It is a shame I am not currently in NZ and therefore missed the official day 1 of the Parnell Roastery. Amanda kept in touch with emails, Donna with some sms texts and emails. All the hardwork in getting the place up to scratch is behind us, all the hardwork to build a viable Indonesian Specialty Coffee roasting business- in front of us.In many ways I am missing the cool, crisp Auckland days. The blue sky, the ferry from dwn to Devonport. The friendliness of our new neighbours (thanks Nick :)), the lack of polution, traffic and the non existent maddening crowds. Indonesia though always welcoes you back- abeit very briefly before heading off for a couple more projects.
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Planning to attend Coffeena, the International Coffee Fair and Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) Wonderful World of Coffee Expo in Cologne, Germany, June 26-28? Stop by Booth D-050 and say ‘hi’ to Coffee Kids’ Executive Director Carolyn Fairman.The expo attracts coffee professionals and businesses from around the globe and will include coffee competitions and other special events. Workshops will include tracks in espresso, green coffee evaluation, roasting and retail. The SCAE has also invited ten World Barista Champions to give demonstrations and conduct classes.Special thanks to koelnmesse for their gracious sponsorship of the Coffee Kids booth.
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It's almost open!!!!!!!!!Been working on opening up shop just outside of downtown Reno, NV. Perfect location: centered along a long strip of tattoo parlors, independent eateries, thrift stroes, you name it. Perfect set-up: an old brick garage, small enough to maintain with ease, but just big enough to cram in a cozy little coffeehouse. And the perfect time to open up if you ask me: the start of summer, a time when customers may come to enjoy some wonderful outdoor seating at The Hub, and a time when Reno is picking up the pace and redefining what it means to spend time in downtown Reno.We are all very excited for the shop. We already have a great group of enthusiastic and eager employees to take care of operations behind the counter, and we are very close to finishing up the construction side of things! Our wonderful bike wall (way better than your average bike rack) has been erected; all the necessary machinery has been tracked down and purchased; we're putting on the finishing touches for the decor in the shop; and all of it eagerly awaits the 15th of this month!Now you know. June 15th is our current projected date of opening for The Hub Coffee Co. Keep your fingers crossed, minor setbacks certainly aren't outside of the norm in this kind of situation. In any case, we're still working hard to bring The Hub to Reno, NV, and it WILL be here eventually!Check for updates at thehubcoffeeco.blogspot.com!
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Candlelight Cupping-Mokas, Seattle WA329 Fairview Avenue NorthSeattle, WA 98109Thursday June 4, 8:30 Art work showing, 9-10 cupping (it should be dark enough).It’s not just for the romance.Alex Negranza, Lead Barista at Moka’s Cafe & Coffee Shop came to me about a month ago to talk up an experience he wanted to recreate. His goals through the experience are to impress upon our coffee culture just how engaging a cupping can be. Interestingly enough, the candlelight cupping was birthed out of a power outage situation. With a “show must go on” mentality cuppers set up candles unknowingly creating a surreal yet very focused cupping.In collaboration with the First Thursday Artwalk here in the city we are bringing in a dozen local coffees for our first go round. This is a great opportunity to absorb coffees smells and tastes while numbing some of the politics. The event is complimentary to all our friends and coffee community.We have some unique things planned and would really be honored if you could join us.Alex and his team have prepared a pretty memorable experience for you.Hope you can make it.Sarah DooleyDirector, Coffee Enhancement LoungeVisions Espresso Servicesarah@visionsespresso.com206-713-8299 mobile
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Posted by: Katie PopeWe here at Stone Creek Coffee are gearing up for our upcoming Bike to Work Week, June 6th-12th! In order to best share our excitement with our fellow coffee-enthusiasts, we have some special treats for those of you biking to our stores.For anyone who bikes to one of our stores during the second week of June, we have these special treats to offer:• Saturday/Sunday: Receive 10% off your purchase just for riding to our store• Monday: Receive a coupon for a free 12 oz. beverage for your next visit• Tuesday: Receive a free shot of our Green Bike Espresso in any coffee or tea beverage• Wednesday: Receive a free 12 oz. Americano made with Green Bike Espresso• Thursday: Receive a free 12 oz. latte made with Green Bike Espresso• Friday: Receive a free(!) half pound of our Green Bike Espresso when you purchase a pound or moreWe can't wait to see you! Stop by our commuter stop in Bay View, Monday thru Friday (June 8-12) from 7-10 a.m., for a free coffee and information on bike advocacy.
