Key West Gift Shop Offer Island Joe's Coffee

Along with the new Key West airport came the rebuilding of the Key West airport gift shops. There is now one upstairs for departing guests and one on the lower level for arriving guest. Island Joe's gourmet coffee and espresso, plus Island Joe's hot sauces can now be purchased at both gift shops.

Island Joe's coffee roasting company is rated in the top 5% of coffee roasting companies in the world based upon review by K. Davids at CoffeeReview.com

IJS ships all over the world i.e. Canada, China, Chile, England, Egypt, Puerto Rico and all across the U.S., including Seattle

You can find IJS at Publix, Whole Foods Markets, Walgreens, Winn Dixie, Albertsons, Navy Exchanges and more, plus Sysoc Foods handles distribution to resorts and restaurants.

Learn more at www.islandjoescoffee.com

RIchard's Foodporium

IJS has been rated year after year as one of the highest rated coffee roasting companies in the world, based upon review by Ken Davids at CoffeeReview.com.

The online customer base at Island Joe’s spans the globe, as they ship to Canada, China, Chile, England, Egypt, Puerto Rico and all across the United States, including a following of their espresso blends in Seattle.

Wholesale customer include such companies at Publix, Whole Foods Markets, Sysco Foods, KeHe, Win Dixie, Albertsons, Walgreens, Navy Exchange, Hyatt, Crowne Plaza and many other resort, restaurants and coffee shops around the world.

You can learn more about Island Joe’s Coffee at www.islandjoescoffee.com

Customer's Comments

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1/3 Espresso - 1/3 Steamed Milk - 1/3 Frothed Milk

Latte

1/3 Espresso - 2/3 Frothed Milk




 

I’m in Key West for the weekend! The island is beautiful, but unfortunately the air is a bit chilly. It’s ok though, now I have an excuse to find nice warm bakeries to dip into.
I’m sitting at Island Joes’s right now which is located on Fleming Street. It has the island feel, with a laid back owner sporting his long pony tail and khaki shorts and the counter boy with dreads. I got here right as they opened and right as their delectible puff pastries were coming out of the oven! There are so many flavors to choose from: chocolate, white chocolate, apple, and everything in between. I chose the strawberry banana kiwi (just to stick with the island theme.)

The pastry was nice and flaky (and still warm!) The fruit was a bit tart and I’m thinking maybe a little sugar added when cooking the fruit would help. Of course I also ordered and chai latte, and I must say that it is up there on my list of best chai!

I definitely recommend this place to any out of towner visiting the island of Key West. I hear they are also known for their coffee!

Visit us online at www.islandjoescoffee.com

Island Joes Heads to Chile

Being a small family owned and operated coffee roasting company could not stop Island Joe's Gourmet Coffee Roasting Company, located in old town Key West, Florida from offering a helping hand to the people of Chile.

IJS has an international customer base and they ship their highly rated coffee all over the world and now they thought it was their turn to show support.

Pastor Robert Correa and his wife Angie have been supporters of IJS for sometime now, so the IJS Coffee Roasting family thought they, their churchmembers and neighbors could use a little pick me up to help with the clean up.

Coffee and Espresso from Island Joe's is on its way to Chile, even though they can not afford to send massive amounts as some of the franchise brands, they are putting their orders on hold to roast some of the finest gourmet coffee in the world and ship to Chile.

An IJS spokesperson said their prays where with the people of Chile.

Fausto's Food Palace - Key West, Florida

Now you can buy Island Joe's gourmet coffee and espresso at one of the finest grocery store in Key West and perhaps all of the Florida Keys.

Fausto's Food Palace
522 Fleming Street
Key West, Fl 33040

Island Joe's Coffee and Cafe located at 519 Fleming Street in old town Key West, Florida offers roast some of the highest rated coffee and espresso blends in the world, according to reviews by Ken Davids at coffeereview.com


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Gourmet Cuban Coffee

Most companies who offer Cuban Coffee use a lower grade coffee bean called Rubusto coffee beans, which are inferior when compared to the quailty of Arabica coffee beans. If you are looking for a good tasting cup of gourmet coffee and/or espresso, you should select coffee which is 100% Arabica, as at Island Joes Coffee. If taste is not important, then Robusto is the way to go with your coffee and/or espresso.

Arabica beans are grown at higher elevations in mountainous regions, where the coffee plants produce fewer berries and are more diffcult to grow and maintain, as with the Robusto, which often have a dirt flavor are grown, in some cases wild, at lower elevations, plus they are used in many cases as fill.

Island Joes Coffee, located at 519 Fleming street in old town Key West, FL has developed a gourmet cuban coffee which 100% Arabica coffee beans. The new blend is called Shark Bite.

This is a complex blend of high grade coffee beans from Brazil, which is the base, then blended in are Arabica coffee beans from South American, Indian and Indonesia. The beans are roasted dark and offer a full body, with a slightly sweet finish and a beautiful crema.

Island Joes Shark Bite can be purchased online at www.islandjoescoffee.com, plus several location in Key West and Publix has added Shark Bite the there plan o gram in their Green Wise section.

"Living in Key West and South Florida, one befriends many people with Spanish Heritage, Cuban, South America and more, thus by listening to our friends and customers, we deleloped our Shark Bite, which work great as a cup of gourmet coffee or an espresso." stated Joe Wells from Island Joes Coffee "It was are work but we are very proud of our Gourmet Cuban Coffee."

For more information, please click the link below

http://www.islandjoescoffee.com/store/products/Shark-Bite-Espresso.html

Publix expands Island Joes Coffee

Publix has begun offering Island Joes Coffee in expanded areas i.e. North and Middle Florida at Palm Harbor, Jacksonville, plus store in Sarasota, then Publix has also begun offering Island Joes Coffee in such places at Fairhope, AL, then in GA, you can find IJS at stores in Suwanee, Mableton and Dallas. The plans are to continue the expansion.

Island Joes next to Hemingway

The former Ernest's Cafe, which is located next to Hemingways house has undergone remodeling and a name change to the Six Toed Cat.

Six toed cats are a landmark at the Hemingway home with most of them tracing their roots back to the original cats owned by Hemingway himself.

The Hemingway house is one of the, if not, the largest tourist attraction in Key West, Florida. Hundreds and sometimes thousands visit the Hemingway home on any given day.

And now, when they stop at the Six Toed Cat Cafe next to the Hemingway home, they will be enjoying a cup of Island Joes Coffee.

"We are very excited to have been choosen to supply coffee and espresso to the Six Toed Cat." said Joe Wells, co-founder and coffee roaster at Island Joes Coffee. "This will give our company great exposure and the owners are happy to be serving a locally roasted coffee."

In review, Island Joes Coffee Roasting Company located at 519 Fleming Street rates in the top 5% of coffee roasters in the world, according to reviews from coffeereview.com. Most recently their 90 Mile Stretch ESE Epsresso Pods rated 91 out of 100, which out rated 16 coffee roasting companies from Italy, including Illy, Lavazza and others.

"We are excited about our rating," Wells said, "but perhaps more of an honor to us, is just being mentioned with the other roasters."

You can find out more at www.islandjoescoffee.com

Island Joes Opens Bakery at their Key West Restaurant

"It was only logical for us to begin baking at Island Joes Cafe," stated Brandon Wells, co-founder and coffee roaster at Island Joes Coffee located at 519 Fleming Street in old town Key West, Florida, "as we offer our customer locally and around the world our highly rated fresh roasted gourmet coffee and espresso, so why not offer fresh baked pastries. And do we have them!"

The IJS Coffee roasting family could not bear offering products not made on site, so they begin baking and where it goes, no ones know, as the Wells family only begin roasting coffee about six years ago and during this time they have become one of the highest rated coffee roasting companies in the world, according to reveiws by Kenneth Davids at coffeereview.com

The online coffee customer base spans the globe at they ship to Bagdad, Canada, China, Chilli, Egypt, England, Puerto Rico and all across the U.S., plus they have a nice following for their espresso in Seattle.

