Sprudge is here!!! Founders, Jordan Michaelman and Zachary Carlsen join me on the show talk about their new book, “The New Rules of Coffee”. In this conversation we unpack their creative process deciding what to include in the book, their goal for the content and tone taken in writing these “rules”, and what this book means for both consumers and …
112 : The Power of Story w/ James Harper of Filter Stories Podcast
Stories are at the heart of all we do and to truly know coffee, you must know more than dry facts, you must know the story of the people behind it. James Harper has dedicated himself to discovering and giving a platform to the untold stories of the coffee industry on his new podcast, Filter Stories. In this conversation we talk about James’ story and how he came to begin such a project, what are the problems with the way we tell stories now in the industry, what can we do to better understand the stories around us and why is that important for us personally and professionally? James gives us examples from both his personal life and from the lives of those he has interviewed to lay out a framework for us that will give clarity and direction for how story can be, not just another buzz word we use to sell coffee, but a powerful vehicle for how we build a caring and close community.
103 : The Colombian Coffee Connection w/ Ervin Liz
Ervin Liz is an indigenous Colombian of the Nasa tribe who grew up on a coffee farm helping his family plant, pick, process, and sell their harvest. Years later co-founded The Colombian Coffee Connection where he imports, roasts, and sells the coffee sourced from his home in Colombia direct to the consumer and gives 10% of all profits to charitable initiatives on the farm. Relationship coffee does not get more intimate than that!
096 : Instant Specialty Coffee w/ Voila founder, Kent Sheridan
Did you say “Instant specialty coffee”?! Yup, that’s right. Not only does it taste 300 times better than traditional instant but it may well change the way you think about accessibility, consumer engagement, and how we provide value to the end user. In this episode we are joined by the founder of Voila
092 : Tony “Tonx” Konecny of Yes Plz : Consumer Accessibility, roasting, 3rd wave, subscription
Great coffee should be for everyone! For the consumer today though, specialty coffee can be complicated. But it does not have to be! Today we talk with industry legend Tony (Tonx) Konecny, Founder of Tonx Coffee,  and Co-founder of Yes Plz (the people behind the $1 cup of coffee at Locol) all about his mission to remedy this issue. In addition to discussing Yes Plz and some of Tony’s professional history that informs the companies philosophy we will talk about: challenging orthodoxy, intentional blending, pricing for accessibility, coffee subscriptions, on-boarding customers, the industries echo chamber and much more. Tony has a lot to say that I think will help shape our approach to customers in the shop and really make an impact on how “into” coffee they get.
090 : Researching the Cafe w/ Dr. Jennifer Ferreira
While many of us can say that we are students of coffee and coffee shops, not many can say that we study it on an academic level the way or guest  Dr. Jennifer Ferreira does. In this discussion Dr. Ferreira talks about her research into coffee shops, their impact in society, and the things that she has learned along the …
089 : La Marzocco USA General Manager, Andrew Daday : Leadership, Innovation, service, heritage
Today we have the immense honor of talking with Andrew Daday, General Manager of La Marzocco USA! We dive into his leadership, Â values, and goals as he heads up one of the worlds most iconic and respected equipment manufacturing companies. Also in this conversation we discuss the importance of La Marzocco’s relationship with the coffee shop, their vision for sustainability, …
082 : Knowledge and Flavor w/ Cosimo Libardo
Is specialty coffee scaleable? How do we think and act in order for our businesses to succeed long term? What role does delivery of flavor, knowledge, and consistency play in giving your company the depth and soul needed to truly execute on a high level of quality over the long haul? Great questions that we get answers to and …
078 : Exploring Green Buying and Sensory Analysis w/ Amanda Juris
Tasting coffee gives us a window into where the coffee came from and what it’s potential can be. Those who work in green buying and sensory analysis are tasked with tasting the truth of a coffee and deciding how it will turn up on retail shelves the world over. Today we are talking with 2014 World Cup Tasters Champion, …
072: Taking an Origin Trip w/ Kim Elena-Ionescu : How to go to origin in a mutual beneficial way
The Origin Trip. A pinnacle moment for any barista and a regular part of business for roasters and importers. As “The Origin Trip” has become a more fashionable, marketable, and regular occurrence in specialty coffee there are questions and tensions come up. What is the true value of an trip to origin? How does it benefit the farmer? Is it worth …
