Driven to Espresso: Drive-through Coffee Stands in the Northwest

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-298301182011-12-15T17:30:28.792-08:00Driven to Espresso: Drive-through Coffee Stands in the NorthwestIf you think coffee culture is cool, you have come to the right place. I have loads of information and opinions to share about espresso in the Pacific Northwest, especially the drive-through phenomenon.Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.comBlogger1291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-90917951583107845912011-12-15T17:30:00.001-08:002011-12-15T17:30:28.804-08:00Good coffee? Wear clothes

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-38556994966718228952011-12-05T21:27:00.000-08:002011-12-05T21:27:24.410-08:00Outdoorsy type? Love coffee? This is for you!

The Aerobie is a coffee maker that can be right there with you when the sun rises outside your cozy tent in the wilderness. Speaking as someone who hikes and backpacks in the beautiful Northwest, I can say that I enjoy going somewhere now and then where there is not one single Starbucks in the vicinity. On the other hand, a good bold cup of coffee would be nice. Their website claims this is a

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-55876103325700399262011-11-19T15:19:00.000-08:002011-11-19T15:20:40.107-08:00A red hot drive-through business in Louisville

Sondra Powell and her brother, Jason Powell, own Red Hot Roasters, a premium, small-batch, USDA-Certified organic coffee roaster and drive-through coffee stand in Louisville, Kentucky. Sondra's involvement in the coffee industry began when she and a partner started a wholesale roasting operation in 2006. The original idea was to open a drive-through, though, and they added that a year later. It

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-82639245004809846602011-10-14T11:39:00.000-07:002011-10-14T11:39:47.840-07:00Climate change threatens coffee supply

Wait, did I read that correctly? Here is an article regarding Starbucks' concern over the threat of climate change to the worldwide supply of coffee. They consider it a "threat to a food item many people can't live without." I couldn't agree with them more! The only thing that may be worse would be a threat to chocolate (cocoa) production. Oh no! That's being threatened too! Scientists at the

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-73240234004872622852011-07-28T13:19:00.000-07:002011-07-28T13:19:07.795-07:00Coffee with a purpose

I have read in several articles that the coffee industry is recession-proof. Even during the recent rise in wholesale and retail coffee prices, consumption has increased. This is a remarkable testimony to the depth of our need for coffee. So, it is not at all surprising to me to see new coffee stands still popping up in the Northwest. I recently passed one in Enumclaw. After driving a few blocks

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-45986720455891802542011-07-07T14:36:00.000-07:002011-07-07T14:36:14.561-07:007 reasons to start a drive-through coffee stand instead of a cafe

1) Much less investment. The average is around $50,000, but can be lower. So the return on investment is much higher, it's easier to get a bank loan, and faster to pay it off. 2) Lower operating costs. No big room to heat, no wi-fi network to pay for, no parking lot to maintain, etc. 3) Can operate it and manage with an owner who is also the barista. It's possible to run the business with

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-46584354999723212112011-06-30T14:16:00.000-07:002011-06-30T14:16:23.770-07:003 fatal mistakes in starting a drive-through coffee stand

There are probably lots more than 3. But here are three big mistakes that will more than likely doom a new drive-through coffee stand, or at least stack the odds against you. 1. Rushing through the business plan. No, really, you need one. You need one even if you're lucky enough to not need to borrow money. This comes down to lots of research. For example, here are two important areas (there are

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-30999394366008180022011-05-25T21:25:00.000-07:002011-05-25T21:25:46.098-07:00Coffee consumption up, as are prices

Despite this year's rapid rise in coffee prices, coffee consumption is up a couple percentage points to a new record high. As a matter of fact, demand has grown about 2.5% per year during the past decade. Earlier this month, according to investors.com, arabica coffee hit a 34-year peak of $3.089 a pound. Commodities analysts expect prices to continue to rise for several months, but should start

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-29701091486024351102011-05-12T11:31:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:52:55.318-07:00Schultz attacks coffee speculators

As reported on The Telegraph's website, Howard Schultz, "Starbucks' chief executive and chairman, said that the current spike in the cost of commodities such as coffee and other foodstuffs is "not based on supply and demand" but based on market speculation. He said that the farmers who actually produce the commodities are receiving a "de minimus" proportion of the price rises." This speculation

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-81516969829926651402011-04-26T20:15:00.000-07:002011-04-26T20:15:45.270-07:00Friends of Malindi

Support the best kind of independent coffee farming, drink wonderful coffee, and help a small village of tenacious Tanzanians combat poverty. I am urging you to support Friends of Malindi, one of the small African villages being helped by Plant with Purpose. With the support of people like you, the village is learning about organic farming, reforestration, and village community banking. The

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-6522343002485732122011-04-16T22:02:00.000-07:002011-04-16T22:02:45.543-07:00Possible genetic reason for coffee addiction

Anyone can become addicted to coffee (caffeine, really). As you probably already know, caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world*. This popularity is largely influenced by the fact that it's legal, I assume. As reported by Jordan Press in the Vancouver Sun, researchers from Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, the US National Health Institute, and the

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-87521181113098914632011-04-13T19:18:00.000-07:002011-04-13T19:38:08.807-07:00Alternatives to coffee as a stimulant

