An email from yesterday...

I went to check my email yesterday that catches everything from this blog -- comments, questions, etc. I found the below email from a person working with Folgers on some new "gourmet" blends of coffee.. Dear Jason, I'm writing to you from Bridge Worldwide, a relationship marketing agency that's working with the makers of Folgers(R) to promote the launch of their new Gourmet Selections(TM) coffees. Get Free Gourmet Coffee! We would love to send you free samples of new gourmet-inspired, deliciously aromatic coffees. Why? Because we recognize that others value your opinions, and that you take the time to share your insights. What's the catch? There is none. All we ask is that you post an honest review on your blog. Of course, we hope that you like the product, but we're most interested in your opinion. And we would appreciate a link to your review after you have posted it online. Be Among the First to Try Folgers Gourmet Selections! Reply to this email with your mailing address, and we'll send your free samples in four to six weeks. In the meantime, you can check out [their website] to learn more. We look forward to sending you Folgers Gourmet Selections. Give it a try and even share a cup or two with friends and family. Then please post your review, and let us--and coffee lovers everywhere--know what you think. I went ahead and replied saying to send me some coffee -- why not, they did want an honest review. I am sure it will be pre ground which is a bit of a bummer because I already know it will be a bit stale. I guess it would not make since to send whole bean as, I do not think anyway, Folgers comes in wholebean. Maybe a suggestion for the future? I wish that this coffee was organic or certified in some way (Fair Trade, Bird Friendly, etc). I think it would be great to see these companies get into this type of coffee. What holds these companies back? I understand that it is a bit more expensive but only a few cents. While I have been reading about Fair Trade and trying to get involved in the past 12 months or so, I feel like a child when it comes to really knowing the "ins and outs" of the process. I need books. Know of any? A review will be posted on the stuff they are sending when I get done trying them. Look for it. ..be bold ***UPDATE*** It was brought to my attention today, thanks to the BirdBarista, that some (not sure of percentage however) of Folgers coffee comes from Vietnam, where 89% of the area's crop is low quality robusta. BirdBarista wrote a nice post about all of this just the other day on the blog Coffee and Conservation, one of my favorites. Tagged: espresso, coffee, bozeman, montana, folgers, gourmet selections, cafe evoke, coffee catering