Episodes
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How Ana decided to join the family business after pursuing a career in art.The advantages and drawback of growing coffee in a "Full Sun" system.The future of coffee picking and the role of Mechanical Harvesters.Brazil's 6 different biomes.How technology helped Brazil jump from 6 coffee bags/hectare in 1960 to 29 bags/hectare in 2023How climate change has affected the cropHow Precision Agriculture is helping the farm use resources efficientlyTattoos!
In this episode we talk about:Resources
Ana's Precision Agriculture Presentation on Coffee Knowledge Hub (you will need to make an account but it's free!)
Anacafe Presentation on Price Volatility (by Albert Scalla in Spanish)
Picture of Mechanical Harvester
Instagram -
I was going to create a new episode about Infused vs Inoculated Coffees, but much of what we established back in Episode #39 is still relevant. So I am pulling a Taylor Swift and going to re-release a new version of episode 39, keeping what still works and adding some new perspectives from the last 3 years.
The sugar and acid additions that French and California winemakers useHow adding mango to a fermentation tank is completely different from adding passion fruit or citrusHow to tell when a coffee is infused with a flavorCinnamon flavor in a coffeeInoculation vs Infusion vs Co-FermentationThe role of enzymes in removing mucilageGravity!
In this episode I talk about:Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: [email protected]
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.Cover Art by: Nick Hafner
Into song: Elijah Bisbee -
Episodes manquant?
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On today's episode I will be updating you on the coffee we made this harvest season and speaking of the importance of blends.
If youâve listened to even 1 other episode of this podcast, youâll know that I'm usually trying to discourage the coffee industry from blindly adopting wine culture. Usually I share my thoughts that adopting a wine model benefits consumers more than producers and further accentuates inequality between the coffee buyers and coffee producers. Usually I believe the wine mode does more harm than good.
But here is a rare occasion where I think coffee could truly benefit from the wine model.
In this episode I talk about:
Identity shift from a wine person to a coffee personWhy coffee could benefit from adopting the wine vintage modelHow I approach blending coffee lots in the seasonIs Coffee Hunter an outdated term?My risky coffee sales strategyInquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: [email protected]
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.Cover Art by: Nick Hafner
Into song: Elijah Bisbee -
This episode also comes on the heels of our recent trip to London.
Our very first stop was the Nagare coffee shop in Shoreditch in North London. Nick and I do what we usually do when we step into a coffee shop and order the pour overs. They had 2 different coffees on the menu for a pour over so we got one of each and sat back at our cute little table in a cozy cafe, and it was only when we looked down at our empty Kinto ceramic cups that we finally realized we had paid 18ÂŁ ($23 dollars!) for 2 small cups of black coffee.
I experienced sticker shock because we have been living on farms in Colombia and Guatemala for the last 4 years and we are very out of touch with big city prices. I knew London was going to be expensive but I was not emotionally prepared to spend $11/cup on our daily coffee.
Nick and I needed more coffee that morning but if we got 2 more cups at Nagare, we would be close to $50 and we hadnât even had breakfast yet.
In my head, a voice was saying, dang $11 is an expensive cup of coffee. And then immediately another voice said, hold on....
"donât we want the price of a cup of coffee to rise?"
Aren't low coffee prices a big part of the problem with our supply chain?
The conversation about the price of a cup of coffee is one I have often. What should coffee cost? Who gets to set the price? How does price reflect value?
The conversation about price and value is often at the forefront of my mind because there is such a disparity between what a coffee producer gets paid for growing and processing the coffee and what a consumer pays for a cup of coffee made from their raw material.
Resources:
https://www.macrotrends.net/2535/coffee-prices-historical-chart-datahttps://ourcountrygarden.co.uk/british-gardening-statistics/
https://www.carelink24.org/doctors-prescribe-gardening/
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/21/headway/peat-carbon-climate-change.html
Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: [email protected]
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.Cover Art by: Nick Hafner
Into song: Elijah Bisbee -
Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: [email protected]
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.Cover Art by: Nick Hafner
Into song: Elijah Bisbee -
Today I bring you a third installment with Pranoy from Kerehaklu.
