I chose the title because we have had an insanely awesome past week at Folly Coffee Roasters. I'll get right into it with the classic three question format of the Flog.
Where have we been?
This past weekend myself (Rob) and Folly Jeff rented a cargo van, loaded up the kegerator and kegs of cold brew, and headed down to Coffeefest Denver to take classes to improve ourselves as a roaster, and also to compete in America's Best Cold Brew Competition. We had never competed in any coffee related competition, so we were pretty nervous going into it, especially with so many great roasters competing.
After 13 hours there, we crashed at an Airbnb Thursday night and woke up bright and early to get registered and to take a few classes on direct sourcing, packaging trends, among others. Then we had our first round of the potential three round tournament. After 40 minutes of sampling attendees, the session ended and we learned later that day we advanced! We went out that night with a bunch of fellow coffee nerds and checked out Denver's amazing scene, but it was a mega early night from a severe cold brew crash.
The next morning, we took two more classes and had our next round. We thought it was another 40 minute round, but turns out it was an hour and a half. My voice gave out part way through and Jeff took over. We get to the end of the session and realize we are running very low on the 5 gallons of cold brew we brought to the competition. If we advance, we don't have enough samples to get through another full session. We ask the organizer if it's okay if we only have enough samples for the judges, "The attendees vote is the judges' tie breaker, so if you don't have cold brew for them you forfeit any chance at a tiebreaker, and you advanced so you should figure out a plan" That's how we figured out we advanced. Excitement and joy followed by immediate panic. We brought coffee to cold brew and Minnesota spring water to brew with, but I forgot our 5 gallon cold brewer. Long story short, someone from DaVinci syrups let's us borrow theirs and Ben and Curtis from Ink! Coffee Company let us use one of their cafes to brew! It was amazing! So we got another batch brewing that afternoon.
The final day we load up the cargo van, keg up the cold brew at the Ink! Coffee café, and head to the convention center. The final round was the final four. It was the longest 40 minutes ever. Shortly after they announce the results....we placed 3rd overall and 1st place for the People's Choice (attendee votes). I'd be lying if I said I didn't want first, but to place 3rd at America's Best Cold Brew competition with the first keg of cold brew we have ever kegged is pretty incredible to me.
It was a weekend full of amazing people and drastic overcaffeination through cold brew. We learned some great things that we are going to take home with us and you will see us roll out soon!
Where are we now?
We're back from Denver, and the good news didn't stop there. Yesterday, Coffeereview.com posted their monthly coffee review, this time on African Great Lakes coffees. Over 100 coffees were submitted for review, and Folly Coffee Winer placed #5 overall with a rating of 92, an "exceptional" rating. Basically, for you non-coffee nerds, anything over 90 is reedonkalus. The Winer right now is the Burundi Bwayi and it is nothing short of spectacular.
We are back to whatever normal is, and I just got back from a solid packaging session with Folly Jeff.
Where are we going?
We have some cool events coming up, the biggest being the Wayzata Art Experience June 23rd and 24th. We will be slinging hot and cold brew, as well as whole bean bags for sale. The event is expected to bring in over 10,000 people, so it should be crazy and an awesome way to support local artists.
Keep an eye out early July for the launch of the 4th Folly Coffee in our lineup (so ominous and mysterious, brings me chills <====THAT'S A HINT)
Folly Jeff and I utilized the 13 hour drive home to discuss anything and everything coffee. We are going to be investing back into Folly very shortly to bring our coffee game to an even higher level than it already is. We aren't happy with just making good coffee and continue as we are. We want to pursue the best we can be and put not only Folly, but Minnesota on the coffee map. WOO!
-Folly Rob
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