Coffee Bean Issue 24 www.coffee-magazine.co.uk

in this issue... Raleigh’s Slingshot Editor: Jay Cee Coffee Star Wars Coffee [email protected] Table Sensation

co-pilot has been Design: The Coffee Bean Team

suspended for drinking [email protected]

coffee www.coffee-magazine.co.uk

Coffee-drinking parrot Contributors: car crash Briancee - Poet

Editorial

Well it’s time once again for to astronauts on the Coffee Bean - we are now on International Space Station. issue 24. Not really much to tell Some fun things and you really - just Sales of serious things co Pilot gets fairtrade-certified products suspended for drinking dropped in 2014. Specialty coffee whilst flying also a buyers think they can coffee drinking parot causes do a better job sourcing a car crash you can’t blame products independently. the coffee Well that’s it for now and I Star Wars coffee table causes will tell you a little more in a stare in the coffee world. issue 25.

A specially designed Ta Ta coffee machine that works The ED in space to be delivered From Across The Pond Investment of $400,000 Sets up Raleigh’s Slingshot Coffee for a Continued Growth Pattern A tremendous achievement for business, including production, current home. “We wanted a first-time competitor — or sales, marketing and new product to be somewhere near the for any competitor, really — development. “Pray, tell?” we asked neighborhood where I lived. I Jenny Bonchak recently placed of the latter, but Bonchak says she want the business to continue to second in the US Brewers Cup is currently “not quite ready to let be part of a community.” in Long Beach, Calif., behind the cat out of the bag.” champion Sarah Anderson Slingshot also opened a limited- of Intelligentsia and in front Slingshot’s core products hours retail component, of 2014 U.S. champion Todd currently include a ready-to- called Weekend, with outdoor Goldsworthy of Klatch Coffee. drink bottled cold brew, a seating, tapped cold brews and This was at a time when bottled cold brew concentrate hot coffee pourovers. Slingshot’s a large percentage of her and, most recently a cascara pattern thus far has been step- professional energy was largely tea. Bonchak sources her coffee by-step growth in fairly rapid focused elsewhere, in Raleigh, from Durham-based Counter succession, and Bonchak says the N.C., where her cold brew Culture, where her husband company may yet outgrow its business Slingshot Coffee was in Jonathan Bonchak has worked existing space, although she’d like the middle of a $400,000 for four years. (Both Bonchaks to stay there for as long as possible investment round with multiple have now stood on the figurative and further develop the Weekend firms. “I’ve been busy,” Bonchak Brewers Cup podium). Jenny component this Spring. Bonchak takes an innovative said on the heels of her Brewers “I have always had a lot of faith Cup success. approach in the bottled cold brew segment, pushing coffee in what this is — making a really good product,” says Bonchak. The funding was initiated through quality to the forefront. Slingshot even offers a seasonal brew, “I’ve certainly had ideas about a somewhat-chance meeting with ‘I would love to be at X sort John Replogle, the President and using single-origin coffees from Counter Culture. of place by X sort of time,’ but CEO of Seventh Generation Inc., there is a lot more focus just on and former President and CEO While Slingshot’s products are doing what is really good, and on of Burt’s Bees. Replogle got a hold now in stores in at least 11 being calculated about how we’re of Slingshot Coffee through a states, its beginnings three years growing as a brand. mutual friend of Bonchak’s, tasted ago were modest. Bonchak the product, requested a meeting, was brewing and bottling in a and the two hit it off. small kitchen space after hours. She would go in at 11 p.m., work “He’s been an amazing partner to through the night, go to her day have,” says Bonchak, who has also job, get a few brief minutes of secured investments from two shut-eye and do it all over again. separate private equity firms that she declined to name. “He believes As production grew, the one- so much in what we’re doing and person operation moved into he believes in the entrepreneurial an approximately 150-square- spirit. It’s not just a monetary foot space inside a Raleigh bike support he’s bringing, it’s a different shop owned by friends. In June kind of support he offers, and I’m 2014, feeling further production really grateful for it.” growth Bonchak moved yet again, into a 1,000-square-foot With the investment round dedicated space. nearly finalized, Bonchak says she intends to add staff and “We were very picky about ramp up all aspects of the where we wanted to be,” Bonchak says of Slingshot’s Sales of fairtrade-certified products dropped in 2014. Specialty buyers think they can do a better job sourcing products independently.

