The staff at Wicked Joe is committed to providing exotic, organic, fair trade, shade grown coffees that bring real value to the people who grow and cultivate them, because sustainable agriculture is far better for people and ecosystems, not to mention that the coffee is mighty tasty! Wicked Joe is a USDA Certified Organic Operation and a proud member of the National Organic Program. We are also members of Coffee Kids, a non-profit that helps kids in growing regions, and the Specialty Coffee Association of America.

Every time you buy Wicked Joe, you are helping us to support one or more of the following organizations: TransFair USA (Fair Trade); Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (Bird Friendly/Shade Grown); or Coffee Kids, helping coffee growing families improve the quality of their lives.

Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death and sweet as love. - Turkish Proverb/Wicked Joe Philosophy

WICKED JOE NEWS

May 12, 2009
Coffee Talk with Bard's Bob Garver Downeast.com Submitted by Kathleen Fleury on Tue, 05/12/2009
Bob Garver is a coffee connoisseur. The owner of Wicked Joe’s Coffee, a wholesale roasting company based in Brunswick, Garver decided to explore the retail side of life and opened Bard Coffee on Middle Street in Portland in April. To read more about the coffee scene in Portland, see this article in the Portland Press Herald.

May 6, 2009
Take a look at the many environmental and human rights commitments made by Wicked Joe Roasting Co. owners Bob and Carmen Garver, and it becomes clear that the only thing “wicked” about their joe is the name.
Based in Brunswick, along the banks of the Androscoggin River, Wicked Joe is committed not only to roasting the tastiest coffee they can, but doing it in the most socially responsible way possible. Inspect a bag at your local grocery store, and you’ll notice the label is covered in decals, proclaiming the coffee to be “USDA Certified Organically Grown” and “Certified Fair Trade,” which means the Garvers get their beans directly from a network coffee farmers, who receive a fair price for their labor. Read more...

April 16, 2009
Wicked Joe’s own Bob Garver recently returned from Atlanta where he was “extremely honored” to serve as a Sensory Judge at the World Barista Championships held from 16-19 April.  Said Bob, “It’s both an honor and a privilege to be served coffee by the very best in the world.  Incredible coffees, phenomenal people - I’ll savor this experience forever.”

The WBC has been described by WBC Certified Head Judge Scott Conary, a Mainer born and bred, and currently owner of Chapel Hill, North Carolina’s vaunted Caffe Driade, Open Eye Café and Carrboro Coffee Co., as  “an amazing multicultural gathering of the most talented & passionate professionals in the coffee industry”.  Over 50 countries send their National Barista Champions to compete for the title of “World’s Best”.  The WBC encourages and recognizes demonstrated excellence in the art and skill of espresso preparation and service. WBC competitors must prepare and serve 12 coffee beverages, including four espressos, four cappuccinos and four original signature drinks of their own creation within a 15 minute timeframe in front of a panel of accomplished & certified industry judges. The judges evaluate the competitors on taste, tactile balance, beverage presentation, technical skills, coffee knowledge, professionalism, dedication, passion, attention to detail, and overall impression.

Bob is one of only 5 sensory judges from the USA, and the only judge from the Northeast to have passed a series of grueling and intense workshops and exams in order to qualify and be certified as a WBC Judge. Bob is also a United States Barista Championship Certified Head Judge and has served previously as a Sensory Judge, a Technical Judge and a Head Judge at numerous regional and national Barista competitions serving most recently as a Head Judge at the USBC in Portland, Oregon March 5-8.   

Congratulations to Gwilym Davies of the United Kingdom the new World Champion! - and to runner-up Sammy Piccolo of Canada – these guys were truly amazing - as were all of the competitors. A special congratulations to a great guy, Michael Phillips, the United States National Champion who finished 3rd, and was remarkable as usual. Mike scored an extraordinary 670.5 in the preliminary round, the highest score of the entire competition.

April 1, 2009
Team Wicked as shown in this undated file photo.  Not shown is Rookie of the Year/Employee of the Month/Co-MVP Brian “Washboard” Grant who was detained signing autographs.

We are proud to announce that Team Wicked – Bobby “Van de Velde” Garver, Team Captain Bryden “the Naked Scotsman” Smith, Jack “the Cannon” Rowntree, and Brian “six pack” Grant - are now the reigning champions of the Shaw’s Jessica Dion/MCCP (Maine Children’s Cancer Program) Fight For Life Golf Tournament held on Wednesday May 20^th, 2009.  Despite beginning their ascent to greatness with one of the classic blunders (no….we didn’t start a land-war in Asia), Team Wicked overcame this and many other seemingly insurmountable obstacles, rode a historic hot-streak to post a hard fought 13 under, and emerged from a very deep and worthy field to seize the victory.  Notable performances were turned in by co-MVPs Jack “The Money” Rowntree (who also won Closest to the Pin honors) and Brian “Iceman” Grant.  Best of all, Wicked Joe, as both a tournament sponsor and participant, helped to raise $20,000 to help in the fight against children’s cancer in Maine.