The Berkeley "Coffee" Thread (was I could't make up something this stupid...)

[el Guapo]

I couldn't make something this stupid up if I tried!

Politically Correct Coffee Gets Creamed
Wed Nov 6, 7:30 AM ET

BERKELEY, Calif. (Reuters) - Too little, too latte.

Berkeley voters on Tuesday poured cold water on a ballot measure that would have made their California city the first in the nation to mandate "politically correct" coffee -- deciding nothing should come between a thirsty consumer and a cup of mocha-java.

Berkeley's ballot Measure O sought to slap tough new restrictions on the city's many cafes, bars and restaurants by requiring them to sell only coffee that was organic, grown in environmentally friendly conditions, or "fair trade" -- meaning growers are paid at least $1.26 per pound.

But with coffee shop owners facing up to six months in jail for selling the wrong brew, city voters soured on the measure and it trailed by almost three to one.

Supporters of "Fair Trade" coffee had hoped to win victory in Berkeley, saying the city's liberal electorate would back their drive to pay more for coffee and protect rural agricultural workers from wild swings in commodity markets.

But the coffee campaign provoked a sharp reaction from major retailers including Starbucks Corp., Peet's Coffee and Tea Inc. and the National Coffee Association, which spent thousands of dollars on mailers in an attempt to sway voters their way.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=573&e=2&cid=573&u=/nm/20021106/od_nm/election_coffee_dc

What's next? Where do those wacky liberals get the energy to come up with this stuff? (pun intended)

 

[Dan]

Re: I couldn't make something this stupid up if I tried!

What's next? Where do those wacky liberals get the energy to come up with this stuff? (pun intended)

One more reason behind the downfall of the Democrats, IMHO. Moderate and progressive liberals get tossed into the same camp as the radical left. Who wants to be associated with those behind such radical ideas? A liberal is a liberal ... I'll just pull the lever with the little elephant beside it instead. Sigh ...

I doubt that such a law would hold up in court, anyhow. Is non-fair trade coffee a thread to the public health, safety and welfare of the city's residents or properties? Is the product legal?

Here's the initiative, in all its glory.

[tt]
EVIDENCE RESTRICTING THE SALE OF BREWED COFFEE TO ORGANIC, FAIR-TRADE, OR SHADE-GROWN CERTIFIED COFFEE

The People of the City of Berkeley do ordain as follows:

WHEREAS, coffee growers often use synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers; and

WHEREAS, coffee growers often cut down trees; and

WHEREAS, the growing of coffee in the manner described above produces an adverse effect upon the environment which is injurious to the health, safety, comfort, convenience, welfare and happiness of the residents of the City of Berkeley; and

WHEREAS, the sale of the hereinafter enumerated beverages would reduce the adverse effect mentioned above and benefit the citizens of Berkeley and others outside the City of Berkeley; and

WHEREAS, the sale of the hereinafter enumerated beverages would encourage others to sell the same; and

WHEREAS, the passage of a City of Berkeley ordinance restricting the sale of brewed coffee to the hereinafter enumerated beverages would encourage others to do the same; and

WHEREAS, the regulation of the sale of brewed coffee within the City of Berkeley is a municipal affair and in the public interest.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. DEFINITIONS.

For the purposes of this ordinance, the following terms shall be defined as follows:

a. “Brewed Coffee Beverage” shall mean all beverages brewed from coffee beans, including but not limited to café au lait, café mocha, caffè latte, cappuccino, and espresso beverages.

“Brewed Coffee Beverage” shall not include dry coffee beans, either as whole beans or in ground form.

b. “Business Vendor” shall mean any person, firm, individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint venture, vendor, or any combination thereof, selling or offering for sale brewed coffee beverages.

c. “City” shall mean all that territory within the corporate limits of the City of Berkeley.

d. “City Manager” shall mean the City Manager of the City of Berkeley or said Manager's designated representative.

e. “Fair-Trade” shall mean Fair-Trade Certified coffee as defined by TransFair USA, 1611 Telegraph Ave., Suite 900, Oakland, CA 94612.

f. “Organic” shall mean organic as defined by the final rule establishing the National Organic Program under the direction of the Agricultural Marketing Service, an arm of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), located at 7 CFR Part 205, issued pursuant to the Organic Food Production Act of 1990, as amended 7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.

g. “Sale” shall mean a commercial transaction by any person, firm, individual, corporation, partnership, or vendor, in which transaction beverages are sold directly to the public for a
monetary consideration.

h. “Shade-Grown” shall mean coffee that carries either the "Bird Friendly®" seal of approval developed by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20008, or the “ECO-O.K.®” mark developed by The Conservation Action Network of Rainforest Alliance, 65 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10012.

