Can you believe we've completed the first week of August already?  Where did the summer go?  Yesterday was the final Thursday Night Market, and in less than two weeks school will start.  We've been working hard to celebrate the last days of vacation.  There's been lots of time spent outdoors and in the pool, and we've had friends over daily.  It's good to see kids completely relaxed heading into the school year.

Throwback to gold panning at the fair.  This was serious stuff.

Next week is the Nevada County Fair, an annual event enjoyed by many.  I love to see the creative entries, from quilts to photography and animals.  My kids like those too, but they're also excited about the rides.  Our local fair is unique in that the food booths are all run by non-profits, and most attendees have a list of favorites to visit.  Carolines Coffee is proud to sponsor the Sugar Pine Lodge, filled with FFA projects, and you can also find our coffee at the Calvary Bible Church cafe.

This week we have a new Guatemalan Antigua coffee for you.  The Antigua region is so well known for great coffee that it has a protected designation, rather like Champagne does in France.  This Bella Carmona comes from two farms owned by Luis Pedro Zelaya Zamora.  According to this, Luis is a "fourth generation coffee farmer . . . with over 100 years of family knowledge and a formal education in agronomy."

That tradition and education produces a beautifully processed fully washed coffee.  We've roasted it light and it tastes of chocolate with a finish of oranges--almost like Cointreau as it cools.  It has a medium body and it is delicious to drink.  I'm taking home a pound for the next week, and I'm looking forward to it as a morning treat.  With the cooler weather for the last few days, I've really appreciated my early brew.