Giving Hope in Rwanda and Burundi Through the Love of Coffee

June 19, 2009 by paramountcoffee

In May 2009, our own coffee artisan and native of Brazil, Angelo Oricchio, traveled to the great continent of Africa for two very special events.

Angelo’s first stop was Gishoma, Cyangugu, in Rwanda.  Through our partnership with Michigan State University and the PEARL (Partnership to Enhance Agriculture in Rwanda through Linkage) Project, proceeds from the sales of our One Thousand Hills Fair Trade Rwanda coffee were officially donated to the Cocagi Cooperative.  The cooperative, with approximately 1,300 farmers, is a small nucleus that encompasses the washing station for processing coffee, a small open market, church, and schools.

With the help of locals, a percentage of the proceeds were used to purchase 400 goats that were presented to the cooperative.  The goats will provide the cooperative members and their families with a virtually endless supply of milk, food, and fertilizer.

400 Goats were purchased for the people of the Cocagi Cooperative.

400 Goats were purchased for the people of the Cocagi Cooperative.

After the donation ceremony, a reception took place at Gashonga Washing Station that included speeches from Angelo; Dan Clay, the director of MSU’s Institute of International Agriculture; the president of the cooperative; and others.  The local people danced, sang, and recited poetry to honor their guests.  Angelo received a beautiful, hand-woven basket as a token of thanks to our company.

Angelo then traveled to Burundi with the other coffee roasters and coffee professionals from the USA, South Africa and Uganda.  They learned about the work the Office du Café du Burundi (OCIBU) is doing to establish cupping labs and to certify cuppers within Burundi.  The group also cupped several coffee samples from different areas of the country; and later, at OCIBU headquarters in Bujumbura, the group discussed various protocols involved in cupping, which comprises water conditions, preparation of samples, and cupping.

OCIBU and Angelo

OCIBU and Angelo

Throughout the visit in Burundi, as in Rwanda, local people greeted and entertained the group with singing and dancing to show their appreciation.  There were also small celebrations at nearly every washing station.

Angelo’s trip included a full-day conference with government dignitaries, coffee exporters, and OCIBU members.  The main topic was the different points involved in producing Specialty Coffees, from production to shipping.  The conference was part of a very involved effort to educate and encourage the Specialty Coffee industry’s growth in the Burundi.

Drink Coffee.  Do Good.

Drink Coffee. Do Good. (Sahid)

“My personal experience was very special.  The goat ceremony in Rwanda was a very proud moment.  To realize that we formed an alliance, through our company buying the cooperative’s green coffee and our customers buying our roasted coffee, that really helps these people is a great feeling.” -Angelo Oricchio


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Celebrate the Cherry!

June 1, 2009 by paramountcoffee

The first National Cherry Festival was held in 1926, originating from a spring ceremony known as the “Blessing of the Blossoms.”  Now it has grown to over 500,000 attendees during the 8-day event, held every year in July at the “Cherry Capital of the World”-Traverse City, Michigan.  This year’s festival is July 4-11.

Visit the National Cherry Festival website for more info.


We are proud to offer National Cherry Festival Traverse City Cherry and Traverse City Chocolate Cherry flavored coffees.

These coffees were created with cherry lovers in mind!  So sit back, enjoy these specialty coffees, and celebrate the rich cherry flavor and aroma.  Proceeds from their sale support the long-term celebration of the cherry and one of the nation’s most celebrated festivals.  Available for a limited time, visit www.paramountcoffee.com/shop to order now!

Celebrate the cherry with these delicious cherry-flavored coffees!

Hot Coffee Makin’ You Sweat?

May 21, 2009 by paramountcoffee

Iced Coffee

The days are getting warmer as we quickly near the summer months.  Many coffee-lovers will sweat through the early mornings (and all day) to indulge in their favorite brew.  But for those out there that can’t take the heat, here are a couple iced coffee recipes that may happily give you second thoughts about packing up that brewer for the summer.


Iced Flavored Coffee–Blueberry Muffin

  1. Fill 16oz. glass with ice
  2. Add 2oz. skim milk and ½oz. Torani Cane Sweetener (or sweeten to taste with sugar/sugar substitute)
  3. Fill glass with brewed, chilled Blueberry Muffin flavored coffee


Iced Regular Coffee–Gourmet Delight Blend

  1. Fill 16oz. glass with ice
  2. Add 2oz. skim milk and ½oz. flavored syrup (or sweeten to taste with sugar/sugar substitute)
  3. Fill glass with brewed, chilled Gourmet Delight coffee

These recipes are great to tweak to your taste.  Use your favorite kind of milk, cream, or soy milk.  Try another flavored coffee like Hazelnut Cream, Jamaican Me Crazy, or Traverse City Cherry.  Coffee is about sipping something satisfying and should always make you smile–so have fun with it!

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town 2009

May 14, 2009 by paramountcoffee

The 15th annual Be a Tourist in Your Own Town is on May 30th this year, and once again, we are proudly participating in the festivities.  This event is a great way to celebrate Lansing’s 150th anniversary and visit the ever-important local businesses, and have some fun of course.

Though Paramount Coffee’s roasting facility is closed to the public, for this day only we will be opening the doors for free guided tours from 10:00am to 4:00pm.  We are on the “Red Route” on the BATYOT bus route, so be sure to get your passport and your stamp from CATA for your day of local tourism.  Follow the aroma of fresh roasted coffee and we will see you soon!

Visit www.lansing.org/batyot for more BATYOT information.

Lugnuts Fans, Come Park at Paramount Coffee for the Game!

May 13, 2009 by paramountcoffee

Paramount Coffee "Frac Packs"

If you’ve ever been to a Lugnuts baseball game in Downtown Lansing, chances are you may have parked in our company parking lot before.  In fact, you may have done so and not even realized it…that is, if you don’t know what the lingering aroma of fresh roasted coffee smells like on a warm summer evening.

During most night games, we offer cheap parking in our company lot right across the street from the stadium.  Five-bucks will get you in, and starting in June, we will be giving away FREE “frac pack” coffee in addition to coupons for 25% off at our online retail store.

Drink more coffee and GO NUTS!

Hello Coffee World!

May 12, 2009 by paramountcoffee

Welcome to our official blog.  If you drink our coffee, serve our coffee, or are just an all around coffee-lover, then this is the place for you!  We will be posting news related to the business of coffee, tip & tricks, recipes, new products we’re offering and more.  So check often as we get this thing rolling.  In the meantime, you can find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.