Coffee 101

Season 2 Finale and Look Ahead

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0000

In this episode, which is the final one of season 2 which took you from shelf to sip, Kenneth provides you with a taste of what is to come for season 3. Episodes that he plans to fill with great conversations with interesting people and businesses from across the world.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Season 3 is going to be even more exciting than season 2 was.
If you have some spare time over the holiday season, treat yourself to some of season 1´s “seed to shelf” episodes. The link to the 1st episode is below.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I want you to get excited about it, I´m excited about season 3. ´

EPISODE RESOURCES

The first episode of season 1 - https://podcasts.apple.com/ke/podcast/what-is-coffee/id1616624229?i=1000556371394

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE SHOW

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. Join Kenneth and Katie as they start with the most basic questions about coffee and build your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you!

Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘seed to shelf’.

Season 2 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘shelf to sip’.

ABOUT THE HOST: Kenneth Thomas is also an instructor with Stanford Continuing Studies for an all-in-one coffee class. He owns and is head roaster at Umble Coffee Co. He and Umble Coffee have been consistently ranked one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States. Kenneth is very passionate about coffee and coffee education.

ABOUT THE CO-HOST: Katie Thomas is Kenneth’s oldest daughter and brings an entertaining flair to the podcast. She’s still learning about coffee and thus makes the perfect co-host. She, like the listeners, would claim to be a ‘101-er’ - like you - coffee curious. She’ll be the future of the coffee industry, and the future looks very bright!

CONTACT METHOD

Want to reach Kenneth? Have questions, show ideas, or want to just let us know you’re enjoying the show? The best way is to leave us a great review and put your thoughts in the comment section - Kenneth reads all of them! The second-best way is through DM on social media.

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

Enjoying the show?! We’d love for you to leave us a review. It helps us grow and educate more people about coffee! Here’s how: if you’re on Apple podcasts, ‘search’ for us as if you didn’t already follow the show. When you click on the show, scroll down to ratings and you’ll see where you can leave a rating. Spotify is a little easier - follow and listen to the podcast, and then you can rate and review it.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Tea Basics - Pu-er, Oolong, Black

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth once again sits down with Jeff Champeau who is the President of Rishi Tea and Botanicals to continue their tea basics discussion. This time they are talking about Pu-er, Oolong, and Black tea. They also go into details on English Breakfast, Earl Grey, and Chai.

Jeff explains tea processing, brewing, taste profiles, and caffeine content.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

There are two types of Pu-er.
Pu-er stimulates digestion. The ripe version is pro-biotic.
Sun-drying reactivates the enzymes in Pu-er.
Oolong tea comes in a wide range of oxidation levels, so is available in many colors.
Black tea actually looks reddish.
English breakfast tea is usually a combination of two black teas.
Earl Grey is a scented black tea that includes bergamot.
Chai is spiced tea.
Kung-fu tea is usually infused multiple times.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Once that pile fermentation is done, the tea is simply dried. ´

‘The range of aromatic compounds that we can get out of oolong tea is impressive.’

‘Chai means tea in Hindi.’

ABOUT THE GUEST

https://rishi-tea.com/
@rishitea

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE SHOW

Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘seed to shelf’.

Season 2 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘shelf to sip’.

CONTACT METHOD

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Tea - Green, White, Matcha

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth once again sits down with Jeff Champeau / President of Rishi Tea, and Botanicals. Today they discuss Green, White and Matcha teas. Jeff explains the differences and how to prepare each one like an expert. He also explains more about how tea is grown and harvested.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

What part of the plant is harvested and when depends on the type of tea being made.
Tea is harvested on sunny days. Harvesting is a dance between the tea masters, the pickers, and Mother Nature.
The way green tea is processed changes the flavor profile.
Matcha is powdered green tea.
White tea is the least processed.
Matcha can be prepared in classic coffee styles, including espresso.
Green tea is very temperature sensitive.

BEST MOMENTS
‘The spring harvest is generally prized more than the later harvest. ´

‘When you shade the tea plant for Matcha you are preserving the amino acids.’

‘White tea is more accommodating in terms of temperature.’

ABOUT THE GUEST
https://rishi-tea.com/
@rishitea

Chasen whisk

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE SHOW
Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. Join Kenneth and Katie as they start with the most basic questions about coffee and build your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you!

Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘seed to shelf’.

Season 2 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘shelf to sip’.

ABOUT THE HOST: Kenneth Thomas is also an instructor with Stanford Continuing Studies for an all-in-one coffee class. He owns and is the head roaster at Umble Coffee Co. He and Umble Coffee have been consistently ranked one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States. Kenneth is very passionate about coffee and coffee education.

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW
Enjoying the show?! We’d love for you to leave us a review. It helps us grow and educate more people about coffee! Here’s how: if you’re on Apple podcasts, ‘search’ for us as if you didn’t already follow the show. When you click on the show, scroll down to ratings and you’ll see where you can leave a rating. Spotify is a little easier - follow and listen to the podcast, and then you can rate and review it.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Tea 101 - Background and Basics

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth switches things up to sit down with Jeff Champeau, the President of Rishi Tea and Botanicals to talk tea. This is the first of several episodes on the subject.

Jeff explains the difference between true teas, spices, botanicals, and herbs and covers cultivars. He also provides insight into the history of tea and how it went from being a food to being enjoyed as a drink.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Initially, tea was added to soups and stews.
Tea leaves can be fermented. In some countries, they are lacto-fermented.
True tea comes in several colors and is harvested from the Camellia sinensis plant.
There are 3 subspecies of Camellia sinensis and 1000s of cultivars.
Each cultivar has been created by breeding. So, each one tastes unique and has different nutrition profiles.
Even how tea is picked impacts the taste.

BEST MOMENTS
‘Tea has been consumed for at least 2000 years. ´

‘You cannot make every style of tea from every tea plant.’

‘The styles of tea are vast.’

ABOUT THE GUEST
https://rishi-tea.com/
@rishitea

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com

At Umble Coffee, we only roast specialty-grade Arabica coffee from around the world with cupping scores 84 and above. Don’t sabotage yourself in pursuing your goals - drink coffee that tastes better and is better for you. No crash, great taste, and better long-term health benefits. That’s Umble Coffee.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘seed to shelf’.

Season 2 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘shelf to sip’.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Paragon Coffee and Espresso with Sasa Sestic

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 12:33:55 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with the 2015 World Barista Champion Sasa Sestic to talk about his innovative Paragon brewer. He explains what inspired him to develop this brewing method and why it makes coffee taste better.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Most of what we taste is related to what we smell. The more aromas there are, the more complex the taste is.
It is possible to enhance certain aroma compounds so that the coffee tastes different.
The hotter you brew the more aromas you access, but the more of it evaporates in the steam. Paragon captures these volatile aromas, keeping them in your coffee.

BEST MOMENTS
‘80 to 90% of what we taste comes from the nose. ´

‘Sometimes we need 2 or 3 even 4 volatile compounds to give us a specific tasting note.’

ABOUT THE GUEST
@sasasestic
@onacoffee

Nucleus Coffee Tools (Paragon Products)
https://nucleuscoffeetools.com/products/paragon/

Where to find the Paragon Pour Over Stand
https://www.voltagerestaurantsupply.com/products/nucleus-paragon-pour-over-stand-and-chilling-rocks

Zurich University

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘seed to shelf’.

Season 2 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘shelf to sip’.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Single Serve Coffee Is Here To Stay

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Mark Modenbach who is the VP of manufacturing at Pod Pack. Pod Pack is a leading co-producer of single-serve coffee and tea pods. Mark provides an insider view on what the single-serve coffee market looks like, where it is likely to go in the future and explains how roasters can enter this market.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

People are prepared to pay for convenience.
Espresso pods are becoming increasingly popular.
The roaster is in total control when they ask Pod Pack to make a single-serve version of their product.
Fully recyclable pods are now available.
Single serve pods are a very good way for a roaster to up their profile and get their product into more hands.

