Partnering Up for Valentine's Day

So I'm NOT the biggest fan of Valentine's Day.  I've never been and this is nothing new to those who know me.  I don't really have any particular reason.  It's just something that my husband and I (even when we were boyfriend/girlfriend) never made a big deal out of.  Well, actually that's a lie--I take that back.  I think that in our first year of dating (while we were in college), I made him a heart-shaped pillow.  I even hand sewed it and stuffed it with cotton.  That took  a lot of dedication and hardwork. LOL.

Anyway, although I'm not a big celebrator of Valentine's Day I know that some of my readers/followers may be.  With that being said I wanted to draw your attention to my friend's coffee company.  Remember this post about the company a while back?  

Well BeanFruit Coffee Company has partnered up with the Peru Paper for Valentine's Day.  There is a deal where you can send that special someone a bag of organic Peruvian coffee and a handmade greeting card made in Peru.  

Guess who took this picture with her handy dandy digital SLR?

Briefly, BeanFruit Coffee Company purchases coffee beans from different farms located in countries such as Ethiopia, Peru, Brazil, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica.   One of the many passions of the owner of the company is coffee, so he started his own company.  It's amazing how much this guy and his wife knows about coffee.  Anyway, besides being great neighbors they are good people in general.  A portion of the money they make support a local charity and an international one.  

The Peru Paper Company is also awesome.  The owner is local.  The handmade greeting cards are made by women living in Peru (from recycled materials).  This company allows some of Peruvian women to be able to work from home and still be able to help provide for their families.  I am doing it no justice trying to explain--just check it out for yourself.  By the way, interestingly some of the award shows such as the Emmys has used cards from the Peru Paper company.  Isn't that neat?  Some famous people who has her handmade cards include: Sandra Bullock, Tracy Morgan, Natalie Portman, Morgan Freeman.

These two companies are very impressive.  What a great Valentine's Day gift.  Not only are you giving something unique, beautiful, and useful to your significant other.  Your gift to that special someone is also blessing others miles away.  Although hubby and I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day or drink coffee I plan to purchase a package for support.  Also although we don't drink coffee I'm thinking about using it to make a coffee dessert. Mmmm....

Please visit both sites to get more information.  Here is a direct link to the special package.  Enjoy your Valentine's Day!...but TRY to be sweet to your spouse everyday. LOL ;-)

Mrs. K

Do you know what a Bean Fruit is?

If the answer is no, that is expected.  Don't feel bad.  I did not know what Bean Fruit was until a few months ago because it didn't exist before then.  Ok, I will end the suspense. 

Bean Fruit is the name of my neighbors coffee company.  There's a whole interesting history behind the name which you can check out on their website.  Besides finding out what Bean Fruit is, I've also been recently highly educated by my neighbors about coffee (well at least based on my standards).

www.beanfruit.com

For the past few months while outside or inside my home, I could smell the lovely aroma of several types of coffee beans being roasted including some from Ethiopia, Costa Rica and Brazil.  Now I must admit that the hubby and I are not coffee drinkers but this stuff smells so good it makes me want to eat even the freshly ground coffee.  Bean Fruit's coffee (roasted and ground) smells very differently from the average stuff that is carried in stores.  No offense but the ones already packaged in containers smell like cigarette smoke.

I've had friends attend a cupping (similar to wine tasting but for coffee) of Bean Fruit's coffee and they love it.  I've even brought some to work for the coffee addicts to try and they have said things like "this is quality stuff."  Which is exactly what Bean Fruit's goal is.

A friend enjoying a cupping session

Anyway, based on some complicated math and chemistry equations (I may be exaggerating a tad) the owner has managed to roast the perfect coffee.  Our friends and a few locals have had access to this quality coffee but now you all have access to it also.  Drop by, check it out for yourself and tell them I sent you :).

Now we may not drink coffee but the hubby and I plan to purchase a few bags for some of our coffee-addicted family members as holiday gifts.  Shhh! Don't tell our family, you'll ruin the surprise.

In addition to clicking on the link above, you can also check out the website of the Bean Fruit Coffee Company by clicking on their icon located in the sidebar on the right on my homepage.  When you do try it I would love to know what you think about it.

Did I mention that a portion of what they make goes towards both a local charity and also an international one from the area that the beans were grown.  How awesome is that!

*By the way, I do not get any rewards, etc for writing this post.  My neighbors are just great people who are doing awesome things and I think they deserve to be recognized.* 

Me pretending to know what I'm doing--using a French press to brew coffee

Mrs. K