R!WC Archive

Coffee With Matt Hankes, Heart Transplant Recipient

Apr 27, 202301:02:47Tap to summarize

Who: Matthew HankesWhat: Heart Transplant RecipientWhere: Northern IdahoConnect: https://donate.transplants.org/story/MatthankesWhat we were drinking: Matt: Plain ol’ coffeeR!WC: Craft 42 Roasters Ethiopia Gesha EstateThe first episode of the Coffee With Podcast features Matthew Hankes, Heart Transplant Recipient. Matt is a pretty normal guy who experienced an extraordinary thing. He spent an hour talking about finding out he had a heart condition known as ARVC—Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy—at age 15, the lead-up to the transplant, and what it looks like from the other side. Matt asked that if anything is taken away from this podcast, it is the need for more donors on the transplant list. Sign up, make sure you’re on the transplant donor list, or learn more about what that entails at https://donatelife.net or go directly to registration at RegisterMe.org.If you have questions about being an organ donor—for example, who can be a donor, how donation is viewed by various religions, or even what can be donated—click the button below. It is likely that Donate Life℠ will have the answers you seek.IMPORTANT LINKS FROM THE SHOW* Matt Hankes fundraiser - https://donate.transplants.org/story/Matthankes Tax-deductible donations are distributed directly for medical bills through the National Foundation for Transplants, Inc.* The United Network for Organ Sharing - https://unos.org/APRIL IS NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTHCoincidence? Yes. Important? Yes.Some statistics from Donate Life℠ about transplants:* 4,000+ individuals are waiting for heart transplants.* Heart transplants need to be performed within 4-6 hours of being recovered.* More than 100,000 individuals are on the national transplant list.* A person is added to the list every 9 minutes.* In 2021, 6,000 individuals weren’t able to stay healthy long enough for their number to be called—about 17 people on the transplant died per day.* In 2022, the 1-millionth organ transplant was performed in the United States, more than any other country in the world.THANK YOUOn the other side of this story is a donor. Someone chose to donate their heart, becoming a hero to the many people who love and care about Matt Hankes. There are those out there mourning the loss of their person. There isn’t much to be known about the donor outside of the fact that their heart was the right heart for Matt. Thank you to them for giving what they could to help others.COFFEE WITHCoffee With is a new podcast from Roast! West Coast. It’s on—or will be—all the fun podcasting platforms. Unlike Coffee People and Coffee Smarter, the guests won’t be from the coffee industry. Instead, we’ll share the coffee experience with friends, strangers, and maybe even enemies with a good story to tell.If you know someone with a good story or two to share, please send us a note at: coffeewithpodcast@gmail.com.CHECK OUT THESE R!WC INDUSTRY PARTNERSRoastar • Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Steady State Roasting • Mostra Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company • Ascend Coffee Roasters • Marea Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee Roasters • Hacea Coffee Source • Crossings CoffeeRoast! West Coast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roastwestcoast.substack.com/subscribe

