Down Goes the Tax on Specialty Coffee
In its rainy Northwestern corner of the United States, Seattle has long since established itself as the specialty coffee capital of North America. Citizens of the stimulated metropolis, however, have voted against a bill that would have added 10 cents to the cost of their beloved espressos. An astounding two-to-one vote defeated the tax, which was designed to fund pre-kindergarten programs and raise teachers' wages. The tax would not have applied to regular coffee, tea and cocoa drinks. Proponents of the tax estimated it would generate seven million dollars in revenue annually. Those in the anti-tax camp argued it would take a mighty toll on the specialty coffee industry. Many espresso devotees are adamant about not forking over the extra pennies for their caffeine; they feel victimized, singled out. Leading the protest was the JOLT coalition, which was funded by Starbucks, the state restaurant association and the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. JOLT boasted an impressive roster of heavy hitters not surprisingly, as Starbucks, the major financial shark in Seattle's murky java waters, stood to suffer the most. Jeff Babcock of Zoka Coffee Roaster and Tea Co. took matters into his own hands, rallying endlessly against the tax to national media and organizing anti-tax marches around the city. Given the overwhelming number of protesters who turned out for the events, and the countless news stories pertaining to the tax nationwide, the tactic obviously worked.


World Tea Forum
The Tea Association of the United States of America presents the inaugural World Tea Forum, a new effort to broaden the horizons and capabilities of the worldwide specialty tea industry. The event, commencing in New York City, October 8­10 at the New York Palace Hotel, will take place every other year while the traditional tea convention holds court in the interim years. The Forum promises classes and lectures designed to address all aspects of the industry. Outside of the classroom, attendees will have opportunities to hob-nob with the industry's most renowned luminaries, and with each other in a push toward the continued expansion of the industry.


Keeping the Pace
The Australian Institute of Sport has concluded a study that should please coffee drinkers and athletes alike. Coffee, according to the study, can boost exercise stamina. The Australian researchers found that a small dose of caffeine can extend an athlete's stamina by one third. The weight of the study relies on caffeine's utilization of fat, rather than carbohydrate sugars, as an energy source. The study also shows caffeine to be effective only in small doses-one cup of coffee, for example. So that Stairmaster might not feel so torturous after a cup, but don't expect to break any land distance records by loading up on espresso.


Specialty Coffee Association of America Launches cMembership
In its constant mission to further the specialty coffee industry, The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), takes another step by tipping its hat to the consumer connoisseur with the introduction of the cMembership Program. Consumers, the backbone of the specialty coffee industry, have the power to provide retailers and coffee experts with knowledgeable feedback about the specialty coffee world, and the SCAA's support of that dialogue underscores the new program. The program offers consumers who are deeply interested in specialty coffee the opportunity to acquire information from expert retailers and coffee professionals. The cMembership Program is a clear sign that the organization continues to be bent on bridging gaps in the specialty coffee industry.

For more information on the cMembership Program, contact the SCAA at 562/624-4100 or visit the Web site, www.scaa.org



Spotlight on Signature Drinks
Photo by DJ Phalen
Barista: DJ & Angela Phalen
Coffeehouse: Angelina’s
Location: Watertown, South Dakota
Drink: The Frozen South Dakotan
Contents: Torani chocolate sauce, creme de cacao, caramel, creme de menthe, sweetened condensed milk, half & half, espresso shot(s), ice, caramel flavored whipped cream, fresh mint sprigs.
Preparation: Place enough ice in a blender to ensure thorough slushiness. Then add mocha chocolate sauce, creme de cacao, a jigger of caramel, a hint of creme de menthe, sweetened condensed milk, half & half, and espresso. Blend all ingredients until smooth, and voila: caffeinated bliss. The drink is then topped with caramel flavored whipped cream and garnished with mint sprigs.
Inspiration: "The inspiration for the Frozen South Dakotan came from the state's notorious weather. This is precisely when everyone becomes a Frozen South Dakotan.

