tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34732525297514968872024-03-05T05:46:10.761-08:00Coffee AmbassadorsCoffee Ambassadorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12454746240103936517noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-12127699342684169472012-05-05T18:02:00.000-07:002012-05-05T18:02:00.556-07:00A nice tribute to all the coffee roasters out there<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/40172155?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />This was filmed at at Java Blend Coffee Roasters in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Enjoy!</div>
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/40172155">Java Blend Coffee Roasters</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user6358217">RIAN DAVIDSON</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-37308378800161241812012-05-01T17:43:00.000-07:002012-05-01T17:43:00.104-07:00A coffee horoscope: What does your coffee say about you?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAbXCf4d5wBXWRrxnc1wdElQN64eaL-E8EfLfy47FEZ_DjbwgFnFH_bXiHCQIq6yHU6gwk8PjSlp6yD8C3WOaihEneEZB_ARwv2-7i6_3x_W6_XOEaTxyNbgLlGzukGFiKwj8_johotpH/s1600/espresso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAbXCf4d5wBXWRrxnc1wdElQN64eaL-E8EfLfy47FEZ_DjbwgFnFH_bXiHCQIq6yHU6gwk8PjSlp6yD8C3WOaihEneEZB_ARwv2-7i6_3x_W6_XOEaTxyNbgLlGzukGFiKwj8_johotpH/s400/espresso.jpg" width="393" /></a></div>
<a href="http://imgur.com/j90it#.T53ftd2gbPs.blogger"><br />
What does your coffee say about you? - Imgur<br />
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</a>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-36334064828375373002012-04-27T11:37:00.004-07:002012-04-29T15:01:39.060-07:00A Peek into Coffee PricesAs many people who have followed the coffee industry know; coffee prices have recently been on the rise. This has affected the price of the coffee that is being bought. Recently James Hoffman posted some graphs that I think might help give you an idea of what's going on in the industry.<br />
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The commodity price of Coffee</h3>
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This graph does not show how much <i>we</i> are paying for coffee, since we buy our coffees primarily through direct trade relationships, however it is a good indicator of where the coffee market is going.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cnscXJN5WTz55j5mrfaCtof9w9sohoo-f9-MXsFvDUNB32Yfp52vdZ6fIhJjzUvT520AJhNSGSbbYCutFPBAZo1QDbhrHM_KA12HbmgunxadNl0qWJR-nn1NHiCT9Ou_0thTz7JJZvg0/s1600/coffee-397x300.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cnscXJN5WTz55j5mrfaCtof9w9sohoo-f9-MXsFvDUNB32Yfp52vdZ6fIhJjzUvT520AJhNSGSbbYCutFPBAZo1QDbhrHM_KA12HbmgunxadNl0qWJR-nn1NHiCT9Ou_0thTz7JJZvg0/s400/coffee-397x300.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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As you can see coffee prices peaked about a year ago, <br />
but have still remained much higher then they were back in 2003.</div>
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The commodity price of Oil</h3>
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This graph shows the price of Oil over the last decade or so. Oil also factors a great deal into the price of coffee. It costs money to transport coffee from the farm to the roaster. It costs money to transport the roasted coffee to the coffee shops that buy coffee or the stores that stock it. Oil is a very important part of the equation as well.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjibEiNs17PQRUxOIgUFo5P9O0_40q3lFbjqgpEBS-YeBUosf12za2wLYxAknrXmfXfmEooIRH3GuMLvlWzcvO26atFivcqo0nhDrBseEhUclB4dualCJdU1O4h8Tf9ENJ7TqoxIfQcRs6/s1600/oil-397x300.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjibEiNs17PQRUxOIgUFo5P9O0_40q3lFbjqgpEBS-YeBUosf12za2wLYxAknrXmfXfmEooIRH3GuMLvlWzcvO26atFivcqo0nhDrBseEhUclB4dualCJdU1O4h8Tf9ENJ7TqoxIfQcRs6/s320/oil-397x300.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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As you can see the price of oil dropped just as the price of coffee began to rise. As a result even though the price on coffee has begun to stabilize somewhat I don't think we will be seeing any reduction in the cost of coffee any time soon.</div>
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I would love to hear any opinions you might have on the matter. I personally think that the price of coffee right now is in a good place. It gives the farmers the kind of money for their product that organizations like "fair trade" have been trying to create for decades. The real thing to worry about in the future might be the cost of energy. What do you think?</div>
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<br /></div>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-92205570235090591102012-04-23T14:46:00.001-07:002012-04-23T14:46:34.352-07:00Keeping your French Press coffee HOT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzut67XiOf4Sewf-1WhHWwVIJTOj1Z4HK1stK3K4NYYDXGzL1cG3q4ZnyTDHd5t-lMG5Lm9kl6klAG27uV7RKJFTXfUxnW37eu2zuWR__6UI2eOUTZgYxtOaqmkCzV9S-IyH6SMAk1ush/s1600/french-press.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzut67XiOf4Sewf-1WhHWwVIJTOj1Z4HK1stK3K4NYYDXGzL1cG3q4ZnyTDHd5t-lMG5Lm9kl6klAG27uV7RKJFTXfUxnW37eu2zuWR__6UI2eOUTZgYxtOaqmkCzV9S-IyH6SMAk1ush/s320/french-press.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br />
In this video we answer a question from a listener about how to keep french press coffee hot. Take a listen and let us know what you think!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JUPTJYh4NCs?fs=1" width="480"></iframe></div>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-60364437832141857452012-03-29T10:31:00.003-07:002012-03-29T10:31:44.102-07:00Caffine + Science + Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7zBU-A6m38sAmUCPzbsc-5A-igZN4wIcEsCvxKPkMeg_D06DvAs0pDykQBrOK0sksBR4frqkDpuX2rfS6GYmZIOCCsDhtEm8ooAZApm_z4TnKngQSbV8cP8rUwHBqMe_vTRXp8clgPXV/s1600/caffine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7zBU-A6m38sAmUCPzbsc-5A-igZN4wIcEsCvxKPkMeg_D06DvAs0pDykQBrOK0sksBR4frqkDpuX2rfS6GYmZIOCCsDhtEm8ooAZApm_z4TnKngQSbV8cP8rUwHBqMe_vTRXp8clgPXV/s1600/caffine.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-3767254213303817052012-03-27T17:50:00.000-07:002012-03-27T17:50:31.870-07:00Video: Making Better Coffee With a Chemex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VIsWWuX0s7ZlsARSFFLPfiDzx5t41_AtdVlb93CPsQQ06_9JSLpl0BGQ1rfvAaFnMdPGBQsq3vP4mUL57ZQEnqKTaTtgjphu9TygWgtdBb65vKdwFP_B5U7WNTZMRCt2-AbfS52_uIt6/s1600/2796939663_dd8bd52836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VIsWWuX0s7ZlsARSFFLPfiDzx5t41_AtdVlb93CPsQQ06_9JSLpl0BGQ1rfvAaFnMdPGBQsq3vP4mUL57ZQEnqKTaTtgjphu9TygWgtdBb65vKdwFP_B5U7WNTZMRCt2-AbfS52_uIt6/s320/2796939663_dd8bd52836.jpg" width="213" /> </a></div>
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This is a Chemex</div>
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Watch the video below to hear a few tips on how to use it.</div>
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nQIVUverNkI" width="420"></iframe></center>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-45852022917744694292012-03-19T11:48:00.001-07:002012-03-19T11:48:04.154-07:00What coffee Questions Would You Like Answered?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLSl0N4D8VEdxzyT6JhrfsugD1_6kEM53QPLq8mgyuh3Iyj7W3q6FnFiRcZebQGRlllVy2e36QaWpEvGgWdm6AeUn9zxhNA1tpujsQSp3G_GW93W6qy83s8Drj_aZnrpDOYkQToSipt5d/s1600/coffee-collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLSl0N4D8VEdxzyT6JhrfsugD1_6kEM53QPLq8mgyuh3Iyj7W3q6FnFiRcZebQGRlllVy2e36QaWpEvGgWdm6AeUn9zxhNA1tpujsQSp3G_GW93W6qy83s8Drj_aZnrpDOYkQToSipt5d/s320/coffee-collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Next month I will be posting a series of videos that cover questions that YOU the reader have submitted. Recording is already underway, but I would love to be able to give time to more questions.<br />
