http://slingshotcoffee.tumblr.com/

The Derby… a mint julep with a Slingshot Coffee Co. twist....

Fri, 03 May 2013 11:58:36 -0400

The Derby… a mint julep with a Slingshot Coffee Co. twist. Try one tonight at our First Friday party!

Friday, May 3
6-10 pm
Slingshot Coffee Co. HQ / Oak City Cycling Project
212 E. Franklin St., Raleigh

Full Circle: Slingshot Cold Brew Spring Seasonal

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:11:40 -0400

Slingshot Coffee Co. launched 9 1/2 months ago as the first bottled cold brew coffee in the Southeast. I was in the clouds with excitement and couldn’t wait to get it in your hands. I’d spent more than a year working on the launch, much of that time considering the most important part: the coffee itself. For this Spring seasonal, join me to celebrate the full circle and remember how it all started… with one of my favorite coffees, La Golondrina Colombia.

Colombian coffee usually conjures the image of Juan Valdez and his mule, reppin’ Colombian Coffee to the rest of the world. While Colombia still has a vast amount of commercial-grade coffee pumping out of their fields, the producers of the Organica Cooperative in the southwest region of Colombia called Cauca grow some of the most delicious coffee in the world. The La Golondrina Project works directly with the best growers in the Cooperative. With notes of cherry, chocolate, caramel and some of that mouth-watering citrusy brightness, La Golondrina is a classic that never disappoints me.

I had a hard time deciding if I wanted to use a coffee I’d previously brewed. Slingshot, to me, isn’t about one specific flavor profile all year long, but giving people the opportunity to experience the adventure of how different coffees from different growing regions, elevations, processes, etc., each on their own have so many unique and complex characteristics. It is fascinating and what true Specialty Coffee is all about. It’s challenging to rethink the brewing process to prepare for each new season, and encourages me to never stop learning about coffee so that I can always craft the best cold brew coffee for you.

I promise to keep pushing the boundaries of what I do, how I do it and the result so y’all can count on the best. I appreciate the cheers, support and enthusiasm… and I can’t wait for what lies ahead…

Georgia On My Mind

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 11:53:17 -0500

I’m excited to kick off this weekend with some very exciting news… Slingshot Cold Brew will be available at two exceptional locations in Atlanta, Georgia, beginning next Wednesday!

I’m thrilled to be working with Star Provisions, located in The Westside in Atlanta. Star Provisions is a gorgeous store that is essentially the pantry of sister restaurant Bacchanalia, with separate markets for cheese, fresh cut meats, breads, baked goods and other gourmet specialty foods, where you you can find both Ready-to-Drink and Concentrate bottles of Slingshot Cold Brew.

Secondly, the lovely Whole Foods Buckhead will also carry Slingshot Cold Brew Ready-to-Drink and Concentrate in the cold beverage grab & go case. If you haven’t visited the Buckhead Whole Foods, you should go. The store has a great vibe, and the staff is friendly and helpful. I’m so happy to be joining the Whole Foods family there.

You're Next, Charleston

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 11:07:15 -0500

I’m beyond happy to announce that Slingshot Cold Brew will be available at the fantastic Mixson Market in North Charleston beginning next week!

From their good taste in coffee (they proudly serve up Counter Culture Coffee); to the nicely curated market goods; to their simple, well-thought-out menu (check out the “Pickled + Cured + Cultured section), I’m honored that Slingshot Cold Brew is a part of Mixson Market.

Visit them out the next time you’re in Charleston, or make it your everyday spot…

4338 McCarthy Street
North Charleston, SC 29405

We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Winter Seasonal...

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:17:00 -0500

When you’re working with crops, in this case coffee, you are at the whim of a lot of factors out of your control. The weather, plant disease, natural disasters, you name it. So many things can affect the outcome of the coffee that just happen.

It’s also a skill in forecasting.

A huge reason I work with Counter Culture Coffee is simply because they know coffee. And not just know coffee, they have a team of people who are constantly traveling, on the ground at producer’s farms across the globe, working with them, tasting coffee, examining the processes on the farm; and building friendships, partnerships and relationships. It’s a dedication to quality that reflects my own for Slingshot Cold Brew.

When Counter Culture buys coffee, it isn’t just on a whim, and the amount to commit to isn’t just a shot in the dark. It’s carefully considered so that coffees purchased are going to be fresh and in season, and not become past their prime for effectively roasting the highest quality beans.

