Welcome to the Caffe Society Blog
Have you noticed the relationship between social and environmental issues and coffee drinking?
There have been plenty around in the news recently.
For instance, the Fair Trade certification is something that many people look out for when they browse the supermarket in search of their coffee.
Did you know that in New Zealand, it is currently Oxfam’s Biggest Coffee Break and Fair Trade Fortnight 2012?
No?
It runs from 5th to 12th May and has been organised by Oxfam in the country.
Of course, both Fair Trade and Oxfam do excellent work to help those in need.
Fair Trade helps to put in place agreements to buy the products of farmers in developing countries, which comply with certain protective criteria (and help the community).
Oxfam is known the world over for its help of those who are in need.
Did you realise that there is a competition to discover the world’s best barista?
Annually, this event takes place in a different country around the world.
Last year the World Barista Championship took place in Bogota, Columbia, in South America.
This year it is to take place in Vienna during June 2012.
However, to find out who is to compete in the global competition, each participating country will have its own national competition.
In the pretty town of Petersfield in southern England, there has recently been a successful coffee morning to raise funds for a local charity.
Although the weather in the area was miserable and visitors might have been tempted to stay inside and keep warm and dry, there was a good turn out, all things considered.
The charity that was to benefit from the event?
It seems that the people of Devon, a stunning county in the south of England, are very proud of the heritage of independent coffee shops, as opposed to chains of coffee outlets.
They are so proud, in fact, that they have decided to hold a festival to support them.
The festival will be a culmination of a period of coffee celebration.
The period will run from 5 May to 20 May. It is no coincidence that these dates tally with the World Fairtrade Day (May 12th).
It’s coming up to that time of year again – the best baristas in the world will battle it out against each other to win the title of World Barista Champion.
The coffee world is very sophisticated and competitive these days and the craft of the barista is something that is also developing and the standards of coffee delivery are increasing.
Techniques are improving. Creativity in designing coffee drinks are blossoming.
Service is improving.
Have you noticed that coffee seems to be a good catalyst for discussion and debate?
Right from the beginnings of the coffee house, it seems that the early coffee drinkers appreciated this aspect of the caffeine elixir and the early coffee houses were dubbed ‘penny universities.’
People like to chat and think about things as they drink coffee…
Now that we are into 2012, all sorts of annual events and competitions are being brought to the forefront of our minds, as the festive fog disappears.
One of these events is the Barista Championships, which will be held nationally, to select the candidate to be sent to compete in the World Championships in due course.
For example, judges have been chosen.
In the local news in York, there have been celebrations that Sadie Hopkins of the York Coffee Emporium has been picked to go on the judging panel.
You may have seen recent news stories about the tiny dog that can fit into a coffee cup.
Pictures of the cute puppy have made viewers oooooh and ahhhhh at her tiny size.
The little Dachshund dog is, it is reported, one of the smallest dogs in the world.
In fact, it has been said that there is currently an application to the Guinness Book of Records to acknowledge the fact formally.
When she was born, this tiny puppy was so small that she could fit onto a teaspoon.
She was a mere one ounce in weight.
Given the huge popularity of coffee the world over, much effort has gone into assessing the effects of caffeine and coffee on our bodies.
Some surprising results have arisen from the various scientific and medical investigations that have taken place.
It seems that there are many good side effects from sipping on a regular cup of joe.
For instance, there has recently been a study at the University of South Florida into the effects of coffee and the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
