Specialty Coffee Retailer articles from June 2004

Specialty Coffee Retailer archives from June 2004

The state of things.(Editor's Note)
June 1, 2004... Now that we've just about made it to the other side of a packed trade show season (two Coffee Fests, the SCAA show, Fancy Food Show and National Restaurant Association show), there's finally time to reflect on the information that has bombarded...

Thanksgiving helps rebuild Rwanda.(Brew News)
June 1, 2004... Thanksgiving Coffee Company, Mendocino Coast, Calif, has entered into a special licensing agreement with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. Thanksgiving has agreed to donate 20 percent of the retail sale price from its Fair Trade...

Our apologies.(Brew News)
June 1, 2004... In the April 2004 Roaster Resource Guide, the listing for The Kaffeeklatsch, Inc., was incorrect. The correct spelling is The Kaffeeklatsch, Inc., and the Web site is www.kaffeeklatsch.com. The company's minimum order for shipping is 1 lb. for...

Take Me 2 Tea finds success in Vegas.(Brew News)
June 1, 2004... Take Me 2 Tea struck gold in Las Vegas, March 18-30, when the tea show's attendance nearly doubled from the previous show's numbers. More than 2,100 people attended the tea industry expo and there were 134 exhibitors. The show also featured...

Serna named Champion by USBC.(Brew News)
June 1, 2004... The United States Barista Championship crowned Bronwen Serna of Hines Public Market Coffee in Seattle as the new United States Barista Champion at the SCAA show in Atlanta in April. Serna will continue on to compete in the Barista World...

A little coffee music.(Brew News)
June 1, 2004... A great cup of coffee can be a pick me up, an indulgence, a complement to a food and... a muse. In 1734, Johann Sebastian Bach presented his latest cantata to a Leipzig coffeehouse; the name of the composition was Schweigt stille, plaudert...

Nicaragua's best.(Brew News)
June 1, 2004... On April 14-22, a total of 497 Nicaraguan coffee samples were evaluated for the country's third countrywide "Cup of Excellence[R]" competition. "Cup of Excellence[R]" is judged by national and international coffee experts and is held in order...

Brewing up north ...(Brew News)
June 1, 2004... Looking for a different coffee show to attend this year? Head up north to the Canadian Coffee & Tea Expo. This year, the show will take place at the Vancouver Convention a Exhibition Centre on June 11-12. The show will feature over 100...

... Brewing in the islands.(Brew News)
June 1, 2004... If you're looking to head somewhere a little exotic this year, why not attend a coffee show as an excuse? Head to the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival on Hawaii's Big Island. The 34th annual festival will take place November 5-14 and will feature...

Industry voice.
June 1, 2004... Q: SCAA is in the process of redesigning its entire look, including a new Web site, logo and newsletter. What inspired this change, and how do you see it affecting the Association? The creation of a "new look" for SCAA was the direct...

Icy hot: try one of these tasty recipes to heat up frozen drink sales this summer.(Cover Story)
June 1, 2004... Making frozen drinks or smoothies can be a bit like a science experiment. Start with a base, add a little of this, sprinkle in a little of that, mix it all together, and end up with something completely different than what you started with....

State of the industry report.
June 1, 2004... Following on the heels of what many participants said was the best SCAA Conference and Exhibition ever, the specialty coffee industry's leaders placed differing emphases on where they believe their industry is and where it's going. What all...

Green tea: a primer.
June 1, 2004... Green tea's intriguing, subtle flavors and undertones stand apart. And whether served hot, perhaps as a tea latte, or iced, as a smoothie, green tea drinks deliver documented health benefits, something that the public is increasingly aware of....

1. Sugar sticks in unique packaging.(Gift & Gourmet Accents)
June 1, 2004... Looking for another way to assert your brand identity in your coffeehouse? Passion for Portions, a new Pound Ridge, N.Y., affiliate of the European company PortionPack Europe, offers sugar sticks, an alternative to sugar packets. Sugar sticks,...

2. Freshen up naturally.(Gift & Gourmet Accents)
June 1, 2004... If a customer drinks organic coffee, what's the best way to freshen his or her breath after a morning cup? How about with a mint made with all-natural and organic ingredients! VerMints, made in Saxtons River, Vt., are all-natural breath mints...

3. Wear your love for coffee.(Gift & Gourmet Accents)
June 1, 2004... Coffee adds flavor and enrichment to our lives and now it can add something to your wardrobe. Java Designs LLC offers Java Jewels, a line of jewelry created using coffee beans, fine crystal, natural materials and metal beads. The results are...

