A New Craft Era: Parallels, Perils, and Possibilities
By Christopher Schooley, Coffee Roaster, Coffee Shrub I currently live in the middle of America in a fairly small college town, however, I used to live in another town in the middle of America, albeit a much larger one. In that larger town there was a rich history of service and independent businesses that made …
The Gestalt of Gratuities… The Context of Tips… The Background on Bakshish…
By Tim Castle, Author & President of Castle & Co. Supposedly, the term “TIP” first came into use shortly after the founding of London’s Lloyd’s Coffeehouse in 1688. Perhaps apocryphally, the word is said to have been an acronym signifying “To Insure Promptness”, and may have even come into use first at Lloyd’s. It is …
(Specialty) Coffee and Our Health
By Emma Sage, Coffee Science Manager, Specialty Coffee Association of America We have been hearing a lot of chatter lately in the popular media about the health effects of coffee. Generally, it is great to have some media coverage, especially when the stories are favorable towards coffee. But why do we drink specialty coffee? We …
Adaptation: A Brief Look At Changes In Specialty Wholesale Roasting
By Steven Lee, Director of Coffee Quality and Education, Groundwork Coffee Not too long ago, the world of coffee was simpler. Coffee was coffee back then. It came served in nondescript cups. It came from one of those little glass pots that sat on a hotplate for hours, or it came out of an urn. It …
With Age Comes Wisdom: Smart Growth in Today’s Economy
By Mary Allen Lindemann, Co-Founder, Coffee by Design Of course your business is doing well. Everyone needs coffee. We hear it from customers every day as they enter our bustling coffeehouses. Although it is true that specialty coffeehouse sales have outperformed overall US foodservice operations (according to the most recent SCAA Quarterly Sector Report, specialty …
Over the Counter: The History and Future of the Barista-Customer Relationship
This article was written as a collaboration between long-time baristas and coffee professionals Lorenzo Perkins and Michael Harwood. This informal interview covers their views of where we are in coffee retail history, perceptions of a barista, identifying and tackling challenges that exist for baristas in connecting with consumers and promoting specialty coffee, as well as …
The New Consumer
By Marcus Young, Community Outreach and Customer Coordinator, Batdorf & Bronson Coffee consumers are increasingly aware of specialty coffee. At the same time the specialty coffee industry is constantly evolving. Roasters offer Cup of Excellence coffees, micro-lots of different cultivars, and focus on seasonal and limited offerings. Specialty coffee retail is progressing with advancements in espresso equipment, …
Intentional Design
By Michael Phillips, Co-Founder, Handsome Coffee Roasters Over the past year, I have become a member of a very interesting new group, consisting of people so enamored with coffee that they threw caution to the wind and opened a retail location. I have never opened a coffee bar, but I do have years of experience …
90+ Profiles: Getting to Know Lindsey Bolger
Who are you and what do you do in coffee? I’m Lindsey Bolger, Senior Director of coffee for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters–Specialty Coffee Business Unit. I enjoy my role because of its broad scope, including leading green coffee sourcing, relationship management and purchasing activities, leading green and roasted coffee sensory quality, partnering with our marketing …
Portfolio | Issue No. 4 | Cool Idea
Toddy’s exclusive cold-water brewing process extracts the natural, delicious flavors of coffee and tea – ideal for iced and frozen drinks. The result: A bold, super-smooth taste that’s easier on the stomach. Toddy brewed coffee offers a rich, smooth flavor and a full bodied mouth-feel without the bitterness that can harshly overpower iced drinks. Toddy …
Portfolio | Issue No. 4 | People
Just over four years ago, the inimitable Tracy Ging started working with the Specialty Coffee Association of America as Director of Marketing, quickly moving in to the role of Deputy Executive Director. During Tracy’s years as part of the SCAA team, the organization saw vast improvements in many areas. One of the most notable of …
Portfolio | Issue No. 4 | Shop
Choice Organic Teas made its debut in 1989 as the first exclusively organic tea company in the United States. As North America’s #1 selling organic tea line, Choice Organic Teas has promoted the growth and development of organic agriculture in tea estates worldwide and offers more than seventy-five varieties of teas and herbal infusions available …