IJS also roast coffee for Publx, Whole Foods Markets, Winn Dixie, Albertsons, Walgreens and Navy Exchanges around the world, plus distribution by Sysco Foods and Tree of Life.

You will find Island Joes Coffee being served at some of the finest resorts and restaurants in the world i.e. Hyatt, Crowne Plaza, Cafe Marquesa, Martin's, 915, La Trattoria and more.

But what about baking? Well it all started a few months back when a customer said the coffee was great, but the food was lacking, so the Wells family rolled up their sleeves and begin schooling themselves on how to baked pastries and the feedback from the locals in Key West and visitors to the island has been right on target.

Offering French Puff Pastries such as Chicken Mediterranean, Asparaugs Bacon Wrap and Chicken Pot Pie, plus Smoked Bacon and Cheese or Ham, Egg and Cheese, plus our Veggie friends have options also i.e. Grilled Asparagus with Roasted Red Peppers, Sun Dried Tomatoes and Feta Cheese baked in a French puff pastry or a locals favorite, Portobello Napoleon with Grilled Portabella Mushrooms, Roasted Red Pepers, Red Onion, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Basil Pesto, Balsamic Vinegar and Mozzeralla Cheese.

Offering fresh baked croissants either plain or with Smoked Bacon or Ham, Egg and Cheese is always a nice breakfast sandwich.

You may also enjoy a nice selection of Panini Sandwiches such as Oven Roasted Chicken, Pastrami or Ham and Cheese.

Also in the pastry area, Island Joes Key West Restaurant offers Apple Strudel, Caramel Pears with Cinnamon, plus Ghirardelli Chocolate and White Chocolate with fresh Raspberry is always a treat.

So now some of the highest rated coffee roasters in the world can offer you wonderful fresh baked pastry to help start your day.

View IJS Cafes

Shop for Coffee Online

The Waterfront Market, located in old town Key West, Florida, which was recently purchased by Natural Retail Group (NRG) has choosen Island Joes Coffee to be served daily to their customers in their deli.

The Waterfont Market features Organic and Natural Health Foods and will be serving Island Joe's Coffee to their customers daily.

"We have had a our coffee and espresso beans in the store for sometime, "stated Joe Wells, co-founder and coffee roaster at Island Joes, located in old town Key West, Florida, "but then the new store manager begin sampling our coffee, noting, he must have enjoyed our coffee and espresso, as he requested us to setup a serving station in his deli, which we are very excited to do for him."

The Waterfront Market is part of the history of Key West, as it offers a wide range of organic and natural foods to its customers. The location is great with its 11,000 square feet of shopping and is located right on the Key West Harbour, making it easy for visitors by car or boat to shop for supplies. 　

In 1993 the well known artist Wyland painted a large mural on one outer wall of Waterfront Market. 2003 marked its 10th anniversary and he returned to paint another "Whaling wall" in collaboration with Guy Harvey to cover the faded original and wrap around the building. It serves as a nonprofit environmental awareness project. There are more than 90 of these painted walls all over the world. Inside the Market another mural is displayed painted by Wyland and the children of Key West.

Natural Retail Group (NRG) purchased Waterfront Market on March 6, 2008. NRG plans to preserve the current appeal of the market while enhancing it so as to provide an even fuller experience for customers. They will continue to buy fresh fish from local fisherman, and will offer that fish along with the fresh meats and cheeses that are currently available. Plans include expansion of the deli area, offering more variety in freshly prepared foods such as cold foods, hot foods, soups, salad bar, and ready-to-eat foods. NRG also plans to offer more variety of grocery and supplement products, always providing the largest selection and highest quality of natural products at reasonable prices to Key West consumers.

The wholesale division of the business provides fresh produce and groceries to over 50 local restaurants and businesses. NRG will continue to operate the wholesale unit so that these businesses can maintain the highest quality ingredients in the foods that they prepare.

The Waterfront market will be serving Island Joes Colombian Breakfast Blend, Smuggler's Brew, Deep Blue and their famous 90 Mile Stretch Espresso.

In review, Island Joe's Coffee has an online global customer base i.e. Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, England, Puerto Rico and all across the U.S., including Seattle. You will find IJS being served at some of the finest resorts and restaurants in the world i.e. Hyatt, Crowne Plaza, Cafe Marquesa, Martins, 915 and more, plus IJS can be purchased at limited Publix, Whole Foods Markets, Winn Dixie, Albertsons, Walgreens, Navy Exchanges and more, then they also have distribution by Tree of Life and Sysco Foods. IJS is rated in the top 5% of coffee roasters in the world, according to reviews by Kenneth Davids at coffeereview.com

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Kids of Island Joe's founder help run the show
Story by Margaret Menge - Key Noter



Photo by Margaret Menge - Key Noter

"We are a roasting family," says Joe Wells, founder of Island Joe's Coffee in Key West. And it's more true now than ever.

Island Joe's, which started out as home roasted coffee sold at the Shell gas station in Marathon that Joe owned for about three years, is now a full-blown coffee roasting company, winning top reviews from the world's top coffee critics, and sold in major stores. And more than ever before, the kids are the ones running the business. Brandon, age 17, a senior this year at Key West High School, has spent his summer roasting coffee, rolling out of bed at 6 a.m. when needed to go to the Fleming Street coffee shop and work at roasting coffee beans to fill orders. About three years ago, he developed a coffee called Beemers Breakfast Blend. It's now one of the top-selling Island Joe's coffees. And he's also now handling some of the small company's big accounts - including the Whole Foods account.

Brandon, his father says, was the first one to push the start button on the new roasting machine he bought in about 2005. And at about age 10, he was the one at home with his father when Joe Wells first started experimenting with roasting his own coffee.

"My goal would be for Brandon to run this whole thing," says Joe. But Brandon would have help.

Joe's daughter, A.J, age 13, also works at Island Joe's Coffee, helping Brandon bag whole roasted beans to be shipped out to customers, and working behind the counter in the café, making specialty coffee drinks and serving sandwiches.

And then there's Trey.

Trey Wells is a 21-year-old college junior at University of South Florida in Tampa, where he's majoring in accounting. But he's taken the reins of Island Joe's Coffee in a big way over the last couple of years. He's the president of the company, and works in the business full time during the summers, handling the accounts with Publix, Sysco Foods and Winn-Dixie.

Are the boys coffee drinkers? Sometimes. They don't drink it every day, they say. But both Trey and Brandon have become adept at tasting coffee -- what's called in the business, "cupping." These guys know coffee -- how it's supposed to taste, what makes the foam on the top of the brewed coffee slightly reddish in color. And they can tell Island Joe's Coffee from any other coffee in the world, anytime.

The opening of the café at 519 Fleming St. in April of this year has given the second generation coffee roasters an added level of interest. Brandon, Trey and A.J. all helped design the menu, and each came up with one or two of the specialty coffee drinks - served hot or cold or frozen.

And the boys did most of the heavy lifting this spring when the business was moved from Southard Street to Fleming last spring. Trey was charged with designing a pipe that leads from the roaster, through an oxidizer, up through the roof, to let the steam out of the building. The café, says Joe, is just a start.

"In a year and a half I'll be franchised. We're building cookie cutter. That's what this is to us."

The second generation of Island Joe's Coffee, it seems, will never want for work.

"We wish we could travel with our coffee and espresso, as they seem to be on a world tour. Last week South Korea and Bagdad, then this week our E.S.E. Espresso Pods are on a journey to the land of the great pyramids" stated Joe Wells, co-founder and coffee roaster at Island Joes Coffee located in old town Key West, Florida, Wells continued, "It is really a wonderful feeling to us knowing the hard work we put into roasting our coffee is being enjoyed in so many parts of the world."

