All Posts - Blog - Barista Exchange

Such is life

Posted by Ben Gleeson on January 20, 2008 at 11:59am

What a busy weekend! it all started Friday night with a Barista101Plus.. the plus standing for more individual time with the trainer - i.e me. I had a great time, as as always.. managed to drink heaps of coffee while doing so. Now, coming from a background where it was not un-common for me to knock back 20 coffees a day and passing out at the end of the evening, I thought I would have been fine drinking a few as I went.. Unfortunately, 3am shows-up and my mind is just refusing to settle down! and I have 2 classes the following day that I need to be on my A game for.. the next day the classes go well, but I'm absolutely shattered by the end of them.

Sunday rolls in, and I have booked myself to check and calibrate 4 machines in various locations around Sydney.. so Sunday is now officially a right off! It ends back at my place exhausted lying on the lounge watching re-runs of baywatch - which just happened to be the highlight of my weekend! I went to bed with the notion that next week can only get better.. I woke up early and preceded to make my first coffee - still half asleep.. when SMASH.. an not too well stacked latte glass drops off the top of my machine.. smashing on my drip tray, oh well.. oh yeah, after cleaning up the mess, I also managed to cut the top of my middle finger - not badly.. but just enough to sting a little. Its around this time I hear a little voice speaking to me, saying THE NEW WEEKS JUST BEGINNING.. great.

Whew!!!

Posted by Andrew Milstead on January 20, 2008 at 2:05am

I spent this morning pulling $30.00 shots. Thats right. $30.00. If you havn't heard, Miguel Meza (of Paradise Roasters) had started this incredibly interesting side company called R. Miguel. This morning we debued the first R. Miguel coffee the Nectar 2007, a Panama Gesha varietal. Roughly $300.00 a pound. I pulled roughly 20 for people willing to give their taste buds an experience not easily forgotten. I relate pulling those shots to child birth. The intensity of properly handling and extracting this espresso was near mind boggling. There was no room for error. I will say it was one of the better tasting S.O. coffees that I have ever had as an espresso. Intense flavors of lilly, dandelion honey, jasmine, with a finish reminiscent of crisp, natural sparkling water. Was it worth $30.00? I am not totally sure, but it was an amazing coffee. Now to go home, relax, and try to forget the stress involved with handling such a rare and impressively processed coffe.

Check out this article, and my first signature drink on someone's menu!

Posted by Jason Dominy on January 19, 2008 at 1:00pm

I recently ran across this article that was to tell me how Starbucks is good for small coffee shops. I was, indeed, interested their reasoning. I also issued a rebuttal in the comments, and stand by the comments wholeheartedly. I believe it as much today, as I did five years ago. Here's the article link: http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/market-movers/2007/11/26/why-starbucks-is-good-for-small-coffee-shops
Also, you may know that part of my job is creating coffee and espresso programs in restaurants and bars, and the coolest project I was able to work on recently was a new three story club that opened up here in downtown Charlotte called HOM. Anyway, I helped come up with the menu, did the training, and was also honored to have my personal signature drink chosen to be on their menu. It's a drink I have held onto for many years, waiting on the right home for it, and there it is, right on their menu. Mocha Diablo. Beautiful. When I read it I was like a proud papa. Grinning from ear to ear. It's a good job what I get to do, heck, what we all get to do, let's not forget it. This coffee life is a good life.

What to do?

Posted by Joe Stormer on January 18, 2008 at 6:15am

Ahhhhh!!!! I don't know what I should do! I need to work on dialing in to the Brazil on the Clover, but this involves drinking a copious quantity of coffee and I can't find the bathroom key. Well, I suppose there's always the courtyard . . .

Howell El Sal. Matalapa La Libertad

Posted by Andrew Milstead on January 18, 2008 at 6:01am

Its like punch in the face. But the good kind of punch in the face. Only thing is......this batch seems to bail about 4 seconds quicker then the last batch. Whats the deal?

Peru T-minus 5 days!!!!

