One week ago Thursday marks the day that a lowly coffee server, a self-proclaimed gastronomist, that gastronomist’s husband, and a handful of the coffee server’s customers endured a torrential downpour and gathered their drenched bodies in an overly sterile rec-room. It was there, in that rec-room, that they examined the brief nature of their existence, charted a path for their future, and chose their fight. A coalition of coffee eenthusiasts was formed. The words “Espresso Revolution” were whispered. Determination mounted; to expose and over-throw mediocrity in all its forms and guises and traps and tricks. To expose commercial coffee for what it is; To educate the brainwashed masses of their misguided drinking habits.
One week ago Thursday a certain number of coffee enthusiasts, residing midst the desert sands of Southern California, resolved to create an oasis of sorts: to congregate weekly in rec-halls, to pull espresso shots, and to talk coffee. Consequently, a particular kind of commitment was formed along side: A commitment to unite their energies, their talents, and their passion for great coffee under a single blazing banner of artistic hope: ERACE IE — ERACE IE — ERACE IE. Like a politicians mantra the acronym resonated in the mind of that lowly coffee server. Two years of unbridled coffee obsession, with seemingly no means of adequate expression, finally channeled into the development of a useful, willing, and purposeful organization. ERACE IE — ERACE IE — ERACE IE — The drum beat continues — Erace IE — The Espresso Revolutionaries and Coffee Enthusiasts of the Inland Empire.
One thing is for certain; this group of misfits will not be satisfied until they erase coffee apathy from the hearts and minds of as many IE residents as they possibly can; until they erase forever crappy coffee as the tolerated norm for the IE coffee establishment, restaurant, and home kitchen.
And as the rag-tag coalition of ERACE IE grows in number, strength, and experience; as they gain momentum and repute as a contributing artistic force within their community, they hope to join forces with like-minded coffee professionals and all-out coffee nerds throughout Southern California, California, the West Coast, the Nation, and eventually the World to make as much of an impact on the global coffee scene as possible.
So, as Emily Hartop, one of the coalitions founding members and a senior editor of this blog, recently wrote:
VIVA LA REVOLUCIÓN!!!!!!!
May the grassroots grow deeper.
