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From the Editor
It was time for dinner at Symposium 2010, the two-day forum held prior to the Specialty Coffee Association of America's annual exposition. And I didn't know a soul at my assigned table.
As the crowds swarmed into the dining room after a day full of presentations and discussions, I took my seat next to a bespectacled gentleman who was quietly nibbling his salad. “My name is Neal,” he introduced himself, smiling.
Throughout our meal, he regaled me with tales from his travels around the world as a senior vice president of global projects for Bunn-O-Matic Corporation. The most exciting place for specialty coffee at the moment, he told me, was China. Specialty coffee was just taking hold there, he said with a gleam in his eye, and it was exhilarating to think about how the market would grow and how the Chinese culture would make coffee its own. When we shook hands at the end of our meal, Neal and I agreed that we’d be in touch when Roast was ready to publish an article on China and coffee.
So last fall, when Roast started to plan an article on emerging coffee-consuming regions of the world, I thought back to my conversation with Neal and attempted to get in touch. But I was too late—Albert Neal Robinson, 62, passed away on August 22, 2011, after a battle with cancer. I am saddened that our industry has lost a passionate advocate for specialty coffee and that I missed my chance to hear Neal’s smiling voice again. I feel fortunate that I was seated next to him that evening and had the chance to talk with him, however briefly.
I hope Roast’s examination of four of the world’s emerging specialty coffee-consuming regions (see page 22) gives readers a taste of the thrill that Neal experienced when considering specialty coffee’s promise in China. We take a closer look at the growth of specialty coffee and the challenges that still need to be overcome in China, India and the Middle East; Andrew Hetzel also shares his experience with the budding specialty coffee market in Russia (see page 32).
Speaking of emerging markets for coffee, Roast has exciting news of its own to share. Roast is partnering with Giesen Korea to publish the magazine in the Korean language. Our Korean partners will translate the contents of each issue and distribute 7,000 copies of the magazine. The people of South Korea are thirsty for coffee knowledge, and the team at Roast is thrilled be working alongside the publishing arm of Giesen Korea to bring our award-winning design and editorial to new audiences in Asia. Annyeong haseyo to our new readers!
Cheers,
Kelly
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