Coffee Convention

I attended an international coffee convention over the weekend in Seattle where you could learn anything you ever wanted know about coffee.

Bruce was there to promote his line of equipment that the Bratney Companies sells. They've already put equipment in all the Starbuck's processing plants around the country.

They travel to many trade shows promoting their equipment which, aside from sorting out coffee beans, is also good for sorting all kinds of nuts and grains. Bruce was there with a few of the other guys involved with this particular piece of equipment.

Of course, Starbucks was there and Bruce's booth was conveniently located just down the aisle from them.

They had one of the largest booths

which is only fitting since they originated in Seattle.

Today, they were letting us sample one of their Starbucks Reserve coffees.

There were hundreds of vendors there demonstrating all different ways to brew coffee.

and so many different, beautiful espresso machines.

I like this retro machine.

This is the largest espresso machine I've ever seen!

You could definitely say that this convention was buzzing. With everyone drinking samples of coffee...it was a hopping place!

There were lots of companies promoting their fair trade certification

and labor practices

even Tom and Jerry's ice cream was there.

But Ghirardelli was the best booth. Who can resist Ghirardelli?

This was better than a Starbuck's frappicinno.

There were so many samples of everything to try, you really could compare any coffee drink you wanted.

And coffees from all around the world were displayed since it was an international show.

There is so much culture and tradition associated with coffee.

That's the part about coffee that I like.

From the laid-back ambiance of Hawaii to the high tech machinery

this coffee convention had everything.

Did you know you can buy your own green coffee beans

and roast them yourself with a multiple selection of coffee roasters.

I like this coffee roaster that looks like a train.

And lets not forget about the beverages that go along with coffee like the smoothies and teas.

There are a multitude of smoothie products, coffee syrups,

and teas.

And how you drink your product is important, as well.

There were all kinds of interesting cups and glassware.

and ready-to-drink products.

As with all trade shows, there are the pre- and post-conferences events that are usually offered, but since Bruce and I are from Seattle, we provided our own entertainment for the guys which included a Mariner baseball game.

Clause (second from the left) is from Denmark where the equipment is made. He was not familiar with the rules of baseball but he still loved the game. Weiland (far right) is from Germany and he is the coffee bean expert. Bruce is on the far left and Darren is second from the right who is from Bratney Companies' main office in Iowa. The second night we had a wonderful dinner at Anthony's Home Port on Pier 66 that we walked to from the hotel. We had a table with a view.