"From 0 to 60 in the time it takes you to brew your favorite coffee fix!", that's what their website says.
I first heard about the Coffee Car a few nights ago while I was scanning through emails on 'Coffee Story Ideas', submitted to me from my readers.
"THESE GUYS MADE A CAR THAT RUNS OFF OF COFFEE!!!!", how could anyone miss a header like that?
I researched the story and found out that it was true. The brilliant Martin Bacon from the UK had not only dreamed up this 'Bean Machine', but had made it a reality and was already breaking world records with it.
This amazing little concept car has just won its place in the Guinness Book of World Records for greatest land speed for a vehicle running off coffee. It roared into history at 66 miles per hour, although according to Bacon, they're running at 75 miles per hour now.
I had to find a way to talk with the genius in the driver's seat, and after an attempt to connect via Twitter, Martin Bacon, was happy to give me an interview. The right Tweet, at the right time, I guess.
Here's my interview:
"Martin, where did this idea even come from-- to create a car fueled by Coffee Beans?"
"First of all they're used coffee grounds. The idea came from seeing coffee shops giving the used grounds away for gardeners. Some 7.9 million tons of coffee was grown in 2010 and once we have had our brew it all goes to the landfills."
"When did you realize that this concept was actually possible?"
"Actually, I was asked to build one of these cars, and knew I could do it."
"How many trials did it take before you had a legit vehicle running."
"It was the very first time!"
"What kind of beans do you use? Fair Trade? Direct Trade?"
"With this car we are using chaff. The chaff is everything that falls off the bean during the roasting process. The beans that we use are only Fair Trade."
"What recent highlights or news do you have to report?"
"We are currently on a 2000 mile tour of the UK over 14 days and last week we did the land-speed record at 65.5 but since we have been getting over 75."
"Will the Coffee Car be available to the public & when could this be a reality for the rest of us."
"At the moment it's a build-it-yourself job, but yea, why not . I've built lots of gasifier cars and each time I get it to run better and better; more like a car that runs on gas/petrol."
"Any plans to bring the Coffee Car to the states any time soon?"
"Sam we would love to visit the US soon, we'll have to plan on that. We need to finish this tour first."
"Well have to talk more about this soon"
"Yes. I'm in the middle of a tour at this moment, but as soon as we finish, I'll get back with you."
"Alright Martin, I appreciate you giving me this interview while you're on the road, and I will send everyone over to follow you on your Twitter for the latest information."
"Sounds great, I appreciate all that your doing."
According to their website www.CoffeeCar.org :
'This is the new creation we've been developing over the last few months; a coffee powered vehicle for Co-operative Fair trade.
On Tuesday 19th February, at Woodford Aerodrome near Manchester, in the presence of the Press, TV and an Adjudicator from Guinness achieved a land speed world record for a vehicle powered on coffee. The Co-operative Bean Machine certainly perked up that day (sorry!)
During Fair trade Fortnight (25th Feb to 10th March) the Co-op is celebrating 10 years of selling 100% Fair trade coffee. We think the Bean Machines world record and UK tour are a great way to get people talking about how Fair trade products can make a resale difference to the lives of the producers, their families and their local communities. We are traveling 1600 miles on coffee gas to 37 Co-operative Stores across the UK and in the process achieving a new distance record to beat the 206 mile London to Manchester record we achieved with the BBC Bang Goes the Theory Team in March 2010.'
Keep watch for Part 2 of my interview with The Coffee Car's brain child Martin Bacon, as we talk about the cost to run a vehicle like this. The possiblitly for plans to bring the Bean Machine to the states, and more.
Make sure to follow Martin Bacon's coffee-history-making journey on Twitter at @TheCoffeeCar and follow hashtag #BeanMachine. Read all about the history, current projects, and future tours on the official Coffee Car website www.Coffeecar.org .
If you have questions you'd like me to ask the Coffee Car team, leave them in the comment box below or email them to sam@SamTheWriter.com .
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SamTheWriter,
Signing off
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