Mokk-a's Cafe Suisse Highly Recommended by Whom You Know!
Our final post on Karen for now is with her Cafe Suisse, and we can't wait to see what she comes out with next! We all know caffeine motivates everyone, and how lucky we are to have someone so motivated to find the best caffeine!
As any coffee lover knows, there is nothing like a good cup of coffee! I've been drinking coffee for over 20 years, and still continue to marvel at just how much a great coffee can lift my spirits! And thanks to Mokk-a Coffees, I now have a great new option for home-brewing - Mokk-a Coffees' Café Suisse. Based in the Netherlands, Mokk-a was founded by American coffee lover Karen Glavimans, who wanted to bring the fantastic coffees of Europe to the United States. To do so, Ms. Glavimans travels to different regions that are known for their excellent coffees, and works to obtain the unique recipes for the blends from the local roasters in those areas. The recipe for Café Suisse comes from the town in Switzerland that legend says William Tell called home! With such a storied history, the coffee has a lot to live up to, and happily, it is more than up to the task! Strong and slightly bitter, with hints of chocolate and fruit, the coffee is a great reflection of Swiss coffee, and the perfect match for some great Swiss chocolate (yum!). Perfect for the first cup of the day or to accompany dessert...or just for the heck of it at any time of day, this coffee is absolutely top-notch. Definitely a must for any coffee lover!
If you, like me, didn’t know the Swiss had delicious coffee blends, try Mokk-a’s Café Suisse and you will be a convert. It is a medium blend, so it’s lighter than your French or Italian roasts. You’ll enjoy its slight aroma of mocha. As you would expect of a medium roast, it is smooth and balanced. It is flavorful and satisfying without being too heavy. Try it as an iced coffee. The crisp, light flavor will be perfect for a kick of caffeine during a warm summer afternoon. This soft, distinctive Swiss coffee is a perfectly blended roast.
Inspired by the tale of William Tell, Cafe Suisse aims for flavor and hits the mark. As William Tell stuck the apple with his arrow flying true, the bean blend of Cafe Suisse does the same. It has a strong aroma that seems edgy, but it's tempered with a fruity finish. Coffee for the adventurer. Coffee for the story-teller. Mokk-a has developed a palate for the international coffee drinkers of the world, and we are legion. Left to our own devices, we might try one or another, but this way, there's a panoply of flavor at your touch, without stepping outside your door.
Mokk-a's Cafe Suisse is a unique blend of four Arabica beans hailing from South America, Central America and Asia. It's an intriguing coffee, starting out sweet with a hint of bitter and ending with subtle chocolate and fruit flavors. I really enjoy having a cup of Cafe Suisse in the afternoon for a nice little pick-me-up. It's not too heavy flavor makes it the perfect addition to any late afternoon. Mokk-a's tagline, "The Charm of Europe" is so perfectly fitting. Their coffee is most definitely charming; it's unique, flavorful and affordable! I haven't yet tried my Cafe Suisse over ice; I enjoy it too much steaming hot. The next unbearably hot day that comes along though, I may be inspired to brew some of Mokk-a's Cafe Suisse and enjoy it over ice. Why not give it a try yourself?
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The recipe for Café Suisse comes from the town legend says William Tell called home. The story goes that the bailiff Gessler forced Tell in the 1300s to shoot an apple from his son’s head. The tale became an important symbol of Swiss will. Café Suisse is unique in every way. It instantly entices you, beginning with a unique sweet yet bitter aroma and ending with hints of chocolate and fruit. It is an expression of true Swiss tradition. A blend of four high-grown Arabica beans sourced from plantations in South America, Central America, and Asia.
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Owner & CEO Karen Glavimans tells us:
This is the story of an American coffee lover determined to bring Europe’s finest coffees home.
I followed my dream to the tiniest, most romantic villages in Europe...the passionate south of Italy, the trade area of Sweden and the Bourgogne region in rural France.
My search began while traveling in Sweden with some friends. We stopped at a café and it was there that I fell in love. The coffee’s flavor was exquisite. I lingered in that café until they told where it came from. It was the divine creation of a very small local roaster. I searched for him, spoke with him and fortunately for me, he loved my ideas & American creativity. He agreed to work with me and Café Svenska was born.
Something inside compelled me to go on, although it may have just been the caffeine….
My journey took me to Italy next. After sampling a number of coffees, I arrived in Naples in early February 2008. There I met Angelo, the son of the owner of a small roasting facility. We drove one hour outside of Naples to the small village where his family lived. I told them how truly unique I thought their coffee was and asked if they would sell me the recipe. Angelo, turned in his chair and promptly responded, “You must be crazy!!” This conversation continued until June of that year when he signed the contract. Finally! Café Italia was mine!
My next coffee-quest destination was Puligny-Montrachet, in the beautiful Burgundy region of France. I was going to meet with an elderly roaster I had heard about there. He was 80+ years old and his recipes had been passed down through generations. Entering his very small shop (which looked like something out of a Harry Potter movie) I explained that I had tried his coffee and found this particular one lovely. Would he also consider selling me the recipe?
And so the story goes…….In early 2009 Café Svenska, Café Italia and Café France, introduced as The Most Innovative New Product on the Market, had their official launch in the US market.
We will continue searching for these coffees which many regard as “The Charm of Europe”. Travel with us and enjoy these excellent Old World tastes in the comfort of your own home!
