The Annual Mid Atlantic Northeast Coffee Conference

7 years running!!
It is time once again for all the coffee fans at every stage in the coffee community spectrum to join at New Harvest Coffee Roasters for a weekend of COFFEE and all coffee related things.

Need perfect your latte art?  Want to see what green coffee grading is all about?  Want to know more about the coffee trade? Have you never stood behind an espresso machine before but would like to know a little more about the inner workings of it?

This is a conference for everyone, and we are very proud of what it has become to our local Northeast community!

This year, the conference will take place on September 27th and 28th, with a short send off breakfast event on Sunday the 29th.  We are still working out the last minute details, but as of right now, THIS is what you have to look forward to:

• Keynote address and cocktail party with keynote speaker GEORGE HOWELL!!!!

                                             (http://www.georgehowellcoffee.com/about/george/)

• Coffee Tasters Flavor Wheel class and a Sensory Analysis class taught by Beth Ann Casperson and Mike Mowry of Equal Exchange Coffee.
• A coffee varieties and cultivars lecture and cupping presented by Cafe Imports
• A round table discussion of origin, through the eyes of farmer, exporter, importer, and roaster, all involved with the Royal Coffee NY Microlots program
• A Green Coffee Grading lecture and cupping presented by Rob Stephen of InterAmerican Coffee.
• A latte art throwdown and karoake PARTY on Saturday night, with awesome prizes and free beer! . 
• Labs on latte art, espresso extraction, and espresso machines and grinders. 
• Discussions on the coffee trade and local coffee communities.

And more to come!

We have incredible presenters and also wonderful sponsors:

La Marzocco USA, Marco, Barista Magazine, Aeropress, Urnex, Curtis, Chemex, WholeFoods, Barista Pro Shop, Irving Farm Coffee, One Village Coffee, Square One Coffee, Dallis Coffee, Toddy, and again, more to come!

We are almost set to launch the official website and registration information.  Please stay tuned to the New Harvest Coffee Roasters facebook page, or the official MANE Coffee Conference facebook page (www.facebook.com/maneconference) for more information as it comes along.

ALSO, we are looking for volunteers !  Volunteering for a few hours during the conference = FREE entry!

Please contact ana@newharvestcoffee.com if you are interested!!

Customer Feature: The Coffee Depot in Warren, RI

For our next customer feature, I (Ana) went to the lovely town of Warren Rhode Island to visit The Coffee Depot, New Harvest customer since 2002. The Coffee Depot can be described as "the hub" of downtown Warren.  This was apparent immediately.  The first thing manager Mary Jackson did was lead me to "the round table" in the center of the sitting room, occupied by a handful of people.

This group comes to Coffee Depot everyday and sit at the table, talking about politics and current events as well as doing the crossword together and reading horoscopes.  One woman called it "group therapy."  Some are Rhode Island natives, others moved here years ago, some knew each other before hand and others just became familar faces from frequenting the shop everyday. Eventually, this group all became friends, and this action seems to sum up what the Coffee Depot means to the locals.  It is a really tight knit, regular customers driven shop. One of the people I was talking to said The Coffee Depot is like an initiation if you are new: it's a good indication that someone wants to be friends with you if they take you here!

Mary pointed out a man working away in the corner and said that he had basically written his college dissertation at the Coffee Depot.  Portraits wrap around the wall, painted by an employee, featuring regular customers - a few of the round table members were up there! Even as I sat there, having my horoscope read, a friend of mine walked in! I'd only been there 10 minutes and I already had this wonderful feeling of community.

                                                       (Joe Fletcher, great musician!!)

                                                         Mural of Regular Customers

                                                Having my horoscope read by my new friends


To sum it up, the regular customers had such wonderful things about the Coffee Depot.  It's a great place to bring a laptop and work, and a great place to catch up.  It offers food options, an open mic night, and a frequent coffee buyer card!

and outdoor seating, referred to as The Coffee Depot Beach

Check out their facebook page for more info!
 :https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Coffee-Depot-Warren-RI/76496611752

Meet The Fam Round: Better Late Than Never (or Corey Needs to Buy a Computer)

Who are you?

I am Eric Lepine.

What do you do?

I am the Head Roaster at New Harvest Coffee.

Tell us something interesting/funny about yourself  

I can dunk but choose not to because my unwithering restraint only proves how powerful I really am.

When did you first get into coffee?

I first really got into coffee when I was a coffee buyer for Whole Foods Market in 2006.

What is the single most significant moment in your coffee life thus far?

I have been to farms in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras now.  Each of those trips were unique and provided me with new things to learn and new experiences to take home.  Being a part of the MANE Coffee Conference has also been something I don't take for granted.  Also working with Providence Coffee Society has been a rewarding experience that has allowed me to meet and bond with many of the best coffee professionals RI has to offer.

Since working at New Harvest what has changed about your outlook on coffee?

I think I am a lot more humble about my work.  I know I'll never have all the answers, but it makes every day interesting.

Favorite coffee at the moment?  

Finca Santa Isabel, Guatemala...perhaps biased since this is the first coffee I've ever visited at origin, roasted and brewed.  

