For those of us who are fans of the delightful beverage of coffee, we generally have our favorite coffee mugs. Receiving a new mug as a gift for our birthday, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, or even at Christmas or Hanukkah are always appreciated. Coffee mugs are generally not very expensive. When giving a gift of a mug, it can be a stand alone or you can fill it with little treats like fudge or even a small bag of (what else?) coffee.
When picking out the coffee mug as a gift for that special someone we have all sorts of options. We can get a mass produced mug that follows a specific theme that our recipient will enjoy, that is pretty easy to do. We can also look for a coffee mug that is more unique and unusual, one that fits the personality of the person we are gifting.
The mug can relate to the time of the year we are giving the gift too. A winter scene, hearts for Valentine's Day, their zodiac sign, or something that really defines the person who will drink out of the coffee mug and think of us when they do. Perhaps your person loves birds, a coffee mug with an original drawing of a bird like the one below would really be a memorable gift.
The next time you have a gift to give, consider a cool coffee mug filled with something special.
As the holiday season is upon us we can enjoy special flavored coffees with specific flavors for this time of year. There are a few flavored coffees that we enjoy in our home this time of year. Candy canes are a favorite of ours so having
Van Houtte Candy Cane K-Cups
near the coffee machine has become a tradition in our kitchen.
If you enjoy vanilla and caramel flavors then you might like
Timothy's World Coffee Winter Carnival
as a choice to have during the entire winter.
And if you are not certain which flavor might satisfy your taste buds you can always try a variety pack such as the
Keurig Holiday Coffee Collection
as an option.
The wonderful thing about having the K-cups available is that when company comes you can offer them coffee with flavors that are oh so special during the winter and holiday season. Then again, it is a nice treat for yourself on a cold winter morning or evening.
Two flavors that are a winning combination for me are coffee and chocolate. Not just regular old coffee or plain old chocolate but the good stuff. Now let me tell you, I've tried many a blend of coffee that was supposed to have a chocolate flavor but found them lacking. There wasn't a good chocolate body to any of them. In fact most of the time, I couldn't taste any chocolate at all. Not until I switched to drinking k-cups that is.
I've found a wonderful coffee that has a great chocolate flavor in
Van Houtte Spicy Mayan Chocolate K-Cups. A medium roast combines the rich flavor of chocolate more like the Mayans drank some 2500 years ago. Oh the aroma of chocolate that wafts through the room while brewing. The added little spice is a touch of cinnamon. My goodness this is just the best dessert coffee I've ever had! Just about every night after dinner and my little chores are complete, I sit down with a cup of this luscious brew. It is simply divine!
I did promise that I would talk about all things Coffee on this blog and today I'm going to talk about a connection with coffee and my other favorite thing reading murder mysteries. A series of mysteries involving a Coffee House and of course our favorite brew coffee has been created by author Cleo Coyle and I'm hooked.
Coyle started this mystery series back in 2003 with the first book
On What Grounds 
where we are introduced to Clare Cosi the manager of a coffeehouse in New York's Greenwich Village called the Village Blend. The mystery begins with her first day back on the job, after a 10 year absence, to find her assistant unconscious on the floor. To coin another author of mystery fame, "The game is afoot" and the mystery starts to unravel.
Second in what has now been deemed as the Coffeehouse Mysteries is
Through the Grinder 
which was published in October of 2004. In this mystery Clare's female customers begin to die and Lieutenant Quinn is there again to help solve the mystery.
Currently there are 7 books in the series with No. 8 due to be released on August 3, 2010.
Roast Mortem 
is the latest in Coyle's wonderful series. What I love about these books is the added information about different types of roasts of coffee that Coyle intertwines into the stories. As you are reading you can almost smell the aromas of brews being made in the Coffee House. She even goes so far as to tell the readers how to make spectacular cups of coffee in ways that we might not imagine. Not only is Cleo Coyle a fabulous mystery writer but you can tell that she is a true fan of our favorite beverage...coffee.
I encourage you to pick up one of these delightful books, sit down with your favorite brew and enjoy a mystery in the Coffee House.