Valentine to New Orleans Roast 1803

For the shortest month of the year, February is amazingly full. For one thing, its African American History month. As if 28 (sometimes 29) days were enough to capture the contributions people of African descent have made to this country!

We did a little research and learned about the first coffee vendor in New Orleans’ French Market. Rose Nicaud was a woman of African descent and a former slave, but she started New Orleans’ coffee culture.

One of our favorite coffees, New Orleans Roast 1803 was inspired by the kind of coffee she roasted, ground and served. New Orleans is now known for very dark roasted coffee (often blended with chicory), but we’ve always preferred our New Orleans-inspired blend roasted light. We discovered that Rose’s coffee was described as a “pile of golden powder.” That’s exactly what you’d expect with a very light roasted coffee. She prepared her coffee as a pour-over, and from what we learned about her technique and people’s reaction to her coffee, served a cup that would meet the today’s highest standard.

If you’d like to taste a coffee similar to the one Rose served, consider try a roast of our New Orleans Roast 1803. Ask for it light. Our Roaster’s Choice level is City, but Rose probably roasted it even lighter, to a Cinnamon roast level. Roasted that light, the coffee will brew up with more lively fruit flavor and a brighter, more assertive spice note. If you’d like to try it, just choose “Roaster’s Choice” for roast level and write for “Cinnamon” in the box for Additional Instruction before you finalize your order. We’ll do the rest!

In honor of Black History month, and Rose Nicaud’s contribution to our country’s coffee culture, our first Coffee Valentine is dedicated to Rose and the coffee she served.

Sweet spicy steam, your smell's sublime

Takes me to a place in time

When Rosa Nicaud pushed her cart 

And served the crowd her coffee art. 

French Market's first fresh coffee vendor,

Poured sweet cups despite her gender.

Thank you Rose, a former slave,

For being determined, smart and brave.

For starting a tradition still strong today 

Of fresh, quality coffee, the New Orleans way.

If you’re interested in learning more about Rose or New Orleans’ coffee culture, here are some links about them.

https://www.nola.com/300/2018/11/rose_nicaud_new_orleans_coffee.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDrksWKuT3Y

https://www.nola.com/175years/index.ssf/2012/02/coffee_the_times-picayune_cove.html

https://www.crt.state.la.us/louisiana-state-museum/online-exhibits/coffee-trade-and-port-of-new-orleans/new-orleans-and-coffee/index

Thanks for reading our Valentine. Join the conversation and send a valentine to your favorite Coffee by the Roast coffee by leaving a response in the Facebook thread or a comment on this blog. Or, if you'd like to send your valentines to the wider world of coffee lovers, leave us a coffee review on Google or on your favorite review site. Not only do we value your opinions, but reviews help more people find us. Help us connect coffee lovers to fresh, quality coffee and spread the love of coffee this February! opinions, but reviews help more people find us. Help us connect coffee lovers to fresh, quality coffee and spread the love of coffee this February!

~ Carrie, Paul and all of us at Coffee by the Roast