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Coffee People: An Interlude

Mar 17, 202300:08:01Tap to summarize

S7:E11Welcome back to Roast! West Coast. This coffee podcast started in 2020 with a Google meeting video chat I recorded on my phone with Steve Rayle, Founder-Owner-Head Roaster at Zumbar Coffee & Tea. Steve didn’t know me, but he agreed to spend an hour sharing his story with me. I’m not sure why other than we were stuck in a pandemic, and we were all getting a little stir-crazy.At the time, I thought I’d interview a few local coffee professionals—primarily for my own self-entertainment—and that would be it. Fast-forward a few years to now, and we’ve crossed the 150 shows barrier. The Coffee Smarter segments I thought would be short five-minute episodes have spun off into their own full-length show.Things have changed, but not everything. I’m still recording from the same bedroom closet I’ve converted into a small studio. Chris O’Brien from Coffee Cycle Roasting is still my personal Coffee Sensei. I still really love getting a cup of coffee and getting the opportunity to hear and share the stories of coffee people.The final show of Season 7 will come out next week, featuring the husband and wife co-Founders and co-Head Roasting team Libby and Victor Arreguin of Romantics Coffee. The schedule was changed, and I found myself missing working on the show. You’d think I’d embrace the little break, but my love for this coffee effort runs deep. So here we are for a little interlude enabling me to update you on some Roast! West Coast news, and have a cup of coffee together.Here is the exciting news that I’ve been sitting on for a moment:* The Roast! West Coast coffee podcast is being renamed Coffee People. You’ve probably already heard me say that at the top of the show. With the new Coffee Smarter podcast, it made sense to restructure it as this newsletter and podcast continue to grow.You’ll see a new Coffee People tab at the top of the website, and if you want, you can choose only to subscribe to that thread of interviews with really interesting coffee industry (and industry adjacent) professionals.* Coffee Smarter has been retooled to focus on coffee education that will enable listeners/readers to make a better cup of coffee at home. We’ll still dig into some deeper coffee science and industry challenges with the experts on special episodes of Coffee People.* Bill Kennedy and the San Franciscan Roaster Company have joined our epic roster of Industry Partners. He joined the partner crew as an unsolicited supporter after our recent interview. It was an emotional boost for me at a moment when I was a bit overwhelmed by some of the challenges I face being an entrepreneur. I’ve talked about the beauty of the San Franciscan roasters on the show, and I’m looking forward to not only learning more about the machines but seeing the SFR Co. team in person at the Specialty Coffee Association convention in Portland, April 20-23rd. If you’re going to be there, find them at booth 253 on the vendor floor.* Finally, look for a lot of upcoming collaborations with a new Season 8 Industry Partner, Roastar. They are a coffee packaging company based in Wausau, WI. Wausau is my hometown, but I wasn’t familiar with Roastar until I met one of their teammates at Coffeefest LA last fall.Roastar provides the bags, pouches, and cans our coffee comes in. They work with roasters on all facets of the packaging process, including collaborating with some awesome packaging designers. In addition to becoming an Industry Partner, they are going to be the Presenting Sponsor of the Coffee People podcast! We’re going to collaborate on a new design column in the newsletter featuring both the best in coffee packaging design and interviews with the artists and designers who create them.I’ll also be heading up to the SCA convention in Portland, and every afternoon, I’ll be taking over part of the Roastar booth to interview conventiongoers about their coffee journey and much more on Roastar in the near future.I’m going to end this little interlude by saying Happy St. Patrick’s Day. My morning started out with coffee, and I’m planning to end it with Irish Coffee using a recipe from Talking Crow Coffee Roasters’ recent newsletter. They specialize in decaf coffee. After lunch, I’m a decaf guy, but I have one minor twist.Here’s my twist. I’m adding an ounce of Irish Whiskey and an ounce of First Light Coffee Whiskey.And you know what, it’s a holiday, I’m not going to wait. I’ve gotta wrap this up.Don’t forget to listen to the most recent Coffee Smarter episode on the Melitta pour-over coffee brewer!CLICK ON THESE R!WC INDUSTRY PARTNER LINKSDrink their coffees and whiskeys. Visit their cafes. Support local coffee shops. You won’t be disappointed.Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company • Ascend Coffee Roasters • Marea Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee RoastersThank you for reading. R!WC is a listener & reader-supported publication. Help us grow by subscribing to this newsletter!APPLE PODCASTS • SPOTIFY • ANCHOR.FM • GOOGLE PODCASTS • AMAZON MUSIC • THE COAST NEWS • TUNEIN RADIO • I HEART RADIO • POCKETCASTS • BREAKER • RADIO PUBLIC • OVERCAST • YOUTUBE • STITCHER • CASTRO • PANDORA • LISTEN NOTES • DEEZER • PODVINE • CASTBOX This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roastwestcoast.substack.com/subscribe

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Coffee People: A Pop-in with Tyler Whitehead, Ignite Coffee Company

Mar 9, 202300:20:21Tap to summarize

S7:E10Guest: Tyler Whitehead, Ignite Coffee CompanyFrom: Oceanside, CAInstagram: @ignitecoffeecompanyWebsite: www.ignitecoffeecompany.comFor a long time, this sign was affixed to the front wall of the future Ignite Coffee Company space in downtown Oceanside.Behind the scenes, Tyler was optimistic that the shop's grand opening was just around the corner.But construction ran long. Permits needed to be attained. Supply chains were (still are) interrupted. June 2022 became Halloween became, hopefully before New Year's.It took longer than anticipated, but on January 11th, 2023, Ignite Coffee Company opened its doors with coffee and locally-made donuts. After a year worth of work, the work of serving coffee can finally begin.Tyler relied on support from his friends and family and on his faith to persevere even when the future of his cafe was uncertain.Listen to Tyler’s first appearance on the R!WC podcast from April 6, 2022.CLICK ON THESE R!WC INDUSTRY PARTNER LINKSDrink their coffees and whiskeys. Visit their cafes. Support local coffee shops. You won’t be disappointed.Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company • Ascend Coffee Roasters • Marea Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee RoastersThank you for reading. R!WC is a listener & reader-supported publication. Help us grow by subscribing to this newsletter!APPLE PODCASTS • SPOTIFY • ANCHOR.FM • GOOGLE PODCASTS • AMAZON MUSIC • THE COAST NEWS • TUNEIN RADIO • I HEART RADIO • POCKETCASTS • BREAKER • RADIO PUBLIC • OVERCAST • YOUTUBE • STITCHER • CASTRO • PANDORA • LISTEN NOTES • DEEZER • PODVINE • CASTBOX This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roastwestcoast.substack.com/subscribe

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Coffee People: Bill Kennedy, San Franciscan Roaster Co.

