How to Keep The Coffee Encyclopedia Free of Advertisements

I don’t like it when I go to a website I enjoy visiting and I’m bombarded with all sorts of intrusive ads. These distractions detract from otherwise great content, making me dislike the website in the process. I also understand that, if someone is able to devote a great deal of time to a project, they need to make money off of it. They don’t do this out of desire to con their visitors or somehow sell out to their corporate masters. They do this because they would have a hard time surviving in this world if they didn’t.

I desperately want to devote more time to this blog. I enjoy writing about coffee and everything that happens in the world of coffee. However, I have reached a point where I need to either put in advertisements or shut the blog down entirely. I don’t want to do that again. I want this project to be one that lasts for many years. Coffee is a complex world and it’s my desire to cover it in a way that I feel like others haven’t. I am no longer able to divert focus from projects than pay the bills though.

This is where you come in. This post is a start of a program where I solicit sponsorships and donations. Sponsorships can come in the form of money in exchange for sponsored content or merely the mention of a brand name. I want to make donations as simple as possible. Crowdfunding is something about which I have become extremely disenchanted. Anyone who wants to donate to this project can contribute as much or as little as they want by clicking the PayPal link below.

Click here if you would like to donate to The Coffee Encyclopedia via PayPal

I am not against writing sponsored content, but I will also include a mention of the fact that it’s sponsored content in each post. I want to be honest with people who decide to visit this blog. That's why I have made it a point to include a mention of how my words can’t be bought and certain sentiments are my honest feelings in every post where I have glowing thoughts about a company. I will no longer include these words in posts. Instead, I will include a disclaimer stating how the post is not sponsored content.

I would never charge a ridiculous price for sponsored content. My price will remain a flat $100 dollars per 500 word sponsored post. If someone who wants to purchase this content wants to change the length, they can submit a request to my email address at allenglines@gmail.com. I think that including this option in my repertoire will add more depth to this blog. I am more than happy to venture off topic and talk about pretty much anything. I feel like coffee is a universal thing that applies to almost everything imaginable.

Click here if you want to order a post to be featured on The Coffee Encyclopedia (Link will take you to PayPal)

This will be the only time I will write a post like this. If I write a new post, this post will be deleted.

Roast Magazine - I Want to Write for You

Naturally, as a person who writes about coffee, I want to have the opportunity to write from one of the coffee centric publications. I have followed Roast Magazine for some time and I’ve even proposed particular articles to them. None of these discussions went anywhere; therefore, here I am trying to revive them.

Any time I have to prove myself to an entity for which I want to write I am at a loss for words. I never know what they want and it seems like most things I could say are off base. For this discussion, I want Roast Magazine to set the tempo.

Normally, a magazine requires prospective writers to suggest topics. I don’t like to do that because it creates the impression that I can only write about that one thing. Whatever happened to editors saying “Here, write about this” and then the writer actually writes about it?

I love writing and I feel like I can write about anything. Coffee, in particular, seems to be the topic that gives me the least amount of difficulties. I want Roast Magazine to be able to see this fact and send me my first assignment.

I plan to write about my desire to write for Roast Magazine until it’s something that turns into a reality. I don’t think anyone should give up on something that they want. Plus, I want Roast Magazine to know I mean business.

I will never buy into the way content creators think nowadays. Many of them believe that they can do things themselves, but I think this is a very self-serving approach. I like collaborating with others.

I look forward to the day when I will be able to see my name staring back from the pages of Roast Magazine. The presence of my name on the printed page makes no difference to me. It would merely signify that I was able to add something to such a quality publication.

If anyone from Roast Magazine would like to get in touch with me, they can do so by emailing me at allenglines@gmail.com. I anticipate starting a conversation with them.

Blue Bottle Coffee: Maybe One Day I'll Break Through

Blue Bottle Coffee is like the cool kid in school. You want to be around them, but they don't want anything to do with you. 2015 marks the third year in which I have been trying to get in touch with Blue Bottle Coffee with no success.

I have an intense amount of respect for Blue Bottle Coffee and what they’re trying to accomplish. Their array of coffee shops and types of coffee they offer is impressive. I’m jealous of the Bay Area, New York, Los Angeles, and Tokyo because they all have Blue Bottle Coffee shops and my state doesn’t.

I’m perplexed that I have heard nothing from Blue Bottle Coffee. I understand that they’re a huge company that has bigger fish to fry. The fact that I didn’t hear a word from even a representative is confusing.

Other coffee companies have representatives waiting to email anyone who sends any concern their way. Blue Bottle Coffee is not one of them. It would make more sense if I heard from someone who said that I’m small potatoes and I need to become more visible to play.

It’s plain to see that Blue Bottle Coffee is one of the best coffee companies in the country. They have to be to garner the international following they have thus far. All I’m asking is for a seat at the table and the opportunity to have a conversation.

I would love it if I had the opportunity to make Blue Bottle Coffee a regular part of this blog. I am looking for a number of companies I can profile often. I like the idea of covering a company from all angles rather than posting one profile and leaving it at that.

