Image Credit: http://www.locknloadjava.com/%5B/caption%5D

I admit I am addicted to Starbucks , and if I am not there I am at my local coffee drive in here near my home. Sure Starbucks is pretty good and sometimes (depending on whose making it) it downright sucks. I love convenience more then anything which is why I head there. I mean hell if they had a Starbucks credit card I would be in debt.

That being said for months I had been giving my husband the “I wish you would shutup” look when he would say “you need to start using that coffee machine and making your own coffee, thanks to my weekly coffee bill”. The truth is if I didn’t look at the coffee machine as a complicated piece of machinery I would have done that a long time ago. I honestly get confused at the different blends and buttons and grinds and nuts, O-M-G- the agony of it all!  Okay I am being dramatic but I don’t like complicatedness (well aware that is not a word).

Recently I received the opportunity to try Lock-N-Load Java a veteran owned coffee company who absolutely loves to support our military and does so by supporting over six different military charities at $1 per order shipped.  I received my box of coffee last week in which there were three types: Smooth Operator,  Double Tap-Special Reserve, and a pack of Armory Select Vanilla Nut .

Unfortunately I only got to try the Vanilla Nut two times before my husband grabbed it up along with the other packs and marched off to work with it for him and the soldiers there. I thoroughly enjoyed the Vanilla Nut. It was smooth, had a great vanilla taste and was extremely fresh. In addition, man oh man did it pack a powerful punch. Let’s just say I got alot of work done that day. I felt very awake and my husband said him and soldiers experienced the same thing. It definitely in our opinions took our midday sluggishness away! My husband told me the guys in the office said this is some of the best coffee they have had.  I liked that it wasn’t some complicated coffee with beans to grind and so forth. I was able to use this in my basic coffee drip machine. The good thing is that the coffee does come in drip and beans for those of you who have a preference. I assure you this is not your average Folgers…in my opinion this stuff is quality and 10x better!

One other thing we enjoyed was the coffee packing which looks like this:

[caption id="attachment_3263" align="aligncenter" width="500"] My hubby and the coffee!

 

One of the last things I will say is that don’t be fooled by the coffee’s strong aroma , it was strong but not overly powerful as I would have assumed. My husband and his soldiers honestly enjoyed it and I am glad they did since no one thought enough about me to save me any :)

Here are some simple tips on how to get the perfect pot of coffee from the cool folks at Lock -N-Load Java:

Coffee brewing tips:

1 – Water is critical.  If the water tastes bad, the coffee will too.  Most people agree filtered water (NOT distilled water) is the way to go.  Reverse Osmosis filtered water is what we use at Lock-n-Load Java, but many people get great results from a Brita or other water filter or just from good tasting tap water.
2 – Store your coffee correctly.  Heat, light, moisture, and oxygen are what degrade coffee once it is opened.  Do not store it in the refrigerator or freezer – that causes condensation every time it is removed.  Simply store it in a dark cupboard that is not next to a window or other heat source.  We offer bag clips to seal the bag after opening in order to preserve the freshness.  Some people also put their open bags of coffee in airtight containers.
3 – Fresh is the best.  We ship our beans immediately after roasting – as fresh as possible.  That is why we have a one way valve in our bags, to allow for off-gassing of the roasted beans as they cool.  We only offer small bags so you can use it up before the coffee goes stale and then open up an airtight one that has been kept fresh.  The longer coffee sits, the more flavor it loses.  Most bags in stores have sat in warehouses, on trucks, on shelves, etc for weeks if not months prior to you buying them.
4 – Sharing coffee with someone you care about – always makes it better!  Coffee is a social drink, invite someone to share a cup and you will both enjoy it more.

Giveaway (4 Winners)

(3) Readers will each win two bags of coffee (one Smooth Operator & One Vanilla Nut $20+ RTV)

(1) Winner with a spouse or significant other, family member deployed to Afghanistan will win one Coffee for Troops package of 5 bags of coffee sent directly to soldier overseas ($50+RTV).

How To Enter

Simply visit Lock N Load Java and tell me which flavor you or your soldier would probably like most and leave a comment below.

For an additional entry (after you have completed the one above)

Like Lock N Load Java On FB and tell them something you like about their site on their wall.

