It all starts with the coffee. The whole routine and presentation starts by finding the right coffee and getting to know it as well as you can. I started looking for the right coffee about four months before the semi-finals. I would have loved to have a very special, absolutely delicious fresh coffee to compete with. In reality, most times you have to stick with what’s available and what might not be the freshest or best coffee you’ve tried.

I wrote an article about my experiences in barista competitions in the Nordic Coffee Culture blog. Read the rest of it here.

Barista on Finnish coffee culture from Erika H on Vimeo.

My girlfriend Erika made this video for her study project. There are some of my thoughts about Finnish coffee culture and its future, barista competition and a part of my routine in the Finnish Barista Cup 2012 finals. I ended up second, more about that later though. The latte art is pretty bad but it was the only clip available right then!

I sincerely want to thank everyone at the roastery for this time and especially the owner, Svante. He’s been the most supportive and understanding boss and I wish all the best for him and the roastery.

The future is still blank. I started studying marketing at the University of Helsinki in September and spending some more time reading the books might be beneficial for my studies. I still have to pay my rent and I can’t really think of not working with coffee. It has become integral part of me.

I am open for all the offers, ideas and suggestions. Should you have any please drop me a message here.

A Nordic Perspective on Coffee Common

It certainly is a fascinating idea, to certify coffee either by origin or characteristic. It could result in areas that are known for producing coffee with certain distinctive aroma, style or just high quality. I don’t see how this wouldn’t be a good thing for the producer as it most likely would raise the prices. From the buyers perspective – you would always know or expect what you’ll get, both taste and quality wise. A bit like Champagne – they also produce good sparkling wine just outside the region but when you’re buying the C bottle you can be sure to get certain quality wine.

Of course there would be downsides, too. Managing the certification could be somewhat difficult in corrupted and disorganised countries like Rwanda. Some producers in the wine world have opted for dropping out from the certification since basically everyone can get it.

Any thoughts? I would love to hear you opinions.

“Coffee Common brings together world-class baristas and roasters with shared values, to create unique experiences that introduce people to the nuanced joys of exceptional coffee. We believe that great coffee is, at its best, a collaboration of an empowered coffee farmer, an artisan coffee roaster, a dedicated barista, and an enlightened consumer. We believe that great coffee requires study, experimentation, craftsmanship, and humility. These diverse roasters and baristas, who by most definitions would be considered competitors, come together as a community to proselytize the simple truths around coffee. We look forward to pouring you a cup of the most complex and extraordinary beverage in the world.”

There’s no way I would have missed this. After all, this is what my “crusade” is all about.

I think we succeed in our task fairly well, pouring great cups of beautiful coffees. Many lives were ruined since they can’t go to their local coffee shops anymore.

I’ll post a more in-depth post later. Overall, working with great baristas from Europe and North America to serve exceptional coffee to people who are there to get new ideas was an amazing experience. Trying out so many good coffees from roasters including Square Mile, HasBean, Gimme! Coffee, Ecco Coffee and brewed by different baristas with different techniques was eye-opening and a lot of fun.

For more photos and information check Coffee Common website.

(All photos by Brian W. Jones)

Visit or regret afterwards - usually very good coffee, definitely a must for any coffee aficionado (Red pin on the map)

Kahvila Sävy (Kinaporinkatu 1, metro: Sörnäinen, trams: 6,8, 7A, 7B)

Coffee bar Sävy is a fresh breeze in Helsinki’s coffee scene. Sävy is the first one in Helsinki to serve excellent coffees from Turun Kahvipaahtimo as well as other micro-roasteries around the world – and serve them well. The cafe is run by a couple, Kaisa and Mikko, who have uncompromised strive for quality products. They were planning to serve ice cream this summer but have given up since they didn’t find one good enough. In my opinion without a doubt the right thing to do – but quite a brave decision for a small cafe with only a few products other than coffee.

Sävy serves consistently very good coffee, both espresso and brew. Actually, I would say that you are most likely to get a stellar cup of coffee here anywhere in Helsinki. House coffee is a Brazilian from Daterra brewed on a Fetco but I have to say, definitely the best Fetco brew I’ve tasted. If it’s not too busy you can also get AeroPress, V60 or anything else more exciting, just ask. If your companion is more into tea there’s a nice selection of them, too, brewed the right way.

Check out the Up with Kallio -map about the up-and-coming area of Kallio where Sävy is also located – some of the most interesting restaurants, clubs and shops are in there. Kallio is a little shady but trendy without the arrogant hipsterism¹ you can come across in Punavuori.

La Torrefazione (Aleksanterinkatu 50B, second floor, just next to Stockmann)

Located in the heart of Helsinki, La Torrefazione (meaning “roastery” in Italian) has earned its reputation within the inner city’s caffeine dependent workers. La Torre was originally planned to be an Italian-style drink-and-go espresso bar and ended up being popular cafe to meet friends and clients over a great cup of coffee.

