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Simple Description of Coffee Plantation in China

Posted by Peter Tam on March 14, 2008 at 4:13am

In China, there are three places where coffee can be planted. One is Yunnan, where they plant arabica beans; The second one is Hainan, where they plant only robusta beans. The third one is Taiwan, no idea what they have. Suppose that they have only robusta beans, due to the low atitude.The arabica beans of Yunnan is tasted great, in drip coffee. It is not good for espresso. The beans from Hainan is not good for drip coffee, but maybe good for some blends of espresso or drip coffee. Not sure, because we never tried it as in any blends.

GLRBC

Posted by Andrew Milstead on March 14, 2008 at 3:57am

In Milwaukee with Patty. Ready to represent the Sota and Kopplin's here as the only out of region competitor. Will post blogs as the event proceeds. For now it's time for me to prepare. Patty and I are going to rock out the "4th Machine" here in the next little bit. Fair thee well.

Fair Trade Paper - cuz you asked

Posted by Noelle on March 13, 2008 at 11:58am

Here is my paper... because apparently there were some who wanted to read it. I want to say that because of the class requirements, the draft is pretty superficial, but all the sources that I used were sooooo good and in-depth. Anyway, hope you learn something :)Fair Trade 1Running Head: FAIR TRADEFair Trade: The RevolutionNoelle ConnollyEastern Washington UniversityMarch 2008Fair Trade 2As a revolution, the fairtrade movement is not typical. Although spurred by inequality, this movement was not initialized by the poor, frustrated laborer, but by the wealthier, socially-conscious activists in northern countries. The fairtrade movement is a revolution in a very different sense of the word. As a non-violent movement, it does not seek to ‘overthrow’ the powerful and exploitative Multi-national Corporations (MNC’s), or destroy the capitalist global economy. Instead, it strives to change the behavior of buyers and sellers in order to bring social equality to the marginalized small-scale laborers of the Southern hemisphere.The first phases of fairtrade developed in charity organizations and church groups as a movement which sought to challenge the traditional concepts of production and consumption (Low, Davenport, 2005). They promoted all forms of products, from furniture to handicrafts. Agricultural products were only a small part of the bigger picture. The fair trade movement as we know it began in the mid-20th century, when non-profit importers partnered with southern hemisphere farmers, forming non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) called Alternative Trade Organizations (ATO’s). Focusing initially on coffee and agricultural production, these organizations sought to create a better profit opportunity for small-scale farmers by avoiding the middle-man in across-border trade, who usually received most of the profit as the product transitioned between producer and buyer (Fairtrade Labelling Organisations, 2006). Over the years, ATO’s grew, and the small movement finally began to gather speed. Eventually, A Dutch ATO introduced a fair trade label, which they named Max Havelaar, after a character in a book about Dutch colonialist exploitation. This label provided a “way to increase sales without compromising consumer trust in Fairtrade products and in their origins” (FLO, 2006). The idea spread to other organizations, and umbrella groups began to form, such as IFAT, NEWS!, EFTA,Fair Trade 3Transfair USA, the Fair Trade Federation, and the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO), which set standards and regulate certifications and which are recognized and respected globally.The movement could not have been set in motion at a better time. Many factors contributed to a situation ripe for change and the development of fair trade organizations. As economic institutions such as the IMF and World Bank began to focus on developing free, capitalist economies in developing countries, complicated social problems began to arise. Subsistence farmers found themselves unable to compete on the oversupplied global market (Low, Davenport, 2005). Awareness of the inequality proliferated by liberalization policies had mobilized large numbers of social organizations. However, this injustice gave way to “important new movements striving to create a more socially…sustainable society” (Raynolds, 2000: 298). Through the World Wide Web and other media outlets, organizations appealed to the moral sensitivity of the Northern hemisphere. These organization began “to create new networks of exchange that escape the bonds of simple price competition” by condensing the space between the human producer and the priced commodity, forcing the consumer to take into account the ethical question of why their products are so cheap (as cited in Moore, 2004: 81). An increasing awareness of the wealth