Colwood Corners by Onni Group is a new 5 storey condo development located in Victoria, BC. This project will offer 284 units. Upon completion, Colwood Corners has the potential to provide 125,000 square feet of retail as well as multi-family residential.
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We’re a little late to this whole “Ice-T tries coffee for the first time” party, but now that we’re here, we don’t want to leave. The original video by Coffee Meets Bagel—the dating app who put the rapper-turned-actor up to the challenge—was posted a month ago, but Ice-T’s reaction to his first sip is so pure it bears bringing back up. He is all of us at the start of our coffee journey.
For his first ever taste of coffee in his 60 years on this earth, Ice-T does the unadvisable thing and dives straight into coffee by taking it black. No cream, no sugar. I say “unadvisable” because this is how I had my first taste of coffee as well, though mine came at a much younger age, when I thought I would be a “big kid” if I took a pull off of Mom’s morning cuppa. It went about as well as expected.
So what was Ice’s response to his maiden coffee voyage? “It tastes like water, with something… another taste kicked in later,“ a phrase that is now the gold standard against which all Brewers Cup flavor calls will be judged.
“I can tell you this’ll pretty much be the last time I drink black coffee.”
Remember when Ice-T said he's never had coffee? Well… pic.twitter.com/ihhGg98wwP
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) December 15, 2018
Were that the end of the story, though, there would be no story; a guy whose name bears a striking resemblance to a non-coffee beverage not drinking a coffee beverage hardly makes the editorial cut. But a second video, this one released by BuzzFeed, finds Ice making the second step in the journey: “[putting] some shit in it.” The shit, of course, being cream—which he has also never had before!?!—and sugar. Sugar alone didn’t quite turn him into a coffee drinker but the magical alchemy of cream and sugar gives Ice-T (and all of us by proxy, really) that special moment of realization—seen in the in Buzzfeed video at around the 1:20 mark—one which we all know so well, that coffee in the right circumstances can be pretty, pretty, pretty good.
“Coffee, sugar, and cream: not bad.”
Don’t be surprised if Sargent Fin Tutuola starts appearing in Law and Order: SVU episodes with increasingly smaller coffee cups: first a 20oz Starbucks cup with a little whip on top, then a 12oz no whip, next maybe a 6oz cappuccino, until finally Tutuola is walking around crime scenes with his own demitasse (because he knows espresso to-go is a cardinal sin but there are perps to be caught).
Or maybe not. Either way, we’ll always have this video. It’s the pure wholesomeness (and a few curses) that the coffee world needs right now.
Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
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We are up to our ears in ballots here at Sprudge Studios campaign headquarters. Still with two short weeks from the closing of the polls for the 10th Annual Sprudgie Awards presented by Oatly and we can already unequivocally that the number of votes cast this year is going to be the largest in history.
But don’t let the record-setting turnout deter you from letting your voice be heard; you’ve still gotta rock the sprote. Yours may be the difference between your favorite coffee person/shop/thing winning or losing to that coffee person/shop/thing. You know the one. There’s still time! Vote for your faves, start a grassroots campaign, hire a few bad actors to spread disinformation about your opponents (don’t actually do that). But whatever you do, don’t not vote.
If you’ve yet to pick your ponies for the 10th Annual Sprudgies, we’ve listed the finalists for each of the 12 categories below. Don’t see who you are looking for? Do you feel like someone else is more deserving? You’re in luck. This year we’ve opened up the awards for write-in candidates. In a coffee scene where write-in candidates can ascend to the SCA Board of Directors we absolutely want to make the same campaigning available for The Sprudgies.
Once you’re ready, head over here to let your voice be heard and celebrate those helping to push the industry forward. Happy voting!
Voting for the 10th Annual Sprudgie Awards presented by Oatly closes at 11:59 PM PST on Friday, January 4th 2019.
