Latte Art Class

Time is running out for your holiday shopping. So, we just wanted to remind you of a great gift for any barista or wanna-be barista...

Date: December 29, 2009
Time: 6pm - 8pm
Where: Vienna Coffee Company Roastery
(106 Everett Ave. Maryville, TN 37804)

Come in for a night of espresso and latte art magic as Les Stoneham, Great Lakes Barista Championship Finalist and trainer, teaches and demonstrates how to pour the perfect shot and create those stunning latte art designs that have won him barista competitions.

This class is a perfect gift for any espresso lover. The class is designed for beginner baristas and those who are interesting in touching up on their latte art skills.

Delicious snacks and latte drinks will be provided.

*when purchasing this product, a gift certificate will be sent to you or you can pick it up at the roastery.

Price: $18.00

Click here to buy a certificate online.

Weekly Deal: Cupping Coffee of the World

Today we started our coffee classes and cuppings up again. This week we focused on Organic vs Non-organic from around the world. To accomplish this, we cupped our Sumatran, Guatemalan, and Ethiopian. It was an interesting class, and we would love for anyone to join us for our next class.

Our next class, on Tuesday, August 25 we will be hosting "What is Espresso - tasting and training." Space is limited so reserve your spot today.

Just for signing up for this class this week you will recieve a free 2oz. bag of coffee of your choice!

The image is a picture of coffee fields in Sumatra taken by Les Stoneham on his most recent visit to Sumatra.

INTRODUCING: VCC's Seasonal Drink Competition

We want your creative ideas! Starting this summer we are starting a Seasonal Drink Competition. So get your creative hats on and send us your favorite coffee or tea recipe that exudes summer. The more creative and tasty, the better. For example, have you ever heard of blue cheese in an espresso drink? Check out Les Stoneham's espresso drink he used for this year's Barista competition.

The deadline for the competition is August 20th. So send your entries in soon to Jamie or turn in your recipe in at the roastery.

The winner will get 2 12oz bags of Vienna Coffee of your choice!

WEEKLY DEAL: Cities Cupcake Boutique

Cities Cupcake Boutique is now serving Vienna Coffee! As you go and pick up your favorite Knoxville, Chicago, New York... you name, cupcake at Cities Cupcake Boutique grab a mug of our delicious espresso.

Looking for some serious pizazz in a cupcake? This is not your regular, run of the mill cupcake here! I mean seriously... their Memphis cupcake has bacon on top! Intrigued? Check them out! And when you do bring your receipt from your purchase and receive a free 2oz bag of Vienna Coffee when you come into the roastery this week.

Espresso 101 class at Brown Cup Coffee Co.

Last Tuesday at Brown Cup Coffee Co., John Clark taught a fun-filled and informational Espresso 101 and espresso based drinks class. Each week Brown Cup has different live music, lectures, events and/or classes like this espresso class. Brown Cup is one of Vienna Coffee Company's exceptional coffee shops that serves our Fair Trade coffee.

The image is an example of one of the handouts given out at the class. Are you interested in hosting your own class or participating in a class about espresso basics, brewing coffee, specialty drinks, latte art, cupping, etc.? Sign up now or get more information about one of our classes.

Great Lakes Barista Competition

On February 20-22, Chicago hosted Coffeefest, the National Latte Art Competition, and the Great Lakes Barista Competition. This exciting event was filled with baristas, roasters, coffee shop owners, and anyone else in the coffee world. If you are a coffee fanatic this was the place to be!
The most exciting part of the weekend was the Barista Competition where friends of Vienna Coffee Company, Les Stoneham, Courtney Robinson, and Logan Demmy competed. In this competition baristas have 15 minutes to make 4 espressos, 4 lattes, and 4 signature drinks for each of the 4 sensory judges while being judged by 3 other judges on technical skills and style. This is no easy task. The barista has control over everything including the music being played, the table decorations, the grinder, the milk, the ingredients, the espresso, etc. The only constant is the espresso machine.