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<b>I want you to learn what you care about.</b><br />
<br />
If you have a question about<br />
<ol>
<li>Coffee History</li>
<li>Coffee brewing Tips</li>
<li>Technical information</li>
<li>Growing conditions</li>
<li>Or anything else</li>
</ol>
Post your questions in the comments section of this post, or send your question to us on Twitter!<br />
<br />
Our name is <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/CA_coffee">@CA_Coffee </a><br />
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You can also post your questions on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/CoffeeAmbassadors">FACEBOOK page</a> <br />
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We love hearing from all of you, even if you don't have a question.Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-51800399064369978272012-02-23T08:12:00.000-08:002012-02-23T08:12:34.116-08:00A New Kind of Coffee Art<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VOfePvzW1ts" width="560">&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;</iframe>
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"The piece took about 12 hours to complete, and besides being difficult for the simple fact that she was painting with a porcelain cup instead of a brush, apparently the coffee mixture and placement had to be perfect every time since the rings were instantly permanent." <br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://gizmodo.com/5886837/watch-this-artist-create-a-caffeinated-masterpiece-with-coffee-cup-stains">-[Source]</a></span>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-19633409926797087032012-02-14T14:54:00.000-08:002012-02-14T14:54:28.438-08:00What's the best Cup Shape?The cup that holds your coffee contributes a great deal to how much you are going to enjoy your coffee. Even the best coffees in a bad cup can lose their appeal, and even diner coffee can be a guilty pleasure because it is often served in a very comforting mug.<br />
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A couple weeks ago we looked at figuring out what the best material for your coffee cup is. Although there are some exceptions (double walled glass cups, insulated metal cups, etc.) I generally prefer drinking out of ceramic cups.<br />
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This week we are going to explore some common shapes that coffee cups are formed into and evaluate the relative merits of each.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIes21Snl_Dn7H2mk0yvozUyCXtYa_KJgPdv-JTC55FMFJT2ecZPVziO1yenQOz2JUyIFBfU1ihlux_1qA043UqrNjC8OEMnU1mkXoVw9MNarD3U0NGJQa1P5yCHdAEPxDisBjUFwHGsHb/s1600/round.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIes21Snl_Dn7H2mk0yvozUyCXtYa_KJgPdv-JTC55FMFJT2ecZPVziO1yenQOz2JUyIFBfU1ihlux_1qA043UqrNjC8OEMnU1mkXoVw9MNarD3U0NGJQa1P5yCHdAEPxDisBjUFwHGsHb/s320/round.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Round Cup</b><br />
The round cup is the most common cup shape you will find. When you think of a cappuccino cup this will often be the first thing that comes to mind. If you go to a major espresso chain this will almost always be the cup shape they offer, and there is a good reason for it. This shape allows the espresso to mix well, and if you are adding milk you have more control. This cup also has a wider mouth which gives you more room to play around with latte art if you like to do that sort of thing. I love to drink coffee of all kinds out of this cup. A cup of drip is very good in it as well. There are, however, a few potential downsides to a round cup.<br />
<ol>
<li>Round cups generally allow more heat out. There is a big wide open mouth at the top which means heat will escape more easily. This might be a good thing if you like to taste how the coffee flavours change as the coffee cools, but if you are simply hoping to sip on coffee as you work or read the loss of heat might be annoying. To counter this it's best to get round mugs with THICK walls. This will help keep the heat in. Another thing you can do is preheat the cup before you add coffee to it. This will help the coffee maintain it's temperature rather then having it leached into the ceramic.</li>
<li>A round cup makes it more difficult to get a good smell of the coffee. The wide mouth means that the aroma is less concentrated and getting a god smell requires you getting your nose right in the cup.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxNXkO08eZjaEwlxafekbQOgARu1Kxf7ceqloxXY44v0LsYhWgkpZDZogM4EfpzDArqgLL9z7VJhW_BcxGCYLxXRBL0XBaI3j1Ff_g6Kf3DEVkNxjA2_YjT_cn0XE1UzGO6Lx1MrkljVR/s1600/tulip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxNXkO08eZjaEwlxafekbQOgARu1Kxf7ceqloxXY44v0LsYhWgkpZDZogM4EfpzDArqgLL9z7VJhW_BcxGCYLxXRBL0XBaI3j1Ff_g6Kf3DEVkNxjA2_YjT_cn0XE1UzGO6Lx1MrkljVR/s320/tulip.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Tulip Cup</b><br />
The tulip shaped cup should not be confused with the "tulip" shape that you see in brandy glasses. The brandy cup has lips that curve over the liquid in order to trap the maximum amount of aroma in the glass.<b> </b> Coffee cups in the tulip shape don't employ this strategy, although they do contain aromas better then round cups. The tulip cup is a great cup of you want your coffee to retain heat, but still have room to be creative with latte art near the top. It is tapered in a special way so the top of the cup maintains a reasonably large canvas for latte art, but is not so wide open that heat escapes. Tulips also are less common so they can give your customers a more unique experience and set your cafe apart. There are some disadvantages to a cup like this though.<br />
<ol>
<li>There is a tendency for espresso and milk to form into layers more easily with the tulip.</li>
<li>Pouring into a tulip is less smooth. There are hard edges or more extreme angles that you have to deal with. This can make it difficult to get the milk to behave when you are pouring it.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGl6jPG0qouVEF4z0EZuk0FUreCSuNWDy10SlEa-q0N1X4GxFRiVdoK7bfTz9VMU9nzbPhIRrHtA2TWo8ZXOriel0DKkKlTGaqFv2qwB3l4hDI047cGdNsCsW0tuKNQO6rrPchdlsrziFN/s1600/mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGl6jPG0qouVEF4z0EZuk0FUreCSuNWDy10SlEa-q0N1X4GxFRiVdoK7bfTz9VMU9nzbPhIRrHtA2TWo8ZXOriel0DKkKlTGaqFv2qwB3l4hDI047cGdNsCsW0tuKNQO6rrPchdlsrziFN/s1600/mug.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>The Traditional Mug </b><br />
Most people are used to drinking coffee out of a mug. Offering a high quality mug, thick walled, dinner style mug, can be a great way to give your coffee a comforting feel to the consumer. These are generally great options for seving drip coffee, but less great for serving espresso.<br />
<ol>
<li>Things don't mix well in them</li>
<li>They are awkward to pour into</li>
<li>They don't often come with saucers</li>
<li>Expanded milk gets trapped at the edge and people aren't able to enjoy the foamy part of a drink as easily</li>
<li>They make people feel comfortable when they are drinking coffee, but when people are drinking espresso based beverages they often feel like it's "cheap."</li>
</ol>
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<b>Remember</b><br />
