Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood farmers market runs on the weekly, occurring every Sunday and taking hold of Ballard’s historic Ballard Avenue for a compact and packed five hour period. Booth after booth brims with local and sustainable farmers and craftspeople, exhibiting the best in handmade and introducing locals (and tourists alike) to the lesser known gems of the region. One of those pearls is Ascended Grounds, an herbalist coffee roaster that collaborates the medicinal and flavor components of mushrooms into their cold brews. Owner/operator James Woods states on his website that his vision is to “transform the way that human beings view and use coffee…by bringing in medicinal mushrooms to work in synergy with the physical and energetic qualities of coffee.”
In the Clinker Cold Brew, the coffee is brewed in room temperature water and refrigerated for a longer period of time than traditionally brewed coffee, producing a smooth and less acidic product. Note: the cooler water is able to extract more flavor over more time so the flavors are less harsh and more round. The cold brew coffee is enhanced with chaga (or “clinker”) mushroom and vanilla, providing a rich source of antioxidants typically used for anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory and for skin protection and health.
