5mcoffee Senior Member Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 31 Location: London Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: Gaggia Classic | Aeropress
Posted Sat Jun 21, 2008, 6:08am Subject: Re: UK coffee fan websites
There are a number of new coffee forums springing up in the UK. Check Google for 'coffee forums uk' and you'll find a list of these.
The great thing about most Coffee Forums is that there is generally no problem with pointing people to other forums and on some it is even encouraged, to help new users learn about coffee from a variety of sources.
The interest in the industry is growing and there are rumours of a new UK based coffee podcast coming soon too, to complement the CG podcast (thanks Mark!), the PF.net podcast and AA Cafe...
Yeah, I'll admit, it's my site, but I'd love people to have a look and just let me know what they think, what they'd like to see on it, etc. It also has links to some other UK barista blogs/forums.
TMC is owned by a guy called Phil Jordan who is a great friend of Steve Leighton, and who also is (at least partly) responsible for developing Steve's site at hasbean. Phil had a web development site at www.tmcinternet.com which quoted hasbeans site as a project + toomuchcoffee.com Clearly, very close links between this site and Steve Leighton. However, if they've managed to keep the content un-biased then what does it matter.
HasBeanSteve Senior Member Joined: 3 Jun 2003 Posts: 50 Location: Stafford Expertise: Professional
Espresso: La Spaziale 2grp Spazio Grinder: La Spaziale Lusso Vac Pot: Cona B, C ,D Drip: Bravilor Roaster: Ambex YM 2kg, 5kg and 15kg
Posted Sat Aug 9, 2008, 9:11am Subject: Re: UK coffee fan websites
I guess I need to clarify on this, although I’m not sure why after the posts that have gone on in the past with Buffard, but here goes.
There are indeed close links between Phil Jordan and myself. Phil has been for many years a very close friend of mine and we have shared our love of coffee. I am also one of the founder members of TMC, and have participated on there from the very beginning when it was a closed group of four friends posting.
My site is hosted on there servers and has been for many years. As you've noticed Buffard, this in no way effects the impartiality of too much coffee in fact has worked against me many times as I have had to back away from certain topics because of how long I’ve been involved in the group, and my own self policing.
TMC Internet exists to pay for Too Much Coffee (the same as Mark has many clients on his books to pay for coffee geek as a web developer). Phil approached us as we are friends, as we seemed a perfect match as a client, when he was looking for a revenue stream to pay for the upkeep of the forum.
I hope this clarifies my position, perhaps we could all have a clarification of relationships now.
Queynte Senior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 17 Location: London Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Sat Aug 9, 2008, 12:13pm Subject: Re: UK coffee fan websites
I guess by clarification of relationship you mean that you would like me to clarify my relationships with others in the industry.
Ok, I have been doing work for a particular roaster (see other forum posts), who Im still finishing some work for at this present time. I am also working for another roaster in Suffolk, who is about to launch themselves on the internet very soon (you'll be hearing more about them undoubtedly)
I have no axe to grind with you Steve, or anyone else in the UK coffee industry, despite what everyone thinks. Ive been accused of being a shill (thanks a lot Mark !), a fake person, or more hurtfully an idiot - which I certainly am not.
I want more transparency, more choice, more critical debate and more love of top quaity coffee in the UK marketplace.
I think you'll agree that I've never doubted that you offer fantastic coffee, or deserve the respect of your fans, but I'd like there to be more choice, and more respect for people who really are running businesses out of their garage, purely for the love of great coffee.
Posted Sat Aug 9, 2008, 1:17pm Subject: Re: UK coffee fan websites
Queynte Said:
I think you'll agree that I've never doubted that you offer fantastic coffee, or deserve the respect of your fans, but I'd like there to be more choice, and more respect for people who really are running businesses out of their garage, purely for the love of great coffee.
Who is it that you are suggesting is disrespecting these people? I'm not aware of anything of this type. Who or what are you trying to blame, and for what precisely?
In his own garage, for the love of great coffee, is exactly where Steve began roasting. There was parity between small roasters a while back, then Steve's business grew as a result of his own toil.
I'm not sure what you are aiming for but you do always mention Has Bean just prior to suggesting there is some form of disrespect for smaller businesses (Has Bean is far from large itself). You will perhaps then forgive those who doubted your motives after your initial - and very clear - anti-Has Bean outburst in the other thread.
If you are suggesting that we, the consumers, should show more respect to small businesses or reward all equally with our praise, I think you will find that in a free market economy they need to provide a top quality product and earn those compliments, not just expect to be popular for simply existing.
If you want more transparency, a good place to start, as my Dad says, is at home. How about it's time to end this offensive and fake name you have in our forums, and start going with your real name.
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