Notable Roaster
This award honors a roaster doing exemplary work in 2018. This may include roasted coffee quality, strength of e-commerce, cafe locations (if applicable) and all other facets of running a successful coffee roaster. This year’s nominees are:
Devoción (Brooklyn, NY),
Go Get Em Tiger (Los Angeles)
Black & White Coffee Roasters (Wake Forest, NC)
Square Mile Coffee (London, UK)
Red Bay Coffee (Oakland, CA)
Gardelli Coffee (Forlì, Italy)
Sey Coffee (Brooklyn, NY)
Coffee Manufactory (San Francisco and Los Angeles, CA)
Notable Coffee Producer
This awards honors outstanding work by a coffee producer at origin. This year’s nominees are:
Daterra Coffee (Brazil)
Benjamin Paz (Honduras)
Long Miles Coffee Project (Burundi)
Gesha Village (Ethiopia)
La Palma y El Tucan (Colombia)
Juan Peña (Ecuador)
Gilberto Baraona (El Salvador)
Aida Batlle (El Salvador)
Best New Product
This awards honors a new coffee product released for public use in the year 2018. This year’s nominees are:
Minor Figures Oat M*lk
Atmos Vacuum Canister by Fellow Products
Melodrip
Yes Plz Coffee Subscription
Modbar AV
DrinkTrade.com
Huskee Cup
Umeshiso Cupping Spoons
Best Coffee Video/Film
This award honors an original coffee video or film released in the year 2018. This can include feature films, short films, promotional videos or social media clips. The nominees are:
AeroPress Movie
Gender In Coffee
Chris Baca on YouTube
James Hoffmann on YouTube
Go Get Em Tiger on YouTube
Cafe Imports Roasting Concepts Series
Flower Of Flowers by Stumptown Coffee
Unpacking Coffee
Best Coffee Writing
This award celebrates the best coffee writing of the year. Please nominate an individual, or a specific feature. If you nominate a feature, please add a link for review. This year’s nominees are:
RJ Joseph for The Knockbox
Phyllis Johnson for Strong Black Coffee originally appearing in Roast Magazine
Sabine Parrish for She’s A Lady originally appearing in Standart Magazine
Dear Coffee Buyer by Ryan Brown
The Monk Of Mokha by Dave Eggars and Mokhtar Alkhanshali
Ashley Rodriguez for Barista Magazine Online
Jenn Chen for Newsletter and Collected Works
James Hoffmann for JimSeven.com
Best Coffee Magazine
This award honors an outstanding coffee magazine or print publication release. This year’s nominees are:
Drift Magazine (USA)
Solo Magazine (Spain)
Caffeine (UK)
Coffee People Zine (USA)
Standart (Slovakia)
Roast Magazine (USA)
Barista Magazine (USA)
Pour Over by Califia Farms (USA)
Best Coffee Instagram/Twitter
This award honors outstanding work across social media platforms. This year’s nominees are:
@umeshiso_
@fellowproducts
@coffeefeedpdx
@dapperandwise
@catcloudcoffee
@symmetrybreakfast
@perfectdailygrind
@coffeetablemags
Best Coffee Podcast
This award honors outstanding work in the podcast medium. This year’s nominees are:
The Coffee Podcast
Cat & Cloud
Boss Barista
Keys To The Shop
Coffea
Coffee People MX
Coffee With April
SproCast
Best Design/Packaging
This work honors notable design or packaging work in coffee. Nominees may include coffee products, coffee bags, coffee logo or graphic design work, or any other example of outstanding coffee design. This year’s nominees are:
Coffee Manufactory (San Francisco and Los Angeles, CA)
Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters (Lakewood, CO)
Brandywine Coffee Roasters (Wilmington, DE)
Kaffa (Oslo, Norway)
Fjord Coffee Roasters (Berlin, Germany)
Onyx Coffee Lab (Bentonville, AR)
Lüna Coffee (Vancouver, Canada)
Friedhats (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Best New Cafe
This award is presented to a cafe that has opened in 2018. Nominations for cafes that have opened before January 2018 will not be eligible for this category. This year’s nominees are:
Ladder Coffee (Spokane, WA)
Dayglow (Los Angeles, CA)
Mane Coffee (Boca Raton, FL)
Misión Café (Madrid, Spain)
Provider (Indianapolis, IN)
Stumptown Coffee Cobble Hill (Brooklyn, NY)
Center Coffee Myeongdong (Seoul, South Korea)
Rosslyn Coffee (London, UK)
Sustainable Cafe
This award is presented to a cafe for prioritizing sustainable environmental stewardship. This can include zero waste practices, pursuing a reduced carbon footprint, and highlighting sustainable coffees and products. This year’s nominees are:
Isla Cafe (Berlin, Germany)
Casa Quilha (Brasilia, Brazil)
Bar Nine (Los Angeles, CA)
Madcap Coffee (Grand Rapids, MI)
Houndstooth Coffee Walnut Hill (Dallas, TX)
Kokako Organic (Auckland, New Zealand)
Smith Canteen (Brooklyn, NY)
Miir Flagship (Seattle, WA)
Outstanding Achievement In The Field of Excellence
This award is presented each year to a remarkable coffee person, organization, cause, or entity that embodies coffee excellence. This is our most prestigious award. This year’s nominees are:
T. Ben Fischer
Phyllis Johnson
Coleen Anunu
Umeko Motoyoshi
Agnieszka Rojewska
Adam JacksonBey
Michelle Johnson
Erna Knutsen (posthumous)
Vote here.
