Jul/091
Mean Bean Espresso – Coffee with Attitiude in Kennewick
by Craig Sutton
Name- Mean Bean Espresso
Address- 5718 W Clearwater Ave, Kennewick, WA
Phone- 509-735-6803
Where did the name Mean Bean Espresso come from? Is your coffee angry?
No, it Means it’s ‘coffee with attitude‘! Like the descriptive, cool, sweet or bad. Mindy, our daughter, drew the logo and it is hard to draw an attitude. So Mean is portrayed as a little rascal, with a sling shot, straight shooting our “Coffee with Attitude” right at you.
With the wealth of espresso stands including your major chain competitors like Starbucks and McDonalds, what sets your company and its product apart? Why choose you?
First off McDonalds serves hamburgers, not espresso! There is an art to making espresso, the beans are roasted for certain tastes, then are finely ground and brewed by forcing hot water under pressure through the ground coffee. This makes a thicker consistency than drip or brewed coffee and crema, a reddish-brown foam that floats on the surface. Then we make espresso drinks with the shots. We use Longbottom organic coffee and teas! Our cups are recycled paper or PLA (corn starch based) plastic cups and straws. We strive to use the most organic and additive free ingredients we can find. Jason went to Barista School and he hopes to attend the Coffee fest in September. We try to be green conscience and responsible. It’s our God given duty. That in itself sets us apart from the competition… Social responsibility
How many locations do you own, and what made you choose this one?
We only own one now. We choose Kennewick because Jason lives there, great people, good location and lots of events going on in the area. Thoughts are in our heads of opening one in Eureka Montana, Kauai HI and Indiana.
What type of experience do you require for your employees?
Our employees have to pass the Jason test. That means they have to make the espresso just the way they are told every time, they need to be consistent. They have to treat our customers with a friendly attentive, coffee attitude. They have to drink and love coffee. Be clean freaks to satisfy the owners, me. And a willingness to go to school to learn more about the profession of Baristi.
Do you offer any unique products our readers should be aware of?
Our Longbottom Fair Trade organic coffee, our teas are also organic, Monin syrups organic, sugar free and regular. We use products that are as additive free and natural as we can find. We do serve completely organic espresso drinks for a small price upgrade. We have great smoothies; we serve Italian sodas and iced coffees. I know all espresso stands serve these drinks but I believe our prices are better.
Jul/090
Bad Companys Brian Howe comes to Clover Island
On July 11th, the Clover Island Inn welcomes Bad Company’s Brian Howe to the Island for a one night performance guarantee to thrill with gates opening at 6:30. Local Band Color Blind will open the show starting at 7:30pm.
In 1984, the 2 existing members of Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke, and guitarist Mick Ralphs courted Brian to replace Paul Rodgers as the lead singer. Brian decided to accept the offer and continue the legend of Bad Company. This was not an easy task, but along with Kirke and Ralphs, Brian created, wrote, recorded and toured, headlining every major venue around the globe. Along with Bad Company’s highly acclaimed 1993 live CD “What You Hear Is What You Get – The Best of Bad Company – Live” Brian wrote and sold 19 million additional albums highlighted by such radio and video hits as “Holy Water’” “If You Needed Somebody,” “No Smoke Without A Fire,” and “How About That,” – not to mention a few of the group’s previous hits as recorded on the “live” CD. His sold-out performances in venues around the world are an event you must see and hear – because “What You Hear Is What You Get – The Best Of Bad Company – Live!”
Gates open @ 6:30 • Color Blind opens @ 7:30 Tickets Available at the Clover Island Inn. $22 in advance or $25 at the gate Room Packages Also Available – (509) 586-0541
Jul/090
Washington Cattlemens Association 2009 Annual Convention and Tradeshow
November 11 thru 14 2009
Pasco Red Lion,
Pasco, WA
www.washingtoncattlemen.org
contact – wacattle@kvalley.com
Jul/090
Time of Remembrance/1st Annual Golf Tournament Sunday, September 13, 2009
Canyon Lakes golf course presents the first annual fund-raising golf tournament to benefit “Time of Remembrance”. The $100 registration fee includes 18 holes of golf followed by dinner at the golf course and a prize ceremony. There are many sponsorship opportunities as well. Please stop by the Chamber to pick up a registration form.