Tweet: “Win Coffee that supports the troops and their families @ArmyWives101 https://armywife101.com/?p=3261“

Be sure to leave a comment for each additional entry.

Winner will be chosen via Random.org

Giveaway Ends Monday November 21, 2011 at 11:59EST

18+ years of USA and APO only. Winner must respond within 48 hrs from time I send email or another winner will have to be chosen.

Leave a valid email so that I may contact you if you are the winner.

Disclosure: I was given 3 different coffee samples to try and a chance to give these same products away to chosen winners. All thoughts and opinions are mine .No other form of compensation was received for this post. You can read my full disclosure policy here…

 

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Krystel is the mom of two and an Army Wife. In addition to Army Wife 101 she is the Co-Founder of SoFluential.com a digital media agency that connects brands with the military market. She has appeared on MSNBC ,FOX LA and formerly was a weekly contributor to HLN's "Raising America". She has written for various outlets including Sheknows and Lifetime and is a big fan of cupcakes and french fries.

Krystel is the mom of two and an Army Wife. In addition to Army Wife 101 she is the Co-Founder of SoFluential.com a digital media agency that connects brands with the military market. She has appeared on MSNBC ,FOX LA and formerly was a weekly contributor to HLN's "Raising America". She has written for various outlets including Sheknows and Lifetime and is a big fan of cupcakes and french fries.
by | 52 Comments

52 Comments on My Husband ,His Soldiers and I Review Lock-N-Load Java Military Coffee +Giveaway!

  1. I would most definitely get the Armory Select Hazelnut Cream. I own a Keurig single cup coffee maker so I love to buy the already ground coffee and make myself a single a cup or two during the day. Hazelnut happens to be my absolutely favorite flavor. When I go to Star Bucks I always grab a Hazel Nut latte. At home I just use the CoffeeMate Flavor.

    Reply

  7. This coffee sounds great! My husband and I are big coffee drinkers in this house, two cups a day is a must. We have two sets of twins, so in order to keep up with them we must have some caffeine. lol

    The coffee that I think I would like most is Armory Select Hazlenut Cream, I love hazlenut coffee. My husband on the other hand loves black coffee, so he would enjoy Double Barrel Black more. :)

    Reply

  10. What an amazing thing this company stands for!! Whether we win or not, we will definitely be buying from them!! Thank you!!

    Reply
  24. Pingback: True Story: I Won a Year’s Worth of Orange Juice…And Giveaways From My Favorite Military Spouse Bloggers! | Army Wife 101

  28. I love their website! I like a dark roast coffee, so I would probably try the Double Barrel Black first, and then the Warrior Select, but I would also like to try the Double Tap Special Reserve. Hmm. Sounds like a Christmas gift to myself.

    Reply

  31. I would love to try the vanilla nut and/or the lock and load. My husband and I are avid coffee drinkers and if you have followed me on fb then you know how much we drink coffee. I do love my starbucks being from seattle area. We have a coffee pot that freshly grinds your beans with each pot. Its the best. Nothing like the sounds of beans grinding and then smelling the fresh pot of coffee.

    Reply

  32. I think warrior select sounds yummy and definately Charlie can’t surf. Looks like a.great company would love to support them!

    Reply

  33. he is currently deployed and only asks for dark coffee so i know he would love double barrel black

    Cbrocious1984 AT gmail dot com

    Reply

  42. I would love to try the vanilla bean, I adore flavored coffees!! My husband would probably like the lock and load.

    Reply

  43. I would love to try the vanilla nut ! Yum ! Thank you for the opportunity to win and also for spotlighting this company. I love what they’re doing !

    Reply

  44. I would love to try the Vanilla Nut. Either way I plan on purchasing a bag for myself and possibly as gifts for the holidays. It’s all for a great cause! Thanks for sharing Army Wife 101!

    Reply

  47. Those all sound really good! I love.my coffee too! I would prbably do the hazelnut or the vanilla one! Yum! My favorites!

    Reply

  49. I would love the Southern Pecan. Being stationed at Bragg in the Fall makes me think this would be a great choice for myself and hubby when he returns from Iraq.

    Reply

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