We all have our favorite things that we do daily which eventually spell r-u-t. So let’s make 2008 an amazing year by venturing out and changing how we do things. Who knows where this might lead? I heard internationally-known motivational speaker Les Brown once say, “Insanity is doing the same things in the same way and expecting a different outcome.” So if you, like me, are looking for different results in 2008, let’s begin with our coffee.

Take a close look at what you’ve been doing. If you have been buying your coffee in the supermarket, try something different. Look at new brands or even within the same brand, take a look at the different roasts.

Here are some examples:

Maxwell House

Category: Mild
Coffees under this category: Maxwell House Master Blend, Maxwell House Slow Roast, Maxwell House Master Blend Decaffeinated

Category: Medium
Coffees under this category: Original Maxwell House, Maxwell House Decaffeinated, Maxwell House Lite

Category: Medium Dark
Coffees under this category:
Maxwell House French Roast, Maxwell House French Roast Decaffeinated, Maxwell House 100% Colombian

Folgers Roast Meter:

Category: Mild
Coffees under this category: Breakfast Blend

Category: Medium-Balanced and Classic
Coffees under this category: Classic Roast, Classic Roast Decaf, Classic Roast Half Caff

Category: Medium Dark-Rich & Flavorful
Coffees under this category: 100% Columbian, French Roast

Category: Dark-Strong & Powerful
Coffees under this category: Gourmet Supreme, Gourmet Supreme Decaf

Experiment with something new. One day on a whim, I decided to try something that sounded good to me—Rich French Roast. I loved it! It was the perfect blend for my milky mix. By the way, someone once asked me if I wanted a little coffee with my milk. I was not amused. However, I am glad I found a roast that stands up well to my preferred coffee-drinking style.

I was very surprised to find out recently that French roast is considered a medium dark roast. If I had been offered a medium dark roast by name, I would have said no thanks. In fact, I wasn’t even aware that coffee had such a rating system. I thought coffee was coffee and in simpler days I just chose my coffee by the brand name. Now every brand has a plethora of roast types. Try one.

There are often samplers available so you can try different coffees without a major investment. If you’d like to be even more adventurous try grinding your own beans or better yet, roasting them.

For real decadence, you might want to try one of the world’s most expensive coffees. Take Kopi Luwak from Indonesia. Weighing in at around $160 per pound, not only has it been hand picked for you off of the jungle floor, it has also been eaten and excreted by an animal called the common palm civet (think cross between a cat and a raccoon. In fact they are also known as toddy cats). No thanks, I’ll skip this one--eating and excreting are my job.

On a less exotic note, there are so many great coffees you can try without taking a second mortgage. Have you ever tried Gevalia? This coffee “subscription” is wonderful. They give you a free gift to get started like a new coffee maker or another really useful item. Then on a regular schedule they send some of the most divine and most notably fresh coffees to you. It’s a great way to sample great coffees and find yourself as a coffee drinker.

So look around and try something new. Have fun with it and you never know--changing your coffee may motivate you to make changes in other areas of your life and 2008 could end up being your best year ever. Happy New Year!

P.S. If you’d like to try roasting and grinding or learn more about gourmet coffees, try the links below.