Mar 2, 202301:02:08Tap to summarize

S7:E9Guest: Bill Kennedy, San Franciscan Roaster CompanyFrom: Carson City, NVInstagram: @sanfranroastersWebsite: www.sanfranroasters.comWhat they drink: “I order what everybody else orders….just a straight cup of coffee.”Buying SFR Co. was an All or Nothing proposition for the Kennedy family. That’s a risk often associated with entrepreneurial pursuits. Still, when I asked if he had moments where he questioned the decision, he reiterated the need for grit and perseverance. He also said that you need to believe in what you’re doing, and he did.What he and San Franciscan team were doing, are doing, was working to create roasters that are excellent at roasting coffee, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. They want to build roasters they’d want to use and continue innovating improvements along the way. It sounds simple, but it was refreshing to hear conveyed so plainly in today’s corporate culture of planned obsolescencenly.Bill clearly loves coffee. He expressed a theory that joy in your work leads to a higher quality of craftsmanship. You can see the durability of the machines, and you’ll hear about it when you talk to roasters using the machines.The roasters don’t lack for design aesthetics either. Every roaster has a plaque—often in their iconic gold color—emblazoned with the phrase, “Art & Ingenuity.” It’s a reference to the San Franciscan approach to building machines and to the art of roasting coffee. Their machines are built with the idea that the relationship between the roaster and the machine is part of what creates great coffee. That symbiosis leads to a machine imbued with soul that is then imparted into the coffee, dropping down into the cooling tray.That means their roasters aren’t for everyone. Their client niche is people who are passionate about coffee, passionate about the craft and have a commitment to the process. Romantically, that sounds like every coffee roaster I know. Still, there is also room in the industry for more automated processes, more streamlined designs, and more tech-heavy bells and whistles.As Bill analogized, there can be multiple approaches to art that is successful. In the same way, there can be multiple approaches to roasting coffee that is successful. Whoever is roasting in their own unique yet excellent way, SFR Co. strives to be the tool that gets them there.Over here, on the consumer side of things, we’re a part of the experience, hopefully feeling the connection between the coffee bean, coffee roaster, and the coffee roasting machine.KEY TAKEAWAYS* San Franciscan will be at the Specialty Coffee Association Expo in Portland, April 20-23, 2023. If you’re there, you can find them at Booth 253.* Bill got his coffee drinking start by adding cream and sugar—ALWAYS cream and sugar, but after his brother got involved in the coffee industry he took a two week cold turkey detox off the coffee additives. Since then, he’s been a black coffee drinker.* Tasting coffees and breaking down their flavor profiles has become a compulsion of sorts. Bill is a Q-Grader, and breaking down a cup of coffee is a sort of happy place.* Once, early on in the episode, I said the San Francisco Roaster Company, but it is San Franciscan Roaster Company. I don’t know why I said San Francisco, and I apologize. It was a slip of the tongue. Speaking of…* I talked a lot during this episode. I try not to do that, but Bill is the kind of guy who tells stories, and makes you want to share yours.* You either get it done, or you get it done. Wilford Brimley in Seinfeld.* Their client niche are people who are passionate about the coffee, passionate about the craft, and have a commitment to the process. It is Bill’s job to communicate the value of the roasters his company is building. He believes customers will part with their money if they can see the value.CLICK ON THESE R!WC INDUSTRY PARTNER LINKSDrink their coffees and whiskeys. Visit their cafes. Support local coffee shops. You won’t be disappointed.Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company • Ascend Coffee Roasters • Marea Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee RoastersThank you for reading. R!WC is a listener & reader-supported publication. Help us grow by subscribing to this newsletter!APPLE PODCASTS • SPOTIFY • ANCHOR.FM • GOOGLE PODCASTS • AMAZON MUSIC • THE COAST NEWS • TUNEIN RADIO • I HEART RADIO • POCKETCASTS • BREAKER • RADIO PUBLIC • OVERCAST • YOUTUBE • STITCHER • CASTRO • PANDORA • LISTEN NOTES • DEEZER • PODVINE • CASTBOX This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roastwestcoast.substack.com/subscribe

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Coffee People: Erin Harper, Ascend Coffee Roasters

