Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

How was your day at aroma? - post your experience

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • NE14COFFEE
    replied
    Re: How was your day at aroma? - post your experie

    Originally posted by lucinda link=1185095967/15#23 date=1185242314
    If I knew of dates and was able to get a cheap airfare and had a floor to sleep on I would love to go over to help out. Especially edumacating people on the ease and benefits of home roasting.
    Hey lucinda, id be happy to offer you a bed rather than a floor to sleep on. We have a guest room with a queen size four poster bed. Next time your in syd or if you need somewhere to crash during aroma next year wed love to have you. Same applies to other snobs in need of a place to stay.

    Im still too scared to try home roasting, esp. when my local roaster is so great! So i would love to hear about the "ease and benefits of home roasting".

    Sounds like everyone had a good time bar the crowds. Unfortunately i couldnt make it this year, maybe next time i will pencil it in earlier and not book myself out with work.

    Leave a comment:


  • luca
    replied
    Re: How was your day at aroma? - post your experie

    Hi guys,

    I hope to blog a bit more about Aroma later this week; for now I just have only really had time to put up a few Sydney cafe impressions. Potted version: Mecca came out on top and I wondered what the deal with constantly getting double ristrettos when I ordered an espresso was.

    I basically didnt bother buying any coffee from the stalls outside; they always tend to be a bit of a let down at these sorts of events. The day was really spent watching the latte art comp and the CS comp ... except that I really only ended up seeing snippets of each, then popping off to talk to a bunch of coffee people from all over Australia. Some highlights:

    *Meeting up with a whole bunch of coffeesnobs

    *Listening to Aarons clear, correct and concise explanations of the Silvia/Rocky combo to interested onlookers at the Di Bartoli stand - it wasnt that long ago that he clutched the portafilter and marveled at its weight when he bought mine second-hand!

    *Being glad not to be exhibiting as I saw Chris talking to ten people at once whilst making coffee at the ECA stand

    *Talking to Scott about his WBC preparation

    *Seeing Reuben from Mecca perform at the latte art comp

    *Watching Renzo seduce passers by with his spanish accent and italian machines

    *Having coffee randomly thrust upon me by Zane at the ECA stall

    *Seeing satisfied looks on Keith and Robs faces as another AASCA competition was successfully run

    *Pulling a great shot off the Ascaso grinder and the expobar at the DiBartoli stand without dialing it in

    *Forcing Chris Short from Caffetto to explain the difference between Espresso Clean and EVO Espresso Clean. Short answer: the latter contains some of the few surfactants in the world that are certified organic. They have to be imported from Germany. (Also picked up a microfibre cloth for dirt cheap - w00t)

    *Forgetting to check out the cheap thun cups - doh

    *Finally spending some quality time with a Vibiemme Domobar

    *Scoring some coffee to try from Framey

    *Scouting up some new products for work

    ... and probably a gagillion other things!

    Cheers,

    Luca

    Leave a comment:


  • julsajet
    replied
    Re: How was your day at aroma? - post your experie

    Originally posted by Andy Freeman link=1185095967/15#17 date=1185184792
    How great would it be to have a pile of CSrs roasting in a tent on a whole host of whacky devices and pulling great shots on domestic class machines?  We might even be able to get a domestic machine & grinder sponsor to lend the equipment for event!  
    Oooh that sounds like fun.

    Leave a comment:


  • julsajet
    replied
    Re: How was your day at aroma? - post your experie

    Originally posted by scoota gal link=1185095967/0#14 date=1185178113
    I think you hit the nail on the head with that thought, Marc. I am now wondering who it is who organises this "festival"? I can see that they are marketing it to those who are relatively new to the coffee world.
    It was all started up by the Sydney Cove Authority (now the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority) who manage The Rocks area. So, yeah they are into marketing, The Rocks that is.

    Funnily enough Aroma Fest originally started out over two days. Imagine my embarrassment last year when I turned up on the Saturday instead of the Sunday. I stare at the signs for weeks beforehand, but still forgot that it only runs on the Sunday nowadays.