You don't need to choose just one. You can choose to buy a set of tulip demitasses for espresso, round cups for lattes and mugs for coffee<b></b>. These cups come in most sizes so have fun. <br />Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-47268721253259755272012-02-09T10:58:00.001-08:002012-02-09T10:58:21.870-08:00"Third Wave" coffee featured on Travel Channel<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/usC19gAKsTU" width="560"></iframe>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-13385926021073096782012-02-07T09:36:00.001-08:002012-02-07T09:43:05.478-08:00Make sense of coffee drinks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqB_IMIXScE8wpJ9TRP6JVTXL_jeRXOWYuoDYOmecNrcemrKQQ28HJeH8-2pyXg6rKvFY11W8LvisaR73cA7CXSgYNHd6_tcaW5ALkdZKNzg3r1js2PUgh6OJar6QzLzezNELN6pv0q0JS/s1600/405733_291297160925712_282397731815655_746098_1059525879_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqB_IMIXScE8wpJ9TRP6JVTXL_jeRXOWYuoDYOmecNrcemrKQQ28HJeH8-2pyXg6rKvFY11W8LvisaR73cA7CXSgYNHd6_tcaW5ALkdZKNzg3r1js2PUgh6OJar6QzLzezNELN6pv0q0JS/s400/405733_291297160925712_282397731815655_746098_1059525879_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Courtesy of </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a class="u" href="http://sk8ingjenius.deviantart.com/">Sk8ingjenius</a></span></h1>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-78617183013291930952012-01-24T19:06:00.000-08:002012-01-24T19:07:09.553-08:00Coffee Cups 101: Cup MaterialsThere are a lot of things to consider when you choose how you will drink or serve your coffee. One of the BIGGEST things to think about is what you will actually be putting the coffee in!<br />
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The answer, of course, is CUPS!<br />
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One of the things that I love the most about drinking a cup of coffee is feeling the warm mug in my hand. A good mug is almost a nice as a good cup of coffee. This is especially true on cold winter days, which we are having plenty of here in Chicago.<br />
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In the next few weeks I would like to explore the various kinds of cups and mugs you might see at a coffee shop, and explain why you might want to use them.<br />
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Today we will be looking at the <b>materials </b>your cup is made out of!<br />
Coffee cups can be made out of many things.<br />
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They can be:<br />
Plastic,<br />
paper,<br />
metal,<br />
glass,<br />
ceramic,<br />
or even a combination of things.<br />
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What follows is a look at these common materials and why you may (or may not) want to serve coffee in them.<br />
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<b>PLASTIC:</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix79vRa8ENCWa11JxeZRZuiesCiM5BZhtVNiBKYERuXMTqiK0d4kTAcCgu6CkMAEFfIzg5CPB021ytRmIOLM9nlvahVe2Uk9NadOtU4D9jinul0WF_IauFNkW9kh3CQfxxtGBtGFdzqsQZ/s1600/1_535911495_eco2go_4color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix79vRa8ENCWa11JxeZRZuiesCiM5BZhtVNiBKYERuXMTqiK0d4kTAcCgu6CkMAEFfIzg5CPB021ytRmIOLM9nlvahVe2Uk9NadOtU4D9jinul0WF_IauFNkW9kh3CQfxxtGBtGFdzqsQZ/s200/1_535911495_eco2go_4color.jpg" width="200" /></a>Plastic cups, although not common in cafes, are the bread and butter of the travel mug industry. Almost every cup you are given as a cheap attempt at a brad recognition campaign will be plastic. Many of the cups you can buy at your local target will also be plastic. It's easy to find yourself using a plastic to go cup without even thinking about it. Unfortunately, this may not be a good thing. Plastic has not had a very good track record as a beverage container. There is a lot of cheap plastic out there that you will need to avoid. Make sure your cup does not contain Bisphenol A (BPA). This is a substance found in a lot of plastics that is now widely believed to be a toxic substance. You will also want to look out for cheaper plastics that will melt at higher heats. If your cup is not dishwasher safe there is a good change it will make your coffee taste a little funny. Plastics also don't retain heat well so your coffee will often cool quickly. On top of all of that, you have to admit that drinking out of plastic just doesn't <i>feel</i> very nice.<br />
<b>NLDR: Avoid plastics if possible, they're kind of gross</b><br />
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<b>PAPER:</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqrbOzJeCs2PUVvqlhvHGzgFwEJgFCLtE2mHLUZy97i9slxNe4QxqFeBnROcb5zv3tuwNv-sOSPEedPEc0yATW7o6s9BUziM5VuvrpnhfX1a-tGLFmlwbGz9r7tIpv2KIL4986Ak7v3CO/s1600/paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqrbOzJeCs2PUVvqlhvHGzgFwEJgFCLtE2mHLUZy97i9slxNe4QxqFeBnROcb5zv3tuwNv-sOSPEedPEc0yATW7o6s9BUziM5VuvrpnhfX1a-tGLFmlwbGz9r7tIpv2KIL4986Ak7v3CO/s1600/paper.jpg" /></a></div>
Paper cups are involved in a love/hate relationship with all cafe owners. Without them it would be difficult to make a profit, but they are just TERRIBLE. Paper cups are available at almost all cafes, but that doesn't mean you should use them. Not only do they add a nasty paper taste to your coffee, they are also simply just filling up landfills. They don't keep heat in efficiently. They cost the cafe extra money for something you are just going to throw away.I DON'T LIKE PAPER CUPS!<br />
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If you HAVE to use them be aware of a few things you should know<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Don't use cups that have a wax coating. The wax will melt into your coffee. You don't want to drink wax do you?</li>
<li>Cups are NOT often recycled. Putting them in the recycling just means there will be one more step until they get to the landfill.</li>
<li>You can get cups made out of recycled paper</li>
<li>PLEASE, do not throw away a cup that is STILL FILLED WITH LIQUID. Real people have to clean up your mess, and it's not fun.</li>
<li>Although there are some cups that are "biodegradable", very few places will actually compost the cups. If you want to be green, you will have to compost the cups yourself.</li>
<li>One last thing, if you are thinking about using STYROFOAM cups instead. JUST SAY NO! They make you look cheap, they taste awful, and are simply terrible for the enviroment</li>
</ul>
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<b>METAL</b></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAtSh5OtsGSw0Psbu8ddpy1DoijDzka1hTtd78ZsrGe8M-KD0oQDL9vkm1e2kJAk6A5fU39z04B-21ycuDfcYKst8tpifNKIc1qVmhB9a08eiawJZYt74bi3qn_11pn05G4Yh6ZaF0T0H/s1600/metal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAtSh5OtsGSw0Psbu8ddpy1DoijDzka1hTtd78ZsrGe8M-KD0oQDL9vkm1e2kJAk6A5fU39z04B-21ycuDfcYKst8tpifNKIc1qVmhB9a08eiawJZYt74bi3qn_11pn05G4Yh6ZaF0T0H/s200/metal.jpg" width="160" /></a>A metal coffee cup isn't as common as a plastic or a paper cup, but you still see a lot of them. I see metal cups mostly as travel mugs. Although metal mugs have existed for about 4,000 years they have rarely been used for hot beverages. The heat conductivity makes it difficult to hold if the contents are hot. This is why most metal travel mugs also include more insulated materials. </div>
<div>
There are a few things you should know about metal mugs:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Metal is light weight and durable which makes it great for camping gear, but just because you have a camping mug doesn't mean your coffee will taste good</li>
<li>Many metal cups can leave a taste in your coffee. Look for cups made out of stainless steel, aluminum has a flavor that doesn't go well with coffee.</li>
<li>Metal cups heat up quickly, but also lose heat quickly. Don't use a metal cup if you want your coffee to stay hot</li>
</ul>
