A lot of passionate coffee-geeks in the Netherlands do their best to increase our espresso culture. Some times the media give us some attention, most times they dont. But guess what happened the other day?
“Starbucks tourists at the NIKE headquarter”
With big letters in our newspapers.
Until a few weeks ago we where one of the few happy nations without a Starbucks invasion. But the USA employee’s from the NIKE headquarter at Hilversum where squealing for Starbucks, and they gave it to them.
And not only are the NIKE employees happy with this, a lot of ‘Starbucks’ tourists try to pass the security to order their, fully automatic prepared “Double Ristretto Venti Nonfat Organic Chocolate Brownie Frappuccino Extra Hot with Foam and Whipped Cream Upside Down Double Blended”
Even popular radio jocks tell their listeners the secret road to the Starbucks heaven.
OK I complain a bit about Starbucks, but maybe we should be happy with them.
Because of all the attention in the media, the Dutch espresso culture may increase a bit.
BUT COME ON DUTCH BARISTI DONT HESITATE, LETS LETS COMBINE OUR PASSIONATED ESPRESSO AND CAPPUCCINO SKILLS WITH THE HOSPITALITY SKILLS BY STARBUCKS EMPLOYEE’S ….
Take care, Jeroen
Categories: Uncategorized
Dear WBC organization,
Bern is a few weeks ago. Bern was ok. Not the best city for a WBC (bars closing at 01.00) but OK we’ve found our adresses and made fun.
but…
I’m competing and visiting the WBC since Oslo. Oslo was a great experience. My first WBC. Oslo gave us lot opportunities to learn. Especially learning from each other.
Three LM machines where ready to rumble for competitors and visitors.
And that’s what we need. It’s the same with soccer players. Give them beer and they will talk. But give them a ball and they are really happy.
Since Oslo we visited Boston, Trieste, Seattle and this year Bern. My best WBC where Seattle and Trieste. Because of the social programs. There where barista party’s every evening. And of course its fun to drink beer with each other. And communicate about espresso and barista life style. But each and every evening brought us opportunity’s to make espresso together to taste espressos from other continents. To meet colleagues you know from their internet and blogspots. And to have fun together.
And that’s what I missed in Bern. There was competition, there was an exhibition and there where workshops. But it was boring. There wasn’t a social program for baristi. And that’s what we need. That’s the reason we buy expensive tickets. That’s the reason we fly around the world. To learn, to experience, to taste and to meet.
So I feel free to give some suggestions for the Tokyo organization.
- Give us a barista room with lots of different machines and grinders.
- Give competitors the opportunity to show their presentations to the interested barista.
- Give the audience the opportunity to taste all the coffee’s from the competitors. So After each competitor the bar is open. Volunteers enough.
- Every location u chooses for a social event shoot have a few machines. Because when we drink beer and having fun we like to create our own little competitions. Like the dosing competitions with the Australians. Or latte art competitions or what ever.
- Create an other award for the best vocal presentation. Because with all the respect for the finalists this year (except Sammy) It was boring.
- Show us the best espresso bars in Tokyo (because we couldn’t find one in Bern)
And then I hope that everybody have enough reasons to come over to Tokyo. Because this year I missed a lot of names in Bern (Dismass, Thomas etc)
Take care,
Jeroen
Categories: Uncategorized
