Help Starbucks Find The Perfect Eco-Cup
The environment craze is far from over. At the rate things are going, more and more people are going to join this movement. If I had it my way, everyone should be more environment-conscious FOR REAL. You know what I mean, not mere lip service kind.
Anyhow, Starbucks is making a move that leans towards saving the environment. As for whether it is the real deal or the lip service type – you be the judge. Last month, they announced a contest which aims to help them find a solution to the disposable cup problem. Here’s the official announcement:
On April 1 we are officially launching an online contest to engage creative thinkers in solving the disposable cup waste problem through open collaboration.
We are especially excited to announce that Starbucks Coffee Company is sponsoring the contest as part of its aim to serve 100 percent of its hand-crafted beverages in reusable or recyclable cups by 2015.
Starbucks has provided $20,000 in cash prizes to be awarded for the most innovative ideas. The participant who submits the best idea, determined by an expert panel, will receive a $10,000 cash prize. In addition, participants whose ideas are among the top five selected by the community of collaborators will each be awarded a $2,000 cash prize.
I have to say that the intention is good, no doubt about that. I am a bit surprised, though, that the effort has to be this massive. Can’t they come up with a solution like, say, stop using disposable cups? Or am I being too simplistic here? Tell me!
How Late Do Coffee Shops Stay Open In Your Area?
I came across an article over at LAist targeting coffee shops in their area. After reading it, I didn’t realize just how much I took the coffee shops in my city for granted. Here in my city, you can find at least one coffee shop that stays open round the clock, especially during the weekend. The others are open till at least midnight or 2 a.m.
One would think that in a city such as Los Angeles, the coffee shops would ALL be open even at 3 in the morning, wouldn’t you? This is the plight of the coffeholics in LA:
Los Angeles, for all that it has to offer the late night set in the way of tacos, deli meats, dancing, and beautifully vacant streets, can’t seem to find it in its heart to make a goddamn chai latte past 11pm. Why? There are more than enough night-owl neurotics with script deadlines (or even term papers due) that you’d think every third Starbucks would be open around the clock. Yet there are vast swaths of our fine city that go dark to couture coffee culture once the clock chimes over to a new day.
This may be splitting hairs, but it sure feels like there is a sustainable subgroup of folks who don’t want to sit at a diner, slugging down pitch-black Folgers just because it’s the only 2am option. A recent scouring of Mid-City / Mid-Wilshire / Miracle Mile turned up nothing past 11pm, with the nearby Insomnia Cafe on Beverly kindly keeping the lights on until 1am.
I feel for these guys! Two or three a.m. is not that late for a lot of people. I cannot imagine not having an option at this time of the night.
How about in your city? Till what time do the coffee shops normally stay open? I am seriously curious.
Farewell, Emilio Lavazza!
Last week marked the end of an era for the world of coffee for Emilio Lavazza, the boss of the Italian coffee giant of the same name, has passed away. Lavazza has long been known in Italy as perhaps the most reliable name in the coffee business. The family business was founded way back in 1895 by Luigi Lavazza. The males of the family have run the helm since then.
Emilio Lavazza may not have been the founder of the company, but he is undoubtedly the person behind its expansion. He engaged in various activities that propelled the Lavazza name to great heights, both locally and internationally. I suppose that many of us should thank him for introducing their brand to the rest of the world.
For those of you who may not be that familiar with the name, here is a short teaser from their web site:
Spreading the aroma and quality of Italian espresso around the world has always been our main aim.
That is the reason why we strive for excellence and innovation, drawing strength from our experience established over more than a century of activity, since the early 1900′s, when Luigi Lavazza first invented the concept of the blend, the art of mixing coffee of different origins to obtain a harmonious and tasty product.
Today Lavazza is the leader when it comes to quality and is the symbol of Italian espresso and Italian identity worldwide.
Ask any Italian friend about them and you’ll probably get an earful (positive or negative, depending on who you ask). In any case, whether you know the brand or not, it is but right to pay homage to someone who played a huge role in the world of coffee. Farewell, Signore Lavazza.
