2010-11 Edition of Open Eye Socks Now Available!

The new, one-of-a-kind Open Eye Cafe logo socks are available for the Holiday Season!
These state of the art socks from Defeet, a company out of Hildebrand, NC, are technologically advanced, but you don't need to know that to appreciate them!
Comfy and cool, they make for great gifts!
Get them while they last.

Scott Conary has been invited to Seoul, South Korea to Train judges & act as Head Judge at the Korean National Barista Championship - 11/25-28.

The Competition will take place during the 9th Seoul International Cafe Show. In his capacity as a member of the World Barista Training Committee, he will spend the day before the competition training judges to prepare them to properly evaluate the 30 competitiors signed up for this event. More info can be found at : http://www.cafeshow.co.kr/

Carrboro Coffee Roasters are Finalists in this years Good Food Awards !!!!

Carrboro Coffee Roasters are Finalists in this years Good Food Awards held in San Francisco, with Our Cup of Excellence from Honduras; Tomas Sosa Calderon's El Aguacate!!!! Boy are we in good company!!! Congrat's to all the other fine roasters!

The Good Food Awards were created through a collaboration of food producers, farmers, food journalists and independent grocers organized by Seedling Projects. The Good Food Awards recognize that truly good food - the kind that brings people together and builds strong, healthy communities - contains social and environmental responsibility, while celebrating flavor. The Awards take a comprehensive view, honoring people who make food that is delicious, respectful of the environment, and connected to communities and cultural traditions.

Big shout out to Carrboro's Farmers Daughter who has two finalists in the Preserves Category & one in Pickles!! Way to represent Carrboro!
See more info here: http://www.goodfoodawards.org/the-awards/finalists/

Grounds For Health Coffee Auction

Grounds For Health
Through Grounds for Health, women in coffee growing countries are receiving life saving cervical cancer screenings at an estimated materials cost of 23 cents each!

80% of cervical cancer cases are in the developing world and is the #1 cause of cancer death for women in low-resource settings, including coffee-growing communities. They simply do not have access to adequate screening and treatment facilities due to lack of resources. With Grounds for Health "Single Visit Approach," they are trying to resolve those key problem areas. In addition to the low cost approach that allow women to be screened and treated in the same day, the Grounds for Health program trains local medical personnel in order to continue the efforts of the program for years to come. The program is currently implemented in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Tanzania with a three-year commitment from the Grounds for Health organization.

Grounds for Health is making large strides involving the coffee industry and women in the farming communities, and we're proud to support their cause. To learn more, visit GroundsForHealth.org.


How Carrboro Coffee Roasters is Getting Involved
Through the Grounds for Health coffee auction, green coffee brokers and farmers donate a variety of high quality coffee beans. Roasters bid on the coffees and 100% of the proceeds go towards Grounds for Health programming. Over $100,000 was raised to continue the work of promoting life-saving health care for women in the coffee world. By bidding in the auction, Carrboro Coffee Roasters helped support cervical cancer screening and treatment and introduce sustainable medical practices to rural communities in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Tanzania. Carrboro Coffee is excited to offer this coffee bought through the Grounds for Health auction this year; Nicaragua Matagalpa from the CECOCAFEN Co-Op That will help buy supplies for thousands of women!

