Aldo Coffee Company

About Your Kid...

As anyone who's been in the store knows, we have this small sign by the cash register:

"Unattended children will be given espresso and a puppy."

Chris forwards us a link to this sign that takes the idea a whole other level.

Skipping the SCAA & USBC this Year

We had thought at least one of our baristas would end up competing this year at the United States Barista Championships at the SCAA Conference later this week, but we kinda messed up on the deadline thing for entry.  Then, once we realized our error and tried to get in at the last minute, the itinerary to Long Beach from here was both complicated and cost-prohibitive.

As Pirates fans have become wont to say, "There's always next year."

Had one of our three finalists won the MidAtlantics, Melanie would've gone for support (since Nick Cho of murky would've been paying for the winner's flight), but as we've already done the trade show thing recently in Chicago and we've already had our own Clover demo, there's no urgency in in flying cross country to see a bunch of stuff we've already seen. 

Besides we have a ton to do at the shop that's already backed up (touch-up painting inside and on the patio, planting the herb garden, readying the floors for another finishing, etc.).

We'll miss seeing friends, but odds are we'll see some of them at CoffeeFest later this Fall - we're long overdue for a trip to Seattle.  Assuming we can make the time to get up to Vancouver and down to Portland, making that trip is well worth the wait.

An hour later... Sonja is going?  Or not?

It's Not Blogging, It's Just Our Website

Slides from last week's panel presentation at BootCamp Pittsburgh, courtesy of Star Dot Star Comics. We're still surprised how few folks use the cheap content management tools like the one we use to manage their websites.  Amy Enrico's Tazza d'Oro has been blogging for a few months now.  As has Caffe Intermezzo. Those two shops are regularly included in coffee geek discussions on the best coffeehouses in Pittsburgh (as is ours). 

So, does blogging correlate to higher quality coffee?  Perhaps - you do need an honest, ongoing story to tell.  And that implies a drive to continually improve and inform customers and readers, and not just continually bleat meaningless marketing copy.

U.S. Chocolate Makers May Soon Use Transfats Instead of Cocoa Butter Unless We Act

The U.S. Chocolate Industry, through its Chocolate Manufacturers of America (CMA), and in collaboration with the Grocery Manufacturers Association, have petitioned the Food and Drug Association (FDA) to change the current requirements for chocolate. Their plan is to change the basic formula of chocolate in order to use vegetable fat substitutes in place of cocoa butter, and to use milk substitutes in the place of nutritionally superior milk.  These changes will have adverse effects on the eating, physical and nutritional quality of chocolate (yes, flavonoids in cocoa butter have been proven healthful), and beg the question: What consumer benefit is associated with implementing these changes?    There isn't one.  This is all about the profits of chocolate makers, not about consumers, tradition, taste or quality.  Some other countries currently do allow vegetable fats up to a total of 5% volume. If passed, this change would allow 100% vegetable fat and no cocoa butter for US manufacturers.  Do you want that? Our opinion is that Nestle, Archer Daniels Midland and others can do what they want with transfats, but they can't call the resulting product "chocolate". Gary Guittard, of Guittard Chocolates, has set up a website to help chocolate-lovers fight this inane proposed change. www.dontmesswithourchocolate.com Please follow the instructions on how to send a note to the FDA to stop this insanity.  Thanks!

Author Becky Dice Here This Afternoon, Eve Goodman On Stage Tonight

Ms. Becky J. Dice will be signing copies of Chenoa's Spiritual Journey here from 2pm-4pm.

Tonight, Eve Goodman brings her mix of acoustic blues/folk/rock back to our stage, 8:00pm-9:45pm. 

It's a free show, but as always, generous tips to musicians and baristas are appreciated if you enjoy the vibe.

Do Not Fear The Turtle

We're now featuring a Coffee of the Week.  This week's coffee is La Tortuga Organic Direct Trade Honduras.

In Spanish, "La Tortuga" means "the turtle".

As part of the Coffee of the Week promotion, Belle has designed a display with factoids and photos so that you can get to know the growers and people behind these coffees.

Sy Syms uses the tagline, "An educated consumer is our best customer^®"  to promote his clothing stores.  He knows that if you know a bit about fine clothing, you're more likely to appreciate what he's selling.

We believe that knowing a little more about what you're sipping isn't only about education.  It makes for a more enjoyable experience.  And yes, it's just plain smart.

What Was Boscov's Thinking?

We haven't called out another retailer in ages, but we have to make an exception today because it's just so, well... necessary.  Besides, we don't have personal blogs on MySpace or Facebook, so we have to put this somewhere... 

Maybe it's just because Mel and I are both former marketing professionals, but the latest Boscov's ads have us scratching our heads.

Doesn't DYBT look and sound like "DEBT" to you?

And do you really want more DEBT?

Esquire's "60 Things Worth Shortening Your Life For".

Black Cat Espresso Blend is #5 on Esquire Magazine's list of "60 Things Worth Shortening Your Life For".

Oddly, many of the items on the list will in no way shorten anyone's life, including drinking Black Cat or any other espresso.  No risk in that.  Not like dropping 15 feet from a helicopter to ski a 60-degree pitch with an impossible to navigate left turn to avoid a rock wall.

Or eating a Danger Dog (#1) - a frank wrapped in bacon and drowned in mayo.  After a night of imbibing.  In Tijuana.

However, the Danger Dog only makes the Jersey Breakfast Dog (#2) look downright healthy in comparison.  We might even have to add it to the menu someday (c'mon Mel, you know you want one).  Sadly, although they sound delicious, Duck Fat Potatoes (#35) are out of the question due to lack of grease traps and ventilation in our tiny kitchen.

And we loved reading Barry Sonnefeld's comments on #60: Directing: 

"So why direct? It's the closest a guy like me will ever come to being a general. I have a thought, and suddenly manly men are building gigantic sets. Plus, being forced to make thousands of decisions a week on topics that you didn't know you were ever going to need to have an opinion about (Lara Flynn Boyle's girdle comes to mind) is exhilarating. I also get to send back cappuccinos because the foam looks too much like a latte and work with people smarter than me, who make me look good. If every couple of years I have a psychological breakdown, well, at least I've got a thick head of foam on my cappuccino."

We're not sure how dry Barry really likes his capps, but we're impressed that he knows there's a difference.  That's progress.

New York Looking Up to Pittsburgh

Just a thought.  18 games into the season, the Pirates have a better record than the Yankees.  Despite A-Rod hitting 14 home runs - tied for the most ever in April.

That's something resembling progress, isn't it?  Discuss.

Read All About It: Direct Trade Brochures Are In

Now instead of having to listen to us windbags preach the faith, you can read up on your own. 

With pictures!

Grab one of these handy-dandy trifolds next time you're in the store and impress your friends with both your coffee knowledge and socially responsible ethics!