• The bad news is that it is -27 right now in Two Harbors The good news is that it’s going to get warmer. The even better news is that we are extending our cold weather deal through today (1/31), so ask for the Polar Vortex and we will discount you the real time temperature according to @weatherunderground on food and drinks (that’d be a 27% discount right now!). As always, stay warm, stay safe.
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    The bad news is that it is -27 right now in Two Harbors The good news is that it’s going to get warmer. The even better news is that we are extending our cold weather deal through today (1/31), so ask for the Polar Vortex and we will discount you the real time temperature according to @weatherunderground on food and drinks (that’d be a 27% discount right now!). As always, stay warm, stay safe.
  • #btcseries 6: once the coffee cherries have been picked, the bean (seed) needs to be separated from the fruit. There are two main methods: 1. The washed process (pictured in the video), where the fruit is stripped from the bean, then the beans are soaked, washed and dried; or 2. the natural process, where the cherries are dried on the bean, then stripped off. As with every step of the process so far, the choice will effect the flavor in the final cup. Washed coffees often have clean and crisp flavors and aromas whereas natural coffees exhibit earthier and fruitier notes. Both can produce amazing coffees if done well. If you ever get a chance to drink a natural coffee, give it a try—you’ll definitely be able to taste the difference.
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    #btcseries 6: once the coffee cherries have been picked, the bean (seed) needs to be separated from the fruit. There are two main methods: 1. The washed process (pictured in the video), where the fruit is stripped from the bean, then the beans are soaked, washed and dried; or 2. the natural process, where the cherries are dried on the bean, then stripped off. As with every step of the process so far, the choice will effect the flavor in the final cup. Washed coffees often have clean and crisp flavors and aromas whereas natural coffees exhibit earthier and fruitier notes. Both can produce amazing coffees if done well. If you ever get a chance to drink a natural coffee, give it a try—you’ll definitely be able to taste the difference.
  • #btcseries 5: Almost all specialty coffee is picked by hand, which is one of the many reasons why it tastes better and is more expensive. The cheap, efficient, lower quality method would be to machine harvest, which shakes the tree and collects all the cherries that fall, but hand harvesting done by experienced pickers ensures only ripe cherries are picked and processed. Harvest season will differ from region to region, with some, such as Colombia, having a main crop followed by a less productive fly crop. This video is of Wilmer Muñoz picking on his family farm in Huila, Colombia.
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    #btcseries 5: Almost all specialty coffee is picked by hand, which is one of the many reasons why it tastes better and is more expensive. The cheap, efficient, lower quality method would be to machine harvest, which shakes the tree and collects all the cherries that fall, but hand harvesting done by experienced pickers ensures only ripe cherries are picked and processed. Harvest season will differ from region to region, with some, such as Colombia, having a main crop followed by a less productive fly crop. This video is of Wilmer Muñoz picking on his family farm in Huila, Colombia.
  • #btcseries 4: The best coffees (almost all arabicas) grow at higher elevation and are therefore found along mountainsides like this one. They are generally bush-like in appearance, but can grow to 10-12 feet tall. Since the majority of coffee is hand-picked, tall trees are hard to harvest. At the Muñoz farm, trees are allowed to grow for 5 years and are then cut down. A new tree will grow from the existing roots—three cycles of 5 years are allowed before a new sapling is planted. This helps ensure robust production while maintaining a tree height conducive to hand picking.
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    #btcseries 4: The best coffees (almost all arabicas) grow at higher elevation and are therefore found along mountainsides like this one. They are generally bush-like in appearance, but can grow to 10-12 feet tall. Since the majority of coffee is hand-picked, tall trees are hard to harvest. At the Muñoz farm, trees are allowed to grow for 5 years and are then cut down. A new tree will grow from the existing roots—three cycles of 5 years are allowed before a new sapling is planted. This helps ensure robust production while maintaining a tree height conducive to hand picking.
  • #btcseries 3: There are over 100 species of coffee plants, but the two most popular for consumption are robusta and arabica. Robusta has a harsher taste to it, and is probably what your grandparents drank (and why you have horrible memories of coffee as a young child). Coffee cultivation has come a long way since then. Today, arabica varieties, whose flavors tend to be brighter and sweeter, make up for 60-70% of production. There are many varieties within arabica, including the one pictured above (yellow bourbon), which is bright yellow when ripe.
