You had to know it was coming, it was just a matter of when. In case you haven’t heard, Starbuck’s has released an instant version of their coffee. I know that I was a little skeptical, but it really does taste like a fresh brewed cup of coffee from a Starbuck’s store. I’m in the Army right now and our coffee from the mess hall is, well, bad. My wife sent me some of the VIA and I’ve made it several times. It’s really good. Anywhere you can get hot water(or cold, depending on your tastes) you can make a cup of Starbuck’c coffee. I’m not always a fan of the big corporate coffee houses, but they definitely have a winner with this. Unfortunately, it’s not available everywhere. Looks like from their site, it’s only available in stores in Chicago, Seattle and London. It is available online however, which I guess makes it available just about anywhere. Good job Starbucks.
Colombia has a lot going against it. Massive drug cartels, rampant violent, poverty, etc. It’s one shining light of goodness is it’s coffee trade — and nothing personifies that trade like Juan Valdez.
Everyone knows him, we grew up on his commercials felt a kinship with him, his donkey and his sack of coffee beans. In Colombia he is an icon, and when that icon is messed with, Columbia’s claws come out.
Mike Peter’s has found himself on the receiving end of a lawsuit over his cartoon (above) that lampoons good old Juan Valdez. According to a report from the Associated Press:
The Colombian Coffee Growers Federation says it will sue “Mother Goose & Grimm” cartoonist Mike Peters “for damage and harm, detriment to intellectual property and defamation.”
Damages which add up to heft $20 million dollars. Peters was quoted as saying:
Peters told the AP Wednesday he loves Colombian coffee and did not intend any offense.
All I have to say is “Yikes!” and I’d like to point out how much we love Juan Valdez.
Tags: Cartoonist, Columbia, Juan Valdez, Lawsuit, Mother Goose & Grim
Coffee shops by and by tend to gel into a few usual themes. Some look to be artsy, some folksy, cozy, hip, young, urban, etc. etc. etc. All of which is fine, I mean who doesn’t enjoy those themes, they bring a fun casual feel to things and there is nothing better than drinking a fine cup of Joe in any of its many iterations in a nice big leather chair.
But one coffee house has decided to go another route, an eye opening route that will shake away the sleep from your eyes better than any double espresso — Topless coffee shop waitresses.
Yes, topless. These brave young ladies who will risk scalding hot coffee burns and the inevitable snickers that will arise from asking their patrons if they want cream with their coffee should not be vilified, but rather applauded for their courage to expand upon the arts in a way not done before in the U.S. of A.
As the Vassalboro Maine Planning Board considered this permit request, a few things they might consider…
- Great resource for Art Students – With the declining economy many colleges are forced to cut back on the models they have available for life drawing, college art professors could have field expeditions to this shop and kill two birds with one stone.
- Better Environment for the Elderly – Reduction in clothing equals increase in heating. No longer will Grandpa be forced to shiver in a cold Starbucks.
- Its Green - Such a store would reduce the need for certain adult publications, it would encourage local shopping and reduce paper consumption. Bonus, bonus, bonus.
Whatever the result may be, I am fairly certain that the shop will not look like the place you see above, at least we can hope it won’t!
1/7/2009 Update - The permit has been approved.
Tags: art, cofee shop, elderly, environment, green, maine, nude, student, topless
If your office is like mine, you no doubt have had an buildup of coffee talk over the last few weeks concerning the election tomorrow. That is a good thing, and coffee is an excellent catalyst for discussion as we all know. To that end I just wanted to remind everyone to vote tomorrow.
Frankly, if you don’t vote — you have no right to complain when things are in the crapper. To that end, I just wanted to give everyone a link to an Election Protection website that has information about what is needed to vote in your state. Take a minute to look at this site, I’d hate to see anyone turned away who should be able to vote. See you at the polls!
Tags: election, presidential, vote
The Coffee Klatch list of awards is impressive and long, and this year they add another to their already long list of accomplishments — Roast Magazine’s 2009 Micro Roast Winner!
If you are in the mood to try some time tested award winning coffee, head on over to the Coffee Klatch online store!
Past Awards…
- TOPS AWARDS
(Given to only 35 coffee houses in the world) - GOLDEN CUP
(For excellence in coffee brewing) - BEST COFFEE AND COFFEE HOUSE
(Daily Bulletin) - SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
(IVEDC) - UNITED STATES BARISTA CHAMPION
(Heather Perry 2003, 2007)
Tags: award, coffee klatch, micro roast
It’s hard to believe that the Presidential election is just around the corner, at this point its at our doorstep. Tuesday, a day for history whichever way the vote ends up going.
During the latest Saturday Night Live, Starbucks did its best to tempt people get off their asses and vote on Tuesday with a simple message delivered in the soothing Starbucks colors:
“What if we all cared enough to vote?”
The better question is “Why don’t we all care enough to vote?” . Its something I have never understood, the apathy that so many people have for something so simple, yet so radically important. But that’s a question for another time.
The message ends with an offer —
“If you care enough to vote, we care enough to give you a free cup of coffee. You and Starbucks. It’s bigger than coffee.”
So there you have it, vote Tuesday and get some free drip coffee from Starbucks. As far as I can tell its an honor system, so I imagine some people will lie to just get some free coffee. But I imagine a certain percentage of people will go out and vote because of this offer of free coffee
Tags: free coffee, starbucks, vote
Slightly older news, but interesting no less. On October 14th Lavazza released to the world it’s 17th calendar. This years calendar features the art of famed photographer Annie Leibovitz. For those not familiar with Annie Leibovitz I highly encourage you to visit the wikipedia link, chances are you have seen her work and never known about it.
The seven photos shown below represent a theme of Italian style, the montage is meant to take the viewer on a journey through Italy and focuses on the unique culture and lifestyle that is Italy.
The style of Lavazza’s “Italian Expresso Experience” Calendar is unmistakably European, its sophisticated elegance easily meshes with the Lavazza image.
Lavazza coffee/espresso is slowly becoming more popular in the U.S., why I never had the opportunity to visit the Lavazza that was briefly opened in my area (closed, chewed up and regurgitated as a Starbucks), its coffee is quite good from what I have heard from friends.
Trying to find a link to a store that carried this calendar is providing difficult, if anyone is able to find one, please post a comment and include the link!
Tags: annie leibovitz, calendar, lavazza
The Valero Nice N Easy coffee and donut shop had an epidemic on their hands — Donuts were going missing, disappearing actually from under the manager’s noses. Even the strong police presence in the shop which they kept strong by comping their coffee did little to deter the theft.
It was then that the manager’s decided to undertake their own private sting operation. Through the use of high tech video surveillance hardware they managed to catch the crook on tape. As soon as the trap was set, the thief was caught on camera.
Shock and outrage were no doubt felt when they reviewed the tape that first fateful night. So rather than blow the whistles they waited, and collected more video evidence.
All in all 21 thefts were recorded, the $1.29 donuts brought the grand total to just under $30 stolen. The culprit? A student? A homeless man? A bored suburban housewife trying to get her thrills with a little shoplifting? Hardly.
The thief was none other than police officer Sgt. Steve Brody of Morrisville State College. So much for serving and protecting.
Tags: coffee, donut, police officer, thief
Recent Comments