Brown Hills

Weekly Update, Feb 15, 2026

New initiative, write more about the weeks and share more with friends. Coffees I’m in the Denver area and still hunting for coffee that works for me. Because this is my first weekly review, I’m going to include a couple from a couple of weeks back. Lima Coffee Roasters - Fort Collins - Vibe was great, but my coffee was pretty poor for the cost. Didn’t have many naturals Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters - Lakewood/Westminster - I love it when they do naturals, but until last week, they have had only six washed coffees and blends. Last week, they released a Gesha, but it looks like it is already off their site. Coffee Ride - Boulder - I love everything about this place and mission, except the coffee was a bit of a miss for me; it could also have been the coffee I picked. I tried the Colombia Finca Villa Betulia Honey Caturron, and it smells like Ginger. First time I have ever had a coffee smell like ginger, but the taste is very Cardamom for me. I also tried the Nicaragua La Bastilla Natural, and while it is a natural, brewed at 16:1, it still feels like a darker roast to me. I wanted more fruit. Despite all of this, I will go back and try another coffee there before too long. The shop is too cool. They started by delivering coffee on Bicycles! Huckleberry Roasters - Denver - This place has the same issue for me as Sweet Bloom. ALL OF THEIR COFFEES WERE WASHED. I got a 1:1; the barista was cool enough to make me one even though it wasn’t on the menu. The macchiato had no art. This doesn’t by default mean it is bad, but this one was bad, and the coffee tasted a bit burnt. Verb Coffee Roasters - Boulder - Saving the best of the week for last. This place has been on my radar before. Two years ago, we found it by accident while trying to go to another coffee shop in Boulder. It was hands down the best cup of coffee I had that year. Last year, I came back, and my coffee wasn’t anything special. I thought I had heard about them changing management or something, but apparently that was all in my head. Talking to coffee people at Sweet Bloom, I was encouraged to check them out again. So glad I did. Since I went a couple of weeks ago with family, I have been twice more and can’t wait to go again. I had a great YEMEN - WADI JANNAT - NATURAL SL34. I also had the RWANDA - NOVA WASHING STATION - ANAEROBICNATURAL RED BOURBON Achievements Did a really deep dive on the process of the Hanukkah Coffee Box and have some big learnings for next year. Added Ruff to a project I’m working on in Python thanks to a recommendation from Ethan Hunt. Made some big changes to the ways event locations are handled for [Sacred Space]https://www.findsacred.space]. This allows users to specify directions at their convenience, rather than an address. It also allows users to keep their address private until people sign up for the event. Font Awards for 2025 has finished, with Citywide as the winner, and I have set up the website to start accepting nominations for 2026. Any font created or redesigned in 2026 is eligible for the award. I am working on some of my leather crafting. I made a cover for my leather notebook with rivets. Started work on a new project that has the potential to change the way we deal with people through our technology. Discovered Post Oak BBQ and tried the Ron Swanson Sandwich Texas-style. I decided to start doing these weekly posts again. Photos ...

February 16, 2026 · zacharyc
Espresso machine pulling a shot.

Current Coffee Choice

One of the best pure espressos I’ve had near me is from Reprise. After my work on Hanukkah Coffee Box I’ve decided that I want to dive into the process of making better espresso and perfecting it to a level that I haven’t yet achieved before. When I reached out to Nick at Reprise, he provided me with some valuable advice. Don’t focus on small 1-pound bags of beans and try to achieve the right taste. It might take you a whole bag to dial in the flavor you want, and then you will have to recalibrate with the next bag. ...

May 30, 2025 · zacharyc
Photo of the Onyx Coffee Calendar box.

Hanukkah Coffee Calendar

My Local Coffee Shop got an Onyx advent calendar for $200. Each day, it comes with enough coffee to brew about two cups (it is not designed for espresso). It’s an exciting idea, but after looking around, I could not find a Coffee Calendar for Hanukkah. In typical Zack fashion, I decided that meant it was time for me to make one. To make this happen, I’m trying to gauge interest. My goal is to make between 10 and 20 calendars this year. They will be essential, as I don’t have time to make them overly elaborate. Hanukkah starts December 25th (yes, on Xmas this year), so I have limited time to get this to people. ...

November 27, 2024 · zacharyc
Coffee

Multi Roaster Coffee Shops

Like other beverages, coffee is complex. Like the variety of wines out there, there are a large variety of coffees. Many things go into a cup of coffee. From the beans growing on the tree to the glass used to serve the beverage, countless factors affect the taste of your coffee. As a coffee enthusiast who has savored about two cups of coffee daily for the past 15 years, I’m still on a journey of discovery. The coffee process is a complex web of factors, and this post delves into one small yet significant aspect: the role of roasting companies and how coffee shops make their selection. ...

September 13, 2024 · zacharyc
Coffee

Newport Coffee

This is related to my Newport, RI guide. Here is a review of the coffee places in Newport. Simple Merchant https://www.simplemerchantcoffee.com 513 Broadway, Newport, RI M-Sat 7am-5pm (food to 2:30) Sun 9am-2pm This is the best coffee shop in town. They have up to five different coffees available for order at any one time: House Drip Rotating Drip House Espresso Rotating Espresso Flash Brew (not cold brew, but a brewed coffee served cold) The shop is fantastic, the owner is rad, and the food is vegetarian, with many options being served vegan. The milk is done right, and you get good Latté Art. ...

August 24, 2024 · zacharyc