Fresh Cup Magazine, providing specialty coffee and tea professionals with unique insight into the trends, ideas, products and people that shape their world.
Issue link: http://freshcup.epubxp.com/i/50871
SPONSORS ON THE WORLD STAGE Coffee-product cleaner company Urnex Brands was chosen by the World Coffee Events (WCE) organization as the exclusive Qualified Cleaning Sponsor for all WCE events from 2012-2014. The company will be a sponsor of the six yearly WCE contests: the World Barista Championship, the World Latte Art Championship, the World Brewers Championship, the World Coffee in Good Spirits event, the World Cup Tasters Championship and the World Ibrik/Cezve Championship (which focuses on Turkish coffee). On the grinder side, competitors will continue to use machinery made by Mahlkoenig, which has been supporting the WBC since 2005. The company submitted its K30 VARIO and K30 TWIN models to WCE officials for testing and was later awarded the sponsorship. Nuova Simonelli will be the official espresso machine sponsor, a position the company has held since 2007. urnex.com, mahlkoenig.com and nuovasimonelliusa.com CENTRAL AMERICA SOURCE New York-based SerendipiTea late last year introduced an organic black tea from an origin that is rarely discussed in specialty tea: Guatemala. Sourced from the Chirrepeco Tea Cooperative in Coban (which sits at an elevation approximately 4,300 feet above sea level), the leaf produces a brew that's medium-body and smooth. SerendipiTea notes that tea has been grown in the Coban region since the late-19th century. It grows near sacred caves where Mayan rituals still take place. 888/832-5433. serendipitea.com LOOKING TO SETTLE ON A KETTLE? Bonavita, manufacturer of kettles and coffee makers, has released two pour-over kettle models: the BV3825B electric kettle and the BV3825ST stovetop kettle. Both products have a one-liter capacity and are dishwasher safe. They feature a unique gooseneck design that allows for precise water pour control, ideal for tea as well as manual pour-over coffee brewing. In addition, both models feature a heat-resistant grip handle and are balanced for easy pouring. While Bonavita is selling direct to operators for café use, the company is also aiming to distribute the kettles to consumers through retail coffee and tea shops. Suggested retail prices are $49.99 for the elec- tric and $39.99 for the stovetop model. 804/314-9499. bona-vita.biz COFFEE FOR THE CLIMATE Certification body Rainforest Alliance named its first "climate friendly" farm in December. The El Platanillo plantation in San Marcos, Guatemala, became Rainforest Alliance verified for its compliance with the Climate Module of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), the group of conservation organizations that manages Rainforest Alliance certification. Producers who commit to imple- menting the SAN Climate Module are charged with reducing their emissions and better adapting to changing climatic conditions. Typical steps include replacing decomposed earth, reforesting certain areas on their farms and improving soil conservation. El Platanillo is an 857-acre shade coffee plantation that uses 773 acres to grow Bourbon, Caturra and Catuai beans; the rest is set aside as a pro- tected area. rainforest-alliance.org continued on page 62 freshcup.com January 2012 61