I hope that no-one here takes any of what I say in this post the wrong way, none of it is meant to upset or piss anyone off, and indeed the people that I refer to are the ones that have been the most useful, generous with time and advice etc etc.
As someone relatively new to the rarifid world of speciality coffee I think that the process of education that we all want to take place has to start with us, and I am not talking here about people like Matt and Steve and Cakey and George (and again forgive me for naming names, but these are the names I see most often) talking amongst ourselves and knocking people who are not drinking good coffee.
You guys are the in vanguard of coffee, you are the Prophets and the Oracle, it is up to all of us to educate, make it your mission to tell one person every day about good coffee, take a bag of Santa Fe to the office with a grinder and make your colleagues a French Press of decent coffee, when I did this, Steve got another customer, and he will tell his friends when he next entertains all about this fat bloke at work who raves about good coffee.
It is up to people like you guys, and especially people who are not in the business to educate the masses, people with a vested interest in turning maximum profit will not do this. From my business I know that the easiest way in business to make more margin, is to squeeze your suppliers, so expecting most roasters/retailers to do this, whilst still being prepared to pay a premium for quality, is naive.
The only issue I have with this forum is that we are preaching in the main to the converted. Having said that I was converted by this forum, so it is fantastic. We have to show our passion we have for this strange brown bean to others, only then will the consumer demand better coffee.
Sorry for the rant, and apologies to anyone named who felt slighted, I honestly wasn't having a pop, you guys have helped me the most.
So we carry on with a smile in our hearts and the passion we feel evident for all to see. And sorry to go on so
(I really must get a new machine, haven't had an espresso for three weeks now!)