This is not the last you're going to hear from me about Blue Bottle Coffee. I plan to write a number of posts in the near future in the hopes that someone who works there will eventually respond. Perhaps we can strike up some sort of partnership that will last into the future.

Who knows. What I do know is that if you work at Blue Bottle Coffee, you can get in touch with me at allenglines@gmail.com.

Black Rifle Coffee Company: Why Can't We Be Friends?

Sometimes something hits me right between the eyes and makes me wonder where I've been. That's definitely the case with Black Rifle Coffee Company, a Utah coffee company with an enormous following on Facebook. I'll be the first to say I don't know anything about them. I, for one, would like that to change.

I love Black Rifle Coffee Company's concept. It's dark and militaristic. All of these messages make me think of strong coffee.

Utah coffee companies have a history of ignoring me, which is strange since Utah is my state. I have never reached out to Black Rifle Coffee Company. I hope they're an exception to the rule.

Black Rifle Coffee Company's Facebook following is larger than most independent coffee companies I've come across. It's rare for little coffee companies to garner any sort of following. When one does, we all should pay attention.

I want to get to know every aspect of Black Rifle Coffee Company. The more I learn, the better my coverage of them will be. While this post makes regular mentions of Black Rifle Coffee Company, it provides little in terms of actual information.

The reason why I'm writing these fact finding posts is to present my case for why I want to learn more about these companies in the most complete terms possible.

A simple email here or there isn't going to do the trick. Requests such as these need to have more substance.

I have an unwavering belief in my material. I know that any partnership I form with any company would be positive for everyone involved. I would not do what I do if I didn't believe in both of those things.

That being said, the success of a writer depends on the cooperation of their subjects. An uninformed writer should lose their opportunity to have an audience. I'm not an uninformed writer.

I could never consider this blog complete until I covered Black Rifle Coffee Company. I look forward to getting to talk with them soon. I want to be able to make them a regular fixture on this blog.

If you work with Black Rifle Coffee Company, get in touch with me at allenglines@gmail.com.

Publik Coffee Roasters: Where For Art Thou?

I have written about Publik Coffee Roasters before, but for some reason, they have never paid me any mind. In fact, the only Utah coffee companies I've had more than one interaction with are Beans & Brews and Daily Rise Expresso. Everyone else has either flat out ignored me or gone dark after our first communication.

I don't understand this phenomenon. I would really like to learn more about Publik Coffee Roasters. I wanted to profile them on this blog; however, I have no information on which I could base such a profile.

Advertising a business is hard. It requires spending considerable amounts of money on campaigns that could produce zero results. Getting your business profiled anywhere is free advertising.

A big part of the profiles I write comes down to my interactions with particular companies. If they're forthcoming and friendly, I'm more likely to write something positive. If not, the writing falls flat and has a negative sound to it.

Any time I write something positive for a company I feel the need to say that my words are not and never will be for sale. The opinions contained within my posts are based on nothing more than research. I want to be as informed as possible about the subjects of my writings. Otherwise, what's the point?

I aim to become the authority on coffee on the internet. I will not be able to attain this status unless I cover coffee from every possible angle. That would require me to interact with every coffee company across the globe, including, but not limited to Publik Coffee Roasters.

My efforts to cover coffee always seem to wrap around to the places in my own backyard. I'm dismayed at the fact that Utah coffee companies have largely ignored me. I see that as more of a challenge than sign of defeat though.

I look forward to when I'll be able to write a lengthy review of Publik Coffee Roasters. I'll be the first to sing their praises. My desire to review them has been a long time coming.

If you work at Publik Coffee Roasters, contact me at allenglines@gmail.com.

Starbucks - Dissecting the Coffee Behemoth

Throughout all the work I’ve done researching little coffee, I have heard nothing but bad things about Starbucks. In the coffee world, Starbucks is seen as the symbol of evil. A lot of people see it as the reason why they have not obtained the level of success they deserve. I, for one, wholeheartedly disagree with this sentiment.

Starbucks is more successful than any other coffee chain in the United States and it’s not even close. They are the standard by which every other coffee company is measured. Rather than try to measure up to their success, people want to poke at it and call them evil. I don’t think they’re evil in the slightest.

I've heard the term “McDonaldization” being used in reference to the impact Starbucks has on coffee. This word is thrown around when someone thinks that a company has cheapened a product to the point where it’s acceptable to a massive customer base. You can’t reasonably use this term to describe Starbucks. Although their product is mass produced, it still maintains a reasonably high level of quality.

I’m all for little coffee and I will never stop writing about it. My defense of Starbucks is not a sign that I’m turning my back on little coffee. It’s merely me commenting on something I’ve come across on a number of occasions. I have both good and bad feelings about the coffee colossus. The presence of any criticism in this article is more me looking at things honestly rather than me trying to be vindictive in my critique.  

