Category Archives: Coffee

Real People, Really Good Coffee: Wild Goose Coffee

If one word could describe the mission of Wild Goose Coffee Roasters’ Nathan Westwick & Joe Capraro it would be community. This amazing duo has not only set the bar high with quality coffee, but have made their business into a vital part of the Redlands, California community.

From a humble start in 2008 at local farmers market, Wild Goose now sells thousands of pounds of fresh roasted coffee, and with each sale, food is donated to local food banks and charities.

Nathan Westwick generously offered to allow us an interview. Continue reading Real People, Really Good Coffee: Wild Goose Coffee

Real People, Really Good Coffee March 2016 Update

The Curibamba Coffee Project

We will be promoting Curibamba at the Specialty Coffee Association of America conference where we are exhibiting this April. (Photos!) Curibamba is being sold and enjoyed mainly in the southwest states of Colorado, California, Arizona, Nevada, & New Mexico, but also as far east as Ohio, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.

The first of the Curibamba workshops for the growers will be in late April. After these meetings, we’ll have a better idea what’s happening for this year in regards to what we can do at a A Little Further South to continue the work for the overall community.

This year it appears that we’re going to see an abundant crop, and a return closer to production levels not seen since the coffee rust outbreak in 2012. Recently, we’ve heard news that Brazils production will be lower this year, and perhaps prices will rise from multi-year lows. We’re anxiously watching world markets for some guidance. Continue reading Real People, Really Good Coffee March 2016 Update

Peru: Coffee Production Looks Strong for 2016

We’re hearing anecdotally that Peru’s coffee production is going to be strong this year, maybe even returning to levels not seen since 2011 before the dreaded coffee rust came.

It’s not just coffee though, other export crops are fairing well in Peru:

 

Peru to double its exports by 2021

According to the Exporters Association (Adex), despite the stagnation experienced in 2015, Peruvian agricultural exporters expect to double exports to USD $10 billion dollars in 2021.

The union’s goal for 2016 is to surpass the USD $6 billion dollars in exports, thus overcoming the USD $5.093 billion dollars and 0.06 percent drop over 2014 achieved in 2015.

According to data from Adex, 85 percent of the non-traditional agricultural exports abroad are of fresh grapes, coffee, asparagus, avocado, quinoa, fresh mangoes, organic bananas, and paprika.

Worldwide, Peru is the number one exporter of asparagus (fresh, frozen and canned), quinoa, and maca; the second biggest exporter of asparagus and artichokes; the third biggest exporter of organic bananas and dried paprika, and the fourth largest exporter of table grapes and paprika powder.” Continue reading Peru: Coffee Production Looks Strong for 2016

A Little Further South Commits to Sustainable Coffee Challenge

A Little Further South Coffee is committed to a sustainable coffee chain. We’re now involved in the Sustainable Coffee Challenge which seeks to make the coffee the first sustainable crop. It’s a big effort and is supported by many in the industry.

Since we work directly with farmers via coffee purchases, and also through the Curibamba Coffee Project, this is a natural fit for us.

Here’s a link to an article about the Challenge:

Unveiled last December during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Sustainable Coffee Challenge has a stated goal of making coffee the world’s first sustainable agricultural product.

Source: The Sustainable Coffee Challenge Roadmap: What is It? | Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine

Through our work with the only Biodynamic certified farm in Peru, Chacra D’dago, we’ve seen the amazing difference that a biodiverse, self sustaining environment can make with food production & of course, coffee.

A biodynamic farm is self contained, using their own fertilizers in a fertile “loop” that is not only sustainable, but coupled with rare plants and microbes, provides trace elements that are not often present in traditional farms.

What’s exciting about the challenge is the aspect of economic viability as part of the sustainable goal for coffee. While markets may go up and down, costs remain fixed & for their long term viability, every farmer needs to be a recognized part of the overall supply chain.

Every consumer, whether they be coffee aficiando, roaster, or importer can help by searching for ethically sourced, environmentally friendy coffees.

It’s a new endeavor, and many questions lead to yet more questions. The enormity & the possiblility of the impact that it could have is both daunting and inspiring. As we move ahead with this effort, we’ll keep you posted…

Coffee Tree Villa Rica, Peru

Yet Another 1912 Coffee Cappuccino Art Throwdown for AZ

1912 Coffee is hosting yet another Cappuccino Art Throwdown at Altitude Coffee lab. Here’s the details:

1912 Coffee Cappuccino Art Throwdown at Altitude

1912 Coffee Cappuccino Art Throwdown at Altitude

Saturday March 26th6 p.m. – 10 p.m. ( One Day Only )

Jonathan Carroll info@nineteentwelvecoffee.com (480) 699-8070

We’ll be throwin’ our 3rd cappuccino art throwdown at Altitude Coffee Lab on Saturday, March 26th from 6-10pm.

Barista registration starts at 6pm and ends at 7pm. $5 entry fee due at the time of sign-up or if you’d like to sign-up early online, fill out the information below.

