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Coronavirus, Coffee and Community

When the first draft of this blog started, it was the middle of January, and things looked a lot different. In some ways, the Orange County US Coffee Championship feels like it happened a year ago. With updates of COVID-19 coming weekly, daily, and then almost hourly, this blog morphed into something different than just a fun recap.

You see, the thing that the Glitter Cat team does exceptionally well is encourage all participants to be exactly who they are: stand in front of a crowd and judges, present their work, and their own story. Their stories are all unique, heartfelt, and engaging.

All of a sudden, I was no longer attending an event about coffee competitions but about people. Individuals who have poured out their hearts and souls into these presentations, overcame financial hardships to compete and fought against inequality at their workplace and in their very own community.

When COVID-19 began to take root in the U.S. and grip the specialty coffee community, many of those stories came to mind. I started to these competitors cafes close down, baristas let go, and entire industry work towards just making it through one more day. As things got worse, another thing appeared; A wave of community and creativity flooded my Instagram feed. Digital tip jars, curbside and hospital deliveries, “Barista Relief” blends, petitions, and Coffee Grams delivered to your door – a wave of hope to keep the coffee community alive.

That’s what USCC and the Glitter Cat Bootcamps are about. While initially, they are about excelling in your professional coffee career, they are also about being seen. They are about bringing everything you are to the stage, sharing your name and allowing people in. Letting people in (metaphorically, of course, social distancing is real!) in this season is how we are going to make it.

Order curbside, sign a petition, send someone a Coffee Gram, and stay home, so we can all see each other again when the final act of USCC 2020 has been scheduled.

Curtis is proud to be a sponsor of both. U.S. Coffee Championships and Glitter Cat Bootcamps.
Images courtesy of Paige Elizabeth Hicks Creative

Specialty Coffee Brewing Journey: Glitter Cat Brewer Bootcamp - Peace

specialty coffee sponsorship glitter cat brewers bootcamp peace

Kansas City may be known for its BBQ, Jazz, and a professional football league that's headed to this year's Superbowl. Still, for a weekend in November, it was home to the Glitter Cat Brewer's Bootcamp and Curtis sponsor recipient – Peace. We took a moment to catch up with her after training had finished. Here is what we learned.

For Peace, it all started at Stumptown with a fascination with latte art. Management had a different plan and thought by placing her to work the brew bar, she could better understand the coffee. And she did. Peace began to slowly fall in love with the art of brewing.

You can tell she loves what she does. When we asked her what her favorite coffee was, she said it was the one she tasted at her first-time cupping with her manager – the Nano Challa Ethiopian. As Peace describes this first tasting, her passion for coffee is oozing. In detail, she explains that this cup has a super floral, citrusy taste without it burning your nose. She comments, "It's almost like that moment you open a bag of Starbursts. Berry tea. I can still remember exactly how it tastes."

Peace wasn't always on this path, and that's a big reason why Peace applied to Glitter Cat. She wanted to prove to her family that coffee could be a professional career. Her family long had the expectation that she would go into forensic psychology, but she was determined to show them that coffee could be a profession. Glitter Cat has helped renew her passion and provide a way for her to prove herself.

Later in December in Sumner, Washington, we would hear this story again as Peace took the stage at the US Coffee Championships. Peace not only brought a professional presentation, but she brought the heart of why she was there. By the end, everyone was crying and giving her a standing ovation. We all want to be seen. We all to be heard, and most of all, we want to be recognized that what we do matters.

When the results came, Peace just missed the cut off for Nationals. We were disappointed but so proud of what she had accomplished. We gave our hugs goodbye and said we looked forward to seeing where she goes next. We knew that regardless of how this turned out that Peace had big things ahead of her.

And we weren't wrong. Just over a month after Peace's competition in Sumner, she received an email that she had an opportunity to go to Nationals! She was next in line in case anyone above her couldn't participate. This is our official congratulations to Peace. You are headed nationals!

It's been a long journey for Peace, but she hopes to save her money, go back to Thailand and open a coffee shop and open up the coffee experience.

Her favorite brewing methods are the Kalita Wave and the Bee House. Personal shout out: Coffee Project Coffee Hero: Chad Wang Photos by @heytayphoto

Glitter Cat Roasters Bootcamp - Carlos

Carlos at the Glitter Cat Roasters Bootcamp sponsored by Curtis Commercial Brewing Systems

It was October and Minnesota was in full fall bloom when we landed at the first of Glitter Cat Bootcamps - Roasters. We took the opportunity to meet up with Carlos before he got into the training.

Carlos grew up in Jacksonville, Florida with his mom and had minimal resources, but there was always coffee and gospel music. That's how his mom would start the day and it's where his coffee journey began. While in college in 2008, Carlos realized the benefits of coffee after his first sip of bottled Starbucks.

