The Rants of Issachar
Monday, January 31, 2005
So what else has happened since I got back?
Well my addiction to reading in coffee shops has come back with a vengeance. Sometimes I think I'd be happiest reading, writing & chatting with people I meet in coffee shops. (And sushi bars, if you're in Coquitlam I strongly recommend trying the Dragon Roll at Nagano sushi). But it might be difficult to pay the rent if I did that...
I did find a new coffee shop the other day. A little place called "The Mayan Art Cafe" on the border between Coquitlam & Poco. Dave found an article about it in the local paper and passed it on to me. Very nice place. Two guys from southern Mexico opened it up just recently and they've got some very nice decor with a Mayan theme. There's a model of an ancient Mayan city the name of which I can't remember, and a whole stack of books on the subject. Mostly in spanish I think, but the pictures are beautiful and the guys running the cafe are very happy to tell me all about the culture.
But the most important thing is that they've got delicious coffee, real hot chocolate and good food. For those of you who are interested, they do Fair Trade Coffee and I think I read something about them roasting daily on site. The whole fair trade thing is a bit new to me, but Kevin has managed to stick the idea into my consciousness. It's good in theory, but I still wonder how the whole thing will stand up to the nasty rigours of an open market. On the other hand, since I'm mostly paying for the atmosphere in a coffee shop, do I mind if the coffee is a little more expensive? Maybe it'll stand up if I keep buying the coffee. The Mayan doesn't have wireless net access, but the guys running the place seem to be open to the idea. :)
They've got a web address on their business cards, but the site isn't up apparently. (Actually the domain name still appears to be unregistered). I'll have to ask them about that. If you're in the area though, check the place out. (22-2755 Lougheed Hwy. In the same strip mall as the iHop & Pier 1 Imports). Try the "Mexican Coffee" or the hot chocolate.
Well my addiction to reading in coffee shops has come back with a vengeance. Sometimes I think I'd be happiest reading, writing & chatting with people I meet in coffee shops. (And sushi bars, if you're in Coquitlam I strongly recommend trying the Dragon Roll at Nagano sushi). But it might be difficult to pay the rent if I did that...
I did find a new coffee shop the other day. A little place called "The Mayan Art Cafe" on the border between Coquitlam & Poco. Dave found an article about it in the local paper and passed it on to me. Very nice place. Two guys from southern Mexico opened it up just recently and they've got some very nice decor with a Mayan theme. There's a model of an ancient Mayan city the name of which I can't remember, and a whole stack of books on the subject. Mostly in spanish I think, but the pictures are beautiful and the guys running the cafe are very happy to tell me all about the culture.
But the most important thing is that they've got delicious coffee, real hot chocolate and good food. For those of you who are interested, they do Fair Trade Coffee and I think I read something about them roasting daily on site. The whole fair trade thing is a bit new to me, but Kevin has managed to stick the idea into my consciousness. It's good in theory, but I still wonder how the whole thing will stand up to the nasty rigours of an open market. On the other hand, since I'm mostly paying for the atmosphere in a coffee shop, do I mind if the coffee is a little more expensive? Maybe it'll stand up if I keep buying the coffee. The Mayan doesn't have wireless net access, but the guys running the place seem to be open to the idea. :)
They've got a web address on their business cards, but the site isn't up apparently. (Actually the domain name still appears to be unregistered). I'll have to ask them about that. If you're in the area though, check the place out. (22-2755 Lougheed Hwy. In the same strip mall as the iHop & Pier 1 Imports). Try the "Mexican Coffee" or the hot chocolate.
9 Comments:
Posted by: 
SarahYay for the good old fashioned family-run coffee shops! And yay for fair trade coffee. By the way Starbucks claim to be Fair Trade, but they're not really. So stay away from the evil corporation, even if they do try to tempt you with a delicious 6 oz cup of pure chocolate.
SarahYay for the good old fashioned family-run coffee shops! And yay for fair trade coffee. By the way Starbucks claim to be Fair Trade, but they're not really. So stay away from the evil corporation, even if they do try to tempt you with a delicious 6 oz cup of pure chocolate.
Posted by: issacharStarbucks evil? Say it isn't so. Actually, they're apparently open to fair trade even if they don't do it 100%. There's a Starbucks link off the "Fair Trade" link to Global Exchange in my post that claims that they will make a pot of Fair Trade if you ask them. Unfortunately they've only got one blend so far so if you don't like it... I'll have to try this and see if it's true in Canada.
issacharStarbucks evil? Say it isn't so. Actually, they're apparently open to fair trade even if they don't do it 100%. There's a Starbucks link off the "Fair Trade" link to Global Exchange in my post that claims that they will make a pot of Fair Trade if you ask them. Unfortunately they've only got one blend so far so if you don't like it... I'll have to try this and see if it's true in Canada.
