We're all family.

Some customers know where to find the cream if it's not out, so they help themselves. Some have taken our trash out for us. Still others have even swept the place! We love our customers, and we consider them a part of our extended family, and hope they feel like they are stepping into an extension of our home living room. We invite everyone in to sit and chat, have a drink and relax.

So we have one particular customer.. hmm.. let's call himmmmm... uh.. Antoine! Yeah. Antoine.

He is a dashing young dad who likes to frequent Wildfire Coffee. Now his drink of choice is usually a 12oz Mocha; though this East Coaster is not afraid to show his softer side by ordering a fruity mango smoothie. Yes. I said fruity! And if it came with an umbrella, he'd be first in line.

I know.. sounds like a winner, eh ladies? He's also happily married. Very happily married. I have not met his wife, but I imagine she could probably take you out with one stomp of her Jimmy Choos. So don't even think about it. She sounds like a doll, though. (anyone who could put up with him is ok in my book!!! har har)

Today Antoine and I we were chatting about the fact that he usually sits at the table near the register-- and sees an eyeful of drama.

He's witnessed flirting sessions. He's been front row when someone came in cheering about a firing. He's rolled his eyes at countless men who shamelessly check out our cute swimming moms who stop by. I've joked that we should get him some popcorn for all the drama he's seen here.

He is a self described "trouble-maker."

One time as a practical joke we put a Houston Astros cap in place of his NY Yankees cap sitting on the table. He's a HUGE yankees fan, and he noticed it immediately and was all like.. ok.. ha ha!! gimme my cap!" Egads.. we all had a good laugh at that one.

It's a good thing we didn't think to hang it on the ceiling fan, like the time my brothers did that to my sister's teddy bear when she was 6. Only, Antoine would have been able to reach up and grab it. My tiny sister.. notsomuch!

Gotta love "family!"

Vacation- all I ever wanted

Mark and I went to Southern California for a much needed vacation away from the shop. The first day, we went to Manhattan beach, and I had the BEST cotton candy ever.

cotton candy head

Tuesday we went to Little Ethiopia. A restaurant there did coffee ceremonies. Traditionally, it consists of roasting coffee on a cast iron skillet, and serving it up right there, complete with incense. The woman who served us is from Ethiopia, and told us she learned to make coffee from her mother, who still lives there.

The coffee, just off the fire. It's crackling and popping.

Pouring the coffee from the clay pot

She pours it from a certain height to keep the coffee grounds out.

Mark tries his hand at pouring the coffee.

Little cup of coffee. Black, no sugar. No cream. Soooo Strong! But tasty.

A boobilicious confection at an exotic cake bakery in Little Ethiopia.

After our adventures in Little Ethiopia, we trekked across town to find the L.A. Intelligensia Coffee. It's a Chicago-based Coffee Roaster with just 4 locations there, and one new one in L.A., on Sunset Blvd.

We walked in, and I heard a familiar sound. Chop. Chop. Chop. Chop. The sound of chocolate being chopped on a cutting board with a big knife. Hey! I thought WE were the only ones who did that!!!! Once I saw the pile of chocolate on the cutting board, I knew I had to have a mocha. And it was delicious.

Cool place, eh!?

A Cupful of Art

If you've been to Wildfire Coffee, then you most likely have been served a latte in a ceramic cup complete with a nice leaf etched in the foam.

Ever wonder how we do it? Rey will show you!




The finished latte with Rey's swanky art adorning the foam.


Rey with his creation.

Wildfire's Ethiopia Yirg judged "Outstanding"

So we've been roasting for about 5 years now. In business for 3. Now. Finally. Finally! Wildfire Coffee Roasters gets some national recognition.

Yes, our little Ethiopia beans received a 90 out of a possible 100 points in a blind cupping along side some of the established and best roasters in the business.

It all started with an email from a customer named John. It wasn't addressed to us. It was sent to "Coffee Review." The website was looking for reader submissions for their favorite coffees from around the country. This is when a lot of the little-known coffee roasters get recognition.

Coffee Review started in 1997. It consisted of blind cuppings by the experts in the coffee field. The results are given in 100 point reviews, similar to the wine industry. Over the last 11 years, the site has grown to become THE go-to site for coffee lovers to find the best and most interesting coffees out there, while recognizing the art of coffee roasting.

We are so proud to have been nominated, and to be awarded such a high score! 90 points out of a 100!

Here is a little about what they said..

"The reader who nominated the excellent Yirgacheffe from San Antonio-based Wildfire Coffee Roasters (90) wrote that he "would like to see a roaster from a non-traditional (for most roasters) part of the U.S. get a mention."

Blind assessment: "Floral and tangy orange notes in the aroma with a sweet hint of honey."

Come by and try some!

Article
Coffee Ratings

Sign of the times

Mind your manners.

Imagine the following scenario.

A man steps into the store.

He seems nice enough. I greet him with a smile and "Good morning!" He replies, "Good morning!" He walks up to the counter and I ask, "What can I get for you today?" To which he puts his finger up as if to say, "one second" and pulls out a crossword puzzle, then he starts filling in the words!

He's not paying any attention to me, but is saying the clues aloud. "hmm, what's a 4 letter word for 'impolite?'"

"oh, sorry.. yes.. I'll have a large latte," he says.

"Great!" I exclaim, "Would you like a flavor added?"

He looks down at his crossword.. "RUDE! That's what it is.. rude. Now.. 6 down.. oh sorry.. I HAD to do that crossword right now, what what was it you asked me?"

Would you ever think to do such a thing to someone?

Probably not.

But people do it every single day. Only not with a crossword. But a cell phone. Cell phones have taken over the part of the brain that governs manners in our daily life. People have that thing stuck to their heads, as if they will shrivel up once it gets too far away from their ear.

I see it at the grocery store. A customer ahead of me is yelling in their cell phone all the while the cashier is timidly saying "That'll be $23.55."

I see it at restaurants. Servers aren't sure if customers are ready to order because those customers are on their phones.

What is happening here? What is so important that it can't wait just 2 minutes? Where have our manners gone!?

Some people have teased me about my dislike for cell phones at the counter. But I think it's more than just a "dislike." It's about respect. Respecting me. Respecting our business. Respecting people.

I think we've lost sight of that.

So to take back our counter, so to speak, we've posted a nicely worded sign,

To ensure
accurate service,
no cell phones
at the counter, please.

Lots of customers have noticed it, and applauded it. The only people who have not said anything about it?

Those who had a cell phone stuck to their ear and did not see it.

-Tricia