I Won an Award

A couple of months ago I couldn't believe my head was on the SCAE website because I was nominated for one of the SCAE awards for Coffee Excellence, as a Hidden Treasure.
Most generally I'm not so fond of being in meetings and organisations and having myself on the front page, but apparently that was a little bit the reason I was nominated as 'Hidden'.

So after a Friday with 13 hours of work and starting very early at the bar Saturday Bert and I raced toward Köln on Saturday afternoon.
Even without excessive speed it only took us 2 hours and 15 minutes. Easy.

Once arrived at the fare it was nice meeting so many coffee friends and business partners and greeting the large Belgian representation.

In the evening we were at the Gala Diner sitting at what later became a prestigious table. Peter, the newly crowned Latte Art Champ is an Antwerp Barista as well, so it was no surprise we joined up. Across of me Jeanne Gennar. For a couple years we only met at Championships, which she organises, but since she's also organising Coffee Consulate workshops and distributing Weber and CC we starting knowing one another better and even noticed we were born in neighbour villages. First price of the evening was for Jeanne who became the National Coordinator of the year. Congrats Jeanne and well deserved.

Then time for the other awards.

Lifetime Achievement Award : Neal Robinson (Bunn)

Young Entrepeneur Award : Filip Akerblom. Bart and Peter Deprez were also nominated for this award!

Passionate Communicator Award : Franz Grunwald

Outstanding Producer Award : Ipanema Coffee's Brazil

Coffee Photography winner : Johanna Wechselberger

Hidden Treasure Award : Rob Berghmans.

Although experienced with speeches in a past profession it felt weird to be there on stage in front of all these coffee experts and enthusiasts.

Very proud but still not understanding all of it, I continued the eve. It all sank in better after a couple of beers with the Barista's Gwilym, Colin, Ben, Stephen, Bert, Kim, Peter and others. That's more my habitat I guess.

Ok, enough self confidence and energy to keep on working like I did last couple of years. Very hard and with a coffee bean in the heart. Greetz. Rob

Peter Hernou World Latte Art Champion

I still can't believe this but he made it.
I knew he was impeccable on free pour and it showed this year.
After dropping his pitcher last year he came back in full revenge and took the crown. It reminds me a bit of Fred De Burggraeve who slipped off the starting blocks at the Olympics one year, but won the Olympic title 4 years later on the 100 meter breast stroke.

Congrats Peter. And of course I have to think back how it all started 4 years ago with the 2 of us discovering the Latte Art and learning everything by ourselves.
Very very proud and happy to have an Antwerp Barista as world champion!!!!!!!!
Next latte at Caffenation is on my account. :-)

For those who want to see how it all looks like : click it.
(the best capps I ever saw on stage)

コーヒーを淹 Robot Barista

Jango Jim's Coffee Table Book

Jango Jim website

Barista Jam June 21

This one again was a so-called non professional one, although 3 new Caffenation clients sent over some rookie Barista's. An evening like this feels like the best introduction into our wonderful wonderful world.

First part was the same as always. An overview on Arabica varietals and origins, to finish off with some cupping. Besides of three very different tasting beans we also had a market leader coffee from Sara Lee. Unfortunately for SL some people were angry at me to have them tasting this, not so pleasant, 'factory' coffee. And angry at Sara Lee since they feel like they've been fooled for ages. I understand.

Second part was Roeland experimenting with all different ingredients. Like making improvised signature drinks. Katrien and I couldn't believe our eyes how fluently he mixed up all ingredients (14 in total) with 3 different coffee bases. A remarkable performance for a try out!!

Then extraction and espresso theory, to finish with a Latte Art demonstration by Katrien, who's these days swinging her arms into all possible directions to end up with perfect rosetta's.

Q&A and time to go home after 2 and a half hours of 'coffee class'. New Jam in September. And an advanced Jam - also for pro's - in October after the champion ships. Promised!

(all photo's by Keefe C.)

WEHTMMM

WEHTMMM runs from 8th July to 30th September 2009 at Caffenation Hopland, and is a project by Keefe Cordeiro.

Poor Mans' Clover

Poor mans' Clover, or the AeroPress.
I don't really know what took me so long, but finally Has Bean Steve shipped over a AeroPress Coffee Brewer.

Probably the Tim Wendelboe post about the Aero Press world championships was the final push I needed. Before some of my most fanatic clients tried to get me into it, but I had still so many other brewing systems to discover and master...

Anyway, it all arrived on Tuesday and only by Saturday I did my first brew.
Directly my taste buds were attacked with a very full taste. The coffee had very good body and stronger then expected. That was just a Daterra (Sweet Collection) cup, which is, by the way, our Roast of the Week.
The second was with the same (basic) technique and an Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. Flabergasted. That's what Michael Phillips wanted the judges to be at the WBC in Atlanta. We were Saturday with our second AeroPress brew. Very rich, fruity and long lasting cup of coffee, best to be compared with a Clover cup, more than with an espresso machine.
Now I understand why Tim sold his Clover.

I noticed the system prefers lighter roasts, which is sometimes a problem since we do not roast that light.
Although I often read and heard the AeroPress is keeping the bitters low, I had more bitters in the cup with this system then with filter brews. It balanced more towards a +5 minutes press or Eva Solo. Even in the after taste I do notice good bitters. But the intensity and flavor harmony does remind me very strong at the Clovers I had before - 2 at Estate and 1 at Grumpy.

A big huray for the AeroPress. I think it's even time to organise a new Barista Jam soon in which this system can be highlighted.

To finish a quick link with brewing advise from the world masters Jensen, Kaminsky and Juras. The first two seem to be a bit more technical and complicated with Lukasz his system closest to mines. Unfortunately I can't find nothing but stupid video's online.

I hope I can post you soon the way we think it's easy and good to work with this 'machine'.

For those interested in buying one ; you can click here(GB) or here(NL). Maybe it's a good idea in the future to stock some at Caffenation. I'll keep you informed.