I chose to work with a Bolivian coffee for the winter seasonal not just because of it’s flavor profiles, but because it was an interesting source. It was the first year purchasing this particular coffee for Counter Culture, and as it turns out, there wasn’t enough to go around. Es muy popular.

So what does that mean for Slingshot? It means back to the drawing board. When I choose a coffee for Slingshot Cold Brew, I put a lot of time and consideration into which beans I use. I look at flavor profiles, brewing methods, origin and of course, seasonality. I want to not only use in-season, organic beans, but I want the flavor profiles of that coffee to be something that our palate’s really enjoy a particular time of year.

I wanted to find a coffee that still highlighted some of the same characteristics of the Bolivian that I particularly loved, like the sweet spice. What I found was a Peru that I’m very fond of. With a nice brown sugar, sweet spice to it, the Peru was a fantastic transition. As always, it’s a single origin, organic and in-season bean.

I hope you enjoy this new “limited edition” as I gear up to choose what’s next… the Slingshot Cold Brew Spring seasonal is just around the bend!

Franklin... you, too

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:26:22 -0500

Franklin, Tennessee, I want you to party with Slingshot, too. So let’s get down, yeah? Beginning Friday, January 25, 2013, you can swing by Whole Foods Franklin and grab as many bottles of Slingshot as your heart desires. Or that are on the shelf.

I’m so excited to meet you fine people of Tennessee!

The Volunteer State

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 11:05:06 -0500

It’s true, good folks. Slingshot Cold Brew is crossing state lines and will be landing in…

…NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE! Beginning this weekend, you’ll be able to buy Slingshot Cold Brew at Whole Foods Green Hills just a hop, skip & jump from downtown Nashville. So please, Nashville, drink and enjoy. And I’ll be there soon to say hi!

GOLDBELY + Slinghot Coffee Co.

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:57:34 -0500

Tasting regional foods when you’re on a trip is such a fun way to learn about a place. Whether you’ve been to a destination a thousand times or you’re somewhere you’ve never been, meals and drinks (in my case the primary drink being coffee) are usually something to plan around. But regional is usually just that: it’s usually not coming home with you.

I am so happy to announce Slingshot’s newest retail partner is an online retailer that specializes is bringing some of your favorite regional foods straight to your doorstep — Goldbely.

The folks at Goldbely don’t just love food; they love the stories that go with that food. And they love to share those food experiences with people. Everything from seafood to baked goods to (of course) Slingshot Cold Brew, Goldbely curates some of the tastiest regional foods from around the country and offers them straight to your door.

Check ‘em out!

Slingshot Cold Brew on BuzzFeed

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:04:51 -0500

What a way to start 2013! A HUGE thanks for BuzzFeed Food for listing Slingshot Cold Brew among the 34 Coolest Food Packaging Designs of 2012 list! So honored… and in REALLY good company. Check out the article!

Recipes for Your New Year

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 12:37:00 -0500

Still have some last-minute beverages to buy for your New Year celebrations? Whether staying in or heading to a raging party, pick up a bottle of Slingshot Cold Brew and make any of these tasty cocktails to ring in 2013!

Recipes can be found on the Slingshot Coffee Co. website, and will be updated to include all kinds of ways to use your bottle of Slingshot Cold Brew!

Thank you, 2012

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 11:42:15 -0500

I’m going to sum up 2012 by just saying THANK YOU. Thank you to those of you who have shown incredible support for Slingshot Coffee Co., including customers and the community as a whole. Thank you to friends and family who love me no matter how many times I have to decline an invitation or duck out early. Thank you to everyone who has helped to give Slingshot a boost — near and far — in so many different ways.

2012 has been such an incredible year, realizing the beginnings of a dream and seeing Slingshot grow. It’s been the hardest work I’ve ever done, but don’t you worry… I’m by no means planning to slow down now.

2013, I’m coming for ya…

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

Sunday Supper @ Capital Club 16

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:58:48 -0500

I hope you didn’t eat too many Thanksgiving leftovers, because the December Sunday Supper at Capital Club 16 will feature Slingshot Coffee Co.! Of course I’m in good company this month with Tasty Beverage Co., Commonwealth Coop and Holly Aiken.

Sunday Suppers are really fun, with family-style seating and creative dishes prepared using items the featured suppliers.

Sunday, December 2, 2012 @ 7 p.m.