Coffee with Camels Milk

My recent travel has brought me back to Dubai in the UAE – ex-oil, newly found vacationland ( sorry Maine…). Not your average vacation of course. I describe it as Las Vegas X100. When the oil ran out, the economy had to re-focus. The reorientation was about high end, wonderland-like tourism. Who else would drive themselves into 12 billion dollars of debt to build islands shaped like palms ( I think they look more like horseshoe crabs) and the World ( want to buy and live on Scotland?)? The Hotel complex where the Championship & Convention was held is the longest in the world ( 1.4km), and all suites ( there are no ordinary ‘rooms’) faced the racetrack where the World Cup racing is held, and camels race as a warm up.
I was there for coffee.
I know what you are thinking.
In a city that was desert 20 years ago, it is hard to think of the hot beverage as being a hit. What is popular in Dubai is making money. The newest craze ( along with massive aquariums in every mall) is the coffeehouse feel and what I call Phase 1 of quality coffee consumption. These attempts are largely driven by larger corporations at this point; just for the sheer ability to cover all the newly built retail acreage, but also for the over-the-top slickness image needed. This is a place where all the top names in retail are the standard in malls – malls which are complexes with hotels, and self-sustaining with functions such as indoor water parks and ski slopes. There is a range of course, but nothing is shabby, and some areas feel like they cost you money just to look at them. Armani has a Café in one of these areas.
So you will see some slick Italian & Australian origin chains who are introducing folks to the first step in quality coffee – the lingo….and an OK cup from time to time. Consistent quality still eludes these players (and in some instances quality at all).
Enter Raw Coffee Company. A Café, that has recently entered the coffee roasting arena, attempting to further their control over the quality of their product.
The owners of this independent company have specifically shown their desire to succeed via quality over the past two years. Last year, at the First annual UAE Barista Championships ( for more info on competitions, see: www.worldbaristachampionship.com ), Owner Kim Thompson, a New Zealand Ex-Pat, took second place in her first attempt at the competition. This year she returned to certify as a judge for the competition and entered ( and trained) several employees on their way to success – her employee, Raja Muthusamy became the 2nd National Champion of the UAE.
The coffee made by these folks is the next phase in quality driven coffee by people who understand what it takes to make excellent coffee, not just money, and still succeed.
Look them up if you are tired of the poor quality coffee served at the Hotels ( sadly even the most expensive ones haven’t figured it out yet.), or have had enough cardamom and cinnamon in your overly sweet coffee. Tell Kim I said Hello. She’s full of energy & fun to talk to.
Oh, and for you foodies out there, camels milk is the most common form, and proclaimed to be the perfect food! I will let you decide for yourself. I found it rather savory/salty and really took over any coffee it was served with.

Carrboro Coffee Roasters President Scott Conary Becomes A Certified Instructor For Specialty Coffee Association Of America

Scott Conary, president of Carrboro Coffee Roasters; an artisan coffee roaster in NC, was recently re-certified as an instructor by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). Conary, Chair of the SCAA USBC Committee, participated in SCAA's most recent instructor development program workshop which was offered in Houston, Texas. The workshop trains participants to apply principles of adult learning, to design effective course materials, to plan for instruction, and to deliver professional instruction at SCAA events and/or at one's own company.
SCAA recognizes the 162 students who have completed this course as having earned the SCAA "Lead Instructor Credential."

Carrboro Coffee Roasters immersed in the entire coffee process from seed to cup!

Carrboro Coffee Roasters has one coffee tree in Carrboro, NC – you can find it in the sunlit window at the Open Eye Café. It may yield a few beans in a few years, maybe enough for one shot of espresso. This point highlights the fact that in the continental United States, coffee can't be a local product. It passes through many, many hands before reaching the barista in the U.S., and some knowledge of coffee's origins is potentially lost at each point along a complicated supply chain.

Carrboro Coffee Roasters support Fair Trade coffee because the certification helps guarantee that farmers receive a fair price for their crop. No certification, however, can replace the experience of traveling to ‘origin’, and working directly with a farmer to ensure that all is as it should be. This is the coffee equivalent of the local food movement. By meeting with farmers, an economic relationship can become a meaningful personal partnership of farmer, roaster, barista and customer. It is here that the true impact of this business reveals itself…the families who grow this treasured bean are impacted directly by what we do…Hence, "relationship coffee."

In March & May 2010, Carrboro Coffee Roaster President, Scott Conary traveled to Honduras to meet the families who grow, pick, sort and ship the coffees that we serve to our customers every day. Scott’s goal is always to develop professional and personal relationships with these farmers based on a shared commitment to high quality artisan coffee, and to study coffee as an agricultural product, as a crop subject to seasonality and intimately tied to the land.