This wonderfully rich, cold drink reminds South Dakotans that the steamy summer is short, and the winter is fast approaching. We absolutely love this drink. It gets customers talking about coffee and techniques more than any other!"
Send your photos of signature drinks along with a contact phone number to "Signatures," Fresh Cup Magazine, PO Box 14827, Portland, OR 97293; or e-mail a high-resolution image to freshcup@freshcup.com


Baristi Unite!
The always lively specialty coffee scene in Portland, Ore., was elevated to a pro-barista mecca during the Fresh Cup ROADSHOW Specialty Coffee and Tea Trade Show and Conference September 12­14, when two dedicated groups of barista enthusiasts came together as SCAA-sanctioned groups for the first time.
   The Barista Guild, which is similar in context and vision to the Roasters Guild, held an open meeting at Fresh Cup ROADSHOW and hosted a hoppin' party for baristi in an effort to promote the cause of the Barista Guild. North American baristi interested in the augmentation of specialty coffee preparation excellence and the critical role of the barista in the specialty coffee industry are encouraged to join up with the Guild, which will hold another meeting at Coffee Fest Seattle October 24­26. For more information, contact Andy Cronin at andyc@batdorf.com.
   Further, the newly-formed SCAA United States Barista Competition Committee, met for an industrious day-long session to discuss promotion and standardization of the various elements of competitions, from delegating new regional competitions and endorsing nationwide Barista Jam Sessions, to regimenting judging and competition practices, and organizing sponsorship opportunities. For more information, check the SCAA's Web site (www.scaa.org) for forthcoming information.


Tainted Tea?
Hao Shan Tea is not the newest and most supple green tea on the market. It's not a rich amber-hued oolong, nor is it a spicy herbal tisane. Hao Shan Tea is the name, in Chinese characters, that was written on packages ready for export from the Philippines. But what the packages contained was far from specialty tea. Instead, the bundles were filled with shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), a stimulant that is the Eastern version of crystal methamphetamine. The shabu was discovered in Parañaque City, a section of Manila, when a house suspected to be a den for drug trafficking was raided. The owners of the house were already under arrest for allegedly operating a shabu factory in the town of Tanza in the Cavite province just across the Manila Bay. This discovery is the latest in a series of crack-downs on drug trafficking in the Philippines, but this occasion marks the first time the stimulant has been labeled as tea.


England Reviving Tea Time
In an effort to steer young beer drinkers away from late night ballyhoo and tomfoolery, the English parliament has recommended that more coffee shops stay open late to counter the country's nighttime drinking culture. Parliamentary chairwoman Christine Russel says, "British towns and cities focus their evening activities on young people, but a successful renaissance depends on striking a balance between a good night out for some and a good night's sleep for others." In a report issued by Parliament, it is suggested that the nightlife merchants and community work with local authorities to improve public transportation, discourage activities where binge drinking occurs most, such as happy hours, and install more urinals along the streets. For a country infamous for its pubs, the suggested change is a bold decision. If it works, Britain's streets may be lined with blokes sipping joe, not headed straight to the pub for a pint.


Starbucks Double Cross
Since the sixties, San Francisco has been a bastion of left-wing politics, anti-establishment thinking and liberalism. Starbucks has gained a reputation as the antithesis of that San Francisco mindset. So it should come as no surprise that 17 Starbucks retail outlets in San Francisco's financial district were vandalized with spray-paint and signs declaring the shops were out of business. At some stores, vandals went so far as to spray a cloudy substance over the windows indicating abandonment, and to hang "For Lease" signs expounding on corporate layoffs and downsizing efforts. In the end, it was a minor setback for Big Green; all the coffee shops opened the same day the vandalism was reported. But for radical San Franciscans, a small victory was won, adding another page to the city's rich, liberalist history.


Guilty: Sentenced to Relaxation
In Santa Fe, N.M., the old adage, "lock 'em up and throw away the key" might not be as applicable as it may have once been. A new, more appropriate way to phrase criminal sentencing might be, "sit 'em down and give 'em tea." Thanks to Municipal Judge Frances Gellegos, offenders in the Santa Fe judicial system can now opt to partake in an alternative sentencing program-tai chi classes, acupuncture and schooling in Japanese tea service.
   The program is designed to help offenders relax, especially those with histories of violence. Each participant must pay $180 for the class, but considering the fact that the other option is picking up trash, the fee might not seem so bad. A 20-year-old offender told the Albuquerque Journal tai chi has "given me time to reflect on my actions. Just physically, I've been feeling more balanced." Another offender involved in the alternative program says, "it just makes you really think twice about your mistakes."
   Instructor Mark De Francis, a doctor of Asian medicine, talks to participants about exhibiting strength through means other than violence. Offenders-turned-students sip tea containing kava kava, known for its relaxing properties, during meditation phases. After all is said and done, the hope is that offenders will re-enter society as thoughtful, meditative tea drinkers continuing on their path to enlightenment. But this time, they won't be wearing handcuffs.

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