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Michelle Campbell Resigns from SCAA

I post the following message on behalf of SCAA's Executive Director, Ric Rhinehart:



It is with considerable regret that I inform you that I accepted Michelle Campbell’s resignation this week from her position as Director of Community and Events. Michelle has been with the association since 2002 and has played a key role in the development of the barista community, regional and national barista competitions and the World Barista Championship. Michelle will be sorely missed, and we… Continue

Added by Mike Ferguson on October 24, 2008 at 4:31pm — 3 Comments

Coffee Kids 20th Anniversary DVD Now Available

Coffee Kids recently completed a DVD celebrating our 20th Anniversary with the help of Machine Hero, a Rhode Island-based communication arts company. The original 10-minute film can be seen below. It explores Coffee Kids role in the global coffee community and how support for organizations like Coffee Kids translates to support for the long term future of the specialty coffee industry.



The DVD features… Continue

Added by Coffee Kids on October 24, 2008 at 3:03pm — No Comments

The Finals Part 2

The final scores for the competition and are being calculated by Silvio Leite's team and descriptions of the lots are being written for tomorrow night's auction. Members of the panel are catching up on work from home, watching the Rwanda Cup of Excellence online auction, or enjoying a pleasant post-almoço siesta.





More delicious food at the Centro do Excellencia.…



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Added by Brazil Fair Trade Certified Cupping Competition on October 24, 2008 at 11:30am — No Comments

Finals Feedback and Farmers

Once judges were finished with each round of cupping they met in a conference room with head judge Silvio Leite to give their scores and talk about the coffees. Often, when the discussion about a particular aroma or flavor becomes animated, Silvio has provided insight into why the trait exists. In some cases it's related to post-harvest techniques-when the cherries are picked, how much fermentation if any, how the cherries are dried if they're naturals, etc. While discussing a high scoring… Continue

Added by Brazil Fair Trade Certified Cupping Competition on October 24, 2008 at 10:30am — No Comments

Plateaus and Moments of Discovery

I entered into coffee two years ago with only a cursory knowledge of this fine beverage I've become so enamored with these days. I knew it was black, that it "tasted bitter", and that it was, in my mind at the time, a poor substitute for Mountain Dew. Fast forward to today; redistribution methods, TDS brewing measurements, gram scale dosing, pulped natural, and 9 bar are all terms that float in foggy cloud in mind. Ive pondered the effects of convex tamping versus flat piston tamping. I've… Continue

Added by Chris DeMarse on October 24, 2008 at 7:26am — 1 Comment

Loaner Machine

Our espresso machine wasn't doin so well, they bought it used to begin with, and we've been open 5 years now, so it's expected. Well the owners decided against buying a new machine, so ours is getting rebuilt. Unfortunately we got the worst loaner since he has so many out right now. It sucks! It's so frustarting to serve drinks, shots especially, that are far under par compared to your usual best. It's gonna be a rough weekend.

Added by Jaimie Rae Weidner on October 23, 2008 at 7:57pm — No Comments

Competition video

Hey all, does anyone know where I can get access to soe video from the WBC any year will do, I want to see it all.

Added by Jesse -D-> on October 23, 2008 at 11:41am — 7 Comments

Anyone need a barista?

I got fired monday. It was stupid and unfair. I've never done anything wrong there - never late, in fact, I'm always early, the drawer is never off, never been repriminded, and when I went in early monday morning to open my boss was waiting for me to get my keys. Whatever. If he's going to be like that, I don't want to work for him anyways.



Bad news is, no other coffee houses seem to be looking for baristas. I sent my resume to a couple but I havn't heard anything back and don't… Continue

Added by Rachael Renk Simas on October 23, 2008 at 11:30am — 2 Comments

Rwanda COE auction is today

We will be bidding on some coffees in a group. There has not been a lot of interest in this auction stateside. I am concerned for the overall prices and the impact to the farmers. I hope that more people end up bidding and bring the average price up to make a difference for all of the hardworking farmers. They deserve it!
http://www.cupofexcellence.org/coeauctions.aspx?tabid=36

Added by Andy Newbom on October 23, 2008 at 6:51am — 3 Comments

The Finals





Silvio Leite and Wendy de Jong in full cupping mode.



This morning our crew of judges and TransFair USA staff left the Colinas Hotel and headed out to the Centro de Excellencia for the final two rounds of cupping



The morning will feature ten of the top natural coffees from Tuesday's session and eleven of the semi-washed/washed coffees from yesterday (the eleventh coffee is due… Continue

Added by Brazil Fair Trade Certified Cupping Competition on October 23, 2008 at 6:30am — No Comments

Poço Fundo Part 2

After the visit at COOPFAM's new dry mill and cupping room, we all piled into the van and set off to visit a member's farm. The journey was worthy of an Indiana Jones movie. We were told that the carpets of giant red ants we'd pass on the road were signs of coming rain (not eminent doom.) One collapsed bridge forced a long detour around to another bridge which looked like it was about to collapse. Bets were taken on how the van would fall into the river. The scenery, as it is in most coffee… Continue

Added by Brazil Fair Trade Certified Cupping Competition on October 22, 2008 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Busyness

Geez...I don't log on for a couple weeks and it seems the barista exchange world fast forwards 2 months. This whole not having a computer thing really isn't helping...