In the mountainous Ocotepeque region of Honduras, Scott stopped in to visit with Saul Melara, whose aptly named PinaBetal (tall pine) farm is 1600 meters (~5,250 feet) above sea level. Carrboro Coffee Roasters, found and purchased Saul’s exceptional coffee through the Cup of Excellence program. Growing award-winning coffee requires paying attention to every detail of the process, including regular pruning and crop rotation. And nothing goes to waste: even the coffee fruit, once washed free from the bean, is composted and used for fertilizer.

In the Santa Barbara Region of Honduras (up from the Comayagua Valley), Scott visited El Aguacate, Tomas Sosa’s Family farm, where has observed firsthand the intricate process of picking coffee cherries.

Because cherries ripen at different times, pickers must pass by each coffee tree many times, meticulously selecting only the ripe ones each time. All this before the coffee is milled, washed and dried, producing the green coffee beans to be roasted.
Anyone who visits the origin of coffee returns home with an appreciation for the delicate, labor-intensive process of coffee production: the journey of "seed to cup."

Now, Scott’s task is to tell this story to whoever will listen. For many customers, knowing the source of coffee can offer a more meaningful experience, a daily level of engagement normally reserved for artisan cheese or wine, but equally as important. The folks at Carrboro Coffee Roasters, and the clients who buy their coffee, are proud to be working with this model of relationship coffee, where the customer can actually be introduced to the farmer!

Scott Conary to lead WBC Judges Certification in Bogota, Colombia

The first World Barista Championship Judges Certification for 2011-12 will take place on October 25-26, 2010 in Bogotá, Colombia at the Colombian Coffee Federation (Federacion Nacional de Cafeteros- FNC).

Scott Conary will lead this Certification along with Brent Fortune, owner of Crema Bakery & Cafe in Portland, Oregon.

Workshops for WBC Judges Certification will be available at various locations around the world. Candidates must meet the requirements to be eligible to participate in the workshop.

Each workshop is two full days & the focus of the workshop is testing the skills of technical and sensory judges for WBC Certification. The testing process involves:

- A Written Test
- Practical Judging Assessments
- Coffee Tasting
- Video Tests

for more info on Judges and their roles, visit: http://worldbaristachampionship.com/judges/

Passing the workshop qualifies as a WBC Certified Judge for 2011-2012 . Becoming a WBC certified judge doesn’t guarantee a judging role at the annual event, but it gives credentials to the WBC Certified Judges.

Owner of Carrboro Coffee Roasters to act as Head judge at the 5th Annual Colombian National Barista Championship

Scott Conary has been invited to Bogota to Train judges & act as Head Judge at the 5th Annual Colombian National Barista Championship.

In his capacity as a member of the World Barista Training Committee, he will spend 2 days before the competition training judges to prepare them to properly evaluate the 30 competitiors signed up for this event.

The Specialty Coffee Association of Colombia presents the 5th Colombian Barista Competition sponsored by the Federacion nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia.

more info can be found here:
http://www.federaciondecafeteros.org
http://www.asocafes.org/

Open Eye Café Owner, Scott Conary, to Train judges & act as Head Judge at the 2nd Annual United Arab Emirates Barista Championship In Dubai

Open Eye Café Owner, Scott Conary has been invited back to Dubai to Train judges & act as Head Judge at the 2nd Annual United Arab Emirates Barista Championship.
In his capacity as a member of the World Barista Training Committee, he will spend 2 days before the competition training judges to prepare them to properly evaluate the 30 competitiors signed up for this event.

The Specialty Coffee & Tea Convention October 12 - 14, 2010 Dubai, UAE.

This exciting exhibition, the three-day Competition, will feature the 2nd UAE Barista Championship as well as well-targeted educational sessions to help participants in the Arab region and beyond.
The Middle East's Leading Resource for all things about Coffee and Tea!