Why in the world would anyone need an alternative to coffee? Well, whether or not you’ve ever considered yourself in danger of caffeine toxicity (or perhaps a doctor has suggested it after a trip to the emergency room!), there are other ways to get the energy boost and alertness that you associate with coffee. Afterall, caffeine toxicity can be a rather serious condition—symptoms include tremors,

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-28355249963275212702011-04-04T12:46:00.000-07:002011-04-04T12:46:14.469-07:00Coffee while you sleep

We have one of those coffeemakers that automatically makes coffee while you sleep. So we don't use it very often in the middle of the day, because we're just not able to fall asleep.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-25117660535434588472011-03-18T10:17:00.000-07:002011-03-18T10:23:06.408-07:00Contribute to Japan relief efforts by purchasing the Japan Relief Blend

How can your love of coffee help out with relief efforts in Japan? The Japan Relief Blend released today by Grounds for Change is aimed at providing coffee drinkers with a simple way to donate to relief efforts in Japan. The Japan Relief Blend is Fair Trade, Organic and CarbonFree Certified, and for each regularly priced 12 ounce bag purchased, Grounds for Change will donate $2.00 to the Japan

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-19634627917313356142011-02-28T21:47:00.001-08:002011-02-28T21:47:10.540-08:00Are you driven to espresso?

Wherever you live, is there an especially fantastic coffee bar? How about a more convenient option for boosting your caffeine level? Maybe that concept is not even a concept for you. But for some multi-taskers, it sort of grows on you as a practical alternative from time to time. I'd love to know your opinion. There seems to be lots of discussion and debate about the very best espresso bar in

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-21831948912151119242011-01-26T21:50:00.000-08:002011-01-26T21:52:13.234-08:00Traveling with Driven to Espresso

Here is a wonderful email I received from a reader. No, I think I'd have to call her a fan. Hello Ray, I wanted to let you know how much we have enjoyed your book! I purchased three: one for us, one for my boss, and one for my son in law, Bill, who works for Rodale Press in Emmaus, Pa. All are avid espresso fans. Bill had recently done a story for Bicycling Magazine on Starbucks coffeehouses in

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-27376568204250675002010-12-23T20:03:00.000-08:002010-12-23T20:03:40.571-08:00Free shipping! Order now!

For the time being, I am not charging for shipping when you order Driven to Espresso at my website. Go to 1by1publishing.com and use the Order button. I will ship First Class anywhere in the USA for free! If you didn't already give Driven to Espresso to someone as a Christmas present... well, I guess it's too late. But go ahead and get a copy for yourself. This offer of free shipping will last

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-40452428747041799262010-12-04T16:45:00.000-08:002010-12-04T16:47:56.285-08:00Look inside and flip the pages

One of the cool features on the 1 by 1 Publishing website for Driven to Espresso is the page that lets you look inside at some of the pages. When you click any of the page thumbnails on the right side of the Inside page, you will be able to "turn the pages" with your mouse and see several actual pages from the book. Try it!

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-8028306604051079672010-12-01T20:04:00.000-08:002010-12-04T16:31:37.527-08:00Not everyone likes coffee, I guess

Back in the heyday of English coffeehouses--back around 1674--women got a little ticked off that their husbands drank coffee all day. If women were actually allowed to hang out with them at the coffeehouses, they may not have been so harsh, but that was before women were thought of as, well, you know, human beings. A group of women wrote a little thing called "The Women's Petition Against

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-47246172198280320572010-11-15T22:00:00.000-08:002010-11-15T22:03:12.469-08:00Earn rewards for recommending Driven to Espresso

Effective immediately, you can earn an unlimited amount of $2 (USD) rewards for recommending Driven to Espresso to others.* Get back 10 percent ($2) of the price you pay for your copy of D2E, each time someone purchases the book from me. You can earn the entire price of the book after 10 people purchased their own copy. And more! Here's how: after you buy the book from me or my website, show it

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-55139031970992684412010-10-19T15:07:00.000-07:002010-10-19T15:07:59.170-07:00Now you can search within this blog

I added a search capability to this blog, so you now can easily find every time I mention haggis (once) or baristas (ten). It's right over there to the left.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-73363928802220031972010-10-13T10:05:00.000-07:002010-10-13T10:05:43.580-07:00If it's called Toxic, it must be good for you!

We had a great 4-day weekend getaway over in the Methow valley, visiting Winthrop and Twisp, relaxing in a small cabin gazing at the amazing fall colors, and taking a few hikes in the beautiful mountains surrounding the area. While researching which trails we might like to hike, we found a hiker's trip report that mentioned Michael's espresso stand in Twisp. The thing that caught our attention

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-57187385870323378362010-09-28T22:02:00.000-07:002010-09-28T22:02:27.455-07:00600-pound coffee bike

There is something of the Little Engine That Could in this video. On the other hand, it rather looks more like it couldn't. But they tried!! Oh man, I wish I had been able to include a picture of this in my book.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-57855789211975681742010-09-27T09:03:00.000-07:002010-09-27T09:07:49.567-07:00Barnes & Noble screwing publishers

