Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) 2012

A lifetime of gratitude to our  STASERO USA Family for the warm reception and for sponsoring our visit to the 24th annual Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) Event, held last April 18-19, 2012 in the Rose City of Portland, Oregon (PDX).

Thank You Mr. Kabani! Here's to a 100 more years, even beyond...

The STASERO brand, proudly made in Seattle, Washington is a loyal member and exhibitor of the SCAA, and is well-represented by Far Skyes Enterprise in the Philippines (including some parts of South-East Asia) since 2003. Pleasure was ours to once again touch base with the Kabani family and reaffirm our commitment as brand-partners.

Calm before the storm, getting ready for the show

Proud event-sponsor BOYD's Coffee USA

Opening Remarks by the SCAA Officers

Scratch one off our "coffee geek" bucket list as this event, our first in both the show and the city,  is truly the mecca for anything and everything CAFFEINE (and many more). A weekend where the stars of the Coffee Universe all came together, and the perfect venue to rub elbows with fellow aficionados and industry friends - both old and new!

Peaches Go-Tiu of Far Skyes Enteprise with Ms. Aisha Kabani
of Eagle Beverage, proud owner & manufacturer of the Stasero Brand

Metting up in PDX with good friends, Boyd Coffee Philippines
President Roberto Francisco & Wife Dr. Christine Santos-Francisco

Enjoying my 1st cup, experts say "Superb coffee begins w/ great beans.
 Coffee should be well roasted resulting balance and fullness in flavor ."   

Global exhibitors ready to showcase their stuff

One day is not enough for "looksies" and hobnobbing. Here are some photos we took of the SCAA 2012 show...  Happy viewing!

The Astoria Team Came in Full-Force

Such a kick-ass roaster!

Sampling Single Origins via Pour-Overs - Public Domain

Cold Brew never tasted better... 

Proudly Guatemalan

Free Coffee everywhere! ♥

The whole SCAAA experience stamped a huge and lasting smile on our faces, knowing the Brands we represent and promote are of fine reputation. Limitless possibilities await the coffee industry as well, as this drink has proven time and again that it transcends culture, barriers and even recession.  Time for the attendees to head back to their respective points of origin, yet with a united outlook of positivity for the industry we all love! Looking forward to the next one?  See you all in BEAN Town 2013!

"Take in our city's innovative cafes & roasteries, but also enjoy the natural beauty
 that has played an integral role in bringing so many people here. It's an exciting
time for Portland and specialty coffee alike, and we look forward to celebrating
 it here together." -  Chris Ryan,  Editor,  Fresh Cup Magazine

Wofex 2012, Giving Back...

MASTER CHEF Reggie Aspiras visiting
the BOYD COFFEE/FAR SKYES booth

Despite the terrible weather experienced from August 1-4, WOFEX 2012 pushed thru with resounding success - at least from our standpoint.

BOYD COFFEE Team CIRCA 2012,
great job guys!

As exhibitors, our main purpose is to CREATE AWARENESS - both be seen and heard by existing clients and prospects alike (competitors included)! And since the time of WOFEX's birth more than a decade ago, BOYD Coffee Company Philippines, Inc. has actively participated without fail. Our endless appreciation to BOYD President Roberto Francisco for inviting FAR SKYES ENTERPRISE to once again join forces with him - the products we represent have gained leaps and bounds thanks to Roberto's clout, good industry reputation and generosity!

BOYD President Roberto Francisco w/ Peaches Tiu of FAR SKYES
Another year of synergistic allegiance!♥

Compared to last year, the crowd was thinner YET we felt they were of better quality. Those who braved the flood (yes, you read it right) and rain came with a purpose - to touch base with existing suppliers, look for new ones, and to search for fresh concepts and ideas.

Our challenge this year was simple - given the short-list of attendees AND given the full participation of exhibitors, how do we set the bar higher compared to our competitors? Although selling price is a necessary evil in these hard times, on the other side of the matrix we all know that "you get what you pay for". The prices of all our QUALITY products are competitive, yet we still offer the intangibles necessary in helping our clients be the best they can be. And though it's common knowledge that pleasing everybody is next to impossible, intrinsically and extrinsically we do our very best to fill their needs!

Book Signing of Roberto Francisco's much-applauded
coffee table book - "A COFFEE JOURNEY"
Grab a copy now call 746-BOYD

What more can we say? See you all in 2013... Here's to scaling new heights, defying gravity even!