BEST MOMENTS
‘If we're going to push coffee to more people, we've got to find different ways to reach them. ´

‘We do a Toddy also, but with pods.’

‘Coffee as a whole from the farm to the barista employs a billion people around the world.’

EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.podpack.com/
https://joesgaragecoffee.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘seed to shelf’.

Season 2 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘shelf to sip’.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

A Moka Pot Masterclass

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Josh Walhain from Alternative Brewing out of Australia .They sell all things coffee and ship worldwide. Today, Josh and Kenneth discuss the iconic moka pot and how to get the best coffee out of one.

They also take a look at the Bellman Espresso Steamer, which acts a bit like a Moka Pot but also has a pressure gauge and a full milk steamer.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The water heats up below the grounds and pressure from the steam pushes water through the coffee.
Moka Pot coffee is similar to espresso.
Moka Pot coffee sizing is confusing – Josh explains all.
Don’t compact the coffee down.
The Bellman Espresso Steamer is compact yet makes café quality coffee.

BEST MOMENTS
‘You're gonna get a better cup of coffee … out of Moka Pot. ´

‘You don’t want to turn the stove up too high.’

‘It looks super cool.’

ABOUT THE GUEST
https://alternativebrewing.com.au
https://bellmanespresso.com/collections/all
@alternativebrewing

All things coffee - brewing equipment, beans, coffee gear - based in Australia, ship world-wide

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘seed to shelf’.

Season 2 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘shelf to sip’.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Siphon Pot - the Sexiest Coffee You’ll Ever Make

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth & J Rene’ Martinez of J Rene Coffee Roasters discuss one of the sexiest pieces of coffee kit – the siphon pot. Kenneth and Katie start the episode by answering some of their listeners' questions before discussing why siphon pots are growing in popularity and how to get the most out of using one.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Coffee is a social beverage. The more you enhance the coffee making process, the more you improve the experience. Siphon pots are great for this.
The Siphon pot has the ability to extract more subtle flavors.
You do not need to buy an expensive siphon pot.

BEST MOMENTS
‘It’s not the simplest way to make coffee, but it’s a very cool way. ´

‘It helps you to learn more about coffee.’

‘Get your water as hot as you can before you put it in there.’

EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.jrenecoffee.com

@jrenecoffee on social

https://www.ivoox.com/the-perfect-coffee-shop-experience-mastering-the-audios-mp3_rf_102416269_1.html

support@umblecoffee.com

http://www.nrm.org/thinglink/text/Runaway.html

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘seed to shelf’.

Season 2 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘shelf to sip’.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katieryan.photography

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Percolator Coffee - Can it Be Good?

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth once again sits down with, Jay Reed, the co-host of the Vittles and Vitals and Guys of a Certain Age podcasts. Today, they are talking about percolator coffee.

Kenneth and Jay share the fascinating history of this way of making coffee, as well as explaining how to easily make a great cup of coffee using a percolator.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Percolator coffee gets a bad rap….which it definitely does not deserve.
Use boiling water and a coarser grind to reduce the risk of over extraction.
Timing is important, experiment to find and dial in the right time for your device.
Mocha pots work differently from percolators.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Percolator beats drip. ´

‘With a percolator the water is going through multiple times.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Nespresso episode - https://omny.fm/shows/coffee-101/s2e32-c101

K-Cups episode - https://omny.fm/shows/coffee-101/s2e31-c101

Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/vittles-and-vitals/id1482632368

Podcast - https://www.guysofacertainage.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE SHOW

Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘seed to shelf’.

Season 2 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘shelf to sip’.

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Cowboy Coffee - How to Do It The Right Way

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth is once again joined by the very popular Stefan Tribble to talk about making cowboy coffee. If you want to know how to enjoy the perfect coffee even when camping, this light-hearted, funny but very informative episode is definitely for you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Traditional cowboy coffee is water and ground coffee made in a pot, without a filter.
It is better to get the water up to temperature and bring it off the boil before adding the coffee.
Letting it steep too long is a common error, it ends up over-extracted.
A small scale is a better way to measure out the coffee beforehand.
A hand grinder does not weigh much, so consider taking one with you.
Practice making your cowboy coffee at home using the equipment you are planning to take with you.
Use a spoon to scrape some grounds off the top.
A little bit of salt will take away any bitterness.

BEST MOMENTS

‘We want to move you from terrible cowboy coffee to great cowboy coffee. ´

‘Take your water off the boil and then actually put your grounds in.’

‘The darker the roast, you're going to have more and more trouble getting those grounds to sink to the bottom.’

Umble Enamel Mug - https://umblecoffee.com/product/enamel-mug/

Emalco - https://emalco.com

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE SHOW

Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘seed to shelf’.
Season 2 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘shelf to sip’.

ABOUT THE HOST: Kenneth Thomas is also an instructor with Stanford Continuing Studies for an all-in-one coffee class. He owns and is head roaster at Umble Coffee Co. He and Umble Coffee have been consistently ranked one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States. Kenneth is very passionate about coffee and coffee education.
ABOUT THE CO-HOST: Katie Thomas is Kenneth’s oldest daughter and brings an entertaining flair to the podcast. She’s still learning about coffee and thus makes the perfect co-host. She, like the listeners, would claim to be a ‘101-er’ - like you - coffee curious. She’ll be the future of the coffee industry, and the future looks very bright!

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Top 10 Things That Make a Great Cup of Coffee - Part 2

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, part 2 of Kenneth´s series that looks at the top 10 things that contribute to making a great cup of coffee, he shares the 5 most important factors. If you want to know how to make the best coffee for you, your family or customers, this episode is essential listening.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The roast is vital. Start by trying those produced by competition-winning roasters.
Grind your own. In the episode, Kenneth shares the science behind this.
The processing method makes a big difference.
Varieties, varietals, and cultivars all play a big role in taste. Kenneth explains which ones to look out for.
Species choice is vital.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Coffee does not like oxygen, it degrades and stales... ´

‘Some (varietals) are going to be a little more predictable.’

‘It has a more desirable flavor profile, by far.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Roasting - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-roasting-affects-your-cup-of-coffee/id1616624229?i=1000577876217 & https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-roasting-more-than-basics/id1616624229?i=1000577199362

Varietals - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-101/id1616624229?i=1000559520821 & https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-basics-of-coffee-varieties-varietals-and-cultivars/id1616624229?i=1000559520821

Processing - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-other-coffee-processing-methods-de-mystified/id1616624229?i=1000568990255 & https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-two-main-coffee-processing-methods/id1616624229?i=1000568116150

Species - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/arabica-vs-robusta-vs-stenophylla/id1616624229?i=1000556371395

https://uscoffeechampionships.org/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE SHOW

Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘seed to shelf’.
Season 2 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘shelf to sip’.

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Top 10 Things That Make A Great Cup of Coffee - Part 1

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth takes a look at the top 10 things that contribute to making a great cup of coffee. This is the first of the two-part series in which Kenneth shares items 10 to 6, for the next episode it will be 5 to 1 that he covers.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Temperature has a significant impact on how much flavor you extract, which is why it is on Kenneth´s list.
Grind size is especially important when you are doing a pour-over.
Scales are much better than a scoop.
When it comes to ratios, it is never a good idea to go over 1 to 17/18 coffee to water ratio.
The cooler the coffee becomes, the more the taste of the water is going to come through.

BEST MOMENTS

‘With immersion, it (grind size) might not make as big a difference as it would in pour over. ´

‘You can under-extract it and it'll taste kind of sour or acidic.’