For the first time ever, Fairtrade assess the coffee’s quality before comparison) producer in the International saw its UK sales fall by committing to buying specific developed world. The playing field nearly 4 percent in 2014. This is a amounts, if any at all. “For us the is not level between producers in significant drop for an organization main thing is quality, and we’re rich and poor countries – from that has been a forerunner in ethical prepared to pay for quality.” basic school education, access to shopping for the past two decades. training, markets, and credit to Shoppers are less interested in Breton chef Olivier Roellinger the ability to invest sufficiently to looking for the Fairtrade logo than told the Guardian that he strives meet international standards. they are wanting to save the extra to treat his providers of spices dollars or support alternative the same as all his producers, Fairtrade doesn’t promise sourcing methods. paying a fair price when they have to save the world, nor will high quality spices to sell and it lift farmers out of poverty Fairtrade International’s trusting them to manage good on its own, but I don’t think ubiquitous logo is found on a and bad years on their own. people should be so quick to variety of products including brush it aside. Fairtrade used chocolate, coffee, tea, sugar, “The Fairtrade scheme is kind in conjunction with direct cotton, bananas, and flowers. It of neo-imperialistic,” Roellinger trade could be a potentially is meant to be an easy way for says. “Can you imagine what powerful force, rather than consumers to recognize that a British farmers would say if their rival trade models, and there’s product has been purchased fairly American customers came to no reason why the best and from its original producer. But, them and said, ‘Well, I’m only highest quality products can’t as its critics point out, Fairtrade going to trade with you guys if be Fairtrade. does not meet everyone’s needs. you get together and I can buy from all of you at the same time.’” As Harriet Lamb, CEO of Fairtrade Direct trade is seen as an International explains, “If a company appealing alternative, in which While Shannon and Roellinger knows of a group producing at buyers deal directly with make legitimate points, I think a particular high quality, they can producers, minus the Fairtrade they miss the point of Fairtrade. always support them to become “middlemen” and farmers’ Fairtrade strives to do exactly Fairtrade certified.” cooperatives, and, in some what these two buyers wish cases, pay much more for a to avoid – protect small-scale Related on TreeHugger.com: high-quality product than the farmers in years of great need and Fairtrade-mandated minimum. poor harvest by providing them Why we buy organic and The Fairtrade system, according with a secure source of income, Fairtrade: feelings matter. to some buyers, compromises support from a cooperative, quality because it sets prices a and community benefits. Would Coffee lovers, do you know the year in advance, without knowing Roellinger simply abandon his difference between direct trade what the quality of the next producers during those years and Fairtrade? harvest will be. when they don’t have high quality spices to sell? Most can’t fall back It’s not fair to bash Fairtrade “Fairtrade coffee is essentially on crop insurance or social welfare futures coffee,” Richard Shannon assistance to make ends meet. of Workshop Coffee in London tells the Guardian. Specialty It’s naïve to treat these farmers roasters want to be able to the same as a wealthy (by www.coffee-magazine.co.uk Star wars Coffee Table Sensation

