Bryan-David Scott, president and founder of North Star Fine Coffees, recently had a chat with Craig Breslow, a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Oakland A’s and founder of the Strike 3 Foundation.  He was able to ask a few questions and get Craig’s opinion of North Star’s coffees.  Here’s what Craig had to say…

What do you like/appreciate about North Star Fine Coffees? 

I appreciate the pride and personalization with which North Star deals with coffee and their customers.  Each customer should feel like they have developed a unique relationship with the company, because despite imminent growth, North Star maintains closely beholden to the customer and not the bottom line.

How would you describe our coffees? 

Obviously the taste of the coffees differs from blend to blend, however I would say that the one commonality is quality.  All the brews are impeccably blended and reach the consumer freshly and quickly.  The Strike 3 Brew, naturally, is my favorite!

What have you heard others say about our coffee? 

All the feedback I have heard has been great.  North Star was served at our gala to 500 people, and our guests raved about the quality of the coffee.  We have also been fortunate to have many of our executives sample the Strike 3 Blend, and again it drew rave reviews!

Try some Strike 3 for yourself and support the Strike 3 Foundation at the same time:

==> www.northstarfinecoffees.com/strike3

by Arthur Dunlap

My wife and I were hosting a dinner for my brother-in-law and his wife.  As dinner concluded, I decided to make some coffee.  As I ground the North Star Black Label I let my sister-in-law smell the coffee bag.  She said I’ve to to  have some of that.  When the coffee was brewed and she finished her cup, she asked me where I got this coffee.  She said she liked it better than Starbucks because it was so smooth tasting.  She is a rabid Starbucks supporter so this was high praise.  I gave her the web site and she ordered some coffee herself.  The last time we got together again she mentioned how much she likes the Northstar.

==> Share your coffee story

by Mike Hurst

In all honesty, throughout the greater portion of my life, coffee had not even remotely been considered a “luxury item.”

Remembering my childhood, coffee was considered an “adults only” drink.  That mysterious taboo shaped my early perception of coffee as “pretty gnarly stuff.”  To reinforce that, as a young adult I repeatedly saw people drink it simply to “kick-start” their day, to pull off double-shifts, to keep from running off the highway on long road trips.

After working a graveyard shift for a couple years myself (drinking the vending machine stuff), I pretty much wrote off coffee as a “non-food item.”  Actually, for the last twenty-something years, the only hot beverage I really enjoyed was organic or exotic (usually green) tea.

As the “flavored-coffee movement” rolled in, I watched unflinching (ok, I chuckled a bit too) as the conventional 8 oz “cup of coffee” antiquated, the 20 oz “Venti” moved in, and a whole new “coffee lingo” emerged.

As better quality coffees became more common fare, I’d have a cup if my wife and I were in (1) an extremely high-end restaurant, or (2) an “all organic, super healthy” restaurant.  All truth told, I’ve never really been “captured by coffee” until I tasted North Star Fine Coffees.

My wife and I are in the hospitality industry and have dined in high-end restaurants from Seattle, to Pismo Beach, to Dallas, to Chicago… we’ve had opportunities to be “wowed” by coffee, but it honestly hasn’t happened til now. 

And I won’t say we’ve turned “coffee addicts” or “connoisseurs”. We don’t have to stop at a coffee shop for “our morning fix.”  I’ll still pass on coffee unless we’re at a super-nice restaurant. 

But North Star Fine Coffees have changed our perspective.  We can start off our day now, right from our home, with a truly luxury item.  There’s nothing better than starting our day knowing we’ve got the best there is at hand.  It actually sets a higher tone for the day.  Thank’s North Star!

==> Share your coffee story

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!

While we have a page on this blog dedicated to testimonials, this one is somewhat longer than most and contains a good story, so we’ve decided to include it right here.
 

My wife and I have recently been exposed to a new coffee experience…North Star Fine Coffees. We’ve sampled the “Kick“, “Seattle Reign” and “Simply Decadent” roasts…all have exceeded our expectations for quality and flavor. We’ve quickly gotten spoiled…and thankful for that!

The following is a “blind taste test” I unexpectedly was subjected to. It just validates the old saying, “The proof of the pudding (or in this case, the coffee) is in the tasting!”

In a somewhat hurried effort to get some breakfast in us one morning, Nancy set to brewing up a pot of coffee while I jumped in the shower. She had some multi-tasking to do as well, so breakfast was even moreso abbreviated. When I got out of the shower I grabbed a raisin muffin and a cup of coffee. Immediately sensing something was “way different”, I asked her which coffee she’d used. She said, “I used Starbuck’s.” Turns out she had some already ground and wanted to save time. Fact is, I immediately noticed the difference. 

We’re not coffee “experts” by trade…we’re just “regular joes” who like treating our bodies well. We make it a point to use fresh ingredients, purified water and clean equipment. That being said, we believe what comes out of our coffeemaker is “honest” and “as good as it’s going to get”. I drink mine black, Nancy dresses her’s with cream and sugar…so that covers the broad ends of the preference spectrum.