I received the following notice from my distributor: As of November 1, 2010, AtlasBooks will be distributing directly into Barnes & Noble. Barnes & Noble has recently announced that its business partners must provide free freight. This is very bad news to all publishers, especially independent publishers like myself. It means publishers will have to pay to ship books to Barnes & Noble. And they

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-89011035761366946042010-09-22T21:19:00.001-07:002010-09-22T21:20:49.569-07:00Where to be during Coffee Week

I was going to suggest going to Coffee Creek* during Coffee Week. But then I read what Coffee Week was and discovered it is, first of all, only occurring in the UK, and second of all, it's quite an important event and I wouldn't want to encourage anyone to be anywhere but at their favorite UK cafe that week. Read all about it in this event announcement found on Baristaexchange.com...Allegra

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-43885342380503925482010-09-22T21:19:00.000-07:002010-09-22T21:20:01.943-07:00Where to be during Coffee Week

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-13564599304282701012010-09-22T21:03:00.000-07:002010-09-22T21:19:28.348-07:00Where to be during Coffee Week

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-32519283925254745792010-09-15T12:36:00.000-07:002010-09-15T12:47:55.436-07:00The case of the voyeuristic coffee cup

I am trying to imagine how this coffee cup helped a man be voyeuristic. What exactly was he doing with the coffee cup? She said he was getting too close. With his coffee cup that obviously has a camera lens poking out of it? This was supposed to have happened in a grocery for pity's sake, so I just don't get it. That pervert! That clever, clever pervert.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-61184438513686097442010-09-14T12:41:00.000-07:002010-09-14T12:45:09.190-07:00Who reads this blog?

Not only you, but lots of other people read this blog. From South Korea to the Ukraine to Luxembourg, people are thirsty for news in the coffee stand world. Maybe they are people who want to start their own stand. Wish I knew what you all want, because maybe I can furnish more of it!

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-88048544109225833622010-09-07T08:17:00.000-07:002010-09-07T08:18:49.312-07:00Perky coffee economy

Budget Planner Mint.com

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-6050902983058153462010-08-02T10:26:00.000-07:002010-08-02T10:30:40.589-07:00Seattle Barista offering Italian tour

Seattle Barista just announced they are looking for people to go on their tour of Italy, featuring coffee, wine and gourmet food. For more information. They are offering the tour as a package of meals, hotels, taxes, and transportation (not including airfare to Italy). But no more than 6 people will be able to sign up, so hurry!They do not state the price on their website, so you will need to

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-46782345400056042872010-07-26T14:32:00.000-07:002010-07-26T14:48:40.902-07:00If you're truly driven to espresso, this is for you.

As a compliment to our book, Driven to Espresso, a new line of shirts, jackets, mugs, and other items have been designed and are now available at Cafe Press. I think you'll enjoy the casual design and high quality of the products. There are many types of garments, including a good range of color choices and sizes. Some of the items even come in organic materials.Plus, I'm pretty sure you'll agree

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-71418403743022762252010-07-14T17:55:00.000-07:002010-07-14T18:46:21.555-07:00Three critical requirements for a successful drive-through coffee stand

Keeping any business successful these days is a challenge. The drive-through espresso stand business is typically a very small business and even though the profit margin is considerable, it never takes much to sink a small business that relies on a very specific product.While it is true that coffee is a huge market in general, and specialty coffee, such as espresso, has passionate consumers that

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-25401013202795485882010-07-03T20:51:00.000-07:002010-07-03T21:09:41.618-07:00Rough times for drive-through coffee stands

There is a drive-through espresso stand up the street from me; no surprise, given that I live in the suburbs of Seattle. It has always appeared to me to have plenty of business. I can't recall ever driving past and not seeing a customer there. Then a month or so ago, I noticed it was closed during the morning rush hour and a small sign taped to the window. The sign said they were closed until

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-80121834370990515282010-06-28T15:20:00.000-07:002010-06-28T16:15:26.110-07:00Coffee facts

Every once in a while I receive interesting news about coffee, including its possible health benefits. Everyone loves to hear these facts, because we love coffee and it might give us a good reason to have another coffee break, hang out at a cafe, or to stop at yet another drive-through coffee stand. Although there are plenty of websites where you can find these same facts, Here are a few gleaned

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-7164297015139440912010-06-17T20:56:00.000-07:002010-06-17T21:26:42.111-07:00What do bicycles have to do with coffee farming?

I am intrigued to hear of a program to help Rwanda coffee farmers by helping them buy bicycles. In an article in the Las Vegas Review Journal, columnist Ed Graney describes Kimberly Coats, a truly inspirational woman, and her mission to provide bicycles and improve the lives of these poor farmers.Like anywhere, getting the coffee cherries quickly from the coffee fields makes the coffee more

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-27887335075508222662010-06-15T19:25:00.000-07:002010-06-15T19:37:14.617-07:00Dwarfed

One of the things I think makes the drive-through espresso stand business so popular for budding entrepreneurs is that the buildings are manageably small. How much could go wrong with a 200 sq ft building? (Probably get an earful from that one!) One of the photogenic qualities I captured over and over were the proportional relationship these buildings have in their surroundings. Not too many of

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-39865882819366642622010-06-10T06:28:00.001-07:002010-06-10T06:28:53.426-07:00He has everything

It's hard to get a Father's Day gift for your Dad, because he has everything. Right? I'll bet he doesn't have a copy of Driven to Espresso. And I'll bet he'll love it!

