Cuvee Coffee

The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) trade show is one that I look forward to every year. 2011 is even more exciting since it is going to be in Texas! I overheard some grumbling and complaining at Symposium and Conference about having to go to Houston. I have to say that I do understand the knee jerk reaction...if you have not been to Houston lately.

Just to be clear, downtown is way different now than it was back in the 80's. Heck, it is way different than when I lived there just a few years ago. First, the convention center is super nice. Sports centers are very close by with the baseball field and basketball/hockey arena. There are lots of great bars and restaurants as the downtown area, like most cites, has gone through an amazing transformation.

Houston is a fairly large coffee port and then there is also that fact that is is quite a hub for Central and South America. Every time I fly out of Austin, I have to stop in Houston. It is convenient and relatively inexpensive so I anticipate that there will be more coffee producers (from the Americas) than ever before!

There is also the fact that there are some really great coffee people in H-town and they are going to do everything they can to make sure that people know they are true professionals and not step children. Max Gonzales at Catalina Coffee has created a very cool coffee shop and fostered a group of passionate and dedicated barista. I had an exquisitely prepared macchiato there last time I was in town. Last week I had lunch with David Buehrer, owner of Greenway Coffee & Tea. Dave has also been instrumental building a group of dedicated coffee professionals and introducing the public to coffee through his writing about and serving of, coffee.

Houston deserves an event like the SCAA and will welcome the group of coffee professionals that this specialty coffee conference brings. In summary, this is really going to be a great event and I hope that everyone gets here full of excitement...or at the very least, with an open mind. Oh, I also hear that some Texas coffee roaster is going to have a pretty big party (that includes free beer for the first 400 people), but that might just be rumor!