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Counter Culture Certified Coffee Steward Program

The coffee steward is the sommelier of the coffee world, and their role is to guide the coffee drinker through the myriad flavors of coffees from around the globe. The Counter Culture Certified Coffee Steward Program includes coursework in coffee history, botany, trading, brewing, and tasting. Successful Certified Coffee Stewards have attended classes in Coffee Extraction, Cupping, Origins, History and Trading, and have demonstrated their knowledge of these subjects in a written exam. In addition, the Certified Coffee Steward has demonstrated their knowledge of the cupping process, and their ability to taste and describe coffee flavors accurately. The Certified Coffee Steward is also qualified to serve as a coffee expert in a retail, restaurant, or coffee bar setting, and guide consumers through the experience of selecting, purchasing, brewing, and tasting specialty coffees.

  • All Certified Coffee Stewards will receive a certificate of recognition and a cupping spoon engraved with the Counter Culture Coffee logo.

Coffee Steward Qualifications:
  • Completion of Origins, History and Trade, Extraction, and Cupping Leader’s Labs
  • Written exam based on lab materials and knowledge of Counter Culture Coffees; exam includes a 500 word essay and a practical, cupping-based portion. 85 percent passes. If a candidate does not pass the certification exam, they may reschedule a makeup exam for a later time.


The coursework behind these two certifications is a solid foundation of coffee knowledge for the working coffee professional. We believe that this base of knowledge is essential for anyone who seeks to be a professional in the coffee industry. We are proud to maintain these programs, and are dedicated to supporting the recognition and development of Certified Baristas and Coffee Stewards throughout the industry.

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WHAT'S NEW

The Daily Demitasse interviews barista champ Lem Butler!

The Village Voice takes stock of Domo's revamped menu!

The New York Times explores the world of awesome decaf coffees!

The New York Times asserts that New York has gotten serious about coffee.

TIME Magazine takes a look at "third wave" coffee.

George Washington University's Daily Colonial doesn't get carded for delicious coffee at Baked and Wired.

Godanriver.com thinks that coffee house Backstreet Buzz in Reidsville, NC found its niche

Edible Manhattan recaps the Dean & Deluca TNT and offers a slideshow of Meister making perfectly steamed milk!

Asheville, NC's Mountain Xpress interviewed our Sustainability and Producer Relations Manager Kim Elena Bullock about being a responsible coffee company.

Check out our TNT Latte Art Throwdown page for a schedule of upcoming coffee events!

DC Green Culture Examiner Invites you to Have Your (Eco) Coffee and Drink it too

NY Times.com Diner's Journal drops by NY's Bluebird Coffee Shop for some handcrafted coffee.

Congratulations to Sara Foster, owner of Foster’s Market, winner of the NC Restaurateur of the Year award!

Congratulations to our own Brent Hall for his win in the January Tuesday Night Throwdown Latte Art competition at Caviar & Bananas in Charleston, SC!

Win cool food stuff this January and February in the second annual SAVEUR Foodie Giveaway!

Fresh Cup appreciates an "Eco-Conscious Supply Chain" (PDF)

Bull City Rising welcomes Phoebe Lawless ("The Pie Lady") to downtown Durham, NC!

cityguides.MSN weighs in on America's Best Coffee!

Imbibe Magazine examines 5 Heritage Coffees You Should Know About (PDF)

Imbibe Magazine taste-tests decaf coffees that taste great! (PDF)

Barista Magazine takes note of the Finca Mauritania, Peregrine Espresso, Counter Culture pilot project to fight global climate change (PDF)

Meet our retail partners Parker and Otis in Durham, NC, in the COFFEE PEOPLE section of our site!

The UK site The Organic Home helps sustainability-conscious consumers to find organic products for the home.

DC Magazine recommends a visit to Mid-City Caffé.

Imbibe Magazine: Six seasonal, fresh-roasted [coffee] offerings to warm up your winter.

OnlineAthens (GA) applauds Red Eye for taking coffee to another level.

The Village Voice's Fork in the Road welcomes Bluebird Coffee Shop to the East Village!

Wine Enthusiast Magazine included Counter Culture Coffee in their Holiday Gift Guide!

Raleigh's News & Observer digs Designbox's Brand Fandango for holiday gifts.

Counter Culture's Meister runs down some holiday coffee gift ideas for Slashfood.

New York Metromix welcomes Bluebird Coffee Shop to the East Village!

About.com's 2009 Gift Guide: Coffee, Cocoa & Combos

Meet Tommy Gallagher, Technical Services

Counter Culture Coffee, Peregrine Espresso, and Finca Mauritania partner in reforestation project in El Salvador!

Delish.com includes Counter Culture among their 12 Incredible Edible Gifts for Gourmets on Your List

The Inaugural Coffeegeek Lab Tasting: Aida's Grand Reserve + Hacienda Esmeralda Special Microlot!

Bon Appetit includes 3CUPS and Cowgirl Creamery on their HOT 10: the best in-store dining! (PDF)

Chris Preovolos of Espresso Neat blogs about our Beginner Espresso Lab in the Connecticut Post.

Carolina Country magazine includes Counter Culture Coffee on its 2009 Holiday Gift Guide! (PDF)

Raleigh's News & Observer blog takes note of our 2009 Holiday Blend for which a portion of the proceeds go toward a tree-planting project in Guatemala! And staff writer Andrea Weigl appreciates the reforestation effort, as well!

Cooking Light includes Counter Culture in its Editor's Dozen essentials (PDF)

Read Lydia Iannetti's recap of the debut Counter Culture Coffee Camp in the October/November issue of Barista Magazine. (PDF)

Saveur Magazine looks at home coffee brewing methods!

Check out this video from the 2009 Climate Ride to promote climate change and and renewable
energy awareness!

