Independence Coffee Co. Unveils 'Baylor Signature Blends'

Media contact: Lori Fogleman, director of media communications, (254) 710-6275

Aug. 18 was a great day for coffee drinkers at Baylor University, as Independence Coffee Co. unveiled its Baylor Signature Series, a line of Baylor-themed coffee blends that connects Texas' oldest continuously operating university to its original roots at the historic village of Independence, Texas.

Samples of the coffees - with names such as 1845 Charter Blend, Oso Delicious and Bruin Brew - were served by Master Roaster Ragan Bond and his wife, Christi, to a crowd that packed the Baylor Bookstore lobby for a special tasting event. The Bonds plan to return for another event during Baylor Homecoming, which will be held Oct. 31-Nov. 2.

The Baylor Signature Series feature the following Baylor-themed coffee blends:

• ? 1845 Charter Blend (Regular and Decaf, Central and South American blend)
  ? That Good Ol' Baylor Line (Regular and Decaf, Authentic Texas Pecan)
  ? Oso Delicious (Chocolate Caramel)
  ? Homecoming Special (Crème Brule)
  ? Bruin Brew (Cinnamon-Hazelnut)
  ? Sic 'Em Special (Multi-Origin Dark Roast)

A Diadeloso blend is under development and will be ready for distribution in spring 2009. The Homecoming Special blend will change from year to year.

The new Baylor Signature Series blends will be available for purchase at the bookstore and online at www.independencecoffee.com. Royalties earned from the blends will be used by the Baylor Libraries to support Baylor's numerous historic preservation efforts in and around Independence.

"I am pleased to have Independence Coffee on our campus to share with our faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends, and I am thankful for the partnership with Ragan and Christi Bond to develop a coffee which can proudly bear the Baylor name," said Pattie Orr, dean of Baylor Libraries and vice president for information technology. "The coffee is great, and the royalties from these products will help the Baylor Libraries fulfill our mission to preserve the history of Baylor at Independence."

Independence Coffee Co. is Fair Trade certified by TransFair USA and Whole Trade Certified by Whole Foods Market. All of the company's Fair Trade coffees are organically grown.

Baylor's Beginning

Baylor was chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas and began offering classes at its campus in Independence in 1846. Many early Texas leaders, like Sam Houston, lived in Independence, the Washington County town known as the "Athens of Texas" since it functioned as an early center of education, culture and religion.

Baylor's male and female departments remained in Independence from 1845-1886, when the female section moved to Belton (University of Mary Hardin-Baylor) and the male section moved to Waco.

Today, Baylor and The Texas Collection, under the direction of Dr. Thomas L. Charlton, are involved in numerous historic preservation efforts in Independence, including:

• ? Baylor Park on Windmill Hill, which contains the original burial site for Judge Robert Emmett Bledsoe (R.E.B.) Baylor, two historical markers granted by Texas Historical Commission, archaeological remains of three original buildings, landscaped walking paths on Windmill Hill, picnic facilities and access to walking/driving trail;
  ? Baylor University exhibit in the Texas Baptist Historical Center at Independence Baptist Church, the third oldest Baptist church in Texas, where Sam Houston was converted in 1854 and baptized by Dr. R.C. Burleson;
  ? research projects by students and faculty members of departments of history, environmental sciences and others;
  ? special lectures by Baylor faculty members and administrators for historical society monthly meetings;
  ? historic preservation projects and collaborations with the Independence Historical Society and the Independence Preservation Trust; and
  ? Baylor Line Camp, summer orientation programming sponsored by Student Life Division that included a visit by more than 1,200 incoming Baylor freshmen to Baylor's original campus in Independence.

"It is important that Baylor preserves the structures that still stand in Independence and make sure that all future students and alums can enjoy our Baylor history," Orr said.

For more information, contact Carl F. Flynn, director of marketing and communications for Information Technology and University Libraries, at Carl_Flynn@baylor.edu. For more information on Baylor's historic preservation projects in Independence, contact Charlton at (254) 710-1268 or Thomas_Charlton@baylor.edu.

For more on the Independence Coffee's Baylor Signature Series, go to www.independencecoffee.com/baylor.

What you will find on the Baylor Signature Series label:
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Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas, Baylor University was a leader in higher education in early Texas during its formative years in the historic village of Independence (1845-1886). Many early Texas leaders, including Sam Houston, lived in this "Athens of Texas" and sent their young family members to Baylor. Today, Baylor is a nationally ranked research university, competing in the Big 12 athletic conference and enrolling annually more than 14,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Its campus is located in Waco Texas on 735 acres along the banks of the Brazos River.

The Independence Coffee Co. developed the Baylor Signature Series under license by Baylor University. The royalties earned from these products are used by the Baylor University Libraries to support historic preservation efforts in and around Independence.
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