FROM THE PUBLISHER

ALL IT TOOK was for someone to pop the hood of a car in the garage, and one by one, my dad and uncles would slowly disappear from our family gatherings. A cold beer in hand, they would discuss pistons, valves, water pumps and motor oil in such detail it seemed like the future of humanity depended on choosing between 5W-30 and 10W-30. These philosophical retreats not only provided the Blumhardt clan with long-lasting, dependable transportation, but also served as a garden for new ideas and a sounding board for complaints, both of the automotive and non-automotive variety.
      A similar camaraderie, with the exchange of knowledge, ideas and complaints, is easily observed at the annual Roasters Guild retreat and at the annual Roasters Guild party which closes out the SCAA conference. Conversation at these events, often enhanced with a cold beer while standing around a roasting machine or a pool table, unites people who compete against each other in the outside business world. Why are roasters so eager to talk, in excruciating detail, about the difference in acidity between a Kenya AA roasted to Agtron 65 versus Agtron 55? Perhaps the answer is that they abhor crappy coffee and know there is a big enough market for everyone, if only more of the public would appreciate and have access to better coffee. No individual or company can raise the floor of quality coffee acceptance among consumers—it’s a collective effort.
      Many roasters have the desire to participate in the Roasters Guild retreat or to attend the SCAA conference each year, but are limited by time and financial constraints. A solution to this problem is emerging, from a grassroots level, by regional groups organizing formal and informal meetings of roasters. One of these groups, called the Gulf Coast Roasters, has formed in the Southeastern United States. This group meets three times a year to discuss topics such as cupping, sensory skills, green coffee defects and grading.
      Inspired by the success of the Gulf Coast Roasters, I am happy to announce that Roast and Coffee Fest will be “popping the hood” at the Coffee Fest, Washington, D.C. show. We will be holding a roasters’ “Speakeasy” on Saturday, February 25, from 5:00–6:30 p.m. for roasters from all over the country and from all levels of experience. I hope to see many of you there, and look forward to discussing everything from Kenya AA to motor oil.
      To support other regional grassroots efforts, there will be a new section of the Roast website, where we will post contact and event information. Just give us a call or drop us an e-mail to have your group’s information listed. In addition, if anyone in the Northwest would be interested in starting a Northwest roasters’ group, I would be more than happy to arrange the first meeting for sometime in January. Please let me know if you are interested.

Warmest Wishes,

Connie