Archives for August 2008

Organic Ethiopian coffees are rare in the specialty coffee industry. [Read more…] about Organic Ethiopia Sidamo is Now Available

After two days of intense training [Read more…] about Tazza D’Oro Crowns a Champion!

How lucky are we? Two weeks ago I was at Batdorf and Bronson in Olympia, WA. witnessing the first roasting of our micro-lot of the Panama Esmeralda and tonight Oliver, from Batdorf and Bronson, is in Pittsburgh to conduct our next level of training for the baristas at Tazza D’Oro. All of the trainings we have received from Oliver and the other folks at B&B have been amazing but I am really excited about this one. Over the next couple of days Oliver and I will work with each barista behind the bar as they prepare all the coffee drinks during business hours – this is the tweaking and polishing of all that we do. We have a couple of new employees who will receive their barista certification and then we move on for the big fun.

The Tazza D’Oro baristas will spend most of the day on Wednesday learning about the chemistry and physics behind making exceptional espresso. The goal is to provide all the current info available, build on previous trainings and introduce new skills necessary for our staff to better incorporate their knowledge and technique into the craft of making great coffee. No robots here folks!!!

Tuesday, 8/19, hours: 7 am to 7 pm and Wednesday, 8/20, 7 am to 2 pm and back to normal hours on Thursday.

Oliver, all I’m saying is no espresso hangovers this time. The last time Oliver was here in Oct 2007 we certified all of the Tazza D’Oro baristas. The certification took about 10 hours and Oliver and I tasted well over 100 espresso drinks. I’m not kidding about the espresso hangover either.

On Monday, August 11th at 10:30 am, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Councilman Patrick Dowd along with an impressive group of other policy makers and implementers will be holding a press conference at Tazza D’Oro to announce the City’s plan for a progressive [Read more…] about UPDATED: Mayor Ravenstahl and Councilman Dowd Holding Press Conference at Tazza D’Oro

Our first batch of Panama Esmeralda was roasted today and lucky me had the chance to witness the whole roasting process at the Batdorf and Bronson Roastery in Olympia, WA. That is Scott Merle letting me take the 1st sniff of the green coffee minutes after is was loaded into the roaster.

This is the 1st batch of the roasted Panama being dumped into the cooling tray and – a Cup of Gold!

See more pictures – click here.

I will be posting more info later about the day and buying the Esmeralda at Tazza D’Oro beginning Thursday, Aug 7th- gotta go.

This is Mt Rainier peaking through the clouds at 25,000 ft and the plane was probably 100 miles away from the mountain! Couldn’t help but share this view it happens to be one of my favorites. I usually try to plan my seating on the side of the plane that I get to see Mt Rainier. Today I was really lucky, I had to change planes in Phoenix and the ride up to the Northwest gave us great views of Mt Shasta, Mt Hood, Mt Baker and Mt Rainier. What is even more amazing is that we could see all 4 mountains at once – Whoa moment! Once I landed at Sea-Tac the clouds took over and the view was gone.

The weather is awesome – 70 degrees, sunny with some clouds, the sea gulls are busy, the air smells of cedar and evergreen, the flowers are all in bloom and the emerald green of the Northwest provides an amazing background for the blue water, the colors of the wild flowers and the snow on the mountains.

After a few great shots of espresso from Batdorf and Bronson’s Dancing Goats Bar at the Market and their Coffee House on Capital and then another shot of espresso at Cafe Vita I set out to find myself a bike.

The guys at the Bike Stand were great. The bike is a tad small but a few more adjustments with the seat post and saddle will do it. I spent most of the evening riding around Oly.

I road out East Bay Road to Priest Point Park ( the view of the Bay is awesome) did some of the trails and then continued on East Bay to Boston Harbor Road. I had a hard time getting off my bike but I was exhausted after traveling all day. Ok, let’s review- Mt Rainier, excellent coffee and getting to hang out at 3 different espresso bars, the sights and smells of the Northwest all on a bike – Yes,Yes, Yes, I’m bringing home the Panama Esmeralda!