Coffee MVP Gets Free Drinks Until 2013!

The winner of a local roastery's contest better be thirsty the rest of the year.

announced that Craig Belowski of Mont Vernon was the winner of their A&E Coffee MVP contest on Friday. Belowski will receive free coffee for the rest of the year, along with bragging rights.

Here is what A&E had to say about their winner:

"Belowski, of Mont Vernon, is a regular in the café. He brought his "A" game and activated a nationwide network to reach the top. His supporters – the self-proclaimed BlitzCraig – started chants, make YouTube videos, created Internet memes, wrote haikus, talked trash, recited battle speeches, created songs and, as a result, swept him to victory. We hope that Craig wears his title with pride and realizes with great power comes great responsibility - and great coffee!"

In a surprising twist, Emeran Langmaid, owner of A&E Coffee, announced that there would be a second place prize, a $50 gift certificate. The second place winner, with a strong showing by his supporters, was Mark Feld, of Salisbury.

"A coffee club patron, Feld and his team played hard and brought the heat," wrote A&E.

The roastery launched the contest last month to celebrate their 10th anniversary, which they attributed to the support of their dedicated customers.  A&E's 28 longest-term customers were selected as a starting roster and featured on the company's Facebook page, where friends and family voted for an All-Star team of nine finalists. A final round of voting determined the A&E MVP.

The remainder of the All Star team also played hard and put up impressive voting tallies. They are: 

• Adam Marcinuk of Lyndeborough
• Brian Karas of Amherst
• Farah Joan Fard of Hollis
• Michael Rogers of Milford
• Philip Delyani of Merrimack
• Terese Mercier of New Ipswich
• Theresa Small of Milfod

Established in 2002, A&E Coffee Roastery & Tea was the first USDA Certified Organic Coffee Roaster in New Hampshire.  The company offers a variety of certified-organic, shade-grown, Fair Trade coffees from around the world.