I'm looking for people who might be interested in an experiment... Here's the deal: I have a space in the downtown Gainesville entertainment district that will be built-out within a week or two. There's an architect with the mandate to "create a new architecture of chance" out of concrete, glass, and metal who has been cooking up a very cool design to create a "theater of the bar." Working with some very giving and wonderful people from the barista community, we've come up with a bar/barista-centric design-- and the bar is outfitted with some nice gear (3-phase/GB/"that automated coffee brewer"). No HFCS or purchased syrups, no pre-mixes or concentrates.

In other words, we can make something interesting happen in north Florida. And the focus isn't just on coffee. We're just as serious about our tea and chocolate programs. There will be at least two dozen first flush/new crop/limited teas, along with water towers dedicated to the different brew temps to best present each tea. And there's enough variety in chocolate to create a buzz on its own-- from MarieBelle and Vosges hot chocolates on the menu to dozens of chocolate bars and pieces from artisan chocolate makers from around the country. Whenever possible, we're working with local and organic producers for baked goods, produce, and diary.

The experiment is called Volta, and we're opening up in April. Gainesville is a pretty laid-back place-- the weather doesn't (usually) suck (except for July/August); there's great road and mountain biking, kayaking, cave diving very close by. Decent music scene. Two big schools (UF and Santa Fe Community College). I'm looking for full and part-time workers who are dedicated to their craft and will respect the ingredients that we have to work with. I don't want people looking for "just another barista job"-- I'm much more interested in co-collaborators with lots of ideas and passions who are interested in building the kind of collective work environment that you've always wanted to be a part of. If you are interested, fire off a note to true@voltacoffee.com.