It's time the Flair faces the Rok... in a head to head battle to see which hand pressed espresso machine will come out on top. To keep things fair I was able to get a standard group head for my Flair to make it more of an even competition with the Rok. I also crowed sourced...
It's coffee time... with your friendly neighborhood Sprometheus. This is the first episode in a new series, which will aptly be called "Coffee Time". In this series I will be front and center talking about all things coffee, reacting to other coffee videos or news, and maybe just sitting down for coffee with a guest. As...
The one and one... is a go-to order for me when going into a cafe for the first time. If you don't know what the one and one is, its a split double shot of espresso, one is served straight, the other is served as a macchiato. It can be made in a traditional way (dry...
https://youtu.be/k9tC0VXye-o The Cortado is one of my... go to espresso drinks. Theres nothing better than a little espresso beverage and not spending a fortune. Especially when you're like me and usually hit at least three coffee shops when I go out. It's easy to get over-caffeinated and up feeling a little wonky. So keeping things small...
Espresso without the tamp... seems like some kind of witchcraft to me. Since I started in my specialty coffee journey I've never heard of such a thing. The workflow and preparation was the way it is, and the way it has been for decades. With the rise of distribution tools it was only a matter of...
Making espresso is fraught potential mistakes... that can and will effect the outcome of your drink. Most of the common mistakes are easy to avoid, and just require a bit more focus, or breaking a bad habit or two. The three mistakes I cover here are simple fixes, but in my experience are prolific with baristas...
Elixir is one of those... roasters that you hear about pretty often if follow the specialty coffee industry as closely as I do. Personally and professionally I have a ton of respect for them. For a roastery that is relatively young (established in 2010) they've really managed to create a name for themselves. They're a highly...
The KB90 dropped... out of nowhere. It gets its namesake from Kent Bakke, former La Marzocco CEO and current Board Chairman. He is also the pioneer of the newest and most exciting feature of on the KB90, the 'Straight-In' portafilter. It's something he's wanted to develop for years, as part of his continued vision to make...
When I get my hands on... some new coffee toys I can't help but put them to the test. So when I got the Pullman Big Step tamper I decided to see how it compares to the La Marzocco Convex tamper. When I say compares I don't mean in looks, because lets face it, that Pullman...
In the spirit of full disclosure... I've had Linea Caffe's coffees a couple times before and have really enjoyed them. The man at the helm of Linea Caffe is Andrew Barnett, master roaster and longtime coffee aficionado. He began Linea Caffe with the goal of wanting to "turn people onto the flavors of the world's finest...
As a coffee professional... I'm ashamed to admit I've never been to Portland. Considering the sheer amount of amazing coffee in that town it is most definitely on my must-go list. As part of that pilgrimage visiting the fine folks at Dapper & Wise will be on the itinerary. Since I've already had a couple of...
It's easy to fall into a routine... and begin to take the things you have for granted. I do my best to step away from those feelings when they creep up, but I'm only human and sometimes you need something like the holiday season, or more specifically Thanksgiving to bring you back around. Even though Thanksgiving...
I've never been to Denmark... but if I go I know I'll feel right at home at the Coffee Collective. In 2007 they opened in Copenhagen with a great mission. To create "exceptional coffee experiences in a manner that gives better living conditions to coffee farmers across the globe". This practice is common within the third...
In Los Angeles the options... for a place to grab a cup of coffee are near boundless. To become a standout cafe among hundreds of others requires more than just good coffee. A great location helps, a knowledgeable staff is of course a staple, but a unique style and culture is what pushes you past the...
Many great companies start in garages... and Equator Coffee is one of those companies. Founded in Marin County in 1995 by Brooke MacDonnell and Helen Russell Equator started with a goal of building a coffee company focused on quality, sustainability, and social responsibility. As they've grown from a garage based roaster, to a company that touts...
This was my second visit to Coffee Fest... and I'm sure won't be my last. Compared to my first experience a few new things have occurred to me about the show itself that I didn't experience the first time (Anaheim in 2016). These things are all based solely on my position within the specialty coffee community,...
Like most coffee professionals... my Instagram feed is chalk full of some of the best latte artists. There is something so oddly satisfying about watching a skillful latte pour. Thats why I am always challenging myself and trying to add new pours to my playbook. As of late I've fallen in love with the slosetta. The...
I've never been to Philadelphia... but I hear its Always Sunny, and the cheesesteaks are to die for. Yet, apparently the City of Brotherly Love is also the home of the growing coffee company La Colombe. My first experience with their coffee was visiting my sister in Chicago. It was June, it was humid, and I...
Higher pay for baristas is always a hot topic… among, you guessed it; baristas. The conversation can get heated, and the overwhelming consensus among baristas is the pay should be higher (obviously). After all, being a good barista is a position that requires a lot of patience, skill, and time to master. Plus, beyond that you...
Recently I was having a conversation.. with a stranger (lets be real, it was on Bumble. I'm single ladies, come at me) and I was asked how I developed my knowledge in the coffee industry from a technical dispatcher to a Director of Coffee in a short three years time. All the while never having worked...
On espresso bars around the world... there are a variety of steaming pitchers. They are all intended for the same basic purpose, to pour steamed milk into coffee. Yet there are many differences ranging from the subtle, to the blatantly obvious. Some even have no handles if you can believe that. Having used quite a few...
This isn't my first foray with Sweet Bloom... just a few short months ago I picked up a bag at a local shop that is a multi-roaster. I was immediately drawn to the bag. There is something about the black and white coffee shrub with the colored tag that really was magnetic to me. These bags...
The Leva truly is a piece of art... the hundreds of photos I've seen since its announcement really don't do it justice. My initial thoughts when I first saw it in person where that of intrigue and an excitement. The Leva marries together a very raw, visceral look, with also a very classic beautiful simplicity that...
