Friday, July 19, 2013

Craven's Coffee of Spokane, Washington State, Interview with Simon Thompson, Wednesday, July 17, 2013


 

Here at the Merry Rose, we fuel our writing with espresso. Our favorite coffee blend is delightfully titled Earth and Sky. This is a shade-grown, fair-trade, certified organic coffee developed by the Craven’s Coffee company, located in Spokane, Washington. Earth and Sky is available in Spokane area grocery stores, such as Rosauer’s and Super One.
 
In the coffee aisle, the Craven’s section includes photos of Simon Thompson as he travels the world in search of great coffees supported by fair trade, sustainable growing, and great flavor. This type of dedication inspired the Merry Rose to request this interview. In between his many trips, Simon kindly answered some of our questions.
 
Simon, what drew you to the coffee business?
 
"I somewhat stumbled into it, as it seems most Roasters do. I was in the Hotel and Restaurant business and found myself, through a former co-worker, starting with Seattle's Best Coffee in 1991. I worked on Vashon Island managing the Roasting Facility, then moved to Wholesale Division. When the company was transitioned into another corporation, my wife Becky and myself decided to go out by ourselves and we moved here to Spokane to start Cravens."
 
 
You have traveled extensively worldwide, including countries like Rwanda which have experienced political turmoil and violence. What are some of the criteria you use to decide when the path is safe for coffee and you?

 
"The original 2005 trip to Rwanda was prompted by a geo-political interest in what had transpired there in 1994. I could not get my arms around how such an event (the genocide of 800,000 people in 90days) occurred...in 1994! When there was an initiative to look at establishing a Specialty Coffee industry, I became involved. Colombia is a risk, in the south, and Guatalama has issues. But the criteria is the quality of the coffee. Despite turmoil there are places where great coffee is grown (and some where it is not) so we seek the distinctive regions where the coffee is spectacular."

 
 
Regarding Earth and Sky, how did you develop this great blend? (I noticed at the grocery store in Cheney, WA, that there were two bins of Earth and Sky, both almost empty:) Why does shade grown make a difference? I always feel good buying it because it's organic and fair trade, as well as tasty.

 
"Earth and Sky was a blend developed for the former Cheney Cowles Museum (now the MAC) when they staged an exhibition of Native American art and culture, called "From Earth to Sky". The goal of the blend was rich, bold and organic. We achieved not only that objective but ended up with what has become our best-selling blend ever. The coffees are all Certified Organic and Fair Trade Certified, including Guatemala La Laguna, which as a farm has the most attention to detail I have ever had the pleasure to observe and experience.
 
Shade-grown makes a difference, primarily because the more direct to the original strains of the coffee plant grow better under shade (rather than de-forested full sun). Also the shade trees provide nitrogen through leaf litter which mulches and feeds the plants while retaining moisture around the roots. Shade grown coffee tends to be overall more flavorful coffee." 
 
 
Many Thanks to Simon for taking time to share his insights!
 
 
 
 
More about Earth and Sky from the Craven's website: 

 
“Earth and Sky - Certified Organic
Flavor Profile: Shade-grown, full-bodied, complex
Primary Origin: Organic Guatemala La Laguna
Roast: Dark / Italian

 
This richly flavored blend captures the essence of three organically shade-grown coffees. Dark roasted and full-bodied, these small-farm coffees are carefully cultivated under sustainable crop conditions.”
 

 
More from the Craven’s Coffee Store

 
 Fair Trade

 
“Fair Trade helps make organic growing methods possible. That's good for the farmers, good for developing economies, good for our planet, and tasty good at your favorite cafe.”
 
 

 
 
 
 

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