I live in a town of about 6,000 permanent residents that “swells” to almost 10,000 in the summer. We have two stoplights on the main thoroughfare, and none anywhere else. The first is in front of the elementary school for the benefit of the schoolbuses, and the second is for the big coffee conglomerate. Yes, our little town supports three Starbucks. Count ’em, three. And they all seem to be thriving, despite the business they lose to the other four independent coffee stands on the same street. Even though we live in the Northwest, I confess that I’m not a huge fan of theirs. Oh, yes, we’ve been to the “first one” in Seattle, played tourist, and had our picture taken in front of their window. And their iced drinks in the summer are delicious. But for coffee, I’d rather spend the money to make the good stuff at home.
Maybe it’s my uneducated palate, but the coffee at Starbucks always seems overly strong. Not espresso strong, but 7-11-left-on-the-burner-way-too-long strong. I enjoy the occasional cup, but if I’m going to drink coffee, I want to be able to sip and enjoy it. Here’s a coffee deal I can enjoy. Four ½ pound bags of Boca Java for only $8. You’’re paying the shipping, and they’re throwing in the coffee for free. Boca Java coffee is smooth and rich. We had some at a friend’s house and I remembered the name when this deal came up. I went ahead and ordered the flavored coffees: one pack each of Surfing Safar (vanilla, Kahlua & caramel), 
Hightide Hazelnut (toasted hazelnut), Vacation Villa Vanilla (French vanilla), and Lee’s Caramel Kiss Island (caramel & chocolate). They also have medium, dark, and combo roasts if you like your coffee a little stronger.
With winter in full swing, a cup of coffee may be just what’s needed to keep the chills at bay.