It’s 2:00AM in Chicago and I am experiencing the wrath of jet lag post-World Barista Championship. You may or may not know that I am the exiting Chairman of the Board of the WBC and when compared to past WBC events, I am pleased to say that Tokyo’s was unparalleled in many ways. Not only was there record attendance but the spirit of all of those in attendance was one of complete camaraderie: between the Baristas (of the record number 45 countries), the volunteers, the committees, and the WBC Board. It was a shining example of why Specialty Coffee can be so great when stripped of unnecessary politics, posturing, and chest thumping. The competitors were skilled and humble and the judging was serious and careful, and I am honored to have been a part of it. Last, and certainly not least, the folks at the SCAJ put on a rockin’ event with a beautiful stage set up and spot-on camera crew. Many thanks to them.

I enjoyed a number of glasses of beer or sake (or other) catching up with my coffee friends from around the world, theorizing about the power of great coffee and how it can truly be world-changing. All I can say is that it was just plain great and reminded me of why I do this in the first place, for a love of the coffee and a love of the coffee people. There was no swagger, no “I’m more independent”, or “I’m bigger/smaller”. There was professionalism and humility and integrity. At the end of the day it should be about how great the people that bring us the coffee are and how great the coffee is. We should be about the coffee and that’s it, right?

It’s hard to believe it is upon us… The World Barista Championship. I am heading out to Tokyo on Friday and will be there for a week. I am sure I will have some stories to tell. (I may even bring my camera, who knows?) I return on Friday and then head to the opening of our Silver Lake coffeebar, which is slated to open at 6:00 A.M. on Tuesday August, 7th. I am looking forward to the dream-like haze that the jet lag will supply.

For the most part, I love being on airplanes as in today’s completely connected world, air travel seems to be the only place in society where you are allowed to be legitimately out of touch (with the possible exception of being off the grid somewhere at source). I’ll certainly get some reading done on a flight that is only 13 hours and 21 minutes direct from Chicago O’Hare. I am also eager to reconnect with the great people that define this industry in a place that I have heard pleasantly described as otherworldly and fantastic.

In other coffee news, our new crop Direct Trade Centrals are arriving (and thus far have been stellar) and we have a Yirgy in our midst that I scored a 97 and averaged a 95 from our Quality Control Team. It is Direct Trade in transition and will be Direct Trade next year. It is perhaps one of the best coffees I have ever tasted (honestly). It is a coffee that is intellectual yet, eminently drinkable. We should see it, and all of the Centrals, in our stores in the next couple of weeks. We have also been tinkering (= constant, ceaseless improvement) with Black Cat Espresso formulas recently and I think you will soon see something that will be utterly remarkable. More on that as it develops…