When most people think coffee, they think "Starbucks." But don't be a lemming. It's A Grind is a national chain and their coffee is spectacular! It's A Grind coffee flavor is not only spectacular, but it is fresh. And fresh is something many other coffee companies must sacrifice for shelf-life. Evidently the bean keeps longer if you cook it extra...hence the burned taste of some. One of It's A Grind's newest locations, is 602 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401. I had the pleasure of talking to the owners, Christian and Gina. They are good people. And their positive attitudes show through their staff. Let's face it, a business is only as good as the owner. My advice, make It's a Grind, Santa Monica your local hangout.
Labels: It's a Grind, Santa Monica coffee
Monday, February 19, 2007
Kenyan Coffee arrives at Starbucks
Starbucks finally wakes up and smells the Kenyan coffee
By FRED OLUOCH
Special Correspondent
American international coffee retailer Starbucks has announced plans to brand Kenyan coffee to popularise it in the world market.
The Seattle-based company is turning its focus on East Africa after recent surveys showed that coffees grown in East Africa have improved in quality in the past few years and need support if the quality is to be sustained in the long run.
The Starbucks’ strategy includes buying more, and paying premium prices for, African coffee, providing access to affordable credit to farmers, collaborating with farmers to improve their production techniques, purchasing Fair Trade certified coffee, and investing in socio-development projects.
The company officials were in the country recently for a three-day visit during which they held discussions with Cabinet ministers Kipruto arap Kirwa (Agriculture) and Mukhisa Kituyi (Trade), farmers and other stakeholders in the coffee sector.
The Starbucks group purchases, roasts and markets whole bean coffee and a variety of pastries and confections from its 13,000 coffee houses in 39 countries around the world. The company plans to double coffee purchased from the region, which currently stands at less than 10 per cent of its purchases globally.
However, Starbucks officials, who perceive Africa as an important market, were concerned that the culture of coffee drinking has not taken root in Kenya despite the country being a major coffee producer on the continent.
According to Starbucks senior vice-president for coffee and global procurement Dub Hay, the company is keen on improving its direct relationship with coffee farmers and putting in place projects that will have a direct impact on coffee-farming communities.
“If African farmers cannot continue to grow and process high quality coffee, then we will not be able to sell the same to our customers,” said Mr Hay.
In order to boost the sub-sector, Starbucks is rehabilitating the Kihuyo and Kiamariga coffee pulping stations in Tetu and Mathira respectively.
In the new strategy, Starbucks plans to work directly with African coffee farmers through the establishment of the East African Farmer Support Centre, to provide guidance to farmers on the sustained production of quality coffee beans.
The company outlined its plans for farmers during the East African coffee conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 15. The strategy is to add value by opening more coffee roasters in the region. According to Ann Saunders, Starbucks vice-president for global brand strategy, there is a link between value addition and capacity, which most African farmers lack.
Ms Sunders noted that 44 million people go through Starbucks’ stores every week, providing a good opportunity to introduce Kenyan coffee to a significant cross-section of people across the world, which will move Kenyan coffee from the margins to the mainstream global economy.
“We are not only going to buy more, but pay more. We are seeking to be the development partner of choice for Africa,” she said.
In 2006, Starbucks paid an average price of $1.42 per pound for the 294 million pounds of coffee they bought, an increase of over $1.28 per pound from 2005. In East Africa, the company intends to use its network of donors to partner with microfinance companies that offer credit to farmers.
Through 2005, Starbucks loaned more than $8.5 million to non-profit organisations that provide credit to thousands of farmers.
In addition, the company has introduced coffee and farmer equity known as Cafe Practice in Africa, providing for long term relationships and extra premiums paid as a reward for quality and responsible farming.
Through Cafe Practice, Starbucks will be buying coffee on a preferential basis from farmers who meet the prerequisites of high quality and economic transparency.
Cafe Practice is different from Fair Trade certification, which certifies only smallholder farms, and which guarantees a minimum price to co-operatives of small scale farmers.
Starbucks is the largest purchaser of Fair Trade certified coffee in North America.
By FRED OLUOCH
Special Correspondent
American international coffee retailer Starbucks has announced plans to brand Kenyan coffee to popularise it in the world market.
The Seattle-based company is turning its focus on East Africa after recent surveys showed that coffees grown in East Africa have improved in quality in the past few years and need support if the quality is to be sustained in the long run.
The Starbucks’ strategy includes buying more, and paying premium prices for, African coffee, providing access to affordable credit to farmers, collaborating with farmers to improve their production techniques, purchasing Fair Trade certified coffee, and investing in socio-development projects.
The company officials were in the country recently for a three-day visit during which they held discussions with Cabinet ministers Kipruto arap Kirwa (Agriculture) and Mukhisa Kituyi (Trade), farmers and other stakeholders in the coffee sector.
The Starbucks group purchases, roasts and markets whole bean coffee and a variety of pastries and confections from its 13,000 coffee houses in 39 countries around the world. The company plans to double coffee purchased from the region, which currently stands at less than 10 per cent of its purchases globally.
However, Starbucks officials, who perceive Africa as an important market, were concerned that the culture of coffee drinking has not taken root in Kenya despite the country being a major coffee producer on the continent.
According to Starbucks senior vice-president for coffee and global procurement Dub Hay, the company is keen on improving its direct relationship with coffee farmers and putting in place projects that will have a direct impact on coffee-farming communities.
“If African farmers cannot continue to grow and process high quality coffee, then we will not be able to sell the same to our customers,” said Mr Hay.
In order to boost the sub-sector, Starbucks is rehabilitating the Kihuyo and Kiamariga coffee pulping stations in Tetu and Mathira respectively.
In the new strategy, Starbucks plans to work directly with African coffee farmers through the establishment of the East African Farmer Support Centre, to provide guidance to farmers on the sustained production of quality coffee beans.
The company outlined its plans for farmers during the East African coffee conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 15. The strategy is to add value by opening more coffee roasters in the region. According to Ann Saunders, Starbucks vice-president for global brand strategy, there is a link between value addition and capacity, which most African farmers lack.
Ms Sunders noted that 44 million people go through Starbucks’ stores every week, providing a good opportunity to introduce Kenyan coffee to a significant cross-section of people across the world, which will move Kenyan coffee from the margins to the mainstream global economy.
“We are not only going to buy more, but pay more. We are seeking to be the development partner of choice for Africa,” she said.
In 2006, Starbucks paid an average price of $1.42 per pound for the 294 million pounds of coffee they bought, an increase of over $1.28 per pound from 2005. In East Africa, the company intends to use its network of donors to partner with microfinance companies that offer credit to farmers.
Through 2005, Starbucks loaned more than $8.5 million to non-profit organisations that provide credit to thousands of farmers.
In addition, the company has introduced coffee and farmer equity known as Cafe Practice in Africa, providing for long term relationships and extra premiums paid as a reward for quality and responsible farming.
Through Cafe Practice, Starbucks will be buying coffee on a preferential basis from farmers who meet the prerequisites of high quality and economic transparency.
Cafe Practice is different from Fair Trade certification, which certifies only smallholder farms, and which guarantees a minimum price to co-operatives of small scale farmers.
Starbucks is the largest purchaser of Fair Trade certified coffee in North America.
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