The Daily Beacon (University of Tennessee) appreciates the knowledge and skill of the baristas at Knoxville's Old City Java!

Congratulations to Billy Wilson of BARISTA in Portland, OR, for his 1st Place finish in the Northwest Regional Barista Competition!

SeriousEats visits our Durham Roastery and Headquarters for a Friday cupping!

Congratulations to Saladelia Café for 20 years of great tastes and green practices!

Imbibe Magazine names Finca Nueva Armenia as its Drink of the Week for perfect iced coffee.Time Out NY profiles Everyman Espresso barista Sam Penix! Creative Loafing includes Julia's Coffee and our weekly cuppings among the Best of Charlotte 2009!

Edible Brooklyninterviews St. John Frizell from Fort Defiance.

Meet Boheme Cafe in Baltimore's Inner Harber!

Meet Oasis Coffee House in Johnson City, TN!

The DesignSponge blog offers its Durham City Guide!

Meet Alex Brown, Customer Relations Representative, Washington, DC!

Coffeereview.com evaluates boutique espresso blends at Counter Culture's Atlanta Regional Training Center.

Greenvilleonline.com takes on a Latte Art Hoedown at Coffee and Crema.

TIME OUT NY's blog The Feed offers an update on Fort Defiance.

Bon Appetit Magazine thinks that Direct Trade coffees make a great gift for your host!

Spirit Magazine joins us for a coffee cupping in Durham.

InStyle Magazine makes the perfect iced coffee at home!

Fetco interviews Counter Culture's Brian Ludviksen at SCAA 2009.

Another satisfied customer from our Counter Culture Coffee training curriculum posts on home-barista.com!

Coffee & Conservation notices a striking resemblance to Counter Culture's coffee bags in the mainstream coffee world.

Big Bear Cafe was chosen as one of this year's recipients of the Washington, DC "Mayor's Environmental Excellence Awards"!

The News & Observer welcomes Raleigh's Busy Bee Cafe to the neighborhood in its newest incarnation.

Newyork.SeriousEasts.com takes oatmeal and coffee at Simon Sips seriously!

Time Out New York's 2009 Eat Out Awards included Critics’ choice for Best cult coffee: Abraço, Critics’ choice for Best dining on a budget: Simon Sips, and Reader's choice for Best new neighborhood joint, Brooklyn: The General Greene.

It's Counter Culture Coffee's mission to introduce our friends and customers to the joy of seasonal coffee!

Tryst and Big Bear Café were picked first and third, respectively, for "Best Coffee Shop" in the Washington City Paper's 2009 Readers' Poll.

Peregrine Espresso was name 2009 "Best Coffee Shop That's Not Starbucks" by the staff of the Washington City Paper.

The Washington City Paper 2009 Staff Pick for "Best Dog" is "The Labradoodle often parked outside Bloomingdale’s Big Bear Café."

Coffee & Conservation visits Finca Esperanza Verde in San Ramon, Nicaragua, andspends time with the birds.

The New York Times coffee blog takes a look at Robusta.

New York Magazine's TastingTable ponders the deliciousness of Simon Sips.

Metrocurean welcomes Mid-City Cafe to Washington, DC!

Savory Exposure posted some great photos from a recent Friday morning coffee cupping at Counter Culture Coffee's Atlanta Regional Training Center.

Newraleigh.com welcomes The Busy Bee back to Raleigh's Wilmington Street.

Philadelphia CityPaper's Meal Ticket section offers caffeinated cheers the new shop Lovers and Madmen!

Coffee & Conservation takes a look at the Emerald Toucanet, the bird on our Cafe San Ramon label!

The New York Times gives Athen's The National a round of applause for espresso.

The New York Times considers Athen's The National something to write home about.

Food GPS interviews USBC competitor barista Joshua Flail from Atlanta's Octane Coffee.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette dedicates regular coverage of their city's coffee scene.

The Burg, Lynchburg, VA's local weekly, voted The White Hart Cafe the best cup of coffee in Lynchburg!

Man Seeking Coffee enjoys a visit to Manhattan's Everyman Espresso.

Suite101.com offers a shade-grown coffee tutorial.

Author Michaele Weissman visits Google's Santa Monica, CA, office to discuss her book God in a Cup: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Coffee.

GoingGreenDC notices the buzz about Bread and Brew.

OnlineAthens.com gets to know Gregg Carey of Redeye Coffee.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette takes another look at the MARBC and NERBC!

The Richmond Times-Dispatch gives a nice welcome to Ellwood's Coffee shop.

Raleigh's News & Observer takes stock of local coffee shop openings.

Raleigh's News & Observer takes note of Durham's discerning palate.

GOOD Magazine examines the United States of Coffee.

Atlanta's The Blissful Glutton blog loves Octane!

The Village Voice offers three cheers for breakfast at Brooklyn's General Greene

Lana from Big Bear Cafe posted pictures from her recent trip to Nicaragua with Counter Culture!

Meet Aquino Huachez Huachez, a contributing farmer to our Valle del Santuario project.

Meet our featured partner City Lights Coffee, in Charleston, SC, in our Coffee People section.

Meet our featured partner Big Bear Café, in Washington, DC, in our Coffee People section.

Meet Customer Relations Representative Katie Carguilo!

Do you read Lex's Journal? We do.

FEATURED COFFEE

Valle del Santuario
Valle del Santuario
MARCH FEATURED COFFEE
San Ignacio, Peru
Counter Culture Direct Trade Certified • Certified Organic • Shade-Grown
 A sweet, syrupy mouthfeel complements this coffee's rich notes of vanilla, fig, chocolate, and spice. Direct from our farmer partners in San Ignacio, this is one of the finest coffees ever cultivated in Peru. View Map.
$11.75
$10.75
You Save: $1.00(per 12 oz bag)