Specialty Coffee Association of America’s 22nd Annual Exposition & Symposium
From April 15 to April 18 of this year, Anaheim is set to host the 22nd Annual Exposition & Symposium of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). Fondly called “The Event,” the symposium will welcome coffee professionals from over 40 countries. The Event will focus on everything specialty coffee including trends, products, technology, and coffee farmers’ livelihoods. There will also be a special focus on sustainable farming.
There are two other special reasons to look forward to The Event. These are the United States Barista Championship (USBC) and the Roasters Guild Coffees of the Year Competition. These two contests are traditionally held during the annual symposium and draw a lot of attention. The first contest, USBC, will feature the best baristas from all over the United States. They will be preparing and serving 12 orders. More than having the distinction of being the best of the best, the winner of the contest will be representing the country in the 2010 World Barista Championship which will be held in London this June. The second contest focuses on various coffee products hailing from all over the world. Judges will be sampling and tasting the coffee based on their fragrance, aroma, taste, flavor, aftertaste, and body. Naturally, the winner will hold a prestigious position in the world of coffee.
There will also be seminars, workshops, trainings, and exhibits at The Event. For those who want to learn to become baristas, this is the place to be in April. For more information, visit the web site of The Event.
Haitian Bleu Coffee
Haiti has been at the forefront of the news for about a week now, ever since that massive quake hit the country. The international community has been mobilizing itself in an effort to provide aid to our fellowmen, and if you haven’t lent a helping hand yet, you might want to check out some ways by which you can do this. The easiest and surest way for many is to text “Haiti”to 90999 (any carrier in the United States). This will donate $10 directly to the Red Cross, who will in turn use the money for relief efforts in Haiti.
On another note, have you ever heard of Haitian Bleu coffee? This is actually a relatively new blend of coffee, which was introduced in 1995. Proponents describe this blend as smooth and medium bodied, with a hint of sweetness to it – perfect for an easy weekend morning (or afternoon!), don’t you think?
Even before the earthquake hit Haiti, the country has been suffering from all sorts of problems, poverty being one of them. As such, those who patronized Haitian Bleu coffee were not only satisfying their own cravings but also helping out one of the most disadvantaged nations in the Western world. Today, with what has happened to Haiti, one might be hard pressed to find the coffee beans in the market. It doesn’t mean that in the future, no Haitian Bleu will be found though. And if we all do our little part in helping the country rebuild, this coffee blend will surely find its way back.
America’s First Cannabis Coffee Shop
Is this America or The Netherlands? I really am talking about the United States, and yes, the first ever cannabis coffee shop has opened in this country. Believe it or not, it has happened. Located in Portland, Oregon, Cannabis Café is the first and only legal marijuana coffee shop in the country. It opened earlier this week.
You might be wondering how this could have happened. Well, the Obama administration has left it up to each state to determine how they will deal with the use of marijuana. Apparently, the state government of Oregon is okay with this.
Those who are iffy about the issue should know that going to the Cannabis Café is not as easy as going to your run-of-the-mill coffee shop. In fact, only people who are enrolled in the state’s Medical Marijuana Program may go to the shop. Furthermore, only Oregon residents are allowed to join this program. Individuals who are suffering from illnesses such as cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer’s, and glaucoma are qualified to join the program, and they have to pay a $100 fee PLUS a certificate from a doctor.
The requirements do not stop there. In addition to the above requirement, patients must also join National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) – the Oregon chapter, naturally. The fee is $240 yearly. In order to enter the Cannabis Café, you would have to have two ID cards from the two organizations mentioned above.
So where does the coffee come in? It’s always available at the shop, for those who want it!
Starbucks Wants Your Loyalty
I bet that you have a Starbucks loyalty card – practically everyone I know has one! If you have not heard by now, the coffee giant is making a few changes to its loyalty program. This December, we are supposed to experience some changes, the most noticeable of all will be the melding of the two programs (Starbucks Cards Rewards and Starbucks Gold Card) into one: My Starbucks Rewards.
At this point, you ought to realize that I am talking about the U.S. market here as I think they have different programs in other parts of the world. Anyhow, what will happen with the new rewards program?
One good thing is that there is no annual fee to become part of the program. This is GOOD – who appreciates annual fees anyway? The program also categorizes customers into different levels. Upon getting the card and registering, you will automatically be placed at the Welcome Level. At this level, you get a free birthday drink. When you’ve visited 5 times, you will be promoted to the Green Level. Perks include free brewed coffee refills (YES!), free syrup, and free soy. Additionally, when you buy a pound of whole beans, you get a free tall drink of your choice. You can also get up to 2 free Wi-Fi hours at this level.