Nancy and I are representatives to the Oregon Coast tourism industry, the Wine and Hospitality industry and the Resort and Spa industry. We have no reserves whatsoever in sharing these fine coffees with “the best of the best” in any of those industries.

Thank you for bringing a superior product to the market. We truly believe North Star Fine Coffees is “America’s Next Great Coffee Experience”.

Mike & Nancy Hurst

by Matt Charney

The clinical definition of addiction, according to the DSM IV, includes several considerations.  The shrinks say that among these factors, addiction exists in situations where the user begins to plan their life around the substance in question, devoting inordinate time and resources to obtain the user’s drug of choice.  Meeting both these criteria, for purposes of diagnoses, establishes an addiction.  Therefore, it’s time to make a confession: “Hi, my name is Matt, and I’m addicted to coffee.”

I’m not talking about 7-11 sludge, or the crystalline instant variety.  An addict like me doesn’t even consider these coffees; they’re more like a methadone supplement until I can get my fix. 

No, I’m talking the good stuff: The type of coffee with an aroma that can fill a room and wake you up just by taking a whiff.  The type of coffee with a smooth, sweet taste that doesn’t require 8 packets of Splenda to make it palatable.  The type of coffee that you can drink a cup in the morning, get the jolt needed to face another day of reality, and not worry about headaches, shaking and irritability three hours later. 

If you know coffee, you know what I’m talking about.  The perfect pot.  For us addicts, it’s something we spend years chasing after, spending big bucks and driving all over town to specialty retailers and out of the way coffee houses in pursuit of.  Most of these trips end up in disappointment (or a Starbucks, as an absolute last resort).

I’m happy to report, however, that I’ve scored probably the world’s best hook-up to feed my addiction.  North Star Fine Coffees isn’t only the good stuff, it’s the best stuff: quite literally, the most outstanding coffee I’ve ever tasted.  I’m pretty sure you’ll feel the same way.

I no longer have to run around town looking for that perfect cup; instead, North Star delivers directly to my front door.  North Star takes the time to grind the beans especially for my French Press to make it even easier.  Breaking through the airtight packaging releases an aroma that instantly transforms my living room into Juan Valdez’s hacienda (note: doubles as an air freshener). 

Boil some water, and a few minutes later, I’ve got the perfect cup.  A few hours later, I’m still going strong, without that nasty afternoon crash I’d come to expect as an inevitable trade off for caffeine escapism.  Plus, one bag costs about as much as three trips to Starbucks, only lasts way longer (and without having to break out the pseudo-Italian).

The best part of switching to North Star Fine Coffees?   I no longer spend time pursuing the perfect coffee, have been saving a lot of money for my gourmet fixes, and no longer experience any withdrawal after going on a binge.  That means I’m no longer an addict.  I’m a connoisseur, thank you very much!

by Nate Silverman, Silverman Consulting LLC

The coffee is amazing.  Unfortunately, it arrived the day after Christmas, but it actually worked out for the best.

Everyone gathered around as we opened the bag and let the fresh aroma escape.  I pointed out that all the beans were perfect – they are!   The whole process – measuring, grinding, brewing and pouring – was like a sacred ceremony for the group of us.  We enjoyed every moment of it.  Then, the moment of truth…

The first taste.  We all sipped at once and it was great to see the various facial expressions.  Raised eyebrows.   Smiles.  Nodding heads proving the doubts were overcome.  Surprise that there is no bitter after taste.  Even my wife, who does not like coffee, wanted a whole cup – then another. 

The adults were like kids on Christmas morning.  That’s why it was best we were able to do this the day after Christmas – so we could focus on our gift, not the kids and theirs.

I understand what you mean by “great coffee experience.”

I’ve been looking forward to my morning cup of coffee ever since.  Not just for my wake-up “cup of ambition” but also because it tastes great!

Thank you!

Testimonial from Joi Sigers

Hello!

There are few things I love as much as an amazing cup of coffee. Ironically, we recently ran out of our North Star coffee, so I had to go back to the brands I normally get.  Brands that, prior to North Star, I thought were “fine, premium” coffees (Millstone and Starbucks).  After North Star, they honestly taste bland!  Oddly enough, it was the Starbucks that failed the most miserably.  They’re supposed to know what they’re doing!

I’ve used Millstone forever, and have always been happy with it – especially the Foglifter and Kona beans.  Even THEY paled by comparison.  Our oldest daughter, Emily, is already as big a coffee addict as I am and she even remarked that they didn’t smell as “bold” as North Star. 

Michael spoke to you earlier and said that there’ll be more North Star in the mail.  YAY!  I can’t wait to tell Emily, she’ll flip her caffeinated lid.  I’ll put up another post really soon** – I want everyone to taste what coffee is meant to taste like!

Thanks ever so much!

—————–

**You can read Joi’s first post here -> www.buttermilkpress.com/blog/truly-truly-amazing-coffee

by a Microsoft Executive

Like most executives at Microsoft coffee is a morning, noon and afternoon ritual. In fact, spot me at 8:30, 12:45 and 3:00 and you will find some form of coffee in my hand. I’ve lived in the Seattle area all of my life. I was a Starbucks junky like most Seattleites, but through the years my desire to find better coffees has grown intensely.