In deed, it is a known fact gourmet coffee and espresso connoisseurs will go to through many steps in order to enjoy a cup of proper roasted gourmet coffee and now, perhaps, after the reviews where released from Kenneth Davids at coffeereview.com, the world is learning more about the coffee roasting abilities of the family owned and operated coffee roasting company, located on the laid back island of Key West.

Island Joe's created their E.S.E. (easy serving) Espresso Pods from their already highly rated espresso blend 90 Mile Stretch Espresso, which was already being shipped all over the world, including Seattle, plus is offered at limited Publix, Whole Foods Markets, Navy Exchanges, Albertsons and just recently Winn Dixie. Plus Sysco Foods recently added Island Joes Espresso Pods for their customers. They are also in talks with supermarkets on the east coast.

With a request from coffeereview.com, IJS Coffee sent their pods to Berkely, California recently where some of the world's leading coffee experts review and rate coffee roasters from all over the world. Rating such companies as Starbuck, Green Mountain, illy and more, including Island Joe's.

In this espresso pod review, there where 16 coffee roasting companies from Italy, two from Brazil and two from the U.S., including IJS. The 90 Mile espresso pods rated 91 out of 100, which was the highest score during this review.

"Out rating such companies at illyCaffe, Jolly Cafe, Segafredo Zanetti, Lavazza, Lucaffe and Fazenda Aguas Claras, does not give us at better than you attitude, but actually makes us feel proud, but humble at the same time," Wells had to say, "I mean our company is rubbing shoulders with some of the greatest coffee roasters in the world, which even for us to be mentioned is a honor in our minds."

The review by Mr. Davids in a Blind Assessment went as follows "

Blind Assessment: Produced from an ESE pod on a FrancisFrancis! pod brewer. Sweet, juicy-impressioned fruit dominates in the aroma (papaya? cherry?) with a hints of fir and leather. Syrupy mouthfeel and great richness and depth of sensation in the small cup, with continued low-acid fruit and fresh-cut fir notes. Superb finish: long, deep. In two parts milk good presence and chocolate-toned fruit, though just a touch flat and woody." with the rating, again, being 91 out of 100 and the highest.

"Last week, we where saying to one another, while roasting, it was really a cool vision of our troops in Bagdad pulling a shot of our espresso and now, perhaps under the stars in Egpyt and the Great Pyramids." Wells said. "Anything is possible and dreams can come true, but let me assure you, it does take consistent hard work."

Read More about Island Joe's ESE Espresso Pods - View

Giving the customers what they want is very important to Island Joe's Coffee located at 519 Fleming Street in old town Key West, Florida.

So after many years of just offering wholesale coffee, the Wells family open a Key West Restaurant just off Duval Street in Key West. Just around the corner from Magaritaville and Starbucks, as you can ask most locals how to find Island Joes Cafe, plus where ever you are lodging will be happy to give you a map and show you the way to Island Joes Key West Restaurant and Cafe for a cup of our world class fresh roasted gourmet coffee.

Once the new Island Joes Cafe opened it was time to offer a menu to our customers, as it took months, but finally, IJS has a very nice menu with a varity for their customers.

Based around Panini Sandwiches, you can enjoy a nice range of breakfast sandwiches from Smoked bacon or ham, egg and cheddar cheese, Toast bagel with cream cheese of choose from Island Joes homemake cake collection i.e. PineApple Rum, Carrot, Cinnamon or the soon to be famous Chocolate Espresso Cake, which is based around Island Joes 90 Mile Stretch Espresso which is roasted right in the cafe.

For lunch, you might with to try our very popular Panini Roasted Chicken Sandwich - Oven roasted chicken with provolone or mozzeralla cheese, fresh sliced tomatoes, roasted red peppers, basil pesto and honey dejon mustard with a side of Caribbean Jerk Sauce

Also there is Roast Beef and Pastrami, then one of the very filling locals lunch favorite is Island Joes Dagwood - big enough to share.

Created on Cuban Bread with Pastami, Spanish Pork, Smoked Bacon, Salami, Ham, Fresh Sliced Tomatoes, Basil Pesto, Roasted Red Peppers, Red Onion, Pickles, Honey Dejon Mustard, Mayo with a side of Caribbean Jerk Sauce

Plus we offer Veggie Panini Sandwiches such as Grilled Portabella, Caprese and Island Joe's Veggie Sandwich. 3 Cheese (cheddar, mozzeralla and provolone) with roasted red peppers, fresh sliced tomatoes, grilled portabella mushrooms, roasted gralic hummus with a side of Caribbean Jerk Sauce.

Plus there is more on the menu, such as our Cuban Mix and Cuban Cheese Toast.

Plus our smooties are great according to customer's reviews, the we offer a wide range of coffee and espresso drinks i,.e. Latte, Cappuccino, Soy, 2%, Chai and lots more.

So when you are looking at Key West Restaurants, make sure to stop by Island Joes Restaurant in old town Key West.

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La Trattoria Italy Restaurant begins serving Island Joe’s 90 Mile Stretch Espresso.

It was not easy task . La Trattoria, located at 524 Duval Street, was built by a Sicilian family beginning in 1984 and has become a landmark in old town Key West, Florida offering upscale dining in a romantic atmosphere and serving authentic Italian Food. La Trattoria requires only the finest ingredients be served to their customers.

And now you may finish your meal with a shot of Island Joe’s 90 Mile Stretch Espresso. Island Joe’s Coffee Roasting Company is located just around the corner from La Trattoria. The Wells Family who owns, operates and roasts coffee and espresso in old town Key West have become the highest rated coffee roasting company in the state of Florida with several gourmet coffee and espresso blends rating in the top 5% in the world according to reviews by Kenneth Davids at CoffeeReview.com

“We are very excited to be roasting espresso beans from La Trattoria,” stated Trey Wells, co-found and coffee roaster at Island Joe’s, “It a two minute walk, so not only are you going to be served some of the finest espresso in the world, but they are so close, we sometimes deliver the beans still hot in bag from the roaster.”

Island Joe’s Coffee receives from PO from Winn Dixie

“It takes years of dedicated work to build a brand, then when you are noticed, the hard work really begins.” stated Trey Wells, co-founder and coffee roasters at Island Joe’s Coffee, located in old town Key West, Florida

First there are a few phone calls, then a few emails, which took place over a year or so, then samples are requested for review, then it seems everything stops for months and months, the waiting begins and ends many times over, as the anticipation is sometimes overwhelming, but in today’s retail market, this is just part of the normal process, but with a the proper product and perhaps a little luck, the knock will come to your door.

This was part of the process to gain the attention of the buyers at Winn Dixie Supermarkets. Winn Dixie can trace its routes to 1913 and Burly, Idaho, who has since moved its offices to Jacksonville, Florida and operates around 500 stores with around 50,000 employees.

“We are extremely excited to have this opportunity to have a direct relationship with a major retailer, as Winn Dixie,” stated Wells, “My brother, Brandon and I, have been roasting our gourmet coffee and espresso for going on six years. And it seems our hard work, plus the intense passion we have for our coffee and never wavering from producing some of the finest blends in the world is becoming more established everyday in the coffee industry, as we do not, nor will we cut corners, no matter what kind of money is involved.”

Producing some the finest coffee blends in the world, is just what the coffee roasters at Island Joe’s do, as is proven by the high ratings they have received from some of the world’s leading coffee experts I.e. Kenneth Davids at coffee review.com has awarded the Wells brothers ratings, which has not only pushed Island Joe’s to the top rated coffee roasting company in Florida, but also with blends rating the top 5% in the world.

Some examples, which will be offered at Winn Dixie are Island Joe’s 90 Mile Stretch Espresso, which rated 90 out of 100 and Island Joe’s Breakfast Blend, which rated 91 out of 100.

