by Tamara Wilson

My parents, always cutting edge in the 1960s, would never consider a brand of coffee that wasn’t the highest quality.

They used Chemex filters, Danish mugs from a trip they had taken, and of course the most expensive coffee at the “Safeway.”  My father would go bonkers if it was out of stock, we just wouldn’t drink anything else. 

When Starbucks opened in the market, they would drive from Tacoma to get their Grand Central Bread and Starbucks… then FREEZE it for the next few weeks.  He had a system of course.  To this day, he is a fanatic about the latest burr grinder, blends, you name it… 

ME, just one cup of hot coffee please and don’t tell me how you got it from the mountain top in snowy weather and warmed the beans between your knees…

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by Ronna Dansky

I used to work for that famous Seattle coffee roaster, you know the one; the logo has a mermaid with a double tail?  At the time I worked in their store #2.  There were not many others.  This was a long time ago.

We used to get freshly roasted coffee beans delivered daily, and if they passed the one week expiration date, they got tossed out.  There were no special flavors for espresso drinks beyond almond or vanilla.  We scooped beans from big wooden bins just like a country store at the turn of the century.  Make that 2 centuries ago. 

My how the world has changed in 30 years.  That company is now selling instant coffee! – which would have been considered an abomination at the time I worked for them.

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by Dave Von Gehr

Once upon a time, coffee helped me save a key client.  An important client was unhappy with a recent claim experience with my company and was considering dropping our product.  On a whim, I decided to stop by Starbucks and buy a bunch of lattes and drop them by unannounced as a “peace offering” and they loved the gesture.  It broke the tension, allowed me to schedule a meeting with the key executives to talk through our issues, and get our relationship back on track.  I highly recommend a friendly, unnanounced coffee drop-off for your clients!

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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.

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by Jason Long

I was once in a Starbucks when the President of Tully’s Coffee, Tom O’Keefe, came into the store and gave everybody in line a coupon for a free Starbucks latte.  He had won a contest before he had started Tully’s, and the prize was free latte’s for life at Starbucks.  He had hundreds of the free coupons, and since we were already in line at Starbucks he felt we should use the coupons.  I found this to be hilarious and I started visiting Tully’s as well as Starbucks ever since.

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by Kareen Stockton

Well, first a disclaimer. I am not a coffee drinker.  Not out of choice, however.  I am allergic to the chemical base of coffee beans.  I would give a whole lot if I could enjoy a wonderful cup of coffee.  Growing up I awakened each morning with the aroma of  percolating coffee wafting throughout the house. I can only imagine how delicious different brews and concoctions would taste. 

Even though I cannot enjoy coffee, I brew a 1-3 pots of coffee a day.  Why?  I own Little Clam Bay Bed & Breakfast. To the majority of my guests, a day does not start without a good cup of coffee and I am happy to oblige (albeit, envious of their pleasure).  But, since I had never made coffee before I opened my business I had to ask my son-in-law (who is a manager for Starbucks) how to make a pot of coffee.  Fortunately, my guests have benefitted from his tutorial.  For me, however, each morning when I brew the coffee all I can do is breathe in the sweet aroma and imagine.

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