Meet The Fam: Production Players

Taylor is the main reason coffee gets to you.

Who are you?

Taylor Roy

What do you do?

Production manager

Tell us something interesting/funny about yourself:

I won an egg toss contest in Marc Ecko's backyard

When did you first get into coffee?

I started drinking coffee pretty young, but it was instant coffee doused in cream and sugar given to me in secret by my grandma. I didn't get into coffee for real until I stumbled upon New Harvest through a teacher at my school and set up an internship.

What is the single most significant moment in your coffee life thus far?

When I realized you don't have to add cream and sugar to coffee

Since working at New Harvest, what has changed about your outlook on coffee?

Everything - my outlook has taken a 180 degree turn since beginning a internship here when I was 15. I had little to no appreciation for all of the work that goes into coffee's journey from the farmers to the baristas. I feel much better knowing what I know now and am eager to share this with others. 

Favorite coffee at the moment?

Santa Isabel

Meet The Fam: The Devlin Returns

Who are you?

My name is Devlin Rice

What do you do?

 A variety of tasks around HQ but primarily roasting.

Tell us something interesting/funny about yourself:

I competed for (with?) New Harvest in the 2008 + 2009 NERBC (northeast regional barista competition). I roasted my own espressos' in 2009 I used the Don Telmo Reserva (from Finca El Roble, which we have new crops in now) single origin espresso. Voted best at the comp by the judges!

When did you first get into coffee? 

My passion for coffee was discovered in 2006 when Rik hired me part time for production. I found every facet of the job fascinating and wanted to get more involved from there ultimately leading to roasting.

What is the single most significant moment in your coffee life thus far?

 Working in Baltimore for Jay Caragay at Spro coffee. When I started there I had never been a working Barista, just a quality focused roaster. Every roaster wants their customers to represent their coffee with the highest quality, to showcase the all of the nuance and character that the price calls for. By working with a "by the cup" shop from the start I feel like I experienced a number of challenges that both shops and roasters face. Realizing that there is a healthy balance between welcoming your customers to the specialty coffee process and bulling them with knowledge they might not be ready for, is a take away that all baristas should have. 

Since working at New Harvest, what has changed about your outlook on coffee?

I just liked it before, but New Harvest took it out of the commodity category for me and into a revered craft.

Favorite coffee at the moment?

Washed Nura Korate

Nu Metal Erick

Pretty sure that Erick doesn't like Nu Metal.  He may hate it.  However he is the newest staff member.  Let's get to know him.

There are only pictures of him pouring cappuccinos.  There is simply no evidence he exists otherwise.

Who are you?

Erick Armbrust

What do you do?

Barista/Morning Supervisor @ New Harvest Coffee and Spirits

Tell us something interesting/funny about yourself:

I am a practicing sculptor and a pretty decent shot with a bow and arrow.  I enjoy long walks on the beach especially when there are weird bones that wash up on the shore. 

When did you first get into coffee? 

I first got into coffee through The Greenleaf Coffee Co-op at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC.  In addition to being a horizontally run business full of passionate, rad people, the Greenleaf was my first exposure to coffee on an artisan level, as well as concepts like Fair and Direct Trade.

What is the single most significant moment in your coffee life thus far?

Its a dead heat between my first cup of shade grown Ethiopia (blew my mind) and when I went to Siena, Italy and realized that, at least in northern Italy, the espresso is rubbish.  

Since working at New Harvest what has changed about your outlook on coffee?

I've definitely experienced a huge growth-spurt in terms of coffee knowledge since coming here, and my desire to further my own coffee education both on and off the clock is given a substantial boost by my coworkers and our clientele.  Since coming on board, I've been more freely able to immerse myself in both the culinary and the cultural celebration of coffee.

Favorite coffee at the moment?

Colombia Valle del Cauca

Meet The Fam: (continued)

Who are you?

Corey Stroffolino

What do you do?

Barista, QC, Assistant Tech, Future Shop Manager NHC&S, Run on Sentences

Tell us something interesting/funny about yourself:

I would trade any skill I have to watch Jim dunk a basketball.

When did you first get into coffee?

My parents let me try coffee when I was really young, about eight or nine.  I remember taking my first sip with a little milk and sugar and loving it, for some reason.  Could have been a lot of sugar, I was young and details are blurry. I attribute this early exposure and not genetics to my lack of height (is this still a thing?).  At 19, I got my first coffee job at Starbucks and loved how much there was to learn about something I thought was so simple. Moving to RI, I worked at Olga’s Cup and Saucer, who uses New Harvest coffee and started meeting some of the NH family there, as they would pop in from time to time.  As luck would have it, years down the line I would end up working here.  Every year I learn more, and realize there is so much more to learn.

What is the single most significant moment in your coffee life thus far?

5 foot 6 (see: early exposure)

Since working at New Harvest, what has changed about your outlook on coffee?

Realizing I have only scratched the surface at what there is to know about coffee and the specialty industry.  Working here has given me the resources to keep learning and the encouragement to keep being excited about doing so.

Favorite coffee at the moment?

Kenya AA Nyeri Gatomboya