http://www.coffeeandteaconvention.com/

2010 World Barista Championships - London Re-cap

It would be easy to make comparisons between the 2010 Soccer World Cup, located in South Africa, and the World Barista Championship happening simultaneously that same year in London. Not to say I am above it. I may yet find my way there considering there are more than a few things in common. Team play, shining stars of talent, hard work and a passion to succeed and move on thru the groups.
All this is true and worth noteing, but I think I will start with the end; the results. For the first time in the history of this 10 year old event the winner was from the United States. A couple had come close before, closing in on the top 6 with the highest being a 2nd place finish by 2 time U.S. National Champion Heather Perry in Tokyo in 2007. Even this years Champion was seeing his second time as the U.S. Champion and a shot at the World Title; having finished 3rd in the World last year. So, this year certainly marked quite a triumph for Michael Phillips from Intelligentsia Coffee in Chicago; a satisfying end to his years of hard work & diligence in training to be the Worlds Best Barista.
Beyond this determined and happily succesful result we see great changes happening around the world in the Barista profession, from the semi-final & finals of the Championship. Growing countries; the countries where coffee originates and that have largely been slightly behind the curve in the arena of Espresso preparation, have been infiltrating the ranks of the worlds best.
For the first time in London this year we have the highest place ever gained by a representative of a coffee growing country. Raul Rodas from Guatemala, a 3 time Champion from his country, finished an amazing 2nd place overall against perennial professionals and truly gifted Baristas from countries such as Ireland, Australia, Greece & Denmark. Raul worked hard over the years under stressful conditions to meet these competitors as peers, and a master of his craft, and it paid off with this exceptional result.
This is not to ignore those that came before in past competitions, helping to breaki this "glass ceiling” of sorts. Competitors such as Ana Lucia Hawitt from Honduras who was the highest finishing competitior from a coffee growing country ever at the championships in Copenhagen in 2008; finishing 15th and showing others what was possible. They obviously paid attention, as this years competition broke another record; the most competitiors from coffee origin in the semi-finals! Brazil, El Salvador, as well as Honduras (represented by Ana Lucia again after her country failed to support a Champion in 2009), and Guatemala were all solidly represented in the group of 12 semi-finalists, earning them a place in the record book.
While these were important and historic highlights, they should never allow us to ignore the greater good, the bigger picture that this Championship, and barista competitions all over the world, does to raise the level of awareness, skill and knowledge that both Baristas and the public have risen to. This event has shown itself to have that ability...it has made baristas strive to make excellent drinks and customers to expect them. Why not? Not only can it be done, it should; since the outcome is that much more enjoyable for everyone; barista as craftsman, and customer as recipient, of an award winning drink.






The World Barista Championship (WBC) is the preeminent international coffee competition. The organization—founded by the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe and the Specialty Coffee Association of America—focuses on promoting excellence in coffee, advancing the barista profession, and engaging a worldwide audience with an annual championship event that serves as the culmination of local and regional events around the globe.
Each year, champions representing more than 50 Nations each prepare 4 espressos, 4 cappuccinos, and 4 original signature drinks to exacting standards in a 15-minute performance set to music.
WBC Certified Judges from around the world evaluate each performance on the taste of beverages served, cleanliness, creativity, technical skill, and overall presentation. The ever-popular signature beverage allows baristas to stretch their imagination and the judges’ palates to incorporate a wealth of coffee knowledge into an expression of their individual tastes and experiences.
The top 12 competitors from the first round advance to a semi-final round to choose the top 6 competitors for the finals round… from which one winner is named World Barista Champion!
2011 Bogotá, Colombia . . . Come find out!
2010 London, United Kingdom Michael Phillips (United States)
2009 Atlanta, USA Gwilym Davies (United Kingdom)
2008 Copenhagen, Denmark Stephen Morrissey (Ireland)
2007 Tokyo, Japan James Hoffmann (United Kingdom)
2006 Berne, Switzerland Klaus Thomsen (Denmark)
2005 Seattle, USA Troels Overdal Poulsen (Denmark)
2004 Trieste, Italy Tim Wendelboe (Norway)
2003 Boston, USA Paul Bassett (Australia)
2002 Oslo, Norway Fritz Storm (Denmark)
2001 Miami, USA Martin Hildebrandt (Denmark)
2000 Monte Carlo, Monaco Robert Thoresen (Norway)


Scott Conary is the owner of Carrboro Coffee Roasters., Open Eye Café & Caffe Driade in Chapel Hill, NC. He is the Chair of the USBC Committee, a member of the WBC Judges Training Committee & a World Certified Judge of barista competitions and trainer. He is an SCAA accredited instructor in various aspects of the coffee industry, and travels to coffee growing countries to support and work with coffee farmers and other aspects of the coffee industry.



