“In a market so closely tied to the “C price”, the solution is for the farmers to spend less and produce more.” -Molly Laverty, Sustainability Manager – Farmer Brothers Coffee After scooping my jaw off the floor, I paused to give what Ms Laverty said consideration. Its easy to have a knee jerk reaction. Rather than […]
Medellin And there is better coffee in them thar hills than I knew I’m always wide eyed and a little too interested in every place I go. Its a habit, whether good or bad. I fall in love too easily, over and over again. On this particular trip Bogota was a too much for my […]
Catherine Murphy Mwangata, like many of the ladies present at the International Women’s Coffee Alliance conference, doesn’t mince words “It seems to me there is an awful lot being done to hold farmers accountable for sustainability but there’s a whole other question when it comes around to the other side of the table” Her thick Irish […]
What is the IWCA and what do they do? This week I will have the great honor of learning much more about that, and about how to promote prosperity and equality, as I head off to Bogota Colombia to attend the 2015 International Women’s Coffee Alliance event, which will occur alongside Expoespeciales. I might even […]
“This is the mother tree!” Gustav Villa, the enthusiastic farmer was pointing at a particularly tall and lovely coffee tree up the slope from a winding path along side semi-separated sections of the coffee farm. We had just walked past a section of the farm that held the shorter Caturra variety. The Mother stood out, […]
“I do these trade missions all the time, but this one is different” Ricardo Romero, Director of the Trade Commision of Peru is a slender, spectacle wearing man with a demeanor that at first appears reserved and studious, but eventually his strong opinions and genuine character slip out. He is what some young men might […]
YES I know the video I imbedded was from last years competition. Cut me some slack, I used 2014 segment because it shows the vibe so well! I had the great opportunity to attend the annual SCAA expo in Seattle this year repping Swell Coffees. As you might expect, it was fabulous. Amazing. I don’t […]
I am SO darned lucky! I am that creepy old lady with the phone camera paying way to much attention to your work, Barista, and I love it. I have been involved in and watched the coffee industry and coffee culture for many years, and truly enjoy it. I like to watch the culture grow […]
In a market where the sky is the limit, are constraints the answer to ongoing success? Think about it in the context of beer San Diego is blessed with an unfair number of Craft Breweries. We are in the happy position of being able to compare not just quality but also style choices. How amazing […]
At 2911 El Cajon Blvd, Coffee and Tea Collective is another North Park project that serves an exceptional product. The whole area is getting richer and richer in local crafts people actively shaping the character of the city. At Coffee and Tea Collective in North Park San Diego there are just a few simple chairs, in […]