World Barista Championship Bogota in just 2 weeks
This press release today (edited slightly for clarity) from the SCAA reminded me that it's less than 2 weeks until I leave for Bogota. Excitement, anxiety and panic have now officially set in: The 12th Annual World Barista Championship will be held in Bogotá,...
Coffee Berry Borer Invades Ka’u
As the Ka'u Coffee Festival is set to begin this weekend in Pahala on Hawaii's Big Island, news has surfaced from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture that the dreaded coffee berry borer, alias CBB, alias Hypothenemus hampei or 'douche-bug' has been confirmed at one...
Pete Licata Wins 2011 United States Barista Championship for Hawaii
In two coffee industry firsts this weekend in Houston, Pete Licata of Honolulu Coffee Co. became the first competitor from Hawaii to win the United States Barista Championship and also the first-ever to prevail at any national barista championship using 100% Hawaiian...
Coffee Adventures in Russia
You may have noticed that I have been acting more strange than usual for the past couple of years: sometimes secretive, making occasional large and unusual purchase inquiries without too much detail, taking urgent phone calls at late hours and of course leaving my...
Kaapi Royale Coffee video shows the beauty of India
Kaapi Royale Coffee just released a video of their January 2011 India origin tour, beautifully filmed and produced by Ralph Gastons of Isla Coffee. The only thing we're missing is an organized Bollywood-style dance number. This does a wonderful job of capturing some...
Kaapi Royale Coffee Introduces Organic Robusta
Kaapi Royale Coffee today announced the introduction of a new line of coffee in conversion that will be debuted at SCAA in Houston this year -- essentially a coffee that is along the way to become certified organic. Considering the track record for the company and...
Massimo Zanetti buys Kauai Coffee
Massimo Zanetti, the Italian-based mega coffee roasting company best known in the USA for brands including Chock Full 'O Nuts, Hills Brothers, Chase and Sanborn, MJB and Segafredo Zanetti today announced the acquisition of the Kauai Coffee Company from Alexander &...
Kona coffee labeling bill nears approval
State legislators in Honolulu have again taken a stumble aimed at protecting the Kona origin name on in-state sold retail roasted coffee packages with a new kona coffee labeling bill. Kona, the coffee farming origin best known for its high price, non-distinct flavor...
SCAE Wrap-up of the St. Petersburg European Team Coffee Challenge
Thanks again to Chris Speirs for hosting the 2011 European Team Coffee Challenge in St. Petersburg Russia last week. You can read a complete summary of the event (a sort of coffee competition meets The Apprentice reality television show) on the SCAE blog. Check out...
Nespresso featured in Time Magazine
Nespresso is Western Europe's dominant single serve coffee system and also the most reliable decent cup of coffee available in some emerging specialty coffee markets. I had the pleasure of commenting on Nestle's fastest growing brand for Time Magazine, available...
Coffee events added in Russia and Sweden
Two new events have been added to my schedule in March, the 2011 European Team Coffee Challenge in St. Petersburg and 2011 Swedish Barista Cup in Stockholm organized by the SCAE Russian and Swedish chapters. The ETCC and Northwest Russia Regional Barista Championship...
Starbucks dropping coffee from logo
Remember when Starbucks pledged to return to its roots and focus on core coffee business? Well, it's time for those roots to get a new bleach job. Today in yet another move that has confused brand marketers flipping their calendars ahead to April 1st, Starbucks...