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Archives for May 2016

From the Court Room to a Coffee Farm: an Interview with Thrive Farmers’ Ken Lander

May 31, 2016 By Michael 3 Comments

Ken Lander

Meet the man who wants to change the way you buy coffee. Ken Lander is cofounder of Thrive Farmers, a coffee company championing a farmer-direct model in which the farmers retains ownership of their coffee until the final sale. Thrive’s unique model allows the producers to share in a larger percentage of the profits. We caught up with the former trial lawyer to ask him about what it takes to create a sustainable coffee supply chain. 

What inspired you to start Thrive Farmers? 

My inspiration for thinking about making a living as a coffee farmer was out of necessity. In 2008, I lost all of my real estate holdings in the U.S., which was my exit strategy to leave with the family and move to Costa Rica in 2005.
We lived on a coffee farm, grew coffee, and that was the only and most immediate source of income other than returning to the States and being a lawyer again. …

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Filed Under: Interviews, Stories Tagged With: Costa Rica, Ken Lander, Thrive Farmers

Josh Littlefield Embarks on the Great American Coffee Tour

May 23, 2016 By Michael 6 Comments

Josh Littlefield
Many of us fantasize about quitting our job, throwing a bag in the back of a truck, and café-crawling our way around the country. Josh Littlefield is actually doing it. The former New York-based barista is spending the next year sipping his way around the 48 contiguous states, and he’s got a website to prove it. We got a chance to ask Littlefield a few questions about his journey before he debarked on the Great American Coffee Tour earlier this month. 
What inspired you to quit your job and go on a nationwide road trip centered around coffee?

The specialty coffee community has been a welcoming home for me over the last 4 years. From NYC to New England, at competitions and all over the country, so many folks I’ve met have been just wonderful. This seemed like…

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Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: Intelligentsia, Irving Farm, Josh Littlefield

Will the Ona Coffee Distributor Make Your Espresso Taste Better?

May 19, 2016 By Michael 11 Comments

Ona Coffee Distributor One of the most basic barista tasks is also the hardest to master. Over the course of a shift, a typical barista will pull hundreds of shots of espresso. In order to pull a decent shot, the barista must evenly distribute the ground coffee in the portafilter and compress the grounds with a nice, level tamp. It sounds simple enough, but after training dozens of baristas I can attest that it’s one of the last barista skills I see people master. Although steaming milk, pouring latte art, and making pour-overs might intimidate new hires, it’s tamping that keeps a self-aware veteran awake at night. Even a minuscule inconsistency in the distribution of the coffee can result in the dreaded phenomenon of channeling. Simply put, channeling is when …

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Filed Under: Coffee Product Reviews Tagged With: espresso, OCD, Sasa Sestic

New Short Film Highlights Women in Coffee

May 7, 2016 By Michael 2 Comments

Women in Coffee
From the farm to the café, women play an important role in every part of the coffee supply chain. A new short film from Equal Exchange celebrates the leadership that women provide in their company. We watch as their green coffee buyer meets with an organic cooperative in Honduras. Upon reaching America, the coffee is roasted and served in Equal Exchange’s Boston café. In every step, women are leading the way. Although the coffee industry has a long way to go towards gender equality, we applaud Equal Exchange for highlighting the integral leadership roles that women already fill in this industry. Watch the film below and be inspired….

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Filed Under: Videos Tagged With: Equal Exchange, Honduras, women in coffee

Raleigh’s BREW Coffee Bar Displays Diversity of North Carolina Coffee

May 6, 2016 By Michael Leave a Comment

BREW Raleigh

If you mention coffee in North Carolina, most people think of one company, and for good reason. With training centers scattered across the country, two US barista champions, and unparalleled wholesale support, Durham-based Counter Culture Coffee is one of the most dominant companies in the industry. But the Pine State is home to a growing number of quality-minded coffee roasters, and nowhere is that more evident than at BREW Coffee Bar in downtown Raleigh. …

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Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: BREW, Marcos Iglesias, North Carolina, Raleigh, Raleigh Coffee Company

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