The Gallo Pinto Burrito, Souveniers and FACEBOOK

GALLO PINTO BURRITO- THE ORIGINAL
Hello Fans.... just wanted to keep you up to date on the latest at Cafe Cafe. We recently added a new menu item called the "Gallo Pinto Burrito". Gallo Pinto is a typical Costarican food enjoyed by all true Costa Ricans. Simply put... it is rice and beans mixed with cilantro, onions, red bell pepper (chile dulce), fried and stirred together. Most commonly, this is served with a side of eggs, Tico cheese, and platanos maduros (fried ripe plantains or bananas). Well.... we've decided to gringo-ize the whole deal and put it into a flour tortilla anc call it a burrito. So you have our gringo-ized original "Gallo Pinto Burrito"- Gallo pinto, scrambled eggs, tico and cheddar cheese blended... served with fresh salsa and slices of avacado on the side.
CAFE SOUVENIERS
Secondly... we wanted to mention that we are now moving a bit into the world of merchandizing. Hey... if it works for Starbucks...why not us. So in addition to offering great Costa Rican Coffee to take home, we've added a line of Costa Rican souveniers as well. Among the items we carry are Coffee Mugs, T-shirts, key chains, shot glasses, CR poker playing cards, and pot holders..... Yes, I said pot holders!! Have we sunk so low??? :P Really, their kinda nice though. And besides, we think we're better priced than anyone in town on this stuff, so hopefully we can help you all save a buck or two.
Cafe Cafe FACEBOOK Page
Lastly, be sure to check out our new FACEBOOK page. You can get there by clicking the picture of the Cafe Cafe sign on the right side of this page. It has our menu and a number of indoor/outdoor shots of our venue. Be sure to sign up as a CAFE CAFE FAN.
Hope to see you on your next run in/or out of town. Until then...

Happy Brewing

Lyle Watson
Owner/manager

WHEN YOU BUY COFFEE.....

COFFEE 101

As a coffee shop owner in Costa Rica, I often receive questions regarding how "strong" of our different brews of coffee are. Being that we always have two brews of coffee going this is a fair questions to ask before buying a cup (or a bag). And as for my answer...... it really depends on what they mean when they say "strong", so I usually answer their question with a question back at them...

"Do you want a coffee with a strong flavor....
or a coffee that has a kick of caffeine to wake you up?"

Then I go into a spiel about roasting.... and herein lies your lesson for today. The 2 golden rules to remember with coffee are:
1. The darker the roast, the stronger the flavor.
2. The lighter the roast, the stronger the caffeine.

And here is what you will find in general on the spectrum of coffee roasts from lighter to darker.

Light Roast to Dark Roast
High Caffeine/Light Flavor >>>>>>>>Low Caffeine/Strong Flavor

Breakfast Blend>House Blend>French Roast>Espresso Roast

As you can see now, a Breakfast Blend will wake you up but will have weaker flaver, and a French Roast will give you bold flavor, but won't give you as much of boost in the afternoon. And Espresso.... probably not as caffeine rich as most people think.

PEABERRY

Our specialty coffee served at Cafe Cafe is called "Peaberry". About 5% of a bean harvest will turn out to be peaberry. Don't be mistaken... peaberry is not a flavoring to the coffee (ie. raspberry flavored coffee). A peaberry is a a single-grained coffee. Usually, a coffee "cherry" has two grains in is, but about 5% of the harvest comes out with only one. These peaberry beans are then separated from the rest of the harvest and roasted separately producing it's very own rich flavor. This flavor comes not only from the bean, but also roasts more evenly because of its smaller size and its roundness, both aspects contributing to more surface area as the beans roll in the roaster.

We hope this artical leaves you all the wiser in the world of coffee.

Happy Brewing,
Lyle Watson

Owner and Manager
Cafe Cafe Coffeehouse
Tamarindo, Costa Rica

NEW CHANGES AT CAFE CAFE

THANK YOU
First of all, thank you to all who have made Cafe Cafe your place for coffee, frappuccinos, smoothies, banana bread, coffee cake, cookies etc. We do our best to offer only quality products, and we thank you for helping us achieve that sort of reputation. As we feel we've "mastered" the art of preparing these items.... we are now making strides to offer you, our customers, even more.

NEW HOURS
As of December 2007, we have changed our cafe hours. We used to be open only Monday through Friday, but now we are open on Saturdays as well from 8am-3pm. Be sure to stop in and try our latest Specialty Drink... the TAMARICO.

NEW DRINK
The Tamarico was introduced to the Cafe in December when our friends Francisco and Faith Ulate were covering the Cafe for us while we were visiting family in the U.S. for the holidays. Ironically, faith had spent some time working at a "Cafe Cafe" in Washington State... and so she helped us out, not only by covering the shop, but by introducing a new drink..... The Tamarico: iced coffee, vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and ice... blended to a smoothie-like texture. Topped with whipped cream and drizzled chocolate syrup. A great coffee treat to cool off with in the heat of the day!

