This is why Phil is loved by everyone in the local coffee community.
In a similar vein, we were compelled to verbally spank the editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune yesterday for the following comment:
If you’re selling coffee to customers, I think it’s a good idea to focus on the coffee customer experience. But I also grow a little weary of everyone having passion for something. I don’t expect anyone to have a passion for making a cup of coffee any more than I expect them to have a passion for getting a biscotti out of a jar.
And got the same sort of "It's just coffee" type of responses in return.
If the words "Star Tribune" sound familiar, that would be the leading daily newspaper and website for the city of Minneapolis. Which happens to be host city of the 2008 Specialty Coffee Association of America Conference and the United States Barista Competition.
And those are the same SCAA folks who backed out of a contract with Pittsburgh because they thought we weren't major league enough for them.
It shouldn't be this uphill a battle. Seems to us if we were talking about beer or pizza or steak, people would get it. Why not coffee?
Btw, if you happen follow Phil's link to Sarah Allen's editorial, be sure to note comment #1159305. It's from the current World Barista Champion.
Loved? You're too generous.
And I don't know "why not coffee." But one of the reasons my job is so interesting to me is that very question.
Posted by: Phil | February 28, 2008 at 11:09 AM