IJS Coffee can be also found at limited Publix, Whole Foods Markets, Albertsons, Walgreen’s and Navy Exchanges throughout the U.S., then Tree of Life handles some of IJS’s distribution, plus Sysco Foods handles distribution to resorts and restaurants.

Not only can Island Joe’s Coffee be found at major retailers, small coffee shops, plus properties such as Hyatt and Crowne Plaza around the U.S., but their online customer base spans the globe with customers in Canada, China, Chile, England, Puerto Rico and all across the U.S. including a customer base in Seattle, who have shown a passion for Island Joes’ 90 Mile Stretch Espresso, which will be offered at Winn Dixie and offered whole bean.

When ask what was next, Wells responded with, “We like to take it one cup at a time, meaning we are working on our orders for Winn Dixie, so we are focused on taking care of this new customer, which we should be in stores in the next few weeks, plus we are focused on continuing to offer quality service and products to our current customers. As one could look at our customer service, just like our coffee blends - we are consistent with every cup and customer.”

Island Joes Coffee heads to the Middle East

“We shipped our E.S.E. Espresso Pods to our military in the Middle East a few weeks ago,” said Joe Wells, co-founder and coffee at Island Joe’s Coffee, located in old town Key West, Florida. “One of our online customers has a friend serving overseas and wanted to send them something nice, so as he requested, we worked with our customer to send our 90 Mile Stretch Espresso Pods overseas.”

E.S.E (easy serving espresso pods) Espresso Pods are packed in a food safe filter package and contain 7 grams of ground espresso. There are several reasons for the creation of the espresso pods. They provide a consistent shot of espresso, the do not create as much clean up time, which helps control labor cost for hotels and restaurants, then for the home user, it is nice to be able to pull just one shot of espresso.

The E.S.E. Espresso Pods at Island Joe’s Coffee where created using their already world renown 90 Mile Stretch Espresso, which recently where rated 91 out of 100 by one of the world’s leading coffee experts Kenneth Davids from coffee review.com.

In Mr. David’s review of espresso pods, other coffee roasting companies which where included in the review where illyCaffe, Jolly Caffe, The Supreme Bean, Segafredo Zanetti, Lavazza, Lucaffe and Fazenda Aguas Claras, in all, there where 16 coffee roasters from Italy , two from Brazil and the U.S. in the review and the pods from Island Joes Coffee scored the highest with their 91 out of 100 rating.

Here is the review by Mr. Davids.

Blind Assessment: Produced from an ESE pod on a FrancisFrancis! pod brewer. Sweet, juicy-impressioned fruit dominates in the aroma (papaya? cherry?) with a hints of fir and leather. Syrupy mouthfeel and great richness and depth of sensation in the small cup, with continued low-acid fruit and fresh-cut fir notes. Superb finish: long, deep. In two parts milk good presence and chocolate-toned fruit, though just a touch flat and woody.

“We have never visited Hilton Head, South Carolina,” stated Trey Wells, co-founder and coffee roaster at Island Joe’s Coffee, located in old town Key West, Florida, “but we have talked about it many times, yet it seems we are always roasting coffee, which is great, so we sent our representative - our coffee beans.”

Haig Point, Hilton Head, South Carolina is a private island just of the coast of South Carolina, between Hilton Head and Savannah, GA (HaigPoint.com).

With Haig Point offering upscale living for its residents, it seems only natural they should be offered some of the finest roasted gourmet coffee and espresso blends in the world, which Island Joe’s Coffee is the highest rated coffee roasting company in Florida with several gourmet coffee and espresso blends rating in the top 5% in the world, according to reviews by Kenneth Davids at coffee review.com, located in Berkeley, CA.

Scott Seger, Food and Beverage Director at Haig Point noted, “The Smuggler’s Brew was picked by our members and staff 5 out of 7 times in a blind tasting.”

“We promote head to head blind tasting with other coffee roasters around the world, as coffee is subject to one’s palette, “ Wells went on the say, “for example just recently in a blind tasting our ESE Espresso Pods rated 91 out of 100, which out rated some well known coffee roasters , which including Illy, Lavazza, Segafredo Zanetti and others from Italy and Brazil. But the bottom line is what does the consumer prefer.”

It seems many coffee connoisseurs around the world prefer IJS Coffee as their online business spans the globe with customers in Canada, Chile, England, Puerto Rico and all across the U.S., including Seattle, which in turn has caught the attention of major distributors and retailers, who now offer IJS Coffee to their customers I.e. Sysco Foods, Publix, Whole Foods Markets, Albertsons, Walgreens , Navy Exchange and others.

It seems the IJS Coffee family remains humble about their accomplishments in the coffee industry, as if you visit their shop in old town Key West, you will find a family member roasting the coffee, talking with customers and always offering coffee to taste. Wells said, “We realize one particular blend of ours will not satisfy all tastes, but if you spend a little time with one of us, we will feel one of our blends will find the right spot on your taste buds.”

So it seems, as some of Island Joe’s other coffee and espresso blends have found the right spot with some of the world’s leading coffee experts with some of their ratings bringing in high scores I.e. Island Joe’s Breakfast Blend , 91 out of 100, 90 Mile Stretch Espresso, 90 out of 100, Smuggler’s Brew, 88 out of 100, Black Flag Espresso, 90 out of 100 and Beemer’s Breakfast Blend rated 91 out of 100.

When ask about plans for the future of Island Joe’s Coffee, Wells responded , “We will stay true to our origins, we will grow slow and not sacrifice our quality for any reasons, including money and we will always roast by our motto - Born out of Necessity and Crafted with Passion - The Proof is in the Cup.”

The Hyatt Windward Pointe, a Hyatt Vacation Club property, located at 3675 South Roosvelt Boulevard, Key West, FL has replaced the coffee being served to their guests from Starbucks to Island Joe's Coffee, located in old town Key West, FL. (http://hyattwindwardpointe.hyatt.com/)

"The discussions to make this move went on for months," stated Joe Wells, co-founder and coffee roaster at IJS, "as we are very excited to be roasting for another Hyatt property, but we do not feel our replacing Starbucks is a bad reflection on coffee offered from Starbucks, but perhaps a change was in order."

Wells continued by saying, "With Sysco Foods handling our distribution, this has and is opening many doors for our company. Our goal from day one has been to offer some of the finest gourmet coffee and espresso beans in the world, so with the help of Sysco, we are able to stay concerned with our passion - roasting coffee."

Island Joe's Coffee first came to notice by gourmet coffee lovers and the coffee industry around the world in 2005, when Kenneth Davids at coffeereview.com discovered IJS, then begin reviewing and rating IJS Coffee and since then IJS Coffee has become the highest rated coffee roasting company in the state of Florida with several gourmet coffee and espresso blends rating in the top 5% in the world, based upon reviews by coffeereview.com

IJS can be found at Publix, Whole Foods Market, Walgreens, Navy Exchanges and many resorts and restaurants around the world. The online customer base at IJS Coffee spans the globe i.e. Canada, China, Chile, England, South Korea, Puerto Rico and all across the U.S., including Seattle.

Other rated coffee and espresso blends include

Island Joe's Breakfast Blend - 91 out of 100, which is being distributed by Sysco and offered at the Hyatt.

Beemer's Breakfast Blend - 91 out of 100

Smuggler's Brew - 88 out of 100

90 Mile Stretch Espresso - 90 out of 100

Black Flag Espresso - 90 out of 100

Misty Mornings - Low Acidic - 88 out of 100

E.S.E. Espresso Pods (distributed by Sysco Foods) - 91 out of 100, noting these pods, according to reviews by coffeereview.com, out rated such companies as illyCafe, Segafredo Zanetti and Lavazza

Island Joes Coffee is located in old town Key West, FL at 519 Fleming Street.