In this new episode we talk about:
The pros and cons of commercial strains vs wild microbesThe over-complication of fermentationsThe drawback of high altitude farmingThe drawback of honey processAn alternative to adding fruit to your tank Terroir vs Ecological nichePranoy's approach to cultivating his local microbesAnd much more...
RESOURCES
#56: Finding Work/Life Balance as a Coffee Producer w/ Pranoy Thipaiah from Kerehaklu in India
#34: Robusta, Tropical Fruits and Mechanical Drying. Visiting India w/ Pranoy of KerehakluInquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: [email protected]
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.
To connect with Pranoy:
Pranoy's Instagram
Kerehaklu Instagram
WebsiteCover Art by: Nick Hafner
Into song: Elijah Bisbee -
RESOURCES
Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: [email protected]Boss Barista Substack
Boss Barista Podcast
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.
Cover Art by: Nick Hafner
Into song: Elijah Bisbee -
In this listener Q&A episode we talk about:
How to use ThermoshockDoes drying pull sugar out of the seed?What labels are important on a coffee bag?How do I prepare my coffee?How to know if you've hit "The One" on a fermentation trialHow do citrus flavors get into coffee?How did a coffee from Panama fool a listener into thinking it came from Ethiopia?
RESOURCES
Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: [email protected]://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/13/1920 for
Effect of Six Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains on Physicochemical Characteristics, Antioxidant Activities and Sensory Properties of Fermented Orange Juices
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740002021000538 for Production of volatile compounds by wild-type yeasts in a natural olive-derived culture medium
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.
Cover Art by: Nick Hafner
Into song: Elijah Bisbee -
In this new episode I talk about:
A review of how dry process and wet process are differenthow microbes get into our fermentationsWhat I look for in a coffee label, 4 key elementshow Iâve changed my mind about descriptive processing labelsstudies showing contradictory results when they look at altitude in different countries.
The Altitude of Coffee Cultivation Causes Shifts in the Microbial Community Assembly and Biochemical Compounds in Natural Induced Anaerobic FermentationsRESOURCES
Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: [email protected]
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.
Cover Art by: Nick Hafner
Into song: Elijah Bisbee -
In this new episode with Natali we talk about:
Growing up in a coffee producing country, but finding coffee later in lifeFalling into the specialty coffee rabbit holeThe challenges of running a small business while keeping full time jobsDirect trade, fair trade and single originHow Natali chooses what information to put on her roasted coffee bagsWhy Decaf is important for night owls & coffee loversEducating new marketsRESOURCES
Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: [email protected]
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.
To connect with Natali:
Instagram
WebsiteCover Art by: Nick Hafner
Into song: Elijah Bisbee -
You cannot utter a sentence about Vietnam specialty coffee without including the name Will Frith.
Willâs journey from a coffee purist to being more reasonableMeeting people where they areThe importance of a middle class to support a new coffee categoryWillâs rule of thumb for cheap coffeeWhat he drinks in the morningBeing careful to not bring a western mindset to VietnamFrench occuption and the resulting mash-up culture
In this new episode we talk about:RESOURCES
Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: [email protected]
Vietnam: A New Vocabulary Video
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.
To connect with Will Frith:
Instagram
WebsiteCover Art by: Nick Hafner
Into song: Elijah Bisbee -
Today I bring you a long overdue second conversation with Pranoy from Kerehaklu in India. His first appearance on the podcast was EP#34 in May 2021
I have been wanting to catch up with Pranoy for more than 2 years, and after spending a week together processing coffee and learning we were able to sit down in Jakarta after the intense week of FTC and talk.
In this new episode we talk about:
How he has found new markets to export his coffeeAdvice for producers attending coffee Expos like SCA and MICEThe impact of climate change on his farm, including the changing monsoon season.His approach to biodiversity.How Covid revived an interest in Indian farm lifeThe lingering prejudices of the Indian caste systemHow Australian culture has influenced his life philosophyRESOURCES
Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: [email protected]
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.
To connect with Pranoy:
Pranoy's Instagram
Kerehaklu Instagram
WebsiteCover Art by: Nick Hafner
Into song: Elijah Bisbee -
Today I bring you a conversation with an extraordinary producer: Rani from Java Halu in Indonesia. I do not use this word lightly. Rani is a truly exceptional person and my new coffee crush.
I met her because she was the only woman who attended FTC Indonesia in June. Each previous FTC has been minimum 50% female, this is very important to me because so many coffee spaces are still very male dominated.
During our plan for FTC Indonesia, I handed over many of the logistics to the Bandung Coffee Exchange team. It was only after 23 tickets were sold that I looked at the roaster and saw 22 males and 1 female.
I thought this might make Rani a bit shy but I couldnât have been more wrong.
How her past influences her presenthow she developed her business acumenturning waste into new moneycivet coffee without civetsthe contradiction of âspecialty wet-hulledâ coffeewhy women are important to the sucess of her businessthe importance of getting research out of the lab and into the farms
In this episode we talk about:
RESOURCES
Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: [email protected]
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.
To connect with Rani:
Rani's Instagram
Java Halu Instagram
Website
Leo and LisaCover Art by: Nick Hafner
Into song: Elijah Bisbee -
The conversation with Tom Owen is wide ranging, but one main theme we talk about is coffee travel and tourism. How the host and guest dynamics play out including the unintentional burden we may be placing on coffee producers when we visit them.
Its an interesting time to be reflecting on the role of travel in coffee, since I just had a major trip to teach coffee fermentation. Youâll hear Tom bring this up when he asks me about FTC being a form of advanced tourism.
Sweet Mariaâs is an incredible resource for curious coffee nerds who want to learn about home roasting basics, green coffee quality, roast profiles and cupping. The website has an extensive coffee library and resource page, so I highly recommend you check it out if these topics interest you.
why he keeps traveling to coffee farms after 26 yearswhat is the role of travel in coffee when can we use Zoom & WhatsApp instead of hopping on a planewhat is his approach to sourcing coffeehow he is like a personal shopperetiquette when visiting a producer, what questions to ask ourselves before we visitthe coffee hunter trope and caricatures of our industry
In this episode we talk about:
RESOURCES
Sweet Maria's Podcast episode #38-#39
Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: [email protected]
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.
To connect with Tom:
Instagram
[email protected]Cover Art by: Nick Hafner
Into song: Elijah Bisbee -
In this conversation I got to ask him how he feels differently about the coffee industry since our last conversation.
I highly recommend you listen to Ep #27 first, or as a refresher because we refer to that conversation frequently in this episode
In this episode I follow up with him on his thoughts on:
coffee certifications and competitionshis relationship with social media and sharing on redditre-investing in the farmlabor availability, what a coffee picker makes in a day in his region, opening new markets with microlots coffee tourism beer yeast fermentationsreforesting his farm and waste water treatment
Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: [email protected]
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.
To connect with Mark:
fincarosenheim.com
Instagram
Email: [email protected]Cover Art by: Nick Hafner
Into song: Elijah Bisbee -
In this episode we talk about:
Carbonic Maceration in winemakingCarbonic Maceration in coffee and best guidelines to followHow to process Robusta differently than ArabicaBenefits of fermentation in coffee fruit vs green seed modificationSupport the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.Resources
Modifying Robusta coffee aroma by green bean chemical pre-treatment. Published Food Chemistry volume 272 in January 2019.
Changes in the chemical and sensory profile of coffea canephora var. Conilon promoted by carbonic maceration. Published in agronomy in September 2022.
