Long Beach, CA. U.S.A. (July 22 2008) — The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) announces the appointment of Emily Oak as the newest member to represent the association’s interest on the World Barista Championship (WBC) Board of Directors.

Oak is Director of Training and Development for Australian Independent Roasters, an SCAA member and wholesale roaster located near Sydney, Australia. She is slated to serve a two-year term on the internationally-recognized barista competition’s board.

In addition to four representatives from the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE), with whom the SCAA jointly owns the WBC, Oak joins current SCAA representatives Cindy Chang, of Counter Culture Coffee, Nicholas Cho of murky coffee, and Andrew Hetzel of Cafemakers, LLC on the WBC board of directors. These volunteers are tasked with continuing the interest and growth of the WBC on a global scale while building a stronger educational and social platform for the worldwide barista community.

Oak represented Australia as a competitor at the 2001 World Barista Championship in Miami. Since then she has served as a WBC judge, WBC regional coordinator for the Asia Pacific region, and chair of the WBC regional coordinator committee, in addition to other professional and volunteer accomplishments in the global specialty coffee industry.

“SCAA is pleased to select Emily to represent our association on the WBC Board of Directors,” said SCAA Executive Director Ric Rhinehart. “We are confident she will provide SCAA with a strong presence within the internationally-recognized specialty coffee organization while also contributing to the WBC’s continuing growth and success.”

“I’m very excited about representing the SCAA on the WBC board,” said Oak. “I have believed in the goals of the WBC since its inceptions and look forward to helping the organization continue to grow.”

NOTE:PTs Coffee Roasting Co. founder, Jeff Taylor, is currently a Director on the SCAA Board of Directors.

Seems many of our friends here at PTs have been making some headlines lately. From Matt Milletto, director of training for the American Barista & Coffee School in Portland, Ore. to Andrew Hetzel, owner of Cafe Makers. Follow the links to learn more about some of the friends of PTs Coffee Roasting Co..

From the lush coffee farms of Mchana Estate comes a wonderful Kenyan peaberry.  This peaberry is grown at 1700 meters, creating an incredibly noble coffee.  Its aroma has a slight sweetness that is reminiscent of a melon.  In the cup, aged cedar is accentuated by a hint of vanilla.  Peaberries are an anomaly where only one round bean develops instead of two flat beans. They are prized for their rarity and sweetness. Those who love Kenyan coffees will not want to miss this absolute treat.  Order here!

Hacienda La Esmeralda Special is Back!

This year’s harvest of one of our best-selling coffees from last year is here!  Hacienda La Esmeralda Special is a coffee that stands out on the cupping table.  Those who have tasted this coffee before know it by its distinct aroma and taste.  Its combination of floral and citrus notes astounds the palate.

Hacienda La Esmeralda Special Micro-Lot comes from a varietal known as Geisha, or Gesha.  Before arriving at Hacienda La Esmeralda in Panama, this Ethiopian varietal traveled through coffee labs in Kenya, Tanzania and Costa Rica.  During these travels, the geisha was admired for its resistance to leaf-rust.  Its awe-inspiring flavor profile either was unnoticed or had not developed until Daniel Peterson separated the geisha coffee on their family farm in the Boquete region of Panama.  When he submitted that micro-lot to the 2004 Best of Panama, the coffee world was turned upside-down.  Since, it has dominated the world of Specialty Coffee.  Last year, the auction lot from the Best of Panama sold for a record $130 a pound green!  Do not miss out on this opportunity to experience a coffee you will never forget.  Order here!

In honor of Gizmo Picture’s commitment to tell this heart-warming story, we have reformulated and rechristened our Capre Ballanti Espresso Blend.  Combined with milk, the new Gizmo Espresso is a chocoholic’s dream.  As a straight shot, deep dark chocolate notes dominate; when you combine it with milk, the dark chocolate notes turn your latte or cappuccino into a silky smooth cup of milk chocolate bliss.  Order a pound of our new Gizmo Espresso here.   

Ever wanted to work in the coffee business?  How about get some hands on experience learning coffee from professionals? Nows your chance! PTs Coffee Roasting Co. is looking for energetic, intelligent, quick learners who are not afraid of a little hard work. Position involves early mornings and heavy lifting. Must be willing to learn and be very attentive to details. Some basic computer skills are necessary. If interested, download our application for employment and fax to 785-862-2420. We are waiting to here from you! 

PTs Coffee Roasting Co.’s outstanding barista and USBC Runner-up two consecutive years, Pete Licata, is interviewed by Kansas City’s independent and alternative news magazine Pitch Weekly! Read the interview, it’s fun and entertaining.Here’s to making great coffee! Jeff 

Hacienda La Esmeralda, the source of the highly prized Geisha coffee from Panama, won the SPECIALTY COFFEE ASSOCIATION OF EUROPE highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement award, at the Awards for Coffee Excellence evening dinner held during late June’s Wonderful Coffee event in Copenhagen, Denmark.Price Peterson, of the family that has owned La Esmeralda for several decades, was on hand to accept the award, along with members of his family.The awards evening was hosted by SCAE Past President Colin Smith, who chaired the Awards Committee, and by Stefanie Hoffmann of the Berlin School of Coffee. Japanese roaster/retailer UCC sponsored the awards at the glittering evening gathering, held at the Danish capital’s harbourside Halvandet venue.———————————————————-

Winner of The Lifetime Achievement Award:

Hacienda La Esmeralda (Panama)

Strange things happen in our coffee lives. In 1964 Rudolph Peterson (an American with Swedish heritage) bought Hacienda La Esmeralda in Panama for retirement purposes. He passed the administration over to his son Price in 1973, and currently his son Daniel is joining him. There are many reasons for La Esmeralda and the family to have the Lifetime Achievement award. Let us begin with the most well known: Their rare award winning coffee of Geisha varietal has set several world records for online auctions: $21 per pound in 2004, escalating to $130 per pound last year. Sold for $50 per cup in selected coffee bars in the US. This coffee has achieved what we want all quality coffees to do: it has achieved the same status as Premier Grand Cru wines. It has shown that is possible to reach this level in quality and set the path for others to follow. They have not reached this level by coincidence. Years of fine-tuning production methods and years of education and motivation and caring for the 300 people (1,000 during harvesting) employed at the Hacienda. Awards have been plentiful over the recent years, but mainly in the US. As Europeans, we should now learn from the achievements of the Peterson family and their Hacienda La Esmeralda.