disparity between the global North and global South thus played a role in creating an obliging consumer market for fairtrade products. By using all aspects of the market, including retailers, producers, and consumers, the fairtrade movement has been classified as working “in and against the market” (Raynolds, 2000). Fairtrade does not attempt to destroy the capitalist system that may have created the social inequality in the first place. Instead, it endeavors to challenge and change the system, to force it to consider social and ecological consequences of low labor costs. This peaceful revolution is characterized by the emphasis onFair Trade 4social justice and an effort not to overthrow the capitalist system, but instead work in it, and manipulating norms of the market in order to achieve social parity, especially for those currently exploited by the system.The goal of the movement is to challenge the traditional, price-driven market, and “re-embed commodity circuits with ecological and social relations” (Raynolds, 2000). But the drivers of this movement are not the poor, exploited farmers who are at the center of the cause; the FLO website describes the movement as a “partnership between non-profit importers, retailers, and small-scale producers” (FLO, 2006). Unlike most revolutions and civil movements, fairtrade was not spurred by mistreated people, but by socially-minded buyers. In this case, it would be implausible for the marginalized to unite and revolt against the market. The likelihood of all exploited persons to have the ability or motivation to do this is miniscule. If only the people of one country was able to achieve such unity, the ‘race to the bottom’ has assured that there are other regions ready and willing to facilitate the displaced MNC’s. Instead, because the wealthier companies of the North hold more power in setting prices and determining wages, they were the only ones who would have been successful in instigating change. In Geoff Moore’s analysis of the industry structure of the fairtrade movement, the emphasis placed on the role of ATO’s (all of northern origin) and “conventional organizations, typically supermarkets” (2004: 76) shows how reliant the movement is on such bodies. Undoubtedly, it would be impossible to progress the movement without the powerful voice of these importers, retailers, and thus making them the stimulators of the movement.The efforts of the NGO’s have been reciprocated with an increase in fairtrade sales. Total gross sales of all North American fairtrade organizations increased by 48% from 2002 to 2003Fair Trade 5(as cited in Wilkinson, 2006), and continue to increase at an exponential rate. Coffee has become one of the most prominent fairtrade industries. Fairtrade specialty coffee shares in the industry from 2000 to 2006 grew from .6% to 4.3% (Wilkinson, 2006: 227). However, although the change is dramatic, it is still only a fraction of the global sales, and the numbers are even lower in non-coffee markets. Another challenge the movement faces is educating the consumer. Creating a socially aware customer is imperative to the success of fairtrade, as the foundation of the movement is a social justice issue. By using “campaigns (fair trade coffee on campus, fair trade towns, fair trade weeks, etc) [the movement] promotes political campaigns and advocacy to ‘make trade fair’ in international forums” (Wilkinson, 2006). These campaigns target the already existing politically and ethically minded consumer, and also create more consumers like them. The sub-movement of ethical consumerism can be quite appealing, especially to Northerners who believe in the power of individuality (as cited in Low, Davenport, 2005, p. 495). While contributing to the growth of an economy, the individual consumer can feel that they are making a difference and “promoting positive social change” (Low, Davenport, 2005) in the world by choosing fairtrade goods. Fairtrade was born from people naturally inclined towards the ideas of social justice, such as religious groups, leftist political groups, and others attracted to 3rd world equality. (Low, Davenport, 2005).The goal here is to mainstream these ideals to be naturally a part of the international market. One prominent concern of any consumer has always been the quality of the product. As Moore notes, “Fair Trade products are often in direct competition with branded products and so need to be of sufficient quality to compete” (2004: 78). Achieving a high quality product is very important to lending credibility to the movement. Marketers use this knowledge in theirFair Trade 6strategies. Sometimes, they champion the “quality of their product, and use the fair-trade label as an additional marketing tool” (Low, Davenport, 2005). This suggests a second challenge of the movement, mainstreaming the fairtrade product. The above method creates division in the movement because it focuses simply on selling the product