Sorta "wrapping it up"
Here's an overview of the first week of 2007:
We sent out our name registration and restaurant application for The Acorn on the second, and we wait to hear from Multnomah County Health Department. They will come and inspect the space to make sure everything is up to code, and give us the necessary recommendations so that we may open. Hopefully we will get an appointment next week. We purchased most of our refrigeration online and it's all expected next week as well.
Jeff and Joel picked up our new espresso machine last Wednesday. We splurged on a Synesso. For those of you who haven't been following the latest developments in American Espresso Machine Manufacturing, Synesso is a Seattle company founded by former La Marzocco technicians. La Marzoccos have enjoyed a reputation of being the preeminent semi-automatic espresso machine, the gold standard in professional circles. But lo, here comes a couple of fellows who believe they can improve upon a great idea with individual boilers for each head. And electronic temperature calibration. And relatively simple construction for easy repair. Basically, they're new & cool and relatively locally produced, and we wanted to knock ourselves out. So much so, that we also purchased one for Half & Half. We've set up one of our machines at Courier Coffee HQ for training purposes, and it will arrive at Half & Half within the next two weeks.
So, now all we have left to do is everything else, including purchasing furniture and china and more equipment; setting up accounts with vendors, design coffee board and business cards; set up phones and credit card machine; figure out who's working where and how many people we need to hire; take the menu from the back of my head at select moments of the day and write it down; teach myself how to use Adobe Illustrator; come up with the necessary marketing ideas that will result in the success of our new venture. Oh, and finish up 2006's accounting and figure out how I'm going to set up The Acorn's books. I'm sure I'm forgetting something else.
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i miss your stumptown coffee. maybe your magical espresso machines will restore the glory.
Gee, I'm sorry you miss the Stumptown. We've gotten mostly positive feedback about the change, but I would like to hear what you don't like about Courier. We hope that our new Synesssos will elevate the consistency of our coffee, and maybe even make a new standard of espresso, so that we can all forget about the "S" factor fo a second. Besides, where can you not find Stumptown in Portland? When we chose Stumptown 6 years ago, no one could believe we weren't going to use Illy or Torrefazzione. We went with our gut, and we went with a company we really liked, and people liked that we were doing something different. A bit of time has passed, and we felt it like it was a good time to make a change and work with small company again. It has it's rough patches, but we stand by our new coffee, with or without our magical machines.
Jeff makes an awesome cheese ball. I think you might want to feature that pimento one in the near future. Like a little side car of pimento cheese with saltines? Yes.
Also, I had that smoked turkey sandwich yesterday - with the slices of apple on it. So good.
thanks.st
Oh, now I have always wanted to feature 'after school snacks' at Half & Half, like cheese and crackers, cream cheese and celery sticks, etc... Me thinks Storm has unlocked the key to my snack zone. I am so excited by this.
and yes, everyone, Jeff makes the BEST cheese ball.
do you guys sell courier coffee whole bean?
YES! Once again, a comment reminds me that I am really doing a bad job with marketing and promotion. We sell both our coffee-of-the-moment and our espresso blend by the pound, or half pound. $6.75/half, $13.50/pound. We can also grind to your specifications.