Section 2. THE SALE OF BREWED COFFEE IS RESTRICTED TO ORGANIC, FAIR- TRADE, OR SHADE-GROWN CERTIFIED COFFEE.

a. Every brewed coffee beverage sold or offered for sale by any business vendor in the City of Berkeley shall be brewed solely from coffee beans that are either certified:

(1) Organic, or

(2) Fair-Trade, or

(3) Shade Grown, or

(4) a combination thereof.

Section 3. INSPECTION.

The City Manager or the Manager's designated representative is authorized to enter the business premises of any business vendor engaged in the sale of brewed coffee beverages in the City and which business vendor is licensed by the City to conduct a business, for the sole purpose of inspecting said premises and determining whether the business vendor is in compliance with this ordinance.

Section 4. VIOLATIONS.

Any business vendor found in violation of any provision of this ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding One Hundred Dollars ($100) or imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment.

Section 5. SEVERABILITY.

The provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be severable and if any provision, sentence, clause, section, or part hereof is held illegal, invalid, unconstitutional, or inapplicable
to any person or circumstance, such illegality, invalidity, unconstitutionality or inapplicability shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions, sentences, clauses, sections, or parts of this ordinance or their application to persons and circumstances.

Section 6. CONSTRUCTION.
This ordinance shall be liberally construed to advance the purposes of this ordinance as described in the Evidence section above.

Section 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This ordinance shall take effect three months after it has been adopted at election.

Section 8. POSTING.

Copies of this Bill are hereby ordered published by posting with the vote thereon as required by law.
[/tt]

The organic coffee law promoters have a Web site at http://www.geocities.com/coffeelawinfo/ .

 

[Jeff]

mmmm...I'm drinking a nice hot cup of coffee right now, made fresh from beans picked by a guy making $1.00 a day. Good stuff!!

 

[Downtown]

mmmm...I'm drinking a nice hot cup of coffee right now, made fresh from beans picked by a guy making $1.00 a day. Good stuff!!

Me too - Delicious Vanilla Folgers. I can't even begin to imagine the time and energy that went into crafting that proposition.

 

[PlannerGirl]

Ok maybe the folks that wrote this need to agree to the same rules for the WEED they must be smokeing

ORGANIC, FAIR-TRADE, OR SHADE-GROWN CERTIFIED GRASS!!!!

sheesh now i KNOW why i dont want to live in Cali-strange folks

 

[Planderella]

Ok maybe the folks that wrote this need to agree to the same rules for the WEED they must be smokeing

ORGANIC, FAIR-TRADE, OR SHADE-GROWN CERTIFIED GRASS!!!!

sheesh now i KNOW why i dont want to live in Cali-strange folks

No....those fools are on the pipe (crack pipe)!!!

 

[BKM]

Berkeley (Supposed to be coffee thread)

Oh, I don't know, Planner Girl. An entire metropolitan area dedicated to the federal government and its carpetbaggers, politicians, lawyers, lobbyists, and fundraisers (DC)? That has its own strangeness-and I will take our's Besides, you guys have Takoma Park, which is almost as BOBO (Bohemian Bourgeoise).

Seriously, though. You can be legitimately "radical" or "left wing" and still not go for this kind of irrational boutique politics. I actually sympathize with the PHILOSOPHY behind their ballot, but making it a LAW is absolutely crazy. I would rather have a more left wing Democratic Party, rather than one that tries to be Republican-Lite. How such a party could avoid being hijacked by identity politics and boutique silliness is something I don't know The Democratic Party is utterly rudderless. I blame Bill Clinton.

