So its that time of year again when we want to have a get together, meet up with you our friends and drink some coffee together. The last ones we have done have been fairly informal affairs, chat coffee and off. But this time we have a plan, something that will make you want to come along. We also know that is going to be over subscribed this time, there is limited places with something that will be very exciting.

Its going to be in Stafford, its going to be at the roastery, and its going to be a 11pm till 4 pm learning and mix up fest.

There will be two courses (two maybe three). This will be on making espresso, steaming milk and putting it all together. Now I am no barista that we can be sure of that, so I’ve roped in the 2009 Irish Barista Champion and 2009 4th placed finalist from the World Barista Championships, and the newly crowned UK Barista 2010 Champion and 2009 UK Latte Art champion and 6th placed from the 2009 world latte art championships. Not one but two national champions. The programme will be firmed up closer to the date. But it will be an espresso fest.

Now we only have two espresso machines to do this on, so we need to keep numbers to a minimum. So when its full it full, there is a waiting list once it fills up. You need to go to this site here and RSVP as soon as possible. The price is £10 for the day, but you will leave with £10 worth of coffee at least, and also drink oodles worth of espresso, the price is more to make sure people turn up, again because of the limited space, a financial commitment always helps sort the people who may come, and will come. I’m afraid we cant allow guests with attendees because of space we just can’t accommodate them.

So should be fun, an experience like this would normally cost many many times and you wouldn’t get the coffee goodie bag at the end.

We look forwards to seeing you.

This was something I didn’t want to post about until the dust had settled and the euphoria has died down. Just enough time for it all to settle in and enjoy the moment.

I got a little excited about the whole thing (as I do with barista competition), but I think Monday now seems like a world away and enough time has past.

We are pleased to announce to those not embroiled in the coffee world and who may not have heard that Mr John Gordon of Gorilla Tampers and Square Mile Roasters won this years United Kingdom Barista Championship with the most amazing of scores using Has Bean Coffee for his competition blend.

We are proud to have worked with john for the last two years developing and roasting competition coffee blends. John and Jess have become amazing friends, and we love working together.

We are particularly proud as John, as he has often not gone for the easy safe options, he has pushed the boundary’s of what is thought should be done and at the same time pushed my boundary’s as a roaster to try things I would have normally written off. I’m sure something that will improve me as a roaster so improve your experience as a customer.

In the finals John scored 687 which is HUGE, he also won best espresso, best cappuccino and best signature drink. Again for the uninitiated he swept everything, but the standard was so high that it was no run away. Well done to every one who competed, but of course to John.

A special well done to Jess, Johns partner trainer, sounding board and rock, Jess has been amazing getting John to be the UK barista champion (that still sounds weird) and deserves all the plaudits she has received since.

An interesting stat that I didn’t really think about until some one said, was we have roasted the coffee for three of the past five UK champions and for a tiny company like ours that’s very pleasing and bewildering. But the main reason for it is that we work with some amazingly talented baristas who are at the top of there craft. We just brown the beans they do the magic, and I’m grateful they let us along for the ride.

So what next? Well, I’m are pleased that the UK’s are out the way, time to let that dust settle and chat with John about our next steps. But we hope we will be kicking on for the WBC.

It also is time for me to start thinking about the Irish championships as we are working with Colin Harmon of Third floor espresso (3fe) again this year, competition season is always hard work but always fun.

But for now look at the video where we found and made John Gordon

Tamper Tantrum Special with John Gordon from Stephen Leighton on Vimeo.

Colin Harmon looses his mind

Crazy Irish man Colin Harmon left me this on my answer phone last night I thought I would share.

His Irish accent is worse than mine, and he is from there

So Joe has spent the weekend in the UK to do some planning for 2010 with us

Its all covered here, so enjoy

Cant say any more than we said in the boo, but 2010 will bring more than a roaster to the range, and its something we have been working on for a long while. I think it could be ground breaking (appetite wetted enough) and very exciting.

Any way good to catch up with Joe as always much fun was had by all.

OK so the settling in period is over and now is the time to flood the shop with Has Bean Customers.

Colin Harmon my best friend and co host of Tamper Tantrum has finally opened his shop last Saturday in Dublin. Colin always wanted to offer our coffee in Dublin because obviously our quality is right up there (if I don’t say so myself) but also a great chance for Dubliners to be able to enjoy and buy our coffee.

The retail packs are not quite ready for you to take away but the frosty espresso blend is an amazing blend and we are very proud of it. It contains Brazil Sao Judas, Bolivian Machacarmarca and El Salvador La Ilusion. That’s some killer coffees in a killer blend.

I’d love to say go in and say has blog sent you and get a free espresso or wear a Stephen Leighton mask for a free latte, but you know what, its a start up and he needs our support, so go in and say has blog sent you and you will get a friendly smile and a good value drink served by the fourth best barista in the world with some of the finest coffees on the planet, how does that sound for a deal?

Also for one day only Colin with have some of the very special (23kg produced this year) El Bosque Yellow Bourbon (while stocks last) on siphon Saturday

OK still need more, you can meet Andy our roaster who is visiting Dublin for the day of you get in early enough.

So special coffee, special barista and a special place. For directions take a look at the link here

From my trip to Bahia we visited a few farms and cupped a few coffees we hoped to be able to bring back.

At the end of the trip on the way to the airport Luca suggested we pop in and see one of his friends. It was on the way and seemed like a fine idea. His friend is called Adeodato Menezes and is one of the real front line of Bio Dynamic coffee but also disadvantaged by lower yields and not having a route to market. Luca didn’t think I would want to see a sample of this one but the talk all the way to the airport was please could he sort out sending me one.

Adeodato is a charismatic chap and I loved the calmness and beauty of the farm. And although a language barrier, I liked him very much and felt the same back. I also loved his respect for the farm.

There was something about the place that I couldn’t shake. The yield at its very highest was hundreds of bags and now its down to 10, wasn’t a good sign, but I’ve been thinking a lot about yields and things (audioboo to come soon). Its unsustainable in its current state, and is a spiral that cant be stopped. Adeodato needs a better price to sort things out on the farm, but that wont come until he finds a route to market, and the market wont come to him with 10 bags. Difficult one
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