http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2006/04/2006-usbc-finalist/ Rants and Raves on Espresso Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:50:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2006/04/2006-usbc-finalist/#comment-419 Espresso News and Reviews - TheShot.coffeeratings.com » Does “Fair Trade” imply everything else is “Unfair Trade”? Fri, 29 Dec 2006 20:02:18 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/?p=141#comment-419 [...] Since Fair Trade’s origin, some professionals in the coffee industry have said that something is better than nothing, while others have long stated Fair Trade is worse than nothing at all. Perhaps one of the greatest statements on Fair Trade’s shortcomings came this year from Chicago’s Intelligentsia, one of America’s premiere specialty coffee roasters and home to the 2006 U.S. Barista Champion. Intelligentsia found enough problems and inconsistencies with Fair Trade that they opted to define and pursue their own alternative certification system, called Intelligensia Direct Trade™, and no longer do business with Fair Trade. Yes, it turns out that there are many alternatives to Fair Trade — just without a commonly recognized “brand” label. [...] [...] Since Fair Trade’s origin, some professionals in the coffee industry have said that something is better than nothing, while others have long stated Fair Trade is worse than nothing at all. Perhaps one of the greatest statements on Fair Trade’s shortcomings came this year from Chicago’s Intelligentsia, one of America’s premiere specialty coffee roasters and home to the 2006 U.S. Barista Champion. Intelligentsia found enough problems and inconsistencies with Fair Trade that they opted to define and pursue their own alternative certification system, called Intelligensia Direct Trade™, and no longer do business with Fair Trade. Yes, it turns out that there are many alternatives to Fair Trade — just without a commonly recognized “brand” label. [...]

]]> http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2006/04/2006-usbc-finalist/#comment-222 TheShot.coffeeratings.com » The WBC: Canada’s quest for coffee supremacy Fri, 26 May 2006 04:40:56 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/?p=141#comment-222 [...] Also worth noting is that Matthew Riddle of Chicago’s Intelligentsia , winner of this year’s US Barista Championship, came in third place. [...] [...] Also worth noting is that Matthew Riddle of Chicago’s Intelligentsia , winner of this year’s US Barista Championship, came in third place. [...]

]]> http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2006/04/2006-usbc-finalist/#comment-87 TheShot.coffeeratings.com » Barista artists strive for the perfect cup of coffee Sun, 07 May 2006 07:03:13 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/?p=141#comment-87 [...] The article takes the local angle on the recent U.S. Barista Championship, where Alex McCracken, head barista at St. Louis-based Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co., placed among the top 25 last month. Andrew Timko, director of coffee at Kaldi’s, explains the barista competition format and how the state of the barista art — and customer expectations for it — have been elevated in recent years. [...] [...] The article takes the local angle on the recent U.S. Barista Championship, where Alex McCracken, head barista at St. Louis-based Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co., placed among the top 25 last month. Andrew Timko, director of coffee at Kaldi’s, explains the barista competition format and how the state of the barista art — and customer expectations for it — have been elevated in recent years. [...]

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