    We should rewind a few years. Back then it was a COFFEE festival - not all that other stuff.

    Leave a comment:


  • mwatt
    Guest replied
    Re: How was your day at aroma? - post your experie

    Originally posted by nunu link=1185095967/15#19 date=1185186777
    Aroma, whilst its intentions are good, trying to get the buzz out on coffee, people mainly go for cheap cuppas..
    Probably one of the causes of the rudeness Shannon noticed. My parents used to own a newsagency and the words cheap, free or giveaway seem to be a cue for people to become incredibly rude and demanding.

    I enjoyed the short time I was there, I didnt have a single coffee, but I got to put some faces to names of CSers, so it was worth the trip to Sydney! If CS did have a stall, Im sure thered be an army of volunteers to man it.

    Leave a comment:


  • lucinda
    replied
    Re: How was your day at aroma? - post your experie

    Just a thought with a CS stand. Maybe a couple of the smaller site sponsors could get together under one roof so to speak, to offset/share the cost?

    If I knew of dates and was able to get a cheap airfare and had a floor to sleep on I would love to go over to help out. Especially edumacating people on the ease and benefits of home roasting.

    Leave a comment:


  • robusto
    replied
    Re: How was your day at aroma? - post your experie

    Mmmm. Maybe Andy could take his new roaster, a sackful of green bans, overwhelm the Aroma festival with the aroma of roasting beans... and sell them by the 2.5 kg bag.

    Ive got no idea of what numbers need to be crunched (transport, fares, exhibition fees etc) but maybe they could be recouped that way, and sign up some long-term customers into the bargain.

    (Then again, perhaps more customers is the last thing Andy needs?)

    --Robusto

    Leave a comment:


  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: How was your day at aroma? - post your experie

    I received quite a few compliments on the coffees I made the punters.
    One in particular compared it to another recently quaffed sample from a nearby big name display.

    Ofra at one stage swapped customers with me so I could help out a bloke asking about home roasting.

    Generally I was thanked a lot for some of the little bits of info I handed out that most of us here on CS probably take for granted.
    One guy was thrilled I could tell him that the recommended tamp pressure was 15kg.
    He hadnt been able to find out before.

    So examples like that would suggest that a lot of people would appreciate finding out more about coffee than whats supeficially put out there.

    A Coffee Snob stand could be appreciated, but I dont know what benefit Andy would get out of it (trying to do the math).

    Leave a comment:


  • benandfaith
    replied
    Re: How was your day at aroma? - post your experie

    Originally posted by Andy Freeman link=1185095967/15#17 date=1185184792

    We were also on the lookout for barista courses, now we have a huge pile of brochures and have no idea how well choose
    Take said brochures and plonk them in the recycle bin... then click on the sponsor link to the left and contact DiBartoli about one of their courses. Ben is proof that their training is great and Ofra and Renzo have a genuine passion for coffee.


    Please allow me to echo the sentiments already presented here. Renzo and Ofra at Di Bartioli are wonderful! They know their stuff, love their coffee and get very well-established people in to run their courses. I am particularly looking forward to doing more courses, especially latte art with Mr Callahan! I just have to wait for the impact of dropping over $1200 barely a month ago to subside first... :P

    Leave a comment:


  • nunu
    replied
    Re: How was your day at aroma? - post your experie

    You dont have to wait for some annual festival, to hire an overpriced, tiny stall. We should have some sort of nationwide gathering, as well as state gatherings on at least a semi-regular basis. Everyone bring their kit and roasting goodies. Maybe even get some catering, so we can enjoy some good food, as well as great coffee over a weekend. Makes it a bit easier than rushing around for a one day event.

    Aroma, whilst its intentions are good, trying to get the buzz out on coffee, people mainly go for cheap cuppas. The location is also problematic, as there is next to no parking, and youre competing with The Rocks market. Not that its a bad thing, but the crowds would be half the size if it were held at Homebush. Everything would also be able to be contained indoors.