DAILY LIST: 17JAN08

Posted by trish rothgeb on January 17, 2008 at 11:54am

Let me start by saying that I'm having a very good hair day today, and I'm just sorry you're not all able to see it.
Made my way down to the old roastery (ZOKA) this morning to make a nuisance of myself and see if I could score a pound of the freshly roasted stuff.
Had a bitchen conversation with some great minds about whether a certain coffee was fermented or fruity. I walked the fence by saying it was "fruity" and that I am not too fond of the fruity coffees. Got myself some nice KENYA from Thomas Hodges ...kisses and hugs...and I was out!

Niiice!

DAILY LIST: 16Jan08

Posted by trish rothgeb on January 16, 2008 at 3:28pm

Today sipped slippery elm throat coat....all day.
yep, I'm sick.
: (

what not to do on day #3

Posted by peg bono on January 16, 2008 at 2:52pm

Don't forget to order enough coffee filters. You may find yourself stealing them from your local library or hospital.

Don't get engaged in a discussion about your wonderful Nicaraguan coffee while filling the tiny bar sink on your counter.

Don't forget to add chocolate to your nice customer's mocha. It's not a mocha anymore.

Despite a couple trip ups(see above), this has been a great 3 days. The response to our little shop has been awesome. People are really amazed when they see what we have done with this little dress shop which has stood empty for 5 years. I am so excited to be bringing something like this to town. My daughter came and worked with me today, so my heart was bursting with pride. Of course when I told her she couldn't sit on the counter or wear her ipod she was a little less enthusiastic, but I think I have a future barista in my family! Catch the Buzz!!

Stone Creek's Eric Resch Receives High Honor

Posted by Stone Creek Coffee Roasters on January 16, 2008 at 9:46am

Posted by: Mary Dally-Muenzmaier

There's nothing better in life than garnering praise from your peers for making a positive difference--okay, maybe winning the lottery and/or the love of a good better half (not necessarily in that order) might be better, but only by a slim margin. This being true, we are pleased as punch to inform you that our very own Eric Resch, President and Founder of Stone Creek Coffee, has received a place of commendation in The Milwaukee Business Journal's annual Forty Under 40 Awards!

The awards acknowledge and celebrate forty successful business leaders all under the age of 40 who are making a difference in the business world. As a 2008 winner, Eric joins thirty-nine others who have displayed remarkable business savvy as well as a fine tuned sense of civic and philanthropic responsibility in an effort to better the Greater Milwaukee Area. See the full list of winners here.

Honorees will be recognized at a dinner and awards program Monday, February 25, 2008 from 5:00-8:00PM in the Grand Ballroom at The Pfister Hotel--très posh, no? Tickets are available through The Milwaukee Business Journal.

Congratulations, Eric! May this award spur you on to accomplish even more amazing deeds.

master barista?

Posted by Amanda Lanyon-LeSage on January 15, 2008 at 11:51am

i think i became a master barista yesterday... all that is left to be done is some paperwork (for my raise!). yay for me!

i am going to make a tattoo appointment once i find out for sure if i got my raise. i deserve it.

Now Roasting Winter, Schminter Blend

Posted by Stone Creek Coffee Roasters on January 15, 2008 at 8:57am

Posted by: Mary Dally-Muenzmaier

Those of us who have lived all or most of our lives in the land o' Wisco know that each season brings its own rewards and challenges. This winter, for instance, has thus far brought us significant amounts of snow and fair to middlin' temperatures, but this is changing even as we speak for teardrop freezing winds are set to breeze in later this week. Just par for the course, right? You got it.

Some of you in more temperate climes may be wondering how we do it--how we manage to stay so calm and even-keeled when we know arctic gales approacheth. Well, firstly, we are indoctrinated in the it's-coming-and-there's-nothing-for-it-'cause-we-can't-control-the-weather dogma from the moment we breathe in the fresh Wisconsin air, and, secondly, we have Stone Creek's Winter Blend Coffee to help us persevere through it all.

