Fall Fun Food and Drink Chapter Three - Ethiopia in my cup · Sunday September 20, 2009 by colin newell
It is said that single-origin coffee and direct trade relationships with importers can be the key to breaking cycles of poverty in a coffee-producing country like Ethiopia.
With programs like Cup of Excellence making inroads; getting a fair price for the folks that produce the raw materials and bypassing dozens if not hundreds of middlemen – a life of circuitous misery guaranteed…
…the World has actually become a better place for coffee farmers.
So what is happening with Ethiopia right now? And why, does it seem that the government is taking a step backwards?
Some history.
From Fortune magazine: To produce a pound of organic sun-dried coffee, farmers in the southern Ethiopian village of Fero spread six pounds of ripe, red coffee cherries onto pallets near their fields. They sun the fruit for 15 days, stirring every few minutes to ensure uniform dryness, then shuck the shells.
Last season, that pound of coffee fetched farmers an average price of $1.45. Figuring in the cost of generator fuel, bank interest, labor and transport across Ethiopia’s dusty roads, it netted them less than $1. In the U.S., however, that same pound of coffee commands a much higher price: $26 for a bag of Starbucks’ roasted Shirkina Sun-Dried Sidamo.
The price differential is evidence that Ethiopia has been unable to capitalize on its intellectual property, coffee.
So Ethiopia decided to trademark names like Yirgacheffe, Harrar and Sidamo.
But Starbucks beat them to it.
And remarkable or not, this raises a wild ride of questions about our “right” to a great cuppa and the farmers right to capitalize on their wonderful beans.
In the end, Ethiopia won and created an Ethiopia Coffee Exchange (ECX) – and at many levels getting a real bead on where your great coffee beans are coming from… well exactly… is somewhat muted.
Still, Ethiopia’s 12 million plus subsistence farmers should be able to rise above some of the Western imposed adversity. For Starbucks, their public relations disaster, pitting the coffee company, which had record revenue of $7.8 billion last year, up 22 percent over 2005, against one of the world’s poorest countries, is a tad tacky.
And as a lover of Misty Valley Ethiopian coffee (a bean we might not be seeing for a while…), I am equally guilty (OK not 7.8 Billion dollar guilty…) of contributing on some small level to the misery in Country…
Except that this great coffee was probably purchased during an online auction netting the farmers 10 times as much money as they would have had on the other inferior schemes.
Coffee has always been a roller coaster – and Ethiopia is a great example of how great things can come to an awesome, proud and hardworking people… if we can all just figure this thing out.
Coming up, a review of a “pooled” Ethiopian coffee – a truly great one… From Transcend Coffee in Edmonton, Canada.
Fall Fun 2009 Crazy Creative Writing Action - win a coffee maker · Monday September 14, 2009 by colin newell
Ok. I have brand new Technivorm thermal carafe drip brewer – arguably one of the best drip brewers on the Planet…
Up for grabs.
And all you need to do is write a story (including a digital picture or two…)
or send an audio MP3 – not to exceed 15 minutes in length.
About… a poignant aha moment in your life… that can have a coffee connection… or not. It can be about life, food, drink, or travel.
Our panel of judges are looking for an emotional bang or a solid belly laugh… or both.
Life is full of ups and downs – grand moments and bad moments.
And your power to win this will pivot on your ability to:
a.) Win reader votes and
b.) Influence our panel of cynical and jaded judges.
c.) Being a resident of CANADA
Word count: 475 to 575 words.
Important Voting rule – Voters will be encouraged to read all the stories and vote for 3! Voters need to give at least a sentence of energy towards each of the 3 choices.
RULES:
a.) No obvious use of Facebook and Twitter will be permitted (disqualification if detected) — sure, by all means be creative… but be sure to instruct your fan club to be just a little bit more creative than “I VOTE FOR STORY #17!”