    I had a chuckle when I saw booths from the Gee brothers and Gloria Jeans. Just two examples of organisations who are bastardising coffee. Similar to smaller boutique wineries in the wine regions around Australia, all of the big boys completely overshadow quality stuff coming from people who really have the passion for their craft.

    Leave a comment:


  • TC
    replied
    Re: How was your day at aroma? - post your experie

    I agree with Andy, Shannon,

    Id stay away from the stenciled chocky sauce mob and get some quality training. DiBartoli are doing fantastic stuff...Where else would you find the cream- Scotty, Hazel et al? No amateurish crappy training materials nor bling, nor logoed $5 cheap tampers etc, just quality training from the best in OZ...

    Chris

    Leave a comment:


  • andy
    replied
    Re: How was your day at aroma? - post your experie

    I just found this thread... so many different Aroma threads running!


    We were also on the lookout for barista courses, now we have a huge pile of brochures and have no idea how well choose
    Take said brochures and plonk them in the recycle bin... then click on the sponsor link to the left and contact DiBartoli about one of their courses. Ben is proof that their training is great and Ofra and Renzo have a genuine passion for coffee.


    So, is there scope for a CoffeeSnobs stand at this thing? Or is it mainly geared towards selling stuff?
    I half tried to get a CS stand this year (albeit fairly late). The price for a site was very high and would have required more time than I had to give to make it happen. I secretly hope to get one off the ground next year though.

    I noticed that the volume of smaller coffee places was very low this year too, the higher prices of the stands would have caused that. The "big boys" can drop a few thou and palm it off as advertising, smaller roasters and small business struggle to justify the expense/exposure math though.

    How great would it be to have a pile of CSrs roasting in a tent on a whole host of whacky devices and pulling great shots on domestic class machines? We might even be able to get a domestic machine & grinder sponsor to lend the equipment for event!

    I think we might have the makings of a plan for "Aroma oh eight"



    Leave a comment:


  • scoota_gal
    replied
    Re: How was your day at aroma? - post your experie

    Oh, good points, Dennis but Ive got another idea...

    And I wont derail this thread with it just yet. Id better confer with the boss first! LOL! (before he kicks my butt for even suggesting it!)

    Leave a comment:


  • Dennis
    replied
    Re: How was your day at aroma? - post your experie

    Hi Scoota

    I had a good day too though wish Id have spotted those coffee trees.

    Personally, I think that aromafest would be a ripe forum to extol the virutes of the green bean....with one proviso - you would need to have home roasting gear on display and working, and I dont mean poppers and HGs. Im not being a snob either, its just that I think the majority of people who go along to these events dont really want to be educated on how to convert something, but rather, be able to put something under their arm, take it home with a bag of greens and plug it in e.g. gene and hottop. Could always have the alternatives on display too.

    Leave a comment:


  • scoota_gal
    replied
    Re: How was your day at aroma? - post your experie

    Originally posted by marcstolk link=1185095967/0#13 date=1185150042
    the Darling Harbour Convection Centre
    ::insert mental image of a huge convection microwave here::!!

    Originally posted by marcstolk link=1185095967/0#13 date=1185150042
    or Homebush (Olympic Park)..
    Now theres a good idea. Much better suited to handle large crowds, centrally located and all that! Having been there last year for the catering trade fair, I should think that Homebush would be a spot on location. And you can be inside for the whole experience. Mmmm, imagine the smell!

    Originally posted by marcstolk link=1185095967/0#13 date=1185150042
    One thing I realised is the Aroma Festival is really not for snobs..
    I think you hit the nail on the head with that thought, Marc. I am now wondering who it is who organises this "festival"? I can see that they are marketing it to those who are relatively new to the coffee world.

    So, is there scope for a CoffeeSnobs stand at this thing? Or is it mainly geared towards selling stuff?

    Leave a comment:

Working...
X