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Welcome to Badgett's Coffee eJournal
"All the Coffee That's Fit to Print"(tm)
Issue No. 61 April 5, 2002
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In This Issue:
1. Welcome
2. Some Words from Our Sponsors
3. So, You Want To Be In The Coffee Business?
4. A Daily Dose of Wisdom from the Rebbe
5. Atlantic City To Host Annual Coffee Fest
6. The Indians won or The best cup of coffee I ever had!
7. CoffeeWantAds
8. The Real Impact of Fair Trade
9. Reader's Comments
10. Links to My Friends
11. Feedback
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1. Welcome
Greetings and thank you for allowing me into your Inbox.
Someone once said, "Convince your customers that everything in
coffee is important and you will be able to make a good living
in the coffee business." I probably misquoted slightly, but the
message is clear. I went into a new shop recently and noticed a
Hearthware roaster near the espresso machine. I asked, "Do you
roast your own with that?" The guy behind the counter replied,
"no, we just turn it on occasionally for the smell."
I travel the State of New Jersey every day and when I see a
coffee bar I usually give it a visit. I hope to get new
subscribers and articles, and I enjoy talking coffee with the
experts. I must admit I also enjoy comparing their espresso to
mine, but I don't let them know the results of the comparison. I
don't want them to get defensive.
My expectations are always high but I am often disappointed,
both in the quality of the coffee, and even more in the service.
It's a shame when someone invests so much money in a business
and then fails to train and motivate the employees properly.
What good is the equipment when the person taking care of the
customer obviously doesn't care or know how? It's as if the
owner ran out of budget when it came to customer service and
training. I just don't understand.
Great speech on the Senate floor by Senator James M. Inhofe:
http://inhofe.senate.gov/fl030402.html
Take a look at CoffeeWantAds.
My goal with this journal is to promote good coffee. I want to
learn, educate, and entertain. I publish every other Friday via
email and readers include coffee consumers, home roasters,
coffee geeks, retailers, growers, roasters, equipment dealers,
and anyone else who shares our passion for our most wonderful
beverage. If you want to learn more about the fascinating world
of coffee, this is the place. I don't sell anything and
subscription is free.
If you want to advertise here or submit an article please
contact me for the ad rates.
mailto:robert@badgett.net
Past Issues may be view at www.badgettcoffee.com
DISCLAIMER: All information contained here is obtained by
Badgett's Coffee eJournal from sources believed to be accurate
and reliable. Because of the possibility of human and mechanical
error as well as other factors, neither Badgett's Coffee
eJournal nor its publisher, Robert L. Badgett, is responsible
for any errors or omissions. All information is provided "as is"
without warranty of any kind.
To subscribe or unsubscribe, click here: http://www.badgett.net
If you have problems with subscribing or unsubscribing, please
contact me directly. mailto:robert@badgett.net
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2. Some Words From Our Sponsors
Boost your bottom line with these delicious liquid assets!
www.blbeverage.com is a Caffe D' Amore Authorized Distributor.
We currently stock the full line of Caffe D' Amore Products in
both food service and retail. Caffe D' Amore Cocoas, Chai Tea
Lattes, Mochas, Frappe Freezes. If you're a fan of
Caffe D' Amore you'll appreciate the convenience of our
Indianapolis based mid-west distribution. Call 1-888-483-9860 or
visit www.blbeverage.com
Mention this ad and get FREE FREIGHT on your first order!
1-888-483-9860
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1st-line Equipment proudly offers the following:
Green beans (including those from Josuma Coffee Co.)
http://www.1st-line.com/coffee/greenbns/retail.htm
Espresso machines and good coffee items for your home
http://www.1st-line.com/machines/home_mod/
& Commercial equipment
http://www.1st-line.com/machines/comm_mod/commmodl.htm
Visit our newly expanded website, with online ordering and
reviews, at http://www.1st-line.com
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White Horse Coffee & Tea: Microroastery and Fine Art
Located in scenic Sutherlin, Oregon, we are a microroastery and
blend small-batch roasting of premium arabica coffee with fine
art. Aside from an extensive selection of fine coffees and
loose-leaf teas, we have a beautiful art gallery with original
oil paintings by Kristin Lusk. Please visit us at
www.whitehorsecoffee.com
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Custom Imprinted Coffee Mugs
Fast Delivery - Competitive Pricing
For Details Call Doxpress: 800-999-3676
http://www.formsonline.com/coffee.htm
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"I'd rather be a could-be if I cannot be an are; because a
could-be is a maybe who is reaching for a star. I'd rather be a
has-been than a might-have-been, by far; for a might have-been
has never been, but a has was once an are." Milton Berle
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3. So, You Want To Be In The Coffee Business?
The title might seem a bit sarcastic but in all honestly, it
isn't intended to be. Those who know me well will tell you that
I am one of the strongest supporters of entrepreneurship. Ever
since the "West was won," few things rival the adventure of
starting your own business. There is little else you can do in
this day and age that will challenge the pioneer spirit within
you, teach self-reliance and resourcefulness, and provide a
potential venue for a cause or a passion.
My wife, I, and another couple "hatched" one of our dreams a
little more than a year ago. But this wasn't our first venture.
In the early 1990's, a friend of mine invented a unique approach
to driver education and, "Help, My Teenager Wants to Drive" was
born. We combined certified training and a parent-taught course
alternative that has proved to be the most responsible approach
to training our young sons and daughters how to drive.
Our next venture involves two other partners. In 1998, we
opened a self-storage facility in Nashville, Tennessee. The
location and market have proved to be successful with the
business cash flowing in less than 12 months. We are presently
adding building number three to the facility.
Finally, as I alluded to above, www.brownduckcoffee.com was
launched in February 2001. It is the experience of this last
venture that I hope to share with you for the remainder of this
article.
As the title of this article asks, are you interested in
starting a coffee-related business, too? If so, what options
are you considering? Do you prefer to sell online or open your
own store? Do you prefer to roast and establish a wholesale
clientele or does some other facet of the coffee business
intrigue you? No matter what part of the business you choose to
get into, there are some fundamental concepts I have learned
that I hope will help you to "turn the corner" and go into
business for yourself.
1. What motivates you? This is an important question to ask.
Why do you do what you do? If your sole desire is to be rich, I
would respectfully challenge your motivation. Not that making
money is a bad thing. It can be a tremendous motivator!
However, what will be your incentive to continue when times are
tough and you barely have money to reward yourself? You see,
commitment and drive are keys to building a successful business!
If you do not have a "higher" goal than money, quitting will be
easier. If your financial success is an "end" instead of a
"means to an end," and you have to spend extra time and money to
keep equipment running or make your customers happy, it will be
seem much easier to back out and pursue more secure
alternatives.
2. Should I work for myself or have a partner? This, too, is a
key question. To me, business partnerships should be approached
with a dedication similar to marriage. Don't get involved
unless you plan on being with them the rest of your life! Not
that this is always possible, but you will be thankful you took
the time to think through this one. I assure you, you will have
disagreements! It's how you handle the differences that will
either make your partnership or break it. Don't assume your
best friend will be the best business partner. "Date" him or
her for a while. Brainstorm potentially scenarios and talk
through them. For example, you might ask your business partner-
to-be a question like, "A Back to Home Page