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Island Joe's Key West Restaurant - View our Key West Cafe site and what we have to offer at our Key West Cafe  - Click Here



Island Joe's Coffee
519 Fleming Street
Key West, FL 33040

www.islandjoescoffee.com

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IJS has become the highest rated coffee roasting company in the state of Florida with several gourmet coffee and espresso blends rating in the top 5% in the world (coffeereview.com)

90 Mile Stretch Espresso - 90 out of 100

Beemers Breakfast Blend - 91 out of 100

Smugglers Brew - 88 out of 100

IJS Breakfast Blend - 91 out of 100

ESE Espresso Pods - 91 out of 100


Island Joes Coffee has on online international customer base i.e. Canada, Chile, China, England and all across the U.S., including Seattle. You may purchase IJS at limited Publix, Whole Foods Markets, Albertsons, Walgreens, Navy Exchange, then Tree of Life and Sysco Foods distributes IJS Coffee.


Born out of Necessity and Crafted with Passion - The Proof is in the Cup

"Very sweet-toned aroma with floral hints. In the small cup medium-bodied and slightly lean in mouthfeel, crisp, cedary, with raisiny, licorice-toned fruit. Slightly heavy finish but excellent flavor persistence, with the fruit turning toward chocolate. Comes into its own in milk, where it is balanced and roundly rich, with deep semi-sweet chocolate character."
K. Davids

Then we developed E.S.E Espresso Pods, which lead us to back to our 90 Mile Stretch Espresso Pods, which CoffeeReview.com rated 91 out of 100.


Blind Assessment: Produced from an ESE pod on a FrancisFrancis! pod brewer. Sweet, juicy-impressioned fruit dominates in the aroma (papaya? cherry?) with a hints of fir and leather. Syrupy mouthfeel and great richness and depth of sensation in the small cup, with continued low-acid fruit and fresh-cut fir notes. Superb finish: long, deep. In two parts milk good presence and chocolate-toned fruit, though just a touch flat and woody.- coffeereview.com

You can find our 90 Mile Stretch Espresso at establishment such as 915 Duval, Martin's Restaurant, The Book Store in the Grove and others.

Island Joes 90 Mile Stretch E.S.E Espresso Pods - View

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"Wow! What a ride. Back in 1980, we started out with one small store in Austin, Texas. Today, we’re the world’s leader in natural and organic foods, with more than 270 stores in North America and the United Kingdom. What a long, strange trip it’s been. We still honor our original ideals, and we think that has a lot to do with our success.

Who are we? Well, we seek out the finest natural and organic foods available, maintain the strictest quality standards in the industry, and have an unshakeable commitment to sustainable agriculture. Add to that the excitement and fun we bring to shopping for groceries, and you start to get a sense of what we’re all about. Oh yeah, we’re a mission-driven company too. If you are interested in learning about our business practices and what makes us tick, check out our Core Values, Quality Standards, Declaration of Interdependence, and more.

Around here, we often talk about our mission in terms of Whole Foods – Whole People – Whole Planet. Basically, we think these elements all play a huge role in our success.

Whole Foods — We search for the highest quality, least processed, most flavorful and natural foods possible because we believe that food in its purest state — unadulterated by artificial additives, sweeteners, colorings and preservatives — is the best tasting and most nutritious food there is.

Whole People — Our people are our company. They are passionate about healthy food and a healthy planet. They take full advantage of our decentralized, self-directed team culture and create a respectful workplace where people are treated fairly and are highly motivated to succeed.

Whole Planet — We are committed to helping take care of the world around us, and our active support of organic farming and sustainable agriculture helps protect our planet. And while we assist our global neighbors through our Whole Planet Foundation’s micro-lending operations, we also step out the back door of each of our stores to support food banks, sponsor neighborhood events and donate to local non-profit groups." - from wholefoodsmarket.com

Whole Foods Market flagship store and global support offices in Austin, Texas.

Whole Foods Market offers the following Island Joes Coffee and Espresso

Beemers Breakfast Blend

Deep Blue

Smugglers Brew

Misty Mornings

90 Mile Stretch Espresso

Press Release Nov 2008 - Ssyco Foods begins distributions of Island Joes Coffee

The Proof is in the Cup

Sysco Foods of South Florida, parent company Sysco, the Houston, Texas based food distributor who sales where around $35 billion in 2007 has placed its first order from Island Joes Coffee, located in old town Key West, Florida (www.islandjoescoffee.com).

The Key West based coffee roasting company was founded about six years ago at a gas station by a father, two sons and a daughter after a year of back to back to back hurricanes when there was no place to get a good cup of fresh roasted gourmet coffee, so being islanders from the Florida Keys and knowing how to take matters into their own hands they begin roasting coffee for themselves, then for their customers at their gas station, which lead to requests from the locals and tourists stopping by for gas to take some home, plus the visitors begin calling the gas station requesting the Wells family to send them coffee and espresso, hence the birth of www.islandjoescoffee.com.

Since their humble beginnings, IJS Coffee has become the highest rated coffee roasting company in the state of Florida with several gourmet coffee and espresso blends rating in the top 5% in the world (coffeereview.com).

With names and outstanding reviews such as Smugglers Brew (88 out of 100), Beemers Breakfast Blend (91 out of 100), then both their 90 Mile Stretch and Black Flag Espresso blends rated 90 out of 100, coffee lovers around the world seek out Island Joes Coffee.

With an online global customer base i.e. Canada, Chile, China, England, Puerto Rico, South Korea and all across the United States, including Seattle this coffee company has become noticed by some of the world’s top retailers, who now offer Island Joes Coffee i.e. Offered at limited Publix, Whole Foods Market, Navy Exchange, Walgreens, Albertsons and more.

The next step for IJS Coffee came when some of the finest resorts and restaurants in the Florida Keys begin purchasing coffee for their guests i.e. Crowne Plaza, Hyatt, Ocean Key Resort and Spa, Café Marquesa, 915, Martin’s and more.

Sysco will begin with offering Island Joes Colombian Breakfast blend to resorts, hotels and restaurants in South Florida this week.

Island Joes Breakfast Blend which rated 91 out of 100 by Kenneth Davids from coffeereview.com. Here is Mr. David’s review of this affordable gourmet coffee blend.

Blind Assessment: Very sweet-toned aroma: distinct cocoaish chocolate notes with hints of walnut and a black-cherry inclined fruit. In the cup the cocoa and walnut notes simplify and amplify, supported by a sweet, crisp acidity. Flavor fades rather quickly in the finish but the chocolate and walnut have the last word.

Who should drink it: The dominant baker's chocolate and walnut notes make this a strong-presenced cup despite its delicacy, with enough grace to be enjoyed black and enough substance to handle whitener.


The Wells family roast by their motto – Born out of Necessity and Crafted with Passion – The Proof is in the Cup

View Island Joe's Columbian Breakfast Blend

Many customers email us, plus many more who visit our roasting shop in old town Key West, Florida ask us, often, which is your favorite cup of gourmet coffee, which your family roast. Well, they is a very difficult question, as our response 9 out of 100 times is it depends on the time of day or night, as like wine, we brew the type of coffee to suit our mood, which we advise to our customers, as the world of gourmet coffee is vast and varied.

If I am a little under the weather, Misty Mornings comes to mind, as the gourmet coffee blend is low acidic, but has a full body, so the full body is present, as my palette enjoys, yet this cup of coffee is mild on my stomach. Noting because it is a medium roast and there is enough caffeine to give me a little boost. Another example is Brandon’s Beemer’s Breakfast Blend, which rated 91 out of 100 by Kenneth Davids at coffee review.com. Here is the full review

Delicate aroma with softly pungent cedar and sweet tomato notes. In the cup gently and crisply acidy, with distinct floral notes and coffee fruit that reads as a tart, chocolate-toned cherry. A simple but very pure coffee expression. Who should drink it: A soft, sweetly fruit-and-floral-toned version of the classic American breakfast cup - Now for me this is a un hurried cup of coffee to enjoy, with its aroma and sweet, but mild acidity, almost like enjoying a cigar, where one needs time to fully relax to enjoy this cup at your own pace.