Reservations can be made through Capital Club 16 by calling 919.747.9345, or by emailing shannon@capitalclub16.com.

MENU

Libations

~Slingshot Cold Brew Cocktails~
~Beer options curated by Tasty Beverage Co.~

Appetizers

Commonwealth Field Green Salad

with goat cheese, cranberries, pecan pick ups, blood orange vinaigrette

Tyrolen Beer Soup

with Emmantaler, rosemary and pretzel croutons

Entrees

Bavarian Holiday Goose Roast

Free range goose, lingonberry gravy, “blaukraut” (braised red cabbage and apples), and Bavarian style potato dumpling

English Prime Rib Roast

Slingshot pan jus, horseradish, glazed peas, carrots and Commonwealth kohlrabi, roasted garlic mashed potatoes

Veggie Pot Pie

with Commonwealth kohlrabi, fennel, carrots, rutabaga, new potatoes, sweet potatoes, English peas

Dessert

Bloom’s Coffee-Toffee Pie

Slingshot coffee and chocolate filling baked in a chopped walnut crust and house made Bailey’s whipped cream topping

Thankful

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 09:43:00 -0500

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!

I hope you’ll give me just a minute to let me be a little cliche, but no less sincere, about being thankful.

In the last six months, I have gone from closing my eyes while I posted a picture on the Interwebs of two Slingshot Cold Brew bottles, to seeing them gracing the shelves of some of the finest independent retail shops in Raleigh and North Carolina, standing at attention in the case at Whole Foods stores across The Old North State, talked about in some great articles and blog posts, on Instagram feeds from people all over the country, and plastered on blogs, Facebook, Twitter feeds and Pinterest pages all over the world.

To a lot of people, and certainly to tons of other successful small businesses, Slingshot is small potatoes. And to many it’s “just coffee.” But to me, it means the world. It’s my heart and soul, it’s my time away from family and friends, it’s my sleepless nights, it’s my best days and my worst days.

The past six months have changed my life! Every single one of you who have taken the chance to carry it in your stores, who have come out to an event for Slingshot, or bought a bottle every now and again, or have made it a part of your daily routine, or have told someone else about it… and all the tweets, posts and photos that have come with all of that… I’m grateful and thankful.

For Jonathan, Frank the Beagle, friends and family… I’m grateful and thankful.

For Market, Oak City Cycling Project and Raleigh Architecture Co. … I’m grateful and thankful.

For coffee farmers and coffee lovers the world over… I’m grateful and thankful.

For the roots we put down in such a fantastic city exactly seven years ago tomorrow… I’m grateful and thankful.

Thanks for making this an indescribable six months, and here’s to what lies ahead!

jenny

My weekend in Instagram: Friday night sunset over Raleigh |...

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:00:00 -0500

My weekend in Instagram:

Friday night sunset over Raleigh | Saturday night show w/ Matthew E. White and Midtown Dickens | Slingshot Bottle Blanket from Meredith | Sunday Drive through The Old North State

Black [Coffee] Friday

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:12:00 -0500

Don’t get stuck in a mall on Black Friday… there are much better places you can be.

Join us on Friday, November 23, 2012, for Black [Coffee] Friday at Slingshot Coffee Co. HQ.

The Slingshot Fall seasonal is coming to an end, so come by the HQ from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and enjoy this single-origin Guatemalan coffee any of three ways:

Slingshot Cold Brew
[Hot] Slingshot Cold Brew
Chemex Pourover

The exact same coffee can taste different just by using different brewing methods. Since it’s Black Friday, let’s enjoy this coffee straight up black to taste its inherent flavor profiles through each brew… dark chocolate, stone fruit, and a bit of a honey finish. No cream. No sugar.

Coffee will be $2. You’ll also be able to purchase bottles of Slingshot Cold Brew and 12 oz. bags of Counter Culture Coffee’s single-origin Guatemala, Concepcion Huista.

Want to chip in to help feed those in need in our community? Bring a healthy, non-perishable food donation to help support our local food banks during the holidays.

Come over with your favorite glass or mug, or use one of ours… smuggle cream and sugar if you need to. Hang out for a while, browse the excellent selection of bicycles at Oak City Cycling (or even buy one to ride home), and let’s be thankful for gathering with good coffee.

*camping outside Slingshot HQ Thursday night is optional

Want to make your presence known? RSVP here.