The 11th World Barista Championship occured on June 23 trhu 25th in London, England this year. After having proved their skills at their National Championships, 54 baristas came to represent their country and vie for the opportunity to be considered the World Champion for 2010. Countries from around the world were represented, from Thailand to Denmark, Brazil to Japan, and Uganda to Costa Rica.
In the Olympia Hall in West London, for 3 days, these Champions strove to connect with judges, showcasing coffee they thought was exceptional and wanted to share with the judges and the world, as well as show their overall skill, knowledge and passion for the craft of a Barista.
The first 2 days were dedicated to round 1, allowing 30 highly experienced judges, who underwent a 2 day certification process, to evaluate all 54 competitors and determine who will move on to be in the top 12 of the Semi-Finals the next day.
A impressive list of countries moved on, including many countries often seen as contenders, but also including, for the first time, many representatives of coffee growing countries. The top 12 were:
Guatemala, Honduras, Denmark, Greece, Brazil, Ireland, UK, Canada, El Salvador, Australia, USA,

With only a few hours to clean up and prep for the finals that same afternoon, 6 Barista’s moved on: Gualtemala, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Australia, USA.
With a reasonable but close margin of 15 points, Michael Phillips of the U.S. Won the 2010 Championship over Raul Rodas from Guatemala, who in turn edged out Scottie Callaghan from Australia by 20 points. This marked the first time a Barista from a coffee growing region has been in the top 3 and that the U.S. has won the Championship.

Michael Phillips, United States of America
Raul Rodas, Guatemala
Scottie Callaghan, Australia
Colin Harmon, Ireland
Soren Stiller Markussen, Denmark
Stefanos Domatiotis, Greece

Carrboro Coffee Roasters take part in Grounds for Health Auction

Carrboro Coffee Roasters helped out the Grounds for Health Online Auction by buying exceptional coffee that was donated for this cause.
Purchase info can be found at http://auction.groundsforhealth.org/

The Grounds for Health Coffee Auction rallies the coffee community to support women’s health services in coffee-growing countries. 100% of the proceeds from this event go directly to support Grounds for Health programs at coffee growing origin.

From producers to roasters, importers to retailers, this event brings together the coffee industry in a powerful way for positive change.

Swing by the Open Eye Cafe, Caffe Driade or one of the many superb clients of Carrboro Coffee Roasters to check out the selection!

Scott Conary, Owner of Open Eye Café & Carrboro Coffee Roastery, will travel to Honduras to Judge the country’s finest coffee in the Cup of Excellence

International Coffee Judge, Trainer & Cupper Scott Conary has been invited to Marcala, Honduras to take part in the evaluation of the country’s finest coffee’s, thru the Cup of Excellence Program, May 17-21, 2010.

The Cup of Excellence Program is unparalleled in its ability to highlight the best coffee a country has to offer and represents all coffee growing regions of Honduras. “It is an honor to have been asked to help with this important task of promoting the best coffee’s a country can offer, and allowing the world to see their value…a value that in turn supports the farmers that grew these amazing coffees.”

Mr. Conary purchased 2 lots of the 2009 Cup of Excellence from Honduras, and considers this a fantastic way to not only promote transparency in the buying chain, but also a way to develop relationships with the growers in a more direct manner. The Cup of Excellence is the most esteemed award given out for top coffees, derived from a strict competition that selects the very best coffee produced in that country, for that particular year. These winning coffees are chosen by a select group of national and international cuppers. The Cup of Excellence program builds the bridge between the high quality farmer, the high quality trade and eventually the consumer who finds coffees he truly loves and at the same time knows that the farmer has been well compensated & supported.
http://www.cupofexcellence.org/WhatisCOE/Introduction/tabid/147/Default.aspx

Carrboro Coffee Roasters take part in UNC Farm to Fork Event

The UNC Sustainability Office created a Farm to Fork Event on April 19th to generate learning about the local food movement in NC. UNC asked experts in these roles, such as Carrboro Coffee Roasters to demonstrate and provide samples of their products, and to further educate thru discussions about local, sustainable foods.
www.sustainability.unc.edu

Honduras Cup of Excellence Lot #25 - Get it while it lasts!