But his love of coffee would take a little longer to brew. In 2016, he was hired as a manager/head-roaster and it was then that coffee took on a new meaning. "Coffee is like music, it's universal," Carlos said. "It's a catalyst for relationships. I came out of my office and looked around and saw a college student, a homeless person, low income, soccer moms doing homeschool and I was like 'Woah, there is something here.'"

Since then Carlos, his wife, and two children (with another one on the way!) have done everything possible to make the coffee dream come alive. They started Happy Home Roasters, they are working towards moving to Hawaii to start a brick and mortar operation and most importantly, Carlos took a chance and applied for Glitter Cat.

Amid the morning coffee rush, Carlos found out he was accepted into the program and he was overwhelmed. It has been hard for him to tap into the industry, but Glitter Cat has given him an opportunity he didn't think he had. Carlos wants to give other people of color hope that they have a place in this industry.

And you are, Carlos. Thank you for sharing your story!

Find out more about Happy Home Roasters.

Carlos uses a Simonelli Espresso Oscar II, Baratza Grinder and at the Glitter Cat Bootcamp used a Mill City Roaster.

His favorite right now: OATLY!

He did an original rap for his Glitter Cat Audition.

Meet the Perfect 7 at Host Milano

Curtis elevates beverage programs in any foodservice operation. Here are some of the stars we’ll be showing at the HOST Milan show…

HOST Milan is around the corner and Curtis will be there! HOST “…stands out for its unique exhibition concept that combines vertical specializations…” and it continues to be a way to stay top of trends and find relevant partnerships for the hospitality industry.

Be sure to see the entire collection of Curtis coffee and tea brewing equipment:

Curtis Alpha Decanter Brewer

Alpha

Decanter Brewer

The Curtis Alpha is perfect for busy cafés that offer bottomless coffee refills. Equipped with a warmer and a design that distinguishes between decaf and regular coffee, your servers can help you stay on top of your customers’ needs.

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Curtis Combo Brewer

Combo Brewer

Tea and Coffee Brewer

Curtis Combo Brewers are perfect for operations that want to offer a variety of beverages but have minimal counter space. Brew hot coffee, iced coffee or iced tea from the same unit with ease. The Combo Brewer takes up minimal space and allows for a clean/minimalistic countertop aesthetic that entices consumers.

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Curtis D500 Airpot Brewer

D500

The Curtis G3 Airpot System PLUS your gourmet roast provides luxurious flavor with brewing simplicity…every time.

The Curtis D500 will improve coffee programs of any size. Paired with our airpot dispenser, your coffee will stay fresh and ready-to-serve to customers who love their coffee!

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Curtis GemX Brewer

GemX

IntelliFresh Coffee Brewing System with FreshTrac

Curtis is proud to bring the GemX line to HOST. The GemX coffee brewer with IntelliFresh and FreshTrac helps operators brew a batch of coffee and track its freshness no matter where it’s merchandised. Our GemX series features an elegant, sleek design so it looks great on any countertop.

Learn More Visit Microsite

Curtis Water Tower

G3 Hot Water Towers

Hot Water Dispenser with Aeration

Curtis Water Towers have a sleek narrow design that fits in most spaces. Don’t waste time checking water levels and setting temperatures, as this machine comes ready-to-use out of the box.

See All Hot Water Towers

Curtis CGC

CGC

Curtis Gold Cup Brewer

Part of the Curtis line of single cup brewers, the CGC brings the craft of specialty coffee brewing to any restaurant. The CGC brews to SCA “Golden Cup” standards and gives operators precise control over crucial brewing variables. Powerful G4 digital controls offer an instinctive touch screen and icon-driven interface. A standard USB port allows for convenient firmware updates and recipe sharing/programming.

See All Visit Microsite

Curtis ThermoPro Brewer

ThermoPro

Easy Gourmet Brewing

A customer favorite, the ThermoPro Coffee Brewer is designed with you and your customers in mind. Whether you have a self-serve coffee bar or a “to-go” coffee area of your restaurant, the ThermoPro is for you. Stainless-steel, vacuum-insulated ThermoPro servers are ready to provide fresh, delicious coffee no matter where you merchandise them.

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Come check this line up out and more at booth #G-37!

New, Informative Videos added to WilburCurtis.com

From operation and cleaning, to equipment and features overviews, you’ll find handy and informative videos throughout the Curtis website on every coffee, tea and specialty beverage equipment product line. And now, we’ve added even more video content to provide you with a complete library of assets including:

Need a visual demonstration on how to clean a G4 ThermoPro brewer? It’s conveniently located on our website.

