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!