“Star Wars” fan Ray Choi is dying Baker. Along with his talented gift he’ll treasure forever. to try out his new Han Solo team of artists, he builds amazing Baker starts off with a pre-made coffin coffee table tributes to movies and video coffin he then disassembles games for superfans nominated and modifies it so it can really Turns out you don’t have to by friends and family. be used to sleep in, as well as be Jabba the Hutt to get your utilized as a coffee table. Baker own life-size Han Solo trapped Baker and his crew in a recent also re-sculpts the face of Han in carbonite. On this week’s episode built a Han Solo Solo to look more like the super episode of the DIY webseries in carbonite coffin coffee fan who gets the coffin table. “Super-Fan Builds” we get to see table for Ray Choi, a fan who a “Star Wars” superfan get his volunteers as a Stormtrooper If you have a superfan to own Han Solo in carbonite coffin with the “Star Wars” cosplay nominate, contact the producers coffee table. charity organization the 501st of “Super-Fan Builds” at “Super-Fan Builds” shows off the Legion. His friends and fellow [email protected]. talents of movie prop designers, Stormtroopers decided to show led by industry veteran Tim him their gratitude with an epic

ISSPresso will finally bring decent coffee to space

the International Space Station captain in the Italian air force, ‘ISSpresso’ normally have to contemplate, “will be not only the first female space coffee but that is about to change astronaut from Italy to go into thanks to a new zero-gravity space, but also the very first machine to be coffee machine being delivered astronaut in the history of space shortly. The ISSpresso machine conquest to savour a great delivered to is set to boldly go to the orbital authentic Italian in station, and will be carried orbit,” the two companies said in International there by Italian astronaut a statement. . Space Station. The designers say it uses Astronauts on the station will “extraterrestrial” capsules A specially designed finally be able to enjoy a decent and can operate in coffee machine that works cup of coffee thanks to the “microgravity” conditions. in space to be delivered 20-kilogramme machine designed to astronauts on the by the best in Italian “ISSpresso is a technological coffee makers and engineering achievement that conforms to International Space Station. firm , who specialises in the technical requirements and making . ultra-strict security measures Do you want or ? imposed on us by the Italian Not a question astronauts on Cristoforetti, 37, who is also a space agency,” said David Avino, Argotec’s director general. components also had to be able a Soyuz rocket launched from to withstand enormous pressure. the Baikonur cosmodrome in Among the challenges for the Kazakhstan – and will stay there engineers was figuring out Cristoforetti will be travelling with until May 2015. how to get the liquids flowing an American, Terry Virts, and properly in zero gravity. Its steel Russian Anton Shkaplerov in