Les Stoneham had the drink, barista skills, and style that blew the judges away getting him into the finals. (in fact his score puts him in the top 10 baristas in the nation!) His award-winning signature drink that will lead him to Portland for the National Barista Competition was comprised of espresso with reduced Cabernet grape juice and hazelnut cream infused with blue cheese smoked over hazelnut shells. His inspiration for this drink was the idea of using food pairings. For example, certain wines and cheeses are paired together to bring out all the right tannins and emphasize the taste. In the same vein he wanted to use the cheese, cream, and grape juice to bring out all of the nuances from his special espresso.


Les wasn't the only one that scored high in the competition. Former trainee, Courtney Robinson's technical skills and drink won her her best score out of the four previous times she has competed. Her signature espresso drink included blood orange simple syrup with soda water and espresso placed in a martini styled glass with a dollop of juniper berry whipped cream that is stirred into the drink by the judges. Her drink was not only great, but she also received almost perfect scores for her technical barista skills!


Logan Demmy, also trained by Les, shined in his first barista competition and scored exceptionally high! His drink of anise infused tapioca and espresso in a delicate glass and rimmed with cardamom and honey whipped coconut milk had strong marks by the judges. He definitely looked comfortable on the barista stage like he belonged there all along.

At this time we want to wish Les and Courtney the best of luck at Nationals!

If you have any questions about Coffeefest, barista competitions, latte art, or barista training please email us at jamie@viennacoffeecompany.com

If you are looking for the weekly deal please look at last Thursday's post. That deal is still in affect this week.

CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHTS: Thunderhead Perk

VCC's long-time customer, Thunderhead Perk first opened its doors on September 9th, 2005 Townsend, Tennessee which is the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Focused on Fair trade and organic coffee, Thunderhead serves Vienna Coffee Company's Thunderhead Espresso Blend. This blend is perfect to sip on while using their free Wi Fi and snuggling up to their welcoming and friendly cafe.

Wanna know where to find it? Go to...
7249 East Lamar Alexander Pkwy
Townsend, TN 37882


They don't have only great coffee, but they also have some of delicious baked from scratch goods including...

The Best Pumpkin Muffins

Yum!!!

Need another reason to check them out? Their website states, "At Thunderhead Perk, we strive to take care of our environment. Not only do we serve earth-friendly coffees, but we recycle all plastics, steel, paper, magazines, cardboard, etc. We even compost our food waste such as coffee grounds. We use the eco-tainer cups and sleeves which contain recycled content and use no petro-chemicals. "

GOOD READ AND RECIPES

Interested in some adventurous good coffee recipes while using Vienna Coffee? Check out Michael Turback's Coffee Drinks. Make sure to look at page 38 for my personal favorite recipe created by the one and only Les Stoneham, our contact to our fabulous La Armonia Hermosa Coffee. For a little peek into his recipe called "Blessing," some of the ingredients consist of pure cacao, sorrano peppers, and blue agave nectar which works perfectly with Vienna Coffee's Espresso Con Robusta Little River Style

COFFEE INDUSTRY NEWS: Starbucks net income drops 97%

For news on the coffee industry...

New York Times stated on Nov. 10, 2008, "In a sharp economic downturn, fewer people are in the mood to indulge. On Monday, the chain reported net income dropped 97 percent, capping a turbulent year in which the company tried to get ahead of the economic slowdown by closing stores and laying off employees."

Also, "Starbucks is now slowing the proliferation of its stores, which made it ubiquitous in American cities, but also a source of comedy to many. The company plans to end the 2009 fiscal year with 225 fewer company-owned stores than at the beginning of the year."

For whole story click here.

On a side note, if going to Starbucks each day is getting hard for you, Vienna Coffee Company invites you to make your own specialty drinks at home with our selection of Espresso coffees. We also are a supplier of at home espresso machines. Likewise, supporting the small local coffee shops around you is always a big help to your local economy, especially during the economic downturn!

(These are images of Grounded in Maryville, Tennessee and Brown Cup Coffee Co. in Lenoir City).