Expresso Love: Your Online Guide to Coffee

It was only a matter of time before barista’s the world over joined together to form a group that would protect their interests, as well as work to enhance their public image. A union you say? Not quite. The Barista Guild of America is an international trade organization for baristas. The Barista Guild focuses on enhancing coffee quality, promoting craftsmanship and cultivating a sophisticated “public face” for the industry.

Initiated in 2003, the Barista’s Guild is a product of North America where the practice and concept of being a barista is still rather new, the purpose of the Guild is to create a community of Baristi, which will promote coffee quality and craftsmanship at home and abroad.

One of the Guild’s chief aims since its inception has been to create better standards and higher levels of skill. The barista trade continues to evolve – and it should – because a true barista should be recognized as someone a cut above the typical barman pulling an espresso at Starbucks. This is going to take time, but the BGA has made great strides in the years since its humble beginnings. Sooner or later the US is going to recognize that an espresso sits on another level from Nescafe or Nestle instant cappuccino.

With the Guild’s help, there is hope for the barista craft. Soon people will realize that just as there is a difference between whopper floppers and Chefs, they will realize that there is also a difference between button-pushers and a trained barista. Perhaps then, people will be willing to throw down 20 % more for a professional coffee experience then they would at Big Green. If this industry development were to happen, no doubt many more baristi will become “lifers”.

Sugar and Spice and everything nice and orangey…if this doesn’t get you going nothing will!

Spiced Orange Mocha (makes 4 servings)

Ingredients:

• 1 medium orange
• 7 whole cloves
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon rum extract
• 2 inches stick cinnamon
• 2 cups coffee

Preparation:

Using a vegetable peeler or sharp knife, remove peel from orange; set aside. Squeeze juice from orange; add water, if necessary, to equal 1/3 cup. Set aside.

For spice bag, place orange peel, cinnamon, and cloves in a double layer square of 100-percent-cotton cheesecloth. Bring up corners; tie with string.

In a large saucepan combine orange juice, spice bag, water, milk, brown sugar, cocoa powder. Bring to boiling; remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes. Remove spice bag. Stir in rum extract. Divide equally between 4 8 ounce cups of coffee.

The benefits of oranges…! Add a little tang to your morning or afternoon java with this spicey recipe!

Orange-Spiced Coffee Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/4 to 1/3 cup ground coffee beans
• 4 teaspoons chocolate syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon allspice
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 tablespoons orange liqueur

Optional Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons light cream
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Preparation:

Place a coffee filter in coffee filter basket of 10-cup drip electric coffeemaker. Combine ground beans, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves in coffee filter.

Fill carafe with water. Prepare coffee according to coffeemaker directions. Stir in orange liqueur and, if desired, light cream and/or brown sugar. If desired, garnish each serving with orange wedges. Serve the drinks immediately. Makes 8 (6-ounce) servings.

Iced coffee: Cool coffee at room temperature, covered, 2 hours. Serve over ice. If desired, stir light cream and/or brown sugar into coffee before serving.