DOMA Coffee just received the Hydra from Synesso. We want to thank Synesso for being an awesome company to work with and for going into overdrive to have the Hydra built and in our hands so quickly, and, because of that, we get to show case the Hydra in the TNTINW that’s coming up on Thursday.  The Hydra will find its final resting place at the Nelson’s coffee shop, Revel 77, in Spokane (coming soon). This also means that DOMA Coffee is a new distributor for Synesso in the Inland Northwest.

It is often said that “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”

Well, we are so flattered by being imitated.

Honestly, we are beside ourselves, stop. It’s just killing us.

Never before in DOMA Coffee Roasting Companies 12-year history have we received so much flattery (in the form of imitation) for our design work as we have since Roast House opened their doors a few years ago.

From font treatments, photos, design concepts, to the very specific choice of colors.

Our thanks goes out, really honestly thanks a million for imitating us, so glad you like our design work that much.

As a group of designers and artists we design with a very thorough attention to detail, very much like the way we roast coffee.

We take the time to research our designs, making sure our work is original, unique and no one regionally is doing something similar. Those are the standards we have set for ourselves. We belabor the details of everything. The DOMA brand has developed and modified over time to convey who we are as a company.

We have had brilliant creative expertise and consistency with Shelly Croswhite of Crowberry design, which did our original logo and was part of the team who redesigned our latest version last year. She has been with DOMA since the beginning. Chris Dreyer of Dreyer Press has played a large part in developing our brand by adding his unique style of illustration, design and most notably his maturing craft as a letterpress man. Honestly Dreyer Press and DOMA have a contract signed in blood (his and mine) his relationship to DOMA is that important (Ok, and sometimes we’re not sure if he’ll show up with our bags!)

Personally I have loved having the opportunity and good fortune of working closely with these creative designers, and along with many other illustrators and designers we have a very developed brand. One that includes, fonts and ligatures’, color palette, logo and tagline, tone and voice.

Our brand speaks volumes about our company, our product, our ethics, our sustainability, and our promise to our customers. DOMA has won design awards in regional, national and international markets.  (Now, that was flattering)

So, we wonder, is the consumer confused when Roast House decides to use similar treatment in their logo font? When their tag line is 3 separate words? When they launched a coffee supporting cycling with a skeleton? When they posted a photo of a farmer from our co-op’s web site on their FB page, renaming the farm and the region implying that this is a farmer they purchased green coffee from?

Is our local community deceived when Roast House stated that 100% of the coffee they sold was organic, when in fact they did not receive their organic certification until 18 months after they had been making these claims.

Is anyone confused when Roast House uses the exact same colors and style of layout as all of DOMA’s marketing material in their most recent web site?

I hope that Roast House and their designers did not mean to bring about confusion in our brands, particularly in this regional market, as we are both selling coffee.

Is this a most unlikely coincidence or infringement of intellectual property?

It can also be said “Flattery gets you nowhere”.

Hilaria Ramos Hndz showing organic soil. We actually buy our Mexico Michiza Yeni Navan from this cooperative.

On March 5^th, we will be releasing the new La Bicicletta bag.  It features excellent, new art by the DOMA design team and colorful letterpress work by Chris Dreyer.  Since it is also National Multiple Personality Day, we are offering two unique versions of this award-winning bag.  It will still contain the same great blend you have grown to love.

Proceeds from the sale of this coffee go to support women’ s cycling teams, including our local Team Rep.

For Coeur d’Alene residents, there is great opportunity to take part in the new developments with the CdA Bike/Pedestrian Committee.  Here is a brief rundown on what is happening and what you can do.

John Kelly, Chairman of the CdA Bike/Pedestrian Committee, has provided the following information:
“Even we as a committee are unclear as to what took place on January 11, 2012.  We and citizens arrived at the Old City Hall, as we always do on the second Wednesday of each month to have our Ped/Bike Advisory Committee meeting.  Upon our arrival, we found notes on the door that stated that our meeting had been canceled.  Since that time, the City Administrator has issued a statement on our Facebook wall.  (Coeur d’ Alene Ped Bike)

Bottom line is this: we were prevented to meet as a committee.  It seems that it has to do with our current “Duties & Responsibilities.”  If we meet, we are subject to take some action based on our current “D&R”‘s, and I get the feeling that this concerns someone at City Hall.

Additionally, the committee has decided to make me Chairman of the Ped/Bike Committee.  If they keep the Committee from meeting, this can’t be finalized.

