Chain smokers and boozers…. And the veterans talk about their battle scars… ”
If you’re not a Toby Keith fan (or worse, don’t know who he is), you probably won’t appreciate how much those plagiarized lyrics describe my day. For today, I spent my first day hawking coffee at the Raleigh Farmers Market. It was quite an experience. Let’s just say that we have quite the little cult of personality going on down there. It’s kind of like one of those animated movies where the animals come out and talk when the people are gone – think Charlotte’s Web. (Except that the soundtrack to our movie was an eclectic mix of country and 80’s music. When was the last time you heard the theme to Flashdance? 1985? Yeah, me too – till today.) I, of course, was the Talking Dog.
I didn’t have my own booth – why not is a long story. So Charles and Charlene, who run The Berry Patch in the upper building have agreed to exclusively represent my entire line of gourmet coffees at both the Raleigh and the Piedmont markets. You drive a hard bargain, Charles.
The good news is that I sold some coffee <applause>. In fact, it was our biggest single day ever. The even better news is that every vendor there is longing for summer, or at least late spring, when the first blush of fresh vegetables will bring – CROWDS! Yes, indeed, despite the beautiful weather, the crowds were lacking. But we made the best of it, and lamented the winter together knowing it will only get better.
Our best seller today, by a ratio of nearly 3 to 1 , was our new Old North State Blend. I knew it was inspired (this is why I only do a few new blends a year; generally, I lack inspiration), but this was beyond expectations! Already, however, I kind of regret that it’s a melange… more work for me. But the response was pleasing.
I must admit to being underwhelmed with my new Bunn VPR-APS Pourover Airpot brewer. I thought the coffee tasted just OK out of it. I’m thinking it brews too fast; a 2 liter airpot is done in like a couple minutes. I also think the brew temp is a little low, but I didn’t bother to check it because it can’t be adjusted. It does have the advantage of being incredibly simple, though. I’ll also admit that my Bunn G3-HD grinder is beginning to grow on me. As a coffee snob I’ve always favored my Mazzers, but that Bunn is a real workhorse, and even an idiot can use it.
I had a few highlights of the day… the first was my brush with celebrity when I met a former member of the the southern rock band The Outlaws. He played on the song Green Grass and High Tides Forever. I was too much in awe to even get his name, but by process of elimination I think it must have been Henry Paul, given that the remainder of guys on that track are either dead or still in the band. Lives in the Raleigh area now. Shops at farmers’ markets. Too cool. The second was a conversation with a couple Vietnam vets… when they found out that their favorite Big Food coffee in red cans very probably contains coffee from Vietnam, that was it for them! They are both independent specialty roaster customers from this day forward. It feels good to bring people out of the darkness and into the light.
Anyway, to all you folks who came out and bought some coffee today, we thank you, and hope to see you in the future! Please leave some feedback on the coffees you bought on our website.
Muddy Dog Roasting Co. 