Here is our list for you. Lots of great coffee, some popular and really neat by-the-cup brew methods and tools for the home or professional Barista are all great options! Any questions call or email us and we would love to help.

Chemex and Cup of Excellence Promotion:

From Dec 4th-Dec 31st Fratello has a fantastic coffee brewing package for the coffee lover on your list, or for you!

6 Cup Glass Chemex, package of 100 Chemex filters and an 8oz bag of our Cup of Excellence Brazilian Fazenda Santa Helena coffee for $70.00. Buy it here or call us if you are local to come pick up at Fratello. Separately this is worth $85.00!

Check out this Chemex video for a “how to” on this fantastic brew method!

Give the gift of great coffee:

Sure a bottle of wine is the customary host gift during the holiday season, but why not give a bag of coffee this season! Amazing Espresso blends,  top tier single origin coffee and Cup of Excellence selections are all in store for you! Come in and see us or place your order online with us.

Tools for the home or professional Barista: 10% off from Dec 4th-Dec 31st

Fratello has a great selection of espresso tampers, milk steaming pitchers, cleaning solutions and knock boxes for the home espresso enthusiest or the professional Barista alike! If you are looking for that particular product give us a call or come in to see us! We don’t have these items online, but would be happy to help you choose.

By-the-cup brewers: Coffee enthusisits are really turing to by-the-cup brewers to bring out the full flavor potential of amazing coffee. Fratello has a great selection of the home brewers your coffee enthusist is asking for! Don’t forget to pick up some coffee as well with the brewer. We would love to brew you a cup of coffee with the Aeropress, Chemex or Hario V60. If you are in Calgary come see us at Fratello and ask for a coffee!

Happy Holidays from Fratello! Enjoy your coffee and enjoy your time with family and friends this season. We look forward to helping find that perfect gift!

Slayer makes it easy to pull perfect shots of espresso.  See more pictures

This is a very challenging competition that takes a lot of work and constant practice.  Joel will be competing with barista’s from around Canada who have each earned the chance to compete for the chance to go to London England next year with hopes of becoming the World’s top barista.

Over the past few months barista’s have been competing across Canada in Regional Competitions and only the top 3 from each region are guaranteed a spot in the Nationals.   Shaw TV did a feature on the Prarie Regional’s held at Fratello Coffee early September.  Please watch this video which helps explain what the competition is about.

The second annual event, held this year at Fratello Coffee Roasters in Calgary, will feature 11 competitors from the prairies region. Each competitor has 15 minutes to prepare and serve 12 coffee beverages—four espresso, four cappuccino, and four signature drinks. Four sensory judges, two technical judges and one head judge evaluate each performance, including the taste of beverages served, cleanliness, creativity, technical skill and overall presentation of the competitors.

The top three scoring competitors earn the right to compete at the Canadian National Barista Championship, October 14 & 15 in Vancouver, as well as travel bursaries and a prize package. The public is invited to attend the event free of charge and enjoy beverages prepared by competitors at the complimentary espresso bar. The event will be broadcast live on Ustream. A link and further details can be found on the event website at http://2009prbc.com/

Also – this Friday September 11 is a Barista Jam – Open to all Professional Barista’s and coffee enthusiasts. We’ll be hanging out, pulling shots and warming up for the competition. There will also be a Latte Art Throwdown, $5 buy-in winner take all. P.S. beer will be served

See you guys this Friday & Saturday !

Here is a Schedule of Events for all compeditors

I need to begin by thanking the team that I had behind me, from the brothers working with me to create the blend, to Mike our Master Roaster I worked closely with to produce the roast we took, and to all the friends and family who supported me through the experience.  I literally could not have done it without you

I also need to acknowledge the competitors.  One and all they are a class act and I consider my self EXTRMELY fortunate to count myself among their number.  It’s very nice to be able to put faces to the names and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again and to keeping in touch.

I hate to admit that I did not watch any of the other competitors on the day of the finals, I was going last and it was all I could do to keep my wits about me listening to them.

I for one am ecstatic at finishing third over all at the National level.  Particularly in light of the fact that it was our first venture into the competitive Barista world, and only my second year in the coffee industry.  I just goes to show what a great team and a lot of passion can do.