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Posted by: Steve HawthorneThis goes out to all of you social networking folks out there! You can now follow Stone Creek Coffee on Twitter...a real time, short messaging service that works over multiple networks and devices. You can receive updates on what we're up to via email or text message. Check it out...Follow Us.
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Advertiser LinksBuy this issue to read more:COFFEE COMPASS: LAOS: Tasting the coffee culture in Laos' thriving epicenterby Gary HirsonU.K. COFFEE CULTURE: Shop owners and roasters say the perception of the U.K. as a tea-drinking culture is fast becoming mythby Kara NewmanSPOTLIGHTSASHLAND, ORE.: Noble Coffeeby James Di ProperzioALEXANDRIA, VA.: Grape + Beanby Rebecca RagainLEÓN, NICARAGUA: Ben Linder Caféby Rebekah L. FraserRESOURCESStats & TrendsYear in CoffeeCoffee LibraryResource Directory
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Posted by: Katie PopeSummer is just around the corner, and as the days grow longer and the weather gets warmer, it's time to introduce this year's Summer Blend. This year's Summer Blend is the perfect combination of coffees from El Salvador and Ethiopia to carry us into this fantastic season.Our Green Coffee Team had this to say about the new blend:'Grown on the Las Nubes farm in the mountains of the Santa Ana region in El Salvador, this coffee brings notes of citrus and spice to the blend. This combines with the very clean and fruity taste of the Ethiopian Sidamo to produce a unique blend that will keep you deeply engaged until the last sip. Summer Blend is a full bodied blend with hints of fruit, chocolate, and spice.'Summer Blend is now available Online or by contacting our Wholesale Team. It will be available in Our Stores beginning May 27. Don't kick off your summer without it!
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Posted by: Christie BoivinWith our Socially Responsible Initiatives , we have partnered with Socially Conscious Coffee , a non-profit organization that ensures that coffee harvesters and their families earn a fair wage, are given healthcare and education. Socially Conscious Coffee has recently advanced the U.N. Development Goal towards Universal Primary Education.In just five years, the program launched on a coffee farm in Bahia, Brazil, has worked with harvesters, their children and the local community, providing primary education and safe water to more than 100 people, serving more than 130,000 nutritious meals, and educating more than 850 people on health practices, disease prevention, water and food safety, and environmental sustainability. Rotary International, an SCC partner, and the United Nations have honored SCC for advancing U.N. Millennium Development Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education.In a recent article in Fresh Cup Magazine, Stone Creek Coffee has been noted as one of their contributing partners. We are so proud to be a part of such an important cause which supports the lives of the farmers and their families who grow our coffee. To read more, check out the full article: Fresh Cup ArticleRead more…
Posted by: Shannon SmithTaking the time to sip slowly and extract specific characteristics in a coffee is something we try to do at the Stone Creek Coffee Factory on a regular basis. Today I took the time to focus all my senses on a single origin-our Factory Reserve-The Burundi .My first encounter with the Burundi was a few months back at the cupping table with all four cups in front of me a mystery. Every other Friday we do blind cuppings at the Factory and challenge each other to guess what is on the table. I was convinced that the Burundi was a blend of coffees because of the complexity. When told otherwise, I was baffled and began rattling my brain for origins that matched the characteristics I found in the coffee. My two guesses were Kenya and Tanzania. Nope. The Burundi. Until this cupping, I hadn't even known of Burundi's existence. Not only did my geographical knowledge bank expand at this Friday cupping, but so did my love for African coffees!Today's French Press of the Burundi exhibited the following characteristics:• Aroma: Sweet; amaretto fragrance.• Initial Taste: Smooth; left a honey-like coating; offered a delayed taste of coffee that suddenly burst into a full flavor.• Flavors: Dark roast; bold; very complex-like a blend; left a heavy, pleasant, clean flavor on the back of my tongue.• Afterthoughts: Very clean cup, smooth; balanced; subtle at first; rich aftertaste; complex; Excellent morning cup for the days I don't have to rush to work - several cups could be enjoyed sitting outside!• Body: 7• Brightness: 4I highly recommend the Burundi. Get it while supplies last, though, because our Factory Reserve Burundi is scheduled to be off shelves in June or July. Oh, my! What intriguing coffee will we get in next?
