I think we all look forward to this time of year or at least I do. I enjoy the last three months of the year because of all the fun holidays we have these last three months. Here on the island for Halloween I am looking forward to Trail of Treats. This is an event for young and old alike, all the business in all three areas of the island get together. It has always been a fun time to see all the young children on the island with their parents and grandparents all dressed up for Halloween. If you have a chance to be on the island October 31st around 3:30pm, take a look around, it will lighten your heart.
Announcing Our New Location on Pine Avenue
We are thrilled to announce our new location at 317 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria. Now you can get your Island Coffee Haus fix up on the North end our beautiful island. We’re right next to Emerson’s studio, and there is parking in front of our location. Of course, in season Pine Ave. is crowded, so you can jump on the trolley, or ride your bike to see us.
Seating is limited to our beautiful porch where you can sit and watch island life go by. We are carrying all of the same great baked goods, lattes, coffee, tea etc. that we do in our original Holmes Beach Coffee Haus, and we have free WI-FI as well.
Our Turtle Nests
Since 2013 Island Coffee Haus has been sponsoring turtle nests and monitoring the northern beaches of Anna Maria during turtle nesting season. Bev volunteers for the AMI Turtle and Shore Bird Watch. Every Friday during Sea Turtle nesting season (May to October) at 6am she walks the Northern beach (section 2) cleaning up trash left behind, and looking for Sea Turtle and Snowy Plover nests and tracks. She checks each nest to see if the baby turtles have hatched and then counts the eggs left behind so that the group can track how many Sea Turtles hatched.
Recently we were blessed to see a live crawl:
Island Coffee Haus: Iced Coffee
Our second most popular drink at the Coffee Haus is most definitely our Iced Coffee. Perhaps it’s because of our warm Florida weather, but we think it’s so popular because it just tastes great.
Our Iced Coffee is made from our own AMI Blend with a secret twist; it’s really a special blend just for our Iced Version. You can have it black, with cream, cream and sugar, or with any of our flavors.
Richard and Brandon, two of our Island Haus Characters, add vanilla and shots of espresso for an extra kick. If any of you know Richard, this probably explains a lot about his energy level.
Most people like their iced coffee black, but Salted Caramel is a new favorite. Flavors you may want to try include: vanilla, hazelnut, salted caramel, coconut, peppermint, toasted marshmallow, cinnamon, white and dark chocolate, gingerbread, and sugar free vanilla, sugar free caramel, and sugar free hazelnut.
Come in and create your own flavor.
Book Signing with Author Linda Gibson Ress: Crying Days
We are honored to feature author Linda Gibson Ress Friday April 10th as we participate in Anna Maria Island’s Art Walk. Linda will be signing copies of her latest novel, Crying Days.
“Virginia has lost one husband to the Great War, and can’t find it within herself to properly love the second one. She has been stripped of privilege and place and been denied her simplest wishes. To protect herself, she retreats behind a mask of frigid solitude which is sufficiently adequate to protect herself from the risk of loving and being loved.
Eddie is a poor boy from an abusive home. At every turn, his drunkard Pa drives the family deeper and deeper into debt, fear, and despair. But Eddie doesn’t lose hope – not for his ma or his two younger siblings. He clings to the ideals of family love and reward for hard work.
Virginia and Eddie couldn’t be less alike, and yet their lives become intertwined by the harsh rules of reality and the vagaries of fate.”
Crying Days is the story of men and women living in a time when America struggled through two world wars, devastating economic hardships, and a world-wide flu epidemic. It is the story of faith and human nature, and ultimately, it is the story of the triumph of desire to live in defiance of the hardships of this world.
Linda will be at the Coffee Haus most of the day Friday, and Art Walk runs from 5:30pm – 7:30pm.
Coffee Lovers: Featuring our AMI Roast
If you know anything about our story, you know that Island Coffee Haus came to life from the long time dream of mine, and came to life with the support of my partner and dear friend, MJ.
For many years I worked for Starbucks, and learned things that I loved about their operation, but also things I wanted to do better. Our goal (and we think we’ve realized it) was to create a truly local coffee haus – with its own unique island flair. We love our customers, and we also love our product; coffee is our passion.
Over a decade ago I met the folks who own Jaguar Coffee Company, a privately owned coffee roaster serving the Gulf Coast area of Florida. Our Coffee, AMI Blend, is a medium roast of Mexican, Columbian and Coasta Rican coffee beans roasted for us by Jaguar.
Coffee aficianados appreciate its sweet taste, hitting the front of the tongue and beloved for its smooth flavor with no bitterness. We grind our beans on site, and our patrons appreciate the rich aroma this produces.
Islanders love our AMI Blend, which is available in whole beans or ground if you’d like to take some home or send some to one of our visitors who is missing the flavor of the island.