from press release

THE FREEDOM WRITERS FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH SEATTLE’S NORTH STAR FINE COFFEES

Long Beach, CA – The Freedom Writers Foundation, a nonprofit organization, has partnered with North Star Fine Coffees, a luxury coffee company based in Seattle, to release “Room 203,” a blend formulated especially for supporters of the Freedom Writers, in an effort to raise funds to support the Foundation’s mission to provide educators with the tools to empower at-risk students to reach their full potential. The Foundation was established by Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers during their experience at Wilson High School in Long Beach, California.

As an idealistic first-year English teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School, Erin Gruwell confronted a room of students deemed “unteachable.” Challenged by the students of classroom 203, Ms. Gruwell used books written by teenagers, such as Anne Frank’s diary, to reach her students and encourage them to write about their own lives. Following Frank’s example, her students began chronicling their stories in journals and dubbed themselves the “Freedom Writers” in homage to the Civil Rights activists, the Freedom Riders. Four years later, her students defied the odds, shattered stereotypes, and graduated from high school. A year later, Doubleday Books, published their journals in The Freedom Writers Diary. In 2007, Paramount Pictures released “Freedom Writers,” starring Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank as Erin Gruwell.

Ms. Gruwell and her students set up the Freedom Writers Foundation in an effort to recreate the success of room 203 in classrooms across the country. “I drank lots of coffee in room 203, so to have a coffee named after our magical classroom is such an honor!” Said Erin Gruwell, Founder and Executive Director of the Freedom Writers Foundation, “we’re thrilled about the partnership!”

Bryan-David Scott, North Star’s founder, was so moved by the Freedom Writers film that he contacted the Foundation to share his experience after watching and connecting to the Freedom Writers’ story. After a few conversations, it became apparent that North Star Fine Coffees and the Freedom Writers Foundation could work together to make a good blend of coffee available to overworked teachers and raise funds to provide educators with support and innovative tools to make connections with students in classrooms across America.

After months of hard work, Bryan-David’s team created two blends, a medium and a special dark roast. Coffee expert and connoisseur Steven Clark tasted the coffees and described them as “well balanced and aromatic, with tones of cocoa,” he went on to say that the coffee, brewed with a French press, was “full bodied, with tones that rested on the back of the tongue, the same place where wine carries most of its flavor.”

Click here to try 203 coffee for yourself.

I read an article recently from Consumer Reports.  It was a coffee taste test that mentioned the poor quality among blended coffees and suggested that 100% Columbian was the way to go if you like your coffee black.  Based on what is available in the grocery stores this is probably an accurate assessment.

But Steven Clark, renowned Seattle coffee expert, had a chance to taste the beans we use in our coffee blends.  He remarked that our Columbian beans are the best he’s tasted in over 10 years!  And he also commented on our Sumatran beans.  He said they are the best he’s tasted in over 25 years!  Clearly Consumer Reports did not get their hands on North Star Fine Coffees.   

For the Columbian coffee enthusiasts, a number of our blends do contain Columbian coffee…

North Star Black Label (blend of Colombian, Sumatran, Costa Rican)
America’s Cup (blend of Colombian, Costa Rican, Sumatran)
Seattle Reign (blend of Costa Rican, Colombian)
Simply Decadent (blend of Colombian, Guatemalan) *Also, available in decaf
Decaf Royale (100% pure Columbian Supremo)

Go ahead and try any of these coffees black.  We’ve heard it suggested that you’ll find them so rich and filled with flavor that you won’t want to ruin them with cream or sugar.  There’s nothing in the flavor you’d want to cover up.

I’m excited to point out that our blends are all premium #1 coffees getting rave reviews.  Take a look at what others are saying about these coffees on our coffee testimonials page.  Then try some for yourself.  You’ll discover what the taste testers at Consumer Reports didn’t know!

from press release

RENTON, Wash. – The Seattle Seahawks and Sounders FC today announced a partnership with North Star Fine Coffees, the makers of Sounders FC Kick Coffee™ and the Blitz Blend.™

Kick Coffee™ blends the finest Costa Rican and Guatemalan coffees and is filled with high notes of berry-like flavors combined with chocolaty, nutty overtones.  Of note, Kick Coffee™ was made especially for soccer fans.

“Our Kick Coffee™ and Blitz Blend™ offer a whole new coffee experience to Seahawks and Sounders FC fans. Coffee lovers will appreciate our passion to deliver an unforgettable experience; and they will notice the difference in our quality, roasting, and the lingering richness of flavor that is in each cup,” said North Star Fine Coffees Founder and President, Bryan-David Scott.

Beginning April 7, fans have a special opportunity to try Kick Coffee™ at a substantial discount by ordering from www.kickcoffee.com and entering the Coupon Code “SOUNDERS” (case sensitive). In the spirit of Sounders FC “Give Us Your Full 90,” 90 cents per pound sold will be donated to local charities and matched by an additional 90 cents from North Star Fine Coffees.

“North Star Fine Coffees shares our commitment and passion for community,” said Sounders FC Sr. Vice President Gary Wright.  “Local charities will benefit from every pound of coffee sold.”

As a featured partner on the Sounders FC website, fans will be able to register to win free coffee, game tickets, and post-game field access with an opportunity to meet selected players. For more information visit www.kickcoffee.com.