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<b>CERAMIC</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7zdsAOsF8SLz-MNwf4dUy5LnowUHWgJkWRqp0rfBOZfSbrPULRK_HzCeaV_vjiTPqAlRTnshF0Hti7sBpg5uEtvHOq5k8Nq7w4daBCzx-w9IaTIe4LzpteY24PyH0ZURIC-dsuLsj4OF/s1600/ceramic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7zdsAOsF8SLz-MNwf4dUy5LnowUHWgJkWRqp0rfBOZfSbrPULRK_HzCeaV_vjiTPqAlRTnshF0Hti7sBpg5uEtvHOq5k8Nq7w4daBCzx-w9IaTIe4LzpteY24PyH0ZURIC-dsuLsj4OF/s320/ceramic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ceramic cups have been around longer then anything else. They were invented in East Asia over 12,000 years ago! There is a good reason ceramic has stuck around so long. It's great! I love ceramic cups. They holy heat well, they feel nice when you hold them, they don't add funny flavors to your coffee (as long as they have a glaze applied). I drink out of a ceramic cup 90% of the time. However there are a few thing that you should know about ceramic cups:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Once a ceramic cup is cracked it will build up bacteria in the cracks. you will have to throw it away (otherwise it's a health code violation)</li>
<li>If you own a cafe make sure you look into heath code regulations. You may not be allowed to fill cups that customers bring in (since you don't know if they are clean). An alternative to this is to have a "mug club" of some sort where people can keep their mugs at the shop and get them cleaned when they are done.</li>
<li>Ceramic breaks very easily... providing these kinds of cups will save you money on paper cups, but may wind up costing you more if people drop the ceramic a lot.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaO8XYxYzr31h-swu6-r9EXE1-4b-PaKszq7bW0ru5tbvRo-sMkREAve3wEvJyxWqucj-K5LKPPTXhG_gZ0rQsHj-0PQ-rO79Fo-0u3btOwElsvT_UU2OVolajd4pFQZYqOrJgCzAZ3pl/s1600/glass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaO8XYxYzr31h-swu6-r9EXE1-4b-PaKszq7bW0ru5tbvRo-sMkREAve3wEvJyxWqucj-K5LKPPTXhG_gZ0rQsHj-0PQ-rO79Fo-0u3btOwElsvT_UU2OVolajd4pFQZYqOrJgCzAZ3pl/s320/glass.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>GLASS</b></div>
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<div>
Glass has many of the advantages, and the disadvantages of ceramic They both don't effect the taste of coffee negatively, they both can feel nice to hold, and they both break very easily. In fact glass is technically a noncrystalline ceramic. Very few people use glass cups for coffee, but it has become an option in many shops in the last ten years. A drink called the "Gibralter" has taken it's place many specialty coffee shops. This is a drink that uses a cup like the one seen in the picture. I personally love drinking out of little glass cups like this.</div>
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There are some things you should know about glass:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>It doesn't hold in heat as well as most ceramic cups</li>
<li>It gives you a nice look into what's going on below the surface of your coffee (which i think it pretty cool)</li>
<li>It isn't as traditional, or as aesthetically pleasing as ceramic, so make sure you offer ceramic too</li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-89816384263877708392011-12-20T14:46:00.000-08:002011-12-23T14:49:19.156-08:00Christmas Traditions: Kenya<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvm-QmF6WusljMAH8JoTERhzp-iG0tMxT-mB_wm7_x5w1Fd-RzDzXpOsX0GMI0GOoPvo0HEQ0wnd4cYDnoSjYJ2fwrRdNQ9tvcNHCjBZMyA77LiuxuvamIK1-uJhfsrMAp73ktZKeUifc/s1600/kenya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvm-QmF6WusljMAH8JoTERhzp-iG0tMxT-mB_wm7_x5w1Fd-RzDzXpOsX0GMI0GOoPvo0HEQ0wnd4cYDnoSjYJ2fwrRdNQ9tvcNHCjBZMyA77LiuxuvamIK1-uJhfsrMAp73ktZKeUifc/s400/kenya.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pilau</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>This week we continue our series exploring the Christmas traditions of some of the countries that we have imported coffee from this year.</i><br />
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Today I'd like to focus on <b>Kenya.</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>Christmas celebrations begin early in Kenya. People begin to visit their families a month before Christmas and there is a lot of travel out of the urban centers out in to rural communities. Most people are taking time off work at least once, or sometimes taking more then one vacation this month.<br />
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All this travel means that the busses are getting pretty packed since most people travel on busses!<br />
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Kenyans love to eat at Christmas. Chickens, sheep, goats and cows are slaughtered by the hundreds to prepare for the celebration. In you live by the coast you will have your fill of Pilau, which is a staple food in that region.<br />
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Whatever you're eating make sure you wash your hands! Kenyans eat with their fingers, rather then forks and knives!<br />
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As Christmas approaches people will begin to attend prayer services. It is common for people to even attend all night prayer vigils to bring in Christmas.<br />
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If you want to celebrate christmas like a Kenyan just remember these three things:<br />
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<ol>
<li>FAMILY</li>
<li>FOOD</li>
<li>FAITH</li>
</ol>
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Merry Christmas!</div>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-50390632791962224522011-12-13T13:28:00.000-08:002011-12-23T13:50:39.651-08:00Christmas Traditions: Guatemala<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbwJawTXhHPTEGG_HqN0DaEcsu5H4jHoFj0K0SZJN-sEYNEknmUG8OyXJaNtO7PfUrQSK-Gl6Wh7L9PirE6d9eEXEbew2leZfYBzynPDqskWOhb0E4Mn2vbwruHwMps5vUnWfzsmlbUwv/s1600/1.1239137880.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbwJawTXhHPTEGG_HqN0DaEcsu5H4jHoFj0K0SZJN-sEYNEknmUG8OyXJaNtO7PfUrQSK-Gl6Wh7L9PirE6d9eEXEbew2leZfYBzynPDqskWOhb0E4Mn2vbwruHwMps5vUnWfzsmlbUwv/s320/1.1239137880.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
This year we will be exploring how people celebrate Christmas in a few of the countries where we get our coffee from. Part of getting to know your coffee is getting to know the people that you get it from. Christmas is a big deal in most of the countries we import coffee from, and so we want to take a moment to honor those traditions.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Today I'd like to focus on <b>Guatemala</b>. Not only does Guatemala produce some of the best and brightest coffee on the planet, it also celebrates christmas a bit different then we do here in the United States.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Nine days before Christmas there is something called a "posada procession" that begins. In this ritual statues of Mary and Joseph are carried around seeking shelter. They are let into a new house every night for nine days. As they are carried drums are played and fireworks are lit as there is a celebration around the statues. When they arrive at the destination there is a carol that is sung and a set of ritual questions are asked. Eventually Mary and Joseph are let into the house. They are placed in the "nacimiento"(a Latin American nativity scene) where they will remain until the next night when the procession will continue to the next house.
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The procession is quite the party. There is punch and tamales for everyone. People have a dance party together when Mary and Joseph are finally let in.
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On Christmas eve, not only are Mary and Joseph let it, but Jesus is added to the nacimiento. When this happens the biggest part of all happens.
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There is a large German population in Guatemalla so Christmas trees have made their was into the nacimiento. At the final house presents are left under the tree on Christmas morning for the children as gifts from the Christ Child. Gifts for adults are not opened until new years day.
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On Christmas Eve there is a Midnight Mass that follows the posada and after the mass there is a full supper!
