Is it too early for New Year’s resolutions? How about a general plan?

Over the last couple of months have found repeated opportunities to talk to many people about what I want to do with the BitterBliss website in 2015, so I thought it would make a decent post here. While it should be apparent that I am currently trying to get more engaged with the coffee community by volunteering for the NSW branch of the Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA), I see BitterBliss as a means of supporting the broader coffee community.

In supporting the community there are a few core sections that I want to focus on including creating an Australian Coffee Event Calendar, Learning About Coffee, Challenges for non-coffeesnobs, and a few other bits and pieces.

Core Sections

Australian Coffee Event Calendar

In 2014 and before that, I have found it exceptionally hard to stay up to date with coffee based events. Generally what happens is that a cafe of company might publish or advertise their own event on their Twitter or Facebook page, but it finds little traction outside their immediate circles.

So what I have done is simply setup a shared Google Calendar that lists all the coffee events that I hear about. Sure you can visit BitterBliss.com/calendar if you want, which lists the events on a calendar and agenda formats (and by doing so credit me $0.0000001 via Google Adsense for the privilege), or you can add this calendar to your own. Try clicking on the Google Calendar buttons on the Australian Coffee Event Calendar page.

N.B.: As I am not affiliated with any coffee company or cafe, I will do my best to post all verified events.

Of course I won’t hear about every coffee event, but if you want yours listed I’ve made that easy too…–>

Learning About Coffee

I love learning more about coffee. There is so much to know and experience. Along the way I pick up various bits and pieces and try to talk about them in a fashion that is easy to understand. So far I have started with the different aromas of coffee, but in 2015 I look to expand that into the taste of coffee, different brew techniques, and anything else I find interesting along the way.

Coffee Challenges

I know that everyone needs to start their coffee journey somewhere (and if you are interested in mine I was interviewed here…), and some are further back than others. That aside, I believe the biggest issue for my coffee drinkers is losing their adventurous spirit, and no longer trying new things.

These challenges are simple nudges in the right direction. Many of them try to get people to compare and contrast, to develop their palate and to give new purpose to their coffee experience. As I find new challenges, expect that I will continue to post them here.

And the rest…

Like the rest of the site, you’ll find various bits and pieces that I am adding to the site as I go along. Whether it is cafe details and reviews, or glossary of coffee based terms, the aim is to make this site a resource for those looking to enjoy drinking better coffee.

But why…?? And how…?

Why…??
If you have not guessed it by now, I am passionate about coffee, and enjoy being a catalyst for others to expand on their experience.

How…??
It takes a lot of time and money to pay for all the coffee I drink, all the reviews I write, and all the content I create. You can thank that I am a freelance consultant for the flexibility, but as for the cost, well it ain’t cheap.

Some of the cost I am lucky enough to cover with sales of some of my designs, and little bit more when people buy my coffee app, but for the most part, it is a price I pay. If you’d rather not buy a design or app, and you still want to support all that I am trying to do, any donation you make is most welcome.

Support BitterBliss How about a thumbs up?

In any case…. bring on 2015…. and all the coffee we can drink… 🙂