Island Joes Deep Blue French Roast is by far one of the most complimented gourmet coffee blends my family has created - it just touches all the right spots on your palette, then all the way down without leaving any bitter or bad aftertaste, creating the desire for another sip. Here I enjoy this cup of gourmet coffee perhaps if I am not getting to go to lunch or mid afternoon, if the hunger factor begins to come forth.

So here it is Sunday night in old town Key West. The clocks where rolled back an hour today, thus it is darker early and the Super Boat Races are on the island, which I had forgot about until they started trailing by the shop - wow those are some big boats - I stopped roasting for a few minutes to watch those million dollar plus machines being hauled toward the docks. It was cool. So what am I in the mood for, as again, I forgot about the boat racing, which keeps me at the shop tonight for the hotels and restaurants will be full and everyone wants a little extra coffee for their guests. My fuel this evening is 90 Miles Stretch Espresso. Get my point, we enjoy coffee for our mood.

When our guests stop by the shop for a cup of coffee or a shot of espresso, we watch how they prepare their drink, realizing everyone has unique satisfaction points on their palette, but this feedback helps us a great deal with our creations. Example - My sons will not laugh about this, but if someone orders a shot of espresso, then adds 6 sugars and 5 creamers, when the customer leaves the store, my sons begin backing up and shaking their heads no in my direction, but I explain, we have to know what our customers enjoy no matter if we like it or not, it just comes with the territory. Not saying we are right or wrong, nor the customer, it is just a different palette. I guess the old saying different strokes for different folks could be used here.

Now on to the subject of using a French Press with our Smuggler’s Brew, which my oldest son Trey created. For the last month or so, I have been using a French Press at home with some of our different gourmet coffee blends. Normally around 5 a.m. in the morning, when it is quite, before my other two begin to stir and complain about going to school - anyone one else have this problem?

First some thoughts on using a French Press.

1) You want to, if possible, grind your beans into a coarse grind, just before putting them in to the French Press. You just want everything a fresh as possible. The coarse grind will also help keep you from getting a mouth full of coffee grinds - Yes I have made coffee in the dark with a French Press, but only to realize I used a espresso grind - Not pretty.

2) Water - You temperature should be 90.5-96.1 degrees C or 195-205 degrees F, but again keep in mind, all is according to what taste good to you.

3) So now you have put your coarse ground coffee in the French Press. Now add the water and stir with a spoon, slowly and smoothly. Remember preparation of coffee in many walks of life is a ritual. I am not suggesting you have to go this far, but enjoy the whole experience, as this will certainly heighten the awareness of your taste buds.

4) Here you must let your coffee simmer. I go for about 3 minutes, some I know go 4, so I suggest somewhere between 2.5 and 3.75 minutes, again, it is your palette.

5) Now place the top on your French Press and push down slowly, making sure to keep your screen level.

6) Now pour slowly and enjoy a cup of gourmet coffee.

Why I like Smuggler’s Brew in my French Press - First the Smugglers Brew, which rated 88 out of 100 by CoffeeReview.com, is Guatemalan Antigua based, which naturally has soft semi-sweet chocolate undertones from the soil composition in Guatemala , plus this is a double roast profile, which really offers a cup of coffee with a greater depth than most, then we have added just a touch of coffee from Ethiopia to make sure the body stays full. One last word here, we use an Antigua in this blend, perhaps we could use a less expensive coffee from Guatemala, but the rich would not be as present as we like it in our cup of coffee.

Now when after experimenting to find all the right touches I.e. the right amount of water and its temperature, the right grind, the right coffee to water ratio, I end up with a cup of gourmet coffee with its aroma filling my home. I get a rich fluffy top, which looks similar as a crema on a properly pulled espresso, which like a crema protects the coffee from air, thus the wonderful aroma comes out slowly and the rich taste last longer.

So, now when you ask, I will tell your in a French Press - Smuggler’s Brew has my vote.

Enjoy

Island Joe

View Smugglers Brew Gourmet Coffee

I think I have said this before, but getting ready for a Hurricane takes about 4 to 6 hours, not counting taking care of the roasting store, then days to get everything back in order.  It is just plain stressful sometimes.

Hurricane Wilma a fews years back is a good example of Mother Nature being in full control.  You have to listen to the weather folks, as they are good at their jobs, which is saving lives.  Wilma stalled and the storm did not hit us until about 3 days after is was suppose to show up.  This is what was stressful. Hurry up and wait. If I am recalling correctly the storm passed to the south of Key West with the eye being about 70 miles or so from Key West and the island in a lot places flooded with 3 to 4 feet of water.  When the water starting rising it came up fast, which was scary, as you where not sure when it would stop.  Our house did not flood, nor our store, but we have lots of friends who took 4 feet of water in their homes.

I saw some video from Cuba with Hurricane Ike and it was unreal, with, they said 50 foot waves, hitting the shorelines. Knock on Wood, we were lucky. I really thought Ike was going to be like Wilma, keeping us waiting for days, before making the final move toward the Keys.

We are headed down to the roasting store this morning to put everything back together.  We put all our equipment and beans as high off the floor as possible, then wrapped and sealed everything.  This took a day. So we will work most of the morning on the reset, get some rest and start roasting. Roasting is Zen for me.

During Hurricane Wilma, my oldest son stayed with me, (Trey - Smugglers Brew) he is in Tampa these days at school and it was Brandons (Beemers Breakfast Blend) turn this storm - note - if we think we are going to take a direct hit - We are out of here.


Anyway, as the water started rising during Wilma for some reason I walk out front to see the water in the street and check on the cars, which ended up going under water. The water was moving with a fast current. We we have a 18 foot skiff, which was on a trailer out front.  When I looked down the drive way toward the boat, it was beginning to float on the trailer and move down the road. We had to wade into the swift current to tie a line to the boat trailer, then the other end to a palm tree. While we were doing this a plastic trash can floated by and my son told me to look at the trash can, as it had a rider -  an Iguana. Everything in life seem to freeze, just for a moment, as the Iguana looked at me, then its head turn toward Trey, then it look forward to where it was headed on its ship, as to say it is safe this way. It seem some of sort of communication had taken place. The Iguana had no control of its ship, but the path was straight toward the high mangroves, so no help was needed on its part.

Below are some of the reviews and rating done by Kenneth Davids at coffeereview.com

Smugglers Brew rated 88 out of 100. - Blind assessment: "Very impressive aroma: deep and lush with low-toned fruit (banana?) notes and hints of cedar and chocolate. In the cup crisp and roasty but still sweet with floral notes and a rich fruit that reads as semi-sweet chocolate. Simple but cleanly sweet finish. "
Who should drink it: Those who enjoy the sweet side of dark roasts.

90 Mile Stretch Espresso rated 90 out of 100 - "Very sweet-toned aroma with floral hints. In the small cup medium-bodied and slightly lean in mouthfeel, crisp, cedary, with raisiny, licorice-toned fruit. Slightly heavy finish but excellent flavor persistence, with the fruit turning toward chocolate. Comes into its own in milk, where it is balanced and roundly rich, with deep semi-sweet chocolate character."

Beemers Breakfast Blend rated 91 out of 100 - Blind Assessment: "Delicate aroma with softly pungent cedar and sweet tomato notes. In the cup gently and crisply acidy, with distinct floral notes and coffee fruit that reads as a tart, chocolate-toned cherry. A simple but very pure coffee expression." Who should drink it:  "A soft, sweetly fruit-and-floral-toned version of the classic American breakfast cup."

