Appendix E-J

6 months ago, Everyday Joe’s volunteer Josh Taves let us know that he’d like to compete in this year’s United States Barista Competition circuit. We agreed with vigor and enthusiasm to sponsor him. The Southwest Regional competition is this weekend (March 4-6) in Hollywood, CA. This post will continue to roll with updates over the next 4 days or so as our good people check in from where they are. Those people? Diana Sitzman (Everyday Joe’s Assistant Director), David Runkles (Board Member), Rachel Robichaux (Volunteer, Photographer) Alyssa Snow (Volunteer), and Josh Taves (Volunteer, Competitor).

Word has it Charlie Sheen is loaning Josh some tiger blood. Please enjoy the hilarity, awkwardness, and information below.

3.5.11: Competition Day 2

1.15 pm: IT’S ON

Sorry for the drop off in updates yesterday. Spent the afternoon getting the shop ready for this guy:

The Trace Bundy was sold out and great. He said you were a great crowd. Congratulations.

But, while I got things ready for that business, other business was happening out in Hollywood:

Today is Josh’s competition day. We can feel our hearts rising into our throats. Luckily he’s getting good text messages from our friends in Guatemala:

 

And Josh is feeling good about the day, and wearing a fine fine shirt:

My heart is more in my throat now, so I am going to go watch. You can do the same below. Josh will be up at about 2 pm MST.

 

3.4.11: Competition Day 1

NOON pm: LET THE GAMES BEGIN

The time is here.With the SW regionals being held in SCAAs hometown, the venue is uber-hip. It’s gone from hotel conference rooms to Siren Studios in Hollywood. Watch the competition below (live stream) and then get a brief tour of the space in the videos & photos below that. Also being held is the regional for the Brewers Cup…which, you guessed it, is a brewing competition (thanks David Runkles for the constant updates). Be watching for Diana Sitzman starring as the Tech Judge slaying it.

Watch live video from SCAA/USBC on Justin.tv

 

9.30 am: Knowing Is Good

Mr. Taves doesn’t compete until tomorrow (2:09 pm MST…we’re having a get together at the shop starting at 1:30 pm…come so we can see your face) but the competition starts today. When you watch, you’ll hear a lot of talk about origin…i.e. where the coffee was grown and on what farm and by whom. The winner of the regional even gets an all expenses paid trip to origin. Not a bad deal.

But, with green coffee prices creeping up up up over the past little while, things “at origin” are getting a little dicey. A couple of tweets from last week:

From @sweetmarias:

The lot of Finca Siberia Pacamara we had contracted for 2011 was stolen off the trees last night. Farm manager and crew were handcuffed.

From @coffeeshrub:

Coffee cherry theft is a frightening problem happening right now

My guess is you understand what those tweets are saying, but just in case: because green (unroasted) coffee prices are so high right now, bandits see it as an opportunity to make some cash. Trucks are being hijacked, people are being robbed, COFFEE CHERRIES ARE BEING STOLEN OFF TREES. It’s like walking into a corn field and taking the crop right off the plant.

I’m not putting this here to burst any bubbles. When consuming things – whether it is an apple or a cup off coffee – knowing where it comes from can be a very good thing. However, it can also get a little romantic. There is always more to be aware of, and it behooves us as people to be more aware of it.

Of course, a little bit of guidance (read: satire) can always help make the disturbing and disheartening a bit easier to process.

In other news, here’s where the Everyday Joe’s contingency chowed last night:

3.3.11

DAY 2 ROUNDUP

Diana aced the judges test. Fact.

She was also blogged by the SCAA. Pictures for you.

And now, how about some more pictures for you? Pictures of what the other 4 were doing while Diana was learning how to get her tech judge on. Observe:

10.30 am: BACK TO SCHOOL

The fifth member of the 5 has arrived in Cali. Text messages have been exchanged:

Me: You taking your camera? You send me pretty pictures?

Rachel: Yep. Done and done. Just landed. From here on out I will only be listening to Sublime.

While they’re all listening to Sublime, Diana is at judges class. It’s been mentioned earlier, but now we have video proof. It rings of dropping your child off for their first day of kindergarten:

 

9.00 am: NICE CUTOFFS

Text messages exchanged this morning:

Me: Any updates

Diana: I just took an ice cold shower

Alyssa: Diana just took an ice cold shower because she turned the knob the wrong way. Not going to tell her mine was warm and toasty.

Josh: I’m a gangster for real.

David: I hear josh garggling in the bathroom. We’re leaving for SCAA.

What’s going on at SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association Of America) HQ today? Judges training. It is vigorous. Luckily, it appears the weather is nice. Too bad the Dianimal will spend all day absorbing copious amounts of information and caffeine. Or not too bad, because she will slay it.

 

3.2.11

8.30 pm: THE DIANIMAL GETS HER BURGER

2 hours to go. Only certain things will suffice.

