If you're an Edmontonian, you probably know that 109th street near the high level bridge is one of the best places in the city to view the Canada Day fireworks. This year the city is planning to launch the biggest firework shell in Canada.  Sounds like an ear-shattering good time.

We wanted to get in on the fun, and this year we just happen to have a Transcend Coffee location conveniently placed right in the thick of things. So we thought we'd stay open late and serve coffee to all the folks celebrating Canada's 142nd birthday. Grab a latte, iced tea, coffee, or hot chocolate, either before or after the pyrotechnics. We hope to see you there!

Transcend Garneau
Open Canada Day, July 1
8 am to midnight
8708 – 109 street

Please also be aware of city road closures and parking bans during the fireworks. Our original roastery & coffeebar location on 62 ave and 99 st will be closed on Canada Day.

OK, just for the record, this post was done from my iPad. First time, and I must say it was a bit frustrating. Not at all as easy as my computer. It worked, but it took an hour, compared to, well... you know how long it should have taken. The jury is still out as to whether this nifty item will replace my laptop when traveling....

It is my second day in London, and after a pretty decent night's sleep, I am feeling quite rested. Even got up early to volunteer at the WBC bar, busing and washing dishes - what do they say about men with dish pan hands? As usual it is great to reconnect with the ever growing coffee community that I find myself apart of.

Today was fun as I had the opportunity to introduce my family to a number of people that, up until now they have only heard about. A truly fun event that was debuted this year was the aeropress championship. It was a fun and low key event which was very well received by the specialty coffee community. Another thing which was a pleasant surprise for me was the number of outlier countries making it into the final 12 in the WBC. Included in this group are Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, and Greece (congrats to Yannis and the crew at Taf Coffee).

Joining this excited group are some of the usual countries which typically rise to the top; including Canada, the US, Ireland, Australia, Denmark and Germany. It's tough to see those who don't make it, as so much work and effort are expended on the journey to the WBC. Perhaps all of the Americas in the top 12 are a foreshadow of what could happen in Bogota next year. Exciting that the WBC is moving to a coffee producing country next year.

As always, these events are mostly about people, both in terms of old friends and new. Today for example, a fellow - Greg Costello who owns Workhouse Coffee in Reading, came up and introduced himself to me. While we didn't get a lot of time to chat, it was very nice to meet him. Turns out that he watches our video podcasts and just wanted to say hi. This is the very real and meaningful part of small world of specialty coffee that I truly enjoy.

Take for example the conversation that I had with Peter Giuliano - current SCAA President - which happened while washing dishes for the WBC bar. We got chatting about the recent SCAA Symposium, and some of the comments that were provided as feedback on this event. Namely, the disconnect that many felt who attended, and specifically when it came to the panel discussion on single serve trends which blended the CEO of Starbucks, Green Mountain's K Cup and James Hoffman. I too have publicly voiced my confusion over that session. Regardless of that, we started to chat about the potential need for a second category of specialty coffee, perhaps an 85+ category. I indicated to him that there seems to be a growing divide in the specialty coffee industry which is too large to encompass all of the players in the current model. It is opportunities like these which come along as you wash dishes with folk who are ultimately committed to growing the profile of specialty coffee in the global market place.

All in all, I must confess my enjoyment in attending these events. Tomorrow, among other things, I need to track down the folk at Giesen to see if they might be able to crank out a Probat G45 for us in short order. On that side note, if anyone out there in the inter lands knows of someone selling a G45 at a reasonable rate, please let us know. OK, for now, this is Poul signing out. Check back later as Mr. Hasbean coffee and I have chatted about doing a joint Transcend and In My Mug video.

Take a quick survey. One question, about your favourite coffee drink.

Click here to take survey

Thanks for your input.

Here are the results of the mini survey so far.

It's been said a million times I am sure. You don't know what you've got until it's gone. Actually, I think someone wrote a song about that. Well you know it is true. I just spent the week laying my father to rest, and I know that I don't even have a clue what this means for me yet, or my family for that matter. But one thing that has resulted from this event is a re-uniting of myself with a whole bunch of people I haven't seen, some in over 20 years. And it is this reunion of sorts, in an unfortunate situation which has caused me to sit up and take notice.

It is so easy, and believe me, I am the king of being busy and on the go, to forget the people in our lives. Whether those people are friends, family, or otherwise, I am being shocked into the realization once again that my busyness is not all that it is cracked up to be. My family has been starting to complain of all my travel and all the time I spend at work. And this week, seeing old friends for the first time in decades has slammed home for me the need to stop and make time for relationships. I am all about relationships, or so I say. We are building relationships at origin and across the planet in and around the specialty coffee industry. Josh is in Burundi right now building what I hope to be enduring relationships. But what I find all too often, is that life gets so busy and complicated that we barely have time to maintain these relationships, let alone nurture them. So, I guess I am reflecting out loud about how I have been negligent with my own relationships. If you happen to be one of those who have been neglected, please accept this as my apology. If you are like me and have a tendency to be on the go so much that people are but a blur, take it from me, better to voluntarily slow down and say hi, rather than being forced to like I was this week.

A special thanks to my old friend Bill Kirkwold and his wife for hosting me this evening and letting me ride dirt bikes. Seriously, I haven't done that since I was 18 years old. It was great to see you after all these years. The same goes for all of you I got to see at the funeral yesterday... Allan, Nadine, Shari, Jennifer, Eric, Bob and Joyce Wright, the Wades, the Hagels, the Wrays, and the list could go on and on.

Take it from someone who is too busy, and doesn't stop much to smell the roses, unless they are coffee blossoms at origin, life is too short not to stop and keep up with those people in our lives who are important. OK, good night, it's late, and I haven't even been drinking wine tonight (OK, at least not very much).

Yes. It is indeed time to party like it's 1939.

You see, in 1939, they were busy building the Garneau Theatre, which actually opened in 1940. Joan's Coffee was the first tenant in the space that Transcend Garneau now occupies. So we are pleased to return the space to its roots. And we're hoping that you'll help us celebrate.

Join us for food, live music, festivities, frivolities, and of course plenty of tasty coffee.

Transcend Garneau Grand Opening
Sunday, June 13, 5 - 8 pm
8708 – 109 St, Edmonton

Oh, and here's a little video to entice you to come:

It was made by our pals at pixelknife.ca

Our pal Jason, along with other digital ninjas at pixelknife.ca, made this slick video to celebrate the opening of Transcend Garneau.

Poul shares his experiences, video and stories from a recent trip to judge the Honduras Cup of Excellence and tour coffee farms in the hills of Honduras.