</div>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-10060314207311037532011-12-06T16:35:00.001-08:002011-12-06T17:59:06.456-08:006 Ways to Guide Your Shop's Culture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqxad7PEk1WQs8R-pEjvJDvQWwVnP8Ib_MDek-QZfdTDo4NEoxGH_msdRhQ7W4ZETEf59hl9vYahi1DnnES-ZvjxmCBZjnChc36173GLktDtWRQoS2vRJoPmyCETXFX9FOIdID7HNW1k8/s1600/coffee-shop-sign-los-angeles.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqxad7PEk1WQs8R-pEjvJDvQWwVnP8Ib_MDek-QZfdTDo4NEoxGH_msdRhQ7W4ZETEf59hl9vYahi1DnnES-ZvjxmCBZjnChc36173GLktDtWRQoS2vRJoPmyCETXFX9FOIdID7HNW1k8/s400/coffee-shop-sign-los-angeles.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you want your coffee shop to survive for more then two years you NEED to have an inclusive culture. Having a inclusive culture can bring in new people, and help you to expand your markets. Having a restrictive culture will eventually burn out and close in on itself. This does not happen naturally; it takes time, money, and energy. The first step is what we talked about last week. Last week we talked about how to evaluate WHAT your coffee culture is saying to outsides. If you missed it <a href="http://coffeeambassadors.blogspot.com/2011/11/discovering-your-coffee-culture.html">check it out! </a> Knowing your culture is important, but you can't stop there. Learning how to form culture is where the real power for transformation comes from.<br />
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<b>Six Ways to Guide Your Culture</b><br />
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This week I would like to give you 6 things you can create that will help you guide the culture toward where you want it.<br />
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<b>1. Structures </b><br />
Make sure the structures you have in your shop are open to new people. Structures are the practices that inform the culture you develop. If you only hire hipsters you will only have hipster clientele. If you only have white people in management positions, you will have trouble making minorities feel at home. If you play music that's inappropriate for children, you will not have young families buying your coffee. If you notice a wall that is keeping people out consider taking actions to tear them down.<br />
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<b>2. Systems and procedures </b><br />
Systems are "how we do things around here." It's important to set up systems that set you apart from the rabble, but still invite newcomers in. You should have procedures that respect both the coffee and the clientele. Use fresh roasted coffee, weigh our your coffee, measure your temperatures, keep things fresh, buy locally, use ethical coffee, and<b> invite your customers <i>into</i> what you are doing</b>. Present your systems in a way that is easy to understand, and which is available for them to explore and share with others.<br />
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<b>3. Rites and rituals </b><br />
One <i>powerful </i>thing you can do for your customers is create rites and rituals, and honor the ones that occur naturally. This can happen lots of ways. Create a regular schedule so people will be able to better create a relationship with their barista. Offer classes and cupping that being people into your coffee making procedures. Create yearly, monthly, and even daily traditions that people can count on. Have fun with this one. I have created ceremonies that I perform from time to time that honor coffee and those gathered around the cup with me (these can be great ways to share the values and commitment of your shop).<br />
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<b>4. Physical space </b><br />
Treat your space like you would a cup of coffee. Use all your senses and look for the subtle details. Look out for things that make you look unprofessional, sloppy, unwelcoming, too sterilized, too grimy, or just incompetent. Make sure the space smells good. Make sure your shop has a comfortable climate. Hire a designer to help you out. Get consistent branding. Show people that you care about them by caring about your shop!<br />
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<b>5. Stories from the history of the shop, the space, the neighborhood and the coffee world </b><br />
Gather stories! Talk about the barista who showed up 2 hours early to get the shop open on time during the blizzard of 2009, talk about when your loyal customer used your shop for a school project, talk about every story you can collect that can give people an idea of what you want your coffee shop to be about. Try to tell a story to a new customer every day.<br />
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<b>6. Formal statements</b><br />
Do you have formal statements that guide where your shop is going? You should! Every coffee shop should have a mission statement, a list of values that you try to honor in everything that you do, a vision for where your shop is going, a general strategy that states where you are going, and a list of concrete very specific goals. Bring a group of people in your culture together and start forming these documents. Make them EASY TO MEMORIZE and ARTICULATE THEM in everything that you are doing. The mission and vision will start to catch over time, and people will have a more concert idea of what you are doing to accomplish your goals.Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-38981315367418773712011-11-28T12:00:00.001-08:002012-01-04T12:20:51.849-08:00Discovering Your Coffee Culture?<br />
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<center><a href="http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/170976-hipster-barista"><img height="320" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/kym-assets/photos/images/newsfeed/000/170/976/DustinMattson10-305x457.jpg" width="212" /></a></center><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
cul·ture/ˈkəlCHər/ Noun: The arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively. </blockquote>
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Coffee nerds know how to taste coffee. We know how to grind the coffee just right, use the perfect amount of water, smell, and slurp the coffee. We know how to pinpoint fine nuances in beans, and detect which flavors point to country of origin, roast degree, and processing method. HOWEVER, often coffee nerds are not very good in detecting what the culture of their coffee shop communicates.<br />
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Far too often coffee shops that have the best tools to bring people GREAT coffee have a culture that EXCLUDES those they could be teaching. This is almost never the intention of a coffee shop. After all who wouldn't want more customers? The problem lies in the reality that too often people don't recognize the culture of their coffee shop.<br />
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Asking a culture to describe their culture is like asking a fish to describe their bowl. They will point out everything in the bowl EXCEPT the water.<br />
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Culture surrounds all we do, and is one of the FIRST thing that someone notices when they walk through the door of your shop, however it's invisible to the people most empowered to change it.This doesn't have to be the case. Although we can never enter our coffee shop as an outsider, what follows are six questions you can ask about how your coffee shop runs that will help you figure out what your culture is screaming to everyone but you.<br />
<ol>
<li> <b>Do you encourage your staff, and yourself to pay attention? </b><br />You should have a system in place that encourages people to always look at the culture and setting in your coffee shop critically. Make sure your staff know how to look critically and report honestly, and make sure you pay attention at all times. Talk to people around you, and look for who is sticking around and who isn't coming back.<i> Pay attention to why.</i></li>
<li><b>What is the reaction to critical incidents? </b><br />When there are problems, or even positive incidents that come up evaluate how are they handled. Make sure you take time for critical thinking about what in your culture may have contributed to the incidents. Put yourself in the shoes of all people involved. Put yourself in the shoes of as many customers as you can. Take note of what they might see in the situation.</li>
<li><b>How do you allocate resources? </b><br />Your wallet speaks volumes about what is valued in your culture. If you spend money on things geared for the coffee elite, but don't invest in things to help the average person understand <i>people will notice.</i> If you don't spend <i>any </i>money on things to make your coffee better <i>people will notice</i>. If you don't spend money on making the space inviting <i>people will notice. </i>Go over everything that you spend, and ask why you bought it. Then think about as many customers as you can and ask what they would think about the purchase<b>.</b></li>
<li><b>Who is put up as a role model in the culture?</b><br />Create a list of your dream team of people you would love to work with. Figure out what about these people is attractive to you. Are these traits that form a culture that is welcoming to outsiders? Figuring out what you view as impressive will point out what might make people feel they are treated as unimpressive. Evaluate if these are good cultural values.</li>
