Join us in congratulating Tully’s on the opening of their new location on 555 110th Ave NE!  Enjoy the same delicious coffee in this comfortable and friendly location.

Be sure to satisfy you coffee craving at the Bellevue Tully’s on 110th!

The Chamber Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

Fonté Coffee Roaster Café and Wine Bar introduces an expanded wine list and menu. The café has also enhanced its Happy Hour offerings, with new bites, beer and wine specials and extended late night hours.

The wine list, managed by renowned Sommelier Tysan Dutta, has doubled in size, now offering 37 wines by the glass in addition to a variety of five expertly paired flights. Sample flights include an exploration of the Willamette Valley in Lewis & Clark’s Oregon Trail; the indulgent Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams and, for the truly adventurous, the “WTF” (What the Fonté?) features a selection of unique, unexpected wines designed for enthusiasts interested in “expanding their olfactory awareness and flexing their palate muscles.” Custom flights are available upon request.

“Expanding our wine list allowed me to increase the variety of wine regions and price points represented,” said General Manager and Sommelier Tysan Dutta. “We also added a section that highlights my favorite bottles of the moment, which really lets me have some fun with our customers while showcasing wines and regions that aren’t commonly known.”

Menu newcomers include hearty dishes like the spicy pork meatball marinara and the chicken piccatta and lighter fare such as the roasted mushroom and spinach bruschetta. Crowd favorites like the Fonté aged cheddar macaroni and cheese and the warm dates stuffed with Marcona almonds and pancetta remain. The all-day breakfast menu will continue to be offered by popular demand.

Fonté’s Happy Hour will now be served Fridays and Saturdays, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 – 10:00 p.m.; Sunday through Thursday, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. During these hours, all 37 wines by the glass are available at half price and all draft beers are $3.00 each.  The Happy Hour menu features a wide selection of snacks, like the Marcona almonds, either plain or chocolate-covered with spiced ground chili pepper, ($3-$4.00); salads, such as the spinach and pancetta salad ($3.00) and sharable plates like the mini salami sandwiches with mozzarella and pesto ($4.00) or the spiced lamburger sliders with caramelized onions ($5.00).

About Fonté Coffee Roaster Café and Wine Bar
After 20 years of roasting the finest coffee in the world from its headquarters in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, Fonté Coffee Roaster opened its flagship retail store in Seattle, Fonté Coffee Roaster Café and Wine Bar, in August 2009. Spearheaded by Fonté Owner Paul Odom, the café and wine bar is committed to serving the highest quality coffee, food and wine. The comprehensive menu boasts a variety of quality offerings for any time of day – whether it be a breakfast on the go, a quick business lunch or a lingering dinner for two. The wine list, managed by renowned Sommelier Tysan Dutta, presents a range of offerings by the glass or bottle including both value wines, as well as “treasures from the cellar.”The bar is located at 1321 First Avenue in the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle, across from the Seattle Art Museum and just steps from Pike Place Market. The Café is open weekdays 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.  For more information, call 206-777-6193 or visit fontecoffee.com.

Our friends in Sumatra had a brilliant harvest this fall. Once again this certified organic coffee from the Gayo region of Northern Sumatra stands out among all other Indonesian coffees we have cupped with rich, exotic, robust aromas and flavors.

Tasting Notes: enticing aromas of dark chocolate, baking spice and cigar smoke up front with sultry nuances of cinnamon and earthiness. A robust, full bodied coffee with low acidity and well balanced sweet/smoky flavors of dark chocolate, vanilla, maple, and tobacco. Pleasant, lingering aftertaste of dissipating cocoa powder with lovely traces of warm spice.

The shade grown coffee farms in the Gayo River area provide substantial habitat for local bird and animal populations and exist within a brilliant and varied eco-system. Because of this, the coffee farmers here have an unparalleled respect and reverence for the planet. The warmth and generosity we experienced during our visits have created a bond between roaster and farmer that is rare and has enriched us greatly. We are anxiously awaiting their return visit to Seattle this April. Expect cuppings, dinners, and several opportunities to meet the producers. Stay Tuned for details.