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    #btcseries 3: There are over 100 species of coffee plants, but the two most popular for consumption are robusta and arabica. Robusta has a harsher taste to it, and is probably what your grandparents drank (and why you have horrible memories of coffee as a young child). Coffee cultivation has come a long way since then. Today, arabica varieties, whose flavors tend to be brighter and sweeter, make up for 60-70% of production. There are many varieties within arabica, including the one pictured above (yellow bourbon), which is bright yellow when ripe.
  • #btcseries #2: Coffee is the roasted seed of a cherry, which generally grow in pairs within a fruit classified as a “drupe”—think mango, pistachio, cherry, peach and other stone fruits. The coffee tree grows primarily in equatorial regions across the globe at elevations of 3,000-6,000ft.
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    #btcseries #2: Coffee is the roasted seed of a cherry, which generally grow in pairs within a fruit classified as a “drupe”—think mango, pistachio, cherry, peach and other stone fruits. The coffee tree grows primarily in equatorial regions across the globe at elevations of 3,000-6,000ft.
  • Over the last few months, we offered a coffee education series called “Bean To Cup.” For those who wanted to make it but couldn’t, we are recreating it here over the next several weeks through pics and posts. #btcseries 1: Meet Gabriel Muñoz, who has been growing coffee for over 30 years. Many of the pics in this series are from his 13 hectare farm in La Palma, Colombia, where his family graciously hosted a group of us last February.
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    Over the last few months, we offered a coffee education series called “Bean To Cup.” For those who wanted to make it but couldn’t, we are recreating it here over the next several weeks through pics and posts. #btcseries 1: Meet Gabriel Muñoz, who has been growing coffee for over 30 years. Many of the pics in this series are from his 13 hectare farm in La Palma, Colombia, where his family graciously hosted a group of us last February.
  • Join us tomorrow for our 3rd Annual Fall Fest. The morning kicks off with the Two Harbors Farmers Market (9-12pm). Then we celebrate the best of Cedar: our local Vendors! We’ll have a vendors market from 12-4pm where you can sample and by products from a variety of our local suppliers.
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    Join us tomorrow for our 3rd Annual Fall Fest. The morning kicks off with the Two Harbors Farmers Market (9-12pm). Then we celebrate the best of Cedar: our local Vendors! We’ll have a vendors market from 12-4pm where you can sample and by products from a variety of our local suppliers.
  • Part 2 of our Bean To Cup coffee education series will be Thursday 9/20 at 6:30. We’ll roast some coffee on a home roaster and take part in a coffee cupping in order to better understand coffee quality and nuances.
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    Part 2 of our Bean To Cup coffee education series will be Thursday 9/20 at 6:30. We’ll roast some coffee on a home roaster and take part in a coffee cupping in order to better understand coffee quality and nuances.
  • Starting tomorrow, check out a photo exhibition about our managers’ trip to the Munoz family farm in Colombia. We will be brewing and selling their coffee in our shop, as well as offering a series of coffee education nights about their farm, as well as processing, roasting and brewing coffee. First in the series will be August 16 @ 6:30.
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    Starting tomorrow, check out a photo exhibition about our managers’ trip to the Munoz family farm in Colombia. We will be brewing and selling their coffee in our shop, as well as offering a series of coffee education nights about their farm, as well as processing, roasting and brewing coffee. First in the series will be August 16 @ 6:30.
  • For those who can’t stop dreaming of waffles... we got you covered.
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    For those who can’t stop dreaming of waffles... we got you covered.
  • The morning purge of steam and sun has commenced. We’re ready to sling some spro. Who needs a cappuccino?
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    The morning purge of steam and sun has commenced. We’re ready to sling some spro. Who needs a cappuccino?
  • Pulling spro over honey. It’s iced miel season ya’ll.
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    Pulling spro over honey. It’s iced miel season ya’ll.
  • Our new menu is here! It includes some old favorites and some new flavors, including this Chicken Piccata flatbread with garlic cream cheese, chicken, red onion, capers, arugula and lemon chili aioli!
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    Our new menu is here! It includes some old favorites and some new flavors, including this Chicken Piccata flatbread with garlic cream cheese, chicken, red onion, capers, arugula and lemon chili aioli!
  • It’s smoothie weather, people!