<li><b>How and why are people rewarded? </b>Do you have any systems of rewards set up for customers? Do you have any systems of reward set up for employees. This is more then just punch card programs. Think about what sorts of things give your patrons and staff social capitol in the shop. What gives people a voice? What gives people power? Are the things that reward people focused on welcoming people in, or do they exclude people?<b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>Why were people hired?</b>The people you choose to hire are one of the strongest ways culture is formed. What were you looking for in your hires? When you look at applications what things stand out to you? Do these values put the customer first? If they don't your shop might look like the video I have posted at the bottom!</li>
</ol>
Hopefully these question will have helped you recognize the culture of your coffee shop. Next week we will talk about how to<i> create</i> the culture you want.<br />
<br />
WHAT NOT TO DO:<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="328" src="http://www.funnyordie.com/embed/d240b5ebec" width="512"></iframe><br />
<div style="font-size: x-small; margin-top: 0; text-align: left; width: 512px;">
<a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/d240b5ebec/coffee-snobs" title="from Tricia & Johanna, Eric Appel, Funny Or Die, Johanna Parker, Tricia McAlpin, June Diane Raphael, Eugene Cordero, Ally Hord, Alex Richanbach, BoTown Sound, and Frankie Shaw">Coffee Snobs</a> from <a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/frankie_shaw">Frankie Shaw</a> <iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?app_id=138711277798&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.funnyordie.com%2Fvideos%2Fd240b5ebec%2Fcoffee-snobs&send=false&layout=button_count&width=150&show_faces=false&action=like&height=21" style="border: none; height: 21px; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: middle; width: 90px;"></iframe>
</div>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-92124673976534311642011-11-15T16:40:00.001-08:002011-11-15T17:50:23.926-08:00Chosing a Coffee Caterer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI2HqUiA3sFxYdPG1mxG_MeqR88B_ze14grE7W7bE9Olb8k4piA7n1LdqJJ8Y-x4_3naI70Sog0i7XzupGzDRvxz65vRHL2L2agXG9g8thKo1SDCPCCdzaO9ST2mviT8hPyCxoNLBLwr4/s1600/loganSquarePastryMarket_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI2HqUiA3sFxYdPG1mxG_MeqR88B_ze14grE7W7bE9Olb8k4piA7n1LdqJJ8Y-x4_3naI70Sog0i7XzupGzDRvxz65vRHL2L2agXG9g8thKo1SDCPCCdzaO9ST2mviT8hPyCxoNLBLwr4/s320/loganSquarePastryMarket_14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This week we continue our series on serving coffee to large groups of people on a budget. The scenario last week discussed one possible option, where a person was trained to make coffee in conjunction with their role as a greeter, service desk attendant, or a similar role.<br />
<br />
This week I would like to explore another option: catering.<br />
<br />
Hiring a coffee shop or roaster to make your coffee can be a great option. This is probably the best option for a group that only meets one in a while. A good coffee caterer will allow you to supply <i>great</i> coffee to your event without having to spend thousands on coffee equipment and training staff or volunteers, however there are many coffee caterers out there that won't do a much better job then you would do on your own.<br />
<br />
How can you <i>know</i> that your coffee caterer will do a good job?<br />
<br />
<b>First: </b>Know your options<br />
<br />
There are basically three kinds of coffee catering<br />
<ol>
<li>Coffee Shops that make the coffee in their shop</li>
<li>Coffee Shops that make coffee in your context</li>
<ol>
<li>Using <i>their </i>equipment</li>
<li>Using <i>your </i>equipment</li>
</ol>
<li>Full espresso bars that create custom espresso drinks at your event</li>
</ol>
Think about what you will need to have in order to make your event the greatest success. <b></b>Having a fully functional espresso bar at your event can be very impressive, but it's also very expensive. Simply picking up coffee from a coffee shop doesn't have the <i>wow</i> factor, but it's the most cost effective option. You will have to make that decision yourself.<br />
<br />
<b>Second: </b>Know your coffee<br />
<br />
The coffee that is being served can be an indicator of how much your caterer cares about the quality of their coffee. Ask them the following questions:<br />
<ol>
<li>When was the coffee being served roasted? (It shouldn't be served over a week and a half after roasting)</li>
<li>Where was the coffee grown? (if they know the country: good. If they know the farm: better. If they know the micro-lot: best)</li>
<li>What have you done to assure that the coffee has been bought in an ethical way (it doesn't need to be "fair trade" to be ethical, but they should be able to explain how their coffee buying habits are just.)</li>
</ol>
<br />
<b>Third: </b>Know their system<br />
<br />
There are some things that a caterer can do that are warning flags about the quality of their operation. Here are a few examples of things to look out for:<br />
<ol>
<li>Their coffee should be <i>fairy</i> local. They need to be able to get their coffee shipped to them in enough time for it to still be fresh. This wouldn't be an issue if you use a roaster to cater your coffee. (If they are having it shipped directly from the roaster with 2 day shipping across the country it would still be ok, if it's from Italy or somewhere over-seas it's generally stale).</li>
<li>Make sure they are storing their<i> <b>whole bean</b></i> coffee well.</li>
<ol>
<li>Airtight container</li>
<li>Room Temperature</li>
<li>No direct sunlight</li>
</ol>
<li>Make sure they are storing their brewed coffee well. If they aren't serving their coffee as they make it, make sure that the coffee is not being stored on a hot pad, burner, or in a percolator. Ideally a preheated "air pot" or another well insulated container.</li>
<li>If they are creating espresso drinks at your event make sure they are grinding their coffee individually for each drink, and never resteaming any of the milk</li>
</ol>
<b>Fourth: </b>Make your expectations clear. The more you communicate with your caterer about the event and your expectations, the better your event will go. Make sure you contact the person who is in charge of managing catering and talk to them about how they do things. Let them know what you are expecting, and make sure you are on the same page.<br />
<br />
<br />
FYI: If you live in Chicago our partner shop "Ipsento" caters our coffee at many events. Contact them if you're interested call <span class="st"> (773) 904-8177.</span>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-90179881432004452262011-11-08T17:32:00.000-08:002011-11-08T17:32:15.742-08:00Making Coffee For Big Groups: Part III<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4o3T7NZyEglIHOmwuzq2rkFxfVSgdo9cIUAB1HjlgiWEBvhJNeyt9E8Dq4PYEf_jFqWDzpfyQCenjhC0HMbmnt29Va3k6he3_ahwPVyQCsrfBkbynVBYCr8kSUZZUb7l_z23ZlDbiHnpY/s1600/turkish-coffee_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4o3T7NZyEglIHOmwuzq2rkFxfVSgdo9cIUAB1HjlgiWEBvhJNeyt9E8Dq4PYEf_jFqWDzpfyQCenjhC0HMbmnt29Va3k6he3_ahwPVyQCsrfBkbynVBYCr8kSUZZUb7l_z23ZlDbiHnpY/s320/turkish-coffee_medium.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
This week we continue our series on how to make coffee for large groups. One way to make better coffee is to turn a greeter or information person into a "barista".<br />
<br />
A barista is the person who makes your coffee in a coffee shop. Although technically you would need an espresso machine and an experienced espresso wizard for you to have a "real" barista, having a dedicated coffee person can be a GREAT way to make better coffee <b>and</b> create an environment where people feel welcomed.<br />
<br />
Having a dedicated coffee person means you don't have to invest in a huge coffee maker, but can simply be making coffee consistently with quality small coffee brewers. This will guarantee the coffee is always fresh, and will also make sure that people are making connections in your gathering or meeting without the awkwardness of a forced interaction.<br />
<br />
If your meeting is happening weekly you can have 4-5 volunteers that rotate once a month in this role.<br />
<br />
The total cost of implementing this is very low. All you will need is:<br />
<ul>
<li>A Handful of Volunteers </li>
<li>A Brewing System That Can Make Good Coffee (you may already have this)</li>
<li>A Place to Brew Coffee </li>
<ul>
<li>Access to water, a trash can, electricity, and coffee</li>
<li>Ideally this place would allow for coffee to be made, while still interacting in meanigful ways with people who come to get coffee</li>
</ul>
<li>A Kitchen Scale (To Know Why <a href="http://coffeeambassadors.blogspot.com/2011/07/five-tips-to-make-better-cup-of-coffee.html">Click Here</a>)</li>
<li>Some Training to make sure the coffee being made is of the highest quality</li>
<ul>
<li>You can get some of that just by reading this blog</li>
<li>You can take one of the classes we offer <a href="http://ipsento.eventbrite.com/">HERE</a></li>
</ul>
</ul>
If this idea doesn't appeal to you, don't worry we'll have more ideas next week!<br />
<br />Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-14131226463714448972011-11-01T17:41:00.000-07:002011-11-01T17:41:53.039-07:00How NOT to serve your group coffee and why<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHvHwnj9Laaxb79ffZjR2VrkwwqwktLaEoLgnLSYNOzG0l1hoA8R8PV_o22tDV-V3oHSgxmkaEgG-c2jWk5VYJ5OqGOGSt9PYYrQo5pDQveFER10mAArpI8AdGDI-ynYx9V5_sH5FtIzN/s1600/705347e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHvHwnj9Laaxb79ffZjR2VrkwwqwktLaEoLgnLSYNOzG0l1hoA8R8PV_o22tDV-V3oHSgxmkaEgG-c2jWk5VYJ5OqGOGSt9PYYrQo5pDQveFER10mAArpI8AdGDI-ynYx9V5_sH5FtIzN/s320/705347e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Last week we examined the difficult situation that many leaders find themselves in where there is a large group of people that need coffee, but not a consistant enough need that purchasing a high end commercial system merits the investment that would be required.<br />
