The Roasters Guild retreat kicks off today but instead of heading east I'm heading north. Finances are especially tight right now while working to open my 2nd coffeehouse (at my Roastery location) so it's just not in the cards. The cost of attending had to go to greens resupply, which I'm heading north to pick-up as soon as I quit playing around online. I may just make the hour or so drive east and crash the retreat this weekend and see if I can just hang out a few hours without paying… Continue

Not necessarily surprising that someone who only likes tame coffees likes more distinct tasting coffees espresso extracted with milk added. Properly steamed milk smoothes, mellows and transforms espresso extracted coffee into a beverage that is totally different from espresso.



I would be highly surprised if someone who preferred tame coffees actually liked espresso, especially espresso from beans with more distinct flavor characteristics. FWIW espresso extracted coffee is the… Continue

Chuck (40 something regular customer walks in the door)

Me (Head Bean): Hi Chuck, see your forgot your mug, paper or porcelain?

Heidi (21yr barista & general galley wench): Paper, he breaks cups.

Chuck: laughs, medium mocha in paper is fine.

Me to Chuck: (While Heidi pulling whole milk from fridge) That's skinny isn't it?

Heidi: No he gets whole milk

Chuck: Yeah skinny, they always forget.

Heidi (Blushing, putting whole milk back getting out 1%): You… Continue

Popped by the cafe this morning shortly after opening intending to just restock the whole bean shelf and buzz back to the roastery and fire up the USRC. Finally got out of there 'bout noon. Not a bad thing being busy and needing to help at the bar to be sure!



Gotta say, again, I do love my little USRC 3k workhorse. 128LB greens 16 batches 6 hours later left and returned to the cafe to restock the bean shelf again! Dadburnit if Ben didn't let people buy a bunch more… Continue

Couple years ago scored 2 brand new in the box Mazzer Super Jollys for $500 total on Craigslist. Not too shabby. Caveat they were European models so needed 220v (and runs a wee bit faster on 60Hz versus Euro 50Hz.) No biggy in a shop new build but no good for most home use. This morning though scored big time. Brand new 110v Robur, $250. No kidding. Times are tight and broker than dead broke, I mean broke will be a great place to get back UP to (as in out of debt), but such deal could NOT pass… Continue

While the day at the cafe was a bit of a low swing on the current day to day economic roller coaster ended on a good note. Popped over to the roaster location for a quick session roasting for a wholesale order pickup in the morning. 32lb greens roasted and bagged in 1hr 55min from unlocking to locking the door. Not too shabby for an officially 3k rated roaster! Four 8lb batches roasted and bagged in under 2 hours including roaster warm up, cool down, and clean up. Never regretted paying the… Continue

Drinking an after dinner Aloha Hills Americano. Very nice rich Kona! In truth I haven't drunk that much of it been so off into other coffees. Like Panama Esmeralda Gesha 4 or 5 times a week first cup of the morning for months. But I've been ignoring Kona for long enough to really appreciate it's smooth rich balance again. I drank so much Kona for so many years kind of became "normal" and somewhat became ho-hum losing it's appeal. But not this cup. All deep, rich and smooth with a delicate… Continue

OH COFFEE, YOU DISPEL THE WORRIES OF THE GREAT, you point the way to those who have wandered from the path of knowledge. Coffee is the drink of the friends of God, and of His servants who seek wisdom.



As coffee steeps in the cup it gives off a musky aroma and turns the colour of ink. No one can understand the truth until he drinks of its frothy goodness. Those who condemn coffee as causing man harm are fools in the eyes of God.



Coffee is the common man's gold, and like… Continue

Or simply fanatical. Realized since installing my four station pour over bar last Turkey Day now offering 6 "House Coffee" choices all same "house" price plus currently 3 additional uplift price choices: Panama Esmeralda Gesha No. 5, Ethiopia Idido Misty Valley and Aloha Hills Kona Fancy. Many customers love it, taking their time deciding which coffee to try each day. Have descriptions of each coffee by the pour over station. Oh, I offer $1 off in house "re-fills", which can be… Continue

Sunday moved my little USRC 3k 8 pounder workhorse out of my cramped Paradise Cafe to it's new much bigger digs 80th and St Johns. Almost forgot how heavy that little puppy is! All went without a hitch. Took a few pic's, will get 'em up here later.



Eventually will have a second cafe up and running St Johns, but will take some time. Yesterday got 31 feet of track lighting up for the main cafe seating area. Lighted ceiling fan still needs juice run where it'll go. Table tops,… Continue

Listen to the rhythm of the roasting drum

Telling me just what a fool I've been

I wish that it end and let me stop this pain

And let me grind and brew again



The favorite bean I crave so much has gone away

Depleted stash now needs a new start

But little did I know when I pulled that very last shot

The crema took my breath and stole my heart



Bean please tell me now does that seem fair

For you to steal my soul away with taste so rare

I… Continue

Lots of parallels with wine and specialty coffees. Last Saturday Kevin (Josh's uncle and co-owner) and Josh (the winemaker), a couple gents from a (relatively) local winery, stopped by unannounced to try some of my Beehouse station pour-over coffees. They liked what they tasted and we chatted a hour or so. Phone and email exchanges continued during the week. Yesterday Sweet Valley Wines officially became my first private label wholesale customer picking up their first bags-o-beans… Continue

You bet we make it for her. $5.55 thank-you, see you tomorrow! She knows we only pull (nekkid) doubles so it'll be a ristretto not single. Comes in almost every day on her way home. Get this, she's cute and slim. Must have a way high metabolism! Today she added a 12oz caramel wc with whip for a friend and a bag-o-beans to go with the espresso machine she got for Christmas. Darn rights I'll make an on the way home dessert beverage with a touch of espresso for her, $19.85 total today's… Continue

Stopped by the local donut baker 5:30 on the way in to pre-open the café, Wednesday's are "donut day". Still bake scratch muffins and scones of course, hence pre-open.



'Bout noon switched hats from café shift to roaster. Started out ho-hum run of the mill stuff for couple accounts and shelf before switching to high end SO's for shelf going into Christmas. Won't hit the entire run down but man the aroma from the tryer on some of the batches makes the long days worth it, particularly… Continue

Started the day with what's become my somewhat usual start of the day Panama Esmeralda Americano, not everyday but probably 3 out of 4 the last few months. Okay, yeah I'm spoiled!



This afternoon after a wee 4 hour roast session decided time for a shot. Since I ended the session roasting a batch of Esmeralda figured only appropriate to pull one since it's in our SO grinder this month. Now the Esmeralda straight shots the past weeks have been good but a bit out of balance.… Continue

Yesterday was a bit of a bummer, poor turn out. Lesson learned, don't schedule giving away free tasting samples of one of the world's top coffees the Saturday after Thanksgiving! Guess most people chose to fight crowds and long lines at the Malls. Oh well! But damn it was tasting good just coming on peak, roasted it Tuesday morning for Saturday...

Funniest comment I've had in quite some time, new customer wasn't accustomed to good tasting espresso! Her friend (who ordered an 8oz latte, no flavor) told her good espresso is supposed to taste chocolaty. For the record that bottle of pumpkin pie syrup was here when I bought the place a year ago and won't be replaced when it's empty...