#pureschuytemas

That is our hashtag. It is also an anagram of #usthesupremacy which cracks us both up because a. it is pretty funny and 2. it is really funny.

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Desert Island Meal

So what’s your one meal you’d eat if you could only choose one on a desert island (much more fun than your last meal before an execution)? For me, it’s a Chicago-style Italian beef/sausage combo with sweet and hot peppers.

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Exactly one year ago today, I moved to the UP. Paul came up to start his new job in May. I sold the oh, so fabulous Market Alley Wines on June 16, 2017 and we had to be out of our home in Monmouth on July 1 for our house buyers.  The movers came on June 29 to haul our incredibly down-sized belongings up north and we packed the car with what we would need for a month or so, squeezed in the pup and up north we drove!

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IRON RIVER, MI, April 24, 2018 – Contrast Coffee has hired a General Manager at their flagship shop in Iron River. Susan Schuytema brings decades of experience in customer service and hospitality. She has worked as a journalist and most recently as the owner of a nationally award winning wine shop in west central Illinois.

“When we first came to Iron River for my husband’s interview last spring, (Paul Schuytema, Executive Director of the ICECA), I was so impressed with Contrast Coffee … not just the coffee, which was and is amazing, but the company’s commitment to the community. Although it is a different kind of liquid pleasure than from my wine shop, I immediately felt a strong parallel with my own business and the mission of the coffee shop. I knew when we relocated here that I wanted to be a barista and am thrilled now to be part of the management team.”

Schuytema’s success in creating a neighborhood “hang out” with her Illinois business Market Alley Wines gives her the experience to help Contrast Coffee’s Iron River location become a true destination for locals and visitors alike.

“Contrast Coffee is already a great hang out that is full of smiles and lively conversation,” Schuytema said. “Our job is to deliver incredible coffee, great every time, served with a smile and the sense that you’ve come back to that place you just love – welcoming, homey and part of your family.”

“I’ve always prided myself on excellence,” said Schuytema. “The Contrast owners’ commitment to creating a truly exceptional coffee experience is something that I deeply respect. They’ve worked hard to hone in on the best beans, the perfect roast, the perfect grind to deliver the absolute finest cup of coffee.”

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We use so much less ice in the UP than we ever have! I think we have used the ice maker in our fridge twice. And it seems totally obvious, but we had bloody Marys at an outdoor event and the ice never melted!

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