Feb 23, 202300:21:24Tap to summarize

This episode was originally published January 18, 2023S7: A Grand Opening Pop-inGuest: Erin Nenow, Ascend Coffee RoastersFrom: San Marcos, CAInstagram: @ascendroastersWebsite: www.ascendroasters.comI love the pop-in. Pre-Covid, I used to pop into people's homes all the time for a surprise visit. There were no expectations, and since I usually brought coffee or a six-pack, I was often welcomed with open arms. The pandemic changed the reality of the pop-in, but it motivated me to find other ways to connect.You're here, so…I think it worked. Erin faced a big question: How do we create something sustainable in the face of uncertainty?She decided to put her own stamp on things and create opportunities by embracing change. She started Ascend Roasters. Even then, after placing the wheels in motion to create a new business, the situation with Old Cal Coffee and her relationship with business partners changed, forcing her to course correct.I've been back to Ascend a few times since the grand opening. The future is still wide open. The future roaster location is still moving forward. Her experience is an excellent reminder that being flexible is just as important as staying focused. It's a fine line to walk. Without a doubt, there will be more plans, more changes to said plans, and more opportunities to pursue in her future.At the new Ascend Roasters, things are different yet still the same. Reach your peak with Ascend Coffee Roasters, known for their dark roasts and their cold brew refill packs. Ascend Roasters is a woman-owned and operated company that wants you to work coffee into your self-care routine. Buy coffee and learn more by clicking the button below to go to ascendroasters.com.PREVIOUS EPISODES FT. ERIN This isn’t the first time Erin’s been on Roast! West Coast. Check out the previous episode here: CLICK ON THESE R!WC INDUSTRY PARTNER LINKSDrink their coffees and whiskeys. Visit their cafes. Support local coffee shops. You won’t be disappointed.Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company • Ascend Coffee Roasters • Marea Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee RoastersThank you for reading. R!WC is a listener & reader-supported publication. Help us grow by subscribing to this newsletter!APPLE PODCASTS • SPOTIFY • ANCHOR.FM • GOOGLE PODCASTS • AMAZON MUSIC • THE COAST NEWS • TUNEIN RADIO • I HEART RADIO • POCKETCASTS • BREAKER • RADIO PUBLIC • OVERCAST • YOUTUBE • STITCHER • CASTRO • PANDORA • LISTEN NOTES • DEEZER • PODVINE • CASTBOXThank you for reading Roast! West Coast. This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roastwestcoast.substack.com/subscribe

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Coffee People: Kayleigh Bortolussi, Slow Hurry Coffee

Feb 16, 202300:35:43Tap to summarize

S7:E7Guest: Kayleigh Bortolussi, Slow Hurry CoffeeFrom: Northern border of Western Ohio & Eastern PennsylvaniaInstagram: @slowhurrycoffeeWebsite: www.slowhurrycoffee.comWhat they drink: “Like three drinks…”–a single shot of espresso, a drip, and a latte.The life of a cup of coffee is reflected in the name Slow Hurry. The life of the coffee bean begins at the farm. The process is slow, so slow, at the beginning. It takes months, even years,* for a coffee plant to be grown from the ground and begin fruiting coffee cherries that are worthy of the coffee we’ve become accustomed to. After picking, the fruit is still processed over days, even weeks. It has to be shipped, across continents, across oceans until it reaches a green coffee importer. Those beans will find a home with a coffee roaster, who eventually drops them into their machine. Things begin to speed up. The coffee is roasted, packaged, potentially shipped again, and put in the queue. Finally, someone will order a coffee or a latte or a cappuccino, and WHAM! Those beans are whipped out at the coffee bar. Their life has entered the speed zone.It’s a slow hurry. The least we can do as coffee drinkers are to take a moment, even a brief one, to appreciate the efforts of the farmers, importers, roasters, and finally, baristas and coffee entrepreneurs like Kayleigh as that liquid passes beyond the barrier of our lips and becomes part of us.*It can take three years for a coffee plant to produce fruit that can be harvested.KEY TAKEAWAYS* Her fav show as a kid was Ninja Turtles…NINJA TURTLES! * Kayleigh has spent more than a decade working in coffee. She started at Starbucks,* which we have to thank for being the gateway to craft coffee for so many third-wave coffee professionals.* The Starbucks Coffee Master program, which Kayleigh went through, is a big deal in the Starbucks world. Graduates were given black aprons instead of green to indicate their status as a Coffee Master and their desire to continue learning about coffee. For a few years, the program was disbanded, but coinciding with the return of Howard Shulz to the leadership team and the feedback from Starbucks employees, the black apron has returned.The Starbucks educational programs never went away. In fact, they’ve been growing. The Coffee Master black aprons are now bestowed on employees who complete all the courses at the Starbucks Global Academy (online). Non-employees can also register to take the classes.* It can be a challenge to find a middle ground between super slow, precise brewing techniques that result in the best-tasting coffee and providing customers with the convenience and speed to which they’ve grown accustomed. Slow Hurry is an effort to find that space.* Parenting while being an entrepreneur is a different challenge. I grew up in a family business. I joke that I wasn’t a kid, just a future employee, but that is just a joke. I don’t know how my parents managed to run a business and raise three rowdy kids!In reality, growing up in a family business was a great gift. I saw the results of my parent's efforts daily. I learned how to communicate with a world of different people. My brothers and I have all grown up to pursue entrepreneurial avenues using the foundational skills we learned as kids. Most importantly, early on, it kept us all close together. When we were young, we were always underfoot, and as we got older, we were part of the team. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.* Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool. If you’re doing something cool, other people, brands, and businesses often want to be associated with you.* Kayleigh uses Third Wave Water dissolved in water to minimize a major variable when serving coffee at a pop-up event. Third Wave sells mineral packets curated to create the right mix of minerals that will turn distilled water into the ideal water for coffee.I have been using Third Wave Water for the first time this week. It’s anecdotal, because I’ve also been using some new-to-me coffee brewers, but I have been really impressed with the coffee I’ve been making.* What does the future hold? It’s a loaded question for us all. For Kayleigh and Slow Hurry Coffee, continued growth in 2023, and on the horizon, a full service coffee van. *This is kind of surprising considering the hardcore local sentiment in the neighborhood and the proliferation of local coffee shops and roasters has reached near saturation levels. One two block square stretch has more than seven places where you can get a good cup of coffee. Three of the seven are coffee roasters!CLICK ON THESE R!WC INDUSTRY PARTNER LINKSDrink their coffees and whiskeys. Visit their cafes. Support local coffee shops. You won’t be disappointed.* Coffee Cycle Roasting was recently sampled and featured in the Wacaco* newsletter. Check it out and find out what is CCR’s most recent coffee release in their monthly newsletter.*Portable espresso machine makers.Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company • Ascend Coffee Roasters • Marea Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee RoastersThank you for reading. R!WC is a listener & reader-supported publication. Help us grow by subscribing to this newsletter!APPLE PODCASTS • SPOTIFY • ANCHOR.FM • GOOGLE PODCASTS • AMAZON MUSIC • THE COAST NEWS • TUNEIN RADIO • I HEART RADIO • POCKETCASTS • BREAKER • RADIO PUBLIC • OVERCAST • YOUTUBE • STITCHER • CASTRO • PANDORA • LISTEN NOTES • DEEZER • PODVINE • CASTBOX This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roastwestcoast.substack.com/subscribe