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-17739877278620092422010-06-07T21:47:00.000-07:002010-06-07T22:10:50.399-07:00Could I get a double-tall hay?

You know how some drive-throughs have dog biscuits on-hand for when dogs are in the car with their customers? What do you suppose the chances are that this drive-through had a handful of grass* on-hand for the occasional mule coming through? (note to mule owners: I don't have a clue what mules eat. Grass is an educated guess.) This is something I would not expect to ever see. This drive-through

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-75776391976216510382010-05-27T22:30:00.000-07:002010-05-27T22:59:43.332-07:00Latte and lamb organs, please

While in Scotland, we took the ferry from Mallaig to the Isle of Skye and at the ferry dock I spotted this espresso stand. You know you're in Scotland when the espresso stands serve haggis.About haggis: it is true that it is made from sheep or lamb offal, but honestly, it's not bad. As a matter of fact, I rather liked it. It reminded me of something I used to eat frequently while growing up in

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-26541432740391146672010-05-18T08:14:00.000-07:002010-05-18T08:33:35.267-07:00I see them wherever I go

It seems wherever I go I can spot espresso carts or stands. This cute little mobile one is positioned along the Thames River in London. Can you tell from this photo that it is in the back of a tiny truck of some sort?Naturally, I can't help noticing some differences between it and the ones I see in the Northwest. If you look at the menu items on the chalkboard, you will see a couple things I

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-53225726682374262172010-05-16T17:20:00.000-07:002010-05-16T17:23:20.499-07:00Get me a map

Seen at the University District Street Fair. Now my question is, of course, what is 140 miles from the University of Washington vicinity in Seattle?

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-37583494839214357482010-04-18T09:01:00.000-07:002010-04-18T09:51:01.109-07:00Great opportunity for poop-lickers

I am referring, of course, to the folks in Indonesia who lick civet poop to determine the quality of the excreted coffee beans known as kopi luwak. These unique coffee beans (unique in terms of where they've been) are the most expensive ones in the world -- selling for as much as $227USD. I got a little excited when I discovered a website selling it for $21, but then I saw that it was for a

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-29744588116566887972010-04-12T15:01:00.000-07:002010-04-12T15:15:46.341-07:00Bikini Barista, the music video

OMG. Why didn't I think of this? I think this demonstrates the huge difference between documentary books and music videos. Well, there really isn't a comparison.The Cowgirls Espresso stand featured in this video is the one that appears on page 101 of Driven to Espresso, and if I'm not mistaken, one of the baristas is Kim, who appears on page 8.If you are offended by looking at bikini baristas,

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-39344870698088942822010-04-01T11:36:00.000-07:002010-04-01T12:07:52.888-07:00No end to the bikini barista fascination

I have Google Alerts set up to send me an email everyday showing me new content it finds for the phrase "bikini barista." There has not been a day go by that it doesn't come up with several new articles on this subject. Many times the "new" content it finds is a copy of an earlier post by someone that gets replicated or quoted by newspapers, bloggers, or other media sources.There are three main

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-79740025921848133992010-03-22T22:21:00.000-07:002010-03-22T22:28:56.023-07:00Another great review

I have to admit, it's pretty exciting to read a book review of your own book. Here's one that appears today in The Stranger's webpage for reviews:"Will in Seattle Gets Driven to Espresso"Naturally, the preface of Driven to Espresso does include a small amount on bikini espresso stands, but, for the most part, it's a picture book about espresso coffee stands in the Northwest. Some—are interesting!

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-42583458194560649792010-03-09T13:54:00.000-08:002010-03-09T14:35:57.281-08:00Suddenly texting on mobile phones in cars sounds okay

About four years ago, Nespresso was showing a conceptual rendering of what they called InCar, an espresso maker for your car. Designed by students for a design contest they hold each year, it was a machine designed to fit into the center console of a car and double as an armrest. And you thought having a cup-holder or two was a huge convenience.You should check out that design website, though,

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-19479045820368833082010-03-05T09:48:00.000-08:002010-03-05T10:02:25.178-08:00Before and after of cover shot

I thought readers, especially photographers, might be interested in seeing one of the images from Driven to Espresso in a before-after comparison. The first one is just the raw scan from the negative. The second one has had some clean-up work done, as well as dodging and burning, tonal adjustments, and cropping. But most noticeably I added a color tint so it worked with the coffee color of the

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-48229090270575197272010-03-04T08:11:00.000-08:002010-03-04T08:21:50.578-08:00How to see inside pages of the book on Amazon

I just found out that you can see almost any page of Driven to Espresso from the Amazon.com page for it. Simply click "Search inside this book" over on the left side under the cover image. There will be a new window that pops up where you can browse through some of the pages, but to see other pages, use this new window's "Search inside this book" link, again over on the left side, and type in a

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-53098948058319500982010-03-04T08:00:00.000-08:002010-03-04T08:03:36.032-08:00Kindle version now available

I just checked and the Kindle version of Driven to Espresso is now available on Amazon.com.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-78950880185978313602010-03-02T10:47:00.000-08:002010-03-02T10:56:12.042-08:00New reviews