www.coffee-magazine.co.uk Coffee giant said its diversity debate will continue in other ways Starbucks has ended its Race the customer’s name, sparked of Race Together has always been Together campaign in coffee heated discussions online, with about humanity: the promise of shops, but vowed to continue its some commentators arguing the American Dream should be efforts to encourage discussions that simply using the term available to every person in this about race relations in the “race” perpetuated the outdated country, not just a select few. United States. concept of racial categories. “An issue as tough as racial and In a letter to staff, chief executive The campaign also faced ethnic inequality requires risk- Howard Shultz said that criticism for its timing, appearing taking and tough-minded action. will no longer write “Race in the wake of protests over And let me reassure you that Together” on cups. This part of police shootings of black men our conviction and commitment the campaign lasted just a week, including the killing of Michael to the notion of equality and although Mr Shultz said the Brown, an unarmed teenager in opportunity for all has never messages had always been due to Ferguson, Missouri. been stronger,” added Mr Shultz. end this year “While there has been criticism Meanwhile, a new poll suggests The initiative forms part of a of the initiative and I know this that Britons prefer Greggs coffee year-long effort by Starbucks hasn’t been easy for any of you to Starbucks. Last year, the to improve the debate about let me assure you that we didn’t company posted its first ever diversity in America. The messages expect universal praise,” Mr pre-tax profit in the UK. written on cups, in place of Shultz wrote to staff. “The heart Former public toilets, a changing pavilion and a park ranger station get Plans for bakery, coffee shop and riding school The city council decided last year former riding school which station at Glasgow Green was to return underused, unused will provide opportunities for withdrawn from the market to or derelict buildings to more disabled adults and children. accommodate a base for cycle positive use and to date, 10 have training which is being funded by been identified. Work is underway to renovate Cycling Scotland. the centre and it is anticipated Following a successful open it will be in operation before It is expected a final report will market operation, BeanYet summer. The task of repairing and be put before councillors later was granted a 15-year lease to refurbishing the former tennis this year. operate former public toilets in pavilion in Newlands Park started Kelvingrove Park at Eldon Street last month. The new tenants Discussions are also ongoing as a coffee shop. plan to open a combined coffee with possible partners which shop and teaching bakery by late involve the refurbishment of The firm is a social enterprise spring or early summer. Tollcross Winter Gardens and which will provide employment the creation of sports facilities at and training for long term An offer was accepted to convert Glenconner Park. unemployed adults and free the former public toilets on mobility scooters to widen Pollokshaws Road into a second Alistair Watson, the city council access to the park. hand book and music shop. sustainability and transport spokesman, said: “We have been Planning permission has been However the plan is on hold looking at a number of vacant granted, work has started and until the Shawlands Town Centre buildings in our parks for some time. it is hoped the coffee shop will Action Plan has been agreed. open in summer this year. Negotiations were under way “Ultimately, we want them with a company planning to use to play a positive role in, and A 15-year lease for the Linn the underground public toilets enhance people’s enjoyment of, Equestrian Centre was granted on St Vincent Place as a left our parks.” to New Ark in September last luggage store but are presently year. It plans to reopen the on hold. The former park ranger Coffeer Bean Research Ice-cold news from Löfbergs grocery stores, convenience Much-awaited challenger – a challenger to Starbucks stores as well as in selected The stores have welcomed restaurants and cafés as from Löfbergs ICE with open arms. mid-May. The product has gotten a wide Drinking iced coffee is getting listing at the major grocery more and more popular, Organic and Fairtrade stores in Sweden. It will also especially among younger people Löfbergs ICE is a milk-based coffee be sold at 7-Eleven and other on the go. The global giant drink and will initially be available convenience stores. Starbucks have been dominating in two different flavours: Espresso the Swedish market. Now, the and . Both are We have noticed that there really family-owned coffee roaster made of natural ingredients and is a desire for an alternative to Löfbergs is taking up the fight are organic as well as Fairtrade Starbucks. The interest is actually and launches Löfbergs ICE - a labelled. The cylindrical cardboard so great that we have already cooling iced coffee. This is truly packaging is fully recyclable. had to increase the production, David versus Goliath, but I believe says Leif Sjöblom. that we have got it all right when The product is aimed at a it comes to flavours and design. I younger target group that For more information: think we can give them a run for attaches great importance to Leif Sjöblom, Marketing their money, says Leif Sjöblom, being organic and fair. That is Director, Löfbergs, +46 (0) 54 14 marketing director at Löfbergs. why it feels so right being first 01 42, [email protected] in Sweden with an iced coffee Löfbergs ICE will be sold in that is both, says Leif woman says she struck the guardrail when she coffee-drinking glanced down to see what the bird was doing. parrot car crash The woman told police that the bird likes to drink coffee — and they also found bird seed in a cup holder next to the coffee and a few UNIONTOWN, Pa. (AP) — State police say a feathers nearby. woman blames her coffee-drinking pet parrot for distracting her moments before she crashed her car into a guardrail in Pennsylvania. Police say the woman broke her arm and had facial cuts because her air bag deployed. Troopers from Uniontown say the 35-year-old woman was driving on a South Union Township The bird was safely removed from the vehicle. road just before 5 p.m. Tuesday when she noticed the bird pecking at the lid of her coffee cup. The Coffee Bean Research Swindon coffee bride faces deportation