The fee online is $5.50. As we get sign-ups, we’ll have a courtesy non-competitive round from 6:45-7:15 pm., so you can get acquainted with the espresso machine, pulling shots, using the steam wand, etc.

Source: 1912 Coffee Cappuccino Art Throwdown at Altitude

Ethiopia to Hold World Coffee Conference

Ethiopia will hold the World Coffee Conference this March 6-11. Via the Global Coffee Report:

 

The International Coffee Organization (ICO) is hosting the 116th International Coffee Council in conjunction with the 4th World Coffee Conference (WCC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 6 –11 March.

Held every four to five years, the 2016 WCC is being held at the United Nations Conference Centre, under the theme Nurturing Coffee Culture and Diversity.

The event includes a three-day exhibition from 7 – 9 March, the WCC from 6 – 8 March and the International Coffee Council (ICC) meeting from 9 – 11 March.

The ICC, which meets twice a year to examine issues relating to the coffee trade, will resume discussions from its previous meeting in Italy last September.

The 4th World Coffee Conference (WCC) will see panel discussions from local and international industry professionals on a range of topics concerning the coffee industry.

Executive Director at World Coffee Research, Dr Tim Shilling will join three esteemed academics to review the latest developments in research and the role new technologies will play in improving production.

The First Lady of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Roman Tesfaye will join a panel to offer her perspective on how gender equality can be obtained in the coffee industry.

Senior Economist, Agricultural Global Practice, World Bank, Roy Parizat will moderate a discussion examining the major market forces, and the impact of high volatility for coffee farmers.

WCC delegates will be introduced to the ICO’s latest project with USAID on Climate Smart Coffee, and have the opportunity to hear the latest on the ICO’s coffee and climate initiative. Launched in 2010 by key players in the private, development and research sectors, the coffee and climate program aims to address key challenges posed by changing climatic conditions.

The 4th WCC will draw to a close with a Gala Dinner at the Hilton Hotel. The first three conferences have taken place in London in 2001, Brazil in 2005 and Guatemala in 2010.

Ethiopia is Africa’s largest exporter and the fifth largest of Arabica in the world. Over 5 million Ethiopians make their living from its more than 6000 distinct coffee varieties.

1912 Coffee Hosts Another Cappuccino Art Throwdown

The Roastery of Cave Creek will be hosting a cappuccino art throwdown soon:

Saturday February 27th

( One Day Only )

For info contact:

Jonathan Carroll info@nineteentwelvecoffee.com 480-699-8070

We’ll be throwin’ our 2nd cappuccino art throwdown at The Roastery of Cave Creek (Roc2) on Saturday, February 27th from 6-10pm.

Barista registration starts at 6pm and ends at 7pm. $5 entry fee due at the time of sign-up.

As we get sign-ups, we’ll have a courtesy non-competitive round from 6:45-7:15pm so you can get acquainted with the espresso machine, pulling shots, using the steam wand, etc.

A Link to the sponsors 1912 Coffee Website is here.

Coffee Links Roundup 2/16

I sign up for email lists all over the coffee world, and also try to spot other articles when I can. To me, it’s always useful to know what others are doing, particularly in the realm of ethical sourcing for coffee. Here’s a few links of interest that I’ve come across recently. Enjoy!

Roast Magazine:

From Oaxaca to Oakland, Proyecto Diaz Offers the Promise of Progress

Young Roastery Makes Clutch Donation to Portland’s Transitioning Homeless

Two Hands Coffee in Austin Gives Farmers a Leg Up

 

CoffeeTalk:

What the Future for Coffee Could Be

 

CoffeeLands Blog:

Policy influence as a pathway to impact

 

Sprudge:

The 2016 World Aeropress Championship is popping off

 

Perfect Daily Grind:

Diversification in Specialty Coffee Farming: The Agricultural & Economic Case

 

CoffeeCon 2016 Los Angeles Delights

CoffeeCon, the coffee consumer festival was held this past weekend in LA’s Reef near the LA Convention Center. It was well attended, and featured the best of local roasters and baristas, and a variety of vendors ranging from Aeropress to even California grown coffee trees for that conversational piece in your home.

An extensive list of classes and presentations made for a tremendous informational opportunity. Whether learning about home roasting, or which grind is best for your coffee brewing method, there was something for every coffee lover.

For coffee aficianados, there were classes on tasting, and a variety of vendors for sampling coffees from all over the globe featuring the best of local roasters.

For home roasters, Joe Behm maker of the Behmor home roaster hosted a standing room omly class on home roasting. This popular topic is sweeping the country as more and more consumers discover the joy & freshness of home roast.

Joe shared some recent experiences in Guatamala, and answered a wide variety of questions from a very appreciative audience.

It was a fun filled day of making new acquaintances, learning about all the latest developments in coffee technology, and inspirational stories connecting the coffee to the real lives of coffee farmers.

Here’s a photo tour: Continue reading CoffeeCon 2016 Los Angeles Delights