I am enjoying the reviews that I receive regularly for Driven to Espresso. I have added several recently, but here is the latest one. It was written by fellow publisher and talented comic artist, Al Tudor, at West Street Enterprises.“You wouldn't believe what a huge smile was on my face while I was looking through the book. I could just imagine Shirley patiently waiting in the car while you

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-35429301346560608142010-02-20T09:39:00.000-08:002010-02-20T09:43:44.161-08:00The Epicurean, circa 1973

I can't recall the very first time I tasted coffee. Most likely it was when I was very young and sitting in my Dad's lap after dinner. I doubt that I liked it much, and probably not solely because it was instant, but it was such a grown-up flavor! It had at least that much going for it. That would have been in the late 50s.I do, however, remember about when I first tasted espresso. That was much

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-11771032336805069202010-02-11T10:10:00.000-08:002010-02-11T10:11:17.972-08:00Trying Google AdWords

I got a free offer from Google to try out AdWords for awhile, so it's up and running. I did some searches related to coffee, etc, and it displays my ad! Now I wait for all the click-throughs. If you've been thinking about doing this, it is really easy and you only pay for the clicks and you set a budget up front. I'll let you know how it goes.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-1431518888891409152010-02-08T14:36:00.000-08:002010-02-08T15:10:40.294-08:00Could be a little more to it than this

A recent blog I read suggests that opening and operating a coffee stand is pretty simple. According to the author you just need a street corner with some traffic, a special blend of coffee, and some employees. It also says you can even build the stand yourself to save money. It even has a simple idea of why you might want to open one--coffee is your favorite drink, so of course you want your own

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-76942233161819708402010-02-01T10:09:00.001-08:002010-02-01T10:17:00.036-08:00The Bloomsbury Review

I'm so, so pumped up today! I just received a copy of the 30th Anniversary issue of The Bloomsbury Review and Driven to Espresso has gotten a superb review! I'll add it to my website's Review page later today so you can read it, but here's a brief quote: "Just the ticket for java lovers and the architecturally curious."One of the extra bonuses of the review is that they specifically point readers

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-30412889126571992842010-01-09T20:00:00.000-08:002010-01-09T20:19:13.826-08:00How much coffee globally traded?

When discussing my fascination with drive-through espresso, I occasionally have told people that coffee is the world's second most valuable (legal) traded commodity in the world, as has many other people, but now find an article that challenges that. Well, it pretty much debunks that statement altogether. It is one of those loose interpretations of statistics, or urban legends, that became a

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-51304961010187159162010-01-05T08:21:00.000-08:002010-01-05T08:24:47.244-08:00500 copies sold

Okay, by New York Times bestseller standards, I'm not there yet, but I still enjoy knowing that 500 copies of Driven to Espresso have sold since it became available in June. Do you have a copy yet?

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-12727966857583939762009-12-14T20:35:00.000-08:002009-12-14T20:44:16.023-08:00Multnomah County Library

The Multnomah County Library in Portland, Oregon, recently wrote about my book on their blog. I enjoyed reading what Kate Schwab had to say about it. Here is a partial quote: "These beautiful black and white photos showcase the amazing variety of drive-through coffee stands, from a double-decker bus to a trailer staffed by a bikini babe."Other libraries with my book available include the Seattle

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-90562342796276767892009-12-09T08:11:00.000-08:002009-12-09T08:30:53.087-08:00Who buys Driven to Espresso?

According to amazon.com, customers who buy Driven to Espresso, also buy The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting and Running a Coffee Bar.I have decided not to infer that idiots are buying my book.But this reinforces what I have said is an excellent reason to have my book--that is, that any individual considering the ownership of a drive-through, would do well to see the wide spectrum of building

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-28518499530225259692009-12-08T19:54:00.000-08:002009-12-08T20:11:07.814-08:00What? Can't you find a hot-babe drive-through?

I'm sorry, for some reason, I can't resist writing about the "sexpresso" phenomenon. It's possible you know about the controversial stands in the Northwest -- Everett and Bellevue recently -- but you may not have actually seen one of the stands, so I thought you might like to know about a new website that will help you locate one. That is, if you want to locate one. I have no idea who came up

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-26252450787978476882009-12-04T13:48:00.001-08:002009-12-04T13:50:08.649-08:00So how do you hire a bikini barista?

Have you wondered how you would go about finding and hiring a barista for a drive-through if you wanted them to wear skimpy clothes? Well, read this Craigslist wanted ad.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-86280384476781011722009-12-03T14:29:00.000-08:002009-12-03T14:53:08.398-08:00The great Bikini Barista Debate

Of course you all know that some drive-through coffee stand baristas here in the Northwest wear bikinis and other minimalist outfits and of course, you also know that this has turned out to be a huge controversy. Okay, not as big as the number of troops in Afghanistan, but it is a lot more fun to follow. I actually think it is a healthy, constructive controversy because it involves the balance of

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-29912048060836739112009-12-02T20:07:00.000-08:002009-12-02T20:23:37.087-08:00Great review

Driven to Espresso has received a great review on CoffeeCrew, a Canadian website that educates and entertains on all levels of coffee culture. If you want to learn about roasting, brewing, or drinking better espresso, or if you want to be entertained with lively stories of travel to cafes in far-off places, or if you want to discuss some coffee-related ideas with others like yourself, this is a

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-78181011773528628882009-11-25T21:17:00.000-08:002009-11-25T21:20:26.423-08:00Coffee stuffing anyone?