<br />
I have spent years facing this problem and I can tell you from experience that there are a number of options that people use that are not ideal. The coffee that is used is often poorly made, poorly stored, and poorly obtained.<br />
<br />
Cheap coffee reflects a cheap organization. It communicates to those who attend your events that they are not worth the time or the money to offer quality hospitality and can also communicate a lack of ethics since most people now know that the cheapest coffee is often purchased at the expense of poor farmers and laborers.<br />
<br />
The amazing thing about coffee is that it doesn't cost very much to improve. Unlike other products you can get some of the best coffees in the world without a huge investment. Taking your coffee from terrible to GREAT doesn't require a lot of money, just a little thought and care. <br />
<br />
One of the first things to do, if you want great coffee, is to STOP doing some things that are BAD for your coffee. The following is a simple list of things NOT to do.<br />
<ol>
<li><b>DON'T use a system the heats the coffee</b><br />There are a lot of systems that keep coffee hot by continually heating the coffee. The longer the coffee is exposed to heat the more the flavors that make your coffee great will be turned into bitter flavors of scorched oils. Avoid percolators or keeping your coffee on a burner. INSTEAD either serve your coffee as soon as it's done brewing OR store it in a preheated themas or air pot. </li>
<li><b>DON'T buy your coffee in bulk</b>Coffee doesn't stay fresh for very long. If you go out and buy your coffee once a month, EVEN if it were roasted the day you buy it, your coffee will be stale by the end of the month.<b> </b>That doesn't even take into account the fact that most coffee that you can buy in the grocery store are stale before they even make it on the shelf. INSTEAD buy your coffee the morning of your event from a local roaster and only buy as much as you need for the day.</li>
<li><b>DON'T use pre-ground coffee</b>Coffee starts to oxidize much faster when it's ground. It only lasts a few hours once it's ground. Ideally you should have a quality burr grinder that you can use before you grind every cup or pot. However this is expensive. A cheap way you can get around this is to have the roaster of coffee shop you work with grind the coffee for you right before the event. Having an employee of volunteer pick up the coffee and have it ground on their way to the event is a great way to assure you have fresh ground coffee without spending a bundle.</li>
<li><b>DON'T buy coffee just because it's cheap</b>Cheap coffee often reflects loose ethics. The coffee you buy is a moral decision. I am amazed at how many groups I have gone to that <i>talk</i> a lot about social justice but serve coffee that reflects a disregard for ethical buying practices. Do your research, it doesn't cost anything to get informed. Your coffee should be:</li>
<ol>
<li>Bought at a fair wage</li>
<li>Environmentally responsible</li>
<li>Concerned with the workers who do most of the leg work</li>
<li>Sustainable</li>
</ol>
Anything less then this is irresponsible</ol>
<ol> </ol>
<ol> </ol>
<br />Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-23081454700406633032011-10-24T19:29:00.000-07:002011-10-24T19:29:37.937-07:00Getting Coffee for a Large Group: Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmMw4lhL7bYzzgRv2moEXXjxfJbJOUfxreTUK4ip_ON8Ent_hYG8-tKLh_zBHrehHIft6DmrG2PHoaKH-u0qc1NaQLnwrN7U7Tjp7knmAXUE_wUjk_sW1tnieMReu8inkZKy6Afc4MSWv/s1600/Beaconthorpe-Church-coffee-morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmMw4lhL7bYzzgRv2moEXXjxfJbJOUfxreTUK4ip_ON8Ent_hYG8-tKLh_zBHrehHIft6DmrG2PHoaKH-u0qc1NaQLnwrN7U7Tjp7knmAXUE_wUjk_sW1tnieMReu8inkZKy6Afc4MSWv/s400/Beaconthorpe-Church-coffee-morning.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Last week my pastor had the bright idea that I would make coffee for some of the people at my church. I love making coffee, and so I loved the idea. They were having a meeting with about 50 people or so in attendance, so I thought to myself:<br />
<br />
<i>"how can I make good coffee for all these people with the </i><i>inconsistent, </i><i>unreliable equipment at the church?"</i><br />
<br />
The solution I came up with was to bring a bunch of my own equipment (along with some of our whole bean Coffee<i> </i>which I purchased for the church), and make each cup individually. It look a lot of work, but at the end of the day it worked really well. Everyone got what they wanted: a great cup of coffee, and a lot of fun learning and talking to each other.<br />
<br />
Thinking back on the experience I thought that it points to a big hole in the coffee world: Large Group service structures for coffee.<br />
<br />
A church is a place that generally has a HUGE need for a ton of coffee ONE HOUR a week. Churches aren't the only places that have this kind of demand bubble. Any organization that hosts large events knows the difficult of supplying coffee for these sorts of things. Most places can't afford the kind of equipment required to make quality coffee on a large scale so they have to explore other options.<br />
<br />
Many groups resort to using options that save them money <i>but </i>wind up making the coffee so bad that I sometimes wonder why they bother at all.<br />
<br />
THERE IS HOPE!<br />
<br />
In the next few weeks I will be exploring ways you can get GREAT coffee to your group without breaking the bank.<br />
<br />
Having quality coffee is <i>not </i>impossible for anyone. With a little bit of work and creativity you can bring new life to any gathering with quality coffee. Stay Tuned!<br />
<br />Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-22641443593360707482011-10-17T11:35:00.000-07:002011-10-17T11:35:34.926-07:00Third Wave Coffee PhilosophyToday we continue our series looking at the three waves of coffee in the United States.<br />
<br />
If you remember <i>First Wave</i> coffee is focused on getting coffee <b>to the most people</b> through, <i>commercials</i>, <i>convenience</i> and <i>consistency</i>. It pressures people to drink coffee by highlighting the <i>conventions</i>.<br />
On the other hand, <i>second wave. </i>is about getting coffee <b>that pleases the most people.</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>This is achieved by creating a cup of coffee that focuses on the <i>consumer</i>. Through <i>customization, creativity, </i>and <i>community.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<b>Third wave </b>coffee is focused on the coffee and trying to get the coffee to be treated like a fine wine.<br />
This is driven by <i>crafting with care, culinary art, </i> and <i>conceitedness</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
This is about getting coffee <b>that pleases the most annoying people.</b><br />
This is where I live and where Coffee Ambassadors lives, so don't be offended <i>we implicate ourselves.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
Third wave has done a lot of great things for coffee in the world, but the fact remains that in many ways the philosophy that drives much of third wave is a latent sense of superiority. The focus is not on the consumer at all, but on the <i>coffee</i> and the <i>barista</i> that makes it.<br />
<br />
Below I have posted a video from one of our friends in the third wave. I really like the video itself, but I want you to notice a few things.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>One phrase in the video that really shows what the philosophy of third wave is when he sets his methods apart says "most people who are preparing [espresso] don't give it [my kind] of respect."</li>
<li>Notice the personal pronouns. This video uses I and We a lot but doesn't use "you" at all except when he is describing what is "wrong" with the coffee.</li>
<li>Notice how he sets himself and his coffee <i>apart</i> from the rest of the coffee community saying they serve "a different kind of coffee then what most people are used to"</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hEb1rXP3aTU" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<table style="text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td><b>FIRST WAVE </b></td><td><b> SECOND WAVE</b></td><td><b> THIRD WAVE</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>Convenience<br />
Commercials<br />
Consistency
</td><td>Customization<br />
Creativity<br />
Community </td><td>Crafting with care<br />
Culinary art <br />
Conceitedness</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-68322531432896881902011-10-08T11:12:00.000-07:002011-10-08T11:16:33.333-07:00A Look at Second Wave Coffee PhilosophyToday we continue our series exploring different "waves" of coffee. Last week we looked at some of the ads at the height of "fist wave" (Folgers, tasters choice etc) coffee consumption. They demonstrated a keen awareness of the power of CONFORMITY. Their power was showing people that they could be "normal" or "successful" if they simply had the right coffee.<br />
<br />
This week look at the philosophy of SECOND WAVE coffee (this is your typical Starbucks or Caribou Coffee).
If you watched our video that gave an overview of these forms of coffee you will remember that SECOND WAVE coffee is driven by CUSTOMIZATION.<br />
<br />
They focused on coffee that PLEASED THE MOST PEOPLE, not just that was made available to the MOST PEOPLE like we see in first wave coffee.