‘The more you let it cool down, the more you'll be able to taste those nuances.’

RELEVANT FULL EPISODES

Temperature - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-temperature-impacts-your-coffee/id1616624229?i=1000604303040

Extraction - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coffee-extraction-a-key-to-making-the-perfect-cup/id1616624229?i=1000606442526

Coffee scales - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coffee-scales-the-most-underrated-part-of-your-coffee-game/id1616624229?i=1000609582842

Coffee to water ratio - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/why-is-your-coffee-to-water-ratio-important/id1616624229?i=1000602289563

Water - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/water-the-key-to-a-better-cup-of-coffee/id1616624229?i=1000603284205

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE SHOW

Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘seed to shelf’.
Season 2 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘shelf to sip’.

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Frozen Coffee Concentrate

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth once again sits down to speak with his very popular guest Stefan Tribble. This time it is the pros and cons of frozen coffee concentrate that they are here to discuss - including sharing the results of the experiments that they have recently carried out using Comeeter´s frozen coffee concentrate, which at the time of recording was the only large company offering this product across the US.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Comeeter buys coffee from carefully chosen roasters, brew it, concentrate it, then flash freeze it.
Because the coffee is a capsule when it is flash frozen, the taste is not impacted by any kind of chemical reaction.
It is shipped in dry ice.
The capsules are aluminum, so they are fully recyclable.
The capsules will fit into a K-cup brewer.
Use six ounces of water to create the best flavor balance.

BEST MOMENTS
‘They use liquid nitrogen to basically flash freeze those capsules that the coffee is in. ´
‘That then gave a TDS that was around 1.8 to 1.93, which I thought made a really good-tasting cup of coffee.’
‘It ends up being about $2 a cup.’

RESOURCES
https://cometeer.com/
@Cometeer on social

NB – This episode is not sponsored by Comeeter.

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/
At Umble Coffee, we only roast specialty-grade arabica coffee from around the world with cupping scores 84 and above. Don’t sabotage yourself in pursuing your goals - drink coffee that tastes better and is better for you. No crash, great taste, and better long-term health benefits. That’s Umble Coffee.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE SHOW

Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘seed to shelf’.
Season 2 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘shelf to sip’.

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Steeped Coffee With Josh Wilbur

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 23:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Josh Wilbur of Steeped Coffee to discuss using a single-serving coffee bag and boiled water to make a great-tasting cup. Josh explains what inspired him to create this incredibly easy, convenient, and consistent way of brewing.

Josh and Kenneth also discuss the ethos behind Steeped Coffee and their work to support growers, roasters, and others working in the industry as well as the environment.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The coffee bags Steeped Coffee sells look very similar to a tea bag. They make it possible to brew great-tasting coffee in a cup or mug.
Steeped Coffee has partnered with 500+ brands, to enable them to also sell their coffee in a brewing bag format.
Coffee bags are great for travelers. There is no need to pack any special equipment.
The bags are sealed into individual packaging using nitrous oxide to keep the oxygen out, which keeps it fresh.
The coffee blooms in the bag so you still get the crema on top.
Leaving the bag in for 5 or 6 mins extracts a different level of flavor, but if you leave it in longer the cup won't taste ruined or taste bitter.
Steeped coffee bags are very environmentally friendly compared to some other brewing methods.

BEST MOMENTS
‘It's specialty coffee brewed like tea, in a single-serve bag. ´
‘For water, you´ll need about 8 ounces.’
‘It gives you a really complex tasting experience.’

GUEST RESOURCES
https://steepedcoffee.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshpwilbur
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMmh6GQ2SggYCtzQdAtZ_GQ
https://www.facebook.com/steepedcoffee

Katie’s Links

https://youtube.com/@itsprincesskatie?si=4B1M6YImoTIekU1g

Instagram - @katierythomas

ABOUT THE SHOW

Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘seed to shelf’.
Season 2 is all about coffee’s journey from ‘shelf to sip’.

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

The Reality of Instant Coffee With Stefan Tribble

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Kenneth is once again joined by Stefan Tribble to discuss instant coffee. A drink that many coffee fans and connoisseurs dismiss as tasting awful. In reality, instant coffee has come a long way, it can taste quite good, provided you choose the brand carefully and make it in the right way. All of which Kenneth and Stefan cover in this episode, as well as sharing details of its history.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Instant coffee has gotten a bad rap, but it can be good.
Instant coffee is made as normal using beans, the water is then removed, so that it can be ground into a powder.
Some specialty coffee makers are now taking high-quality beans and using them to make instant coffee.
The science behind instant coffee has come a long way. Especially over the past few years.
Instant coffee has been available since the late 1800s.
About 75% of the coffee bought in the UK is instant. In Italy, it is just 1%.

BEST MOMENTS
‘Instant coffee can be good. ´
‘Instant coffee can be more predictable.’
‘Close to 50% of the world´s green coffee is used to produce instant coffee.’

EPISODE RESOURCES
Starbucks Instant Coffee - https://athome.starbucks.com/product-category/starbucksr-instant
Verve Instant Coffee - https://www.vervecoffee.com/collections/instant-craft-coffee
Swift Instant Coffee - https://www.swiftcoffee.com/

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee
Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Japanese Flash Brew - A Great Way to Brew Coffee

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Marc Marquez, Director of Coffee at Savor Brands, to talk about a highly innovative way of making fresh, chilled coffees – Japanese Flash Brew. They discuss why it tastes so different, ratios, the brewing technique, and share their recipes.

Marc also provides an insight into the impact the wildfires in Hawai‘i have had on the coffee growers and processors there.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Japanese flash brew is not the same as cold brew or drip coffee.
It is brewed using a balance of ice and water.
It can take just under 4 minutes to brew.
Even if you use your normal beans, your flash brew is going to taste different.
In Hawai‘i, coffee harvests, equipment, and processing facilities have all been lost in the fires, so they need our help.

BEST MOMENTS
‘[Japanese flash brew] is very different. ´
‘It is brewed fresh; it is brewed fast.’
‘There's a little math involved.’
‘It's the best way, in my opinion, to prepare iced coffee.’

EPISODE RESOURCES
http://www.savorbrands.com/
@savorbrands

MAUI WILDFIRE/COFFEE RELIEF
Monetary donations
Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s ‘Maui Strong Fund’
https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong
US Brewers Cup Preliminary Competition in Hawai‘i
https://hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/event-5380587
October 13-15, 2023, at Tradition Coffee Roasters

Hawai‘i Roasters selling coffee with proceeds going towards Maui relief efforts.

Maui Roasters to Support

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Nespresso - The Fancier European Version of K-Cup

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth is once again joined by his coffee friend, Jay Reed, who is also the co-host of the Vittles and Vitals and Guys of a Certain Age podcasts and the owner of the popular eatsoneate food & drink blog. Last week´s episode was all about the popular K-cup coffee pods. This week, it is the turn of the European-based Nespresso pod system.

They look at the differences, share their experience with the system, consider its environmental credentials, and provide you with tips to help you to make the best Nespresso.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Nespresso dominates the EU single-serve capsule market.
For the USA, Nespresso developed the Vertuo capsule. It more closely recreates the drip coffee method.
The luxury Vertuo models automatically change the ratios and brewing method for each drink and size.
Their coffee is roasted and packaged in Switzerland, where standards are high.
It extracts fast.
Because the capsule spins at about 7,000 rpm, there is a lot of crema.
The crema can be a bit bitter, so you might like to mix it in...or even remove some of it.
Their pods are made from aluminum so are easier to recycle.
The double shot cap contains less coffee than you would usually use to make a double shot espresso.

BEST MOMENTS

‘You can get either hot or cold foam. ´

‘With Nespresso, you´ll get a lot more crema on top.’

