Fair Grounds - Peace Coffee

Keeping the Faith
Green Beans Lost in Katrina's Wake by Scott Patterson, Peace Coffee Director
The Revolution Will Not Be Motorized by Andy Lambert
The Joy of Stovetop Espresso Machines by Melanee Meegan, Marketing and Advertising Director
The Wanderlust Returns By Brad the Intrepid Bean Pedaler
Test Your Coffee Knowledge!
Quote of the Month
Past Issues of Fair Grounds

Many people may be surprised to know that much of the coffee, Fair Trade and otherwise, that is imported into the United States comes through the port of New Orleans. When Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, the human toll was horrific. Now, as the water recedes, the country begins to assess the economic damage. In the storm, the warehouse that stores green beans for Cooperative Coffees (of which Peace Coffee is a member) was hard hit and we may have lost all of our green bean inventory (see Scott's story below). While this may not seem that important when balanced against the challenges of those who have lost everything, our livelihood will be affected. But Peace Coffee will go on, stronger and more dedicated to spreading our Fair Trade message.

On a brighter note, we've wrapped up our summer activities, as Andy reports in this issue of Fair Grounds. Also this month, Melanee reports on the home espresso making techniques she encountered on her recent trip to Italy, Brad says goodbye, and TJ muses on his experiences with our farmer partners in Guatemala. All this plus a trivia question and a recipe that blends coffee with traditional New Orleans fare makes for an interesting issue. Read on and enjoy...

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by Scott Patterson, Peace Coffee Director

While it doesn't seem right to worry about coffee beans in the wake of Katrina, we do need to ensure that Peace Coffee can continue to grow the Fair Trade movement, and this means finding coffee to stay in business. We have not received "official" information from our New Orleans warehouse, Dupuy, but we are assuming that all our coffee is lost. The coffee at Dupuy is actually "owned" by Cooperative Coffees, a cooperative of 17 North American roasters that buy Fair Trade beans together. Peace Coffee is a founding member of Cooperative Coffees and, while we have hard commitments for a significant number of coffee bags, we do not actually own this coffee (we take ownership of the coffee when it leaves the warehouse to come to Minneapolis). Cooperative Coffees is insured in excess of the value of inventory in New Orleans so, with our fingers crossed, we expect to make a full recovery. The Coop's insurance company has been extremely pro-active and professional, adding to our optimism. In a worst case scenario our risk is limited to our equity in Cooperative Coffees and our inability to purchase coffee through this wonderful organization.

To make up for the coffee lost in New Orleans, mostly Central American beans due the harvest schedule, we have sourced beans from a local importer. Of course all of these beans are Fair Trade and organic certified. Cooperative Coffees has several containers on the water that have been re-routed to a new warehouse position we have established in Toronto. Fall arrivals of South American and Asian beans in the pipeline will ship there as well. We feel confident that we will be able to source enough Fair Trade coffee so that we will be able to supply our customers without a hiccup. New Orleans' warehouses stored more coffee imports than anywhere else in the United States. The loss of this coffee is already having an upward impact on prices and will push the "C" market into new territory for the year. We will provide updates as we know more and keep our thoughts with those impacted by this unimaginable tragedy.

To make a contribution to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts, consider one of the following organizations:
www.hurricanehousing.org
www.naacp.org
www.redcross.org
www.acorn.org

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by Andy Lambert

The summer is over. Nightly temperatures are creeping into the 50s and my event calendar has changed from weekend long events to food coop demos and campus outreach events. It has been a good summer. We did some big gigs and made a lot of new friends. From renewable energy and sustainability fairs to music festivals, we spread the Peace Coffee love all over the northland. Our last two major events took us across Lake Michigan and across the Mississippi River.

Peace Coffee was a sponsor of the 1st International Fixed Gear Symposium held in Traverse City, MI, over the second weekend in August. The event was a gathering of about 80 fixed gear enthusiasts from all over the country. What is a “fixed gear,” you ask?

more...