Of course, one could accuse the Republicans of similar, even scarier crazyness. Their leadership (Tom DeLay, for example) belongs to or cozies up to organizations like the Chalcedon Foundation that want to make Leviticus and Deuteronomy the Amercian criminal code (got a recalcitrant teenager, stone 'em to death or sell 'em into slavery), so . . .

On a more positive note, Berkeley did overwhelmingly reject major height limits in the commercial corridors. These corridors are aging 1950s and 60s lovelies that are only now beginning to see redevelopment. Smart Growth in action (whatever that means). The proponents argued that Berkeley, a City of 110,000 with tens of thousands of jobs and a location in the middle of a metro area of five million should retain its "quaintness" and that the ugly commercial strips (San Pablo Avenue and University Avenue) would easily and immediately be developed under the lower height limits if those evil developers woul just not be so greedy. The measure lost by 4-1!

OOPS, I meant to post this under the coffee thread. Can you move it?

 

[PlannerGirl]

Actualy i think this is good as its own topic, local politics
wanna rename it in such a way?

D

 

[Habanero]

I've got to sing "Too Much Time on My Hands" now-

 

[Super Amputee Cat]

I hate to be the lone dissenter here, but anything that could hurt Starbucks can't be all that bad. I'm glad that they spent a lot of money trying to stop this thing.

Sure, the idea of criminalizing coffee is ludicrous, but I just think of this as a creative way to extort time and money from one of America's most phony, preditory and generally evil corporations. Anything that would distract such a company from expansion and inane marketing/advertising (albeit only temporary) is a good thing.

 

[Habanero]

Yes, but why start with coffee? What about every other mass produced commodity out there offers the same low wages to workers in different countries?

 

[Chet]

Some one please call Kathie Lee Gifford. We need her valuable opinion on this.

 

[Jeff]

I
Sure, the idea of criminalizing coffee is ludicrous, but I just think of this as a creative way to extort time and money from one of America's most phony, preditory and generally evil corporations. B]

The last time I checked extortion was illegal and was conducted by the Tony Sopranos of this world. We live in a country which thrives from free enterprise. The fact that you can hate a company for successfully marketing a product that people want is beyond me. Starbucks is successful because people want it, and if you can't perceive that then I'm sure you can find a nive ranch in central Wyoming with no Starbucks in the area.

 

[Habanero]

The last time I checked extortion was illegal and was conducted by the Tony Sopranos of this world. We live in a country which thrives from free enterprise. The fact that you can hate a company for successfully marketing a product that people want is beyond me. Starbucks is successful because people want it, and if you can't perceive that then I'm sure you can find a nive ranch in central Wyoming with no Starbucks in the area.

Couldn't have said it better myself. It's not that those haters don't drink coffee, and why be jealous that they've [Starbucks or any other chain for that matter] made millions off the business. Starbucks does the ABC (All Books for Children) program where you can exchange a children's book for a free small cup of joe and then they donate the books to a local library. They also try to start recycling programs, give used grounds to horticulturists, stopped "double cupping" and started the cup sleeve , and offer "fair trade" coffee for sale (in the brown colored bag).

I hope you don't use any Microsoft products-

 

[BKM]

Starbucks

I try to patronize the little, indie-owned local coffee places when I can. At their best, I just like them better. And, as a free American consumer, I choose to support a local business over some guy who bought a franchise. Plus, my local is three blocks closer than Starbucks.

BUT, I can't particularly get all hyped up about the evil green monster. I prefer the locals, but hatred is a bit too strong. In some towns, they are the only place to get the yuppie coffee drinks I am (sadly) addicted to. And, their roast is not that bad.

The Berkeley folks would argue that consolidating the coffee market into a few hands leads to abuses at the producer price level. They have a point, which is why I VOLUNTARILY try to buy local coffee shops' "sustainable" coffee. I think consolidated agribusiness does have some problems. But, I'm not sure legislation is the way to do this in a Global economy.

 

[el Guapo]

Anyone know Coffee?