‘One machine to do it all.’

GUEST RESOURCES

https://eatsoneate.com/

https://www.instagram.com/eatsoneate/

https://twitter.com/eatsoneate

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/vittles-and-vitals/id1482632368

https://www.guysofacertainage.com/

Espresso C101P episode - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-101/id1616624229?i=1000617834308

Delonghi Nespresso Coffee Machines

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

K cups - Everything You Need To Know

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with one of his good coffee friends, Jay Reed, the co-host of the Vittles and Vitals and Guys of a Certain Age podcasts. Jay is also a pharmacist and the owner of the 'Eats One Ate' blog - eatsoneate.com. Today, they are taking an in-depth look at K-cups.

Most days, Jay uses his Keurig or Nespresso, both of which he has at home, so he is in a good position to talk about this way of making coffee. They cover how K cups were developed, sustainability, how to use coffee you have ground yourself, and other tips.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

K-cup coffee is fast and easy to use.
The Keurig system was originally developed for use in offices. Now, most of their customers are home coffee drinkers.
It is possible to grind and use your own coffee using the reusable K-Cup pod, but be careful to buy the right one for your machine.
Some K cup machines enable you to increase the temperature, but be aware that the water does not usually hit the right temperature extraction zone.
Putting the correct amount of water into the reservoir is important. Kenneth explains how to work out the right ratios.

BEST MOMENTS

‘If you like your cup of coffee ,then thumbs up...period. ´

‘You are giving up quality for convenience.’

‘I was ready to scoff, but like, it scoffed at me.’

GUEST RESOURCES

https://eatsoneate.com/

https://www.instagram.com/eatsoneate/

https://twitter.com/eatsoneate

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/vittles-and-vitals/id1482632368

https://www.guysofacertainage.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

Reusable K cup pod - https://www.keurig.com/

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

The Clever Dripper - A Great Way to Make Coffee

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth is joined by Josh Hockin - Head of Coffee at Eight Ounce Coffee out of Canada, who import and sale specialty coffee gear across North America, and beyond. They sit down to discuss one of the most innovative brewing tools there is – The Clever Dripper. Kenneth and Josh share how they use it. They include some tips and tricks you can use to make a consistently good cup of coffee and do so without things getting messy. Some highlights include coffee to water ratios, which filter to use, and maintenance tips.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Clever Dripper is super simple – ideal for using first thing in the morning when you are still a bit groggy.
The spring-loaded stopper at the bottom enables you to sit it on top of a mug and let the coffee drain out.
Having a lid on the dripper helps to keep the heat in during extraction.
Don´t use the maximum capacity.
For the large Clever Dripper use the Melitta No. 4 (Kalita 103) filters.
Every gram of coffee will typically hold on to about 1.5 to 2 grams of water.
You can add your water first to create a more predictable drawdown time.
Because the Clever is plastic, there is very little heat dissapation.

BEST MOMENTS

‘For an everyday cup, it's not a big investment and it makes delicious coffee.’

‘The moving parts that are in there are engineered quite well.´

‘You can still get a great extraction using a smaller coffee-to-water ratio.’

Where to Find Eight Ounce Coffee

Retail: eightouncecoffee.ca

Wholesale: wholesale.eightouncecoffee.ca

Instagram: @eightouncecoffee

Coffee Questions: josh@eightouncecoffee.ca

James Hoffman Clever Dripper video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpOdennxP24

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Master Your French Press With @daddygotcoffee

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Justin Piercy from @daddygotcoffee to talk about the French Press. It's a brewer which is not hard to master, but there are a few things you need to know to get the best out of one. It is those insider tips and tricks that Kenneth and Justin share with you in this episode, while also busting some of those myths.
Justin also talks about the benefits of Direct trade coffee sourcing. He also explains how he switched to decaf without compromising on flavor, something that helped him to manage the anxiety and panic attacks he was suffering from.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

With a French Press, it is easy to consistently make a good coffee and do so for several people at once.
Costs are low, and there is less waste material because there are no paper filters.
The ratio you use and when and how you plunge are important. Justin shares the perfect ratio and plunge technique.
Stirring at the right time and letting it settle for long enough provides a smoother cup.
When buying coffee, think about how the farmer is paid. Choosing wisely makes a huge difference in their lives.
Decaf can taste just as good as caffeinated coffee.

BEST MOMENTS
It's low cost, you don't need a lot of extra stuff, and you get a good result out of it. ´
‘It's going to have a heavier body or mouthfeel.’
‘The darker the bean that you're using, the more those grounds will tend to want to float.’
‘Decaf can allow you to enjoy coffee in a healthy, well-rounded way.’

GUEST RESOURCES
https://www.instagram.com/daddygotcoffee/
https://www.youtube.com/c/DaddyGotCoffee
https://daddygotcoffee.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@daddygotcoffee

Keffa Coffee owned by Sam Demisse - https://www.keffacoffee.com/

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Turkish Coffee - All You Need to Know

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with David Peters of Ten Boom Coffee Roasters that works hand in hand with AGROCAFE of Israel. They discuss Turkish coffee, one of the first forms of coffee brewing. David explains how this unique way of brewing is undergoing something of a renaissance and is becoming popular in new markets.
They share two great Turkish coffee recipes. As well as explain its history, the type of coffee you need to use, how it is made, and the equipment you need to make it at home.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Turkish coffee is traditionally made in a copper Ibrik.
People describe Turkish coffee sometimes as 'incredibly strong'.
The coffee must be very finely ground. But, be careful, because in this form coffee goes stale really quickly.
Arabic coffee is not the same as Turkish coffee.
It can be brewed on the stovetop but is sometimes made using hot sand.
Let it foam up once, then share that foam evenly between the cups.
If you use a lighter roast, you don't necessarily need any sugar.

BEST MOMENTS
‘Turkish coffee was brought into the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. ´
‘If you are using ground coffee, it is probably not ground enough for Turkish coffee.’
‘Be aware of those grinds in the bottom of your cup.’

GUEST AND EPISODE RESOURCES
@tenboom.roasters
https://tenboom.coffee
The Hiding Place by Corey Ten Boom - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hiding-Place-Corrie-Ten-Boom-ebook/dp/B004TS1MGK
Turkish Coffee World Champion 2020 recipe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEPQ33boQkk
Ibrik: https://www.amazon.co.uk/DEMMEX-2019-9-Turkish-Engraved-Stovetop/dp/B07QGBRK97/

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Cold Brew Coffee Basics And More

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth once again sits down with the podcast favorite and coffee guru, Stefan Tribble, to talk about cold brew and cold drip coffee and the growing trend of drinking cold coffee. They explain how the various types are made, as well as discuss brew times, cold brew ice cubes, equipment, types of coffee to use, and ratios.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Cold brew is not the same as iced coffee.
If you want tasty cold coffee, you need to use different ratios and brew it for much longer. Stefan and Kenneth explain how they do it.
The flavor profile of cold brew is different.
The fact that cold brew is less acidic means that a lot of people who suffer from GI issues can usually still drink it.
You do not need any special equipment to brew cold brew.
Cold drip is hard to get right without specialist equipment, but Stefan shares a way to do it without paying a fortune.

BEST MOMENTS
‘Cold brew coffee is hands down the fastest growing market in coffee. ´
‘There is less acidity in a cold brew.’
‘The finer the ground, the better the extraction.’

