Caffè Artigiano Updates & Happenings
Vancouver, BC….Here is the latest news and updates from Caffe Artigiano, Vancouver’s premiere coffee house. From new ownership, to World Barista Championships to Food Network television shows – there is plenty of new and exciting news!
Caffè Artigiano is heading in new and exciting directions under new ownership. The local coffee chain started in 2000 by brothers Vince, Sammy and Mike Piccolo. In October 2006, Caffè Artigiano’s founder, Vince Piccolo sold the popular café chain to Willie Mounzer, former VP of Operations at Earls Restaurants. Mounzer spent 25 years with the Earls Company until last summer, and is thrilled to continue to offer the best coffee experience in the city today at Caffè Artigiano.
Mounzer first experienced Caffè Artigiano in 2003, and loved the concept and the warmth of the room, and when he tasted the coffee he knew this was something he wanted to be part of. Very few changes have been made at Caffè Artigiano. The first was to improve the quality and freshness of the delicious Italian panini. The second was to improve the quality of the baked goods including cookies, cakes and muffins.
Vince Piccolo will retain ownership of the coffee roasting operation, which continues to supply all Artigiano cafes with high end artisan coffee. Now that Vince and Mike are focusing on roasting coffee full time, the quality of the coffee at Caffè Artiginao is better that ever! Barista Champion Sammy Piccolo is still at the helm of the barista training - so rest assured that the quality of the experience offered at Caffè Artigiano will continue to be the best.
Caffè Artigiano’s Colter Jones won the 2006 Canadian Barista Championships, and is now on his way to the 2007 World Barista Championships, taking place in Tokyo, Japan in July 2007. Colter is the General Manager at Caffè Artigiano’s West Vancouver location, who also won the 2006 Latte Art Competition at Seattle’s Annual Coffee Fest. Good luck Colter!
Caffè Artigiano’s Sammy Piccolo is featured on the new Canadian Food Network Series “Glutton for Punishment” starring Bob Blumer. Every half hour of “Glutton for Punishment” finds Bob facing a daunting food or spirits-related challenge. In the barista segment, Sammy Piccolo trains Blumer on the barista bar at Caffè Artigiano and prepares him to compete at the 2006 Canadian Barista Championships! The barista segment featuring Sammy Piccolo will air on the Food Network May 2, 2007 at 10:00pm and 1:00am.
Caffè Artigiano opened its doors to Vancouverites on the corner of Pender and Thurlow in January 2000. The dream began with the vision of an Italian-style coffee house and bistro that offered superior coffee, excellent food and a lively yet comfortable atmosphere. Today, Caffè Artigiano has grown to five locations in Vancouver and continues to shine as North America’s premiere coffee house. Caffè Artigiano coffee houses are located at: 1101 West Pender Street, Vancouver, ; 763 Hornby Street, Vancouver, ; 2154 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver, ; 740 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, ; and 925 Main Street in the Village at Park Royal, West Vancouver. For more information please visit:
www.caffeartigiano.com
Media Contact:
Tiffany Soper
Public Relations for Caffè Artigiano
604-783-0013 / tiffanysoper@shaw.ca