I heard about North Star Fine Coffees through a colleague. She brought her brew and wares to the office during Christmas week. She wouldn’t shut up about her new found coffee habit so I decided to try a cup. OMG! I landed somewhere in coffeetopia. I secretly went to my office and called North Star Fine Coffees. I had questions. A lot of questions. To my surprise, I had the pleasure of speaking directly with the company’s CEO who, by the way, is a friendly, down to earth, and knowledgeable enough about coffee to write a book (Here’s another hint Mr. CEO).

He asked me which building I was in, asked if I would be around for a while. An hour later, I was summoned to the lobby to meet Bryan David Scott personally. In his hand was a full pound of Seattle Reign. We chatted for a few minutes then we said our merry Christmases and went our way. I called my wife immediately to tell her. She was excited to try it with me. We decided to have it together on Christmas morning.

CHRISTMAS MORNING
Lights on, tree lit up, presents under the tree, all was perfect. Michele and I exchanged gifts, hugged and kissed and like two little kids made a b line for the kitchen. She wanted to try the new coffee grinder and mugs we got! The smell of Seattle Reign filled the air. It was heavenly. We did it just the way the CEO taught me. Portioned correctly, cooled for 4-minutes after being poured. We sat at our breakfast nook in awesome coffee bliss. I looked at my wife and at the same time we said, “Amazing.”

North Star Fine Coffees is impressive all the way around. I had to write about my experience. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Michele is waiting to have coffee with me.

by Matt Charney

See, North Star Fine Coffees provides a gourmet five star rated fresh roasted, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.  I’ve had this explained to me, but James Beard I’m not.  So I won’t belabor North Star’s gourmet credentials.  Simplified, it means they make exceptionally good coffee, and it’s easily the best coffee I’ve ever had.  Sorry Dad. 

**Full disclaimer: I am receiving no monetary compensation for writing this testimonial, but instead, complimentary North Star coffee.

But of course, I didn’t receive the complimentary North Star Coffee in exchange for writing this article!  I got it because one day, I saw a question posted on a popular social networking website (figure it out, they don’t need the SEO help). 

It was a pretty good prompt, and I think I probably just quaffed a quad shot.  So I wrote a detailed exposition to the oh so deep Web 2.0 query:  How do you make coffee Gen Y would want to buy?  Or something in that rhyme scheme.

My answer then, as now, is this: I’m a Gen Y member.  Have you ever been in a 7-11 and wondered who in the hell orders those cringe inducing coffee-energy drink fusions?  Who was the target market for the inexplicable Coca Cola Blak?  That’s my generation, baby.

In other words, we don’t really care about where the coffee comes from (obviously, a bottling plant will do).  The threshold of acceptable quality is non-existent.  We want three things: it’s got to be fast, convenient and have enough stimulants to help us get through another day, as we’re recent comers to the wage slave trade.

To my surprise, the CEO of the company, Bryan-David Scott wrote me back the next day, asking if he could ask me a few more questions.  I warned him that I knew as much about coffee as Stevie Wonder knew about guiding tours.  Which is to say, not a lot.  He called anyway.

He told me about North Star Fine Coffees, and what he was trying to do.  I expressed skepticism at the ability of a start-up wholesaler with zero name recognition to make a dent in the hypercompetitive upscale coffee category (put much less delicately).  His impassioned response: “It’s the best coffee you’ll ever taste.”  

To be honest, I tuned out the parts about the awards the coffee’s won, the global itinerary of the locally sourced beans, the sophisticated roasting process.  See, that only sounds like copywriting generalities because I don’t remember specifics.  Cross my heart.

He must have sensed this, because he offered to send me some to try before continuing the conversation.  The catch?  I had to tell him what I thought.  Honestly.  So, I told him my address, as it seemed a fair trade, which matters in coffee these days. 

Only a few days later, however, a guy shows up with a huge package.  From UPS.  Stop smirking.  Inside, a huge wicker gift basket immaculately wrapped in a neat little bow (for crying out loud), which, being a guy, was completely lost on me.  My girlfriend, on the other hand, loved it, informing me when she saw it the wicker basket was, in fact, a coffee cup resting on a saucer.  I have it on good faith that it’s the cutest thing in the world.  She actually gave it to her Mom for a gift (now that’s value), and I have it on faith that it fits great on the counter, right next to the coffee maker!

I, on the other hand, went straight for the homemade biscotti.  Yeah.  Unexpected, but welcomed.  It was, as you can deduct, amazing, because you don’t really go the biscotti route if you aren’t damn well sure what you’re doing.  And they go great with coffee.

I got three kinds: North Star’s Black Label, Seattle Reign, and L’Chaim.  Being a Jew, I first opted for North Star’s Black Label.  The L’Chaim would wait until last, so I could display it in my cupboard of irony next to the “Heroes of the Torah” drinking glass set.

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