They fell in love over a cup of MP for North Wiltshire, and the the black stuff then they set up a Andy, 28, said: “Our whole world Labour party’s South Swindon coffee shop. has been torn apart. Our family parliamentary candidate said: and friends are here. We have a “This is a young couple who Jacky Collyer, 27 who was born business. We have a cat. have set up a very successful in Australia, then moved to the business in the Railway Village in UK in 2011, met her husband “The law came in in 2012 which an area which really needs more Andy Carter while she was means we needed to prove Jacky businesses like this. working in Brighton’s Taylor was earning at least £18,600 to Street Baristas. stay here. The pair are now in “I am shocked and dismayed to discussions with an immigration hear about how they have Jacky and Andy married lawyer and plan to appeal the been treated. in 2013 and returned to latest decision, but they have also Swindon, near where Andy begun to consider other options. I will be talking to some of my grew up in Purton, to open If we have to go we might try friends who are MPs and will up their own artisan coffee setting something up somewhere be trying to find out what can house in Faringdon Road. But else, probably in Europe, maybe be done.” a week before they were to in Germany.” open Darkroom Espresso A Home Office spokesman said: last August, Jacky received a Darkroom Espresso’s most “All applications are considered letter from the Home Office loyal customers have started a on their individual merits and in telling her that because the Facebook campaign to try and line with immigration rules.” couple did not meet the keep Jacky in the country. minimum income threshold for Jacky said: “Everyone has been For more about the campaign, sponsoring a non-EU spouse to really supportive.” visit www.facebook.com/ stay in the country, she would Savedarkroom have to return to Melbourne. Among their supporters are the Coffee Bean Research

Coffee Bean magazine www.coffee-magazine.co.uk centre where there were no we both want to spend time The Child windows, it was in a basement. in, with or without children. I just thought, ‘Oh my God, is ”The couple now run the this what your life’s like after Hungry Caterpillar in Bristol, Friendly you have children?’ ” Melody which has proved to be hugely says. “I wanted cake and a popular since opening just over a year ago. Quality food is cup of tea, somewhere above coffee shop an important part of the ground,where I felt like I have ethos, particularly after their revolution some personality.” time spent eating lunch at She says the problem comes for soft play centres. The menu The coffee shop parents with children between features homemade Middle Eastern food, including falafel revolution on our high the ages of six months and five, and lamb meatballs, while the streets means that most of us at a time when you can’t take kid’s mezze offers a range are spoilt for choice when it a child to a restaurant or café because they can’t keep still, of healthy options. The Food comes to looking for a good or suddenly decide to throw a is produced from all fresh independent café to go to relax tantrum. produce, nothing’s processed. with friends or a place to do We’ve got a lot of vegan and some work out of the office. The idea to help families vegetarian choices. We make But once you need a place with have good coffee and a everything ourselves and have young children in the picture, place for the children. our own chef on site,” Melody the selection becomes more says. “We’re trying to create limited. Your favourite coffee The couple decided to create a a proper café with a play area joint might not be the best space where children could play, attached to it.” place to take an energetic but where grown-ups would still get the full coffee shop While the kindercafé movement three-year-old. Soon you find took off in Berlin five years yourself swapping cappuccino experience: “A lot of places that cater for children don’t ago, making the city a great and cake for chicken nuggets really care about the adults. destination for families, the and cold chips in a noisy, We still like good drink and trend has only just started to subterranean soft play centre. good food. It’s about families gain momentum here in the UK enjoying their time together, and can only be another great At least this was what Melody but it’s also about the adults.” coffee Idea. and Tom Beard discovered after Tom adds that the idea was for their daughter was born. the café to be somewhere they would go themselves: “We’ve “We were sat in a soft play tried to create a place that Coffee Bean Research co-pilot has been suspended for drinking coffee

Recently the sudden plunge The jet was cruising towards emergency return because of an of the Serbian president’s Rome over the Adriatic sea when engine failure. plane after an investigation it suddenly plunged caused panic shows that it was due to the among the passengers until the The Presidents adviser Ivan co-pilot spilling coffee on the captain stabilised the aircraft Mrkic said “We lived through a instrument panel. and returned to Serbian real drama in the air, the plane capital Belgrade. started shaking violently, we The co-pilot accidentally were being tossed all over in the activated the emergency slat President Tomislav Nikolic was cabin. We are alive only thanks extension when trying to clean heading to the Vatican for an to the pilot.” the coffee from the panel. That official visit, which was cancelled. reportedly caused the plane to Serbia’s aviation authorities say dive and the brief shutdown of At the time his press office said the co-pilot has been suspended. one of the engines. the Falcon 50 plane made an Free coffee at Starbucks is the computers fault

