Our local press know I’m always good for a fair trade story, and I made it into the paper here again. Take a look while its before it taken down
Click Here 

This week the UK barista championships are going no at Olympia in London. I’m privileged that 5 competitors wanted to use our coffee in the finals out of the 26 people entered.

We are even more pleased that today from the semi finals we have had three of those competitors progress through to the final six. I’m so proud of these guys who have done themselves proud.

So well done to Barry Lawrenson from Roasters, Scarborough

Also well done to Neli Petkova (the second year she has made finals with our coffee) and Mariusz Mescek both from Café Krem. Also well done to Se’ cafe krem owners who has trained them all (also not a bad Barista himself runner up in last years UKBC)

I also want to say well done to Ben and Lance, who didn’t make finals but made me incredibly proud.

Its so good to work with some of the best baristas in the UK and really good to see the rewarded. Will post an update tomorrow on how they do but fingers crossed.

A friend on mine (thanks Peter) sent me a link to this below

http://gizmodo.com/355062/coffee+tasting-robot-makes-our-tongues-obsolete

As you may guess from, the link name some bright spark has created a robot that tastes coffee. anyone got a job? 🙁

Last year we bought a cup of excellence lot from Alaska a farm, from someone who has become a friend exchanging emails regularly Ernesto.

We’ve had lots of photos from him, but the ones of this year’s crop are really good. He’s a great photographer, and I wanted to share them.

Take a look at the whole set here.

Another week wizzes by, I just don’t know where the times goes I am going to try and pick up the posting but its tough so please forgive me. Last Wednesday was the final UK Barista championship regional qualifier. From all these qualifiers 26 (I think) are selected to go through to the finals in a couple of week’s time. This time it was Northern Ireland where we were very proud to have three Baristas competing with out coffee from the famous Café Krem owned by Se Gorman.
I was made up when Se contacted me and said that his staff wanted to use our coffee. I’ve been an admirer of what Se does at his place and it’s a thrill to be asked. Last year Se and Neli were in the final six with se coming a very close second to the now crowned world champion. Se decided he didn’t want to compete so instead he becomes trainer for three of his staff.
The three did very well and they finished 1st, 2nd and 5th that I think is amazing. Of course we played a small part in the development stages of their blends but the feedback from them has been good, and they all wanted very different things.

So well done to

1st Neli Petkova Café Krem
2nd Mariusz Mescek Café Krem
5th Jurgita Café Krem

Se and his Team 

Unfortunately Jurgita missed out on the final cut for the finals, which is a real shame. Dino of Alto café in Barnsley also missed out which is really bad news. Dino has a great passion and has the ability to do really well, he had a bad day at the office, next year my friend, next year.

From the finals we will have four people using our coffee and I’m made up for them and for us. Wde have Neli and Mariusz, Barry winner from the northern Heats and Ben Runner up from the Bristol heat. So less time to post more demanding Baristas wanting coffee ☺

I’ve recently received a new photo from our Football Team in Rwanda (we sponsored the kit of an under fourteen team). These guys are from one of the coops we had coffee last year from (and hope to have some more this).  I wanted to share it with you, the red and white stripes of Sunderland and the logo of Has Bean for all to see.  They go one to win the game 1-0 with this very shot.

Ha’way the CSJB (translated come on the CSJB (the team’s name)