To compare the two:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br />
<table style="text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td><b>FIRST WAVE </b></td><td><b> SECOND WAVE</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>Convenience<br />
Commercials<br />
Consistency
</td><td>Customization<br />
Creativity<br />
Community </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
I think that the ad for Starbucks highlights the <i>driving</i> force of second wave marketing.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yN9_WT9l7xo" width="560"></iframe>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-69797215300959117212011-09-30T06:47:00.000-07:002011-09-30T06:47:53.180-07:00Examples of First Wave Coffee PhilosophyIf you watched our video a couple months back on different coffee "waves" you will remember that coffee culture in the United States Has gone through three "waves" in the last 100 years.<br />
<br />
Today I would like to give some examples of how coffee in the first wave worked. First wave coffee is driven by brands like Folgers, Maxwell House, and Tasters Choice. <br />
<br />
You may remember that "first wave" coffee was driven by:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Consistancy</li>
<li>Commercialization and </li>
<li>Convenience</li>
</ul>It's goal was to get coffee to <u>the most people</u>, and it did a good job of it. Notice the ads below... They are selling coffee as part of a lifestyle rather then as something that can help show the unique you (second wave) or something that has value in itself (third wave). <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vjmOi3KiFKg&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vjmOi3KiFKg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<br />
In the video above almost nothing is said about the coffee itself, but it connects drinking coffee to a lifestyle that OTHER people have. It basically says "drink coffee and you can be like the people you wish you were." This is a typical first wave philosophy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ed3vswxJKgI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
In This video the lifestyle is almost oppressive. It basically says drink Folgers or you will be a failure as a wife. It uses broad social pressure to push a brand. Like the first ad it pushes you into homogeneity with society as a whole.<br />
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We will explore Second and Third wave coffee in future postsBilly Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-66784096576965616872011-08-30T06:23:00.000-07:002011-09-30T06:24:53.777-07:00America must be drinking our coffee<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/85791066@N00/4375358578/" title="Did you know: Sex and Coffee by Mug Life - Billy Kangas', on Flickr"><img alt="Did you know: Sex and Coffee" height="427" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4375358578_cd90eb048d.jpg" width="500" /></a>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473252529751496887.post-2375397894162800672011-07-28T16:48:00.000-07:002011-07-28T16:48:29.250-07:00Five tips to make a better cup of coffee at homeBefore I teach a group about coffee I generally ask them what they would like to learn. Some are interested in history, and others are interested in the science, while still more would like to learn more about how coffee is grown. One thing has always been of interest to every group I have ever taught.<br />
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</div><div><b>People want to know how to brew a good cup of coffee at home</b></div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div>There are dozens of methods people use to brew coffee at home and within each method there is almost an infinite number of possibilities to how you will make a great cup. Making coffee is like being invited onto a playground, there are lots of places to play and lots of ways to play once you get there, but their are also rules and boundaries that will help you feel more at home and have a lot of fun.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The following are 5 tips I have found help people make coffee better no matter how they like to brew it.</div><div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tip 1: Only Buy Enough Coffee For a Week or Two</span><br />
Coffee only stays fresh for about 2 weeks after you buy it. If you only go through a half a pound in that amount of time only buy a half a pound. I generally only buy enough to last me one week since I know that I will have to wait a few days after the coffee is roasted for the beans to be at their prime brewing time (coffee releases gasses after it's roasted, giving it a few days to rest can help you get a better cup too.) The best way to get coffee is from a roaster (like us) that way you know you are getting it fresh!<br />
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</div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Maxwell-House-French-Medium-33-Ounce/dp/B002C4BOHK?ie=UTF8&tag=orant-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"></a></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Intelligentsia-Coffee-Black-Regular-Whole/dp/B000NHSQNS?ie=UTF8&tag=orant-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank"><img alt="Intelligentsia Coffee Black Cat- Regular, Whole Bean Blend" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000NHSQNS&tag=orant-20" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial !important; border-width: initial !important;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=orant-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000NHSQNS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=orant-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002C4BOHK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">vs</span></b><a href="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002C4BOHK&tag=orant-20" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Maxwell House French Roast (Medium Dark) Ground Coffee, 33-Ounce Jugs (Pack of 2)" border="0" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002C4BOHK&tag=orant-20" style="cursor: move;" /></a><br />
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</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tip 2: Get a Burr Grinder</span></div><div>If you want the best cup of coffee at home the first step i recommend it to buy a good burr grinder. Grinding your coffee before you brew it will help your coffee stay fresh longer then getting it pre-ground. Unlike a blade grinder, a burr grinder grinds coffee at a uniform grind, which means you will have a more even extraction and a better balanced cup of coffee.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Virtuoso-Coffee-Grinder-585/dp/B000EG70IK?ie=UTF8&tag=orant-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Baratza Virtuoso Coffee Grinder - Baratza 585" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000EG70IK&tag=orant-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=orant-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000EG70IK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">VS</span> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Bistro-Electric-Blade-Grinder/dp/B0043073WQ?ie=UTF8&tag=orant-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Bodum Bistro Electric Blade Grinder, Black" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0043073WQ&tag=orant-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=orant-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0043073WQ" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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There are many on the market. I would personally recommend the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Virtuoso-Coffee-Grinder-585/dp/B000EG70IK?ie=UTF8&tag=orant-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Baratza Virtuoso Coffee Grinder - Baratza 585</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=orant-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000EG70IK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Baratza-285-Maestro-Conical-Grinder/dp/B0000DDVS2?ie=UTF8&tag=orant-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Baratza G 285 Maestro Conical Burr Grinder</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=orant-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0000DDVS2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> is also good and about half the price. If you really want to make a larger investment the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Baratza-885-Espresso-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B0027DVMDC?ie=UTF8&tag=orant-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Baratza 885 Vario Espresso Coffee Grinder</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=orant-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0027DVMDC" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> can do a great job with drip as well as espresso. If you want a cheaper option or something that's good for travel check out the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hario-MSS-1B-Mini-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B001804CLY?ie=UTF8&tag=orant-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hario MSS-1B Mini Mill Slim Coffee Grinder</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=orant-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001804CLY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> or the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Coffee-Hand-Grinder-Skerton/dp/B001802PIQ?ie=UTF8&tag=orant-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hario Coffee Hand Grinder Skerton</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=orant-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001802PIQ" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />. Don't bother with cheap electric models like the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-BVMC-BMH23-Automatic-Grinder/dp/B004T6EJS0?ie=UTF8&tag=orant-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Mr. Coffee BVMC-BMH23 </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=orant-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004T6EJS0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />they have cheap burrs that don't do a much better job then a blade grinder.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tip 3: Store Your Coffee Somewhere Dark, Dry and at Room Temperature</span><br />
Your<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span>coffee has enimies: light, oxogen, and moisture. This unholy-trinity of forces will breakdown your beans and give them an unpleasant flavor. The best way to avoid this is to store them in an airtight container away from sunlight. DO NOT store your coffee in the fridge. Since coffee absorbs the flavors around it you will find that your coffee with have flavors of last nights dinner in it, and you probably don't want that. I use a porcelain container with a rubber seal which I keep on my counter. Don't use the bag the coffee came in. Those bags generally are not air tight after you open them.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Exceptional-Designs-Coffee-Canister-%2528ED150%2529/dp/B000KEMYVO?ie=UTF8&tag=orant-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Exceptional Designs Bean Vac Coffee Canister (ED150)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000KEMYVO&tag=orant-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=orant-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000KEMYVO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">vs</span> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lavazza-Super-Espresso-Coffee-2-2-Pound/dp/B000SDKDM4?ie=UTF8&tag=orant-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Lavazza Super Crema Espresso Whole Bean Coffee, 2.2-Pound Bag" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000SDKDM4&tag=orant-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=orant-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000SDKDM4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tip 4: Use a Gram Scale</span><br />
Weigh out how much coffee you are using and how much water you are using. Weight is much more accurate then volume when it comes to coffee. Instead of eyeballing your water or your coffee scoop get a gram scale and make sure you are using the right amount of coffee and the right amount of water. For every 1 gram of coffee I use I use 16-17 grams of water. This ratio works in almost every brewing method for a "drip" style of coffee. A gram scale is a great investment to make. I believe every kitchen should have one. I use mine for all my cooking.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Escali-P115C-Digital-Multifunctional-Chrome/dp/B0007GAWRS?ie=UTF8&tag=orant-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Escali P115C Primo Digital Multifunctional Food Scale, Chrome" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0007GAWRS&tag=orant-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=orant-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0007GAWRS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">vs</span> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pyrex-Prepware-2-Cup-Measuring-Measurements/dp/B0002ITQHS?ie=UTF8&tag=orant-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Pyrex Prepware 2-Cup Measuring Cup, Clear with Red Measurements" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0002ITQHS&tag=orant-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=orant-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002ITQHS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tip 5: Record What You Do</span><br />
Keeping a coffee log is a great way to help you hone in on what you like and don't like. Buy a notebook and keep track of what you are doing with your coffee. Keep track of where the coffee is grown, where it's roasted, how it's processed, what kind of plants they used, and when you tried it. You can also keep a record of how fine you ground your coffee, how long the brew process took and what flavor notes you tasted when you drank the coffee. The more you record the more you will be able to see patterns in what you like, and the more you will be able to remember what you've had. Keeping a journal of your coffee can help make coffee more then something you drink, but something you treasure.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moleskine-Ruled-Notebook-Large/dp/8883701127?ie=UTF8&tag=orant-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Moleskine Ruled Notebook Large" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=8883701127&tag=orant-20" /></a></div><div><b><br />
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</b></div>Billy Kangashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604198086150699972noreply@blogger.com1