keep coming back all week to check out the new changes. So far having only one size and having more sustainable prices on drinks has been received pretty well. It has allowed us to provide health, dental and vision insurance to all of our employees, provide Strauss organic milk, upgrade all of our supplies like muscavado sugar, fresh ginger etc. We are excited about this new coffee centric focus.

Thank you coffee lovers. We love you.

Barefoot will start the adventure by arriving in Guatemala City and hosting Guatemala’s first ever Barista Jam at Anacafe February 2^nd and 3^rd 2007. Anacafe is Guatemala’s coffee marketing organization.  On the 2^nd Andy Newbom and Eugenia Chien and 2007’s Guatemala Barista Champion Noe Castro will be teaching Guatemala City Baristas the core skills of espresso extraction, advanced dosing and extraction techniques and doing a tremendous amount of cupping with the famous master cupper Eduardo Ambocio from Anacafe. On the 3^rd Barefoot will then take the crew on a tour of leading Guatemala City espresso bars and continue the classes and lessons at these cafes. The Barefoot team will also be providing a little help and training to Guatamala’s reigning Barista Champion to help him prepare for the World Barista Championship in Tokyo, Japan.

After a grueling but exciting two days of Barista training and international coffee camaraderie Barefoot will meet up with several roaster friends from PT’s Coffee, Victrola and Brown’s coffee to make the long trek up north to Finca Vista Hermosa. On the way up the massive mountains the team will visit the dry mill where our coffee is processed and cup some great coffee there. Then as we wind our way up the mountain track towards the top we will visit several other world famous farms such as injerto, huixoc, miralvalle.

The team will spend 3-4 days living on the farm and harvesting and processing coffee the way it is done at Finca Vista Hermosa. Picking coffee cherries, pulping, fermenting, washing, sorting, grading and patio drying our own coffee. This is truly the highlight of the trip and is what we are all looking forward to. A true connection from seed to cup. Quality and passion in action.

Then it is off to visit the growing region of Antigua in southern Guatemala. There we will visit several more coffee farms to get an idea of the growing and processing differences in the various areas.

The team zips back to Guatemala City for another all day coffee training session at Anacafe and several intensive cupping sessions with the master cuppers there. A final chance to say farewell to new friends and fellow coffee lovers and then we all fly off for home sweet home. Hopefully a bit more humble and happy of our role in the incredible chain of hands that affects our coffee. A complete circle of love and great coffee from seed to roast to cup.

so on some coffee news we have been having some serious fun with our new Brazil Ipanema Dulce Fazienda, Awesome sweet and caramelly mellow coffee. Just lights atop your tongue like a beautiful toucan. The Barefoot green team is working on a nice long contract to get more of this delicious and socially and environmentally just bean. There has been mutinous talk of squirreling away the remainder of the bag as a “private reserve” for Barefoot tongues only. We will see what can be done to keep this in the hands of the cofee fans out there and still avoid a bloody coup.

And on a super fun note Barefoot sends a friend shout to the mighty Barista warriors out in Charlotte way who battled the pink robot and emerged victorious. To our good friend and customer from Wanderlust Coffee Chris Baca who battled in his first national competition! Woot!

To our swank friends up the street Ritual and the dynamic duo of coffee Gabe and Ryan who both made it to the semi finals! You guys rock! It was fun partying with you and the whole Ritual crew at the Barista Bash-up! (watch out world! The Bay Area is coming up on it in coffee!)

And to the fab six finalists slugging it out today: You are all true champions! I have see you all and know you and salute you! Ellie (intelligentsia rocks!) you are a true pro

Matt (yo intelie!) there has been talk of your throat tatoo aqnd you inspire us with your discipline
Billy - My original team mate from ‘021 You kick coffe ass dude!

Amber - passion and pro all in one.

Jon- you gotta dig what jon is cooking up. always fresh and smiling

Steve - swing one for us oldies and ex-chefs! You always wow up there!

Thanks to all for keeping the quality flame lit!

man I love coffee.

All you coffee people out there are the best, thanks.

I do stuff all the time apparently. I find that unless it is coffee or my awesome family I am akin to the proverbial lump of coal.

obligatory photo of said Andy: