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Barista Parlor

Andrew Klass: Coffee Photographer

June 9, 2015 By Michael 4 Comments

Andrew Klass

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If Andrew Klass is taking the photos, you can add to that word count.  Klass’s work in many ways embodies the core values of the craft coffee movement: precision, intentionality, and artistry. We asked the Chicago-based product photographer what inspires him, and, more importantly, what’s in his mug. 

Judging by your Instagram feed, you seem to have a thing for specialty coffee. How did that get started? Do you have any experience working in coffee shops?

I’ve always had a love for coffee. I started drinking it when I was about 10 years old, albeit with an abhorrent amount of cream and sugar. Luckily, as I grew up, so did my palate. The more time I spent in specialty coffee shops, the more I got to know the people in them and the more they taught me about their products. I’ve never had any experience working in specialty coffee shops, but I have a little in what I call “corporate coffee”. Corporate coffee isn’t big on educating its baristas on much of anything other than their own products, so I had to go searching for that education on the outside. It helped that a good friend of mine was already headlong in the specialty coffee scene. People who are passionate about their craft love to share their knowledge and I am grateful for that.

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You’re a craft beverage photographer. How is that different from other types of photography?

Craft beverage photography is an interesting thing. I consider it a subgenre of product photography, but there are more variables. It requires someone trained to prepare that beverage and as soon as they are finished, the window of prime photogenic quality is closing. I often need to set up and decide on the shot before I even have the finished product. I really enjoy that challenge.

What inspires your work? There’s never been more competition in the freelance photography world. What sets your style apart?

I find myself being inspired by a myriad of things. From the farmers who cultivate the initial product, to the people who transform it, to the spaces they are served in. I am tasked with presenting this temporary product and it’s temporary beauty. Not only making it look good, but making people want to drink it. I take on the responsibility of doing justice to the hard work of every hand that has touched it. That is a task I don’t take lightly. All of us involved with this product are artists in our own way and I have to uphold that until the end of this product’s life. My favorite way to capture that is by shooting these products in the places they are made. I want to put the viewer right there, in that café and make them wish they could drink that delicious coffee. In a world filled with all kinds of talented photographers, I’m trying to give people an experience.

BowTruss

Have you had a favorite assignment?

I would have to say my favorite recent experience was in Nashville. I was lucky enough to meet the owner of Barista Parlor, Andy Mumma. I spent a lot of time during that week at his second location, Barista Parlor x Golden Sound which he initially opened with Dan Auerbach. Andy and his staff there were amazing and so welcoming. I drank a lot of incredible coffee and took a lot of photos. Ever since I left, I’ve been dying to get back.

GoldenSound2

You’re based out of Chicago. Where are your favorite places to drink coffee around the city?
The Chicago coffee scene is crazy right now. So many people doing so many amazing things. We have a few exciting newcomers in the area. In Wicker Park, Scone City recently opened. Serving up some amazing scones, as well as delicious coffee from Halfwit Coffee Roasters. Another brand new location I’m excited about is Groundswell Café in Ravenswood. They’re a micro-roaster looking to do big things. Another gorgeous space is The Allis in Soho House Chicago. They have a wonderful coffee program. serving up coffee from Blue Bottle. I would also recommend taking a visit to Caffe Streets while you’re in Wicker Park. It’s a very nice shop with fantastic coffee from Metric Coffee Co. You also cannot go wrong visiting any Intelligenstia, La Colombe or Bow Truss locations. I’ve listed way too many, but I can’t help it. This city knows its coffee.
GoldenSound

Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: Andrew Klass, Barista Parlor, Chicago, Intelligentsia, photography

A Look Inside Golden Sound: Barista Parlor’s Stunning New Café

November 4, 2014 By Michael 5 Comments

Barista Parlor Golden Sound

Good as Gold

With a highly refined aesthetic and an unparalleled selection of specialty coffee roasters, Barista Parlor has set the standard for boutique coffee shops for the past two years. The café is known to produce rather visceral reactions on the part of its customers, and despite attracting a small following of haters, a steady flow of Nashvillians flock there for their house-made biscuits, extensive chocolate menu, and, or course, coffee. With the constant demand, it was only a matter of time before Barista Parlor opened a second location. With Barista Parlor Golden Sound, that moment has arrived….

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Filed Under: Coffee Shop Reviews Tagged With: Andy Mumma, Barista Parlor, Golden Sound, Lee Sill, Nashville

These 3 Bands Love Coffee

March 14, 2014 By Michael Leave a Comment

Craft coffee is slowly but surely creeping its way into mainstream culture. Whether it be Jerry Seinfield visiting Handsome Coffee, or Kuerig’s need to lampoon artisanal shops in a recent add, the public is starting to notice a growing demographic wants a higher quality cup. Not surprisingly, some of specialty coffee’s earliest adapters have been creative types, and musicians are no exception. In particular, these three bands love coffee more than the average musician.

Arcade Fire

Bands love coffee

An entire decade later, Arcade Fire’s debut release Funeral remains the album most likely to be playing in your local coffee shop. It’s only fitting, because the band members are avid coffee fanatics. The Montreal-based group is known …

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Filed Under: Pop Culture Tagged With: Arcade Fire, Barista Parlor, blue bottle, James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem, Louisville, Quills Coffee, The Black Keys

On the Road: Travels of a Barista Dirt Bag, Part I – Barista Parlor

October 11, 2013 By Guest 3 Comments

Day 1: 10/6/ 2013

On the Road

Editor’s note: Travels of a Barista Dirt Bag is an ongoing series of dispatches from barista/ guest blogger Zach Hester. The search for a delicious cup of coffee is taking Zach from his native Kentucky bluegrass, down the Mississippi Delta, across the Southwest to the shining Pacific Ocean. Tune in each day for a fresh update.

On The Road

We took off a day and several hours past what we had originally planned. By “we,” I mean myself and long time friend and vagabond, Ian Herrick, who has just made his way back stateside from a long stay over in Costa Rica as a hired hand on a sustainable farm. His latest addendum to his diverse CV: planting a banana orchard. It’s no wonder we’ve left Louisville with something to be desired in the department of punctuality, although I am mainly to blame for this. It’s October 6th and sometime around three in the afternoon. We’re driving south on 65 and still some miles north of Nashville. Tropical Storm Karen’s rains are very much present in the atmosphere. Everything has cooled over the last 24 hours and our field of view comes in and out with the rhythms of windshield wipers. We’re listening to the Beta Band, loudly. …

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Filed Under: Memoirs Tagged With: Barista Dirtbag, Barista Parlor, Counter Culture, Kentucky, Louisville, Nashville, On the Road, Slayer

Barista Parlor: Anchoring Nashville’s Coffee Scene

September 13, 2012 By Michael 3 Comments

Nashville's Barista Parlor

You’ve probably heard your favorite band being played in your local coffee shop, but you probably have never seen your favorite band there, unless your local coffee shop is Barista Parlor in Nashville, TN. But then again, Barista Parlor is far from your typical coffee shop.

Tucked away in a remodeled garage just off of Gallatin Ave, East Nashville’s main thoroughfare, Barista Parlor is marked by a giant horizontal anchor and a rather garish orange and blue exterior.  The high-ceilinged interior has the aura of an abandoned WWII hanger, which may be influenced by BP’s penchant for 1940s and 50s music and vintage decor.  Customers chat at hand-crafted tables that circle an island of high end coffee machinery. The far wall is filled with a contemporary art piece of a pixilated ship which only becomes visible when viewed through a smart phone or camera. Owner Andy Mumma’s meticulous attention to detail has even attracted the attention of the New York Times, whose article talked more about the furniture than the coffee.

If there’s one word to describe Barista Parlor’s approach to specialty coffee it’s…

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Filed Under: Coffee Shop Reviews Tagged With: Barista Parlor, Nashville, Sightglass, Slayer

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