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Coffee People: Alan Escalante, Twin Lens Coffee

Feb 9, 202300:37:45Tap to summarize

S7:E6Guest: Alan Escalante, Twin Lens Roasters & Film LabFrom: La Puente, CAInstagram: @twinlensroastersWebsite: www.twinlensroasters.comAlan was making his way as a photographer and getting into events and weddings. I say from experience that wedding photography is INTENSE. Imagine telling a recently married couple that there was a disk error and you lost all the images of the first kiss, and you might get an inkling of the pressure. You’ve only got one chance to get it right. Unfortunately, the pandemic hit, and Alan’s career path became less clear.I didn’t watch James Hoffman’s excellent coffee videos on Youtube or even know who he was when I got into coffee, but Alan did. He started watching coffee videos beginning with one on the French press and fell down a very long rabbit hole. One in which his love for the tactile experience of film photography was matched by the physicality of roasting coffee.I was motivated by a more visceral emotion, anger. I was mad at myself for giving up on an opportunity in the industry because I didn’t feel I had the knowledge to succeed. I went searching for coffee education and stumbled right into my coffee sensei Chris O’Brien at Coffee Cycle Roasting.The point of the comparison is that we all have our own path to knowledge. It’s okay to have your own relationship with something you’re passionate about. The journeys we take, the challenges we face, and the helping hands that propel us forward are variables in the science experiment that is our lives. Mine led me to talk and write about coffee. Alan’s led him to coffee roasting and being a barista. We both ended up here sharing a cup of coffee.KEY TAKEAWAYS* This show looks insane. A real Ren & Stimpy-vibe for those of an older generation.* Film is tactile, as is coffee roasting. There are lots of parallels in the science and timing of developing the final product. In both, the scientist (roaster or developer) is taking something that is partway done—green coffee or shot film and running a science experiment to produce the final product.* Being intentional is a key component of shooting film photography and roasting coffee. The greats combine science and art to create something others may not see.* Is Twin Lens the side hustle, or is working for the regular paycheck at the coffee shop the side hustle?* Alan roasts at the California Roasting Collective in San Marcos to keep the business nimble and without the overhead required to buy equipment as he grows. Many of the roasters who’ve appeared on this show have gotten their start in co-roasting spaces.* It took Alan a year of practice before he felt it was time to share his coffee with people. There was a lot of practice and a lot of trial and error. Creating something and offering it to the world–be it roasted coffee or a podcast, ahem, ahem—requires one to be vulnerable and open to critique.* Let businesses and/or individuals know when you appreciate what they are doing! Someone on the other side of that interaction will feel it deeply.* Alan uses a La Marzocco Linea Mini espresso machine at pop-up events. Despite the name, the Linea Mini is a beast of a portable countertop espresso machine that costs $5,900!* This image ©La Marzocco USA* There has to be a little bit of dreamer in an entrepreneur.* Twin Lens is NOT JUST A COFFEE ROASTER. They are also a film photography lab.* Alan wants to use his company platform to teach people about photography and coffee, so they love those arts as much as he does.365 SNAPSIn a pure coincidence, one of my creative projects for 2023 has been to photograph my coffee with an instant photograph each day. With the onset of digital photography, I lost some of my passion for taking pictures. If forced to think about it, I’d venture that some of the tension had been lost.This last month has been the beginning of a reclamation of my love for seeing things in a different way. I’ve been posting on the @roastwestcoast Instagram, and I’ll be sharing monthly galleries right here in the Roast! West Coast coffee newsletter.CLICK ON THESE R!WC INDUSTRY PARTNER LINKSDrink their coffees and whiskeys. Visit their cafes. Support local coffee shops. You won’t be disappointed.* I like supporting my R!WC Industry Partners and I love seeing the creative work of a community’s Makers. This weekend I can (and will) do both by visiting the Coffee Cycle and Ascend Roasters Maker Markets.* Find Coffee Cycle at 1632 Grand Ave in Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA.* Ascend Roasters is located in Restaurant Row at 1080 W San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos, CA. Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company • Ascend Coffee Roasters • Marea Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee RoastersThank you for reading. R!WC is a listener & reader-supported publication. Help us grow by subscribing to this newsletter!APPLE PODCASTS • SPOTIFY • ANCHOR.FM • GOOGLE PODCASTS • AMAZON MUSIC • THE COAST NEWS • TUNEIN RADIO • I HEART RADIO • POCKETCASTS • BREAKER • RADIO PUBLIC • OVERCAST • YOUTUBE • STITCHER • CASTRO • PANDORA • LISTEN NOTES • DEEZER • PODVINE • CASTBOX This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roastwestcoast.substack.com/subscribe

