If you haven’t heard all the buzz yet, our much-loved, signature Ginger Lemon Tea is now available in bottles! They’re at all three of our locations and they’ve been getting rave reviews. All the same natural ingredients and no preservatives. The exact same treat you’ve been enjoying all along in our cafes but in a convenient bottle. Insider’s tip: one bottle holds more than a triple iced Ginger Lemon Tea, so it’s a great deal too!

To welcome our newest addition, we’re inviting you to get involved. You can get a FREE sample, a FREE bottle, and a chance to win a $100 Sweetwaters card.

Within the next two weeks, start looking around town for lemons that look like this hanging from trees.

How to get a FREE sample of Ginger Lemon Tea:

Bring your lemon to any of the Sweetwaters locations. Also fill out your information on the back for a chance to receive a $100 Sweetwaters card.

How to get a FREE BOTTLE of Ginger Lemon Tea:

Post a picture of you with the lemon on Facebook, and tag “Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea” (you need to like us first). We’ll send you a coupon for your free bottle!

Don’t miss out and keep checking our Facebook page for some fun Ginger Lemon t-shirt giveaways too!

Some background on the bottling process…

This project has been in the works for some time now, and we’re very pleased to finally unveil the bottles. Past customers who moved away have been calling in to see when bottles of Ginger Lemon deliciousness can be sent their way. We’re excited that one of our favorite drinks can now be shared with locals and globals alike

Check out some photos from our local Michigan bottler:

While attending Chicago’s CoffeeFest we tasted so many coffees.  The stand out by far was Burundi.  So much so, that although we had originally scheduled a different coffee to be featured in March and April, I immediately emailed all the stores to put a halt to the original plan and order Burundi instead!

When Wei tasted the Burundi his immediate reaction was, “Wow, this coffee has no bitterness. It’s velvety and refreshing with a very clean finish.”  We had to bring this ultra-smooth coffee to our Sweetwaters customers to brighten the dreary, gray days of March.

One of my favorite first comments from a downtown customer:  “I love the Burundi.  As a student, any old coffee would do.  But now, I’m more selective.  I only want to drink really good coffee and this one is it – I can taste the difference and it makes me feel good.”  – Andrea, a longtime downtown customer.

Come in and have a taste. It’s what “grown-up” coffee should be.

Sweetwaters Dessert Tasting Video

Check out this dessert tasting we filmed! You’re bound to laugh and drool over our Year of the Rabbit Passion Cupcake & OMG Chocolate Cake.

These desserts are perfect for a Valentine’s Day treat <3

For all of you Plum Market shoppers, we have great news! Sweetwaters coffee which has been sold at the Ann Arbor Plum, is now also available at the West Bloomfield and Bloomfield locations! Enjoy Sweetwaters’ finest in the comfort of your own home!

For a map of Plum Market Ann Arbor.

For a map of Plum Market West Bloomfield.

For a map of Plum Market Bloomfield.

Sweetwaters has branched out into your local Busch’s Fresh Food Markets. Our coffee is now available at both Ann Arbor locations of Busch’s . Whether you’re on the north side or south side of Ann Arbor, picking up Sweetwaters’ Coffee is even more convenient!

Click here for both locations of Busch’s Stores.

For a listing of more restaurants and grocers carrying Sweetwaters’ Coffee, please click here.

Thank you Current readers for voting Sweetwaters’ Teas Best Tea for 2009! Our teas have been one of Sweetwaters’ secret luxuries kept under wraps by many. Now that the secret has been unveiled, everyone can enjoy our wonderful selection of teas from the beautifully sweet Imperial Black to the aromatic and flowery Dragon Pearl Jasmine. Of course, we cannot forget our queen of teas, Sweetwaters’ handcrafted Ginger Lemon Tea.

We’re thrilled to receive this honor and we will continue to procure and serve the finest teas for your enjoyment.

Coffee has often been either vilified or lauded.  Since many of us cannot go without our daily brew we decided to focus on the positive.

Here are some studies that you can feel good about:

A Japanese study finds that smelling coffee may have an effect  on the body that is similar to drinking it.  The research, conducted on sleep-deprived rats, indicates that the aroma of coffee restored levels of mRNA for genes important to brain function to near-normal levels.  Although the study has not been conducted on humans, many of the genes in question do have human equivalents, so there could be similar perks in human bodies.

Findings published in the European Society for Human Reproduction & Embryology in Barcelona indicate that consuming large amounts of coffee (4 cups a day) can lower a woman’s chances of getting pregnant by 25%.

A strong cup of coffee has a greater effect on men than women, according to a study from the University of Barcelona.  When 668 subjects consumed coffee, men and women became more alert 10 minutes after finishing their drink, but the effect on men was more exaggerated.

Coffee consumption linked to lowered risk of dementia. Researchers from Sweden and Denmark tracked coffee consumption in 1,409 middle aged women and men for an average of 20 years, finding those who drank 3-5 cups daily were 65% less likely to develop dementia than those who consumed 2 cups or less.

A study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology indicates that caffeine helps kill human cells that have been damaged by UV light, one of the leading causes of skin cancer.  Several other studies have found that people who regularly drink coffee or tea have lower instance of non-melanoma skin cancers.

A cup of coffee before exercise may give you a healthy boost; a University of Illinois study finds that the practice can result in less muscle soreness.

So, drink or smell a cup of coffee and you will lower your risks of getting pregnant, getting skin cancer, going crazy, and you’ll be able to run a mile without feeling sore – what a miracle!   Take these stories with a grain of salt… or a grind of coffee.

Ginger Ale Without the Can

GINGER ALE is an age-old remedy for sick children and grown-ups alike. Now, homemade ginger ale is appearing on drink menus across the country under happier circumstances.

full entry »

Founders Lisa and Wei recently visited Kauai and toured the coffee plantation where our featured coffee is grown and harvested. They experienced first hand the warm sunny weather, volcanic soil, and ocean breezes that combine to produce a bean that is less acidic and broader in taste.

They learned that the wonderful consistency of Kauai coffee’s is due to all the beans being grown on a single estate. To keep the estate pristine and productive for future generations the plantation uses many environmentally friendly processes to reduce its impact on the estate and this beautiful island;  water used for processing the beans is filtered and reused for irrigation, 100% renewable energy is used via the city’s hydro electricity plant, water and fertilizer is applied directly to the roots making them the largest drip irrigation coffee estate in the world!

We are featuring Kauai coffee during the months of March and April. Try a cup and taste why we love this tropical and well balanced coffee.