Island Joes Colombian Breakfast Blend rated 91 out of 100 - Blind Assessment: "Very sweet-toned aroma: distinct cocoaish chocolate notes with hints of walnut and a black-cherry inclined fruit. In the cup the cocoa and walnut notes simplify and amplify, supported by a sweet, crisp acidity. Flavor fades rather quickly in the finish but the chocolate and walnut have the last word." Who should drink it: "The dominant baker's chocolate and walnut notes make this a strong-presenced cup despite its delicacy, with enough grace to be enjoyed black and enough substance to handle whitener."

In closing Wells said, "One accomplishment I am very proud of is the fact we are not a one cup wonder, as our gourmet coffee and espresso blends have been consistently rating very well since 2005, just like your morning cup of coffee anid I am thankful for my brother Brandon for helping us out on weekends, when he not in school."

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Saturday, we purchased our food and water. Sunday, we filled our car with gas and packed some travel gear – food, water, dog food, important papers, and then odds and ends.  So that was done and we could vacate our home and the island quickly.

Saturday we also made sure the restaurants and resort who offer Island Joes Coffee had plenty of coffee, as even with the tourist leaving, the employees and other locals, would need their coffee.

Monday morning, Brandon, my son who created Beemer’s Breakfast Blend and I went to the store and roasted for several hours, really we did not have a lot of orders on hand, but it really just cleared our heads, allowing us to go over any loose ends. We realized our generator was not running smoothly, so we unplugged our coffee equipment in case of lightning strikes, then went next door to talk to Victor at the Honda shop, asking why our generator was not running smoothly. “Clean the jets in the carburetor.” So rebuilt the carb. Once this was done, we just had to monitor the radar, then begin our wait and see mode, which is mentally draining.

Monday afternoon, the front weather bands begin to hit and the power went out, but was only out a few hours. About 7 pm Monday night, it seems the back weather bands begin to hit us, but it was light and to our surprise and luck, nothing bad came of it.

Tuesday morning, we did a light clean up and headed back to the roaster.  You would think we sometimes roasting 7 days a week you would not miss roasting, but we you cannot roast, you miss roasting. Oh well.

Island Joes is roasting and ready for orders.

We do wish the rest of the people in the path of Hurricane Fay the best of luck – Keep your lines tight.

The first delivery of Island Joes Coffee to the Whole Foods Market will be August 12, 2008.

Whole Foods Market will offer the following IJS Coffee

Deep Blue - French Roast with No Bitter Aftertaste.

Beemer's Breakfast Blend - Rated 91 out o 100 by coffeereview.com

Misty Mornings - Low Acidic Gourmet Coffee - Rated 88 out of 100 by coffeereview.com

Smuggler's Brew Gourmet Coffee - Rated 88 out of 100 by coffeereview.com

IJS DeCaf Breakfast Blend

90 Mile Stretch Espresso - Rated 90 out of 100 by coffeereview.com

Deep Blue - French Roast with No Bitter Aftertaste.

Beemer's Breakfast Blend - Rated 91 out o 100 by coffeereview.com

Misty Mornings - Low Acidic Gourmet Coffee - Rated 88 out of 100 by coffeereview.com

Smuggler's Brew Gourmet Coffee - Rated 88 out of 100 by coffeereview.com

IJS DeCaf Breakfast Blend

90 Mile Stretch Espresso - Rated 90 out of 100 by coffeereview.com


In reveiw, Island Joe's Coffee Roasters was founded at a gas station in the Florida Keys by a father, two sons and a daugther and has become the highest rated coffee roasting company in the state of Florida with several gourmet espresso and coffee blends rating in the top 5% in the world (coffeereview.com). The Wells family lives by their motto - "Born out of Necessity and Crafted with Passion - The Proof is in the Cup."

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    Our answer to our visitors is Island Joes Coffee Roasting Company has gone green, as living in Key West one becomes very much in touch with Mother Nature, sometimes fearing her during hurricane season and always amazed at the beauty she bestows upon our senses. Thus our small family owned and operated coffee roasting family wanted to do their part which would help Mother Nature have the opportunity to share her grace and beauty for generations to come, so we added an Oxidizer to our coffee roasting system. Perhaps a little expensive for such a small company to bear, but we could not image waking up every day not seeing the beautiful waters surrounding our island and the sunsets, well we would be without words if the air was so polluted one could not view some of the finest natural art on earth and knowing we did not do our part to help protect this wonderful gift.

     Our Oxidizer almost eliminates all the pollution which is associated with roasting coffee, as without the Oxidizer during the roasting process thick black clouds of smoke (pollution) escape into our environment.  Perhaps one or two customers do not find us by smell, but they eventually do, then we explain why, this always seems to put a smile on their face.

http://www.islandjoescoffee.com/store/pages/Environmental-Roasting.html

Whole Foods Market
Phillips Crossing
Orlando, FL 32819

Beginning June 25, Whole Foods Market will open their new 50,000 square foot store in Orlando, Florida, which you will be able to purchase Island Joes Gourmet Coffee.

"We are very excited about this opportunity," stated Joe Wells, co-founder and coffee roaster at Island Joe's Coffee located in old town Key West, Florida. "We are also happy Whole Foods will be offering demos of our coffee at their Orlando store, which will give their customers the chance to taste our coffee, plus the demo specialist will have free coffee samples for customers to take home.  We really like to give the free samples to coffee lovers to take home, as this give them a chance to test our coffee in their normal coffee drinking environment, which we feel is a relaxing time for the consumer, thus they get the opportunity to fully explore our gourmet coffee and espresso blends. We also have many customers in the Orlando area, who normally order our coffee online, so now they can drop by Whole Foods Market and pick up a bag of Island Joe's Gourmet Coffee Beans without having to wait or pay for shipping."

"Whole Foods Market was founded in Austin, Texas, when four local businesspeople decided the natural foods industry was ready for a supermarket format. Our founders were John Mackey and Renee Lawson Hardy, owners of Safer Way Natural Foods, and Craig Weller and Mark Skiles, owners of Clarksville Natural Grocery. The original Whole Foods Market opened in 1980 with a staff of only 19 people. It was an immediate success. At the time, there were less than half a dozen natural food supermarkets in the United States. We have grown by leaps and bounds since our first store opened." (www.wholefoodsmarket.com)

Whole Foods will be offering Beemers Breakfast Blend (91 out of 100), Misty Mornings (low acidic and rated 88 out of 100), Smuggler's Brew (88 out of 100), Deep Blue (French roasted gourmet coffee with no bitter aftertaste) and their specialty based 90 Mile Stretch Espresso (90 out of 100).

In Review - The IJS coffee roasting company, which was founded at a gas station in the Florida Keys, has become one of the highest rated coffee roasting companies in the state of Florda, with several gourmet coffee and espresso blends rating in the top 5% in the world (coffeereview.com) and since their humble beginning, their online customer base expands the globe with customers in China, England, Canada, :Puerto Rico, Chile and all across the U.S., including Seattle.  The Wells family lives by their motto - "Born out of Necessity & Crafted with Passion - The Proof is in the Cup."

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Easy access to Walgreens on Roosevelt, next to the Home Depot is where you can now find Island Joe's Gourmet Coffee, also noting Walgreens on Duval in old town Key West, Florida offer Island Joe's Coffee by the cup or by the bag.

In Review - Island Joe's Gourmet Coffee Roasting Company (to date) has become the highest rated coffee roasting company (to date) in the state of Florida with several gourmet and espresso blends rating in the top 5% in the world (coffeereview.com).  IJS Coffee was founded at a gas station in the Florida Keys by a father, two sons and a daughter, as being islanders, one learns to provide many simple things in life for ones self, thus the Wells family could not get a cup of fresh roasted gourmet coffee - "Everyday!" Hence the birth of Island Joe's Coffee whose coffee is not only offered in limited Publix, Whole Foods, and other major super markets as well, plus IJS Coffee has established a gobal online customer base with customer in China, England, Puerto Rico, Canada and all across the U.S., including Seattle.

