Black Gold - Wake Up and smell the Coffee

I understand that not everyone gives a damn about the welfare of the producers of the things they consume, personally I think that the world would be a better place if they did, but that's just my opinion I thought it before watching this thoughtful documentary and I probably think it more strongly after wards.


The central theme is that of the importance of Fair Trade coffee, and is told by following a fine gentle man by the name of Tadesse Meskela and a group of Ethiopian coffee growers, it points out the hypocrisy of the World Trade Organization, the five big traders of coffee and the typical western consumer. But it also highlights the positive work done by Mr Meskela who in my opinion portrays everything I remember to be admirable about Africa. Other companies the come out in a good light are Taylors of Horogate.

To be fair (pardon the pun) It should be required viewing in every school, college and super market throughout the developed world.

Not only is the subject matter an important one, but the film making is superb, the soundtrack engaging and it makes fine if not impassioned viewing.

I strongly encourage you to watch if not buy - watch - lend to a friend this film

Black Gold [2007] [DVD] on Amazon UK

Further reading, writing and drinking

Jones the Grocer, Newmarket, Auckland, New Zealand

It was a cold wet morning and I had my eldest daughter and my baby son with me, we had just left my youngest daughter and wife at the Children's hospital where my daughter was to have her tonsils removed.

I've been up Newmarket plenty of times on lunch breaks when I worked in the city briefly but had never seen this place which is quite surprising as its in no way an inconspicuous place, its huge and shinny and to be honest not a sort of place I find inviting, never the less it looked interesting with the rows of interesting gourmet produce on shiny shelves.

We ducked in and found a table quite easy I ordered a Soy latte Bowl for myself, a fluffy for my son and a hot chocolate for my daughter and a couple of little cakes, they all went down with great enthusiasm with the exception of my Soy Latte for me it tasted a little peppery and the milk had a slight 'off' taste, I'm fairly confident that it wasn't and it was probably just a brand of Soy milk I was unfamiliar with but it wasn't that nice to be honest.

After we finished we had a quick look around the store and a chat to what I presume where the owners, I was struck by what a nice enthusiastic and friendly couple they where. I left with a fine Browne to take to my wife on guard duty in the hospital.



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Circus Circus, Mount Eden Village, Auckland, New Zealand

It was a damned hot day and I had taken it upon my self to walk from downtown Auckland out to a meeting in Mount Eden, I was knackered and agitated when I saw on the other side of the road a brightly colored, quirky looking cafe and decided it was time for a break in my pilgrimage.

This cafe sure is a popular spot and I found a small table that was half in a bush, the music was some kind of cool hipster 60 's psychedelic pop that added to the buzzing atmosphere in the small annexes and tented areas out the back.

The coffee it self was my usual fair of a Soy Latte Bowl of about average price in the Auckland region, It was full flavored, with a velvety texture that lasted well on the pallet and a faint but most welcoming aroma.

I didn't get anything to eat on that visit but what I saw looked superb and if I'm ever up that way again I would definitely drop in again and get a little snicky snacky snoo with my brew, perhaps I might drop in when its less busy next time.



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