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Rich Westerfield

Pittsburgh

United States

Profile Information:

What is your position in the coffee industry?: barista, manager, coffee shop owner, coffee enthusiast
Where are you located? ( City and Country ): Pittsburgh
How many years have you been in the industry?: 6+
If you are a barista or shop, are you interested in a barista exchange with another coffee shop/barista?: yes
Tell us more about your coffee shop or barista skills.: We are in Pittsburgh, PA, USA. We use Intelligentsia for espresso because we're on board with the ethics and quality. We also roast our own line of boutique single origins sourced via direct trade importers. Our kids compete regionally and nationally in both the SCAA comps and Millrock and sometimes win trophies. We could be interested in an exchange, especially during the summer months, to both host someone of talent and to offer someone of talent.
What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?: Anywhere in Europe, Western Canada or Central America.
About Me:: I'm just a cook that pulls an occasional decent shot. Our staff was cited as being "Pittsburgh's Best Baristas" by the editors of Pittsburgh Magazine back in 2007. We're still trying to live up to that.
About My Company:: We're always looking for someone who's got a hollow leg for coffee and wants to cup at every opportunity. And we're dog-friendly.
What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?: The folks who manage to be amazing, yet humble about it. And Wiggles.
Website:: http://www.aldocoffee.com

Comment Wall:

Mike Donnelly

Congrats on best baristas! Making the trip up to Cleveland soon?

Dec 30, 2007
Rich Westerfield

Now accepting vegan muffin recipes...

Jan 4, 2008
Pablo Castaneda

hey Guys do you have Guatemalan coffee?? I noticed you sell 12 and 1 pound presentations, let me know if you are interested.

best regards and have fun , enjoy your passion for coffee.

Pablo

Jan 7, 2008
Pablo Castaneda

Thanks for the comments, yeah I love to sing as well, coffee and music man that is my passion. I only work coffee from Antigua. I wont be able to be in the SCAA, do you mean the one in el SALVADOR??? let me know I can send you samples anyway.

keep the passion for coffee, did u get to read my article the ART OF COFFEE, Hope you can.

Pablo

Jan 7, 2008
Pablo Castaneda

yeah Antigua can hold quite a looooooot, even after so much time. So what type of music do you like???

Pablo

Jan 7, 2008
Lauren

Hey Richard!!! chili tomorrow?????????????

Jan 8, 2008
wiggles

thanks for being my friend. i've only visited aldo once, but i loved the black cat, the el salv so espresso one of your baristas was nice enough to pull for me and the killer back patio.
are any of you kids coming down this weekend for the scaa skill building?

Jan 13, 2008
shmuel

yeah sounds good.kim gonna try to bring some coffee tree folks with me.

Jan 20, 2008
Luke

Where am I?

Jan 20, 2008
shmuel

please do! great food and sweets plus i would love to hear what you guys know about black cat.

Feb 4, 2008
nik orosi

hallo hallo everybody at aldo!! welcome aboard!!

Feb 10, 2008
Amelie & Barb

We took your adivce and joined the exchange! We love Aldo by the way!!

Feb 17, 2008
Amelie & Barb

Sure! You bring the beans, I provide the machine!
We just got it delivered today. I have a pic on my page.

Feb 18, 2008
Neil

Well you can always count on us to be your houseguests in the future!

Feb 20, 2008
Amelie & Barb

It's under there, you have to kneel down to see it!

Feb 21, 2008
Lauren

hahahaha. wow. i love it.

Feb 21, 2008
scott conary

Sane here Rich...good to get to talk with you, and look forward to more conversations. Congrat's on a great showing, your folks obviously care and it shows.

Feb 21, 2008
scott conary

While I am occasionally sane...I really meant 'same' !

Feb 21, 2008
Sean

I definitely missed something.

Feb 21, 2008
Amelie & Barb

Yes, sure. You'll have to let me play with it first. It has not arrived yet. I hope to have it this week!

Feb 24, 2008
Amelie & Barb

I meant to start a discussion and instead, i sent an e-mail to all who belongs in that group. Oh well. Sorry for the confusion!

Feb 28, 2008
sonja schutte

Rich, I thought I had left you a comment and then didn't, but so here we are ...'friends' The zoetkoekies are bubbling away at the minute, so see you tommorrow

Feb 28, 2008
Daryn Berlin

I haven't seen any photos yet, and i am not sure if I want too. Nice to see you again, say hello to Melanie, Belle, and the others.

Mar 8, 2008
Troy Reynard

Rich, thanks so much for all your support, I was humbled by the response and probably still haven't absorbed it all. We're at $2182 so far for B2R.