Lot#25 - El Pinabetal, is grown at over 1600 meters high! this coffee from the
Ocotepeque region has been lovingly cared for by Saúl Melara Santos and his family.
It has an amazing melon & green apple aroma
with sweet spice balancing that green apple tartness.
This award winner leaves you with a syrupy sweet long aftertaste.

El Pinabetal went thru multiple National and a final International panel review to rank it as one of the best coffee's coming out of Honduras in 2009, deserving its premium status. This along with limited availability makes this a coffee you don't want to miss!

...Limited availability...almost gone & preparing for Cup of Excellence 2010!

We split this lot thru live auction with our friends Wicked Joe's Roastery in Brunswick ME, but we are the only 2 roasters in the world with this coffee!!!
8oz bag for $13.75

Scott Conary, Owner of Open Eye Café & Carrboro Coffee Roastery, traveled to Honduras to train Barista’s in the San Pedro Sula Headquarters of IHCAFE

International barista judge and trainer Scott Conary travelled to San Pedro Sula, Honduras from Carrboro, NC to continue his training of baristas there & aid them in training for the 2nd Honduras National Barista Championship, to be held May 3-5, 2010.



This was only be one segment of the work Mr. Conary accomplished in his week long journey thru the coffee growing regions of Honduras. “Part of my trip was dedicated to renewing relationships with farms and growers we have worked with in the past, including the farmers of the Cup of Excellence coffees we carry, and also to look to creating new direct relationships with other growers of phenomenal coffees.”



Mr. Conary served as a judge for the 2007 Barista Competition in Honduras, as Head Judge at the World Barista Championship (WBC) in Atlanta last year, and for this year’s WBC competition in London, UK. “This is a program that will be crucial for Honduras staying current in the industry at large, and to keep them progressing both as a quality coffee producing country, and for their internal Café culture. I was pleased to see the Competition followed thru on so successfully in 2007 and think that the 2010 Competition is another important step in the continual education and increase in the quality of Honduran coffee.”

From March 25 thru the 28th, Scott Conary was involved in the 2010 CoffeeFest in Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Here, scott took part in training & demonstrations of & for Baristas, including meeting the newly elected President of the country and making him, fellow officials, and then the crowd, espresso & cappuccino's!

A lot of great coffee's were sampled and a whole lot of fun was had!

Open eye Cafe & Chapel Hill High School raise money for Hatian Relief

The art students of Chapel Hill & East High Schools came together to create pieces of art in honor of the relief struggle in Haiti. Art pieces were made by the students and then auctioned off at the Open Eye Cafe on February 13th. The work was on display until 2/27, when winners could pick up their auction wins and/or buy other pieces. The event raised over $800 for Relief money to be used by the American Red Cross.

Thanks to Jack Watson - Visual Art/AP Art Histoy Teacher at Chapel Hill High School for organizing this event!

Open Eye Cafe & The Tricyclists raise money for Haiti Relief

Open Eye Cafe & the Tricyclists want to thank all the riders coming out today to ride the 24 & 50 miles courses!
Looks like we raised in excess of $1000 for the American Red Cross releif in Haiti!!!!!
Great work and a great day!

Presenting Honduran Cup of Excellence - El Aguacate !!!!

Cup of Excellence Lot #22 -
Tomas Sosa Calderon has put decades into making this an amazing coffee for you.
With an orange, floral aroma and subtle apricot acidity,
this award winner leaves you with a lingering caramel flavor.

El Aguacate went thru multiple National and a final International panel review to rank it as one of the best coffee's coming out of Honduras, deserving its premium status. This along with limited availability makes this a coffee you don't want to miss!

...Limited availability...
We split this lot thru live auction with our friends Wicked Joe's Roastery in Brunswick ME, but we are the only 2 roasters in the world with this coffee!!!
8oz bag for $13.75