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Charlie Biando

Male

Khillerdelphia

United States

Profile Information:

What is your position in the coffee industry?: barista, barista trainer, home barista, coffee enthusiast
Where are you located? ( City and Country ): Real-a-delphia USA
How many years have you been in the industry?: a few years
If you are a barista or shop, are you interested in a barista exchange with another coffee shop/barista?: yes
Tell us more about your coffee shop or barista skills.: My job: uhhhhh...i deal in secrecy and ambiguity. Get back to you soon.

I know my way around an espresso machine pretty well, can do latte art, am lethal with a mop, and play the game "will it press" a lot.
What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?: Definately not Pittsburgh. J to the K.

Portland, OR

A lot of places.
About Me:: Three B's: babes, burgers, and banjos.

the other three B's: Bassisms, Bikes, Barista-ING-isms

I also like "nice" beers and bears, as well as pull up bars, knuckle push ups, and Chris Weybright...especially Chris Weybright.

THINGS ABOUT ME CURRENTLY!
soooooo, I currently work at Shot Tower Coffee in PHiladelphia. It is great. I get to mostly not take advantage of pressure profiling because I'm so hung up on consistency. But it's a beast. I'm working on holding monthly presentations on factors that affect coffee and are fun! I also hold cuppings at Shot Tower. If you have samples and want notes, you should get in touch!
Prior to Shot Tower, I have been lucky enough to work at some really radical shops. And while I've pulled shifts at a few shops, the last shop I worked at full time was Case Study Coffee in the Hollywood section of Portland, OR. It was a great experience: serving espresso from a very fair, yet mean, 3 group Marzocco Mistral that has individual boilers, preinfusion, pressure profiling, and foot switch activated steamwands! Also CSC's Roburs are foot switch activated. If a foot switch can be added to something, they will do it. They have a commitment to serving locally roasted coffee. The program currently includes Stumptown and Water Ave Roasters; Coava and Sterling are next up on the roster. It was a great experience as I had the opportunity to work directly with these roasters. I had a bit of an espresso renaissance out here. Some serious food for thought on making a great shot.

Prior to Case Study I worked for Ultimo Coffee in Philadelphia. It's a Counter Culture Account, run by the awesome Ultimo duo (Aaron and Elizabeth Ultimo, former Murky folk), and one of maybe three or four shops in Philly that's serving some decent coffee. At Ultimo, I was fortunate enough to work with some great people on a beautiful 3 group GB5 (with lights!), Mazzer Robur E, Bee House Pour Over Kits, some press pots, and some Chemexzzzzzzz! They hold cuppings every Friday at 5PM and are always serving different coffees with the seasons.

Also, as hinted at above, I am a bassist. I play in a variety of settings. I grew up playing jazz, went to school for orchestral performance, and am currently getting around in two bands that tour frequently: Hermit Thrushes and Folklore (featuring members of Elf Power). They're pretty different in sound.

Hermit Thrushes is a five piece that has a heavy emphasis on art song. Songs are typically short in length but very dense in content and often change timbrely from delicate, fragile, and soft to very noisy and spastic. We just finished up our first monstrous US tour. It was Totally Rad to say the least and gave me some awesome opportunities to check out some AMAZING coffee. We currently have two albums out: Benaki (Single Girl, Married Girl 2008) and Slight Fountain (Joyful Noise 2009) as well as a much coveted Daytrotter Session under the belt, a 7inch, and a full length album coming out hopefully very soon. Fun, right? check us out: www.myspace.com/hermitthrushes
Our Tour Dates are posted and if anyone's interested in seeing us, hearing us, caffinating us, feeding us, and/or loving us, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME (through the BX or miraclefeet@gmail.com). you the best.

Folklore is a newer Philly band that started in Athens, GA with Elf Power guitarist Jimmy Hughes. The band typically consists of two guitars, a drummer, a violinist, a violist, a clarinetist, a bass clarinetist, trumpet, keyboard, and two upright bassists! A lot of sound. Songs tend to genre-wonder between Folk, Yo La Tengo-esque Party Rock, and Venus in Furs-style drone psych! Check us out too: www.myspace.com/folkloreband
About My Company:: We make hippo-locks
What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?: Free McDonalds. & "no one serves coffee, no one wakes up..."
Website:: http://www.myspace.com/miraclefeet

Comment Wall:

Load Previous Comments

Tim Noble

What's up Charlie?
I'm hoping to get a Philly Barista Jam together some time this summer. Kegs, tunes, coffee ilk. Stay tuned.

May 9, 2008
Tim Noble

Charlie, get them signed up on this group and bX, dude. We need a way to get connected to everybody.
How about Johnny Brenda's some night next month for a brew of a different sort?

May 9, 2008
aitch$

well...buses. how do you like the beach? my bike is sad cause i don't use it as much, but maybe i just need a buddy to go around town with. philly can't be that great, why don't you try southern california. help me bring real coffee to these people please!

May 10, 2008
aitch$

p.s. you would have a job

May 10, 2008
Petros Zografos

My friend i am waiting for you come to Athens to teach you about cofee,,,,

May 21, 2008
aitch$

i finally successfully did a reply....wow i was worried there for a sec

May 21, 2008
Tim Noble

I love me some shots wit bent hair.
Mmm, bendy.
I just got back from Baltimore. I need baltiless.

May 30, 2008
Tim Noble

I can get a few people together for a night in the city. Sunday? Johnny Brenda's? I'm good all week. Maybe Wednesday?
I'll figure out who can come when, and I'll get back to ya.

