coffees from Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Sumatra and Papua New Guinea. Types of coffee available include Ethiopian Sidamo, Kenyan AA, Ugandan Drugar (a blending coffee), Sigri estate coffee from Papua New Guinea, Sumatra Mandheling, Colombian Del Valle, Guatemalan Antigua and Costa Rican Tarrazu. Decaffeinated coffees include Colombian water processed decaf, Sumatra European process decaf and Kenyan European preparation decaf.

Specialty coffee beverages, which are blended from various types of coffee, are also available. "We experimented with several different coffees to attain our special espresso and house blend,'' said Rock Island Coffee co-owner Mr.

Mark Kaufmann. "We also offer custom blend coffee for various accounts and clients,'' he said, adding that coffee tastes vary and Rock Island will blend coffees according to the customer's liking. Customers can buy fresh roasted coffee beans -- either ground or whole -- by the pound, half pound or quarter pound. They can relax and enjoy coffees in the west-coast style cafe or they can purchase coffees to go. Rock Island coffee is also available island-wide through a network of grocery and specialty retailers. And it is served in a growing list of Bermuda's finer restaurants, noted Mr. Kaufmann. Roasting is a delicate process which applies heat to coffee seeds, developing their taste and aroma. And Rock Island roasts their coffees to various degrees to appeal to all coffee palates, said co-owner Miss Susannah Frith. The coffee profile determines the roasting technique which is applied. Green beans are placed in the German-made roaster's hopper and are released into a propane fired revolving drum at a specified charging temperature, noted Mr. Kaufmann. "We look through a small window to see when the coffee changes colour. And we must listen for two distinct cracks during the process. Various flame adjustments are made and when the coffee reaches the desired target roast, it is released into a cooling tray. "The roasting time depends on our target. But it varies between 14 and 16 minutes,'' he said. Once the coffee is cooled, it is mechanically stirred for about ten minutes and transferred to the storage mechanisms. It is left to breathe for about 24 hours, which allows oil to build up on the beans. The coffee is then stored in coffee jars for in-store use or packaged for retail purposes. Said Mr. Kaufmann: "The optimal consumption window for roasted coffee is ten days.'' But for those interested in buying in bulk, Rock Island Coffee's special packaging can prolong the Coffee at its best! packaging,'' said Mr. Kaufmann. The coffee is stored in state-of-the-art bags which allow for carbon dioxide to escape without letting oxygen in. "Roasted coffee begins to stale as soon as it is exposed to oxygen. But this special packaging hampers the staling process. Storing coffee in the freezer also helps,'' he said. For the most discriminating of coffee drinkers, Mr. Kaufmann recommends that customers buy their own grinder and purchase whole beans.

"For the perfect cup of coffee, it's best to grind it before consumption because once the coffee is ground, the staling process begins.'' For those buying coffee by the cup, a particular estate coffee is brewed up every day, said Miss Frith. A daily decaffeinated coffee is also available as well as specialty coffees including espresso, cappuccino, cafe mocha and cafe latte, which is the number one espresso specialty beverage in the United States. A variety of gourmet teas are also available by the cup or wholesale, noted Mr.

Kaufmann. The teas are imported in their natural state and freshly steeped for the customer, who can choose from three types of Chinese teas including China Ooland, China Keemun and China Gunpowder Green as well as Ceylon, Peppermint, Darjeeling, Earl Grey or a decaffeinated flavour. The gourmet coffee company also serves fresh bagels, croissants, scones and muffins. A perfect "hang-out'' for local coffee fans, Rock Island Coffee offers customers the ultimate coffee experience found nowhere else on the Island. PHOTO PRE-PICKED -- "Del Valle'' Colombia is one of the quality gourmet coffees imported by Rock Island Coffee. It is hand picked, and grown in this very small defined area.

COFFEE CLOSE-UP -- Quality Colombian "Del Valle'' coffee beans pictured before being harvested. Since the coffee is grown in a very small area, the supply is limited.

RAW BEANS -- Rock Island Coffee imports eleven types of green coffee beans from around the world. They are freshly roasted on site.