and many fear they may lose the message in the process (Low, Davenport, 2005). They believe the “collective focus” of the movement will be lost as the individual attempts to “solve global problems” (Low, Davenport, 2005: 496). However, most fairtrade organizations are pushing to mainstream fairtrade market practices and products with consumers and retailers. Mainstreaming of the fairtrade movement and products is imperative to its success, as it must work within a market driven by competition. As discussed above, the fairtrade movement works in the market, not against it. Not reaching out to a broad clientele would detract from the movement’s effectiveness.The responses of governments around the world have been positive and supportive. One main issue of government agendas has recently been poverty alleviation. As noted in Wilkinson,The fair trade movement, therefore, despite its still marginal relevance for globaltrade flows, finds itself at the heart of the central political issue of the day for nationalgovernments, global institutions and corporate players alike – if trade is the road togrowth and poverty reduction what are the rules which should govern trading practicesand the trading system? (p. 18)These rules are being set by the ATO’s, and global institutions are paying attention to their rallying cries. Since fairtrade is the perfect avenue to address social concerns without idealistically denying the power of the market, governments who promote free trade and MNC’s who are motivated by profit are able to participate in the movement, relatively ncompromisingly.Fair Trade 7Multinational corporations are also an important actor in the movement toward socially equitable market practices. Coffee has been the most available fairtrade product, as proved in its ubiquity in large retail chains such as Starbucks, Safeway, some convenience stores and even Wal-Mart, the notoriously unfair retail store (Raynolds, 2002). As proved above, fairtrade products still only account for a fraction of sales in North America and Europe, the fact is that the demand is increasing at an impressive rate, and MNC’s are seizing a growing opportunity to reach a socially conscious consumer base. Some consumers who may have previously avoided such MNC’s because of their participation in exploiting a poor, foreign labor force are now able to relieve their conscience and shop at such stores. It is arguable whether the movement benefits from the participation of MNC’s. Although these agencies may have their own agendas, the mainstreaming of fairtrade ideals in general has undeniable benefits. As the increase in fairtrade sales has shown, the positive results may outweigh the negative consequences of marketing a diluted message that the everyday consumer might not fully understand.The end result of this fight for social justice has still to be seen. Hopefully, there will not be an end, but the movement will continue to progress until all aspects of trade are fair and the market operates as much on the principle of fairtrade as it does on supply and demand. Until then, proponents of the movement will have to be satisfied with rapidly increasing fairtrade product sales, growing awareness of the issues fairtrade addresses, and a widespread acceptance and approval of fairtrade as a positive social revolution.Fair Trade 8ReferencesLow, William, Eileen Davenport. (December 2005). Has the Medium (Roast) Become theMessage? The Ethics of Marketing Fair Trade in the Mainstream. InternationalMarketing Review. Retrieved March 6, 2008 from www.emeraldinsight.com/0265- 1335.htm.Fairtrade Labelling Organisations. (2006). About Fair Trade. Retrieved March 6, 2008 fromhttp://www.fairtrade.net/about_fairtrade.html.Raynolds, Laura. (February 6, 2000). Re-embedding Global Agriculture: The InternationalOrganic and Fair Trade Movements. Agriculture and Human Values. Retrieved March 6, 2008 from http://0-proquest.umi.com.libsys.ewu.edu/pqdweb?index=0&did=501065081&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName= PQD&TS=1205444214&clientId=5545.Moore, Geoff. (2004). The Fair Trade Movement: Parameters, Issues, and Research.Journal of Business Ethics. Retrieved March 6, 2008 from http://0-proquest.umi.com.libsys.ewu.edu/pqdweb?index=17&did=707261381&SrchMode=1&sid=6&Fmt=6&Vin st=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1205444618&clientId=5545Wilkinson, John. (2007). Fair Trade: Dynamics and Dilemmas of a Market Oriented Global Social Movement. Journal of Consumer Policy. Retrieved March 6, 2008 from http://0- proquest.umi.com.libsys.ewu.edu/pqdweb?index=0&did=1311050941&SrchMode=1&si d=8&Fmt=6&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=120544478 1&clientId=5545Raynolds, Laura. (2002). Poverty Alleviation Through Participation in Fair Trade CoffeeNetworks: Existing Research and Critical Issues. Prepared for Project Funded by theCommunity and Resource Development Program, The Ford Foundation, New York

