Italy aims to standardise the perfect espresso

By Malcolm Moore in Rome
Telegraph.co.uk


It is arguably one of Italy's greatest gifts to the world, ranking alongside renaissance art, opera and ice cream.

But Italians fear that the good name of their coffee is being diluted by chain cafes passing off shoddy versions of espresso and cappuccino.

Now officials are proposing to establish a gold standard for their national drink.

Marco Lion, the head of Italy's parliamentary agriculture commission, is worried that the "true identity of Italian coffee" could be lost because, he says, many cafes in Europe do not have the faintest idea how to make a good cup.

"There is only one true and authentic way to make a cappuccino, but for some reason there appear to be myriad types sold in cafes," he said.

So, after a "period of rigorous checking", Continental cafes that meet criteria set out by the commission would be awarded a "certificate of authenticity" for their coffees.

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Green Mountain offers Jane Goodall endorsed coffee

Green Mountain Coffee recently announced that their Tanzanian Gombe Reserve blend will be the first product to carry Jane Goodall's endorsement and logo "Jane Goodall: Good for All." A few years ago Goodall made a plea to the coffee industry to help her protect the world's chimpanzee population by working to lift struggling African farmers from poverty. "We were thrilled to partner with them because of the ethical standards they've shown," said Goodall of Green Mountain Coffee.

Stopping the destruction of the Gombe National Park for farmland and firewood will expand the chimps' habitat and create a buffer between the forest and human populations. Goodall says coffee is a good fit because it won't be eaten by the primates, and notes "chimpanzees don't like the coffee, thank the Lord."

Source: Amazon al Dente's Blog

Starbucks: More Charges of Union-Busting

The company known for stellar employee practices faces charges of violating labor law in two states

by Moira Herbst

The labor troubles brewing for Starbucks in New York are spreading to another state, putting the company's worker-friendly image on trial.

On Sept. 20, the National Labor Relations Board accused the coffee chain of unlawful anti-union activity at a store in Grand Rapids, Mich., the second time in recent months that the government organization has leveled such charges against Starbucks (SBUX). The company meanwhile continues a months-long trial in New York, facing charges that it unfairly suppressed organizing efforts by the International Workers of the World (IWW).

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