It is my belief that they will find a reason to cancel the February 8th meeting as well.  The only way this can be avoided is if the community voices their concern and gets involved.  The need to get involved not only in the February 8th meeting, but more importantly the February 24th workshop with the Mayor and Council.  It will be at this workshop that our “Duties & Responsibilities” will be determined.

As it stands right now, the Committee advises the City Council and City Administrator directly in regard to Pedestrian and Bicycle issues.  We also have the authority to advise City Department Heads directly, which means that the Department Heads could be held accountable for their actions by a group made up of citizens that communicates directly with the City Administrator and Council, and this seems to be an issue for some.

On February 23rd at 12 noon, the City Council and Mayor will be holding a workshop to determine what our duties and responsibilities will ultimately be.  In a way, this will be the point where the City Council and Mayor will truly say how committed they are to Pedestrian & Bicycle infrastructure in the City of Coeur d’Alene.  If they change our D&R’s, it would be a devastating setback for the walk, pedal, and roll community.

If this issue is important to you, I would suggest attending our next scheduled meeting February 8th (5:30pm) in the Old City Council Chamber’s in City Hall, and the February 23rd (noon) workshop held at the Library.”

This year we are fortunate to work with Tiffany Patterson from Spokane, Washington.  Although we have known about Tiffany and her unique penmanship for several years, we needed to wait for a Valentine’s Day launch because this girl can draw hearts like no one else.

The collaborative process for Sea of Love was embarked upon long before the season of love was upon us, allowing Tiffany time to define a concept and tweak the art, and time for us to find an amazing coffee to roast.

Chris Dreyer did a great job printing this year’s bag, his 4th Valentine’s bag printing (which makes his relationship with DOMA one of the longest he has ever had, aside from the one with his mother).

This Organic Colombian Coffee has strong notes of cherry, sweet tarts and fleur de sel caramel. Smooth body with a long, clean honeyed finish.

Recommended brew methods are drip, french press, chemex. Works well as a single origin espresso.

Roast level is 3 out of 6

Location in Coeur d’ Alene:

Pilgrims Natural Foods Market

Locations in Spokane:

Rocket Market

Main Market

The Kitchen Engine

Madeleine’s

Locations in Sandpoint:

Winter Ridge Natural Foods Market

Super 1 Foods

Limited Supply - Selling Out Fast!

DOMA Is Participating In CoopSOL’s Annual General Meeting:

The meeting will be held at Maya Vinic, a producer coop in Acteal, Chiapas, made up of 500 coffee farming families located in 38 highland communities in the municipalities of Chenalhó, Pantelhó and Chalchihuitán, in Chiapas, Mexico.   Producers from several of our partners in Latin America will be in attendance, including our partners from Yeni Navan MICHIZA in Oaxaca

Maya Vinic has recently been accepted to the FLO register and is in the second year of organic certification.  Cooperative Coffees purchased the first Maya Vinic coffee to be exported under fair trade terms in 2001.

On The Agenda:

-Visit the Coop (facilities, projects, progress and challenges)

-Celebrate the 10-year anniversary relationship of Coop Coffees and Maya Vinic

-Discuss organic production issues (organic practices, prices and yields).

-Review climate change (experiences/challenges to offset impact)

-Attend presentations from and/or regarding CLAC, FLO Centroamerica, WFTO

-Discuss the future vision for fair trade (understanding producer and roaster needs, a new fair trade)

-Attend the inauguration of the Maya Vinic Café.

**We will post pictures of this trip as they become available**

This week DOMA Coffee is hosting a meeting of executive committee members from our green bean importing cooperative, Cooperative Coffee.  Each member has an inspiring story as leaders in the fair trade movement.  It is truly exciting to participate as we share and learn all that encompasses quality coffee and fair trade practices.

For Cooperative Coffee and the 24 community-based roasters that make up the cooperative, fair trade is represented as:

-Commitment to small-scale coffee farmers

-True partnerships with producer organizations

-Producers contributing with 50% of voting voice

-Total transparency through http://www.fairtradeproof.org/

-Long term relationships that empower farmers and encourage financial stability

-Sustainability

-An ongoing journey

In Attendance:

Mike Moon – Just Coffee

Monika Firl – Producer Relations, Co-oP Coffee

Lee Wallace – Peace Coffee

Tripp Pomeroy (son Hugh) – Café Campensino & Sweetwater

TJ Semanchin – Kickapoo

Chris Treter – Higher Grounds

Janet Utecht – Executive Director, Co-oP Coffee

Glenn Lathrop – Desert Sun

Helen Voogd – Bean North

Finally, you’ve waited all year for this one.  Available Monday November 14th, 2011.