GUEST AND EPISODE RESOURCES
Facebook video with Happy. Healthy. Coffee-nated about coffee temperature - https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/videos/637000373597711
Cold brew - https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/videos/707364536488906/
Takeya - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Takeya-Coffee-Maker-1-Quart-Black/dp/B00FFLY64U
Fellow Press for AeroPress - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fellow-Prismo-AeroPress-Coffee-Attachment/dp/B079YBT2LJ
Yama Cold Drip Brewer - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yama-Glass-Maker-Straight-Black/dp/B004EBUZ1A

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

The Ultimate Chemex Guide For Your Coffee

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth and Taylor Love, a fellow coffee geek, take an in-depth look at the Chemex coffeemaker, which is Taylor´s go-to on the weekends when he wants to make coffee for his family. Taylor and Kenneth discuss what type of coffee to use and precisely how to brew it in the Chemex. Sharing tweaks, tricks, and tips you can use to get the best out of this beautiful brewer. Taylor also provides insight into the important work he is doing to improve the way coffee is grown, how farmers are rewarded, and the impact coffee growing has on the environment.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

If you have two or three people needing good coffee, a Chemex is great.
Using the right filter and placing it correctly makes a huge difference to the overall result.
Start brewing at 205/206. That bit of extra temperature helps to pull out all of the flavors, especially when brewing a lighter roast.
Take your time when pouring.
The Chemex is easy to clean as well as use. It is also a beautiful way to serve coffee to a group.
Figuring out how to use the byproducts of coffee growing will be good for the environment as well as for the farmers.

BEST MOMENTS
‘There's a lot of engineering that goes into the way it looks and how sleek it is. ´
‘A lot of people ask, 'what's that dimple at the bottom of the Chemex?’
‘If we could encourage the coffee plant to flower in a uniform way, that would save the farmers all kinds of money in labor.’

GUEST AND EPISODE RESOURCES

How to Engineer a Better Cup of Coffee Episode - https://omny.fm/shows/coffee-101/029-c101

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Hario V60 - The Conical Pour Over OG

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth is once again joined by Arsalan Pourmand and Marc Chiusano of Flux Coffee. Last week they looked in-depth at a flat-bottomed brewer - the Kalita Wave. This time they give you the skinny on the Hario V60 dripper, which is a cone brewer.
They discuss the pros and cons of this iconic dripper and explain how to get the very best out of it. They cover the Hario assist, which filter is best, pour direction, share their Hario V60 recipes, and recommend two great coffees for you to use.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Hario V60 is the gold-standard conical dripper and is available in a range of materials.
The plastic version offers excellent heat retention and is not going to break.
The Hario V60 has clockwise spirals which factor into the brewing process.
If you are having problems with your pour, consider changing the type of filter you use.
With the V60, how high you hold the kettle when pouring makes a big difference.

BEST MOMENTS
‘The way in which you pour your water is going to drastically affect how you brew your coffee. ´
‘I like to make my brewers do the work.’
‘If you like it, that is all that matters.’

GUEST AND EPISODE RESOURCES
@fluxcoffee
www.fluxcoffee.com
Hario drip assist - https://www.complementosdelcafe.com/es/home/hario-assistente-drip
The episode about processing methods - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-coffee-101-94796152/episode/all-other-coffee-processing-methods-de-mystified-99098429/

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Kalita Wave - The Flat Bottom Pour Over OG

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Arsalan Pourmand and Marc Chiusano of Flux Coffee to talk about using the iconic Kalita Wave to make a great pour-over. A piece of kit they have been using for many years as brewers and coffee explorers. They discuss which material is best, ratios, pour rates, bloom sizes, and brew times.

This episode also covers some of the differences between flat-bottomed and cone-shaped brewers, a style of brewer that Kenneth will be taking a deeper look at next week.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Kalita Wave is available in plastic, ceramic, metal, and glass.
For café use, metal is the way to go.
The holes in the glass ones are a little bit bigger.
The restricted flow rate of the three holes in the bottom makes mastering a pour over much easier for beginners.
Pre-wetting the filter eliminates the risk of a papery taste, makes it easier to seat the filter, and helps with heat retention.
If you are doing a pour over for a medium or darker rosted coffee, go for a flat-bottomed brewer to better balance out the acidity, sweetness, and body.

BEST MOMENTS

‘The Kalita Wave is a great entry into pour-overs. ´

‘{On the bloom}, we kind of prefer to just go with a little extra water to make sure that we're really soaking everything first.’

‘For me, what brewer I pick is a little bit more dependent on what kind of coffee I'm drinking.’

GUEST RESOURCES

@fluxcoffee

www.fluxcoffee.com

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Espresso - Everything You Need to Know

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth talks about all things espresso, particularly home espresso with his good friend and coffee geek Stefan Tribble. They discuss the equipment they use and how they achieve that “God Shot” every time.

They include which type of coffee to use, getting the grind right, ratios, tamping, timing, and much more. Look out for their off-the-wall and fun idea for getting the bar pressure spot on!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Espresso is not easy to make in a café. In a home setting, it can be even harder.
The correct grind size and uniformity are vital. How to get it right is explained.
Not all home machines can generate the 9 bars it takes to make good espresso.
A lot of your lower-end grinders have retention and static issues.
How long it takes you to brew the espresso matters, 30 seconds is what you are aiming for.
Spring-loaded tampers can be a great way to enable you to set the actual pressure of your tamp at home without spending too much money.
Crema is trapped CO2.

BEST MOMENTS

‘It may not actually get the grounds fine enough for a real shot of espresso. ´

‘I like a two-to-one ratio of water to coffee.’

‘Sometimes you are getting that better shot at home because you're paying attention to all this kind of stuff.’

GUEST RESOURCES

A previous episode with Stefan Tribble / https://www.ivoox.com/why-is-the-right-kettle-so-important-audios-mp3_rf_107015997_1.html

Gaggia Classic / https://www.gaggia.com/manual-machines/new-classic/

WDT tool - https://coffeechronicler.com/wdt-tools-technique/

Portafilter - https://www.kitchenaid.ie/blog/portafilters-guide-for-espresso-fans

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

An AeroPress Master-Class

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0000

For this episode, Kenneth sits down for an AeroPress masterclass with Jeremy Moore of Bonlife Coffee in Cleveland, TN. In 2014, Jeremy was the US AeroPress champion and competed in the world championships. Last year, Kenneth placed 4th in the US AeroPress Championship, so they both have lots of experience and a passion for this way of brewing. You’ll learn tons from them!
They explain the benefits of this brew method, including how to use it to make the best coffee while traveling, comparing the inverted and traditional methods, and how to vary the strength.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Alan Adler, an engineer from Stanford, invented the AeroPress to help him brew a better cup of coffee.
The AeroPress Go is great for traveling.
Take an enamel coffee cup with you when traveling - it won´t break.
An AeroPress enables you to vary cup strength. How is discussed in the episode.
Squeeze down onto the puck at the end to prevent dripping coffee on your kitchen counter when done.

BEST MOMENTS
‘He thought - what if you could actually control things yourself and actually even plunge the water over the puck? ´
‘I adjusted my brew method for the championship based on the coffee used.’
‘It´s a pretty self-contained, low-mess brewer.’

GUEST RESOURCES
https://www.bonlifecoffee.com/
@bonliferoasters on social
Kenneth’s Aeropress ‘Brew How-To’ video - https://youtu.be/6ByNwzDwQ54
Aeropress - https://aeropress.com/
The previous episode with Jeremy Moore - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-tasting-notes-and-the-flavor-wheel/id1616624229?i=1000580895590
Jeremy Moore with Alan Adler - https://sprudge.com/the-top-3-aeropress-recipes-from-the-us-aeropress-championship-55603.html

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Finding The Best Automatic Coffee Maker For Your Home

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 07:50:45 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Will Etherington of Technivorm-Moccamaster to discuss how to work out what the best automatic coffee maker for your home is. They look at how the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) certified home brewers. Then take a look at some of the common flaws that many home brewers have.