PAYING IT FORWARD...♥

Urnex Coffee Cleaning Experts

"Cleanliness is next to Godliness." With the Philippine coffee craze in full gear, almost every household is equipped with their "caffenator" -  be it drip, pour-over, pods or espresso machines. Purchasing a coffee maker is the easiest, yet maintaining the consistency of your cuppa joe every time you use your machine is the hardest.

URNEX brand has been around since the 1930s, originating from New York, it's a family-owned company that specializes in cleaning solutions for your coffee machine. It is a common mistake amongst consumers (household or coffee shop owners) that the freshness of your coffee or the aroma of your blend solely lies on the beans that you purchase or the equipment used. What many don't know is that deep within the confines of your coffee machine (the heart of the brewing system) lies unnoticed the dirt and oil residue from the coffee beans and the hardness of the water that flows through that.

Presto-Pronto, here are three main cleaning solutions that will help you sanitize, descale, and most importantly ensure the fullness of taste in every cup.






Dezcal: Coffee and Espresso Machine Descaling Powder
   
Best described usage for: espresso machines (automatic or semi-automatic), pods, brewer, drip
Eliminates lime and calcium deposits.
Packaging: 1 pack includes 4 sachets
Best suited for: heavy users of coffee machines (household or coffee shop owners)



           

Drip Brewer

Espresso Machine

Pod Coffee Machine

Cleancaf: Coffee Machine Cleaning Powder

Best described usage for: drip-type of coffee machine and espresso machines
Eliminates residual odor and oils from coffee.
Packaging: 1 pack includes 3 sachets
Best suited for: medium-low users of coffee machines (mainly drip type of coffee maker or small semi-automatic espresso machines)

Drip Brew

Grindz: Grinder Cleaning Tablet
 
Best described usage for: coffee grinder, bean hopperEliminates residue from coffee beans that has been in the grinder or hopper for a long period of time. Loosens and breaks down coffee particles.
Packaging: 1 jar of 430grams
Best suited for: Coffee shops or restaurant owners who have their own coffee grinder or bean hopper

Bean Hopper/ Coffee Bean Grinder

A welcome addition to our growing line of fine products sourced world-wide. Be clean, save your machine, call Far Skyes Enterprise to place your orders. A small pack goes a long way...

Far Skyes Enterprise can be reached through: 672-1452 or 425-1776

Coffee, Tea, By ME! Pocket Workshop

The THIRD installment of the highly-successful COFFEE, TEA BY ME! WORKSHOP of Studio SnR can't seem to push thru... We're definitely NOT lacking in participants, those interested simply can't find a common time of convenience for it to take flight.

True to Studio SnR's ode to Total Learning Satisfaction, we decided to facilitate several "Pocket Workshops" in order to satisfy our participants' varying time of convenience. Expect the same fun, creative and best of all educational way of seeking knowledge in preparing popular Caffeinated and Creamy beverages (and more), yet in a toned-down and more private setting. A maximum of 6 participants per session will be accommodated, making it easier for crafty home entertainers, enthusiasts and start-up (even existing) cafe's/tea salons to actively participate.


BIG" Thank You!!!" no less to the Pocket Workshops' set of Brand Partners, for their unconditional support, generosity, and full belief in Studio SnR's aims. Cheers to learning!

JURA Espresso Machines

BLUE NOTES Single Origin Coffee

ALESSI Italian Design Store

BOYD COFFEE

STASERO Flavored Syrups & Sauces  

FAR SKYES Frappe Powders & Industrial Blenders

Pocket Workshop Dates are as follows:

August 6 to 10, 13 to 16,
Choose your preferred time slot: 9:00 AM - 12:00PM or  1:30PM - 4:30PM

Sign up now, call STUDIO SnR Workshop now 5845988, 0917-5349523. Spreading the caffeinated and creamy love, one drink at a time....♥

Voodoo Doughnut, Portland OR

I first saw this unique, albeit weird doughnut shop on Food Network, or was it Man Versus Food??? Wherever it was, Voodoo Doughnuts sure made a lasting impression, so much so that it was one of the "Top Priorities" during our work & leisure visit to Portland last April.