Ok, I was really hoping to find a stuffing recipe for the ol' turkey tomorrow that included coffee beans. No such luck.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-81086816515037045952009-11-23T21:05:00.000-08:002009-11-23T21:18:49.530-08:00Pre-Cowgirls sexpresso and all that

This is a rather mundane photo (which is one reason it doesn't appear in Driven to Espresso) of a mundane little stand in Monroe. It even had a mundane name: Northwest Coffee Company.Today it is painted white with black blobby spots, resembling a cow, more or less. It is now called Cowgirls Espresso. The paint job is meant to resemble cows, not girls. I'm pretty sure of that.Anyway, if that

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-49337394064055938742009-11-23T21:01:00.001-08:002009-11-23T21:04:22.022-08:00Java Jigglers limo

Here is a limo I found in Ellensburg. I believe the barista told me the limo is used to drive the bikini-wearing baristas around town. No comment.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-51375154992661500342009-11-17T22:13:00.000-08:002009-11-17T22:32:45.305-08:00To caf or not to caf

Do you drink decaf? According to a recent article in Entrepreneur magazine, the number of decaf drinkers are increasing. The decaf "community" represents a segment of the market that is almost "too taboo to discuss in public." The increase in numbers, not surprisingly, has a correlation to the increase in an older population--ie, the baby boomers--who traditionally have been decaf drinkers.One of

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-29148026983664218852009-11-16T21:06:00.000-08:002009-11-16T21:09:06.819-08:00The money trickles down eventually

I finally received a small check from my distributor. The warehouses that buy from my distributor are traditionally (that term makes is sound sort of nice) slow payers. Now that they're starting to pay bills from June/July, I am finally getting to see some green.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-7059546097519434902009-11-12T20:58:00.000-08:002009-11-12T21:18:47.197-08:00Pastor down on sexpresso

The controversy over sexpresso continues. Now there is a church pastor who encourages citizens to monitor drive-throughs - the ones whose baristas wear small outfits of various types - and report when a car or truck marked with a business name stops for a coffee there. These reports wind up on the pastor's website under the label Do not support. Eesh! There are so many things wrong with that.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-21286297751225300632009-11-12T08:20:00.000-08:002009-11-12T08:35:33.160-08:00Driven to Espresso in Eureka Times-Standard

Great news! I am thrilled with the article in the Eureka Times-Standard that ran yesterday. Heather Shelton, Lifestyle Editor, interviewed me through email and wrote a very nice, long article. I'm sure the two espresso stands (Gold Rush Coffee and Jitter Bean Coffee) in Eureka that are featured in the book, and mentioned in the article, are equally pleased. At least one of them is currently

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-46567116378596394532009-11-08T16:05:00.000-08:002009-11-08T16:27:29.765-08:00Locating the book's drive-throughs

Here is a map that shows the approximate locations of each drive-through that is in Driven to Espresso. As you can plainly see, the majority are in the Puget Sound region. Admitedly, I spent the most amount of time in and around my own "backyard" which is the real reason for this, but I want to go on record as saying that Portland and Spokane, especially, have way more drive-throughs than what

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-20095638158752474432009-11-07T14:29:00.000-08:002009-11-07T14:34:32.112-08:00Book signing event this Thursday

Please join me at the Barnes & Noble bookstore at Northgate Mall in Seattle this Thursday, November 12, between 3 and 6 pm, where I will explain why I published Driven to Espresso and share some of the interesting stories I learned in my research and travels.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-38780469805333519862009-11-04T08:16:00.000-08:002009-11-04T08:28:54.738-08:00Another indy bookstore folds??!!

My sincerest condolences to the owner and employees at Bailey-Coy Books on Broadway, Seattle. It is, unfortunately, another of a long, long string of independent bookstore closures. My take on this is that it is a result of the economy, the prevalence of online reading, and overbearing presence of big-box bookstores. I don't believe people are reading less. And although I list it as a factor, the

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-88108499864183647062009-11-04T08:13:00.000-08:002009-11-04T08:15:40.811-08:00Scheduling events now

Call or email me now to schedule a speaking or signing engagement. I have an interesting story to tell to camera clubs, architects, coffee enthusiasts, or self-publisher-wannabes.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-34491270688397575582009-10-29T13:01:00.000-07:002009-10-29T13:04:59.570-07:00Coffee making your genius quicker

This poem has been reprinted so many times, by so many that I just figured one more time couldn't hurt.Coffee arrives, that Grave and Wholesome Liquor, That heals the stomach, makes the genius quicker, Relieves the Memory, revives the Sad, And cheers the Spirits, without making Mad.--anonymous

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-87405199202233451392009-10-14T21:39:00.001-07:002009-10-14T21:40:33.212-07:00Somewhere there's a drive-through for you

If you are looking for an existing drive-through you can purchase, this could be a deal. Unfortunately, the owner doesn't mention where it is!