Voting for the 10th Annual Sprudgie Awards presented by Oatly closes at 11:59 PM PST on Friday, January 4th 2019.
The post There’s Still Time To Vote For The 10th Annual Sprudgie Awards appeared first on Sprudge.
Ahhhh amaro. Is there a better way to finish off a meal than with a little herbal digestif? If you are reading this one, at least one of two things is true: 1. You like coffee, and/or 2. You may have a large holiday meal in your future. If either of these are correct, then have I ever got good news for you. Madcap Coffee have teamed up with fellow Grand Rapidians Long Road Distillers to create Amaro Pazzo, a coffee-based Italian-inspired Michigan-born liqueur.
It’s been a busy month for Madcap in the way of news. Hot on the heels of the big announcement that the coffee company will be opening their first Detroit cafe inside the Shinola Hotel (though technically they did first mention that they were moving somewhere in Detroit back in October), now they dropping some booze news. According to the press release, Long Road and Madcap devoted a chunk of the yearlong process in bringing Amaro Pazzo to tasting coffees in order to find the best fit. Ultimately, they opted for the wash processed Reko from the eponymous washing station in the Kochere region of Ethiopia. With notes of citrus, lemongrass, and ginger, the Reko is said to help create a balance of sweetness and bitterness in the liqueur.
“Few put as much time and dedication into their craft as Madcap,” said Jon O’Connor, co-owner and co-founder of Long Road Distillers. “Amaro Pazzo is an ode to our shared commitment to take the time to do things right, and to craft the exceptional. We can’t wait to introduce people to what we’ve been able to create together.”
Clocking in at a very drinkable 57 proof, Amaro Pazzo adds to the flavors in the Reko with myrrh, turkey rhubarb, two types of orange, wormwood, “and a blend of other ingredients.”
We’re pretty big fans of amaro here at Sprudge, be it mixed with hot coffee, cold brew, or with coffee as an ingredient during distillation. Unfortunately for us, Amarzo Pazzo is only in distribution inside Michigan at the current moment, though the companies are looking to cast a wider net in early 2019. I guess this bottle of Caffé Amaro from J. Rieger & Co. and Thou Mayest will just have to keep me warm until Amarzo Pazzo moseys its way on down to Texas.
Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
Top image via Madcap
The post Madcap Teams Up With Long Road Distilling For A Coffee Amaro appeared first on Sprudge.
There’s a new threat to the growth of Arabica coffee in Colombia. It’s not climate change or leaf rust or unsustainably low prices. It’s Robusta.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Robusta hasn’t exactly been popular amongst Colombian coffee growers, going so far as to call it “reviled” in the “country that invented Arabica snobbery.” The revulsion, according to the article, comes from the perceived inferiority of the coffee’s flavor compared to that of Arabica. The article doesn’t outright say Robusta doesn’t taste good; the WSJ lets Andrew Hetzel do it.
“People say it tastes like tires. Like petroleum barrels,” said Andrew Hetzel, a consultant in the specialty coffee industry. “I’ve even heard it described as ‘the tears of children.’”
But the economics of growing Arabica are becoming less and less tenable, especially in the face of a viable alternative. Colombian Arabica averaged a price of $1.39 per pound, over half a dollar above the average Robusta price of $.87. But Robusta is easier to grow with a higher yield (and more disease-resistant) than Arabica. Couple that with the fact that Asia, the fastest growing coffee market, is dominated by Robusta and the move starts to make sense.
In the face of this changing market, some Colombian farmers and scientists are experimenting with Robusta. Nestlé has shipped 3,000 Robusta seedlings to Colombia that agronomists with the Agriculture Ministry are currently tending to under hyper-sanitary lab conditions; think sanitary smocks, hairnets, iodine foot baths, and three-stage entry “to keep out insects and microbes.” One businessman, Diego López, has been the last decade planting small amounts of Robusta around Colombia to find the conditions where it grows best.
And while the country originally balked at the idea of growing Robusta lest it taint the perception of their coffee quality, the Colombian government has since espoused growing it, thanks in no small part to an increase in Robusta’s quality. In fact, Sustainable Harvest‘s Chief Coffee Official Jorge Cuevas says that a good Robusta can be “creamy and intense, with a full, syrupy mouthfeel.”
[Cuevas] put it this way: If robusta and arabica walked into a bar, arabica would blend in, but robusta “would be bigger, louder, funny and charismatic. It would draw a lot of attention. You can’t miss it.”
Soon enough, specialty Robusta may be a much more common sight than it currently is. Imagine a coffee shop promoting “100% Colombian Robusta”—that could be your children’s future. Fucking climate change is real y’all.
Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
Top image from What Is Natural Coffee? Let’s Find Out From Counter Culture Coffee Expert Tim Hill
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