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Coffee People: Caroline Manimtim, Cozy Canine Coffee

Feb 2, 202300:42:00Tap to summarize

S7:E5Guest: Caroline Manimtim, Cozy Canine CoffeeFrom: San Diego, CAInstagram: @cozycaninecoffee & @rhys.peanutbuttercupWebsite: www.cozycaninecoffee.comLet’s get this out of the way first. Cozy Canine Coffee is for humans, not dogs.Humans have an intricate relationship with animals. We use them as tools. Animal meat has long been a staple of the human diet. We talk to crows…err…that last one may just be me. There is a murder of crows in my neighborhood that is quite friendly. We keep them as pets.The word pet doesn’t feel like enough. The dogs that have been in my life are part of my family. More so than some of my actual extended family members. Dogs can seem—real or imagined—more empathetic, caring, and aware than other animals. They also need us (the humans) for food, exercise, and even purpose.That need doesn’t go away when things are challenging. It is a symbiotic relationship. They can console and support, and in return, you provide. Even when you want to stop moving forward, pets keep you going. They need you.Caroline and her husband adopted Rhys from an animal rescue. He isn’t just a pet or just a dog. He is part of the family and part of the inspiration for Cozy Canine Coffee. With CCC, Caroline isn’t just selling coffee. She is engaging and supporting a community that finds value in the relationship people have with pets. Like the connection with an animal, the impact of coffee doesn’t stop. You may only be one person, but you are needed in the chain between farm and consumer. You can uplift the links around you.My favorite thoughts from today’s episode: * It’s okay to be afraid, and still do the thing. * It’s never too early to start something that you’re passionate about.Besides, what’s the worst that can happen?KEY TAKEAWAYS* Caroline had a very positive coffee experience with her grandpa at a young age, where a splash of decaf with milk and sugar was a reward for getting up early before school.* Craft beer was her gateway to craft coffee. There are similarities in the language, the skill of tasting, and the concept that despite being categorized as the same, there are infinite flavors that can be experienced.* The coffee you don’t like may still inspire a reaction and emotion. It may motivate you to ask, “Why?”* Entrepreneurs can benefit from having a varied career path because they collect skills—like graphic design or managing employees, or setting up a website—that they can use in the creation of their own thing later on.* Let yourself be mentored, and alternatively, be a mentor. Don’t be a gatekeeper to information or opportunity. Read this post about how Caroline is honoring her mentor Bartelby Bloss.WHAT DO YOU DRINK WHEN YOU ARE OUT IN THE WORLD?I have asked every guest that question, and for the first time, I forgot. Thankfully, we live in a magical world where we can connect on numerous platforms at all hours of the day. I reached out to Caroline via e-mail.From Caroline: Fun question! Depends…I like a good oat cortado or drip [coffee], but if a barista is really excited about a specialty latte, I’ll try it. I loved creating drink recipes as a barista and flavor combinations, so I love seeing others’ creativity. I also forgot to add that by the time the episode drops, we’ll be selling coffee bags at Nibble Chocolate too!Also, I don’t know if I articulated this sentiment as clearly as I wanted, but Rhys brings us so much joy and love. That’s why we wanted to give back to rescues so that those animals get a second chance with their new families.Animal Rescues Cozy Canine Supports: (Links provided by Cozy Canine Coffee)* Helen Woodward Animal Center - Donate - Pet Adoptions - Event Calendar* San Diego Humane Society - Ways To Give - Adoptable Animals - About San Diego Humane Society* The Animal Pad - Donate - Adopt - Volunteer* Passion for Pitties - Donate - Facebook - InstagramCLICK ON THESE R!WC INDUSTRY PARTNER LINKSDrink their coffees and whiskeys. Visit their cafes. Support local coffee shops. You won’t be disappointed.Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company • Ascend Coffee Roasters • Marea Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee RoastersAPPLE PODCASTS • SPOTIFY • ANCHOR.FM • GOOGLE PODCASTS • AMAZON MUSIC • THE COAST NEWS • TUNEIN RADIO • I HEART RADIO • POCKETCASTS • BREAKER • RADIO PUBLIC • OVERCAST • YOUTUBE • STITCHER • CASTRO • PANDORA • LISTEN NOTES • DEEZER • PODVINE • CASTBOX This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roastwestcoast.substack.com/subscribe