 

1.20 pm: THE TALE OF A COMMUNITY SUPPORTED BARISTA

As the gang of 4 drives across the great West and continues to posting videos like the one below (Acorn rest stops are underrated, if you ask me), it may prove nice to give you some nice, concrete content about how this all came about.

Our good friends at Barista Pro Shop are also sponsoring Josh, and have posted a nice piece on their blog about the new USBC regional format and the efforts made on many fronts to get Josh to competition. I am reposting the piece in its entirety here, trusting that you will find it riveting enough to subscribe to said blog. Read the post below the video of Josh killing it at a game of either Area 51 or Virtua Cop

 

A Community Supported Barista by Kari Guddeck

If you’re a follower of the United States Barista Competition, then you’re probably aware of the restructuring that took place for the 2011 season.  Ten regions were combined down to 6 and entry fees for competitors were increased (from $50 to $150 BGA member, $195 SCAA member, or $300 non-member).  Although there has been some grumbling about fee increases and certain states getting the cold shoulder (Colorado, for example, had become the unofficial hub of the now retired Mountain Region.  CO is now part of the South West Region, which includes the ‘big gun’ of CA…will we see another CO competition?), I think that most folks would agree that changes needed to be made.  The Specialty Coffee Association of America estimated that the cost of competitions was averaging around $500/competitor, and that cost is sure to increase as the events become more popular and more involved to put on.  Where does that leave your neighborhood barista who lives far from the competition venue and depends upon tips to make a living?  Enter Josh Taves and the community.

Josh Taves was a competitor in the 2010 Mountain Regional Barista Competition.  Josh is a volunteer barista at Everyday Joe’s (a non-profit café in Fort Collins), works as head barista at Little Bird Bakery, has his own consulting business on the side (Northern Colorado Barista Training), and attends CSU full time.  Take it from me; this guy is passionate about coffee.  Too bad passion alone won’t pay for a trip to Hollywood, CA to compete in the SWRBC.  Here’s where the community part steps in.  The fine crew at Everyday Joe’s made it their mission to send Josh to CA, and enthusiastically stepped up as his sponsor.

Joe’s (as it’s lovingly called) proceeded to:  lend their store and espresso machine for after hours practice, pay the entry fee, promote ‘the cause’ via social media sites, work with their roaster to develop/donate coffee, involve and educate the general public about Josh’s goal, recruit the help of other coffee industry peeps in the area (including Barista Pro Shop), lend moral support, and much more.  This is just one example of a localized coffee community stepping up to support a barista on their path to competition; I’m sure there are others across the country.  My thought is that these incidents will become more widespread as the new USBC structure sets in as reality, and I think it’s just what the specialty coffee industry doctor ordered.  The competitions should serve as a way of designating the best of the best baristas and a worthy ambassador, but in doing so should also act as a vehicle for educating communities about coffee excellence, professionalism, and passion.

Everyday Joe’s did a great job of including the community, not just treating them as spectators.  There really was an emphasis on involving everyone and getting people to take ownership of Josh’s trek to the SWRBC .  For example, I and several others served as judges for Josh’s mock presentations.  The last of these was done on Sunday morning, and I’m happy to report that Josh (rocking a brown shirt and red suspenders) has come a long way!  It’s personally been an awesome experience to watch his routine take shape and become increasingly polished.  I for one feel emotionally invested in Josh’s pursuit of the SWRBC championship and give much kudos to Mr. Taves and the folks at Everyday Joe’s for including me and others in the community in their efforts.  Good luck and have fun, Josh!

10.30 am: THE AWKWARD INTRODUCTION VIDEO 3 HOURS INTO THE 17 HOUR DRIVE

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The day began as we planned: breakfast amongst children barely able to sit still because Disneyland is across the street. Then, off to volunteer at the United States Barista Championship. Volunteer we did, filling 6 of 8 positions.

Shortly thereafter, something hit Chris’ system that caused vomitting. He returned to the hotel, hoping to be ready for the opening reception later that evening. Alas, the evil in his tummy kept him in bed watching lots of HGTV. If you want to rent an apartment on Central Park in NYC, it’ll run you $30,000/month.

But, the other’s went on to the party. Chris stayed under the covers, thankful that good people love Everyday Joe’s enough to pay their own way to get to Anaheim so they could love the people in the coffee industry.

People felt loved enough that a fellow from the competition took Ben Thomas by the shoulders and pushed him to the stage at the reception, handed a $5 bill to a lady, and entered Ben in the latte art competition. $1000 on the line.

Ben didn’t make it past the first round, but he poured some legit art. Pictures!:

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Last night, We headed down to Irvine for good burgers and a lecture sponsored by the Veritas Forum. The man speaking was an impressive man – the founder of Not For Sale amongst other things.

The lecture was good. It was nice to be in a lecture hall again, as odd as that sounds. Ben ran into a fellow he knows from a summer job. Many good things were said, but one particularly rang true with Everyday Joe’s:

“We are all created uniquely and with gifts. We must use those gifts to serve others.”