Starbucks chain's computer away free drinks and food wireless charging. systems had trouble in the because they were unable to US and Canada.The glitch ring up orders on registers. In Williamsburg, Virginia, affected registers at 7,400 Starbucks initially said stores Tom Roberts was part of two company-operated stores in would remain open during the couples who stopped by a the U.S. and 1,000 in Canada, outage, then changed course Starbucks after dinner. He and prompted some stores to and said it decided to close said they accepted the store give away drinks. stores early. manager's offer of free coffee or tea."They were super polite Starbucks said the outage Starbucks stores are typically in coping with it,”he said of was caused by "a failure busiest in the mornings when Starbucks staff. during a daily system people are on their way to refresh." Jim Olson, a work, meaning the impact of Some customers took the company spokesman, the outage on sales could news harder than others. stressed it was an internal have been far worse. Still, the "One guy had been driving issue and that no external company has been trying to all day, he was anxious for breach was involved. attract more customers in the a nice fancy Starbucks - but late afternoons and evenings she gave him a large coffee The problem began in the with an expanded menu of and he was cool," Roberts evening Friday on the East food and drinks. said. "I think he had a little Coast, with workers posting craving going." hand-written "Cash Only" Starbucks announced signs on windows and giving previously it was to offer free

Counter Culture's Geared-Out Training Centre For Coffee Excelence. Behind the veneer of bearded is granted the utmost care and eager to plumb the depths of hipsters that floods the world of precision with a massive range coffee knowledge, hopefully high-end coffee lies an intricate of gadgets, from the latest more people will see the world field of science, gadgetry and greatest, such as the new of coffee for more than just its and taste requiring years of modular Modbar espresso trendy exterior. experience to master. Counter system, to honoured methods of Culture is at the forefront of pouring water over dry grounds. This article has made it my coffee education, and its new mission to try and visit a training NYC training centre is the apex Anyone is free to take classes centre one day. of techniques and technology. there, and the environment is terrific for learning, Coffee Bean Research The beautifully designed new with bleacher-style seating location and the airy, modern overlooking demonstration space is composed of various counters, video projection, and stations and rooms devoted to of course more than one of all grinding, testing and brewing the industry-standard gear. coffee in its many forms. Every aspect to brewing coffee With training centres like these Coffee Bean Gadget Section Impress Coffee Brewer pressed, allowing in only your Top-rack dishwasher safe delicious coffee flavour and (hand-wash the outer cup if nothing else. No more sludgy you want to protect the print) sediment or intolerable over- brewed bitterness. Product Features: Coffee addicts and connoisseurs rejoice (you The double-walled exterior, Made from stainless steel and know who you are). The combined with the steel food-grade silicone (it’s like perfect on-the-go coffee weapon-grade, but for food) solution has arrived – the Brew the perfect cup of Impress Coffee Brewer. coffee in 3 minutes

This isn’t just your average Easy to use and clean thermos flask either. No no, this sleek stainless steel piece Dimensions: of kit actually brews your caffeine-laden brain fuel. Holds approximately 400ml plunger create 3 walls of (4oz) There are no paper filters, insulation that are certain to electric mechanisms, risky keep your coffee perfectly Measures approximately balancing acts or fussy coils. warm and your dainty hands 15cm(H) x 8cm(Ø) Just place the grounds in the won’t get burned whilst outer cup, add hot water, you’re clasping it. allow it to brew for a paltry three minutes, then push the You will never have put so inner cup all the way down little effort in to such an and snap on the spill-proof amazing cup of coffee. Just lid. Simple. fill, brew, press and enjoy

Some incredibly impressive Only use gentle pressure filter technology keeps the when pressing. Excessive grounds from brewing any force can cause scalding hot further after the coffee is liquid to shoot upwards www.coffee-magazine.co.uk