coffee business strategies

I haven’t fully decided whether or not to press release this, but it’s official: I’m the first Q Grader for the Coffee Quality Institute from the State of Hawaii. Building on the SCAA Cupping Judge sensory exams completed earlier this year, there was only one remaining written exam to add “Q” licensing to my [...]

[Read more →]

The article below appeared in the New Times (Kigali) on Feb. 10, 2008 and very timely, as I urge Hawaii to adopt standards for coffee tasting and grading:
Eugene Kwibuka
Kigali
Over thirty coffee tasters from different corners of the country have completed a three day training course on advanced coffee valuing techniques.
The training which attracted thirty [...]

[Read more →]

Kamuela, HI (MARKETWIRE) January 28, 2007 – Andrew Hetzel of coffee consultancy Cafemakers has become the first Hawaii resident to be certified as a coffee Cupping Judge by the Specialty Coffee Association of America.
In a 5-day series of exams held this January in Waterbury, Vermont, Mr. Hetzel successfully completed 21 sensory skill and coffee knowledge [...]

[Read more →]

Alisa Morkides, writer and owner of Philadelphia and Delaware coffee landmark institution Brew-Haha! writes a nice article about our maturing specialty coffee market and even throws in a quote from yours truly.
Most consumers are unaware that levels of coffee quality and flavor exist beyond their wildest dreams, and well beyond those offered by the typical [...]

[Read more →]

This gem of an article from the Indianapolis Star was in my inbox this morning: Lawrence coffee shop changes hands
LAWRENCE — Java Junction — the little coffee shop that keeps opening and closing in Lawrence — opened Wednesday with a new owner and a new name.
Uh oh. Here we go again.
Ken Julian agreed to [...]

[Read more →]