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Coffee People: Tanya Nanetti, Coffee Insurrection

Jan 26, 202300:31:52Tap to summarize

S7:E3Guest: Tanya Nanetti, Coffee InsurrectionFrom: Buna Specialty Coffee, Lisbon, PortugalInstagram: @coffeeinsurrection, @tonya_coffee_travelWebsite: www.coffeeinsurrection.comI grew up in a restaurant, by most accounts, a pretty good one. As a kid, my friends were the cooks, servers, bartenders, and even regular customers. If I had to guess, those customers got a kick out of me crawling around under booths looking for loose change. Later, when I was washing dishes or bussing tables, I’m sure the team struggled to hold back a sigh when the boss’s kid made a snarky comment.I remember feeling like I was part of something every time I pushed past the pirate painted on the back door. And I was.I’ve spent the rest of my life trying to build communities that have imbued the same warmth that my memories seem flooded with. Meeting Tanya made me feel seen.With Coffee Insurrection—the website she co-founded with her boyfriend Endri—she’s connecting coffee lovers and cultivating a community of new coffee friends online and in real life. They are also documenting their coffee experiences. It’s a global effort. Seriously, the list of roasters on the site is extensive.As the Head Barista at Buna in Lisbon, she’s doing the same at the local level. Creating a space where you’re a regular by the second visit is an ambitious goal. By her accounting, they’ve managed to do it. As a customer, you can feel that kind of care when you walk through the door of a great cafe. I hope to feel it walking into Buna someday when I’m lucky to travel across the Atlantic again.Speaking of…How wild is it that coffee can connect strangers around the world? That’s what I was thinking during my chat with Tanya. I was sitting in my closet podcasting booth in Southern California. 5,600+ miles away, Tanya was smiling into her computer camera as I welcomed her to the R!WC Coffee People podcast.* By listening to this show in your corner of the world, we are now connected to you. What a world.*This coffee podcast has been growing. You may have heard there is now a separate Coffee Smarter podcast devoted to making better cups of coffee at home. This season we’re interviewing some amazing coffee professionals from the West Coast but also from, well, from beyond the coastal region. It felt right to start working into a new name. Throughout Season 7, Roast! West Coast will become Coffee People, presented by Roast! West Coast. I thought you should know.LISBON RECOMMENDS BY TANYA* Buna Specialty Coffee…obviously.* Dramático coffee shop* Buraca Roasters* Olisipo RoastersLESSONS I LEARNED (OR RELEARNED) DURING THIS PODCAST.* Reach out. What do you have to lose?* Keep traveling. Keep exploring. Keep connecting.* Tradition can impede growth. Don’t get caught up in how it has always been.CLICK ON THESE R!WC INDUSTRY PARTNER LINKSDrink their coffees and whiskeys. Visit their cafes. Support local coffee shops. You won’t be disappointed.* Congratulations to Erin Nenow for cutting the ribbon at Ascend Coffee Roasters in San Marcos, CA.Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company • Ascend Coffee Roasters • Marea Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee RoastersThank you for reading. R!WC is a listener & reader-supported publication. Help us grow by subscribing to this newsletter!APPLE PODCASTS • SPOTIFY • ANCHOR.FM • GOOGLE PODCASTS • AMAZON MUSIC • THE COAST NEWS • TUNEIN RADIO • I HEART RADIO • POCKETCASTS • BREAKER • RADIO PUBLIC • OVERCAST • YOUTUBE • STITCHER • CASTRO • PANDORA • LISTEN NOTES • DEEZER • PODVINE • CASTBOX This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roastwestcoast.substack.com/subscribe

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Coffee People: Becca Awld, Lil Baggins Coffee Roasters