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by Melanee Meegan, Marketing and Advertising Director

On a trip to Italy last month, I spent my first week on the coast near the popular Cinque Terre region. I stayed in a villa on a steep rocky hill in the quaint town of Levanto. I welcomed each morning of my vacation with a cup of espresso made on the stove. The smell of the brewing coffee combined with the gentle breeze from the cool Mediterranean air was intoxicating. Most coffee aficionados will say that this simple device is not really considered a true espresso maker because it lacks a steaming wand but the stovetop espresso maker is used widely in European homes. A bottom chamber (which can range from a single to a twelve cup capacity) holds the water. The top chamber holds the finished coffee. The espresso is created when steam pressure forces the hot water up a tube and onto the coffee grounds located in a filter between the two chambers. The coffee then dribbles into the top chamber where it can be poured from a spout. The espresso quality is certainly not that of a café but it is still dark and strong and even better with a drop of hot milk.

Of course I did have the "real" espresso. It was delicious and immaculately presented in a cup and saucer with a packet of sugar tucked on the side. Espresso was available at every bar and restaurant in Italy. I’ve heard people say that Italians drink wine like water but I would argue that they would not survive without their espresso. Early in the morning, Italians flock to café countertops to drink a shot of espresso or a cappuccino before heading to work. There is no “coffee-to-go.” You say hello to everyone around you, enjoy your drink, then pay and you are on your way. I didn’t think I could become more of a coffee addict than I already am, but my trip to Italy gave me a greater appreciation for the art of espresso making and the camaraderie of drinking coffee together.

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By Brad the Intrepid Bean Pedaler

Sad to say, this is my last month working for Peace Coffee. I'll be pulling my last trailer-load on the last day of the month.

I've been surprised this past month to discover how fast word of my impending departure has spread through the co-ops, restaurants, and cafes that I deliver to regularly. People who I’ve never really gotten the chance to know approach me and say "It won’t be the same without you," or "Can I have your job when you go?" It’s both flattering and saddening to be reminded of what we here in the Twin Cities are about and how lucky I’ve been to be a stand-out part in it.

But now it's time to step aside and give some one else a turn. Let's face it, city streets can be a stressful scene. Minnesota weather can be equally daunting. A body can only be subjected to so much before it longs for open, unending roads free of traffic signals and the hollow rattle of bad exhaust systems. There comes a point when the idea of riding to an ocean becomes the only sensible tonic for jolted nerves. So I’m heading west. I’m going to see the west coast by bicycle.

During my adventure, I'll be sending postcards and letters back into town, to my friends at Peace Coffee. And for what it's worth, I hope that they'll be posted on the website or here in the newsletter so that I can share my journey with more than a few folks. However, I'll be taking my own brand of boyish charm with me as I hear it'll come in handy.

So in parting, I guess it's appropriate to welcome both Nick Johnson and Keith Tomlinson to the Peace Coffee crew. They'll be taking over on our ever-expanding delivery routes, both in town and out to the suburbs, getting coffee where it needs to get and bringing armloads of their own boyish charm wherever they go.

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We're giving away coffee!

Think you know a lot about coffee? This month's intriguing question can be found here. Entering is easy and it's FUN!

Pam McCallister, former Peace Coffee employee who now teaches graphic design in Sacramento, knew that "fair trade" was the answer to last month's Coffee Knowledge "jumble" puzzle. Congratulations, Pam!

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"True hope dwells on the possible, even when life seems to be a plot written by someone who wants to see how much adversity we can overcome."

-- Walter Anderson

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Fair Grounds is produced by:
Cooperative Coffees

Contact Information:

Orders and General Information
Phone - 612.870.3440 or 1.888.324.7872
Fax - 612-677-3989
E-Mail - info@peacecoffee.com
Web - http://www.peacecoffee.com

Peace Coffee Crew*:
Anna Canning
Beth Backen
Rachel Hiltsley
Andy Lambert
Melanee Meegan
Jamie Schumacher
TJ Semanchin
Nate Stevens
Scott Patterson

*We work together to get the coffee out to our customers. Although we have specific job titles, we all take turns switching roles and putting in time where it's needed most.

Peace Coffee Bikers*:
Nick Johnson
Keith Tomlinson

*Our bikers pack a mean trailer full of coffee. They are speedy as speedy gets. Watch out, when they are on the street, they mean business!

Fair Grounds is designed by:

Starstruck Design
335 West Gill Road
Gill, MA 01376

Contact Information:
Don Kruger
Lynn Nichols
Phone - 413.863.7752
Fax - 413-863-7752
Web - http://www.starstruckdesign.com

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