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Most folks would call Colorado out west. We’re further. Anaheim, CA. Land of many things, though we are here for specific reasons. Tonight: a Veritas forum at UC Irvine. Tomorrow: the start of a 4 day coffee convention. Friday night: a free Josh Ritter concert. Lots more in between all those things, plus we’re cruising SoCal in a Dodge Caravan. The best way for 6 folks from a non-profit coffee house to get around if you ask me.

No killer pics yet, mainly just afternoon power naps after drinking killer coffee and eating killer fish tacos. But we promise to keep you updated – both here and on the Twitter.

Talk soon

love.
everyday joe’s

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Hello. It has been some time.

We’ve been resting and trying our best to avoid exhaustion. A 3-day trip to the great midwest and back will really take it out of you…even if you do have Danny & The Pirate & the others of Tortilla Flat to keep you company across the landscapes of Kansas.

Our first go at taking Everyday Joe’s other places was a resounding success and good time. It’s a different measure of success, though. We got to see some good and beautiful things happen, and we got to be in the middle of most of them. It was very lovely.

Here is a video briefly documenting the trip. Come ask about it if you like…we have a lot of stories and met a lot of good people. We’re looking at May for our next outing. The location is hush hush at this point…but we’re very excited.

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Well…this is the most exciting news in some time.

It has long been a desire around 144 S. Mason to figure out ways to take the heart of Everyday Joe’s outside these walls & to then plop that heart down in someone’s lap. I’d say we do an alright job of this in Fort Collins, though there are things in the works to make Everyday Joe’s an even more noticable kind & loving presence in the Choice City. However, right now we’re talking about crossing state lines.

Everyday Joe’s is going to Missouri. Not permanently. Just for a weekend…though we hope to leave some permanent marks and sparks.

You see, a little while ago, Mr. Steve Shafer (the volunteer who orchestrated the arrival of David Bazan at Everyday Joe’s) approached me with some tour dates involving some bands we both love: The Weiss Family (a downsized version of mewithoutYou), Damien Jurado, and The Psalters. These acts are traveling the midwest together, and the closest they are coming to Colorado is the ever-wonderful Springfield, MO. With my coffee-stained index finger, I pointed at that date and said with great and good declaration, “We’re going.”

We began to talk about the trip. One thing lead to another and we decided we needed more people to go with us. We decided we needed vans. We decided that a trip involving just a wonderful concert 13 hours away would not do the trick. We decided we needed to take Everyday Joe’s to Springfield and serve some people. And so we will.

Homeless Gear is a grand, grand organization in Fort Collins that equips those living outside with gear to survive the elements and get to the next day. They do monthly distributions of gear in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Longmont. The gear is donated by manufacturers, local shops, and folks with gear to get rid of. Here it is in their words (probably better):

The mission of Homeless Gear is a simple one.  Collect unwanted outdoor gear (packs, sleeping bags, etc) and re-distribute these items to the homeless.  Homeless Gear intends to find a home for all unwanted outdoor gear and make the outdoors a little more like home for those without permanent shelter.

I’d have to say, with all sincerity, that Homeless Gear is dope.

The Kitchen in Springfield is another organization we think highly of. I will spare you my trying to explain what they do and cut straight to their words:

The Kitchen has been providing housing, food, and medical services to the homeless, underserved, and uninsured in the Springfield area since 1983. We are a local organization whose purpose is those in the Springfield community. All contributions are utilized for the betterment of our immediate service area. We serve a very diverse population and needs with the many programs sponsored by The Kitchen.

So, how does this all add up? A bulleted list will explain it nicely:

• Everyday Joe’s will be hosting a Homeless Gear collection drive July 27 – August 19. Bring down your unwanted gear and we’ll give it to folks in need PLUS get 10% off your order when you donate.
• On August 21st,  a group of folks from Everyday Joe’s will load up a trailer and hop in a van and drive to Springfield, MO.
• The morning of August 22, we’ll set up shop in a park or at a farmer’s market in Springfield, MO. We’ll distribute the gear, give folks coffee, and do some bike repairs. We’re working with The Kitchen to determine the best location and to help spread the word amongst folks in need. Anything not distributed will be left with The Kitchen to distribute as needed.
• Saturday night, we’re going to the show. MewithoutYou and The Psalters are both passionate about helping the poor. We hope they will get behind this effort…but at the very least we’ll get to enjoy some nice music.
• Sunday we get up and drive back to Fort Collins.

As I write, I am exploding with joy. I do hope this is the first of many efforts to spread the spirit of 144 S. Mason. Please please please consider donating your old gear or some new gear. Keep in mind the current season and the seasons approaching when deciding what gear to give.

If you are interested in going, the cost is $60 and you must pay by August 4. E-mail your name and contact info to chris [at] everydayjoes [dot] org.

Thank you and good day.

love.

everyday joe’s

FURTHER:

• Homeless Gear Official Site
• List Of Gear Needs
• The Kitchen Official Site

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