This one is going to be one of CoffeeGeek's longest ever articles - the final day report from the Charlotte conference compiled from 30 pages of unreadable notes, 325+ photos, and lots of airplane and Iceberg Vodka induced scribbles.
spinnaker007 Senior Member Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Posts: 1,783 Location: Chicago! Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Tue Apr 11, 2006, 2:18pm Subject: Re: SCAA 2006 Charlotte Final Day Report, Road Reports
Hey Mark,
Thanks for your daily updates and too cool photos at Flickr. I followed them tirelessly throughout this past weekend, and they made me feel like I was there among the crowds.
Grounds Senior Member Joined: 4 Feb 2002 Posts: 29 Location: Australia Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Marzocco GS3 Grinder: Mazzer Mini E Vac Pot: Balance Brewer Drip: No thanks Roaster: Gene Cafe
Posted Tue Apr 11, 2006, 5:40pm Subject: Re: SCAA 2006 Charlotte Final Day Report, Road Reports
>Apparently, some people within the SCAA - namely the old school, "mired within the 1980s corporate structure" types - don't like the fact that Rob Stephen would "dare" to go on the Portafilter and CoffeeGeek podcasts. Didn't like that Rob was speaking "outside official media channels". Put down the podcasts as amateur, innappropriate forums.
You're kidding right?! I listened to your podcast last night and came away with a very positive impression of SCAA and what Rob is considering. He had a great attitude and I sure wish him all the best. If you're right with the above info you would have to wonder why he'd want to even bother if he has to endure that kind of old-school politics. Sounds like the types you refer to need to take a chill pill - or just quit and let the new guard get on wirth it (and that's a lot better language than the line I wrote about them needing a mental-enema, but decided to delete!)
MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 5,462 Location: Vancouver, BC Expertise: Professional
Espresso: KvdW Speedster Grinder: Compak K10 WBC Vac Pot: A bit too many Drip: Clive Coffee Drip Stand Roaster: Hario Glass Retro Roaster
Posted Tue Apr 11, 2006, 6:17pm Subject: Re: SCAA 2006 Charlotte Final Day Report, Road Reports
Absolutely not kidding about it. Apparently, it was brought up at the SCAA's "town hall meeting" on Monday. I know Nick attended. Because I was not there, and only was told about this by a person very high up in the SCAA, I don't want to print the name of the person who raised the objection. If Nick wants to do it, since he was there first hand, that would be good.
I'm not entirely sure if the person who raised the objection is an SCAA member or a committee member, or has even higher ties to the SCAA in the past or present. I just know that it's the type who wants all comm. to come from the president and ED through oldstyle channels.
I also believe a couple of other forums, notably one with a lot of deep convos re speciality coffee, were mentioned during this objection.
Posted Tue Apr 11, 2006, 10:52pm Subject: Re: SCAA 2006 Charlotte Final Day Report, Road Reports
mark:
thanks for the linkage, and a very nice roundup. you are one guy i didn't get to meet -- and should have.
the scaa thing smacks oddly of the poorly informed, calcified, old-school mentality at any number of "titan" organizations i can think of who are faced with dramatic changes from a small wing of people who "get it" (i work for big media, so the whole blogging/online/real time news environment comes to mind as something my business has been slow to embrace). at the same time, the pushers of grassroots, small-time, straight-to-the-people technology often seem to be eager to overstate their importance in the grand scheme of things (i.e. bloggers trying to pump up the irrelevance of newspapers, for example).
i'm not saying you or anyone else has done this, but that's always the risk. to me, this anecdote underscores (a) the goofy curmudgeonliness of an industry that's out of touch with its most innovating faction, and (b) the stark disconnect i see even at a joint bash like this past weekend -- the establishment seems remarkably disconnected from the people pushing the limits of the craft, right down to the sponsors on the competition. that a guru would join you guys on the airwaves is a small sign that maybe there are lucid minds in the scaa machinery.
orianm42 Senior Member Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 11 Location: Naperville, IL Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Brewtus II, Silvia Grinder: KA Proline, Doserless Maacap Roaster: Gene Cafe Coffee Roaster
Posted Thu Apr 13, 2006, 7:41am Subject: Re: SCAA 2006 Charlotte Final Day Report, Road Reports
Mark:
Enjoyed the perspective, podcasts and coverage from Charlotte. I most enjoyed the seeing the photos of Intelligentsia’s Amber Sather and Ellie Matuszak. I recently had the opportunity to attend Intelligentsia’s one-day espresso training class and experienced the infectious Intelligentsia experience. The instruction I received from this dynamic duo was amazing. It’s good to see them get some of recognition they deserve.
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