It appears to me that many of us, myself included, who are interested in the travel aspect associated with a coffee profession often project our wishes to travel rather broadly on this forum. "Barista bicycling to a city near you [please help]" or "Anybody want to go to Brazil? [Me too.]" These are examples of the type of travel discussion I see on this forum. I do not see many shop owners requesting baristas from California or the like.

I propose that the Barista Guild of America and/or BaristaExchange.com begin to accommodate the free spirited baristas within its ranks a little more. We should create a more organized way of arranging exchanges. Of course, this requires a network of individuals to work together to bring about a solution that benefits all involved.

At least two baristas must be looking to travel. They must be willing to travel to a place where their skills will be appreciated. This means that business owners must have a place for them and a sense of trust in a person they may have never met. I suppose this is where things get really complicated. However, with our modern technology being what it is, I think that programs like Skype could really help asuage the fears of all concerned parties.

Essentially, what I am proposing is a grading standard for baristas which will be upheld by the BGA or BX.com. Honest baristas can rank anywhere from A+ to D. Baristas who are convicted of crimes against employers or fellow coffee professionals may eventually reach an F ranking if their conviction is one for such a heinous offense that it warrants a blacklisting from the exchange program. Maybe even in some circumstances a wayward worker may earn the right to exchange their labor within this system again.

I know that to a coffee house on the westcoast which cranks out thousands of perfectly crafted lattes everyday and prides itself on the quality of its barista staff it may seem like a hazard to bring in one who is essentially a n00b from North Dakota [no offense, ND] or some place equally remote. However, I think that the benefit of trading a single staff member- even if just for a week or so- is nearly unlimited when considered from the view of the industry as a whole.

Guys, please let me know what you think about this idea. Should it manifest? What are the pros from your perspective? What are the cons? Can we make something like this happen?