its a saturday, and i'm not running one of the shops!  crazy!  my last 9 years have been totally tied into promoting coffee.  but, it is my slow season, and admittedly i do slow down in a hefty way this time of year, unfortunately.  cold and snowy out...'tis the best time to be slurping down some great mochas and spiced hot chocolates, no?!  instead, i'm rambling thru all the great posts and discussions and blogs here on bx!  really inspiring to read all the intense interests and enthusiam regarding the myriad thoughts and processes surrounding the honored bean!  i really like hearing the personal stories of how a barista may have had a single simple corner of a retail store for some time, and thru perseverence and personal ingenuity they were able to expand and grow into their own full-fledged shop.  wow, that's amazing!  i read that type of story over and over on bx, and never-ever grow tired of it.  all you brave baristas with your espresso bike carts and coffee vans and coffee trucks and rad espresso scooters and pull-alongs and permanent places...congratulations!  i'm expecting someone to pop up with a pic of their single group machine on their back while hiking the appalachian trail, offering a pull here and there along the trail's lookout points!  way to go bx, and way to go bx-ers!!

best of '11 to everyone!,

sage 

the coffee hound