Introduction to the Uber Boiler – by James Hoffman

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New Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea Web Site

After much hard work from all in our guys in the Marketing department, the ever so modest Matt Riddle, had this to say via email, about the release of our new web site.

I’d be interested in hearing your feedback, all are welcome!

see below.

Deaton

We now have a shiny new web site for your viewing pleasure.

http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com

Matt

Matt Riddle  |   Web Developer   |   Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, Inc.
1850 W. Fulton St. Chicago IL 60612   |   2737 N. San Fernando Rd. Los
Angeles CA 90065

At home

Sitting at home contemplating life a little today, suffering from a cold with nothing to do but watch telly, it’s a little hard not too.

Julia’s and my visa applications are on the move though it is not happening as fast as I would like. There is somewhat of a weight on our shoulders at the moment as the lazy $8500 we have dropped on the process does not even guarantee entry.

Coupled with that we have to move out of our apartment, we gave our notice which coincides with our visas expiration date of April 21st. Now we are really in the race against time,  for my visa application to be processed, as we can’t get an apartment till we have a visa.

Did I mention that Julia will have to leave US soil so she can get her visa, adding on at least another $1000 to our costs.

pressure is mounting, I need a beer (but that wont help my cold now, will it)!

Afterburner woe’s

Friday morning we could not start our afterburner, we have issues with our pilot light igniting before so we just assumed that we needed to pull it out and give it a clean. Though once Jared pulled out the pilot light and looked up inside this is what he saw.

Inside pilot light

The larger hole at the top of the photo is where the pilot light fits snugly into the the afterburner, usually you can see straight up into the can, as you can see, we can not.

Enter Jared to try and clean out this rubble through the hole which is only about 3 inches across, the idea is to break up what ever is in there and see if it falls out.

Jared ready for action

Of he goes.

This is all Jared could clear out.

Upon realizing that there was more then meets the eye we got in touch with Marty, sent him photo’s of this of above (Jared not included). Then called in the big weight, Nick Barnet to solve our woe’s,  after many emails and phone calls Nick dedicated his Saturday to doing clearing it out, by getting into the afterburner through one of the pipes at the side of the can.

Insulation

More insulation

At the end of Nick's Saturday

Our stack on the roof had been slowly leaning over and was in danger of falling over completely, so when the repair guys came to straighten it up, we figure that they could of loosened the insulation at the top, see here.

Inside the afterburner

We should be fine though as this is only one of three more layers of insulation.

Chicago Barista Takes Top Spot in National Competition | NBC Chicago

Go Mike, the new poster boy of coffee!

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The 2009 United States Barista Champion, Michael Philips

Could not have happened to a nicer fellow.

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USBC Champ from Intelligentsia coffee, Chicago!

Congratulations to Mike Phillips who just took out the United States Barista Championships for 2009!

Mike was always the under dog for this event, as this year, Intelligentsia put the call out, that if you did not place in the top three in your regional, you did not get to go to the USBC.

Mike, with no help from the company and full of determination, took it on himself to pay his own way and made the trek to Portland. As we all know, that is not the easiest thing to do on a baristas wage. Maybe Doug will reimburse him, though the lazy 8 grand that is coming his way, will soften the blow to his bank balance if DZ does not, after all a rule is a rule.

He really deserves it, and as you know, all of us Aussie’s (within the company (me)) love an underdog, so it could not have happened to a more genuine guy!

If you want to read more about his coffee read here.

So good, so good, and congratulations to the other finalists, I’ve forgotten your names already, sorry;-)

Deaton

Intelligentsia get 4 through to the finals!

Wow, I can’t believe it, this is the best result for Intelligentsia to date! Congratulations to

Devin Pedde
Nick Griffith
Ryan Wilbur
Mike Phillips

Wow, what a result they have all worked really hard to get there!

Make sure you tune in tomorrow at 12pm here!

M’lissa is Spirit

M’lissa as you know, is considered to be the fashionista of the Barista circuit as you can see by the video posted below. With that M’lissa will be providing a long overdue fashion “wrap up” for the duration of the competition on the USBC 2009 web site. Finally fashion gets a voice at the Barista event!

Don’t forget that the live feed will be here!

On that note, I am going to do a run to the cafe in Silver Lake for a quick hit, then I plan to settle in for the day as an arm chair Barista.

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Interview # 16 – Michael Phillips

It’s rather easy for me to post these to my site and it saves me from doing any real blogging, as I am lazy, so here is Mike.

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