Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition 2010

Where: Discovery World
When: Friday, March 12th - Sunday, March 14th
Address: 500 North Harbor Drive, Milwaukee
Press Release: PDF

Alterra is honored to once again host this annual competition of the best and brightest baristas of the 5-state area!

This year the event takes place over 3 days at Milwaukee’s Discovery World Museum. Come on out to see the Great Lakes area’s (Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio) finest baristas vie for a chance to compete at the U.S. Barista Championship in Anaheim, CA this April.

What exactly does a barista competition entail?

Fifteen minutes, four cappuccinos, four shots of espresso, and four signature drinks prepared in front of a panel of judges. A strong focus is placed on presentation, cleanliness, professionalism, and of course, the quality of the drinks prepared. Find more info about regional barista competitions at usbaristachampionship.org.

We encourage every coffee enthusiast to come out and experience the fascinating world of barista competitions! Spectators at the event are welcome to step up to the “4th machine,” where fans can sample the coffees, espressos, and signature beverages being prepared by competitors. Come cheer on your favorite Alterra baristas, including the 2009 GLRBC Champ Scott Lucey as well as Colin Whitcomb, Nathan Hoida and Cody Kinart.

The event is free and open to the public. RSVP for this event on our Facebook event page and be sure to invite your friends!

Join us for “Alterra Celebrates Brazil”

Attention Alterra wholesale accounts… you are invited! Please join us on March 13th for an exciting celebration of Brazilian coffee and culture. As part of the event we are excited to be having Brazilian coffee farmer Alexandre Gonzaga with us to speak about his work as well as some of the Great Lakes’ finest baristas there pulling espresso shots of Senhor Gonzagas and other single-origin, micro-lot coffees.

Sip and sample authentic Brazilian beverages and appetizers in Milwaukee’s finest Churrascaria, Sabor!

Dance to and enjoy live music from Chicago’s Luciano Antonio & Planeta Azul featuring the Passistas Samba Dancers, as well as Brazilian and world music spun by DJ Marcus Doucette (Chalice in the Palace, 88.9 RadioMilwaukee).

Don’t miss this chance to experience a slice of Brazil here in Milwaukee and a great opportunity to connect with the farmers, baristas and everyone that makes our coffee culture possible! See you there!

Saying Goodbye to Java Estate

After an notable career on the Alterra Coffee offerings list, the time has come for us to retire Java Estate. The pursuit of our mission to “deliver an exceptional coffee experience” means that we must occasionally say goodbye to coffees that no longer meet our standards for coffee-greatness.  As of February 2, Java Estate will no longer be available.  A couple of good recommendations for anyone looking for coffees that are similar in flavor are Brazil Traditional Dry or East Timor Maubisse - Organic/Fair Trade.

Costa Rica Campeon del Valle temporarily out

Attention Alterra wholesale customers! Our shipment of the new crop of Costa Rica Campeon del Valle has not arrived as of yet leaving us out of stock until further notice. We will be offering a replacement Costa in the interim and it should be available in the next week or so. We apologize for any inconvenience. If there are any questions please do not hesitate to call us at 1-877-273-3747. Thanks!

Announcing Alterra at SCAA in Anaheim CA!

We are pleased to announce that Alterra Coffee will participate as an exhibitor at the 22nd Annual Specialty Coffee Association of America Conference & Exhibition!  This year’s conference takes place April 15th through April 18th in Anaheim, CA where 8,000 coffee industry professionals from over 40 countries will gather to attend the world’s premier coffee event. We encourage you to come down for the event and participate in the vast world that is the specialty coffee industry and while you are there be sure to come and visit us at our booth.

What else does SCAA’s annual conference have to offer?
* participate in nearly 200 hours of lectures, labs and roundtables
* it will be held in tandem with the US Barista Championship
* over 800 exhibitor booths

For more information about this year’s conference, please visit:
http://www.scaashow.org/

Announcing the Alterra-hosted Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition this March, 2010!

Just a heads-up to all potential barista competitors, judges and volunteers that the 2010 Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition is set to take place this March 12th - 14th at Milwaukee’s Discovery World Museum!

Alterra is honored to once again host this annual competition of the best and brightest baristas of the 5-state area. Winners of the competition go on to compete at the U.S. Barista Championship held at the Specialty Coffee Association of America Exposition in Anaheim this April 2010. (By the way, Alterra will be an exhibitor/lecturer at the national event - come visit!)

What exactly does a barista competition entail? Fifteen minutes, four cappuccinos, four shots of espresso, and four signature drinks prepared in front of a panel of judges. A strong focus is placed on presentation, cleanliness, professionalism, and of course, the quality of the drinks prepared.

More details are coming soon, but in the meantime check out the U.S. Barista Championship web site for more information and registration details.