Does the size of coffee beans matter?

Posted by Andres Castro on March 12, 2008 at 9:56am

I would like to discuss how many of you have ever ask about this issue. It is easy to become confused with the variety of coffees available based on size grades. Usually, the grade depends on the percentage of coffee that remains in a specific sieve. For example, Supremo coffee must be 95% above 17 screen and 5 % between 16 and 14 screens.The preparation of many lots of coffees based on the size of the beans have two main reasons; the first one is to ease the process of roasting by making the lot more smooth and consistent. The second one is related to consumer presentation for coffees sold as whole bean (Not ground). Is any body else has another additional comment.I believe there are different ways to assess the size of the beans but I am familiar with one that is very technical and methodical. In order to use this procedure it is necessary to acquire a minimum set of elements such as a set of sieves, a scale, a probe grain, plastic bags and labels. ….Andres CastroPortland Roasting

Point-of-Origin Tours in Wall Street

Posted by Coffee Kids on March 12, 2008 at 7:33am

Well, not really on Wall Street, but The Wall Street Journal featured an article on point-of-origin tours on March 11*. "Tours to Fair-Trade Farms Help Coffee Sellers Spread Word" tells about tours to coffee producing regions being conducted by various coffee companies. The article really hits on the transformative nature of these trips. When you have a chance to visit the origin of the products you consume - especially in the case of coffee - you realize how difficult life is in many of the communities that produce coffee.Coffee Kids member Java Republic from Ireland recently joined us on a point-of-origin trip to visit our partner CECOCAFEN in Nicaragua. The group saw parallels between conditions and life in Nicaragua and Ireland from 50 years ago and returned from the trip even more dedicated to helping improve the lives of coffee-farming families. Carolyn Fairman, executive director at Coffee Kids, chronicles the adventure in the blog "Irish Eyes on Nicaragua." You can also see photos from the trip on our Flickr site*Thanks to Derek for pointing this article out.

20th Anniversary Celebration Tickets Available

Posted by Coffee Kids on March 12, 2008 at 5:00am

The year 2008 marks two decades of Coffee Kids helping coffee-farming families create vibrant communities. Celebrate with us at our anniversary dinner on May 3rd at the 2008 SCAA Conference in Minneapolis, Minn.

Throughout the evening we will reflect on the achievements and challenges of the last 20 years, look ahead to the future, and acknowledge those who have stood by us and our partners in the work. Speakers will include Coffee Kids Founder Bill Fishbein, Executive Director Carolyn Fairman, and Board President Rob Stephen, as well as other special guests. Plus, Luca Mundaca, a Putumayo World Music recording artist, will be making a very special performance.20th Anniversary Celebration DinnerSaturday, May 3, 20087:30 to 9:30 p.m.Minneapolis Convention Center, Ballroom BDinner to include wine, hors d’oevres, entrée and dessert.Individual: $75Company table for eight : $560Reservations are required. Please contact Heather Ferraro at heather@coffeekids.org or (505) 820-1443 for reservations.Revenue in excess of event costs will be directed toward Coffee Kids’ projects in Latin America.

I win!!!!!!!

Posted by Dan Griffin on March 11, 2008 at 7:37pm

CRAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Was the MANE Jam a dream?