This remarkable coffee is available now on our online store at caffevita.com, all six Vita locations, and in the Seattle area at Whole Foods, Metropolitan Markets, Central Markets and many other fine retailers.

Click here to order online. $14/pound.

News Reel

1. Feb. 4th // Portland, OR // Vita joins Ecotrust and Slow Food Portland in a celebration of Chocolate and Coffee. From Bean To Buzz, tickets and event details here.

2. Eat Chocolate Help Haiti. Vita is selling the Haiti Fund Theo Chocolate Bars at all cafe locations. More info here.

3. New PBS dates. Vita announces new Public Brewing School dates – where you can further your knowledge of coffee brewing methods including the use of Vita Pour Over, French Press, Vacuum Pot, Bialetti and more. Free of charge – click for details

4. Ben Gibbard singing Harvest Moon + new tracks by The Long Winters and the Unnatural Helpers now live on Vita’s charitable music compilation giveseattle.org. New videos by Chase Jarvis and Creature.

5. Follow us on twitter here. Become a fan on facebook here.

ABOUT CAFFE VITA FARM DIRECT. This is a continuation of our Farm Direct program to source the best coffees directly from the best farms around the globe. Vita has made the commitment to not only purchase coffee from exemplary farmers, but to go further and investigate deeply into the cultures that produce these glorious coffees – and to openly share our findings with our community. Coffee is culture.

Fonté Coffee Roaster Café and Wine Bar announces menu  and drink specials that celebrate the season of love and the café’s location in downtown Seattle between the iconic Lusty Lady and Fran’s Chocolates. Throughout the month of February, Fonté will offer The Lusty Latté and the Strawberries, Lust & Chocolate pairing.

“We’ve always appreciated Fonté’s location between two iconic Seattle businesses – both made famous for two very different things – lust and chocolate,” said Tysan Dutta, Fonté’s general manager and sommelier. “We decided that February was the ideal time to celebrate each of these.”

The Lusty Latté, developed by Fonté’s morning latte art diva, Melissa Harris, features a seductive and spicy combination of black cherry, clove and pistachio. Prices start at $2.85 for a 12-ounce latté.

Sommelier Tysan Dutta created the Strawberries, Lust & Chocolate pairing, which includes two champagne flutes of Pierre Sparr’s pink bubbles served alongside house-made passion fruit truffles and chocolate sauce for dipping fresh strawberries ($20 serves two).

In addition to the month’s drink specials, the week before Valentine’s Day, Chef Mark Shaughnessy will feature a selection of menu items with aphrodisiac qualities including prosciutto wrapped figs with goat cheese and honey ($6) and local oysters on the half shell with a pomegranate mignonette ($2 each). Fonté also offers a range of small plates developed for sharing, including the popular roasted dates stuffed with almonds and pancetta or the roasted root vegetable bruschetta with herbed mascarpone and aged balsamic.

Melissa’s  Lusty Latté and Tysan’s Strawberries, Lust & Chocolate pairing will be available from February 1  through February 28, 2010. Fonté’s menu offers a range of sandwiches, salads, shareable small plates and all-day breakfast. The Café is open weekdays 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

About Fonté Coffee Roaster Café and Wine Bar
After 20 years of roasting the finest coffee in the world from its headquarters in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, Fonté Coffee Roaster opened its flagship retail store in Seattle, Fonté Coffee Roaster Café and Wine Bar, in August 2009. Spearheaded by Fonté Owner Paul Odom, the café and wine bar is committed to serving the highest quality coffee, food and wine. The comprehensive menu boasts a variety of quality offerings for any time of day – whether it be a breakfast on the go, a quick business lunch or a lingering dinner for two. The wine list, managed by renowned Sommelier Tysan Dutta, presents a range of offerings by the glass or bottle including both value wines, as well as “treasures from the cellar.”The bar is located at 1321 First Avenue in the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle, across from the Seattle Art Museum and just steps from Pike Place Market. For more information, call 206-777-6193 or visit fontecoffee.com.