http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/ Current news and specials from Alterra Coffee Roasters wholesale department. en alterra@alterracoffee.com Copyright 2008 2008-06-30T19:27:00-06:00 http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/july_special_costa_rica_campeon_del_valle/ http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/july_special_costa_rica_campeon_del_valle/#When:19:27:00Z To create the Alterra-exclusive Campeón del Valle (Champion of the Valley), we dug even deeper into the Dota Valley in Costa Rica and selected a handful of individual deliveries, or micro-lots, from the farmers who produced the best coffee this year. The 700+ producer members of Coopedota have the ability to participate in this volunteer micro-lot project, and selecting just a few deliveries results in extremely high-quality coffee. These coffees exhibit pinpoint acidity, supportive body and a subtle fruitiness that is a result of harvesting very ripe (but not overripe) coffee cherries. Stick with a champion and you won’t be let down! Try this amazing coffee for yourself in July and enjoy 50 cents off, per pound (whole bean, ground or frac’ed) in your order. Coffee Specials 2008-06-30T19:27:00-06:00 http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/alterras_offices_and_warehouse_now_in_riverwest/ http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/alterras_offices_and_warehouse_now_in_riverwest/#When:15:21:00Z We have finally made the move and are settling into our new offices on Humboldt Boulevard. As of June 30th Alterra’s customer service offices, sales office, wholesale warehouse, service department and barista training are all under one roof at 2999 N Humboldt Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53212. This move has been in the works for quite some time and we’d like to thank our new neighbors for welcoming us to Riverwest! Beginning immediately, all pick-up orders, barista training and wholesale functions will take place at our Humboldt facility. If you have not see the new space yet, come by and check it out! Feel free to email alterra@alterracoffee.com or call us at 414-273-3747 (our phone number has not changed) with any questions or concerns. News 2008-06-30T15:21:00-06:00 http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/june_coffee_special_guatemala_pampojila/ http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/june_coffee_special_guatemala_pampojila/#When:14:08:00Z Third-generation coffee farmer Oscar Diaz harvests, processes and hand-sorts coffee that’s as beautiful as the region from which it comes. His Pampojilá (meaning: “the place where the mist begins”) coffee is grown at 5,500 feet above sea level near San Lucas Tolimán, a town in the southeast corner of Lake Atitlán in Guatemala. Layers of sweet, floral acidity complement smooth body and classic chocolate notes in a shining example of Guatemalan coffee. Try Guatemala Pampojila this June and enjoy 50 cents off each pound (whole bean, ground, or frac’ed coffee) in your order, and an 11” x 17” poster complete with a full description of this coffee. (Limit one per customer, please.) Coffee Specials 2008-06-02T14:08:00-06:00 http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/all_of_alterras_french_roast_now_organic_fair_trade/ http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/all_of_alterras_french_roast_now_organic_fair_trade/#When:16:54:00Z We are excited to announce that our French Roast coffee has gone entirely Fair Trade/Organic. Dark-roasted versions of our FTO Timor and Sumatran coffees come together in this smoky, full-bodied blend. Flavors of dark chocolate, gingerbread and black licorice reward those who aren’t afraid of a little roast in their lives! News 2008-05-28T16:54:00-06:00 http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/2008_scaa_wrap_up/ http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/2008_scaa_wrap_up/#When:14:55:00Z The Specialty Coffee Association of America’s yearly convention has come and gone and Alterra was thrilled to participate. Our booth on the show floor was buzzing with activity and eager coffee enthusiasts awaiting a taste of Alterra’s finest. We would like to thank all the people that came out to the show and especially all the current accounts that had a chance to stop by. While most of our team was working on the show floor, our team of barista competitors was taking part in the US Barista Championship and holding their own against America’s stiffest competition. After all was said and done, our two barista trainers, Scott Lucy and Justin Tiesl made it all the way to the semi-finals. This is their first time in the semis and we would like to congratulate them and thank them for their years of hard work and dedication making sure that their skills are at their best. If you have a chance, please mark your calendar and come out to see us at the SCAA 2009 conference in Atlanta. News 2008-05-16T14:55:00-06:00 http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/may_coffee_special_nicaragua_don_zeledon/ http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/may_coffee_special_nicaragua_don_zeledon/#When:16:10:00Z To create the Alterra-exclusive Don Zeledon - Fair Trade/Organic, we tasted and selected the best coffees from award-winning cooperatives in Northern Nicaragua and blended them together to create a sweet, clean coffee with juicy acidity, medium body and resonating finish. Try Don Zeledon this April and enjoy 50 cents off each pound (whole bean, ground, or frac’ed coffee) in your order, and an 11” x 17” poster complete with a full description of this coffee. (Limit one per customer, please.) Coffee Specials 2008-05-01T16:10:00-06:00 http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/announcing_alterra_at_scaa_in_minneapolis/ http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/announcing_alterra_at_scaa_in_minneapolis/#When:21:16:00Z We are pleased to announce that Alterra Coffee will participate as an exhibitor at the 20th Annual Specialty Coffee Association of America Conference & Exhibition!  