Then when visiting Key West, you can have a cup at some of the finest resorts and restaruants on the island i.e. Ocean Key Resort and Spa, Hyatt, La Concha (Crowne Plaza), Cafe Marquesa, Martin's, 915 and more.


Walgreens Store Locator

Pictured above is my son Trey (Smuggler's Brew) and his new friend CW4 Christopher M. Gauthreaux, who is serving in Iraq.  Chris was on a cruise with his wife for some R & R. They had a stopped in Key West, where I met Chris and took him over to our roasting shop, where he met Trey, before returning to Irag. 

On behalf of our my family, we would like to thank the men and women in our Armed Forces helping keep America a Safe place to sleep at Night.

More Troop Pictures

Felice Dubin owns the independent bookstore. She says she was sold on Wells' coffee for the young business after tasting every brand under the hot Florida sun. Now her store uses most of his signature blends.

“People love it - I mean really love it,” Dubin said. “All his coffees have a great taste ... and it's something new.”

In Revew, Island Joes coffee roasting company has become the highest rated coffee roasting company in the state of Florida with several gourmet coffee and espresso blends rating in the top 5% in the world.

Family owned and operated, the specialty coffee roasting company lives by their motto - "Born out of Necessity & Crafted with Passion - The Proof is in the Cup"

 Island Joes Colombian Breakfast Blend is served at some of the finest resorts and restaurants in the Florida Keys i.e. Ocean Key Resort and Spa, including the Hot Tin Roof, La Concha (Crowne Plaza), Hyatt Timeshares - etc.

Overall Rating: 91 points Aroma: 9 Acidity: 8 Body: 7 Flavor: 8 Aftertaste: 8 Roast (Agtron): Medium-Dark (37/49)

Origin: Colombia Notes: This coffee is a blend of dark and medium roasts of the same Colombia coffee. Joe Wells started his small-batch roasting business in a gas station because no one else in his part of the Florida Keys sold fresh-roasted coffee. Visit www.islandjoesgourmetcoffee.com or call 305-294-1190 for more information. Blind Assessment: Very sweet-toned aroma: distinct cocoaish chocolate notes with hints of walnut and a black-cherry inclined fruit. In the cup the cocoa and walnut notes simplify and amplify, supported by a sweet, crisp acidity. Flavor fades rather quickly in the finish but the chocolate and walnut have the last word. Who should drink it: The dominant baker's chocolate and walnut notes make this a strong-presenced cup despite its delicacy, with enough grace to be enjoyed black and enough substance to handle whitener. FULL STORY - See last part of Story Juan Valdez's Progeny: Micro-Lot and Other Fine Colombias by Kenneth Davids This month's cupping of coffees from Colombia confirms that this giant among coffee producers has successfully turned at least a portion of its industry from supplier of immense quantities of good-but-not-great generic "100% Colombian" coffee to prized source of smaller (sometimes tiny) lots of subtly distinctive specialty coffees. Handsome symbol Juan Valdez and his photogenic mule are being joined by growing numbers of actual small-holding farmers with pickup trucks instead of mules, distinctive-tasting coffees and real names: Humberto Gonzales, Odair Achipiz, Jairo Guiterrez, Alvaro Quintero, Javier Ladino, to name five whose coffees appear in this month's reviews. Not to knock Juan. He, of course, is the masterwork of the marketers who created the phenomenally successful advertising campaigns for 100% Colombian coffee, the dependable production of the National Federation of the Coffee Growers of Colombia, a vast, nation-wide association of mostly small-holding Colombian growers whose reliably good-quality coffee has for years given supermarket-can-buying Americans an alternative to the tasteless steam-neutralized robustas that dominate other cans. Classic but not Ordinary But the thirteen Colombia coffees reviewed here (and a half-dozen more rated 90-plus but not reviewed) definitely transcend the reliably good. Rather, they are exceptional variations on classic purity and balance. All are wet-processed or "washed" coffees, with the fruit and pulp removed before the seeds or beans are dried, a procedure that performed correctly emphasizes transparent, bright cup character with aromatic notes that reflect the floral-tinged, sweetly tart cherry character of coffee fruit just after picking. Most come from trees of sturdy, straightforward tasting varieties of arabica: caturra, typica and the hybrid Colombia. Most are very high-grown coffees with dense beans, full mouthfeel and substantial acidity, but acidity rounded and nuanced by natural sweetness from ripe fruit harvested by farmers whose fruit selection approaches the obsessive. What Kind of Classic: Subtle Distinctions These coffees display subtle and sometimes surprising variations on their classic theme. A suggestion of the dry "black currant" note that makes Kenya coffees so distinctive shows up in the PT's Reserva del Patron (93). The Coffee Klatch Humberto Gonzales micro-lot (93) is powerfully acidy but lushly sweet, grand but voluptuous; the El Portal micro-lot from Intelligentsia (also 93) is similar but a bit crisper and more pungent; the Willoughby's La Argentina (93) more direct and classically straightforward. Perhaps the most impressive of this group of sweetly acidy Colombias is the Paradise Roasters Jairo Guiterrez Micro-Lot (95), which adds a particularly rich mouthfeel and almost symphonic complexity to the classic theme. Other Colombias reviewed here, like the Intelligentsia La Dorada (94), are more delicate, with a soft, backgrounded acidity and fruit notes that come across as crisply cocoaish rather than tartly berry- or cherry-like. The 95-rated Kickapoo Fondo Paez Colombia, the only organically grown coffee reviewed here, is extraordinary in its combination of balance, completeness, and delicate, cocoa-nuanced complexity. Micro-Lots and Other Lots Understandably, the highest rated of this month's Colombias are the tiny "micro" lots offered by roasting companies that specialize in offering seasonal lots of very small volume and distinctive cup character usually sourced directly from small-holding farmers: Intelligentsia (Chicago), Paradise Roasters (Minnesota), Coffee Klatch (southern California), Counter Culture (North Carolina), Stumptown (Portland, Oregon), PT's (Kansas), Willoughby's (Connecticut). Then there are Colombias that are a bit more generic and probably sourced (skillfully) through normal industry channels, like the Island Joe's Colombia Breakfast Blend (91) and the Batdorf & Bronson Estrella del Sur (90). The Leopard Forest Colombia Maragogipe (90) is unusual in two respects. It marks a diversifying of offerings by Leopard Forest, a vertically integrated company originally formed to import and roast coffee from a single large farm in Zimbabwe, and it consists of coffee from trees of the exotic Maragogipe cultivar of Arabica, a variety that produces huge beans that impress with their appearance but usually fail to impress in the cup owing to thin body and subdued flavor. In this case a tactful, very light roast level permits the delicacy of this unusual variety to show at its best. Classic Roast Styles In general, these coffees were brought to a light-medium to medium roast to best display their tartly sweet structure and complex aromatics. At darker roast levels most of their subtle differences probably would go up the roaster chimney. They still would impress as lovely, balanced coffees, but I doubt whether I would be able to register the distinctions among them that I did for this month's cupping. And one of the main reasons for bringing coffees to a moderately dark roast, which is muting acidity, rounding body and softening fruit toward chocolate, is largely unnecessary here, given the natural sweetness, fruit-softened acidity, and inherent cocoa or baker's chocolate lean of the fruit in the majority of these coffees. The only exception to the medium-roast style among the coffees reviewed this month is the Island Joe's Breakfast Blend, which scatters a modest percentage of darker roasted beans among medium-roasted beans of the same excellent Colombia. Usually I don't find the mixing of dramatically darker roasted with medium-roasted beans of the same coffee an effective strategy, as it often results in a blurring of the character of the original coffee. Island Joe appears to have pulled this trick off, however, with the darker roasted beans deepening without dampening the impression of the cocoa and fruit.