Will provides an insight into how Moccamasters have designed their brewers so that they do not have those flaws. They also look at some other models on the SCA list and explain how to choose a good one that you can afford for your home.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
The makers of brewers can apply to have the SCA review their coffee pots.

There are a lot of coffee brewers out there that do not function well.
To make a good coffee, the brewer needs to conform to the standards for the 4 Ts - time, temperature, turbulence, and total dissolved solids.
Investing in a good quality brewer is worth doing, especially one that can be serviced and repaired.
Understand the type of grind and ratios that will get the best results for your particular brewer.

BEST MOMENTS
‘The majority of coffee pots out there are not going to get your water up to the right temperature. ´

‘I'd say that we are the only coffeemaker on the market with a copper boiling element.’

GUEST RESOURCES
@moccamasterusa
https://us.moccamaster.com/
List of certified home brewers - https://sca.coffee/certified-home-brewer
Third Wave Water episode - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/water-the-key-to-a-better-cup-of-coffee/id1616624229?i=1000603284205

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

How We Really Drink Our Coffee - Brewing Secrets Revealed with Chris Deferio of Keys to the Shop

Wed, 31 May 2023 07:03:10 -0000

In this episode Kenneth sits down with Chris Deferio, coffee consultant and host of the popular Keys To The Shop Podcast to reveal a few brewing secrets and share their go-to drinks.
This episode is packed with tips and tricks coffee geeks and beginners alike will love. They also explain how to enjoy the best coffee while traveling.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Being able to make exactly the kind of coffee you like is a wonderful way to start the day. You are 100% in control before the events of the day overtake you.
Grind your coffee the night before, you won't wake anyone up and it'll still taste great.
Pay attention to how the filter sits in the brewer throughout the brew process. Chris explains how to stop it sticking to the bottom of the brewer.
Using natural products that have been sustainably sourced produces good results.
You don't need expensive equipment to brew well, but it is worth investing in those items that you find improves your results.
Don´t be a coffee snob. Explore. If it is bad, it will make you appreciate good coffee even more.

BEST MOMENTS
‘For my go-to espresso, I do about 18 grams, and it's almost a one for one shot. ´
‘You're going to probably make that coffee better on average yourself more often than a barista will.’
‘You just want that cup of coffee to touch your soul.’

GUEST RESOURCES
Podcast - https://keystotheshop.com/all-podcasts/
https://keystotheshop.com/
@keystotheshop on social

EPISODE RESOURCES
Niche coffee grinders - https://www.nichecoffee.com
Flair espresso makers - https://flairespresso.com/
Stagg kettle - https://fellowproducts.com/products/stagg-ekg-electric-pour-over-kettle
Etkin Brewer - https://etkincoffee.com/
Kalita Wave - http://kalita.ae/products/waveseries/
Clever brewer - https://cleverbrewing.coffee/
How to Get the Best from Your Coffee by Pete Licata / https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Pete-Licata/dp/0648654419
Wendell Berry / https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendell_Berry
Swift Coffee / https://www.swiftcoffee.com/
Cometeer frozen coffee capsules - https://cometeer.com/

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

The Perfect Pour Technique, Part 2 - a Masterclass of Coffee Pour Over with Daniel Teplitz, Klatch Coffee

Wed, 24 May 2023 08:01:28 -0000

In the second episode of this two-part series, Kenneth and Daniel Teplitz of Klatch Coffee sit down together to deliver a pour-over masterclass. Daniel recently took 3rd place in the 2023 US Brewer’s Cup Championship and shares the exact details of how he achieves the perfect pour - it’s a pour technique you can easily use at home!

For this episode they dive deeper into the subject of pour-over brewing, explaining what the bloom is and how to get it right. They also cover how to pour to activate the extraction process, channeling, continuous vs pulse pouring, and how to achieve even distribution of the water to create the best overall flavor profile. They also bust an interesting coffee-brewing myth!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Allowing the right level of bloom to develop is essential for releasing CO2. If you do not release enough of it, you will not get a good extraction.
Initially, you don’t want to flood the bed, but at some point in the brew doing so can be necessary.
Your brew time goal is going to vary depending on the kit and coffee you are using but always aim to hit that goal.
Sometimes channeling can be helpful, but generally, you want to minimize it.
Use a journal to identify what works and stick to it. Be consistent.
You need 4 tools to achieve a good pour. During the episode, Daniel explains what they are and how to pick the best equipment.

BEST MOMENTS

‘When you pour for that bloom, you don't want too much water there, so we're able to release the CO2. ´

‘The darker your roast, the faster you can extract.’

‘A few years back, I started keeping a coffee journal.’

GUEST RESOURCES

https://www.klatchcoffee.com/

@klatchcoffee

@danielxteplitz

Barista Hustle Coffee Compass - https://www.baristahustle.com/blog/coffee-compass/

ABOUT THE GUEST

Daniel Teplitz with Klatch Coffee. Daniel was awarded 3rd place in the 2023 US Brewer’s Cup Championship. Loves music, coffee, saxophone, and bass.

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://www.baristahustle.com/blog/coffee-extraction-and-how-to-taste-it/

Kenneth’s Go-To Home Pour-Over Method:

Hario V60 - https://youtu.be/A9zDj_T8GC4

Kalita Wave - https://youtu.be/nKq97bBIKek

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

The Perfect Pour Technique, Part 1 - a Masterclass of Coffee Pour Over with Daniel Teplitz, Klatch Coffee

Wed, 17 May 2023 11:00:00 -0000

In the first episode of this two-part series Kenneth sits down with Daniel Teplitz of Klatch Coffee, who was awarded 3rd place in the 2023 US Brewer’s Cup Championship, to provide you with a pour over masterclass.

They discuss why the pour matters, what you are looking for, and how to avoid the mistakes most people make. They explain how to troubleshoot a range of taste and temperature issues. They also discuss the science and physics behind each of the pour tips and techniques that they share and the pour over myths they bust.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Understand what the right amount of coffee for your brewer is and stick to that.
Grind size has a significant impact on pour rate and flavor extraction.
Daniel does not like to stir. He explains why that is during the episode.
Under-extraction or over-extraction generally comes from either lack of agitation and/or water that is not at the right temperature.
There are two ways to deal with a stalled brew, both of which are explained in full in the episode.
How, when, and if you agitate impacts the temperature and taste.
When using really fresh coffee, you are going to see more of a bloom.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Figuring out coffee and troubleshooting is kind of what the Brewers Cup Competition is all about. ´

‘Essentially, the more you agitate a coffee, the faster it extracts.’

‘I'm seeing people try all sorts of different blooms. The key to me is to keep it simple.’

GUEST RESOURCES

https://www.klatchcoffee.com/

@klatchcoffee

@danielxteplitz

Coffee Extraction and How to Taste It - Barista Hustle

https://www.baristahustle.com/blog/coffee-extraction-and-how-to-taste-it/

ABOUT THE GUEST

Daniel Teplitz with Klatch Coffee. Daniel was awarded 3rd place in the 2023 US Brewer’s Cup Championship. He loves music, coffee, saxophone, bass!

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Pour Over vs Immersion - Get Your (Coffee) Pump On!

Wed, 10 May 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Mark Inmann with Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers to discuss both the pour-over or immersion approach to brewing coffee. They explain both techniques, in detail, before going through the pros and cons of each of them. Kenneth and Mark also talk about cold drip devices.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Examples of immersion techniques include French Press and AeroPress.
Pressure is an important in brewing.
A Clever dripper provides good control of the immersion time.
For pour-overs, the Kalita Wave is a good option.
A Chemex is ideal if you are making more than one cup.
Getting the perfect drip rate for a 'drip' cold brew is tricky.
The type of roast you use plays a role in whether drip or immersion is the right approach.

