daniel13

If you're not into coffee this will bore you.I'm back from minnesota, had a good time. I'm so tired, my flight came in late last night and i had to go to work at 6:30 this morning.I'm a part of the roasters guild-which is designed to further our coffee knowledge as roasters.they had there annual retriet this year in minn.Were starting a certification program. You see, in the past a roaster would apprentence under a master roaster for years--it takes alot of experience to become a master roaster. However some people think they may have mastered the craft of roasting in a shorter amount of time and call themselves a master roaster. There were no rules really just an understanding that it took a very long time to become a master roaster. So the term is thrown around much too loosely.So this certification program will put some structure to it. Its going to be alot of work. There are 4 levels apprentance, journey man, master and distinguished master which hardly anyone makes it that far.I know it sounds like we take coffee too serious but the only thing we import more of in america is oil. Coffee is a huge part of our culture and even a bigger part of the cultures of the growing regions where it is grown.There is a huge coffee crisis with brazil and vietnam over suppling the market with low grade coffee. Thousands of people in coffee regions are suffering, starving,dying--especially in central and south america--Hundreds of farmers in these countries are having to sell there farms that have been in there families for generations, I believe its our responsibility as consumers to make informed choices--not just look for deals, cheap coffee is cheap for a reason- a bad reason, people are getting screwed bad. Its very sad, I've met some of the farmers, they come to conventions and visit roasteries to tell their story . There are alot of great coffee companies out there. Look for the ones that practice craft roasting, that buy from small farmers-- fairtrade coffee can be a good thing too but alot of small farmers are left out because they can not afford the certification, same goes for certified organic products.So make informed decisions. Blaw ....blaw... blaw...for real.

i've been listening to J5 all day.It hit the spot. also picked up the newest subsonics, anyone have any sugestions on music. I like almost anything. Oh i want the new voivod, thats a metal group from the 80s that jason newsteds now plays bass with.I never really cared for they guy but this might be cool.