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-80411850866043417622009-10-08T15:25:00.000-07:002009-10-08T15:29:38.792-07:00Grounds for Health

If you are curious about where all our coffee comes from, you should also know about the conditions facing the communities who produce it. Please consider a contribution to Grounds for Health.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-6958994650737500362009-10-05T20:35:00.000-07:002009-10-05T20:42:26.281-07:00Go ahead and call it sexie

Okay, I know some people are not pleased with baristas wearing bikinis at the local drive-through, but I just wanted to pass along this great name for a drive-through of that type. I'm not making this up. Here's a coffee shop called Sexie Coffie. It's in Australia, so I think they're allowed to spell it that way! Ironically, they do not seem to feature baristas in skimpy outfits.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-38206558057896743042009-10-05T19:41:00.000-07:002009-10-05T19:51:26.163-07:00A drive-through not built for mobility

Although this image does not appear in Driven to Espresso, it's one of the more curious drive-throughs to me. Notice the extremely heavy-duty concrete lower half. I don't know what this building was originally built for, but I'm willing to bet it was not for a drive-through coffee stand. The phone number I have for it is disconnected, so I assume it has gone out of business. It was called Black

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-79769790823099189602009-10-01T16:49:00.000-07:002009-10-05T19:56:23.541-07:00Sleek-looking drive-through in Chicago

Here is an article and photo from the Daily Herald in Chicago about a pretty cool-looking drive-through serving Italian roasted coffee in Villa Park. I was struck with the contemporary look of it. Teodor Denov took over a vacant stand and renovated it. He spent a year researching the industry and determined that the drive-throughs of Washington State and Oregon and very popular. Just like all

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-15620935355360871022009-09-30T12:47:00.000-07:002009-09-30T13:05:31.867-07:00Cloudy with a chance of drive-throughs

Can a drive-through rain down from the sky? Not really, but in this video from Seattle Drip Coffee Company, you can see a drive-through getting "air-lifted" right onto a site. In Driven to Espresso, I mention that d-t stands sometimes get moved, and this video gives you the idea of how that might work (even though this is a brand-spanking new building).With a name like Seattle Drip chosen for a

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-4971057298500673912009-09-28T11:13:00.000-07:002009-09-28T11:20:26.788-07:00Coffee Fest Seattle

I attended Coffee Fest in Seattle this past Friday, the 25th, and had a great time. I enjoyed meeting face-to-face with some drive-through owners and baristas, some whose stands are in my book, and meeting Kent Bakke of La Marzocco, Matt Milletto of Bellissimo, as well as editors of three coffee-related publications.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-76521174160218278922009-09-24T12:05:00.001-07:002009-09-24T12:07:43.058-07:00You know bikini baristas have gone too far when..

..when they get arrested. Some baristas were arrested on prostitution charges in Everett, Washington. Here is the story from the Sky Valley Chronicle.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-86604211519392496192009-09-23T11:42:00.000-07:002009-09-23T11:51:50.261-07:00No drive-throughs, please

If you are dreaming of opening your own drive-through coffee stand, better not be dreaming in Glencoe, Illinois. According to the Chicago Tribune, they have an outright ban on drive-throughs of any kind.Also, the nearby town of Northbrook has been reluctant, but recently permitted one at a McDonalds.It's possible that many other communities do not allow them, and it's even more likely that many

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-55683450120548121092009-09-21T21:47:00.000-07:002009-09-21T21:51:08.943-07:00Another shot not in the book

Here's another drive-through photo that didn't quite make it into the book. It was a rainy day, and I was frantically trying to find a drive-through during a few sun breaks. This one has that shiny pavement below it and some nice contrast.Dutch Bros has over 100 drive-throughs and I think this was one of the smallest ones I've seen.

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-76669623099487926572009-09-17T11:33:00.001-07:002009-09-17T11:47:01.736-07:00The Espresso Machine as printer

No, not that kind of espresso machine. This one is a book printing hurricane of a machine that can print a 300-page book in less than 5 minutes.Google has announced plans to allow On Demand Books, maker of The Espresso Machine printer, to start printing copies of some of the millions of books Google has in their digital library. Yes, printing, as in paper. This would appear to make no sense at

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-74597361063044043452009-09-14T22:47:00.000-07:002009-09-14T22:52:23.697-07:00Book signing at Not a Number Cards & Gifts

October 7, 6 - 9 PM.During the Wallingford Art Walk, I will be signing books at one of my newest retailers, Not A Number Cards & Gifts. If you have never been to this gift shop, you really need to check it out someday (and this would be a great time, obviously!). It is really different. You can shop in there for hours. They have off-the-wall stuff that you don't find in your typical card and gift

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-73665618874315510852009-09-01T21:19:00.000-07:002009-09-01T21:31:18.696-07:00Barnes & Noble at Northgate

Well, I'm jazzed! I have to share this.I heard from the receptionist at my dentist's office that she saw Driven to Espresso at the Starbucks inside the Barnes & Noble at Northgate. I didn't know there was even any copies at that store, let alone at the Starbucks counter. What an awesome exposure for my book, and not even my idea. I had showed the book to the manager at B&N and he wanted to carry

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-17275803023810873432009-08-28T12:50:00.000-07:002009-08-28T13:11:27.620-07:00How much is too much