As luck would have it, we're roasting Winter Blend right now and just in time to help us and you face the incoming chill. The perfect brace against the wind and snow, our new Winter Blend coffee blankets the tongue with the warm flavors of almond and caramel and a subtly smoky finish. Sweet java, that sounds good!

Pick up your bag of Winter Blend at any one of Stone Creek's eight retail stores or buy it online. The first sip'll make ya say, "Winter, schminter--with this blend we can't lose."

Stone Creek Glendale Gets a Friendly Shout Out

Posted by Stone Creek Coffee Roasters on January 15, 2008 at 8:49am

Posted by: Mary Dally-Muenzmaier

Our buddy Mike Miller over at Milwaukee Specialty Food and Coffee blog has seen fit to give Stone Creek Coffee's Glendale location some mighty high praise in his Snapshots section.

Calling our wall sized chalkboard "the coolest interactive feature of any coffee joint anywhere," he deftly describes just why it is so übercool. But we don't wanna ruin for ya-- click on over now to find out for yourself.

Thanks, Mike!

BLOGGING!!!!

Posted by Dan Griffin on January 14, 2008 at 8:32pm

BLOGGING! BLOGGING!!!!

COFFEEE!??!?!?!!?!?

I thought this site was about soup?

Well coffee is kinda of like soup (there it is).

DAILY LIST: 14Jan08

Posted by trish rothgeb on January 14, 2008 at 5:45pm

Well, today I ran dry of fresh coffee...it had to happen at least once. Will try not to make this miscalculation again. An afternoon on green tea is a nice change of pace, though.

I'm an ER nurse. I have revived people with out a pulse, given dialysis, seen amputations and death. So why am I nervous about opening the doors to my beautiful coffeehouse tomorrow? If anyone has car

Posted by peg bono on January 13, 2008 at 4:51pm

I'm an ER nurse. I have revived people with out a pulse, given dialysis, seen amputations and death. So why am I nervous about opening the doors to my beautiful coffeehouse tomorrow? If anyone has cardiac arrest at my shop they;ll be in good hands. Just hope it's not me.

DAILY LIST: (1st installment) 13Jan08

Posted by trish rothgeb on January 13, 2008 at 9:34am

Today, I made a double macchiato for Heather Perry and she said it was good! Then Bronwen Serna said, "Yeah, she knows how to do it." and I was over the moon!

Next week at this time....

Posted by peg bono on January 12, 2008 at 4:03pm

Well, it's 34 hours til I officially open my doors for business...for real this time., No more playing coffee shop with my 3 baristas and saying at 1:00 pm,' you guys want to call it a day? ' So I am feeling euphoric and terrified at the same time. I remember feeling like this in college, but it was so much more fun then, and a lot cheaper !

Our coffee is in, the shelves are stocked with our cafe gear, the syrups and sauces are primed, fridges full with baked goods....my baristas are out partying somewhere without a care in the world right now....shouldn't they be in bed resting up?

I have recieved the best advice and encouragement from the folks at this site it's amazing..thanks for all the 'enjoy the day' s...I really appreciate it. I am so humbled and grateful for all the support I have recieved while seeing my dream unfold. Thanks.Now I am off one more time to the kitchen supply place for that one item I don't know I'm missing but when I see it I will think aha...NOW I can open, I have the..........

Staff Trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, Opens Eyes

Posted by Coffee Kids on January 12, 2008 at 6:00am

In early December, Coffee Kids staff visited Oaxaca, Mexico, to learn about some of the programs supported by Coffee Kids partner, CAMPO, and a dry mill run by our partner, FomCafe.

The visit included a tour of CAMPO's new educational center. Buildings are still under construction, but CAMPO is already using the installations to provide training to coffee farmers from around the state of Oaxaca. Demonstration projects include worm composting and standard composting; organic gardening and greehouse projects; fish, sheep, rabbit and chicken production; and responsible building techniques (Check out our programs page for more information on CAMPO).

CAMPO's offices are being constructed using a compacted earth technique, which is similar to adobe with a mix of soil, sand, lime and water optimized for local conditions and compacted into a sturdy wall.