My mother and sister (who has spent much time in the Pacific NW) have conspired to gift me with a....wait for it.....Starbucks Espresso Barista. Weren't those the people Reagan tried to funnel guns too?

Anyway...does anyone know how to make coffee drinks with this thing. It comes with a VHS tape showing the operation and cleaning, but no receipes. I have made three lattes so far. They don't taste quite right.

I have never been in Starbucks or even seen one (Truly - On my hono(u)r) and I am on record on this very website deriding people that buy $3.50 coffee drinks, I have bought maybe six coffee drinks in my lifetime that were not basic cups of joe...so what is a fellow to do?

Please help the fundamentally coffee clueless el Guapo.

PS does this make me Yuppie vermon?

 

[Tranplanner]

El Guapo - if you ship your new toy to me, I'll take real good care of it for you. I'm not a big "fancy-coffee" drinker either, but Starbucks makes the best cafe Mochas...Mmmmmmmmm.

 

[PlannerGirl]

Guap yes that makes you a YUPPIE

now ill be happy to help you rid yourself of such a loathsome lable....just send it my way and you will never have to worry about yuppiedom again

thats my thing

;-)

 

[Tranplanner]

Guap yes that makes you a YUPPIE

now ill be happy to help you rid yourself of such a loathsome lable....just send it my way and you will never have to worry about yuppiedom again

thats my thing

;-)

Hey! Sorry PG, I got dibs!

 

[PlannerGirl]

pouts but ill make it feel more at home, ill hang my Burberry beanie and scarf beside it

falls out of her chair laughing

 

[giff57]

There are many variables to consider when trying to match the flavor of a $5.00 latte. First, the beans have to be fresh and of high quality. They should also be the proper blend. The beans should be ground just prior to use. They also must be ground to the proper consistancy, too fine and it's bitter, too course and it's not strong enough. (trial and error is best here)
Then you must use carbon filtered water, chlorine makes coffee taste like crap.

Consult this guide for all of this and more:

http://www.cappuccinococktails.com/cappuccino_Table_of_Contents.html

 

[donk]

The cost is actually associated with amortizing the investment in a machine like this

Suggested retail price is $1200 USD, and this is a consumer model.

I have a cycling buddy who won a similar machine one in europe and rewired and plumbed his kitchen to get it to work properly

 

[el Guapo]

There are many variables to consider when trying to match the flavor of a $5.00 latte. First, the beans have to be fresh and of high quality. They should also be the proper blend. The beans should be ground just prior to use. They also must be ground to the proper consistancy, too fine and it's bitter, too course and it's not strong enough. (trial and error is best here)
Then you must use carbon filtered water, chlorine makes coffee taste like crap.

Consult this guide for all of this and more:

http://www.cappuccinococktails.com/cappuccino_Table_of_Contents.html

Giff, If you really recommend that book, I'll get it. Do you have a copy of it yourself?
Thanks all

TP and PG, It is yours to use when you visit. But I need to hold on to the unit because the two ladies that gave it vist often and may notice it missing.

 

[Tranplanner]

Let me know when you figure out how to use your new toy 'guap, and I'll consider making a road trip

 

[Seabishop]

Yes, but why start with coffee? What about every other mass produced commodity out there offers the same low wages to workers in different countries?

Compared to other chains Starbucks isn't bad at all. They're all over the place but they do respect their surroundings and locate in existing buildings more than, say, KFC. They can also add some street life to an area. They also don't have as much advertising. I'd welcome them to our Main Street.

Starbucks and Ben & Jerrys earn people's resentment because they have a reputation as being vaguely "progressive" businesses but when people look further they still (rightly) are in it to make money like anybody else.

 

[giff57]

Giff, If you really recommend that book, I'll get it. Do you have a copy of it yourself?

Book? I thought it was just a website......

So it is a website about the book, no I don't have it. I just googled "how to make a latte"

 

[el Guapo]

web site about a book.

 

[Chet]

I'd return it and buy something useful - like guns.

 

[BKM]

OT: Ben and Jerrys

Seabishop: I think Ben and Jerry's is now owned by Unilever!