Posted by Troy Reynard on March 11, 2008 at 2:57pm

Nearly a week since it began, it seems so unreal to me, all these great coffee minds bringing their knowledge to the average workaday barista and shop owner. My highlights include:The organizational help of Gerra Harrigan and the entire New Harvest Crew.The support of Counter Culture, sponsorship-wise and the talents of their staff.The AMAZING keynote by Jon Lewis. Time spent and ideas shared with Jon Lewis.Peter G. showing everyone the face of coffee.Jamie Schoenhut for incredible support, a perspective we rarely see (green importers), and introducing us to Maggie, who, with her shy and heartfelt demeanor gave us another cause to fight for. (Coffelands Landmine Trust)Rob Stephen for giving us clues to decipher the Rubik's cube that is the "C" Market.James Hoffmann in Easton, PA. 'nuff said.The latte art wizardry of Chris DeFerio, plus his patient and effective teaching style.Patrick Gabrish of Pacific Foods for knocking one outta the park by footing the bill (plus) for all entrants in the soy latte art contest.FREE BEER sponsored Magic Hat Brewery.Daryn Berlin, for being Daryn Berlin!Jay Cargay for pitching in wherever he could, and scoring some tasty organic, grass fed, free range milk. (courtesy Spike from Woodberry Kitchen)Brian Ludviksen making all the stuff work.Phil Proteau for being the Swiss Army Knife of coffee professionals.Ellie Matuszak for the most comprehensive barista competition possible!All the people pitching in to do whatever they could to make the event successful! Thank you to all the sponsors, volunteers and participants!!!!!

Coffee Kids’ 20th Anniversary Dinner, May 3rd

Posted by Matt Milletto on March 11, 2008 at 8:39am

Coffee Kids’ 20th Anniversary Dinner, Saturday, May 3rd from 7:30 pm to 9:30, Minneapolis

Coffee Kids’ will commemorate two decades of helping coffee-farming families improve the quality of their lives at a special anniversary celebration. All coffee professionals and fanatics are invited to join the festivities on Saturday, May 3rd from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the Minneapolis Convention Center. With live entertainment provided by Putumayo World Music, a cocktail reception, a sit-down dinner and presentations from Coffee Kids’ longtime supporters, it promises to be a very memorable evening. Tickets for the 20th Anniversary Celebration Dinner are available at the price of $75 each. Coffee Kids also offers sponsorship opportunities starting at only $250.00. (Any sponsorship revenue in excess of costs will be directed toward Coffee Kids projects in Latin America.) Seating is limited and the deadline for sponsorship reservations is March 28th. Please contact info@coffeekids.org or call 505-820-1143 for reservations or information. To learn about Coffee Kids’ programs in coffee growing communities please visit www.coffeekids.org. Thank you

Upcoming Trade Shows

Posted by Mike Spence on March 11, 2008 at 8:30am

Northwest Food Service Show - April 27-28, 2008Seattle, WABooth # 929 SCAA - May 3-5, 2008Minneapolis, MNBooth #'s 932-934 World Tea Expo - May 30-June 1, 2008Las Vegas, NVBooth # 719 Coffee Fest - September 12-14, 2008Seattle, WABooth #'s 1105-1107

Barista Exchange Featured on SlashFood.com

Posted by Matt Milletto on March 11, 2008 at 6:18am

Found a cool write up on Barista Exchange on the called "social networking for the coffee-obsessed". Check it out!

Frozen Coffee Drinks and Smoothies

Posted by Jason Duncan on March 11, 2008 at 2:04am

I have been trying to avoid this for a long time but the day has come. We need a blender and we need to get set up with frozen drink mixes. When we were in Bozeman, we pretty much could get away with Italian Soda and iced coffee drinks. Here in Oklahoma, not so much.So, I really like what Caffe D'Amore is doing with the new Bellagio line of frozen drink mixes and I think that is probably what we are going to use. We also need fruit smoothy mix as well. I am pretty green when it comes to blender drinks mainly because I do not drink them myself.What is good?Who is doing something new and fresh?Are there good companies that we can use and not have to use fresh fruit (I know, that would make it much better but we are a catering company and not ready to do that quite yet)?If you have any advise, I would love your help!..be bold

Let the Games Begin!