4. Drinkworks! Tough guy mug.(Gift & Gourmet Accents)
June 1, 2004... For some coffee drinkers, a paper to-go cup just won't cut it--they need something a little more substantial. Drinkworks!, Newport Beach, Calif., has answered the call with Steele. The all stainless-steel, oversized drink mug can hold up to 24...

5. Low-carb gourmet chocolates.(Gift & Gourmet Accents)
June 1, 2004... Skinny truffles may sound like an oxymoron, but that's just the name of the new low-carb truffles from Seattle Chocolates. Each truffle contains only 0.3 to 0.5 grams of net carbs, making these chocolates an ideal indulgence for low-carb...

6. Frosty drinks by Da Vinci.(Gift & Gourmet Accents)
June 1, 2004... Da Vinci Gourmet already offers over 140 syrups and flavors and now the company has added a smoothie base that combines easily with any of these offerings. Frappease, which was launched at the SCAA show in Atlanta, is offered in both coffee and...

7. Sassy lemonade.(Gift & Gourmet Accents)
June 1, 2004... What says summer better than a cup of sunny yellow lemonade? Lulu's Sassy Lemonade can be served frozen, iced or even hot and is sure to please anyone craving a sweet and tangy treat. Based in Seattle and distributed by Aspen Sugar Company,...

8. Delicious Almond Shortbread.(Gift & Gourmet Accents)
June 1, 2004... Every once in a while you come across a pastry that is just simply delicious without being complicated. This is the case with Marie's Kitchen Classics' Almond Shortbread. This isn't your everyday dry shortbread biscuit; Marie's Almond...

9. No prep, antioxidant-rich iced tea.(Gift & Gourmet Accents)
June 1, 2004... Teaology[R], a new brand from Innovative Beverage Concepts, Inc., has taken all the prep work out of preparing iced tea. The tea, which is sold in pocket-sized sachets, is made from naturally decaffeinated Chinese standardized green tea...

10. Feel-good mugs.(Gift & Gourmet Accents)
June 1, 2004... Silvestri, the designers of award winning Max & Lucy[R]greeting cards, are taking their whimsical prints and making them into coffee mugs. The line includes 96 all-occasion mugs and a black wood display rack. Each Colorful mug features one...

11. Low maintenance "Fro Joe" from Peaberry.(Gift & Gourmet Accents)
June 1, 2004... "Fro Joe"... it rolls off the tongue easier than "triple grande, no whip, non-fat latte." At least that's what the folks at Peaberry Coffee, Inc., Denver, Colo., are hoping. The company is launching its first ad campaign in several years to...

12. Gourmet oils and vinegars.(Gift & Gourmet Accents)
June 1, 2004... As part of a family that has been involved with specialty food for over 100 years, John Spenger knows a thing or two about the industry. This experience has contributed to the success of John Spenger Foods' Bistro Blends line of flavored oils...

13. Low-carb, diet friendly cookies.(Gift & Gourmet Accents)
June 1, 2004... The people at Miss Meringue have come up with a way to make their fat-free and low-fat cookies even better for you. Now, the cookies come in sugar-free flavors with zero net carbs. Miss Meringue Sugar Free Meringue Cookies come in vanilla,...

14. Unique stamper for frequent buyer programs.(Gift & Gourmet Accents)
June 1, 2004... Use Stamper Stix[TM] from New Venture Group, LLC, to differentiate your frequent buyer cards or ceramic Coffee Coins[TM] from other coffee shop's frequent buyer programs. The four-inch long miniature ink stamper imprints a 3/16" mini-mug. The...

15. Share sweets with your sweetie.(Gift & Gourmet Accents)
June 1, 2004... The Sweetery, Anderson, S.C., has designed a coffeecake built for two. The company's Couple Cakes are baked to the perfect size to share with a friend or significant other. The round cakes come in three flavors, Cinnamon Coffee, laced with...

Picking to Perking: from tree to mug, it's all in the family.(Coffehouse Profile)
June 1, 2004... In specialty coffee, first comes the growing of the coffee, then the many-handed processing, exportation and finally the purchasing of the beans by the coffee-serving establishment. For Amy Lewellen-Contreras and Luis Armando Contreras, first...

The state of retail.(Regional Update)
June 1, 2004... Like any business, the success of a specialty coffee retail operation depends largely on location. Not surprisingly, then, the state of the industry for coffee retailers depends on where they are-not so much the region of the country, but the...