May 31, 2008
Ashley

Just networking my dear..nah, I just like to be friends with everyone..Sorry if I've put all of your efforts to waste. That was definitely not my intention ;-)

Jun 3, 2008
Ginny Wang

haha, that's funny. and thank you for your good words. if you get chance to come to Taiwan, please stop by Mange cafe and visit us anytime!

Jun 29, 2008
Peter Tam

Hi, tell your roomate, the Beijinger, that there is the real espresso drinks in Beijing and he can confirm it when he's back to Beijing. That is Kaffa Cafe.

Hehehe, he will be suprised.

Jul 3, 2008
Peter Tam

Ok, sorry for it. But, you can continue before he confirm it when come back to Beijing for next time.

Jul 10, 2008
Brady

Sounds good to me. You doin' banjo or bass?

Loved the blog post by the way.

Jul 20, 2008
Daniel Gunter

You still in town?

Jul 28, 2008
Daniel Gunter

Heh. The shop floor might be a bit uncomfortable, what with all the holes and all. I hope your trip was super rad.

Jul 29, 2008
Tim Noble

I'll talk with you soon, dude. Have a good weekend!
-Tim

Aug 1, 2008
aaron ultimo

You know we've got the Purple Princess (El Puente) at Spruce Street, right? I saw you comment on it on Tim's page. Just thought I'd let you know. Don't be a stranger.

Aug 13, 2008
aaron ultimo

Actually, I'm drinking it right now...

Aug 13, 2008
Emily Nicole Schumacher

How did the delightful baristas at Last drop react?

Aug 21, 2008
Sarah Aileen

Where'bouts is your shop located? This Gelatoria? And did you get a chance to check out Caffe' Trieste when you were in San Fran?

Sep 5, 2008
Miro

At a Stumptown after party. Auction dawg.

Sep 5, 2008
Stephen Hoffman

Nice to meet you last night, Charlie. See ya in South Philly.

Sep 16, 2008
aitch$

yikes. mc cafe eh?

Sep 19, 2008
Chris Weybright

but I've written more hits!

Sep 28, 2008
Phil Proteau

How's life at Spruce treating you?

Oct 7, 2008
Miro

317 W. Cross Ypsilanti MI 48197

Oct 7, 2008
Tim Noble

Another Cupping from Stumptown happening soon.
I'll keep you posted...

Oct 8, 2008
Chris Weybright

Son pato mui dificil con cacahuetes.

Oct 9, 2008
Emily Nicole Schumacher

Hey now, the points don't matter, what matters is what happens behind the bar!

Oct 31, 2008
Tim Noble

I heard from your buddy Matt- thanks, C.
I'll be at Johnny Brenda's tonight to see James McMurtry, BTW.

Nov 12, 2008
Steve MacDowall

hello Charlie, greetings from Canada - Steve

Dec 22, 2008
Steve MacDowall

Thanks for adding me to your list - it's snowing hard outside and I have a hot mug of coffee in my hands - Steve

Dec 24, 2008
Emily Nicole Schumacher

thanks for the wake up call, you know before i went to sleep last night i did think about how funny it would be if Faith forgot i was away, put me on to open, and then you would be left outside in the cold. i guess we think alike.

Dec 27, 2008
Miro

Yo duuuude. Happy birthday! Hope you're doing well brotha.

Jan 23, 2009
Brian Honsinger

We were already friends on here!

Mar 15, 2009
Miro

Charlie whats shakin bro? Come to Ypsi soon! It's been a long minute.

Hope youre doing well homes. Take care.

Mar 30, 2009
Miro

hook it up with an addy and ill take care of the rest sonny.

Mar 30, 2009
courtney marie

hello, charlie. how are you ?

Jun 8, 2009
courtney marie

haha, good news. i'm doing well. glad the weather is warming up.

Jun 9, 2009
Eric

Holy crap, I had completely lost that memory until you had just popped back into my memory... WOW! How are things? You still drinking good beer? (if i remember correctly, we drank at the corner brewery, and had much fun?)

Jun 9, 2009
aitch$

alright charlie, sorry it took so long to get back to you. san diego venues...the casbah is pretty nice. also the beauty bar or soda bar. if i think of anything else i'll let you know for sure.

Jul 11, 2009
aitch$

aw now you are being too kind. let me know when you hit the area. coffee and beers for sure.

Jul 12, 2009
Miro

I'll see what i can drum up. No guarantees tho. Elbow books in advanced, so ill let you know if they have open slots.

Jul 20, 2009
Jonathan Morrison

its about a forty five mins away, I'd be down though what kind of music is it, and where in provo?

Jul 21, 2009
tif

next time let me know you're passing through!
weird bumping into you.

Aug 30, 2009
Jason Haeger

Hey Charlie, thanks for the add.

I had no idea a philly coffee friend would be passing through town. If it ever happens again, let me know. We'll get you properly caffeinated.

Sep 22, 2009
Nick Griffith

Clearly I don't check BX enough anymore. If you and your band are still coming through LA, I'll gladly show you our cafe(s) and roast works if you've got the time.
Nick

Sep 23, 2009
Nick Griffith

Wow, good coffee and crazy entertainment all rolled into one. What a deal! Glad you made over to the store, and glad it was memorable.

Oct 9, 2009
Sara Louise

I have a crush on you.
shhhh...

Oct 30, 2009
Zechariah White

MAN!!!! I'm just reading your comment from yesterday. Next time you're going to be around, let me know sooner. Redeye Coffee is off of Prince Ave, about 3 to 5 blocks from Farm255. Tell Gregg I said hey.

Dec 13, 2009