NEW MENU
Cafe Cafe can now become you favorite lunch spot. While in the U.S. over the holidays, we picked up a pretty nifty "Panini Maker". Panini's style sandwiches are grilled to perfection as they are sandwiched between 2 superhot steel plates.... makes for sandwiches hot all the way through. Sandwiches are served on local "rustico" white bread baked at the French Bakery in town or "Integral" wheat bread baked at the German Bakery. These sandwiches are simple, but super good.

Turkey Rico- Smoked Turkey & melted Gouda Cheese
Choncho Villa- Ham & melted Cheddar
The Cheezer- Cheddar and Gouda blended

STAY TUNED FOR OUR BREAKFAST MENU... coming soon!

BOOK TRADE IN PROGRAM
Most of you already know that we cary new books and used books for sale, but did you know that you can trade in your used books for credit toward the purchase of our books in the Cafe. If your books appear "sellable" to us, we will give you $1 credit per quality book that you bring in. So... don't forget to bring in your old books in on your next visit.
Also... did you know we have a "book loan" program for locals. Be sure to ask about it on your next visit.

COMMUNITY MINDED
Cafe Cafe is proud to say that, through our school supply donation program, we have been able to distribute 35 book bags filled with school supplies to children in need in Villareal, Filadelfia, and Nicaragua. A big thanks goes out to Kyle and Colin from Ireland, and Jim and Jean from Washington State. We were also able to distribute a truck filled with second hand clothes and basic food needs to flood victims in Filadelfia in December, following November's devastating floods. Thank you to Diego and Sala with YWAM in Nicoya for their help in distributing the goods.

Contact Lyle Watson at lylewatso@aol.com for more info on how to get involved.

The Latest at Cafe Cafe

COOL OFF!

New on the menu are Ice cold frappuccinos! Great for cooling off and waking up. We also serve Iced Coffee & Frozen Fruit Smoothies.

BOOK SALE
We just received over 400 new books in stock! Buy 2, get 1 free! This sale will last through September 15th. We still have used books as well.... and our book loan program for locals.

LOCAL ART

We have added a couple new artists to the list of people showing art at Cafe Cafe. Leandro Lopez and Suzan Adams. Come by and see their works, OR check out our new link on the right for Cafe Cafe's "Virtual Art Gallery". This will take you to a page showing paintings and photography for sale by local Tamarindo artists who have shown (or who are currently showing) their works at Cafe Cafe.

OTHER STUFF

NEW- Cafe Cafe T-shirts and Stickers.... very cool design. Pick one up on your next visit.

Playa Tamarindo- Culture and Resturants

My wife has lived in Tamarindo for just over twelve years now, and I'm just coming up on two years.... which I think brings to about a year away from officially being "local"?? In this short time, among the things that have been most enjoyable in Tamarindo (like the natural beauty and great surf) I've really enjoyed being part of the cultural mix that you find among the people of our community. What most people who visit here don't realize is that Tamarindo has very few Costa Ricans (or Ticos as they call themselves) who call Tamarindo home. The high price of real estate and the cost of living are too expensive for most natives. So while you may often think you are talking to a native tico or tica, in actuality you are often talking with someone from Spain, Italy, Argentina, or Columbia.

In sum.... Tamarindo is very much an international community of expats made up of people from the countries named above- and you can add to that list... the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, France, Germany, etc. So if you are open to cross borders and welcome people of other cultures into your lives.... Tamarindo makes for a great place to have stimulating cultural and intellectual encounters.

Now for the food...
Another bonus that comes along with our international community is the diversity of international flavors and blends of cuisine found in local restaurants.... Dragon Fly, Baulas, and El Coconut being among them. And then you've got classic surf and turf and amazing breakfasts at Noguis and Breakfast Grinds. Both are great places with fair prices and tasty food. Finally, your tasty Mexican and Tex-Mex at Taco Stop, Eat at Joe's (Witches Rock Surf Camp), and Mexi-Grinds. Also... be sure to get down to Playa Avellanas for a late lunch at Lola's. Everything on the menu is amazing.

Lastly... be sure to stop by and see us at Cafe Cafe. A great place for a coffee-to-go on your way out of town, linger over a good book, or catch up on e-mail over our free wireless internet.

Peace.....

February Info- Cafe Cafe Tamarindo

COFFEE- Featuring Breakfast-House-PeaberryWake up... or get your afternoon lift with our Tres Generaciones coffee. Tres Generaciones coffee is farmed from Doka Estates, a local coffee farm located in the hills of San Ramon, Costa Rica. Choose from our three daily brews...Breakfast, House, and Peaberry.

We also serve tea, iced coffees, frozen fruit smoothies, lattes, cappuccino, and hot cocoa.

ART- Diego Arnedo
Through the end of March we will be featuring paintings by Argentinean artist Diego Arnedo of Tamarindo. The earthy tones and Caribbean flavor of his works make for beautiful wall hangings.

Diego and his wife Andrea have become well known in Costa Rica for using their creativity in decorating restaurants, bars, and discos for grand openings and theme events. Most recently, Diego and Andrea hosted this years CEPIA fundraiser at the Diria Amphitheater incorporating the talent and creativity of other artists. To find out more, check out http://jaguartdeco.com/.

BOOKS-
Swing by and check out our wide selection of used books for sale. And for locals... don't miss out on our our book loan program. We carry children's books, family books, and Christian books.

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