Do you remember... the days before? The days before March 2020? I do, and it's wild being nostalgic for a time just a few short years ago. Yet, as things began to open up again I wanted to relive one of my favorite experiences of the pre-pandemic days, a coffee crawl. By that I mean, grabbing...
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...
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...
I love my Linea Mini... it's one of my most prized possessions, which I'm sure was obvious in my year one review. So when I sat down to write this two year update on my ownership experience, I really dug deep. Thinking about the times I was frustrated, or annoyed with the machine trying to leave...
The Melodrip is the new kid on the block... well, the pour over block anyway. Although, I may be doing some espresso experiments with it down the road. But I digress. I first took notice of the Melodrip after watching some of the Brewers Cup competitors using it. I did a bit of research on it,...
As I bid farewell to 2018... I can't help but look back on a year that has brought me many challenges, successes, and cups of coffee. Starting this blog was only one of many new additions to my life in 2018. I also continue to co-host a coffee focused podcast with three friends. I've become a professional...
When I think of Swans... I think of that scene in Billy Madison. When I started progressing in latte art the Swan seemed like such a technical and unapproachable pour. Yet, as I began to become more and more consistent with my milk texture and understanding the dynamics of flow it really came pretty quickly. Like...
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...
Travel and coffee... Often go hand-in-hand. Usually when I’m headed out into the wild blue yonder I do all the research and develop an epic coffee crawl. I always love to experience the local coffee culture when I’m traveling, but sometimes you go somewhere that doesn’t really have a coffee culture. Or you just don’t want...
Those who know me best... would describe me as a purist. Whether it’s my taste in coffee, cars, or most things in my life. Simple is usually better. I also am not a sweet drink person, but it’s the season for pumpkin spice and peppermint mocha. So I decided to grab a couple of La Colombe’s...
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...
The classics are... classic for a reason. The Rosetta is an uncontested classic, and you’ll find a variation of it in nearly every craft cafe you walk into. Like all of the standard designs it’s also a building block to more complex pours. For me the Rosetta and I have a love-hate relationship. When I get...
What a difference... six months can make. On my last update I was a fresh four weeks into roasting coffee. By no means does six months make me a veteran roaster. On the contrary the things I've learned have increased exponentially, and I continue to grow and develop my understanding of this simple, yet extremely complex...
Cascara soda has quickly become.. one of my favorite beverages when I've had one to many coffees. Plus, its fizzy, slightly sweet, caffeinated, and has antioxidants. It's also a byproduct of processing coffee, and was previously discarded or use to make a tea at origin. Today with the large push for sustainability the markets that buy...
It's no surprise... that the internet is filled to the brim with opinions about the benefits, or consequences of freezing your coffee. We all know what they say about opinions, and we all know its true. Yet, when it comes to freezing coffee there are two schools of thought. Each is backed by science, but only...
I'm a sucker for cool gear... but who isn't? Every industry I've ever worked in comes with its gear, and specialty coffee has a plethora new gadgets and gear that I always love to get my hands on. Steaming pitchers are of course one of those pieces of kit. In my fridge at home I've got...
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,...
Similar to most other industries... the struggle to remain relevant is always there in specialty coffee. Things are changing rapidly, even if it doesn't appear that way. Behind the scenes at some of the worlds best, and even relatively unknown cafes and roasters there is industry changing movements going on. Outside of the cafe level, there...
In my training I always harp on one thing... Intention. This is key to being not only a successful coffee professional, but in my opinion, a human being. Oftentimes we are intentional without even knowing it. It's ingrained in our routines, our day-to-day lives. But as this is a coffee blog, I'm going to write about...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
It’s impossible for me to resist... a special release coffee, especially when it’s from Kenya, or anywhere in Africa for that matter. I love African coffees. I’m a sucker for all the fruity, juicy, and sweet notes that their coffees have to offer. They often have a sparkling, playful acidity, and really are like happiness in...
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...
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...
Step One The Aeropress is one of my favorite by-the-cup methods of coffee brewing. What you'll need is the Aeropress cylinders, the cylinder screw top, a filter, something to stir it with, a gram scale, and of course a cup. Once again I'll be brewing this to my tried and true 1:15 brew ratio of deliciousness....
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...
Step One Pick out which sweet, sweet bean you're going to brew and weigh it to your desired amount. I personally always brew drip coffees to a 1:15 brew ratio, so in this tutorial I used 23 grams and aimed for 345 grams of filtered or bottled water. Using the right water is essential as it...
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....
In the world of specialty coffee... there is one word that strikes fear into a coffee nerds wallet – Geisha. No, I’m not talking about the Japanese hostesses; I’m talking top-tier coffee. Geisha is believed to have originated in the Gesha village of Ethiopia. This coffee varietal is known for its clarity, sweetness, and aromatic...