The day after our visit to the center, we traveled two hours down windy roads into the mountains outside of Oaxaca, and then two more hours down a dirt road clinging to the side of said mountains. After four hours of stomach-turning travel, we arrived in Santa Cruz Tepetotutla, a small town clinging to the mountain.

The town is in the middle of a globally important bio-reserve. Jaguars and tepesquintle (similar to a giant spotted rat) maraud the area and lush forests hem the town in. Most families work in coffee and have struggled for years. Thanks to CAMPO's help many have begun working in other areas to supplement their income and provide a better quality of life for their families and improve their community.

The organic coffee plot of Don Raymundo Osorio was a striking example of biodiversity and responsible management. His tall coffee bushes were ready for harvest and vanilla vines crawled up their stems providing two cash crops on the same shady plot. Raymundo showed us the beginnings of a greenhouse which will provide vegetables year round, part of a project the community is doing with CAMPO's support.

We returned to the town center to visit with local leaders and learn more about Santa Cruz's history. The town's commitment to protecting their forests, water supply and biodiversity has earned them financial incentives from the government for the maintenance of their resources. Their environmental vision and resources also attract a steady stream of students and researchers to the area and they are constructing a research center for these visitors to create additional income for the community.

Community leaders also told us about their struggle to build a road to their community. Until about four years ago, people from Santa Cruz had to walk hours to reach the nearest road. All supplies were packed in. But with a strong effort and support from CAMPO, determined community leaders navigated endless bureaucratic processes to build a road and connect their town with the outside world.

The following day we followed a steep footpath straight down the mountain to arrive at the neighboring community of San Antonio del Barrio, still inaccessible by road. We arrived sweaty and tired in this tiny town in the valley, where we were welcomed by local officials and a marimba band. We met with a group of women who, with CAMPO's help, have started selling their elaborate, hand-embroidered huipiles (traditional blouses) in Oaxaca City. After the visit, we made the long journey back to Oaxaca City.

The next morning we visited with Coffee Kids partner FomCafe and toured a dry mill, recently purchased by four Oaxacan coffee cooperatives to consolidate and gain control over their production process. We learned about the detailed steps of dry mill processing, but more importantly how the four cooperatives pooled their resources to purchase the mill.

Like so much of what we saw on this trip, it was a reminder of just how enterprising people can be when they are determined to create a better life, and just how much impoverished communities can accomplish with a little bit of help.

BX Music Player Features

Posted by Matt Milletto on January 12, 2008 at 5:58am

Hey guys, was just playing around with the music player that we each have on our page ... and realized that with the click of a button you can add anyones playlist or song that you like to yours. Nice! There is not yet a way to make a playlist pop out, so that you can keep browsing, BUT, what I do if I find a playlist on someones page that I like is open my next page in a new browser and continue to listen.

- Matt

Viamigo - The worlds independent tour guide portal.

Posted by Matt Milletto on January 11, 2008 at 1:23pm

I have known Jeffrey Goldsmith for a few years now, meeting him first at a Las Vegas Coffee Fest Tradeshow. At that time he was promoting his new book Cafe Haiku, which some of you may know and love, and was getting his feet wet in the world of coffee. His book was a success and he spent a while promoting poetry readings in cafes around the US.

Since then I have been able to follow a couple of his new ventures, and we friendly bounce ideas off of each other during our commutes to and from work.

His latest effort is a website called Viamigo which is a global portal for people who are interested in either traveling to any city and looking for the REAL experience. You can sign up as, or search for, a tour guide in hundreds of places.

I love how indy this site is, and what it offers to the adventurous traveler who wants to break out of the usual tourist mode. You can create your own Anthony Bourdain style trip to the far ends of the earth, and know someone once you get there.

I also posted about this site in the Travel section of the baristaexchange forum.

Check out the site, sign up to be a guide, or use it the next time you are traveling somewhere and want a true locals perspective on that city.

- Matt

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.