Want to learn more about the Curtis G4TBP Low Profile Tea Brewer? Check out the video sales sheet that covers all the features of this hard working unit.

Looking to fine-tune your coffee profile with consistency? Watch the video on the G4 Record Button that’s featured on select Curtis brewers. It lets you create an exacting recipe that can be automatically recalled at any time and duplicated with the exact flavor profile intended.

Commercials

See our latest videos to learn more about Curtis Equipment and the Wilbur Curtis Company.

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Sales Knowledge

Get some inside knowledge about our company and brewing equipment.

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Service

Learn how to properly care for your Curtis equipment, and learn about our video training program.

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The Barista League

The Barista League Los Angeles was so much fun! A great night of friendly competition took place at Black Rabbit Service Co. Take a look at this recap.

Mill City Roasters

The Big Red Roaster Rig from Mill City Roasters showed up at CoffeeFest Los Angeles.

Curtis had the honor of checking it out.

Celebrate International Coffee Day with Curtis

While the US celebrates World Coffee Day on September 29, many counties around the world recognize October 1st as the day to shine a light on the celebration of coffee and recognize the millions of people across the globe - from farmers, to roasters, baristas, coffee shop owners and more - who work hard to create and serve the beverage we all love.

Coffee has never been more popular, with an estimated 3 billion cups consumed every day, a number which continues to rise. The diverse mix of global celebrations that take place on International Coffee Day truly showcase coffee as one of the world’s most loved beverages.

While we celebrate this day every year, we also focus on how to continue to improve coffee’s future and the people who work in this industry. Find out more at https://www.internationalcoffeeday.org

Six Big Reasons to Come by the Curtis Booth at the NACS Show 2019

The NACS Show is the biggest convenience industry event in the world. With over 100 industry-trend experts attending and more than 50 education sessions open to NACS attendees, there are a wide variety of opportunities to learn more about category management, foodservice innovations, convenience marketing initiatives and the other areas that can impact c-store business success.

While you’re there, make sure to visit the Curtis booth #8031 to see our extensive selection of coffee brewers, tea brewers, specialty beverage equipment including…

Chill-X

Frozen Beverage Machine

Refreshingly smart and amazingly profitable, the Chill-X features straight-thru air flow design that allows for for side-by-side installation… so you use less counter space. An optional auto refill system reduces labor, refilling downtime and keeps beverages sales climbing! Enjoy a slushie from Chill-X at the NACS Show!

ThermoProX

Brewer and Thermal FreshTrac® Servers

Combined, this system offers precision brewing, unsurpassed thermal efficiency and intuitive technology that instantly communicates freshness and volume. Now in a dazzling, new, streamlined design.

Learn More Visit Microsite

GemX

IntelliFresh Coffee Brewing System with FreshTrac

Brilliantly engineered and elegantly styled, GemX delivers fresher coffee and streamlines labor with an intelligent LED system that communicates from across the room.

Learn More Visit Microsite

Nitro Infuser

Add Drama to Any Drink

Nitrogenation not only transforms otherwise ordinary drinks, it also brings a definite cool factor to coffees, teas, juices, even beer, while bringing you more traffic, beverage sales and profits.

Learn More Visit Microsite

Curtis Concentrate Brewer

CCB - Curtis Concentrate Brewer

One machine. Unlimited potential.

The Curtis Concentrate Brewer delivers a revolutionary, new way to make cold brew and a full spectrum of other coffee styles, tea styles and other flavor profiles more quickly, more efficiently and in quantities never before practical. It’s no longer 24 hours to cold brew coffee. The Curtis Concentrate Brewer will make 5 gallons of cold brew in only 20 minutes using less beans than traditional methods. We’ll be sampling… so enjoy a cold brew from the CCB at the NACS Show!

Visit Microsite

Schaerer Coffee Art C

Schaerer Coffee Art C

Leading the Bean-to-Cup Coffee Revolution

The Schaerer Coffee Art C offers freshly ground and brewed coffee on demand, both hot and cold. The game-changing, fully automatic, bean-to-cup machine is revolutionizing the way coffee is prepared and dispensed within the self-service environment.

Learn More

Check Out Our Updated Microsites

To provide customers with all the data they need on our coffee, tea and specialty beverage equipment, we have updated our microsites to include even more product line information. Microsites on popular Curtis equipment such as ThermoProX Brewers, Chill-X Frozen Beverage Machines, Iced Tea Brewers and more, now feature a complete product line overview, updated navigation and a download section of all available brochures and sales materials. Everything that you’ll want to learn about the innovative equipment from Curtis is in one, convenient place. Check them out at https://www.wilburcurtis.com/about/microsites