Arizona Coffee

Ms. Herr informed me about Alltop Coffee News the other day, and I wanted to share the link. Think of it as an index of coffee web sites.

This spring I’m going on a trip to New Zealand and Australia (for about 10 days). I’ll be visiting Auckland first, and a bunch of other places along the way. Does anybody have recommendations for coffee houses I should visit?

Stumbled upon this great video about a latte art competition in Atlanta. This is what we’re doing in Phoenix. All of us.

I found a bit more info about the activities in Atlanta. This video and this blog about the throwdown which includes photos in particular.

Joe Johnston wrote in with a job posting:

Looking for baristas for afternoon/evening shifts and Sundays. We are located in downtown Gilbert. Our E-61 Bar specializes in classic preparations made on a 1965 Faeme E-61 3 group. Zinc clad bar seats 8 while the entire place seats 160.

Active bar with many regulars. Good base pay plus generous tips and excellent employee meals. Will receive intensive, hands-on training. We are only interested in baristas who (a) have a passion for coffee and (b) serve from the heart.

Please apply in person.
230 N. Gilbert Rd.
Ask for Joe Johnston or leave a message for more info.
(480) 892-1900
Or via twitter:realjoe

Website: www.libertymarket.com

We had 9 people competing in Thursday’s latte art contest at Press Coffee. Thanks to everybody who came out. There were about 30 people in attendance.

The winners…

1. Joseph (85 points)
2. Alan (80 points)
3. John (79 points)
4. Natasha (75 points)
5. Jason (75 points
6. Steve (72 points)
7. Samuel (67 points)
8. Teresa (57 points)
9. Jen (52 points)

Photo: First prize winner Joseph Mains (of Cartel Coffee Lab).

First prize winner received $31 (70% of the pot) and a Bodum 3 Cup French Press (contributed by Arizona Coffee). Second prize earned $14 (30% of the pot). Thank you to Press Coffee Food and Wine for hosting the event and to Ground Control Coffee for co-sponsoring along with Arizona Coffee. Special thank you to Todd Welfelt who helped me judge the contest. Couldn’t have done it without you.

I had a really, really good time and I thank everyone who participated. We have a really great coffee community in Arizona and I can’t wait until we can do this again. A mega-post with more photos and video is coming soon (probably this weekend).

Dylan Jung wrote in to let us know about a change in Sedona:

I wanted to let you know of a change in one of Sedona’s cafes. Java Love Cafe has replaced what used to be Sedona Coffee Roasters. It’s under new ownership but they are still roasting their own coffee and have expanded their food and drink menu. They will also have a Liquor License soon that will enable them to offer coffee drinks with alcohol, such as Baileys. There is also a healthy dose of live entertainment, Poetry Nights, Movie Nights and Music Showcases happening.

I am a Barista there so you can contact me with any questions, but I’d love it if you could could include us on your map or update that anywhere possible on your site.

Thanks Chris, I’m always keeping in touch with your site!

Thanks,
Dylan Jung

Java Love Cafe & Roasters
West Sedona – just West of the Harkins movie plaza
2155 W. Hwy 89A
Phone: (928) 204-1500

Tonight is Arizona’s 1st Latte Art Throwdown. An event I hope becomes a monthly or quarterly event. Hosted by Press Coffee and sponsored by Ground Control Coffee, Arizona Coffee, and Judged by Chris Tingom and Todd Welfelt.

Where:

Press Coffee Food and Wine
5410 E. High St.
Suite 115
Phoenix, AZ 85054
At CityNorth

When:

From 8-9 pm

Free to attend:

No charge to attend. If you want to compete please read the rules and see the event details.

The following competition rules / guidelines have been written by Todd Welfelt (I helped a little bit). You can read them below or download a Latte Art Competition Rules PDF. Please note that these rules may be updated at any time.

Competition format:

Each competitor will provide a total of three drinks to the judging panel to be judged. Two drinks will be rosettas and the third will be competitors choice. Competitors will have 5 minutes to provide the drinks with 5 minutes for cleanup afterwards.

The drinks can be provided in any order and the competitor can produce as many drinks as the time allows. Only the three drinks served to the judging panel will be judged. The competitors will not loose marks for making more than three drinks but once a drink has been given to the judges a competitor cannot take it back.

