Sprudge: Ka’u coffee threat not imminent
Some readers saw my Tweet the other day that asked the rhetorical question, "Will Hawaii's prized Ka'u coffee be bulldozed to build condos?" along with a link to an accompanying story from our local paper. From the comments I've received since, it appears that not...
Pete Licata tells you how to win a barista competition
Do you want to learn what it takes to win the World Barista Championship? Take this sage advice from reigning world champion (The) Pete Licata posted to his blog today. In seven years of competing, his dedication and organized method of practice led to "thirteen top 3...
Coffee delivery service aspires to improve office coffee
An article this morning in the Upstart Business Journal looks at the success of Joyride Coffee Distributors, a clever New York coffee delivery venture that delivers coffees from top specialty roasters like Blue Bottle, Counter Culture and Stumptown to your office. The...
Brazil Cup of Excellence Auction Results
The Brazil 2014 Cup of Excellence Late Harvest auction was held last week, showing modest incremental gains in an otherwise challenging market environment. It's been a turbulent few weeks for the 'C' market, with commodity coffee prices nearly doubling since February...
La Colombe to Host Brazil COE at Stunning Urban Outfitters HQ
When our friends at La Colombe Torrefaction wrote the other day to say that they wanted to do something "special" for the upcoming Cup of Excellence Brazil cupping that we have planned on March 4th in Philadelphia, I had pictured ordering pizza and snacks or maybe...
Why All SCAA Members Should Vote Now
Polls are now open to vote for the Specialty Coffee Association of America's 2014 Board of Directors. Every year, members are encouraged to select those who will volunteer their time and resources to lead the association over a 2-year term with the goal of making it...
Brazil Cup of Excellence Late Harvest Cupping Dates
Cupping sessions will begin on February 26th across the USA and around the world to preview the 2014 Cup of Excellence Brazil Late Harvest winning coffees that will sold at auction on March 6th. As you've read in my prior post about the event, I was impressed by the...
Female Farmer Wins Brazil Cup of Excellence
I've just returned back from the 2014 Brazil Cup of Excellence in the picturesque little town of Espirito Santo do Pinhal and can report that it was an "excellent" experience true to its name. See my photos from the trip on Facebook All of the coffees that we cupped...
Brazil Cup of Excellence Early Harvest Records Big Gains
I'm really excited to share this press announcement from the Brazil Specialty Coffee Association regarding results from the recent Cup of Excellence® Early Harvest competition and live auction. In short: it was a big success. The event showed gains over the prior year...
Nespresso pods: an unpopular argument in support
I was quoted in an article this evening on Marketwatch.com about the phenomenal growth of the single-serve (capsules and pods) coffee market, led by Nespresso pods and Keurig K-Cups, which is now estimated to have tripled since 2011. Could it ever beat a freshly...
Cup of Excellence Brazil Early Harvest Previews Begin November 15
Cupping sessions start next week to preview the 2013 Cup of Excellence (COE) Brazil Early Harvest winning coffees that will be auctioned online on November 27th. The Early Harvest competition is one of two Brazil events on the Cup of Excellence calendar that select...
Brazil Invites Coffee Professionals to Participate in Survey
Update: The survey is now closed. Thank you for your participation! Are you a coffee professional and do you live in the USA or Canada? If so, then this survey is designed for you! The Brazil Specialty Coffee Association is asking for your participation in the 2013...