Posted by 3d7lj1n4xxk7t on March 10, 2008 at 11:15am

As Mike mentioned last month, Alterra Coffee will be hosting the 2008 Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition (GLRBC) this weekend, March 13-16, at the P.H. Dye Building, 320 E. Buffalo Street, in the Third Ward. With some of the best baristas from Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio pitted against each other, it should be a very tasty espresso prep and service showdown.While the first day is a closed event, reserved for the GLRBC Judge's Certification Workshop, the following days are free and open to the java lovin' public, by which I mean you. Complimentary coffee and espresso drinks will be offered so spectators can get their rah-rah on to cheer for their favorite competitors.Rishi Tea is a Bronze Sponsor of the GLRBC and they'll be on hand to supply samples of their divinely steeped leaves, should you need a bit of a break from the ground bean. Smart move, Rishi.Competition Times:Friday March 14th - 10:30am to 4:30pmSaturday March 15th - 10:30am to 4:30pmSunday March 16th - 10:30am to 1pm (followed by awards ceremony)Full details can be found on the 2008 GLRBC web site, where I am pleased to note that the Milwaukee Public Transit System is on the top of their list of city transportation in the Insiders Guide.Thursday is my 39th Birthday, so this weekend may be a little tight, but I'll try to fit the GLRBC into my oh so busy celebratory schedule. And I hope to see you there, too.Post originally published by Milwaukee Specialty Food and Coffee.

Coffee Pirates!

Posted by Spencer on March 10, 2008 at 6:39am

Yo ho! Avast ye Baristas. We be mercenaries for coffee quality. Our quest: study our map and seek out the best coffees, prepare creative concoctions, and present our elixirs and libations with personality and flair! Savvy?Coffee Pirates be on a recruitment quest to find more Pirates to join our crew....We seek to break with traditionWe want to be our own coffee specialistsWe question the status quoWe want to promote and celebrate qualityWe desire change for the sake of improvementWe be coffee piratesWe encompass first, second, third and all other waves!We know no political or geographical boundriesPirates all live by the code "Quality First!"Yo Ho!Pirate speak is not mandetory....

First Informal Barista Jam and Pics....

Posted by Jason Dominy on March 9, 2008 at 2:00pm

Well, just got home, and wanted to write a quick post on how our first informal barista jam turned out. First, there was a smaller turnout than I hoped for, but about what I expected. I hate it that sometimes you gotta go pick people up and carry them to these kinds of things. I mean, come on, do you really know what you're missing??? Anyway, we had a blast, and even with less people, it was alot of fun with the different people that did show. A couple of different shops were represented, and the Charlotte Counter Culture guys came and threw down some, as well. It was mostly around learning latte art, and it was cool to see people's efforts. It's also cool to see people really passionate about learning more about espresso and coffee, and their desire to be better than average. That's the cool part for me. To see the glimmer in one's eyes when they see what's possible, and to see them really push theirselves to be better. It's priceless. I'd like to thank all who came out, my wife for taking pictures, and George for just dropping by. It's cool to see the picture of coffee community being taken on a night like this, and I'm just glad to be in the picture.We really are working to see our baristas putting out the best drinks possible, and educating the public to expect the best drinks, as opposed to the "average at best" drinks they are getting at Charbucks. So, I cannot WAIT to do it again next month, and am ready to blow it out. This one was a trial run, and I would say it was a success. On nights like this, I am just reminded of how much I love this community. I really do.The pics are here: http://gallery.mac.com/jasonandapril#100121

