World Barista Championship 2011 Reflections
Breathtaking is the only word that comes to mind when describing the 2011 World Barista Championship held this past June in Bogota, Colombia. No, I am not referring to Bogota's 2,625 m (8,612') elevation that had many of us looking for commemorative oxygen bottles at...
SCR Coffee Supplier Tour
Origin tours are important in the specialty coffee industry so that buyers can travel to growers' estates and develop productive personal relationships, understand the foreign and complex inner workings of farms and local culture, as well as exchange information and...
Hawaiian Coffee at DFS Galleria Waikiki
The Art of Hawaiian Coffee If you're in Honolulu this weekend or early next week, be sure to check out the Art of Hawaiian Coffee event this is being held at the DFS Galleria in Waikiki. Reigning United States Barista Champion Pete Licata, roaster extraordinaire...
Red Square champion baristas announced
Six champion baristas hosted by Soyuz Coffee Roasting will represent their countries as ambassadors of specialty coffee on Moscow's famed Red Square this summer during the annual Spasskaya Tower international military music festival. The Red Square Six are: Alejandro...
New North American Distribution for Kaapi Royale Coffee
Beginning this month, Vournas Coffee Trading will import coffees from Kaapi Royale Coffee of Karnataka, India to The Annex warehouse location in Oakland, California. Offerings from Kaapi Royale Coffee include top scoring traditional and special preparation arabica...
Protectionism Undermines Hawaii Coffee Competition
I recently wrote about the Hawaii Coffee Association's decision to withhold the point scores and quality ranking of coffees independently judged for its 2011 statewide cupping competition. My position on the matter has not changed and I reiterate my concerns that the...
Beach Bum Cafe microbrews Hawaii
Dennis McQuoid and his Beach Bum Cafe were featured in this morning's Honolulu Star Advertiser. The article, very well-written by Joleen Oshiro accurately describes his brew bar concept, despite it being a relatively new one in Honolulu. "I make the coffee right in...
Rusty’s Hawaiian Best Coffee in Hawaii for a 2nd Year
Rusty's Hawaiian 100% Ka'u Coffee was named Grand Champion for a second consecutive year at this weekend's annual statewide cupping competition organized and hosted by the Hawaii Coffee Association. More than 50 coffees from across the islands were submitted for this...
Alejandro Mendez is the 2011 World Barista Champion
Alejandro Mendez of El Salvador has won the 2011 World Barista Championship in Bogota, Colombia. Ranking order: 1. Alejandro Mendez, EL SALVADOR 2. Pete Licata, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 3. Matt Perger, AUSTRALIA 4. Javier Garcia, SPAIN 5. Miki Suzuki, JAPAN 6. John...
2011 World Barista Championship Finalists
Reporting live from Bogota, the six 2011 World Barista Championship finalists have been announced (in no order): 1. Javier Garcia, SPAIN 2. Matt Perger, AUSTRALIA 3. John Gordon, UNITED KINGDOM 4. Miki Suzuki, JAPAN 5. Pete Licata, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 6....
Barista Champions to March on Red Square
For the first time this August 31 through September 4, barista champions will have the opportunity to demonstrate their craft in front of a live audience of thousands on Red Square at the annual Spasskaya Tower festival. I can't think of a more fitting way for the new...
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,...