Cover Art by: Nick Hafner
Intro song: Elijah Bisbee -
Vava
Instagram
Website
Coffee Milk Blood Book
Paula
Instagram
Website
Lowell
Instagram
Website
Frankie
Instagram
Christopher Feran
Blog
Resources:
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts.
And if you don't want to commit, you can show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal -
Some of the questions I cover on today's episode involve:
-how do fruit added fermentations differ from microbe inoculation?
-my stance on the usefulness/benefits of probiotics
-can we taste yeast in the cup?
-what is the future of fermentation for the specialty coffee industry?
-we typically ferment cherries or wet parchment but what about fermenting green coffee?
-what is honey osmotic dehydration
-how can consumers navigate coffee labels when "fermented" coffee produces a wide range of flavors.
Resources:
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts.
And if you don't want to commit, you can show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPalIf you're interesting in joining me in Colombia in January
Fermentation Training Camp 3 -
In this episode we talk about:
Coffee production in KenyaThe similarities between latin and african coffee productionHow we consumers perceive coffee producers vs how coffee producers would like to be seenThe success paradox, when too much financial success can turn off some buyersResources:
Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts.
And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal
Sign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.If you're interesting in joining me in Colombia in January
Fermentation Training Camp 3
Vava Coffee Inc
A bit about Vava Angwenyi...
In 2009, Vava Angwenyi started VAVA COFFEE â a Benefit Corporation (B-corp) with a Social enterprise model that exports, roasts and consults on coffee value chains, the organization aims to contribute to better future prospects for coffee communities and the industry as a whole. The company ensures sustainable livelihoods for the people and communities in which it works.
Vava is also the co-founder and director of business development & fundraising at GENTE DEL FUTURO (People of the Future). GDF formed in 2017 is an organization born out of a partnership between African Plantations Kilimanjaro, Vava Coffee and Oro Molido three private sector players within the coffee sector to tackle two of the main problems we face as an industry - Producer profitability and Next generation involvement. Gente Del Futuroâs focus is to amplify the voices of youth by creating economic empowerment, choices and sustainability for the coffee industry. The organization offers young people a unique and one of a kind learning opportunity by fusing coffee cultures and knowledge from three different growing origins : Tanzania, Kenya and Colombia.
Vava holds a Masters degree-Msc in International Finance and Management from University of Groningen as well as Certificate in Global Asset Management from Warrington College of Business, UF and a BSC in Statistics & Actuarial Science from University of Western Ontario- Canada. Vavaâs vision is to challenge the status quo and promote positive social disruption within the Coffee industry. This vision comes from an inborn passion for transformative change and a drive to promote the sustainable production of coffee at various origins by tracing the production of high quality coffee beans to the independent smallholder coffee farmer, who works day in and day out, against major obstacles and with meager resources to produce some of the worldâs best tasting coffees, often without an understanding or appreciation of the final fruits of their labor.
Vava is also a Q grader and was part of the 2015 IVLP program a prestigious State Department sponsored program. Vava Coffee has also been recognized over the years for its grassroots initiatives and contribution to smallholder farming communities and Youth in agriculture. Vava served on the SCA board 2019- 2020 on the Finance and Sustainability Committees. In 2019 Vava Coffee was recognized as a Best for the world community Honoree - B Corp.
Vava recently authored the book âCoffee Milk Bloodâ. Coffee Milk Blood is a project and book inspired by her own experience as an African woman in the industry and the theme of the book touches on appropriate storytelling/depiction of producers - how producers want to be seen beyond the coffee and as Women , the African woman, the culture of the place as well as underpinnings of Colonialism that are the structures we still operate within in our indust -
Todayâs episode is a little different. I am sharing a conversation that I had with Katrien of OR Coffee, A specialty coffee roastery & training center in Belgium. This episode is a little different because Iâm not interviewing her, She actually interviewed me for her new podcast, Puur Koffie.
Fermentation Training Camp: January 2023
OR Coffee Website
OR Coffee Instagram
Puur Koffie Podcast
Cafesmo - Montre plus
