’s on the truck as well!