Review: Speeder and Earl’s Speeder’s Blend

(2021) Call it the Upstate New York cycling trip that wasn’t. While the weather in the northern portion of New York is unpredictable, a week-long rain was hardly what was prepared for. Despite plans to log a few dozen miles, the bike remained as indoors as we were. Luckily we had the trusty old go-to coffee beans of Speeder and Earl’s Speeder Blend. Having access to this coffee perks up a rainy day...or week.

The orange bag of Speeder and Earl’s is the bookend to any Upstate New York visit. In its store offering, it’s the first cup of coffee purchased when entering the region; it is the last cup of coffee slipped into the cup holder before heading out of town with a packed car. The final sips are always beneath a whistling bike rack and postage stamp-sized hole out the back window of packed bags and stowed pillows. In between those moments the Vermont-based roaster provides liquid fuel to start a day usually packed with outdoors events.

Speeder and Earl’s Speeder’s Blend is their French roast coffee using South American beans, and many people use it for their daily rotation. Though marked as acidic, the cups were easy to manage. The bold flavor kept us coming back for more sips and more refills. On cold rainy days, Speeder’s Blend can balance out a schedule thrown off kilter. With milk or without, this is one satisfying cup of coffee. It is clear why many in the north country use this as their morning perk. 

Any time we see or think of the orange bag we imagine autumn visits to the region. Often accompanied by cool cloudy skies and most likely rain, there are days where staring out the window becomes the day’s rituals. Perhaps one will be lucky enough to have a fireplace for added effect. It is this bag that fills in the rest of the experience on days when nature forces us to slow down and relax.

While the bikes were hardly brought out - the rear tire was resealed at High Peaks Cyclery - all was not lost with Speeder and Earl’s coffee. At the behest of nature we did exactly as guided- we slowed down and relaxed with coffee. Hopefully on the next visit we will have nice days on credit to point the bikes up Whiteface Mountain again. In that case, we’ll be brewing up a whole pot for the firepower up the slopes. Maybe then we will employ Speeder and Earl’s Espresso Roast in large quantities.