09.24
From the peddlers of the internet’s best coffee video comes another gem. This time, Coffee Circle has turned the production value up to 11, while dialing down the content to pure gear lust. No tutorial or deeper meaning beyond the simple message, “good coffee, good gear.” A sales pitch at its core, but pure art on the surface. It’s subtly themed for autumn and the year’s greatest holiday—Halloween. Brew a fresh cup and Enjoy.
Video by Florian Döring for Coffee Circle
05.03
United States Barista Championship
The last day of the SCAA Expo is also the culmination of the United States Barista Championship, where a new king was crowned by Mike Phillips, 2010 US Barista Champ and current World Champion. Pete Licata from Honolulu Coffee Company took the title and will represent the US at the World Barista Championship in Bogota, Colombia this June. Pete has won four regional titles, including two Midwest and two Southwest Championships, making him a fairly experienced veteran in the world of barista competitions. All of his hard-work has finally paid off, giving him and his impressive beard a shot at the world title. Congrats to Pete and good luck in June!
Mike Phillips about to announce the new US Barista Champion.
The top 3 competitors, Ryan Knapp (3rd), Nik Krankl (2nd) & Pete Licata (1st).
Ryan Knapp, who came in 3rd place from Madcap Coffee, getting his tamp on.
Ben Kaminsky, came in 6th place representing Ritual Coffee in the Brewers Cup and took home the USBC Cup Taster’s Award for the third year in a row.
12.04
I recently discovered the Keep Cup and found it’s unique departure from other reusable mugs refreshing. It was designed by a pair of cafe owners who realized the waste produced by disposable cups. While I don’t find the design outstanding(it looks bloated), it is fun. The cups come in standard sizes to be easily adopted and used by any cafe. The company also introduced customization into the ordering process, allowing you to choose various colors for each part and create your own personalized Keep Cup. While I don’t endorse plastic, the company discusses their considerations thoroughly in their website’s faq.
Design your own Keep Cup.