This year’s conference takes place May 2nd through May 5th at the Minneapolis Convention Center where 8,000 coffee industry professionals from over 40 countries will gather to attend the world’s premier coffee event. Come visit us at our booth (#1610), attend lectures presented by Alterra’s very own Lincoln Fowler, Dave Blanchard, and Richard Specter, and cheer on our team of fighting baristas at the USBC. What else does SCAA’s annual conference have to offer? * participate in nearly 200 hours of lectures, labs and roundtables * the United States Barista Championship * over 900 exhibit booths * keynote address by Michael Shuman, author of “The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition.” For more information about this year’s conference, please visit: http://conference.scaa.org/ News 2008-04-30T21:16:00-06:00 http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/april_coffee_special_brazil_traditional_dry/ http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/april_coffee_special_brazil_traditional_dry/#When:14:43:00Z This coffee comes to us from the Fazenda Vista Alegre, owned and operated by the Andrade family since 1898. Located in the state of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil, Vista Alegre employs a traditional dry method to process the coffee, in which the harvested cherries are spread on large patios to dry in the sun. Our roast is tailored specifically to complement the heavy body and almost tobacco-like flavor present in the Brazil Traditional Dry. Try Brazil Traditional Dry this April and enjoy 50 cents off each pound (whole bean, ground, or frac’ed coffee) in your order, and an 11" x 17" poster complete with a full description of this coffee. (Limit one per customer, please.) Coffee Specials 2008-04-01T14:43:00-06:00 http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/airpots_replace_or_repair/ http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/airpots_replace_or_repair/#When:18:28:00Z Ever had a broken airpot liner and just figured the whole pot is no good? Not so! The average cost of an airpot liner is a bit less than a new replacement so why not repair your airpot? If you are not comfortable with dealing with the glass shards and mess that is involved with repairing your airpot feel free to send it back into us for repair. Please note that depending on the type of damage, some airpots may not be repairable. Broken lids, handles, housings, etc… can render your airpot unusable but can be a great source of spare parts so don’t toss that broken airpot out! If you do choose to replace the liner yourself please order the liner and a gasket as well. The gasket makes a seal between the top of the liner and the lid of the airpot and is usually damaged after the liner cracks so make sure you have this crucial part if attempting a “"home-repair". Reminder: it’s also a good idea to keep a back up airpot on hand just in case you find yourself with a broken one during a busy business day or as a substitute for one out for repairs. Happy brewing! News 2008-03-31T18:28:00-06:00 http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/maintenance_tip_encourage_the_urge_to_purge/ http://alterracoffeepro.com/wholesale/newsblog/maintenance_tip_encourage_the_urge_to_purge/#When:20:30:00Z The Alterra Service crew often gets calls from customers who find that their steam valves have stopped working. More often than not, this is the result of an obstruction in the steam wand. Such clogs can be avoided by purging your steam wand before and after every use, allowing the wand to be cleared of milk that can crawl back into it. As the heat of the machine dehydrates this milk, build-up forms and eventually damages the valve. It’s also important to note that purging before each use will eject anything that has accumulated in the valve. (Water always condenses in these wands and that is not something you want to include in your customer’s latte or mocha!) If you do encounter problems with your steam wand, check out our troubleshooting guide, which can also be found in the Equipment Troubleshooting section of our Web site: Problem: Espresso machine won’t steam. Possible Causes: a. steam wand obstruction b. machine is not turned on c. boiler problems Possible Solutions: a. Check the steam wand tip for clogs and use a paper clip or similar object to poke out the steam tip holes. b. Make sure the machine is on. Some machines have a three-way power switch: Off, Fill, On (Heat). Turn the power switch to the On (Heat) position. c. If the steam boiler gauge reads above 1.5, turn off the machine and call your service tech. News 2008-02-28T20:30:00-06:00