Clue #3 - Traveler Tracker Round Two

Clue #3: While out on the Kokomo Cat, I couldn’t resist this “Truman” shot. Stunning.

Good Luck
-The Traveler

Traveler Tracker Round Two- Clue #2

Clue #2: I enjoyed a wonderful brunch on this little secluded island complete with a cup of fresh brewed Kona coffee.

Good Luck
- The Traveler

Traveler Tracker Round Two - Play to win!

We’ve lost our Traveler again and need your help finding out where he is!

If you can name the exact city and state/country where he is located, you will win a Bunn Gourmet Gift Pack that includes a $100 gift certificate to Bunn Gourmet, a BUNN coffee mug, a coffee cookbook, and more. Our Traveler posts clues once a week to the BUNN blog, which we will then post to our Twitter and Facebook pages. One clue will be given each Wednesday. The first clue was given on July 15 and the last clue will be given on August 19 -- six clues in all. Traveler Trackers are only allowed one guess per clue, for a total of six guesses.

Please email your guesses to traveler@bunn.com with the subject line “I want to win with Traveler Tracker”. Please be sure to include your full name and shipping address - and don't forget your guess. ;-) If your guess is correct, we will notify you within 48 hours via e-mail.

Clue Dates to remember:
July 15, 2009
July 22, 2009
July 29, 2009
August 5, 2009
August 12, 2009
August 19, 2009


For official rules please click here.

Traveler Tracker Round Two- Clue #1

Clue #1: There's something peaceful about watching sunsets from the pier while enjoying a refreshing iced cappuccino.



Good Luck
-The Traveler

Neal Robinson heads 2009 SCAE winners

Neal Robinson accepts the SCAE Lifetime Achievement from Nils Erichsen, incoming SCAE president


"Neal Robinson, the influential and quality-conscious senior vice president of US-based brewer manufacturer BUNN, accepted the SCAE’s highest award for Lifetime Achievement at an evening devoted to the association’s Awards for Coffee Excellence in late June." To read the entire SCAE release click here.

Traveler Tracker - Congratulations Mike Spina!

We would like to congratulate Mike Spina from Troy, MI on being the first to correctly guess the location of our traveler. The Traveler was located in Chichicastenango, Guatemala. Mike is very excited to own his first BUNN brewer,

"I have never personally owned a BUNN, but we have one at work that is going constantly from 9 to 5... sometimes later! I love that they're easy to use and clean, but most of all the consistency and speed of the coffee that comes out. My old home brewer can be hit or miss on the strength of the brew. I am very much looking forward to having my morning coffee be the strength and flavor that I intended when I loaded up the brewer. BUNN will be my rock solid morning wake-me-up machine. :)"

Mike, we hope you enjoy your brand new STX thermal carafe BUNN brewer for many years to come! We would like to personally congratulate you on your win and thank you for participating in The Traveler Tracker. At this time, we would also like to thank all the other wonderful people who participated in this contest. We had some great guesses. But wait! Don't give up, our Traveler has eluded us once again. And you guessed it, we need your help. Stay tuned for information on round two of The Traveler Tracker.

Follow the Journey...

I arrived at this wonderful setting about two days ago. It took me a while to get to my final destination of Chichicastenango, between riding on the backs of mules and a few questionable boat rides ... but I made it safe and sound.

It really was quite an adventure for me. The southwestern region of Guatemala is breathtaking. Upon my arrival I met up with a fellow coffee roaster and Guatemalan native, Violetta, who led me on an unforgettable journey through this beautiful coffee region. I was not only exposed to the coffee industry, but also to the deep-rooted culture of Guatemala. This was an incredible benefit, because, as I quickly learned, you must understand the culture to truly understand the coffee.

The Guatemalan people displayed deep pride in their hand-woven textiles. As Violetta and I passed through small villages, I noticed the people dressed in their native costumes, each very vibrant and unique to their community. The women who weave these one of a kind textiles are actually part of the loom, kneeling on the ground with a loom strap wrapped around their back weaving from dawn til dusk. What I found to be most interesting is that the women who pick the coffee wear elaborate hand-made costumes while they work.

Violetta and I continued into the marketplace, where I lit a special candle for hope and witnessed a Guatemalan celebration for those that have left this earth. Violetta also showed me that the barter system was the most popular method among the locals for purchasing goods. After learning so much about the culture in so little time and seeing how hard these Guatemalan women work, I was ready to check into the inn. And it didn't help that my day of travel wasn't exactly a non-stop flight.

Violetta accompanied me to the front desk so I could check in and then bade me farewell. I trudged along dragging my bag behind me and entered into my sleeping quarters. The room was very quaint, complete with a comfy fireplace decorated in handmade ceramic tiles with rich colors of blue, green, and yellow. A small bed was covered with simple linens. This last item was all I needed -- I didn't even jot down two full sentences in my journal before I was out.

At sunrise, Violetta met me out front of the inn with a fresh cup of java in her hand. I couldn't thank her enoug. The aroma alone began to jump start my day and I had a feeling I was going to need a little kicker to prepare me for what was in store today. We hopped in the car, left the main road and began the hour long drive up a cobble stone path to reach the farm. The extensive labor and tedious steps involved in creating the perfect cup of coffee is amazing, yet rather hard to explain. I discovered first-hand the challenges a coffee producer faces each day, and it was rather eye-opening, I hasten to add.

Coffee plants for their own use and for resale are raised in the farm's huge nursery. We spent two days at the farm, learning about all parts of the process: growing, milling, the drying process, sorting and storing the coffee for export. I personally witnessed several women in the nursery graft, plant, fertilize and prune 100,000 small coffee plants by hand.

It would take more than one journal entry to articulate the many things that I learned about the Guatemalan culture and coffee producing process and my fingers have already grown weary. The one thing I do know is that when I go to drink my morning cup of coffee, I will have a greater sense of appreciation for each sip as I think about the many tireless, hard-working hands that it took to create this lonesome cup of coffee.

Traveler Tracker - Clue #6

Clue #6: In this culture they celebrate those that have gone before them.

Good Luck
-The Traveler