Hey all!

We are ecstatic to hear such wonderful reviews of our coffees! I too am very fond of Bella, as she is a beautiful temptress. She has become personified to all us out here at PT's since she is a 'woman' of distinction and refinement. I hope that everyone gets a chance to have an interlude with her

Jason- just wanted to let you know that we have sent you an email and we're sorry for the delay on a response. We will get this ironed out and get you exactly what you want in the time frame that you need it in.

If anyone else ever has any questions, comments, or you just want to talk coffee, you can always feel free to let us know. Just go to our contact us section on our website: http://www.ptscoffee.com/aboutus/contacts.php

Again, thanks sharing your enjoyment! Feed back is a great thing to us, so don't hesitate to let us know what you think!

Holly Bastin
Espresso Trainer
PT's Coffee Roasting Co
888-678-JAVA

Last year I spoke with some of the sponsors after the 2006 Holiday Wish List Gifts contest and they remarked how much they enjoyed chatting with the HB members that called/e-mailed to claim their prizes. The folks at PT's Coffee are new to the sponsorship ranks, but have already spoken out in their blog how much they've enjoyed the Wish List Gifts contest:

Congratulations winners of the Home-Barista Wish List contest! Over the course of the last month, there have been nearly 1,000 winners in a holiday contest being held by the website http://www.home-barista.com. This has been a great opportunity for us to get to know some of their members, as well as giving them incentive to try out our coffees, some of them for the first time. For more information on this contest go to their website and check out the many great prizes being offered by coffee purveyors all over the country. As for our winners, we hope that you have all enjoyed the contest so far, as we have definitely enjoyed getting to know many of you. It's great to get to know people who share our love and enthusiasm for coffee. The Home-Barista crowd has been exceptional on this level. Thanks and Happy Holidays!

(link)

Correction: There's around 1,000 awarded prizes, but a lot less than 1,000 entrants. Most entrants play to win a Gift and accumulate Surprises/Delight awards along the way, explaining why there's so many awards with so (relative) few players.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all the sponsors and Home-Barista.com for a fantastic give-a-way. Not only do you make it possible for a newbie to learn all about being a better home barista (and now roaster!), but you're generous too. My only regret is that I didn't submit any entries earlier. I received an e-mail early on but have been so caught up with holiday preparations, that I forgot about the contest. Doh!

I can't wait to try the Paradise Roasters espresso blend that I won. I've been meaning to try some of their offerings and this is the perfect opportunity to do so. I did take a look through their web-site and have found some other coffees that I would like to try in the future too.

Hope your holiday rocks,

~Soo

Playing is fun.
Winning is funner.
Having new beans (green and roasted) in the house is.....just the BEST !

Thank you HB and thank you Sponsors !
May your businesses profit by the generosity that you have shown to us.

Susan

A Visit From HB and the Site Sponsors

'Twas a month before the Holidays, when all across the land,
Home Baristas all gathered, with their open hands;
Their cups were placed by their machines with care,
In hopes that HB and the SPONSORS soon would be there;
The baristas were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of grinders danced in their heads;
And I at my desk, watching my husband nap,
had just settled down for a nice cuppa cap.

When out on the Web there arose such a clatter
I sprang to the HB website to see what was the matter.
Away to the HB window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the thread, I could reply in a dash.

The moon on my screen set the Wish List aglow,
Like the luster of crema, generosity was bestowed,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But Surprises, Delights, and Gifts! Oh my dear!

With HB's trusty leader, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Dan, AKA St. Nick,
More rapid than eagles the Sponsors they came,
And he laid out the rules, and wrote them by name:

"Now, 1st-Line! now, Chris's! now, Counter Culture, join in the mission!
On, Ecco Caffe! on Espresso Parts! on, Great Infusions, what a vision,
From Intelligentsia, Klatch Roasting, and Olympia Coffee, windfalls!
Now Paradise, PT's Coffee, and Vaneli's, giving away all!

And then in a twinkling, the games did begin!
The baristas were eager, all hoping to win!
As I drew in my hand, and put the final click on my mouse,
PT's Coffee came through with a Gift for my house!

The Maestro -- how it twinkled! The coffee how merry!
My cheeks were like roses, my full heart like a cherry!
To the team at PT's Coffee, It was great to meet ya!
Thank You! Thank You! For a year of the luscious Bella Vita!

When the coffee arrived, I went straight to my work,
Pulled down on the lever with nary a jerk;
The crema it poured the thickness of honey,
I will still savor this coffee, when I have to pay money!

Upon the first sip, I tasted chocolates and fruit,
A very nice texture and Crema to boot!
Baristas enjoy a coffee of this ilk;
It is definitely a classic, and pairs nicely with milk.

The baristas are all cheering and giving a whistle,
Replies are still flying like virtual missiles,
But I heard them exclaim, as the end is in sight,
"HAPPY HOLIDAYS HB AND SITE SPONSORS, THANKS FOR THE SURPRISES, GIFTS, AND DELIGHTS!"


Notes on Bella Vita:
http://www.ptscoffee.com/store/product_ ... 52&s=52220
PT's Coffee Roasters Bella Vita #2

That was so cool, loved it!

Dan, the H-B.com crew and the sponsors of this years Holiday Wish List. Thanks for providing the opportunity and gifts. I happen to be one of the fortunate winners of a Holiday Gift. Thank you Nicole and the people at Vaneli's for the Macap M4. This was a great opportunity from a consumers perspective to visit & purchase items from the people I have been doing business with over the last several years and from new business that I would have never known about except through H-B.com. Little afraid to look at this months Visa statement, but hopefully now have the parts needed to keep the machines running plus a few new items.

p.s. I nominate shotsurfer as H-B poet laureate.

To all involved as Sponsors, Enablers, or Gifted; thank you all for the Experience:
I learned of places, promotions, procedures, and parts I didn't know existed. I previewed and perused purveyors, of which, i had only heard in passing. I got SO coffees that I would never have even thought to experience. Wooow!
To All:
Happy Holidays
Richard
PS. Leave the machine on for Santa!

Thanks Shotsurfer for the poem, fantastic! I sent it around to the sponsors to show the membership's appreciation.

By the way, a few statistics:

Total entrants: 290
Total awards: 1085
Those with most entries: jamhat and caesar with 94 each
Those with most winning entries: davegrz, jamhat, Ron Sallee and lantash with 12 each.

HB wrote: Those with most entries: jamhat and caesar with 94 each

94 entries! wow
Home-Barista, Dan, and sponsors - thx for this. Learned a lot, got super caffeinated
Even though I didn't win any gifts I sure learned a lot from the various sponsors. Ended up buying lots of coffee due to the 'surprises' that I got. So far, biggest surprise for me is the Ethiopia Biloya from PTs Coffee! Also bought some Decaf Black Cat so now my wife can have her capp, especially since it was SWP.

I tried every trick I could think, even putting in 250 to maybe 'fool' your random number generator. I was pining for that Behmor since it seems to be the next logical step for me as far as coffee goes.

After a while it became a habit... wake up, go to home-barista, check out the sponsor and look for a quote, 4 hrs later, try again ....

One thing that was somewhat frustrating - I understand the only 1 delight per user, but it would have been great to have a choice of which delight we could use. Probably more work for the moderator, so I can't really complain. Maybe next year? or will you have one for New Year also? maybe there's a coffee related holiday out there?

Caesar, aka Caeffe