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Posted by: Christie BoivinStone Creek Coffee has recently been awarded the 2009 Ethical Business Leadership Award for Environmental Stewardship from the School of Business and Legal Studies at Concordia University. Here are some of our initiatives that we have been recognized for:• Ethical:-Socially Responsible Coffee Certification System-A Fair Trade licensed roaster-Buying Direct- establishing direct relationships with farms-Supporting the Centro Rural Educafé school in Brazil-Donating coffee to the community to non-profits to support their cause.-Offering coffee education to our customers and staff-Our goal is to purchase and sell 100% Socially Responsible coffees by the year 2010.• Environmental:-Encouraging our customers to reuse our resealable half, one and five pound bags when they purchase more of our coffee by offering discounts of up to $1.00.-Recycling 100% at the stores and factory-No Waste brewing program for wholesale customers-Compostable Greenware cups-Working with farmers who practice sustainable farming methods-Compost Coffee project in stores- free grounds for any customer- Giving coffee grounds and roaster chaff to local farmers and gardeners their soil.-Using recycled-30% post consumer material for catalog printing-Using reclaimed materials in building and architecture of stores and factory-Choosing to be locally-focused: deliveries only within a 45 mile radius of the Stone Creek Factory in Downtown Milwaukee-In November of 2004, we installed an afterburner unit on our primary 60-kilo drum roaster, minimizing our roaster's release of smoke and air pollutants-Offering a 15 cent discount to customers who bring in their own travel mug for a drink-Sourcing local vendors for projects and products when possibleIt is our commitment to constantly push ourselves to become more ethically and environmentally conscious with all of the decisions we make. Thank you to Concordia University for recognizing our efforts and practices!
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Posted by: Jess ImigWorld Fair Trade Day is upon us!!!! 8 days and counting! Lots of thanks go out to the Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition for organizing this event locally and for sponsoring the World Fair Trade Crawl. World Fair Trade Day is a global effort to recognize fair trade practices and products. Globally, the US will celebrate with 80 other countries, and locally Stone Creek Coffee will be celebrating with 30+ local, Milwaukee businesses through the World Fair Trade Crawl.Join Stone Creek Coffee and celebrate World Fair Trade Day on Saturday, May 9! Here are some great things happening in Our Stores :• As part of the World Fair Trade Crawl on Saturday, May 9, all 8 Stone Creek Coffee Locations will be offering 10% off all Fair Trade Certified/Socially Responsible coffees.• From 2p-3p that day (in honor of the World's Largest Coffee Break) we will be offering a FREE 12oz cup of Fair Trade coffee.• Our Whitefish Bay, Wauwatosa, Delafield and Bay View locations will lead customer in a coffee tasting of 4 Socially Responsible Coffees AND offer education and awareness about our Socially Responsible Coffee Initiatives! Everyone is welcome to attend this FREE EVENT!It is going to be a super day to stop by a Stone Creek Coffee store on Saturday, May 9 to celebrate justice and fairness in our world! Also, please get out there and support the 30+ other local businesses celebrating World Fair Trade Day.Visit www.milwaukeefairtrade.org for a complete list of World Fair Trade Day Crawl participating businesses and their Fair Trade offerings.
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Posted by: Steve HawthorneAn article in last week's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel featured a story about the SMUG - a travel mug with an embedded RFID chip that would allow users to essentially carry their gift card in their mug!The SMUG was conceived of by Marquette University student, Chris Hallberg. Chris and his group, under the advisement of our owner, Eric Resch, won the undergraduate award for Best Business Plan.Chris and our R&D department (and by R&D I mean a bunch of caffeinated coffee lovers!) will be continuing to test this product over the coming months. We'll keep you posted on details of when this may make an appearance in our stores.Congratulations to Chris on a great idea!