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    It’s smoothie weather, people!
  • It’s almost ice tea season and we have these great new cold brew bottles made by Hario, as well as Summer Solstice tea from @zenithteaworks
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    It’s almost ice tea season and we have these great new cold brew bottles made by Hario, as well as Summer Solstice tea from @zenithteaworks
  • Unfortunately, technology has not created a way to capture smells along with pictures. We’re making chai this morning and the whole shop smells wonderful. It’ll linger for the next hour of two if you have the chance to stop in.
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    Unfortunately, technology has not created a way to capture smells along with pictures. We’re making chai this morning and the whole shop smells wonderful. It’ll linger for the next hour of two if you have the chance to stop in.
  • Chocolate Chip Brownie Swirl Cookie and a cup of Colombia Huila Coffee.
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    Chocolate Chip Brownie Swirl Cookie and a cup of Colombia Huila Coffee.
  • We got last minute stocking stuffers!
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    We got last minute stocking stuffers!
  • Now serving a variety of sweet and savory toasts! #hipstertoast
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    Now serving a variety of sweet and savory toasts! #hipstertoast
  • Rice Bowls are back! New winter menu begins today!
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    Rice Bowls are back! New winter menu begins today!
  • Opening reception for our Betsy Bowen art show is tonight (12/15) from 6:30-8:30. Buy art and books, have them signed, eat food, listen to music. See you there!
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    Opening reception for our Betsy Bowen art show is tonight (12/15) from 6:30-8:30. Buy art and books, have them signed, eat food, listen to music. See you there!
  • mic.com listed us in their Best Coffee Shop In All 50 States article and we are incredibly excited! What makes us great? We think it has a lot to do with the quality products we use from local vendors and partners. If you want to meet some of them, come check out our Fall Festival this Saturday (9/30) where @duluthcoffee @castledangerbrewer @lovecreamery , Meadowlands Chocolate, Clover Valley Farms, Never Summer Sugarbush, and Zenith Tea Works will be sampling and serving their products in our local vendors market from 12-4pm
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    mic.com listed us in their Best Coffee Shop In All 50 States article and we are incredibly excited! What makes us great? We think it has a lot to do with the quality products we use from local vendors and partners. If you want to meet some of them, come check out our Fall Festival this Saturday (9/30) where @duluthcoffee @castledangerbrewer @lovecreamery , Meadowlands Chocolate, Clover Valley Farms, Never Summer Sugarbush, and Zenith Tea Works will be sampling and serving their products in our local vendors market from 12-4pm
  • It's our 1st Year Anniversary! 2 for 1 beers with purchase of food, today through Memorial Day.
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    It's our 1st Year Anniversary! 2 for 1 beers with purchase of food, today through Memorial Day.
  • Our Red Maple uses a shot of rooibos instead of espresso, so it is naturally caffeine free. We then mix it with local maple syrup and steamed milk. If you're looking for a new decaf drink, this one might be for you!
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    Our Red Maple uses a shot of rooibos instead of espresso, so it is naturally caffeine free. We then mix it with local maple syrup and steamed milk. If you're looking for a new decaf drink, this one might be for you!
  • Need a drink to go with our new tacos on the summer menu? We have a variety of local and MN brewed beers and ciders to choose from @bentpaddlebeer @castledangerbrewer @indeedbrewing @thirdstreetbrewhouse @sociablecider
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    Need a drink to go with our new tacos on the summer menu? We have a variety of local and MN brewed beers and ciders to choose from @bentpaddlebeer @castledangerbrewer @indeedbrewing @thirdstreetbrewhouse @sociablecider
  • Our new summer menu begins today. Some old favorites, and some fresh summer eats, including tacos, a lemongrass pork sandwich, and curried veggie hash over greens for breakfast!
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    Our new summer menu begins today. Some old favorites, and some fresh summer eats, including tacos, a lemongrass pork sandwich, and curried veggie hash over greens for breakfast!
  • Debuting coconut macaroons today!
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    Debuting coconut macaroons today!
  • Hand pies for pi day.
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    Hand pies for pi day.
  • If you like chocolate, you'll love our brownie cake, made with single origin cocoa we source through Meadowlands Chocolate.
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    If you like chocolate, you'll love our brownie cake, made with single origin cocoa we source through Meadowlands Chocolate.