What better way to welcome you today than a nice hot cup of coffee. And not just any coffee, Ambiance gourmet coffee!
I’m not a coffee drinker. Never have been. That is, unless you consider a Café Mocha with one shot of espresso and extra chocolate to be ‘coffee’. I have a friend that calls it dessert and ribs me for pretending I’m drinking coffee.
Growing up though, it was my job to make the coffee for my grandparents in the morning. My grandpa was in the military for 30+ years so he wasn’t all that picky about how I made it. But I always wanted to make it just right because, well, I’m a perfectionist and that tendency started early.
And since I don’t drink coffee I’m always concerned about making it right for my guests who come over. I put an espresso maker and a nice coffee maker on the wedding registry. Rarely use them, except when company comes over.
I want my guests to have good coffee. So when Smart & Final asked me if I’d be interested in trying their new line of gourmet coffee I wasn’t sure if I’d be a good fit. Then I though, of course I would! I have some pretty discerning friends and family and they’ll tell me if this coffee is truly premium and world class like it says.
As you know, I shop at Smart & Final a lot. Great deals, familiar brands and quality products. So when it came to the coffee, I expected the same.
Even though I don’t drink coffee, I use it quite a bit in baking all things chocolate. Coffee gives chocolate baked goods that extra dimension and a hint of ‘why is this sooooo good I need another one’.
Smart & Final sent me a lovely gift basket of 6 of their new Ambiance premium coffees. I kept the Hazelnut Ground because I was going to make some brownies and tiramisu. I gave my mother-in-law the French Vanilla Ground as a hostess gift for Christmas, and sent the French Roast and House Blend to my grandma. Even though Grandma doesn’t have a Smart & Final, I’ll be her mail-order source from now on! Bubbie is a pretty discerning coffee drinker and if she’s willing to give up her other fancy gourmet coffee, this stuff must be pretty special. Because, even though she loves me, she’s not drinking bad coffee to make me feel good.
And since I don’t want you drinking bad coffee, Smart & Final wants me to give one of my readers a beautiful gift basket of Ambiance coffee AND a $150 Smart & Final gift card. Even if you don’t have a Smart & Final in your area, you should enter because these coffees are just that good. Then you can give the gift card to a friend who lives near a Smart & Final (hint, hint) and ask that friend to keep you in supply of these great coffees.
Giveaway Details: One reader will win a Smart & Final Ambiance Coffee gift basket and $150.00 Smart & Final gift card. Leave a comment telling me what your favorite coffee moment is. Even if it’s making coffee for others to enjoy, I hear ya!
Please include your email when filling out the comment form so I can contact you should you win. You don’t have to put your email in the actual comment though.
The giveaway ends at midnight (PST) February 8, 2011. Winner will be chosen using random.org and will be notified on February 9, 2011. One entry per person, please.
UPDATE 2/9/11 – The winner was commenter #29. 
Sure I would love if you followed me on Twitter, subscribed to the Saving For Someday RSS feed and like me on Facebook but since you probably do all those things, just leave a comment below and tell your friends too. That way if your friend wins you can go over and coffee!
My fellow #SFSmarties are also hosting giveaways too, so check out Smart & Final on Facebook to find out who else is giving away a gift basket & gift card so you can enter there too and increase your chances and also support my friends.
FTC Disclosure: Yes, I got something free. As a member of Collective Bias I was asked to participate in this Smart & Final campaign. I will never compromise my ethics for money or free coffee. I am being compensated for my time to administer this giveaway.
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My favorite coffee moment is every morning – with a little half & half.
I don’t drink much coffee, but I have been drinking these fancy chocolate nutrition shakes lately, and I have been making coffee (just a little) to stick in them!! Yum…. THAT’S my new favorite coffee moment…
Becca – Our Crazy Boys recently posted..2011pushupchallenge
My favorite coffee moment is doing the crossword puzzle with my husband and having our morning coffee.
I have to admit, I am a total coffee addict!! My favorite coffee moment is the 3pm coffee break. There is no better pick me up!
