Pacific Bay Coffee Co.

What a weekend! I truly hope that all who attended had a good time. We sure did.

Ben Perkins, our barista and first time competitor did a great job and came in at a very respectable 13th place out of 38. Well done Ben! We are proud. Check out photos of Ben here and the entire weekend (including our own Barista Stephanie fire dancing) here.

Some of the non-competition part highlights include:

• The Gaia Art Center was packed, we estimate over 1000 came during the weekend & Friday, March 28 was declared Specialty Coffee Day in Berkeley by Mayor Tom Bates.

• 38 competitors, 27 judges, 55 sponsors, and more than 100 volunteers made this event happen (it was completely sponsor and volunteer driven. Thank you to all those that helped make it all work!)

• Over 1000 cups of Clover brewed coffee (the company recently acquired by Starbucks) and many more espressos and cappuccinos were served free to attendees at the “4th Machine” (3 espresso machines are used in the competition, the 4th one is for the attendees to enjoy)

• $513 in tips from the 4th Machine was raised for Coffee Kids

• Baristas for Bikes/Bikes to Rwanda raised just under $3,187!

“The 2008 WRBC was a fantastic event not only for total funds raised for the organization but more importantly for building key relationships with cafes, roasters, and industry individuals that believe in our programs and want to help us to reach our goals.

The farmers in Rwanda are looking to us to bring transportation resources that will improve their coffee and in the end help in economic development.

We look forward to furthering the connections we made and completing the circle from consumer to roaster to producing farmer.

Thanks to everyone who helped us achieve such a success.”

Clara Seasholtz, Executive Director, Bikes to Rwanda

The weekend got great press too! Click on the links to read, hear and see the coverage.

Berkeley’s Specialty Coffee Day Declaration

KCBS Newstalk 740AM Radio (About the Bay with Mike Sugarman featuring John Laird, Pacific Bay Coffee / Jer Swigart, Open Door / Kerry Laird, Pacific Bay Coffee / Chris Baca, Ritual Coffee / Brent Fortune, Crema Cafe + Bakery / Ellie Matuzak, Coffee Solutions / Sarah Allen, Barista Magazine)

NPR KQED / California Report Radio (with Lisa Morehouse featuring David Latourell, Clover / Lisa Suela / John Laird, Pacific Bay Coffee / Kyle Glanville, Intelligentsia / Chris Baca, Ritual Roasters

ABC Channel 7 News (with Lyanne Melendez featuring Giovanni Sacco, Coffee Creek / Ellie Matuzak, Coffee Solutions / Keith Gerhke, Flying Goat / Kerry Laird, Pacific Bay Coffee / John Laird, Pacific Bay Coffee / Noe Castro, Guatemala 2006 Barista Champ)

Oakland Tribune /San Jose Mercury Newspapers (featuring Jared Truby, Verve Coffee Roasters / Kerry & John Laird, Pacific Bay Coffee

We still have a few event t-shirts and other collectibles – look for them in our Walnut Creek cafe while supplies last!

Home Town: Orinda, CA

When you’re not at Pacific Bay, what are you up to? Growing the business takes up most of my waking hours but during the spring and summer I coach girls fastpitch softball. It gets me outside and is a great diversion from the world of coffee.

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why? I’d like to have the power to travel in time. Then I could fix the mistakes I’ve made along the way. Did I say mistakes? Yes, I’ve made a few.

Describe your perfect day. My perfect day is spent with my wife and daughter, cooking breakfast at home and spending time “doing nothing”.

How long hav you been in specialty coffee? I started in the coffee business around 1997 in equipment design and engineering.

What is your current favorite drink, bean or tea? Tough to pick a favorite. I love a nice cup of drip first thing in the morning, a perfectly steamed Macchiato when I get to work. My current favorits would either be an Ethiopian Yirgacheffe or the “El Injerto” Guatemala.

Home Town: Davis, CA

When you’re not at Pacific Bay, what are you up to? I have a home office so when I’m not there I’m usually working at home. To feed my soul I create art: photography, pastels, painting, sculpture, glass, beads, fabric - anything. Of course I love going to my daughter Rosie’s fastpitich games and watching her and John have a great time. Lately I’ve taken a real liking to they gym (finally!). I also look forward to my monthly gathering of gal pals for games of Bunco & Left Right Center (one of the best group games ever…ask me about it).

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why? To fly. I used to dream I could as a kid and it would be wonderful to feel so light and free.

Describe your perfect day. To wake up to no must-do to-do list! Then I’d get a work out in and then start to move slow, get in to creative mode and let my hands go and my brain relax for a few hours. Then I’d come back to reality to a wonderful dinner cooked by my chef husband John and daughter Rosie would happily do the dishes!

How long hav you been in specialty coffee? John convinced me to attend a Specialty Coffee Association of America conference in 2002 and I met so many wonderful people from all over the world I was hooked – and I didn’t even drink coffee back then! (Now I think I never had a good cup, oh how that has changed).