BEST MOMENTS

‘When you look at immersion, it does range from the Clever all the way to espresso in rates of pressure. ´

‘The press pot or French press is the gateway drug to specialty coffee.’

‘There's so many factors in espresso that the fact that people are getting consistently good cups is a miracle.’

GUEST RESOURCES

https://www.sustainableharvest.com/

@sustharv on social

Sweet Maria's Coffee - One Hole, two hole, three hole, big hole video coffee dripping - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJzMeqFpJbY

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Filters – The Secret Sauce To A Great Cup Of Coffee

Wed, 03 May 2023 08:22:00 -0000

Kenneth is in discussion with Ryan Bledsoe of Frothy Monkey - famed as an all-day cafe, wholesale bakery, and specialty coffee roaster – focusing this time on the importance of filters, the different kinds, and what they each brings to your cup of coffee.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Paper filters do a better job of filtering, keeping sediment/fines and almost all fats out.
Less fines in your coffee means less mouthfeel and possibly less body
Paper filters can be used more than once
Metal filters are traditionally made from aluminum or stainless steel, and are purpose built for repeated use.
The sheen on top of the coffee from a metal filter is the fats. With more fats evident, it can be viewed as less healthy although Kenneth and Ryan challenge this thought.
Unfiltered coffees taste more powerful – as in 'bolder'.
The shape of the filter can make a difference. Waves or baffles can retain heat better.

BEST MOMENTS

‘It's all about heat retention'

'Why do we prefer the white filters over the natural brown, unless it's for the taste? I can't tell the difference!'

‘There's a lot in coffee that we've had to weed out as bad practices'

GUEST RESOURCES

Frothy Monkey - https://frothymonkey.com/

@frothymonkey on social

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Why is the Right Kettle So Important?

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth once again sits down with Stefan Tribble, friend and coffee geek, to dip into the surprisingly complex subject of coffee kettles. They consider the pros and cons of the different shapes, operating modes, and materials for stovetop, electronic, and gooseneck kettles.

Stefan puts his kettle fetish to good use by sharing his experience of all of these, while also providing insight into what makes a good travel kettle.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Many stovetop kettles have whistles, but they do tend to wake the family first.
The most precise kettles are the gooseneck kind.
The water that is poured from a gooseneck comes from the bottom of the kettle rather than the top.
When it comes to materials, there are many different options. Each of which has different heat retention properties.
The temperature of the water in kettles continues to rise after you have switched it off.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Tell me about your kettle fetish.'

‘One big thing to remember with these different materials is that they're going to have different properties.’

‘If you're making more than one coffee with that single kettle, you can set it where it will continue to bring that water back to temperature.’

‘It's always good to geek out over kettles.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Bonavita Gooseneck Kettle - https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bonavita-1-0L-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck-Electric-Kettle-Silver/32674154

Fellow coffee equipment - https://fellowproducts.com/products/ode-brew-grinder

James Hoffman kettle video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbel051H7-s

Third Wave Water episode - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/water-the-key-to-a-better-cup-of-coffee/id1616624229?i=1000603284205

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/
At Umble Coffee, we only roast specialty-grade arabica coffee from around the world with cupping scores 84 and above. Don’t sabotage yourself in pursuing your goals - drink coffee that tastes better and is better for you. No crash, great taste, and better long-term health benefits. That’s Umble Coffee.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Scales - The Most Underrated Part of Your Coffee Game

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Andrew McCaslin of Kaldis Coffee to talk about the benefits of using scales, how to buy a decent set without spending a fortune, and how to use them.

Scientists don’t ‘eyeball’ it. Most chefs don’t ‘eyeball’ it. Any barista with street cred doesn’t ‘eyeball’ it. So, why should you?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Coffee scales improve accuracy, which leads to a more consistent tasting cup of coffee
Because the density of the bean and the size of the grains vary so much you cannot tell how much coffee is actually in a scoop.
Make sure the scale keys are waterproof. If they are not cover them with Scotch tape to protect them.
In the long run, using scales will save you money.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Using scales definitely took my coffee brewing game up a few levels.. ´

‘If I'm using a scale for espresso, I want that scale to be made specifically for using with an espresso machine.’

‘If you're using a scoop, you can be off by as much as 12 to 15%.’

GUEST RESOURCES

https://kaldiscoffee.com/

@kaldis_coffee on social

Escali - https://escali.com/products/versi-digital-coffee-scale-with-timer

Acaia Scales - https://acaia.co/collections/coffee-scales

Hario Scales - https://www.hario-usa.com/collections/scales

C101P episode with Elika Liftee of Onyx Coffee Lab - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-two-main-coffee-processing-methods/id1616624229?i=1000568116150

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Grinders: Which One Is Right For You?

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 11:00:00 -0000

In the second of two episodes about coffee grinders, Kenneth and Starved Rock Coffee Co's Matt McLaughlin go even deeper into this very important subject. Today, they dive into the blade vs grinder debate and share which one is best. They talk through the pros and cons of burr grinders, explaining the difference between conical and flat, and covering the subject of grind speed.

They also look at dosing vs non-dosing grinders, step vs stepless, and Puqpress vs tamping of espresso shots by a barista. They round discussion out by talking all things hand grinders.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Blade grinders do not produce a consistent grind size.
Burrs are perfectly spaced to produce a far more consistent grind.
Matt explains how to maintain your burr grinder.
If you start to get an odd taste, try cleaning your burrs.
Step grinders tend to be more precisely engineered.
Each individual grinder has its own characteristics.
A puqpress is the best way to ensure consistency for espresso.
Hand grinders work well and are significantly quieter than electric grinders.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Think about burrs as being two plates with the perfect spacing in between them.´

‘The low-speed grinder produces less heat, less noise and less static.’

‘As you use a grinder more, the burrs get worn down a bit, so you´re going to have to make adjustments.’

GUEST RESOURCES

Matt McLaughlin, Starved Rock Coffee Co

https://starvedrockcoffeecompany.com/

@starvedrockcoffeecompany on social

Baratza Encore Grinder - https://baratza.com/grinder/encore/

Urnex grindz burr grinder cleaner - https://urnex.com/grindz-grinder-cleaning-tablets

Hario hand grinder - https://www.hario-usa.com/collections/grinders

Extraction Coffee 101 episode - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-extraction-a-key-to-making-the-perfect-cup/id1616624229?i=100060644252

Earlier Coffee101 episode with Matt - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-is-good-coffee-so-expensive/id1616624229?i=1000586376243

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Grinders: All The Things You Didn’t Know

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 08:19:21 -0000

In the first of two episodes about coffee grinders, Kenneth once again sits down with Matt McLaughlin of Starved Rock Coffee Co. They explain why the right grinder plays such an important role in the quality of coffee you can make. There are several fantastic tips in this episode that you are not likely to have heard before. They also share details on the best grinder for home users.

Kenneth and Matt look at how the heat generated by the grinding process impacts the coffee as well as the subjects of clumping, static buildup, and grind speed.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

A good grinder should be the first thing you buy.
You need a grinder that enables you to create the right grind size for the equipment you brew with.
Grinding creates friction, which creates heat but not enough to change the taste of the coffee, but you might get clumping.
Static generated when grinding makes the process pretty messy, but using the tips shared in the episode can solve that problem.

BEST MOMENTS
‘Grinders I think are one of the most important things that you can buy if you're getting into coffee. ´
‘The Barazta Encore is a really good home grinder.’
‘The drier the environment, the more static build-up you get.’