I know a few people who have cut back on coffee, or switched to decaf, because of the effect caffeine has on their bodies and minds. But for many coffee-lovers, there just doesn't seem to be a limit on how much they can drink. Or perhaps they just haven't reached their limit. So I wonder what is the limit from a physiological perspective? How much is really too much?According to an article from

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-58968661216698828202009-08-24T22:07:00.000-07:002009-08-24T22:13:53.229-07:00Tell the world what you think

It's great to see more and more people are purchasing Driven to Espresso everyday! If you have read it, seen it, or been to my website to find out more about it, you could do me a huge favor and write a review of it. The best place to review it is on the book's amazon.com page. The more reviews it receives, the better. You do not need to have purchased the book there to leave a review.Another way

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-76422638806527831082009-08-10T22:38:00.001-07:002009-08-10T22:51:30.911-07:00Wake up and smell the coffee. Really.

I read about a recent study of the aroma of coffee as it relates to mRNA molecules... you know. mRNA molecules. Surely you know what those are. No?Oh, man, you gotta love those scientists. They aren't actually saying so, seeing how they conducted this study on rat brains, but it is tempting to draw the conclusion from their report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry that just

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-34065414167849865462009-08-06T11:42:00.000-07:002009-08-06T11:58:24.936-07:00Seattle Coffee Gear

Thanks to Seattle Coffee Gear in Lynnwood for carrying Driven to Espresso in their fabulous store! If you are a serious home espresso aficionado, this is heaven. All the bright and shiny machines made my knees weak and my mouth water. I could just about taste the great coffee coming out of them. Maybe that's because they also sell coffee. They also have all the gear to make your kitchen totally

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-76554125346220997242009-08-05T13:25:00.000-07:002009-08-05T13:28:11.201-07:00Tempted to run your own coffee shop?

Now there's an alternative to opening your own coffee shop. Just play the game! Coffee Shop at Funny-Games.biz

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-13797877748387044272009-07-29T11:03:00.000-07:002009-07-29T11:35:33.485-07:00Can a competitor bring you business?

Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, has stated that the $100 million ad campaign by McDonalds for their McCafe coffee has likely helped Starbucks business this past fiscal quarter. He comments that huge marketing campaigns by fast-food companies trying to attract coffee consumers, "created unprecedented awareness for the coffee category overall..."This theory is nearly the same as the point I make

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-85892154343086374222009-07-23T23:18:00.000-07:002009-07-24T00:02:29.908-07:00Roundup of coffee drive-thrus in the blogs

Normally, you wouldn't associate drive-through espresso stands with funeral homes, would you? I never did find a drive-through in Canada, but here's one in Chatham, Ontario, that I really wish I had stumbled upon while working on Driven to Espresso.Found a video of Muzz Buzz, a pretty wild-looking, modern drive-through franchise in Australia, on YouTube.Here's an idea I've heard of before: you

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-12251722243566930112009-07-22T12:47:00.000-07:002009-07-22T13:11:58.419-07:00Small drive-throughs are small businesses - or are they?

Well, they are small businesses now, at least. But a recent development has me wondering about the future.The news broke last week that Starbucks is opening a few stores in Seattle that will not carry the Starbucks brand, using a unique look and feel, apparently to appeal to customers who prefer to patronize smaller, local businesses. Here is a reaction from the Chicago Tribune reporter, Steve

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-54396584035566996632009-07-17T14:08:00.000-07:002009-07-17T14:36:34.772-07:00University Bookstore

The University Bookstore is the latest retailer who has agreed to carry Driven to Espresso. Look for it at any of their 5 locations in the near future.The book's publication date is July 20th and to celebrate, I held a small party at Espresso Vivace on Yale Ave in Seattle. Sadly, it was not well attended, but at least all the many people who were invited now know about the book and that was the

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-68835578466412224752009-06-30T08:02:00.000-07:002009-06-30T08:16:41.185-07:00It's starting to happen

Word seems to be getting out about my book. In the Pure Coffee blog written by Bill (doesn't give his last name) on June 1, he refers to my book: "... I would have preferred a more coffee-related book like Driven to Espresso." Also I have found it mentioned in a few websites as a link to coffee-related resources. One coffee stand has it listed on their Friends page. I'm also making progress in

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-10588562087704766132009-06-11T08:44:00.000-07:002009-06-11T08:56:14.929-07:00Driven to Espresso now available

Here are the latest activities at 1 by 1 Publishing:Besides Atlas Books, my distributor, who warehouses the bulk of my books, I now have a few hundred books in my garage. This will be handy when someone wants an autographed copy. It will also be useful for selling directly to coffee stands, or other nonconventional retailers in the area.I added an Order button to my website so I can accept PayPal

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29830118.post-18139989272062440822009-05-11T10:30:00.000-07:002009-05-11T10:39:13.497-07:00Support Coffee Kids!

Naturally, in the process of writing a book about the coffee culture, I have visited a lot of coffee-related websites. One of the ones that has me really thinking is Coffee Kids. I think the work they are doing for the coffee-producing families in Latin America is supremely worthy of our support. If you love coffee, I think you'll appreciate a visit to their website.They have a very active blog

Ray Weisgerberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754692317816893891noreply@blogger.com0