Mar 8, 2008
sonja schutte

Aldo news travels far and wide! I was in Mexico at the 'in-the-pool' bar (mojito in hand) when a friend told me there were some political meetings taking place at Aldo. So we all have trophies now....congrats Rich. So you can teach and do.

Mar 11, 2008
Phil Johnson

Hey. I start at the Vault again on Saturday, so I'm now technically a barista again.

Tell yer friends.

Mar 11, 2008
Anne MF Boatner

Thanks Rich. Tomorrow is my first day and I am very excited.
Is Aldo coming to Ithaca? I hope to see you there so you can kick my ass in espresso extraction again.

Mar 14, 2008
randy

Hi Rich. Thanks for the kind words. The day job is nice, but there is nothing like working on the bar. It's a huge stress relief and murky is the best group of people I have ever worked with. I can't give it up. I am sticking with murky, just moving to the Arlington shop.

Mar 20, 2008
Sean

WRT coffeed: "New Moon" indeed.

Thats just terrible.

Mar 21, 2008
Gerra Harrigan

yikes, right, I did promise to send you some awhile back. I will get some out to you on Wednesday/Thursday as we are roasting for Devlin's blend tomorrow. Ithaca is just around the corner, are you guys coming up?

Mar 31, 2008
Troy Reynard

Seriously Rich, you need to change that picture, it makes me throw up a little in my mouth every time I see it!

Apr 17, 2008
Sean

Hah, nah. Just a lot of them. Only ten hours today. 5-6days a week and since jen has been out of town the past couple of weeks the doggies need letting out after my shifts. Plus you guys haven't had any exciting stuff to drag me allll the way to Mt lebo.

Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition!!!

Apr 17, 2008
Amelie & Barb

Niiice...I'm actually in Minneapolis on business. Got here on the 6th and will be back in Pittsburgh on the 9th. I'll drop by sat. morning even if you're all out, black cat is always a worthy trip. :)

May 8, 2008
Amelie & Barb

Did you hear about the Vault? it has apparently closed. Sad news for Pittsburgh.

May 12, 2008
Tim Noble

Hey Rich, how's the 'burgh these days?
If you're out this way across the badlands, (Philly) drop me a line and lets share a meal.
I'd like to get out to Mt. Lebonon, too. I'll shoot you a msg if I make any plans.

Jun 17, 2008
Stephen

Rich, Can I get you to wear some of my crazy shirts at the next coffee event?

Jun 26, 2008
Maria

no. i work at Caribou but i'm trying to break loose and get a job as a "Real" barista. I'm really interested in learning more about the industry but I dont really feel like i'm learning much about coffee at Caribou, if ya know what i mean... what part of Pittsburgh are you from?

Jun 29, 2008
Maria

thanks!

Jun 30, 2008
Tim Noble

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!
Pittsburgh. It's like PDX. Period.
SNAP!
Rich, I've got an agreement with Stumptown to bring there coffee to Philly!
How about that, huh? I'd like to have a little cross-state rivalry with your crack staff when we're open... I hope we can swing something.
Where's Biden in the news? He's never this quiet...

Sep 22, 2008
Tim Noble

No-Can-Do for the MARBC, unfortunately. I just don't have the free time with buildout and babies. I'm not a native, so I feel no urge toward mystery meats. Have a great week in Pittsburgh, the other city.

Sep 29, 2008
Phil Johnson

Thanks for the shout-out. Hopefully we'll get in touch sometime soon.

Oct 27, 2008
Alun Evans

The question is not ne of great coffee... rather is Bill Cowher willing to come and be head coach at Denver?

Dec 29, 2008
Alun Evans

Cleveland???...he would be brave to takethat job... Now Colorado that is another story!!! No, you are probably right in your assesment. He's in North Carolina now, so for sure (and sadly) the east seems logical. I feel a little sorry for Bill's proteges Eric Mangini and Romeo Crennel...both huge contributors to the Patriots, both now coach jobs of 09.

Dec 29, 2008
Maria

HI RICH! I was just wondering if anyone from Aldo would be competing in the Barista Competition thats coming up in Feb. in Cranberry Twp.?

Hope the weather isn't hurting business too bad!
Maria

Jan 11, 2009
Maria

Yeah, I'm really excited that they are having one in our area. Last year I went to Coffee Fest in Washington, DC and that was the first competition that I've ever seen. I'm really excited to see what baristas in our area can do.

Jan 11, 2009
Stephen

We aren't going to be able to make it out this year. We are getting ready to compete in Chi town. Good Luck this year. hope things are going well in Pitts

Jan 31, 2009