Strange Company
Posted on December 9, 2006 by Mike
I spent the evening last night at the Green Coffee Association’s annual holiday party. Rubbing elbows with warehouse owners and representatives, brokers, and salesman from across the country, I found myself in the (somewhat drunken) company of the people who are responsible for millions and millions of dollars worth of coffee trading in the US, including reps from the “big 4″. It was surreal to say the least. Most were happy to offer their business cards with promises to send samples on Monday, but once realizing that the company that I work for is more concerned with specialty coffee the brokers suddenly seemed more concerned with refilling their cocktails at the bar. No matter, I wasn’t there for samples, and I wasn’t there to fill cans with over-roasted pre-ground beans destined for thousands of grocery stores across the country. 
The event was held in the famous Down Town Association, created in 1859 in the financial district of Manhattan. Among it’s more notable members were Franklin D. Roosevelt, five Attorney Generals, four Secretaries of State, and three Secretaries of War. The bathroom was larger than our cafe and included a barbershop in the back. It was surreal to say the least, kind of in that Great Gatsby sort of way. The entire building seemed to be the size of an entire city block, with several floors of ballrooms and sitting rooms. I took one picture with my camera phone, shown here. I didn’t bring a real camera and felt a bit awkward taking the one picture I did.
Ironically, there were several stacks of Tea & Coffee magazine offered near the coat checks. A magazine I’m sure these people had little interest in. Even more ironic was that Gimme Coffee happened to be featured in this particular issue.
All in all it was a very interesting night and I hope to experience it again next year.
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