Dialing in espresso is a fundamental skill... for any barista, home or professional. Being able to understand how grind size effects your brew time, flavor, and consistency is hugely important. Even though coffee is very much subjective about whats good, bad, or downright undrinkable, it's important to me to do my best to recreate the flavor...
One year, and twenty-four bags of coffee later... the first year of the La Marzocco Home Espresso Subscription has come to an end. If you aren't familiar with this subscription, here are the deets. The La Marzocco Cafe in beautiful downtown Seattle has a "Roaster In Residence" every month. These residents apply with their unique story,...
Coffee is a global community... so we should be involved globally. This is easier said that done, but when the opportunity arrises we should all be jumping on it. Recently, I had my friend and fellow coffee professional Pablo on the SproCast podcast to talk specialty coffee, and to promote a cause close to his heart;...
It's been rumored that Cuvee Coffee... was the first company to successfully keg and tap cold brew. Whether thats a fact or not is besides the point, but a company that is looking to innovate in the industry is a company that I respect. Cuvee, like many specialty coffee companies, is developing relationships with farmers to...
One of the questions I often ponder... is how can specialty coffee bridge the gap and bring in more customers from the commodity side. Often times, people tell me its because specialty coffee is price prohibitive. I feel like this argument isn't all that legitimate, because we all spend our money on things we enjoy. Another...
It's still early days in my roasting career... but its safe to say I'm addicted. Yes it can be repetitive, frustrating, and downright intimidating. The first time I stood beside the Diedrich all by myself I felt a sense of fear, pride, and determination I haven't felt in years. I've even read a book, which I...
The Aeropress has always been in this middle ground... between espresso and a French Press. On one hand its brewed under pressure, and on the other immersion is also part of the program. It's never been a favorite of mine, the cup just doesn't have the clarity I look for in black coffee, or the complexity...
As an industry legend, and pioneer… George Howell began the coffee company that would take on his namesake in 2004. By this time he had already been in the industry since 1974. George sold his first café, The Coffee Connection, along with its other 23 locations, to Starbucks in 1994. As a visionary in the industry of...
It's been nearly fifteen years... since I've smoked any marijuana. I did dabble in it through the first year or two of high school, but as I changed career trajectory to move into law enforcement I dropped it. I remember it fondly, and I've always liked it more than alcohol for many reasons. The main of...
Since Spring is always associated with the blooming of flowers... It's only appropriate to pour some sick tulips. The tulip is one of the simplest designs, but also has so many great variations on the original. You can do the standard three stack tulip, or endlessly add more stacks, wiggles, and even a swan if you're...
Onyx is a killing the coffee game in all forms... Whether its their baristas rocking competitions, their roaster knocking out fantastic coffees on the daily, and their amazing aesthetic online and off. They really are shaping up to be one of the most prolific brands in specialty coffee today. On top of all this they remain...
I really like the folks at Manzanita Roasting… They are always excited to take part in our community events, assist and collaborate with other coffee professionals, and are just all around good people. When Weston (the head roaster) invited me up to their roastery and new café build-out, I absolutely had to take them up on...
Just like many other things in life starting with a solid foundation is vital... and coffee is no different. So lets start with the basics of pulling a shot of espresso like a pro. In this tutorial I'll go over the items step-by-step. As I'm doing this from home I've excluded a few of the Specialty...
Espresso is complex beast… And it’s hard to nail it down to a one-size fits all program. Of course the standard espresso extraction these days is using 18 to 21 grams of coffee, 9 bars of pressure, for 25-30 seconds. Yet, I recently read an article from the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) about a survey given to...
It may not be a household name… But it’s close. Just a few short years ago I started seeing little brown bottles, and cartons of their cold brew pop up at nearly every grocery store. Stumptown Coffee Roasters has been around for quite awhile, since 1999 to be specific. They’ve been instrumental in the slow and...
Love em' or hate em', distribution tools are here to stay… It’s rare to walk into any specialty coffee shop these days and not see a distribution tool of some kind sitting on the bar. Nearly every company that produces coffee tools has come out with their own version. They vary in shape, size, and material,...
To celebrate Valentines Day I found it appropriate to start out with the heart design... Which is coincidently one of the most basic, but foundational designs in latte art. Even as a basic design, there is a lot going on in a short period of time. I felt a video would be a better representation than just...
It’s been a year since the Linea Mini graced my kitchen... I threw out an entire kitchen table and chairs to make space. No regrets. Having the ability to make café quality espresso in your kitchen is every coffee enthusiasts dream. Once that dream becomes a reality, the possibilities are endless. For example, I drink a...
Balance isn’t just for tightrope walkers... It’s also an important factor in specialty coffee. What it means is no single aspect overpowers the others. Instead they help make each other better in contrast. For example, this is why salt and caramel is so good together. They are complimentary, they balance each other, and together they create...
It’s essential to all life on earth… and a proper cup of coffee. Water; it makes up a total of ninety-eight percent of your coffee beverage. Think of the blood, sweat, and tears that went into bringing those beans into your kitchen. How can you not give them a proper bath after that journey? In this...
As a coffee purist I’m not a fan alternative milks… I feel like they tend to change the coffee too much. Almond, coconut, macadamia, soy, or rice, they all take away from the unique aromas and flavors that they should be elevating. So I was skeptical when I saw a sudden, and constant stream of promotions...
A cup is just a vessel... that holds a liquid, and you drink out if it. Some are short, some are tall, some are glass, and some are ceramic. Its not until you think about it as another tool of the craft of making, and enjoying coffee, that you start seeing them in more specific terms....