I’m particularly proud of the fact that despite my long winded, “time eating” talking, and a few other bobbles, the Espresso blend we chose (Ethiopian Kembata, Sumatra Tabu Jamu and Brazil Sete Cachoeiras) came through and shone as the wonderful Espresso that it is.  For myself, I love the fact that this coffee, that I felt such a passion for, would lend itself so well to becoming a truly delightful cup.

We’ve (any Barista worth anything) all said it and we all believe, that we are the last in a long line of individuals who have planted, cultivated, picked, processed, sorted, chosen,  cupped, profiled, roasted and prepared the last great affordable personal luxury.  More importantly we are the ones in the spot light that can champion all the others in the line and give them a voice.  It’s our privilege to work with and for such people.

All told, this has been a phenomenal experience, with a ton of lessons learned that will be brought to those around us.  Lessons that include a dramatic elevation in the knowledge of the origins and the impact, care and attention during processing have, to all of us at Fratello improving our ability to profile and create new blends.  We’re looking forward to the upcoming year and can’t wait to see what the future holds.  If any of you thought that this year was a close year, wait till next year.  The 14 (then the 6 in the finals) are nothing more than the tip of the iceberg that is the coffee industry…

For many of us, it was our first experience in this kind of event and despite the fact that many Barista can pound out top-notch drinks at high speed, it’s a whole new animal when you add in camera’s, spectators, up to 50 people watching online at any given time, oh and a time limit, judges, and the necessity of a running commentary.  You get the idea.  It’s fun and scary all at the same time.

For myself, I’m pretty proud of how I did.  I don’t think I actually slept all that much on Friday night as I was mentally reviewing my routine over and over (and over and over).  Since I’d never done this before, I really had no idea what to expect.  I took away a LOT of great lessons, many of which will now help me be a better Barista trainer.  I also met some great people.  This fact alone made the event worthwhile.  In the end I finished 4th and I tip my hat to all of the competitors.

An interesting thing that I experienced was that of the two days.  I was actually more nervy on Sunday than on Saturady.  I don’t think it was because it was the finals versus prelims, I think it ‘s the old case of a little knowledge can be dangerous.  What I mean by that is that on Saturday, I was soo fucused on what I was doing that I had no time to think about much.  Sunday I was feeling a little bit better going in and then I said “Go”…  I think it cost me and chalk it up to lessons learned.

All in all, I had a great time, and I hope that others did as well.  I can hardly wait for my next chance to compete and attend an event like this.  Be it a Jam or official competition, I think it’s all great.

I would like to offer thanks to Russ, Chris and Jason Prefontaine for their support and the push.  John, thanks for your critical eye and excellent advice and support, next year?  Frankly, everyone from Fratello and Espuccino put a lot of effort into gettingthe place ready and helped me immensely and deserve a huge thanks.  

Cheers, Joel

This special training academy for barista (espresso machine operators) and those interested in learning more about coffee and espresso presents its 2008 Educational Program. The hands-on training workshops are lead by Canadian and international expert trainers and professional baristas. They are for those new to the industry or those who want to perfect their coffee skills and include: Basic Training, Advanced Training and Expert Barisa workshops.

Please refer to the schedule below for details and click here to register.

Location: Fratello Coffee

4021 9th St. SE Calgary, Alberta

403-265-2112

Monday, May 26, 2008

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Barista Level I: Beginner Barista Workshop

2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Barista level II: Advanced Barista Workshop

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Level III: Expert Barista & Latte Art Workshop

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Opening a Successful Coffee Business Seminar

2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Coffee Cupping Workshop

• Barista Jam: May 17th
• Judges Certification Workshop: May 23rd
• Competition Qualifying Rounds (16 competitors): May 24th 10:00am to 4:00pm
• Finals & Award Presentation (8 competitors): May 25th 10:00am to 2:00pm

Baristas must compete in one of the 2008 Canadian Regional Championships in order qualify for entry into the Canadian National Championship. Baristas working in cafes, restaurants and foodservice establishments in each region are encouraged to sign up. One registrant per company (see rules and regulations). For rules, information and registration visit www.canadianbaristachampionship.com or www.canadianbaristaacademy.com or call: 416-784-5210

We highly recommend that if you are interested in competing – that you sign up quickly as there is a maximum of 16 competitors.

Also – they are in need to volunteers to be a competition Judge !!  This is a great way to get involved – please contact Les Kuan at ibex1989@yahoo.com to sign up.

Cheers

Jason