Anyway.



I posted a discussion about the cool experience I had with one of the local newspaper writers in the shop, but just for kicks here is the link for the story they did.… Continue

Added by Cherie on October 22, 2008 at 6:24pm — No Comments

PT's Coffee Roasting Co. named Roast Magazine's Roaster of the Year!



I am so excited to finally announce that PT's Coffee Roasting Co. has been named Roast Magazine's 2009 Roaster of the Year! We at PT's are honored to have earned the coveted title. Look for the article in the November/December issue of Roast Magazine. For now, here's a press release...



PT's Coffee Roasting Co. has been named Roast magazine's "Roaster of the Year" for2009 in the publication's… Continue

Added by Holly on October 22, 2008 at 10:05am — 6 Comments

Poço Fundo

After the cupping the panel of judges visited COOPFAM (Cooperativa dos Agricultores Familiares de Poço Fundo e Regiao, or just Poço Fundo) Founded in 1991, the co-op has grown to achieve many of its long term goals and recently completed a new dry mill in May of this year. Three years ago the co-op began exporting its own coffee which completed the journey to self-sufficiency in all matters of post-production.…



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Added by Brazil Fair Trade Certified Cupping Competition on October 22, 2008 at 8:55am — No Comments

Brazilian Food

Just a small clarification for anyone who thought we were serious about the strict food regime of bread and water for the judges-we've been eating some wonderful meals. The joke was more about cupping competition director Silvio Leite and his stellar attention to detail and procedure. There are however some guidelines for diet when cupping. Things you want to avoid the night before and day of the cupping include onions, garlic, hot peppers, and alcohol. While those ingredients have been absent… Continue

Added by Brazil Fair Trade Certified Cupping Competition on October 22, 2008 at 7:30am — No Comments

"COFFEE WITH A KICK"

Very cool! Way to go Martin Diedrich, a fellow bX member!



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Oct. 21, 2008



CONTACT: Trevor Slavick, Founder

Little Feet Coffee Company

(949) 929-9133

Trevor737@gmail.com



SOCCER CHARITY TEAMS UP WITH COFFEE PRODUCER TO OFFER NEW SPECIALTY BRAND



UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES PREMIUM "COFFEE WITH A KICK"



(NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.) Oct. 21, 2008… Continue

Added by Matt Milletto on October 21, 2008 at 2:18pm — No Comments

A day of naturals

Tuesday here at the Center of Excellence saw the conclusion of round one for naturally processed coffees. Naturals, those allowed to dry whole with the beans still inside the cherry, can be problematic on the cupping table. "It's always difficult to cup natural coffees because you can always find a lot of variations from cup to cup and table to table" says Andrew Miller of Cafe Imports. Twenty-nine coffees in three flights were cupped on Tuesday and Andrew saw two coffees per set that were… Continue

Added by Brazil Fair Trade Certified Cupping Competition on October 21, 2008 at 8:30am — No Comments

International Panel Biographies

While our judges finish cupping the third and final round of naturals, let's learn a little more about them.







Oscar Gonzales, Supply Manager, Sustainable Harvest, Lima, Peru

Oscar Gonzales began his career in coffee eleven years ago. He initially started working at national roasting companies, where he established strong relationships with key coffee companies and exporting cooperatives in Peru. Oscar then worked with coffee… Continue

Added by Brazil Fair Trade Certified Cupping Competition on October 21, 2008 at 8:30am — No Comments

More Calibrations, Rio, and those nifty cups...

For those of you who've never been on a cupping panel I should probably dig a little deeper on calibrations. First, the calibration can also serve as a warm-up for the judges, giving them a chance make sure their own senses are dialed-in. As we well know, we all have different palates and different senses of smell. While experienced cuppers tend to be totally tuned into their noses & tongues, they're still individuals with varying life experiences and sense memories. One combination of… Continue

Added by Brazil Fair Trade Certified Cupping Competition on October 21, 2008 at 4:00am — No Comments

In desperate need of a job.

I haven't had the best of luck lately. I left Epicenter, I couldn't compromise my happiness for a job. Since then, I took on a full-time job in a cafe, that quickly became a part time job, because they didn't take into account that tourist season would soon be over and business would be slower, onto a full blown "letting go" notice, because they couldn't afford to keep me or give me the hours, I so desperately need right now.



It's my birthday in a few days and I am recovering from a… Continue

Added by Jess on October 20, 2008 at 9:29pm — 1 Comment

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