What always amused me about B&J is how their cartons brag about their organic milk, etc. etc. But, if you look at the ingredients, just one of those little pints has 40 grams of saturated fat!! What'll kill you first?

Oh well, hippie=hypocrisy.


Downtown Vacaville is now getting a THIRD coffee house. We'll see how it works.

 

[Wannaplan?]

Okay guys...

Originally posted by El Guapo:
What's next? Where do those wacky liberals get the energy to come up with this stuff? (pun intended)

&

Originally posted by Dan:
One more reason behind the downfall of the Democrats, IMHO. Moderate and progressive liberals get tossed into the same camp as the radical left. Who wants to be associated with those behind such radical ideas? A liberal is a liberal ... I'll just pull the lever with the little elephant beside it instead. Sigh ...

I think most people recognize the SF-Berekely democrat is quite different from the one in middle-America and elsewhere. As a democrat myself, there is no way I can compare myself to one in living in northern California.

 

[el Guapo]

Update

UPDATE: This barista lifestyle rocks. I find myself looking for coffee houses and making trips into the big city just to cruise the latest coffee gadgetry in coffee or gourmet food supply stores. I’m now considering an espresso grinder that costs more than my current TV. You gotta getcha one of these.

Yes, I know I once derided the people that thought that there was life beyond Folgers Drip. I admit I was wrong.

 

[Cardinal]

Re: Update

UPDATE: This barista lifestyle rocks. I find myself looking for coffee houses and making trips into the big city just to cruise the latest coffee gadgetry in coffee or gourmet food supply stores. I’m now considering an espresso grinder that costs more than my current TV. You gotta getcha one of these.

Yes, I know I once derided the people that thought that there was life beyond Folgers Drip. I admit I was wrong.

This is how it starts, Guap. First you enjoy a cup of coffee. Soon you are hanging out in coffeehouses. Next thing you know, you are agreeing with BKM and joining the Green Party. Where will it end?

 

[NHPlanner]

I'm glad I gave up coffee a couple of years ago....looks like it's become an expensive addiction!

 

[Runner]

I'm glad I gave up coffee a couple of years ago....looks like it's become an expensive addiction!

Now on the other hand a nice cup of tea hits the spot for me.

 

[Planderella]

Re: Re: Update

This is how it starts, Guap. First you enjoy a cup of coffee. Soon you are hanging out in coffeehouses. Next thing you know, you are agreeing with BKM and joining the Green Party. Where will it end?

Don't forget the chin pubes Guap's going to grow, as well as the shoulder-length hair. Next, he'll be promoting St. Joseph as the home of the next Seattle grunge-like movement.

 

[Repo Man]

I would be willing to shell out good money for a coffee maker that can brew coffee like you get in some of our local coffees houses (or Starbucks). For some reason (I assume it is their fancy machines) I cannot get coffee to taste as good as it does from a coffee place.

 

[el Guapo]

All your questions may be answered at www.coffeegeek.com my son.

Their BB is not as adictive as ours.

 

[Cardinal]

Re: Re: Re: Update

Don't forget the chin pubes Guap's going to grow, as well as the shoulder-length hair. Next, he'll be promoting St. Joseph as the home of the next Seattle grunge-like movement.

... and campaigning for only organically shade-grown coffee harvested by independent farmers who are paid a living wage, served in cerified green buildings by people with multiple piecings and split tongues.

 

[donk]

Michael,

You forgot militant and small arms bearing in your description.

 

[BKM]

Don't forget the large Che Guerera posters next to the chalkboard menus behind the barristas

 

[Tom R]

lsd

Lot of chromosome damage coming home to roost in Berkeley,............... yep.

 

[Greenescapist]

I would be willing to shell out good money for a coffee maker that can brew coffee like you get in some of our local coffees houses (or Starbucks). For some reason (I assume it is their fancy machines) I cannot get coffee to taste as good as it does from a coffee place.

You should try a French Press. It makes awesome coffee if you like it strong. They are cheap, too. You just need a bean grinder to go with it.

 

[Wulf9]

Coffee tastes best if you roast it yourself. One of the best sources for beans is Sweet Marias, coincidentally located in Emeryville, right next to Berkely.

Wulf