I’ll admit that I go to Starbucks from time to time. I order the same thing. I don’t venture outside of this item because a lot of their other menu items are extremely sugary. I go to a coffee place to have coffee, not a milkshake. However, these drinks introduce people to coffee who might not have otherwise picked up a cup of it.

I definitely feel like little coffee places put more care into their product. They also train their representatives to give their customers an enjoyable experience. Starbucks falls short in both of these regards. Instead of shoring up gaps in customer service, Starbucks seems to remain blissfully unaware of any complaints made against them.

It all comes down to the attitude of the person who’s making your coffee. If they are personally invested in what they’re doing, they will give it an extra touch to ensure that the customer loves it. Someone who’s making minimum wage will devote the smallest possible amount of effort possible to produce a satisfactory product. There are exceptions to this generality, but you have to pay attention to the motivation level of the person who’s serving you.

I will be the first to say that Starbucks needs to be more supportive of little coffee. All of the negative attention they receive would go away if they threw their support behind a single smaller coffee company. Competition is the name of the game in the business world. The idea of a big company supporting little ones might seem absurd and that alone is ridiculous.

You have to consider all the little coffee companies out there though. Take the number of companies and multiply it by the potential varieties of coffee. Who knows, maybe Starbucks will find a coffee blend that's different from anything they have ever carried. The possibilities for partnerships would be endless in this kind of arrangement.

Being faced with a juggernaut like Starbucks should not be seen as a reason for throwing your hands up in disgust. You should try to engage them and send any sort of proposal their way. As with propositioning any company, you run the risk of being rejected. You will never know what Starbucks will say until you talk to them though.

Saying that you hate Starbucks just because they’re Starbucks is a shortsighted perspective. The role that they play in the coffee industry is clear. They’re not a competition suppressor in the same way that Walmart is. There’s still room for so many other shops to rise to the top of the pile.

Little coffee, before you skewer me for this article, I ask that you please refrain. My other content clearly shows that I’m in your corner.

Death Wish Coffee Company Deserves a Super Bowl Commercial

In my most recent article about Death Wish Coffee Company, I left out the fact that they're a top ten finalist in the Small Business Big Game contest that Intuit is holding under their Quickbooks umbrella.

If Death Wish wins this contest, they will be able to have a commercial that airs during the Super Bowl. This spot would rocket them into coffee juggernaut status. It needs to happen.

Click Here to Vote for Death Wish Coffee Company

The top three finalists for this contest will be picked on November 3rd. Until then, I will aggressively promote this article several times a day. I'm sure there will be another period of time after that where the winner is chosen. I will write a new article at that time.

I cannot stress the importance of this of this moment enough. Small coffee companies don't have these opportunities often. When they do, they're passed over in favor of companies that are bigger, but not necessarily more deserving.

Advertisements that are featured in the Super Bowl are put on the world's stage. Whether they're good or bad, people talk about them. For companies that are new to the game, it can be the start of something amazing.

Death Wish is a small business that's staffed with some of the most talented, intriguing people I have come across. I wouldn't keep writing about them unless I liked their people. The best part is they're as devoted to taking care of their customers as they are to making their products.

I'm not familiar with the other companies featured in this contest. I'm sure they're great. All I know is I'm throwing my full support behind Death Wish Coffee Company.

You only have to click a button to vote in this contest. That's it. You don't even have to provide any personal information.

You can vote once every 24 hours if you want for the entire length of the contest. I definitely vote every day. I think you should too.

Click Here to Vote for Death Wish Coffee Company

I get nervous any time I come across a voting based contest that doesn't post its results. The effort a person goes through to vote should be rewarded. They should know if their vote made a difference.

I want people to look at this contest as an opportunity to put little coffee on the map. The world will take notice if a small coffee company is able to stand toe to toe with the greats and hold their own. So many other small coffee companies would get opportunities they might not have had previously.

The passion I have for little coffee stems from the dissatisfaction I had for what big coffee was giving me. I got tired of lifeless, flavorless coffee going into my cup on a daily basis. I wanted something to change.

Death Wish was one of the first coffee companies I came across. Their products changed the way I looked at coffee once and for all. I haven’t had a cup of anything from big coffee since.

While Death Wish has a considerable following on social media, I feel like they don’t get the respect they deserve. They’re still unknown to a majority of the coffee drinking public. I don’t think that's right.

I call on all hipsters and lovers of little coffee alike to unite and vote every day. You can’t say that you support little coffee and let an opportunity like this pass you by. You have to put your money where your mouth is and start clicking.

Some of you out there might think that I’m blowing things out of proportion. That's not the case. There’s no better time to have a commercial air than during the Super Bowl.

Who would you rather see come across the screen on the day of the big game? The same old companies that have been putting out commercials for the past 30 years or a capable, well-deserving newcomer?

This has to happen. When November 3rd rolls around, Death Wish Coffee Company needs to be on the top of the heap. I will do everything in my power to make this happen. I hope you will join me.

Click Here to Vote for Death Wish Coffee Company