Posted by: 
Hey...you finally posted something new...props...oh guess what I got a blog today...nothing exciting yet as i haven't had time to do anything or write anything cool..but check it out sometime.... http://space.msn.com/members/kelbelle17 catch ya lata
Kelly
Hey...you finally posted something new...props...oh guess what I got a blog today...nothing exciting yet as i haven't had time to do anything or write anything cool..but check it out sometime.... http://space.msn.com/members/kelbelle17 catch ya lataKelly
Posted by: oops i gave you the wrong web address ugh....
spaceS.msn.com/members/kelbelle17
lol
Kelly
oops i gave you the wrong web address ugh....spaceS.msn.com/members/kelbelle17
lol
Kelly
Posted by: SarahIt is so evil! Well its not really fair trade unless it forms a significant proportion of your product. So really Starbucks are serving up sweat shop coffee (unless you specifically ask for fair trade) and charging fair trade prices for it. Thats worse than not being fair trade at all.
SarahIt is so evil! Well its not really fair trade unless it forms a significant proportion of your product. So really Starbucks are serving up sweat shop coffee (unless you specifically ask for fair trade) and charging fair trade prices for it. Thats worse than not being fair trade at all.
Posted by: hmmm fair trade coffee is a neat idea on the surface but i think it fails to live up to the realities of the marketplace.
the knee jerk reaction to the low price that coffee growers are receiving for their goods seems to be "oh no the evil super corporations are keeping the poor man down". Ignoring the fact that the coffee market is in a complete glut and fair trade is basically a Band-Aid on cancer.....it addresses the symptom of farmers receiving low prices for their goods but ignores the basic reality that as long as supply outstrips demand.....prices are going to continue to fall. And fair trade does nothing to help this whatsoever....there are an estimated 130 million pounds of certified fair trade coffee produced every year, yet the global demand for fair trade coffee estimated to be less than 30 million pounds.
Currently the free market sets a price of $.40-$.50US per pound of coffee and in order to be fair trade certified a minimum of a $1.26US must be charged. How is that economically viable in a saturated market? Convincing companies like P&G or Nestle that they should pay more than double per pound when the market is flooded is at best a futile effort. And in fairness nor should they be expected to...they have at least as much responsibility to their shareholders as they do their suppliers.
The free market is a dangerous place and if you want to play you need to put your big boy pants on. Trying to compensate for overproduction by doubling your price and appealing to peoples kind nature seems pretty silly to me.
hmmm fair trade coffee is a neat idea on the surface but i think it fails to live up to the realities of the marketplace. the knee jerk reaction to the low price that coffee growers are receiving for their goods seems to be "oh no the evil super corporations are keeping the poor man down". Ignoring the fact that the coffee market is in a complete glut and fair trade is basically a Band-Aid on cancer.....it addresses the symptom of farmers receiving low prices for their goods but ignores the basic reality that as long as supply outstrips demand.....prices are going to continue to fall. And fair trade does nothing to help this whatsoever....there are an estimated 130 million pounds of certified fair trade coffee produced every year, yet the global demand for fair trade coffee estimated to be less than 30 million pounds.
Currently the free market sets a price of $.40-$.50US per pound of coffee and in order to be fair trade certified a minimum of a $1.26US must be charged. How is that economically viable in a saturated market? Convincing companies like P&G or Nestle that they should pay more than double per pound when the market is flooded is at best a futile effort. And in fairness nor should they be expected to...they have at least as much responsibility to their shareholders as they do their suppliers.
The free market is a dangerous place and if you want to play you need to put your big boy pants on. Trying to compensate for overproduction by doubling your price and appealing to peoples kind nature seems pretty silly to me.
Posted by: grr didnt realize i was anon in the above post...this is..and that was caleb
grr didnt realize i was anon in the above post...this is..and that was caleb
Posted by: pasivirtaahhh the mexicasa coffee hacienda. Indeed, as he says, it is a good vibe with tasty treats, the hot chocolate is so good and slightly different. beats the chantico hands down. the starbucks crap is too sweet. this is hearty and it tastes like it was ground by a little mayan villager, high in the mountains of macchu picchu, or something. maybe it was on the voyage of the mimi. whatever, its a good spot.
pasivirtaahhh the mexicasa coffee hacienda. Indeed, as he says, it is a good vibe with tasty treats, the hot chocolate is so good and slightly different. beats the chantico hands down. the starbucks crap is too sweet. this is hearty and it tastes like it was ground by a little mayan villager, high in the mountains of macchu picchu, or something. maybe it was on the voyage of the mimi. whatever, its a good spot.
Posted by: YeezilI'd like to thank you for the good review of the coffee shop. The cofee is indeed Fair Trade, but better yet, it tastes delicious. The shop's web page is currently under maintenance, so that's why it is unavailable. It had to be started from scratch due to unexpected design conflicts. It should be up any time soon.
Enjoy your coffee.
YeezilI'd like to thank you for the good review of the coffee shop. The cofee is indeed Fair Trade, but better yet, it tastes delicious. The shop's web page is currently under maintenance, so that's why it is unavailable. It had to be started from scratch due to unexpected design conflicts. It should be up any time soon.Enjoy your coffee.