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Posted by: Shannon SmithI normally stop by the Bay View store every morning on my way to the Factory. Today, however, I was running a bit behind and decided it best to come straight downtown instead. All the way from Bay View to the Factory I thought about what kind of coffee I would brew in the French Press upon my safe arrival. I get stuck in ruts sometimes with only wanting the same coffees each morning. Lately, the Garden Blend and our new Factory Reserve (the Burundi-try it, it is amazing!) have been my top choices. Today I wanted something different, though. Something that would really make me savor and enjoy the diversity that coffee has to offer. I stood staring at the several options of beans that stood before me intimidated that I would choose something too dark for the morning or too mellow to get a jump start to the day. As I perused the bean options, the Red Sky Blend caught my eye and without much thought I grabbed the bag and had made my decision.Moments later I am sitting at my desk tasting, not drinking, my first cup of coffee of the morning. The aroma is sweet with hints of amaretto. My first sip reminds me of that familiar earthy flavor that I find common in Tanzania Peaberry (earthy as in the fresh, spring soil scent). The Ethiopian Sidamo is observed through the typical gush of blueberry flavor that leaves the mouth with a smooth, buttery coating. The coffee is a medium body and today has low-medium brightness. I am reminded of blueberry waffles while sipping this coffee. Blueberry waffles with the perfect cup of morning coffee, that is!I made the right decision today. Red Sky Blend has been a pleasant, untypical morning cup for me. I just may add this coffee into my new morning rotation! (The Red Sky Blend consists of Ethiopian Sidamo and Tanzanian Peaberry)
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Posted by: Carrie GapinskiWe all know that supporting our local Milwaukee businesses is important, and it's great to know that there are organizations out there that encourage the public to celebrate our community's unique character by choosing local.Our Milwaukee is a business alliance that advocates for locally owned businesses the goal of the organization is to build market share for Milwaukee's independent businesses by increasing awareness about the personal and community benefits of choosing local. Stone Creek Coffee has been a member of the group since 2008. Check out the Our Milwaukee website and find new ways to support Milwaukee!
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Posted by: Steve HawthorneToday we begin serving our 2009 Garden Blend. We've brought together coffees from Brazil and Ethiopia to form this year s Spring time treat. Here s what our coffee pro s had to say about Garden Blend:2009's Garden Blend is a complex coffee displaying an initial gush of blueberry flavor followed by a hint of nuttiness and earthy flavor. The coffee finishes with a pleasant liveliness with a hint of pepper that leaves an enjoyable aftertaste. The smooth taste is reminiscent of a creamy chocolate. With low brightness and a well-rounded medium body, this is the perfect cup to welcome warmer, brighter days!Garden Blend is available Online and in Our Stores. Our wholesale customers can contact Customer Service to order yours today!
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Posted by: Steve HawthorneAt the end of February, my friend and colleague Athena and I took a trip to visit the coffee growing regions of El Salvador. For those of us that work in the coffee industry, visiting a farm is a must do in our career. Over the next couple of weeks, Athena and I will be compiling our notes and pictures to put together a presentation that will include photos, video footage, and stories of our travels. In the mean time, I wanted to share some of my thoughts on why it so important to support coffee growers around the world:"Visiting a coffee farm was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. Seeing the entire process first hand really changes how I feel about drinking my morning coffee. There are so many people involved in getting the coffee into our cups & from the harvesters who walk the steep mountain slopes handpicking the coffee cherries, to the mill manager who works countless hours to ensure everything is running smoothly, to the workers that carry 150 lb bags of coffee on their backs. As Im sipping my morning coffee, I’ll never forget all of those people’s faces and all of the hard work that went into getting that coffee from crop to cup. Socially Responsible Coffee is more than just a business decision & it’s the right thing to do."The next time you grab your morning coffee...think about all of the people that made it possible for you to enjoy it. Of course...don't forget to sip slowly.
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Posted by: Steve HawthorneAndrew Carnegie was an innovative entrepreneur in the railroad business during the late 1800s. He is often remembered for the remark, "Pioneering dont pay." While this may be true for mass production businesses, it couldn’t be farther from the truth in the world of specialty coffee.Our latest Factory Reserve was sourced for us by our friends at Café Imports in Minneapolis. Their team is constantly on the hunt for unique, treasure coffees all over the world. After several trips (and many cuppings!) to Africa, they were able to find this amazing coffee from the country of Burundi. This coffee was grown in the Kayanza region in northwestern Burundi, just south of the Rwandan border. More than 3500 smallholder farms deliver their crops to this washing station where the cherries are fully washed and then sun dried on raised drying tables called African Beds.Burundi is a coffee growing region to be watched...until recently, smallholder farms could only sell coffee by mixing with other farms and selling in large lots. Now, washing stations are able to keep lots separate, resulting in a much higher quality coffee.We received samples of this coffee earlier this week and cupped them immediately...the result is a truly unique cup with a very bright flavor. Hints of pineapple and cedar can be detected while enjoying coffee from the up and coming coffee region of Burundi!We're very excited to bring you our latest Factory Reserve. It will be available beginning Friday, March 20. Pick up a bag Online or in Our Stores!
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