You can also aim for gold – just visit Starbucks 30 times in one year (I bet you can do this in a month!). All the abovementioned benefits are included plus a free drink after each 15th purchase.
Looks good to me, although I have to say that I always get a free cup of brewed coffee at Coffee Bean when I buy half a pound of whole beans – and I am not a cardholder at that!
Pass Up On That Coffee…
…and donate the money to victims of Typhoon Ketsana (Typhoon Ondoy) instead! If you have been browsing news online or watching the news on TV in the past week, you would know all about the situation of countless people in the Philippines. Some of you might even have already helped in your own ways. For those who want to, but haven’t yet, here is an idea.
Why not pass up on your daily cup at Starbucks (or wherever you get your java fix at) for a day or so and donate that money to help people in dire need? Think about it, if you spend $5 a day on a cup of coffee, you can give up to $25 in one work week! This may not seem much to you, but 25 bucks can buy food, blankets, and some clothes for a whole family.
It has been a week since the typhoon hit, and the second typhoon that was expected to hit the same area this weekend changed its course and hit farther north. Still, some communities are submerged in water. More families have been left with nothing but the rubble of their houses. Still more people have been left with nothing but the clothes on their back.
Bottom line: these people need our help more than we need our specialty coffees. Convinced yet? If you are willing to extend a helping hand, click on the widget below. The proceeds go straight to the PayPal account of the Philippine National Red Cross.
Cool Innovations From Coffee Fest Seattle 2009
The Coffee Fest at Seattle is being held this weekend – from the 25th of September to the 27th – and inventors have been showing off their creations. Here are some of the more interesting ones, which I think have the potential to become mainstream.
Jeff Baccetti’s SmartCup
We all know that adding the word “smart” to your product ensures that it will get the attention it deserves, right? Seriously, the SmartCup might just be a staple in the traveler’s arsenal. In a nutshell, the SmartCup is a portable, disposable French press. More than having access to fresh coffee while you’re on the road, the general consensus is that coffee brewed in a French press tastes so much better anyway. The good news is that Jeff Baccetti is hoping to sell his innovation for home use in the near future.
SMUG Coffee by Chris and Mike Halberg
Their idea was to have your mug pay for your coffee. How? By using SMUG. The brothers dub it the world’s first intelligent mug. That is, it has an RFID chip which contains information. Users can visit a web site to choose their favorite coffee and load up their wallet. More than the convenience, using the reusable SMUG will also help lessen one’s carbon footprint!
Karen Porte’s TuGo
Frequent fliers can now have a place to put their coffee cups while waiting in line at the airport. Just get TuGo, a cup holder that can be placed in between the collapsible handles of any carry on bag. It holds the cup upright to avoid spills. It also folds to fit the pocket of the same bag it can be attached to. Neat, huh?
Have You Ever “Double-cupped” At Dunkin?
I hope not! I actually didn’t realize that this was happening, at least until I read an article by skirsner over at Boston.com. Apparently, some Dunkin’ Donuts customers have made it a practice to ask for an extra Styrofoam cup when they buy iced coffee. Their reason? They use the styro cup to keep their hands dry. Yeah, iced coffee is COLD so the outside of the cup gets condensation. Another reason is that some people say the extra cup makes the coffee cold for longer. Okay.
The writer is right, though. Do we really need the extra styro cup? We may have reasons – most of them for convenience – but the extra cup can do much damage to the environment, especially since its styro! Maybe one person asking for an extra cup doesn’t mean much, but count all the people that do ask for it and you’ll have countless cups.
Another thought hit me – where do these cups end up after the coffee is gone? The chances are they are not even recycled. As the writer pointed out, there are really no recycling facilities in Dunkin’ branches. And do you really think the people who ask for these extra cups will go out of their way to recycle them? I highly doubt it.
So here’s a challenge for you double-cuppers out there. Why not get rid of the habit and use paper towels made out of recycled material to keep your hands dry? Or maybe, bring your own reusable mug to keep your coffee cold. What do you say?