I don’t drink coffee often, but every Christmas morning we have coffee while the kids are opening their presents from Santa. To me, this is perfection.
Well, I don’t drink coffee. But, everyone at my job does. I like putting new stuff on the coffee cart for my co workers.
gingeroo616 at aol dot com
stacy recently posted..Day 10 in PhotosA Four Letter Word!
My favorite coffee moment is Sunday mornings when I get a coffee shop latte.
My favorite coffee moment is when I drop the kids off at school and come back home and enjoy a quiet moment alone drinking a wonderful cup of coffee before starting my day
I found a great recipe for you to try using brewed coffee!! It’s Rosh Hashanah Honey Cake from cooks.com:
I’m gonna try it at some point.
Kim P. recently posted..GREAT COFFEE GIVEAWAY!
My favorite coffee moment is when I am at Starbucks. The aroma and flavor..Mmmm! I can’t make a good cup of coffee to save my life.
Saidah@AProverbsWife.com recently posted..AMF Save 20 Printable Bowling Coupon
My favorite coffee moment is the smell of my coffee brewing. The anticipation of a good cup of coffee is like nothing else.
Sarah recently posted..Cinda Wella!
My favorite coffee moment is when I can sit with my mom and enjoy my coffee with her as we just chat and hang out.
Smash Bravo recently posted..Winners! Find Out If Youre A Winner!
I start work really early in the morning and I love that quiet hour in the office over a cup of coffee, before everyone else barges in!
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Love the giveaway! My favorite coffee moment is Sunday morning coffee, brewing before anyone else is awake. The whole house smells great and I get the first cup.
My favorite coffee moment is that first warm and delicious cup every single morning. I love it!
Favorite moment: Right after I get to work and before all the fun begins
I enjoy one steaming cup of fresh coffee!
My favorite moment is early in the morning, before everyone gets up and when it’s quiet. I enjoy my coffee in peace.
In the afternoon, when the kids are napping, I have a cup of coffee. I love that moment.
My favorite part of the day is between 5 and 6 am. The house is quiet, I make a delicious cup of coffee and I get to be alone with my thougths. I celebrate every morning because it is a new day that always offers potential of good feelings, good times and good work for Kids Who Care. During the summer months, it is even more pleasant because I get to watch the sunrise over the mountains. Ahh. Believe it or not, I am having one of those moments now.
A favorite moment from yesteryear is when I was staying at my grandma’s and the exquisite smell of the brewing coffee wafted up the stairs into the bedroom. It was a pleasant way to wake up.
I’m an occasional coffee drinker, but my mom is practically an addict! My favorite coffee memories usually involve her getting excited that it’s almost “coffee-time.”
Although, I’m not sure there’s a time that isn’t coffee-time with her!
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My favorite would be that first cup of coffee in the morning
vlbsweeps at gmail dot com
I’m not much of a coffee drinker, but my husband enjoys a good cup of coffee, especially when he’s with friends and family
phyllis2win(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite coffee moment is every with that first cup of coffee I get to sit and talk to my wonderful husband. What a way to start the day!
My fav coffee moment is sitting on our porch looking at the little view of the ocean with my hubby. =)
My favorite moment is always the same. My Father-in-Law, whenever we’re visiting, will get up early and make coffee…put out mugs and spoons and sugar and cream… then, once everyone is awake and in the kitchen, he’ll go to the coffee maker, turn around and look at me and say, “what’d ya like in your coffee, Jess?”
Then he makes me a steaming mug and brings it over to me.
It’s the sweetest thing.
I love having friends over for breakfast. I like to buy a new flavor of coffee so everyone can try something different.
my favorite coffee moment is afternoon coffee. i need some to get me going in the morning but in the afternoon it’s all about the taste and being a treat.
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My favorite coffee moment is when I get to share it with my Dad and talk with him.
My favorite coffee moment is getting up early before the rest of the family, brewing a pot of coffee and enjoying a cup or two before the hectic day begins.
shawn113(at)hotmail(dot)com