On your other note-
Since I don't really have a culinary background (mine is in film production), I've found developing a unique and interesting (to me) menu for The Spro to be quite a challenge. The biggest challenge is that our espresso bar just isn't designed to prepare food. For your new venture, I strongly suggest getting out there, tasting more food, traveling to Chicago and Cleveland to taste food from different chefs and develop your own ideas for the kind of menu you'd like to prepare.

From there, you can more readily build a facility that will help you create that menu. For me, important criteria is that the workspace has to be flexible. Meaning that the workspace can be used, the reconfigured and used for a different purpose depending on the task needed. Grant Achatz's Alinea in Chicago designed his kitchen with that approach in mind and it's fantastic.

Hey Chris -
Thanks for the kind words. The world of food and coffee is fascinating, diverse and an incredible challenge. I'm still such a neophyte and look forward to reading chicagou's blog.

Yeah that would be myself and a variety of others putting that on. More info should be rolling out shortly. I thought you would have known about it already as defurious was going to be involved for a minute but as of late had some time line conflicts so can no longer do it. I'll try and get you some info if yer curious.

That's pretty freakin funny bro. I saw yours too... I'm pretty sure you had the best pour.

Thanks for the call Chris. I'll try callin ya on Monday to get some of the details from ya. Oh, don't worry I won't hold it against you for not comin to visit. We didn't have a machine hooked up yet. Right now I'm sitting on a linea, a K30 grinder, and a Anfim grinder. Its killing me. We just sealed the deal on a sweet location so we'll have to have ya up soon. Anyhow, I'm in Illinois right now so if you're available I'll call ya Monday. cheers

hey chris --- worry to reply to you so late. i don't check barista exchange that often, so it's always best to get in touch with me via email: sarah@baristamagazine.com. regarding your subscription, please email our subscrips. desk at subscriptions@baristamagazine.com, and they'll help you get things sorted out. thanks, and great job doing what you're doing!

Hey man, we'll definitely have to hang out. Hopefully we'll get a chance to pull some shots and go out. Some decent brewers up here.

Chris, sorry I haven't got back to you yet man. Give me a call or let me know when you are going to be here and we'll get together. cheers

You just have to be patient with the USBC score sheets. I believe everyone can expect them post WBC... Until then, Michelle has much to do to prep for the competition...

It sho is hot up in this mug. Things here are good, but it is hard to sell coffee when it's 100 degrees outside. SO, we succumb to the Blended Beast. I have been putting together a monthly barista jam, and am starting on planning on next month's jam. Has Deferio gotten moved out there completely? How's the school planning coming?

Chris, that'll work. Saturday we're going to be helping this roaster with a coffee cart at a Local First Street fair. He was just going to be serving iced coffee but I talked to him today and he said we can bring his espresso cart out there and play if we want. Should be a good time. My cell is 815.two74.3zero85.

Chris, let me know when/if you are going to be in G.R. this weekend. We don't have anything set up yet but I've got a roaster I've been doing stuff with and he's got a little setup we could play on. Let me know.

Hey Chris, how are things going? Going to be up in MI anytime soon. If so let me know and we can do some jamming. We've got a used linea on the way and will have a couple GB5's soon.

Of course I remember you. You were one of the coolest cats I met in MN. I wish you and Deferio all the best out there in Muncie. And if there's anything I can ever do to help you with what you're doing, let me know! As someone who set up two legit coffeehouses for ministries, I know some of the intricacies. Take care man, and keep that Deferio in line. He looks like he's head over heels!

Hey Chris, its going good man. We are shooting for to open one shop on the 29th of July. However, just let me know when you are going to be up here. I've been hanging out with this guy Kurt who runs Rowster Coffee. We're pretty much slinging shots or cupping everyday. Its nice while I don't have a shop to work in. So just give me a shot when you'll be around. You can email me too at trevor@madcapcoffee.com
cheers.

Did you get that handle thing handled?

That's awesome. We always had a large pastoral following. I'm actually taking a full load of ministry classes myself, though we broke for summer.

Isn't Deferio coming your way? I know he's headed to indiana, but can;t remember if it was in Muncie, although it sounds right.

What's up Chris? How's things out there?

We do sell handles and bases separately just for such an occasion. ;)