The competitors will be timed. The competitor will let the judges know when to begin timing. Points will be deducted for competitors who go over the specified time limit at the following rate:

• Up to 1 minute over – 5 point deduction
• 1 minute to 2 minutes over – 10 point deduction
• 2 minutes to 3 minutes over – 15 point deduction
• 3 minutes to 4 minutes over – 20 point deduction

The competitors will be judged on the following criteria:

1. Taste – 30%
2. Presentation – 30%
3. Originality – 30%
4. Preparation/Cleanup – 10%

Each drink served for judging can earn a maximum of 30 points – 10 points for taste, 10 points for presentation, and 10 points for originality giving competitors the ability to earn 90 points from their three drinks. The final 10 points will be given when the competitor has indicated they have finished cleaning the workstation.

Taste:

Each drink will be given up to 10 points for taste. Taste will be judged using the following criteria:

Latte – can contain and will be accepted within any of the following parameters:

• Must contain a distinct espresso taste
• Must contain steamed milk
• Must have between 0.5 and 1.5cm rich dense foam on top
• Cocoa or chocolate can be used to decorate the top of the latte. It must contain crema and milk in any design
• Sketching and free pour are both acceptable presentation styles. Barista will not lose or gain
• points over style selection but rather on clarity and quality of design and beverage taste
• Competitor choice designs do not have to be purely free pour. Other implements for decoration can be used such as sketching tools and stencils.

Presentation:

Each drink will be given up to 10 points for presentation. Criteria for presentation are as follows:

• Clarity of design
• Design style
• Milk texture
• Quality of espresso

Rosetta – latte art design that resembles a leaf

• Generally has 4 or more distinct leaves on either side of the stem
• Has clear definition between the lighter colored milk and the darker colored espresso/crema
• Is evenly distributed in the center of the cup

Originality:

Each drink will be given up to 10 points for originality. Originality points will be awarded for unique design, personal flair/passion, original use of ingredients, and unique preparation and presentation of the drinks.

Preparation/cleanup:

Each competitor will be given up to 10 points for proper preparation and cleanup of the workstation. Points will be deducted if the workstation is left unclean.

Maximum number of points available for a competitor is 100. The two highest scores will be our winners. Remember – this is a fun and friendly competition. Always remember to have fun and enjoy the coffee community in Arizona!

I almost forgot about these photos. I took them right around Christmas at Lux Coffee.

Interior shot.

Two cappuccinos.

My friend, Joey (we met to talk about an article he’s writing). I like the red stripe of paint they’ve added to the walls.

I’m finally getting around to posting the photos I took at Cartel on January 3rd.

Cappuccino.

Barista behind the new Synesso.

Another cappuccino.

Jason, the owner of Cartel speaking with two customers.

Todd (Oddley).

Austin (Caffeinated).

Menu.

Another shot of Jason, the owner of Cartel.

Phoenix: Are you ready for a latte art contest?

• Prizes: 1st and 2nd place
• $5 buy in
• 3 drinks — all free form
• Judged by the amazing Chris Tingom (Arizona-Coffee.com) and Todd Welfelt!
• When: Thursday, January 22nd
• Time: 8-9 pm
• Sponsors are Ground Control Coffee and Arizona Coffee.com
• Where: Press Coffee Food and Wine at 5410 E. High St. Suite 115, Phoenix, AZ 85054.

More details to follow! To participate in the contest (pro or hobby baristas encouraged) please call Press Coffee at (480) 419-6221. To simply observe the throw down is free and no RSVP is required.

Brian wrote to let us know about a coffee shop closing: “Beans Books and Barks in North Phoenix has closed. There was a prior coffee shop in that same location. Here’s hoping someone else can give it a shop.”

Chad wrote in to let us know that: “Daily Rush in Scottsdale is now under new ownership and has changed names. Great new menu items, Awesome Coffee and as always free WIFI.”

D’Lish Drive Thru
2613 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85257
Phone (480) 2478537

This one is straight out of a joke book or something. So the cartoonist Mike Peters who pens Mother Goose & Grimm offended The Colombian Coffee Growers Federation his January 2nd comic.

You can read the full story on AZCentral.