1,000 For My Birthday

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:42:00 -0500

My birthday is Saturday (Nov. 17). I reeeeaaaalllly like nice round numbers, so I have a super simple way you can win a crazy awesome Slingshot Coffee Co. prize pack.

Be the 1,000th follower on Twitter or the 1,000th “Like” on Twitter by 5 p.m. tomorrow, Nov. 17, and get the following swag:

1. Slingshot Coffee Co. T-shirt

2. Slingshot Cold Brew 4-pack (2 concentrate/2 ready-to-drink)

3. Slingshot Coffee Co. window sticker

4. A slingshot… a-like so:

Now go forth and spread the good news! You could get presents, too!

In-Crowd: ILM

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:32:37 -0500

Welcome to the fold, Wilmington! Beginning this weekend, you can find Slingshot Cold Brew in stock at Whole Foods Wilmington! With this newest store, you can now find Slingshot Cold Brew from the mountains to the coast in North Carolina, and lots of places in-between!

I’m really looking forward to the first tasting… stay tuned for deets.

*photo courtesy of Deb Church

Slingshot Coffee Co.: The Opening

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 10:59:00 -0500

On Friday, Nov. 2, Slingshot Coffee Co. officially opened the doors to it’s new production space! I couldn’t be more excited to be nestled in Oak City Cycling Project with a space that is just for Slingshot! It’s not a huge place, but it will meet needs (for now…) and it is a beautiful place in which to brew that fine nectar that is Slingshot Cold Brew.

There was an absolutely huge crowd and I couldn’t be more thankful to everyone who came out for the celebration! My friends at Oak City Cycling and at New Raleigh helped to make the night such a success and I’m incredibly thankful for them and their support. We rounded out this fantastic night with good food from American Meltdown, Captain Poncho’s Tacos and Bulkogi, with Les pouring Trophy Brewing’s new Slingshot Porter, Becky Joye’s incredible artwork and the sounds of my (two of four) favorite dudes, Megafaun. And did you try that Slingshot Cold Brew cocktail that Jonathan was mixing up? Holy crap.

I’m planning some fun things for Slingshot now that I have a place to call my own… like Black [Coffee] Friday on Nov. 23, not to mention some really great plans already in the works with New Raleigh and Oak City Cycling Project for more parties and community gatherings.

I’m still trying to gather photos, so if you took photos — iPhone or camera — please send them my way! Email them to info@slingshotcoffeecompany.com.

For now… here’s a photo I took just before turning out the lights.

Hello, Parker + Otis

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:14:00 -0400

‘Tis true. Starting Wednesday you’ll be able to find Slingshot Cold Brew (Concentrate and Ready-to-Drink) at the one and only Parker + Otis in Durham!

If you’ve not been, you are missing out! It’s a fantastic spot to buy gifts, have lunch, get a sweets fix and drink excellent coffee. Some of my favorite local foods can be found there, too, like Big Spoon and Parlour Ice Cream. The food is good, the deck is fantastic, the store is lovely and the staff is friendly.

I think this is going to be a beauuuutiful friendship.

New Shops and Stores to Find Slingshot Cold Brew

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:37:00 -0400

It has been an incredibly busy handful of weeks, but I’m happy to say that’s not only from events, but from new shops and stores who are letting their Slingshot Cold Brew flag fly! Here’s the run-down:

The long-beloved Greenlife Grocery | Whole Foods Market in Asheville will be stocked with Concentrate and Ready-to-Drink Slingshot Cold Brew as of TOMORROW! Greenlife has always been a stop of mine every time I visit Asheville if for nothing more than to walk around. It has good vibes.

In Charlotte, a couple of new partners are stocking their shelves beginning Saturday, October 27, with Concentrate and Ready-to-Drink Slingshot Cold Brew.

Good Bottle Company just opened their doors last week and has an incredible thing going already. The shop offers a well-curated selection of by-the-bottle beers, along with several taps. Good Bottle Co. is located in Charlotte’s South End, and carries both concentrate and ready-to-drink Slingshot Cold Brew.

Whole Foods Market just opened the doors to their first store in Charlotte. The store is huge and offers all your favorite Whole Foods brands and more. Head to the right of the store to the cold drink case to find Concentrate and Ready-to-Drink Slingshot Cold Brew!

And finally, Slingshot Cold Brew hits Whole Foods Winston-Salem, also beginning Saturday, October 27! Great store, great staff…

And don’t forget these other fine establishments across North Carolina where you can find Slingshot Cold Brew!