Oh no, snow

Posted by Trza on March 8, 2008 at 9:00am

Good afternoon, Cleveland winter....I'm snowed into my apartment with my boyfriend, who's tiny car is hidden underneath a snowdrift, thank you plow. We're expecting between 7 and 14 inches in the next couple of days. In a city where it's winter 9 months out of a year, you'd expect to get used to it. Never fails to depress the living hell out of me. The morning was spent playing a rousing game of scrabble (did you know 'sonsie' is a word? It means 'comely'. Which means.....?) in which I won by -90 points...and drinking some funky fresh medium dark roasted sumatran from our beloved french press, ground slightly finer than I would for auto drip. I'm a fan of Indonisian coffees generally, and appreciated this satisfying cup with a buttery mouth feel and an interestingly penetrating aftertaste that you could feel dissipate into a completely clean nothing. It also had a nice cherry or blackberry undertone to it, and was all around good drinking. In general, I like to play around with my grind setting when pressing coffee, because just like with espresso you'll generate a completely new flavor depending on how much surface area of the bean is exposed to the water. But you already know that. In any case, that was some fiiiiine ass brew.The rest of the day will be spent cleaning, as we can't leave unless we want to trudge through the white hellish streets to find another place to go, and trying to figure out what to do with this can of vegan pork I bought at an Asian market....Tonight we'll try and convince our friends to leave their warm apartments and hang out at ours. We're going to cook up some turkish coffee and read the grounds in the cup (similar to reading tea leaves) for shits and giggles. We've got the cardamom and cloves and ibrik, we just need the company. We bought some coconut flavored tobacco for our hookah and expect that it will be a rolling good time with records spinning, our pet rats pissing on our friends (we don't know how to end this problem, but hey, it makes us laugh), hot beverages, wine, smoke, and general geek-dom. Inevitably, the tv (KILL IT) will end up turning on, most likely playing X Files episodes (what of it) or the Peter Serofinowich(sp) show. In any case, it will be fun. I hope winter ends soon. I miss the mega bike rides that took off from the Phoenix hangout in my city (Lakewood, borders Skeeveland to the west), with roughly 50 or so drunk ass kids, whiskey bottles in back packs, coffee buzzes, wine in a can, u-lock knuckles fisted at drivers with attitude, and police officers generally hatin'. The weekly vegan potlucks at the park were equally debaucherous and fun, and hanging out at the beach with nothing better to do but smoke excessive cigarettes and write our names in the crusty ass dirt. The random parties, dance nights, shows, and public art making were pretty fantastic too. Reminiscing like woah dudes, please return my summer.I desperately want to live in some posi, hot weather, bean pushing town, but the truth is that Cleveland is the land of broken, shit talking, angry souls and their antithesis: uplifting, change making, movers, shakers, spiritualists, herbalists, artists, etc....and it's an unusual dichotomy. Would I appreciate the positive as much if everyone around me was striving for it, or do I need a place with shit smeared all over it to see the good and strive to be a part of it?I think general travel would be good for me, to be a transient for a little while and culture shock myself into a new mode of thought and action, come back with either the discovery that this is the place I should be, or with a severe homesickness for someplace else that I barely know intimately enough to call home.This should end on a coffee related note, shouldn't it....Coffee changes the world, it changes the people who come in contact with it every step of the way. Initiating a positive change through something as seemingly ordinary as coffee will impact a lot of people, be it through a barista, a roaster, a broker, a co-op, a farmer. I've always felt like just one person amongst a giant organism of billions, just one cell, and it always strikes me how closely related everyone is, that despite culture and all we're still more alike than we aren't. It always strikes me that the coffee industry is one that unites millions, if not billions, every day.See what winter does to me?? I need a vacation. Send me some sunshine, I'm dying over here......

Fishbein Declares Confidence, Resigns from Board Role at Coffee Kids

Posted by Coffee Kids on March 8, 2008 at 6:00am

Bill Fishbein, founder of Coffee Kids, has resigned from the board of directors. Declaring his confidence in the organization Fishbein has decided to offer his expertise to other non-profits and businesses looking to maximize the impact of their Corporate Social Responsibility dollars and pursue other opportunities to help coffee-farming families. Fishbein continues to be an ardent supporter of Coffee Kids and will continue to advocate for the organization and serve on the board of Coffee Kids UK charity.