What is your current favorite drink, bean or tea? I love a good cappuccino, perferably with a traditional monk’s head finish becuase the steamed milk is so sweet and velvety and the espresso cuts through it so nicely and tastes so good! I’m also still enjoying tasting and getting familiar with sublte differences of single origin beans. For lunch almost every day I like glass of iced Ceylon or Wild Island tea. Sometimes I steep it for 30 seconds and then pour off the water to remove most of the caffeine and then resteep – then I can enjoy it in to the evening and still get sleep.

What do you want your customers to know? That we appreciate each and every one of them and the suport they have continued to give us since we opened in Feb. 2004. Some truly amazing people have walked through our doors and I wish I could spend my days just hanging out and meeting everyone!

Home Town: North Bergen, NJ

When you’re not at Pacific Bay, what are you up to? I am usually making something like a painting or jewelry or clothing. I also love to do fire poi and dance to music like samba and salsa.

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why? Truly, flying would be awesome so that I could travel to wherever I wanted to go.

Describe your perfect day. My perfect day would involve being outdoors, taking a hike and relaxing on the beach. A day well spent.

What is your current favorite drink, bean or tea? My favorite drink is a cappunccino becusae of the great foam. I can taste the espresso and I love it.

Home Town: Escalon, CA

When you’re not at Pacific Bay, what are you up to?  I love to read, putter around my house, walk my dog and take in music and art events.

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why? To have the power and influence to make the world an environmentally cleaner/safer place and free from senseless wars.  It is a moral obligation to protect our planet and all that inhabits it.

Describe your perfect day. A perfect day is one where I can pick and choose whatever I would like to do without having any pressing obligations.

How long have you been in specialty coffee? Four plus years.

What is your current favorite drink, bean or tea? I am an “unadulterated” black coffee drinker. I enjoy experimenting with coffees from many regions and find my preferences constantly changing.

Home Town: Granville, MA

When you’re not at Pacific Bay, what are you up to? I’ve recently relocated from Denver. I spend the majority of my time exploring the Bay Area.

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why? I would have “spider sense” (like Spiderman) allowing me to know in advance when something unfortunate is about to happen. The possibilties would be endless.

Describe your perfect day. My perfect day would start by waking up early, feeling completely rested. I would then immerse myself in one of the many novels I’ve been meaning to read. If I had a quiet sunny spot, a good cup of coffee, and Tommy my family’s cat sitting on my lap, I would need nothing else.

What is your current favorite drink, bean or tea? My current favorite drink is an Americano. For me, good espresso is everything. Adding water to espresso allows me to enjoy the experience a little longer.

What do you want your customers to know? I would like my customers to truly enjoy the experience of good coffee and know that is something I can provide them with.

Home Town:  Danville, CA

When you’re not at Pacific Bay, what are you up to? Studying, training for a competition or (more likely) dancing at a salsa club.

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?  Flying – who wouldn’t want to fly??

Describe your perfect day. Waking up and spending the whole day on some tropical beach.

What is your current favorite drink, bean or tea? Lately I’ve been drinking iced lattes – keeps you cool and energized while working the bar.

What do you want your customers to know? Give your usual non-fat half-decaf white peppermint mocha with 2 1/2 pumps of chocolate a rest for a day and just try a real traditional cappuccino: you just might discover that you genuinely enjoy coffee (I did).

Home Town: Lafayette, Cali.

When you’re not at Pacific Bay, what are you up to? Going to school for massage therapy, walking my dog Olivia, yoga/running, cooking dinner for my friends, being outdoors!

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why? I’m making up my power to be able to see under the skin to people’s muscles so I can be a Super Massage Therapist!

Describe your perfect day.Going to Big Sur or Muir Woods with a friend and my dog on a long hike then having a good dinner and coffee!

How long hav you been in specialty coffee? 5 years spread out over my lifetime.

What is your current favorite drink, bean or tea? Soy cappuccino in a ceramic cup -yummy! It just tastes so complete in your mouth if that makes sense.

What do you want your customers to know? ummm….I used to play rugby in college and I must confess was a huge glamour rock fan in the late ’80’s!

Home Town: Dublin, CA

When you’re not at Pacific Bay, what are you up to? Planning my next backpacking trip, correcting other people’s Spanish.

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why? To speak every language.

Describe your perfect day. Read the Economist, roast some coffee, eat a burrito, ride my bike, drink an IPA.

What is your current favorite drink, bean or tea? 5 oz capp and anything roasted on my West Bend Popper popcorn maker.

What do you want your customers to know? Cream and sugar ruins good coffee.

Home Town: Walla Walla, WA

When you’re not at Pacific Bay, what are you up to? School (Kerry’s note, Jessie is working on her Masters in Sports Psychology), coaching soccer, with friends, at World Yoga aligning my spine.

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why? Telaporting so I could make it to work on time.

Describe your perfect day.  Sleep in (no 5am wake up call! ), some sort of outdoor activity (hiking, golf etc) go out to dinner, and then see where the night takes me .

How long hav you been in specialty coffee? 1.5 years

What is your current favorite drink, bean or tea? A small cappuccino and Jasmine Pearl Green Tea, because both are delicious.

What do you want your customers to know? If I look tired it is because I got less than 6 hours of sleep and had to be at work at 5:30am. Comments not necessary.