Jan 16, 202300:43:43Tap to summarize

S7:E1Guest: Becca Awld, Lil Baggins Coffee RoastersFrom: San Diego, CAInstagram: @lilbagginscoffeeWebsite: www.lilbaggins.com*Enter promo code NEWBIE at checkout. New customer discount applies to orders over $13. Valid for one time use only per email address. Not valid with any other discount codes.Welcome to Season 7 of the Roast! West Coast coffee podcast. Things are a bit different this season. The show is focused on Coffee People. As the podcast has grown, so has our audience. This season we're expanding our guest list beyond the West Coast. We'll be featuring coffee professionals from throughout the United States and even overseas in an effort to continue growing this craft coffee community.Don't fret if you are here for coffee education. This show will still dive into the challenges facing the coffee industry and include educational episodes, but based on feedback from the audience, we've spun off the popular Coffee Smarter episodes into its own show.The goal of the Coffee Smarter podcast is to enable listeners to brew better cups of coffee at home and a better coffee experience overall. The podcast is more focused and designed to be listened to while you're enjoying a cup of coffee.Season 1 is dedicated to coffee brewers like the French press, Chemex, and v60 pour-over. We'll cover full immersion and pour over drippers. We'll dig into the history of at-home coffee brewers, how they work, and even their impact on the flavor of the coffee.The founder and Head Roaster at Coffee Cycle Roasting in Pacific Beach, San Diego, California, Chris O'Brien, will join us as our Coffee Smarter expert on every single episode. Episodes drop Wednesday mornings. Be sure to follow Coffee Smarter on your favorite podcast platforms. Subscribers to the R!WC newsletter will receive the episodes in their in-box just like always.Some things in Season 7 will remain the same. For starters, we’ll talk to great guests like Becca Awld of Lil Baggins Coffee Roasters.KEY TAKEAWAYS* Becca was a late bloomer to coffee drinking (see what I did there). The gift of a Starbucks gift card has been continuing to pay dividends. Despite an overwhelming first craft coffee experience, Becca kept at it.* Becca and her partner Matt began roasting coffee at home on a tabletop coffee roaster. Roasting in an upstairs apartment created some sitcom-worthy shenanigans, including the creation of the Super Flap 5000, a.k.a. a sheet of cardboard used to push smoke out the window.* The Lil Baggins branding is not a Lord of the Rings reference, but it has come up because fans of the coffee have associated the two on their own. Rather, one goal of the branding’s cartoons and comedic imagery is to keep it fun.* We are not alone in our mistakes. There is a good chance—nay, a guarantee—that someone else has been there before. Becca roasts coffee at the California Roasting Collective, which is a coffee roasting co-working space in San Marcos, CA. Roasters at all different levels of experience are in the building and creating a unique community of coffee colleagues. Whether at a coffee roasting collective or practicing your brewing techniques at home while listening to a podcast, we’re always learning and growing.* Lil Baggins is asking for your requests on what type of coffee they roast in 2023. Let them know @lilbagginscoffee on Instagram.* Perfect Strangers was a great TGIF sitcom.FROM THE SHOWI asked some of this show’s experts which drip coffee maker they would recommend for those who don’t want to brew their own coffee in a manual brewer. Across the board, they offered a piece of advice and a recommendation.* Be sure to buy a good burr grinder ensuring consistently well-ground coffee beans.* Check out Moccamaster drip coffee makers. Their various versions start at about $250. You can find decent coffee makers for cheaper, but it was noticeable that this one kept coming up when I asked coffee professionals for their recommendations. Chris O’Brien of Coffee Cycle Roasting specifically mentioned the maker’s water temperature controls and preciseness as reasons he would consider it for at-home use.CLICK ON THESE R!WC INDUSTRY PARTNER LINKSDrink their coffees and whiskeys. Visit their cafes. Support local coffee shops. You won’t be disappointed.* Ignite Coffee Company got their final health permits (finally!) and opened the doors of their new cafe in Oceanside, California. The San Franciscan Roaster looks awesome, and the space looks great. I got to see it while it was under construction, and I have to admit, I wasn’t sure it would look as good as it does. Great job to the Ignite team. I’m drinking a mug of Ignite Colombia at home while writing this post! Check out the new space on Main St in Oceanside, or if you’re out of town, order a bag at www.ignitecoffeecompany.com.Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company • Ascend Coffee Roasters • Marea Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee RoastersThank you for reading. R!WC is a listener & reader-supported publication. Help us grow by subscribing to this newsletter!APPLE PODCASTS • SPOTIFY • ANCHOR.FM • GOOGLE PODCASTS • AMAZON MUSIC • THE COAST NEWS • TUNEIN RADIO • I HEART RADIO • POCKETCASTS • BREAKER • RADIO PUBLIC • OVERCAST • YOUTUBE • STITCHER • CASTRO • PANDORA • LISTEN NOTES • DEEZER • PODVINE • CASTBOX This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roastwestcoast.substack.com/subscribe

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All episodes

Coffee With Matt Hankes, Heart Transplant Recipient

Coffee People: An Interlude

Coffee People: A Pop-in with Tyler Whitehead, Ignite Coffee Company

Coffee People: Bill Kennedy, San Franciscan Roaster Co.

Coffee People: Erin Harper, Ascend Coffee Roasters

Coffee People: Kayleigh Bortolussi, Slow Hurry Coffee

Coffee People: Alan Escalante, Twin Lens Coffee

Coffee People: Caroline Manimtim, Cozy Canine Coffee

Coffee People: Tanya Nanetti, Coffee Insurrection

Coffee People: Becca Awld, Lil Baggins Coffee Roasters