Coffee Kids' non-commercial approach to development has helped tens of thousands of coffee-farming families. But millions more are in dire need. "It became obvious to me that Coffee Kids was going to have to be around for a long time," said Fishbein. "To do so, it had to become free from its dependency on me. The organization has been transitioning toward this day for several years, since Carolyn Fairman took over responsibility for day-to-day activities as executive director."

"Coffee Kids is no longer dependent upon me," added Fishbein."The staff is led by an executive director whose heart and sensibilities are deeply rooted in programs. With a well-seasoned president and depth in grassroots program development, organizational development, finance, marketing and fundraising, the board is more capable than any other time in Coffee Kids history. I have no doubt Coffee Kids will follow the mission instead of the money."

Rob Stephen, President of the Coffee Kids board of directors said, "As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Coffee Kids, we applaud Bill's vision as the founder of this extraordinary organization. To truly honor his work over the last two decades and demonstrate respect for his decision to step away, we will hold fast to our mission, remain focused on meaningful programs, and continue to build infrastructure that increases our capacity to do good. The best way to say thank you to Bill and all those who have made our first 20 years possible is to ensure we are built to last well into the future."

Fishbein's vote of confidence comes as Coffee Kids prepares to formally mark its 20th Anniversary with a Dinner Celebration May 3, 2008 at the Minneapolis Convention Center during the Specialty Coffee Association of America's 2008 Conference & Exhibition. For more information call 505-820-1143 or email info@coffeekids.org.

Going Green in Your Coffee House!

Posted by Matt Milletto on March 7, 2008 at 10:46am

As a coffee house owner there are many decisions that one can make to offer sustainable coffees, environmentally friendly products and to create a culture within your business that is socially responsible. I have seen an exponential growth in customer education and social awareness in the past few years and am excited to see coffee houses and coffee roasters/green coffee buyers focusing not only on quality but also developing direct relationships with coffee farmers etc. What I wanted to open up for discussion is a resource for coffee houses who may already be offering some "green" choices, as well as those who can learn from others, the simple practices that can greatly effect our customers buying practices. For many of us the first step is establishing a relationship with a coffee roaster, or roasting our own coffee, so that the coffee we serve and purchase is ethical and sustainable. There are obviously MANY great articles out there talking about this revolution so I wanted to expand upon this and brainstorm ideas that retailers can practice or offer that go past just the coffee we serve. So. What are some of you doing out there to lead by example with your retail operations? I have seen coffee houses switching to 100% biodegradable cups, composting used coffee grounds, donating to charities like Coffee Kids or Baristas for Bikes and a lot more. There are many ways a coffee house can conserve energy as well, with choosing everything from lighting, delivery options, water usage, recycling, etc. I also know there are coffee roasters out there who are experimenting with alternative energy use, and recycling the energy from their roasters to power their facility, etc. Also, many wholesale roasters are using hybrid or bio diesel vehicles. The coffee industry is so large that all of these decisions that we make can have a substantial global effects not only on the environment, but also the world economy. Let hear your ideas and examples! - Matt

Coffee & Cigars @ SCAA

Posted by Spencer on March 7, 2008 at 6:34am

Is Minneapolis a cigar friendly town? Is anyone up for a gathering of coffee and cigar folks? We can call it the puff and slurp social! Looking for a location - please let us know of a suitable location.Thanks.The Coffee & Cigars Group

Fair Trade

Posted by Noelle on March 6, 2008 at 5:53pm

I am writing an essay on the fairtrade movement...I am learning so much! I would love to hear the thoughts of those directly involved in the movement, whether you are part of and NGO, retailer, buyer, or producer!Hope to hear from anyone...

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Note: this page contains paid content.