La Torre’s owner Jens Hampf is brother of Svante, Kaffa Roastery’s founder, so they naturally serves Kaffa’s coffee – some of it is even roasted in the cafe (hence the name). There are always two espressos pulled through a La Marzocco FB/80, the filter coffee is brewed on a Fetco and coffees are changed on a daily basis. There’s some room for improvement in consistency, though – not all the employees take the coffee that seriously. Fortunatelly there are a couple really good ones and the filter coffee is almost always good if not great. Also great spot for lunch.

Kaffa Roastery (Pursimiehenkatu 29A, just behind Moko Market. Busses 14, 14B, tram 3B)

(Disclaimer: I currently work as a barista at Kaffa Roastery but this is my personal opinion. If it wasn’t good why would I work there?)

Kaffa was born when two friends, Svante Hampf and Benjamin Andberg, decided to establish a coffee shop chain. When they realized that there wasn’t good enough coffee around they figured out that they might as well roast is themselves. They first started roasting coffee outside of Helsinki four years ago and moved to another location in the Punavuori area in January 2010. That’s when the coffee bar was also set up.

Serving coffee roasted just behind the glass walls the barista at least knows how it’s done if not roasted the coffee himself. There are rotating coffees served as espresso and a daily changing filter coffees brewed through V60′s. When there’s not too many customers you can also ask for a syphon or AeroPress or a cold brew.

Flipping a coin – sometimes really good coffee, sometimes I refuse to pay. Depends a lot on barista, not very consistent but still worth trying. (Yellow pin on the map)

Caneli (Iso Roobertinkatu 46)

In my eyes Caneli is more of a super-food smoothie bar than a place to get a coffee. The owner, Nima, is convinced about super-food and his coffee (roasted by Johan & Nyström in Stockholm) but I’m not. As the coffee is roasted in Sweden there are also some problems with the freshness. Still, the coffee is better than in your average cafe. I might still opt for a smoothie to help with the over-caffenation.

Kaffecentralen (several locations, check the map)

To put it short: Kaffecentralen serves well brewed coffee roasted some time ago in Italy from unknown beans. Good spot for a cappuccino but don’t expect anything mind-blowing – well executed espresso can be only so good when it’s not fresh anymore. No filter coffee at all.

Gran Delicato (Kalevankatu 34, bus 14, 14B)

This genuine Greek cafe and deli used to be an underground spot for the ones looking for decent espresso. Now the situation is the same as with Kaffecentralen (where they mostly get their coffee from) – Gran Delicato offers usually good coffee from unexciting beans. Great ciabattas and atmosphere, worth visit if you’re nearby.

1. Not that it all would be arrogant.

Here’s a few photos and a list of the places I went to:

Ground Support on West Broadway. Serves Intelli, the coffee wasn’t that special though.

Waiting for breakfast at Bubby’s. Apparently known for its pies but should be known for the coffee. Very well executed espresso and delicious pour over of Ritual’s Kenya.

Tasting flight of three coffees at Cafe Grumpy in Chelsea. Coffees were alright but the service was a little too grumpy…

Forgot the name of this place. Somewhere in Brooklyn…

This was unfamiliar coffee to me. Had a pretty decent Clever of the PNG in a cafe just next to the Mast Brothers factory.

Northern Spy. Lovely food and great beer, too.

Shake Shack. The burger was as good as hyped but the fries were a disappointment. I only had to queue for about 20 min…

WHERE SHOULD YOU DEFINITELY GO TO (and where I went):

- RBC NYC

- Bluebird Coffee Shop

-Abraço

-Cafe Grumpy (several locations)

- Ground Support

- Joe (several locations)

- Ninth Street Espresso (several locations)

- Southside Coffee

- Stumptown (coffee bar at the Ace Hotel and roastery in Red Hook, Brooklyn that’s open only on weekends)

- Third Rail Coffee

Forgive me not including addresses or websites for these coffee shops. You can find all you need in the NYT coffee map.

Here’s a few great places other than coffee:

- Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream - delicous ice cream and supposedly great coffee, too (Intelly).

- Bubby’s - a 24/7 diner with good coffee, breakfast, pies and cocktails. Tried them all.

- The Spotted Pig – probably the only Michelin-starred gastro pub in the world. Walk ins -only. Amazing burger for a very decent price.

- Northern Spy – This bohemian hipstery restaurant is not located in Queens (haha) but in East Village. Great seasonal ingredients, increadibly pleasing food and good beers. Walk-ins only.

- Shake Shack – Legendary burgers in the Madison Square Garden. Be prepared to wait. Really good burgers and shakes, not very good fries.

- Mast Brothers – Really good chocolate. That’s it.

- Fort Defiance – Super cosy new hipster kids meet the old hippies -restaurant close the the Stumptown roastery in Red Hook. Lunch here and coffee at Stumptown (although they take their coffee seriously here, too). Nice beers, good food and great ginger beer/drink.

So, make sure to follow my Tumblr here:

Coffee Crusade in Tumblr