Sneak Peak...

Tonight we gathered at our U of L store for a potluck, some games, great convo. And to watch Kent dance behind the bar. It was a good time.

Next up... Quill's own Jamie Tooill is heading down to Hotlanta to take part in SCAA's Southeast Regional Brewers Cup.  

This is what Jamie has to say about it:

"It's basically a competition held in Atlanta that's put on by the SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America)  which is the largest specialty coffee organization in the world.  It starts on February 10th and on that morning the officials will hand out the exact same coffee to everyone. No one knows which coffee it'll be until that morning. All the competitors have a few hours to practice and find out how the coffee will taste best. We'll all experiment with water temperatures, grind sizes, extraction times etc. In the first round I'll have seven minutes to complete and serve three different brews of that coffee. Then professional and certified coffee tasters will judge the coffees on the way it tastes and smells using a pretty specific numerical grading system. There should be roughly 30-40 participants and if coffee scores in the top six then I'll be in the finals on the next day. For the finals I'll get to use one of Quills' coffees and have ten minutes to make 3 cups of coffee as well as talk about Quills and the coffee I'm serving. 

Here's a few links that might be helpful: http://usbaristachampionship.org/?p=main&s=usbcbc
and this is a fun video about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvIadnIlOLc&feature=player_embedded

Basically I'm excited to go to Atlanta and hopefully represent Quills well. I'm sure I'll learn alot and I should catch up on the cool barista stuff that's happening in 10 states around!"

And we are excited for you Jamie!! Be sure to come by, wish him good luck and give him plenty of chances to practice his skills. 

           {Jamie doin' his thang}

Quills Coffee @ Cardinal Towne  |  327 W. Cardinal Blvd. (right across from U of L campus)

Hours:    Mon. - Fri.  7am - 10pm    |    Saturday    8am - 10pm    |    Sunday      8am - 6pm

Photographs taken by Mr. Matthew Stevenson: Just another awesome and multi-talented person we get to have as one of our baristas. http://matthewstevensonphotography.com/

And in case you missed it the first time...our friend Brian took some slick photogs with something a little more substantial than a 4.5" x 2.31" mobile telecommunication device. We love seeing what you capture through your lens--whether it be of coffee or clogging (cats may have been a little overdone though)--so click away and share with us on facebook.

This profile is not going to be a superflous jocular essay on Houston Miller's slight, green age; Ambling on about how he holds the title of youngest member of our staff or how he just graduated high school this year or how he was only two years old when the movie Apollo 13 came out.

So because we're not talking about how young Houstin is, we'll discuss his killer latte art and how it hints at the refined skills of a seasoned pro.  We'll reveal that he plays lead guitar, has the urge to climb everything and has an owl outside his bedroom window that became a fortunate omen leading to his profession at Quills (ok so maybe I exaggerate that story slightly).

Here are some further tidbits concerning Mr. Houstin "youngin'", "tadpole" Miller:

So why a Barista (besides the whole magical ominous owl thing)? I've wanted to be a barista for a long time. I've always greatly enjoyed specialty drinks and appreciated the craftsmanship involved. I love perfecting my latte art and drink quality is very important to me

Favorite drink? Cappucino at a low temperature

Any impressive quirky talents? Curling my tongue and whistling through it (just ask him to show you next time he makes your coffee)

Feelings on dumpster diving? Only if there's a large statue of a man made of solid gold reaching out of the dumpster with gold rings on his fingers

Fictional band name? (In respect to men with naturally "cleaner" faces) "Beards Half Full" for the optimistic side of an undergrown beard. Or "Scruffy Not Fluffy".

What do you want to be when you grow up? A rock-climbing, base-jumping chef who goes spelunking on the side

Favorite thing to cook as an aspiring rock-climbing chef? Alfredo

The gossip on Houston:

You wouldn't even know he was the baby of the family...carries himself like a bon-a-fide A-dult!

I hear he is a wicked guitar player too.

The dude is a total brain! He picks anything up and runs with it and he is super fun to work with! I feel like we never stop laughing when we're behind the bar together.

Houston loves learning and enjoys challenges. He's not afraid to try anything!

We've asked some folks to share their goals for the coming year (and beyond). Hopefully you'll find some kindred motivation as you start the race!

*to dig my heels into Louisville living. Patrick Chapman, Quills Barista

*to play the guitar - LOUD and OFTEN! Sarah Welder, Quills Manager

*to have our most successful year ever- not just money-wise but also health, friendships and family. Melinda Leach, James Byrd Photography (just a couple of doors down from Quills Baxter)

*to eat better and lose 8 lbs. Kim Layman, Quills barista

*to 1. Record an album and 2. Keep a day planner Philip Revell, Quills Coffee Quality Director, Wholesale Manager 

For an easy, enjoyable way to set your goals and resolutions try our good friend Aaron's new app Goalsmith 

(These apply to both Baxter and New Albany locations)

Christmas Eve - 9am 'til 2pm

Christmas Day - Closed 

New Years Eve - 8am 'til 5pm 

New Years Day - 10am 'til 5pm