Fonté Café's Coffee of the Month Program

In September, Fonté launched a Coffee of the Month program at the downtown Seattle café (1321 First Ave). As a premium, independent roaster, it offers single-origin and specialty coffees for cafes, retail shops, restaurants and hotels. They are passionate about coffee and thought this would be a fun way for people to learn more about coffee.

Each month, a special coffee is chosen to look at in-depth. You can find the chosen coffee on their Twitter and Facebook pages and in a take-home pocket-size map. At the café, discounts will be given on the featured coffee: 15% off a pound of whole coffee beans and $5 off a Fonté logoed Klean Kanteen mug with whole bean purchase.

On the fourth Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the café, Master Roaster Steve Smith and some of his educational team will hold a tasting. They'll talk about region, terroir, and history while experiencing an authentic coffee-cupping (observing tastes and aromas of brewed coffee).

Upcoming coffees/regions:

October: F2, a blend sold as Fonté's signature espresso in the café
November: El Salvador - La Providencia Honey
December: Holiday Blend; each December Fonté features a coffee with proceeds benefiting
the nutrition program at Pike Place Market Childcare and Preschool
January: Kenya
February: Bin 16, a blend of East African and Central American coffees

While you're at the café, stay for a bite to eat. They just hit their 5^th anniversary, offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, artisanal cheese and charcuterie plates. Once you've moved on from coffee, they offer a unique wine list, a full cocktail menu, and artisan teas.

Roca Patrón

Patrón, like everyone else, looks to increase brand share and find new customers. Already huge, with sales of their traditional line growing, where do you go? They went backwards and up, meaning old-school hand-made tequila, hand-pressed with stones; making really high-end tequila. The Roca Patrón line will meet the desires of people who want a more agave-forward tequila.

In the Roca line, they offer Silver (smooth, sweet, spiced notes, black pepper, cooked agave, light citrus notes); Reposado (smooth and sweet, oak, vanilla, butter, mushroom, fresh fruits, light spice notes); and Añejo (sweet, smooth, woody, dry fruits, nuts, caramel, vanilla, moderate spice notes).

Launching in Seattle in September, they held a dinner on the tracks at King Street Station "Roca on the Rails," with Roca Patrón Silver margaritas, Reposado "Yellow Rock" with yellow Chartreuse, and Añejo Old Fashioneds and "Autumn" with pear nectar and lemon, along with three courses of nicely-paired dishes.

Guests toured the vintage rail car they've brought back to its original look. They latch onto Amtrak cars and go to Amtrak locations, stopping to eat and drink along the way. You've got to hand it to marketing folks! They know how to have a good time.

October 2014