Time of Remembrance is scheduled for September 26 -27, 2009. This event honors those who have died for their country and the families left behind.
Jul/090
Columbia Industries Golf Challenge & Celebration Gala Friday, August 14 & Saturday, August 15, 2009
The golf tournament at Canyon Lakes Golf course will feature special prizes and activities on each par 3. The gala celebration at the Lampson Hanger, will highlight both silent and live auctions, dinner provided by Bonefish Grill and dancing to The Highland Drive Band.
This two day event is a key fundraiser for Columbia Industries which is a non-profit organization that focuses on developing the work skills of people with disabilities. Building on their “unique abilities”, they provide vocational training that will lead to community employment.
Jul/090
Summer Concert Series at Flat Top Park begins this Friday, July 3, 2009
Bring a chair or a blanket and kick back on the lawn at Flat Top Park in West Richland. Enjoy an all American musical tribute performed by the Mid-Columbia Symphony. Concert begins at 7:00pm.
Jul/090
How to Drive in a Roundabout
Cari McGee thinks you should know more about how to drive in a Roundabout with all the new ones added here recently.
Jul/090
Palatebomb.com, Wine is for Everybody
Palatebomb.com is out to prove a point. Wine is for people of every (legal) age. And we want to let people in their 20s and 30s showcase that they too have knowledge and opinions about wines in the Northwest and beyond. Featuring writers Stephen Hartley (who has partial ownership in the new venture), An Bui and Wendy Cantu, we offer advice ranging from seasonal drinking tips, to pairings with food and even have education on how to understand wine terminology. This is a FUN site most of all!
We won’t give you all the details here. But we inviting the wine-loving public to attend the launch of the new Palatebomb.com website on Monday July 20th, 6:00pm – 9:00pm at Bookwalter winery in Richland. Just RSVP to Craig by email, craig@brightwebmarketing.com, or by calling 509-783-9558.
We hope you can join us! And the first glass of wine is on Palatebomb!
Jul/090
Business After Hours
Place:Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo-1500 S. Oak St., Kennewick
Time:5:00-7:00 p.m.
Jul/090
Local News from Our Readers!
Local Cupcake Vendor gets high rating for the product by a visitor!
Below is an excerpt from from An Bui’s blog post titled Cupcake Comparison: Sprinkles, Kara’s, Boulder Baked and Cupcakes
While in I was in TriCities for business, Craig Sutton of networkTask and BrightWeb Marketing picked up cupcakes from Cupcakes Bakery and Deli. OMG. Yes, I just ‘OMG’ed. Why? Because these cupcakes were AMAZING – they weren’t too rich or too sweet. The texture wasn’t too crumbly either. They became even more amazing when Craig let on they were only $2.00/pop, or $20/dozen. While the presentation left much to be desired (the plastic boxes reminded me of meh cupcakes from any grocery store), the cupcake itself is a secret too good not to share.
Cupcake Comparison: Price
Sprinkles: 3.25 each or $36/dozen
Kara’s: 3.25 each or $36/dozen
Boulder Baked: 2.50 each or $27.50/dozen
Cupcakes: 2.00 each or $20/dozen
Cupcake Comparison: Location
Sprinkles: Beverly Hills, Dallas, Newport Beach, Phoenix – Scottsdale, SF – Palo Alto, Houston
Kara’s: San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Jose, Napa
Boulder Baked: Boulder
Cupcakes: Kennewick, WA
Cupcake Comparison: Packaging/Experience
Sprinkles: Line out the door but well worth the wait. Wooden knives and forks for those who share or are concerned with manners.
Kara’s: Upscale and posh, with pretty cardboard boxes.
Boulder Baked: Highly utilitarian for-here plates.
Cupcakes: Plastic Boxes – Plain and not the most environmentally friendly packaging that detracts from the cupcake experience.