(Or call and pre-order yours today.)

New messenger bags and tote bags available now!

Call AnnE to order @ 208.667.1267

Altura

The Altura: $40

Size: 16″w x 12″h x 4.5″deep

Lining & Pocket – natural canvas made from recycled cotton/plastic bottles

Back – brown canvas made from recycled cotton/plastic bottles

Inside pockets – 16″w x 6″h – divided into 3 pockets

Snap Closure – top of bag under flap

Adjustable Shoulder Strap – 1.5″w automotive seat belt webbing

Our tag – recycled leather branded with DOMA logo

Comments: our largest shoulder bag with plenty of space. 

Sumatra

Sumatra: $35

Size: 12″w x 11″h x 4.5″deep

Lining & Pockets – natural canvas made from recycled cotton/plastic bottles

Back – brown canvas made from recycled cotton/plastic

Inside Pockets – 16″w x 6″h – divided into 2 pockets

Snap Closure – top of bag under flap

Adjustable Shoulder Strap – 1.5″w automotive seat belt webbing

Tag – recycled leather branded with DOMA logo.

Breve

Breve: $23

For those who like to travel light – just enough room to carry a few must haves (cell, keys, wallet, etc)

Size: 8.5″w x 9.5″h x 1″d

Lining & Pocket: Canvas made from recycled cotton & plastic bottles – natural color / light tan

Shoulder Strap: 1.5″ wide Automotive Seat Belt Webbing – one piece / non adjustable

Inside pocket: 6″ x 6″

Tag – recycled leather branded with DOMA logo.

Excelso

Excelso: $16

 Our smallest tote – however, we still wanted it to have plenty of space – so we put a 5″ gusset on the bottom. This gives it extra space without having to make a larger tote.

Size: 8″w x 10″h x 5″d

Lining & Pocket: canvas made from recycled cotton & plastic bottle – natural color / light tan

Inside pocket: 6″ x 6″

Handles: 1″ wide cotton webbing

As you may have heard, our award-winning “La Bicicletta” is getting a new look.  This will be the third version of out iconic bag.  Proceeds still go to support women’s cycling (Team Rep) and it will have cool letterpressed, new art.  Details are scarce on the new art, look for it next month.  I have heard that there will be two different, new designs…

In case you don’t know, Team Rep is a local women’s cycling team.  Here are a few words from their founder, Jenni Gaertner:

The team started in 2009, when a group of ladies came to me asking for mentorship.  They wanted to try out some road racing, and wanted someone to help with the “ins and outs” so to speak.  As word spread, my thoughts of an initial meeting of 10-15 ladies was in reality a meeting with over 60 women present!  In our first season, we had close to 90 women signed up on the team….

Our mission was, and continues to be, to promote women’s health through cycling.  We seek to introduce women, at any and every level, to this sport – and help them pursue whatever cycling goals they may have.  Some women
join so that they can have a group with which to ride.  Some women join because they want to compete, and want skills development and challenges.

Some women join because they just want some new friends.  We have women from age 11 through age 70 on the team, novice to pro.  We are mothers.  We are sisters.  We are daughters.  We are wives.  We are lawyers.  Or doctors. Or housewives.  Or students. Some of us like to ride really fast.  Others like to ride casually to the coffee shop.  Some of us are gourmet cooks.  I can’t cook myself out of a box.  Some of us are cat lovers.  Others prefer the pooches.  ALL of us love to ride our bikes, and all of us contribute something of value to our group.

Since that initial year, we started a satellite team in Boise for the 2010 season, because the women in Boise saw what a great thing we had, and wanted a part of it   For 2011, they were able to secure local sponsorship and become an independent Boise-area team.  Without the structure that we provided, and support from our sponsors, they wouldn’t have been able to complete their mission.

We have sent squads to the premier women’s stage race, the Nature Valley Grand Prix, where we won stage 1.  We have dominated regional stage racing in the Cat 1/2 field for 3 years, and have fielded impressive Cat 4 fields, as well.  But the biggest accomplishment, in my mind, is that we have given women a safe place to explore the sport.  Several friendships have been started, and continued, because of the team.  Women are trying things they previously haven’t had the courage to try before, because they’ve been provided a support system and confidence from riding.  It’s truly amazing to see how some of these women have transformed from the simple act of gaining confidence on a bicycle.