-SEE Very important VOTING rule above.
b.) Multiple votes from single network or IP addresses will not be tolerated – and I do not care how many people in your office are going to be rooting for you – be creative and get them to vote when they go home!
c.) Encourage your supporters to actually read some of the stories. And then vote for your 3 favorite stories citing reasons why.
d.) Canadian residents only for this one folks! I do not know who carries the TECHNIVORM in the U.S. – this is a Dutch made coffee maker that is CSA Approved – not necessarily for the U.S. Market – importation could be a nightmare.
Abuse of any of the rules can result in immediate disqualification.
CONTEST COMMENCES RIGHT NOW! September 14, 2009 and the writing portion ends at 5PM Pacific Standard Time on the 30th of September, 2009. Voting and judgment will begin on October 1, 2009.
Send your entries – Titled BREWER CONTEST ENTRY to my e-mail
Make me proud people! and good luck everyone!
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Fall Fun Food and Drink Chapter One - DISCO open on Oak Bay Avenue · Thursday September 3, 2009 by colin newell
Stopped in at 8:20AM for a killer espresso made by Logan at the new Oak Bay Avenue Discovery Coffee –
Click on any photo for the super view.
Arguably the most anticipated coffee shop opening of the year.
Photo at left: Logan does the Misty Valley from Ethiopia on the Siphon Bar – Saturday morning – September 5, 2009 at 11 AM.
More photos here
Photo below – inside view of the new Discovery Coffee – Oak Bay and Amphion – this is, for me, a welcome oasis of great Coffee at the Oak Bay border – three cheers for the Grays, Riopka’s and their crew!
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Coffee for August 31 2009 Rocket Fuel Esmeralda · Monday August 31, 2009 by colin newell
What: Caballeriza (Kah-ba-yeh-ree-sah)
Where: Region: Jaramillo
How Altitude: 1,500M
Taste: Wild strawberries, intense licorice, blueberries and red currant in
the cup, this is an intensely aromatic coffee, coming from one of the
new production areas in Jaramillo.
Extras: Los Mario: Carnaval, San José and Pascua
Region: Jaramillo
Altitude: 1,500-1,650M
Our traditional, award winning Esmeralda Special comes from the area
known as Mario. This year, north and south of the creek are not
separated, and the coffee is grouped by harvest dates.
Notes from Cigar smoking coffee diva Lisa Rotenberg of RocketFuel Coffee.Com Toronto, Canada.
Thanks for the samples. We were blown away. If you love coffee and plan on tasting everything you can, Panama Esmeralda La Hacienda is a must-drink cup o java!
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Fall Colors Canadian Style 2009 WBC Regionals Victoria results · Monday August 31, 2009 by colin newell
Results from Da Vinci center on Bay Street in Victoria B.C. Canada
1. Kyle Straw from Cafe Artigiano Vancouver 628 pts
2. Spencer V from JJ Bean Vancouver 624 pts
3. Derek Lucas from Buon Amicis Victoria 608.5 pts
4. Rob Kettner from Fernwood Victoria 599 pts
5. Ian from Habitat 474.5 pts
6. John Orn 465 pts
Seen in passing: Reg Barber with a mile wide smile, Logan Gray, John Riopka, Geir and Carsen Oglend, Sam Jones of 2% Jazz, Andrew Khoo of Khona Coffee, Curtis of Sounds Like Coffee, Paul Reimer of Disco, Sammy Piccolo at all times and in all places, Rob Kettner competing and kicking ass, Derek Lucas making the Victoria crew proud, Ken Gordon of Street Level looking as ultra-cool as anyone can, The ever friendly Oughtreds, inventor of the London Fog – Garreth of Canterbury Coffee, Mickey McLeod of Salt Spring Island Coffee, David Evans of The Stick looking taller still, Shane of HABIT looking slightly less tired than yesterday, Tristan Mapstone of DRUMROASTER being real, Mark Engels of Bubbyroses Bakery, Mark Prince with cameras around his neck, Ryan and Christie Taylor of Cafe Fantastico, my dear wife with a good book in her hand, Gina Lucas glowing with pride, and so on and so on…
More as I remember.
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