The weather was nice and breezy, really conducive for walking and sightseeing. We arrived at around 4:30pm and we were greeted by a long line outside the door. Surprisingly it took us less than 15 minutes before reaching the counter/cashier to place our order. The long cue was a blessing in disguise actually, since we were able to survey the menu board for the perfect plan of attack, glance at the extensive glass display of doughnuts, and see what the folks ahead of us were getting. Given our turn to order, we passed with flying colors as "regulars" ...

EAT YOUR ♥ OUT - Literally! 

Hmmmm.... so many choices, so little time (not to mention tummy space constraints since we came from a food and beverage convention)! But since this might be our first and last time to eat here, our band of 4 made a pact to pig out, try at least two varieties, AND throw our calorie cautions out the window.

True to its billing, what stood out the most was their signature Voodoo Doughnut, or what many call Hex The EX!!! Yup, this donut for the scorned lover is a winner -- doughnut shaped like a voodoo doll, glazed with rich velvety chocolate and aptly filled with raspberry jam for that perfect bloody kick. Oh, and as a finishing touch, a pretzel stick is stabbed right smack in the di*k! Sweet and flawless revenge, capturing the kooky nature of Portland; so much so that this establishment was voted by TIME Travel as one of the "Top 10 Things" to do in the city.

Make sure to stop by if you're in the area... Worth the wait!

Jura Ena 9 One Touch

So seldom do I post an espresso machine review unless something earthshaking tickles my fancy. And perfect timing it is since three of my college friends contacted me over the past two weeks asking what is the perfect "buy" for their special someone this father's day.

I first laid eyes on this mini-beauty during our recent trip to Hong Kong, and there's just something distinct about this unit that made me want to know more. Could it be the sleek silver color with simple buttons to tinker with (the design actually reminds me of a luxury car's clean yet intricate dashboard)? Or Jura's ever-durable operating system which churns out a great cuppa joe, shot after shot after shot - "handsome looks" included?

The first thing I noticed with the Jura Ena 9 One Touch is that unit is a lot smaller compared to the other other Jura models out in the market. Upon further research, I learned that the ENA series is created primarily for home use, so its compact form makes a perfect fit on one's kitchen counter, and perfect for a family of 2 (even 3 or 4) coffee drinkers.  

As with all Jura models, the Ena 9 primarily uses whole coffee beans, with different grind settings built right into in machine.  The unit also features a second opening on top for ground coffee just in case you want to try something different (decaf maybe?) from the beans that are presently occupying the bean hopper - neat huh?

One can prepare signature cafe specialties in the comforts on one's abode since all espresso based drinks (latte macchiato, cappuccino, café crème, and espresso) have individual keys laid out on top of the unit. Each key can be set to your own preferences making it ideal for enjoying a very personalized cup of coffee. The preferences you can store are water volume, strength of espresso, duration of milk froth and temperature.

This espresso machine is really made to optimize the one touch functionality (think BMW's league-leading i-drive technology), case-in-point all you have to do is connect the unit into your milk source and push the cappuccino button on top of the machine.  Yup, just one click and the Cappuccino is ready, and I must say that the new foam technology results in a froth so feathery light and smooth. 

Cleaning and Maintenance?  It's a cinch thanks to Jura's ease-of-use feature!!! The Ena 9 is so easy to care for with a maintenance program that runs at the touch of  a button. Simply said, the unit monitors what drinks you've been sipping and applies the corresponding self-cleaning mode upon shut down. Perfect for people on the go-go-go!

All in all I believe the ENA Micro 9 is an ideal choice for people buying their first automatic coffee machine, or looking to upgrade to a new model. I hope this has helped you in your research of this high quality machine.  Now, to post this on my wife's facebook wall in time for father's day!♥

Jura ENA micro 9 Specifications:

• Single-cup machine : YES
• Water Tank Size : 1.1 liters
• Height Adjustable Spout : 55 - 138 mm
• Bean Container Size : 125g
• Waste Bean Size : 10 portions
• Cappuccino Frother : Fine Foam Technology
• Product Buttons : 4 Buttons
• Adjustable Coffee Strength : 2 Settings
• Adjustable Coffee Temperature : 2 Settings
• Cappuccino Preparation: One Touch
• ZERO Energy Switch : YES
• Recommended Daily Production: For Household Use Only
• Size (W X H X D): 23 x 32.3 x 44.5 cm