GUEST RESOURCES

Matt McLaughlin

Starved Rock Coffee Co
https://starvedrockcoffeecompany.com/
@starvedrockcoffeecompany on social

Matt’s previous episode on ‘Why Is Coffee So Expensive’

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-101/id1616624229?i=1000586376243

Baratza Encore Grinder - https://baratza.com/grinder/encore/

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Extraction - A Key to Making the Perfect Cup

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down to discuss coffee extraction with Patrik Rolf, who is a World Barista Finalist, the author of From Nerd to Pro - A Coffee Journey, and the creator of the April Coffee Brewer.

Extraction is important! Without it, you don’t get any coffee! During the episode, they discuss grind size, extraction time, ratios, water temperature/quality, troubleshooting, and much more.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
Extraction is all about what the water can ‘get out’ of the ground coffee.

The rate at which the water goes through the coffee during the brew has a big impact on the flavor. That is why the April Brewer is designed to give you better control of the downward and upward pressure and flow rate.
The finer you grind the more surface area comes in contact with the water.
If you use a coarser grind pour the water slower.
70% of caffeine is extracted within the first few seconds of brewing. How to extract more is covered in the episode.
If the water goes through too fast, you can salvage that brew. Patrik explains how.

BEST MOMENTS
‘The roast degree of your coffee is going to impact how the water goes through that coffee.'
‘Grind your coffee twice.’
‘Let the coffee rest for 2 to 3 weeks… then regrind the night before.’

GUEST RESOURCES

https://www.aprilcoffeeroasters.com/
Instagram - @patrikrolf
Instagram - @aprilcoffeecph

OTHER RESOURCES

https://coffeecenter.ucdavis.edu/

UMBLE COFFEE
Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/
At Umble Coffee, we only roast specialty-grade arabica coffee from around the world with cupping scores 84 and above. Don’t sabotage yourself in pursuing your goals - drink coffee that tastes better and is better for you. No crash, great taste, and better long-term health benefits. That’s Umble Coffee.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Weight vs Volume: What’s the Best Way to Measure Your Coffee?!

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 11:00:00 -0000

For this episode, Kenneth is joined by Brian Hensley who is an accomplished roaster with Indie Coffee Roasters in West Lafayette and Carmel, Indiana which sources and sells unique coffees. They sit down to discuss whether we should be measuring coffee by volume or weight. It sounds like a strange question, but as you will see it has a big impact on how your coffee tastes.

They also take a look at the math behind brewing the perfect cup of coffee as well as discussing the difference between how much you use for light or dark roasts.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Weighing is a more accurate way of ensuring you make each cup with the same amount of coffee.
A standard ‘scoop’ of coffee can weigh anywhere between 10 and 16 grams - that is a big range!
If you use a lighter roast, using weight becomes even more important.
If you have no choice but to use a scoop follow the advice shared in the episode for each bean type.

BEST MOMENTS

‘The name of the game is consistency. ´

‘Brew ratios are much easier when you have a scale.’

‘The thing that matters the most is the coffee you´re using.’

GUEST RESOURCES

https://www.indiecoffeeroasters.com/

@indiecoffeeroasters on Instagram, tik tok

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 2 is all about coffee’s journey from shelf to sip!

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

How Temperature Impacts Your Coffee

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 11:00:00 -0000

Welcome Alix Nathan, an expert roaster who owns and operates the Mark Spencer Hotel in Portland, Oregon. Kenneth and Alix discuss how temperature impacts the flavor and, therefore, your enjoyment of your coffee. This episode will enable you to identify and create the correct brewing and drinking temperatures for the style of coffee you like to drink.
They cover the impact it has on the speed at which the brewing process takes place, atmospheric pressure, and the way coffee aroma and the various flavor profiles are released at different temperature points. Why drinking your coffee when it is piping hot means you are missing out on some of the aroma and taste profiles, is also explained.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The higher the temperature the quicker the extraction,
Temperatures above 205F can run the risk of ‘over-extracting’ the coffee and lead to a bitter taste.
At 5,000 feet above sea level the boiling point drops by 10 degrees. How you can combat this temp differential is explained in the podcast.
Using a gooseneck kettle makes it easy to measure the temperature of the water.
There are even temperature rules for cold brew, all of which are discussed in the podcast.
Drinking temperature matters because flavor and aroma perception aren’t even reasonably possible until you get around 176F.
Studies show that most people like to drink their coffee at about 136F.
You won´t taste the sweetness in the cup until your coffee drops to about 111F!

BEST MOMENTS

‘Coffee has over 1000 compounds that affect aroma and taste. ´

‘For lighter roast, you may want to brew on the higher end of the temp range … for darker roast, you may want to brew at the lower end.’

‘Where you really start to enjoy the coffee is a few minutes in, when the coffee's had time to cool off a little.’

GUEST RESOURCES
@markspencerhotel https://instagram.com/markspencerhotel
https://markspencer.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Water - The Key to a Better Cup of Coffee

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Taylor Minor from Third Wave Water to discuss why using the right water is the key to creating a better-tasting cup of coffee. Taylor explains why choosing the right water profile has such a big impact on the finished result. They cover the impact of water hardness, the relationship between water quality and equipment efficiency, and why different brews can benefit from different water profiles.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

A standard cup of drip coffee is about 98% water!
Third Wave Water makes it easy for you to take filtered/de-mineralized water and turn it into water that contains the right mix of minerals to make that perfect cup of coffee.
You can buy several types of bottled water, but not all of them are actually de-mineralized. Taylor explains the differences and which to buy.
Using the right water reduces scaling. This ensures the equipment works as it should, which improves the taste.
When making different styles of coffee, it is worth choosing the right water profile for each style. The type of water you use has a big impact on acidity and alkalinity.
The pace at which the coffee brews will be impacted by the mineral profile of the water you use.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Start at a neutral base, add our minerals and you are going to get a consistent cup, anywhere in the world.’

‘The meters to test it (water) are about $12-$15.’

‘If you have softened the water with salt, that causes the brewing to extend up to 50%.’

‘You don't want to brew coffee with toilet water.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Coffee Technology by Michael Silvetz - https://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Technology-Michael-Sivetz/dp/0870552694

GUEST RESOURCES

https://thirdwavewater.com/

@thirdwavewater on Instagram, YouTube

YouTube on Shark Tank and Third Wave Water - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPR-4OpNodc

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Why is Your Coffee to Water Ratio Important?

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Matt Saperstone from Nilaa Coffee to talk about coffee to water brew ratios. They explain what brew ratios are, why they are so important, and how to get them right. During the episode, they share the best coffee to water ratios for drip, espresso, AeroPress, ristretto, lungo, and several other popular styles of coffee.

Matt also explains what Nilaa Coffee is all about. Sharing why they are focused on serving coffee produced by farms working in under-represented markets like Myanmar.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

In simple terms, the brew ratio is the amount of coffee you add to a certain amount of water.
Coffee pros measure both the beans or grinds and water by weight.
If you don´t get your brew ratios right, even the most perfectly grown, harvested and roasted beans can taste bad.
The ratios you need vary depending on what type of coffee you are making e.g., Lungo is best at a ratio of 1:3 to 1:4. During the episode, they share the brew ratios for many other types of coffee.
The more concentrated everything is, the more accentuated the flavor, body, acidity, etc. becomes.

BEST MOMENTS

‘What are you talking about? You want me to weigh my coffee? And I always say, 'yes, it´s one of the most important things you can do'.'

‘For an AeroPress at home, I personally like [the brew ratio] to be about one to six.’

‘We recommend certain brew methods based on how the coffee roasts.’

GUEST RESOURCES

Facebook - @nilaacoffee

Instagram - @nilaacoffee

https://www.nilaacoffee.com/

https://www.camelliacoffeehouse.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Home Essentials to Make the Best Cup of Coffee - Part 3

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0000

This is the last of 3 episodes that looks at what home coffee brewers need to know and do to be able to serve the perfect cup of coffee, every time. Once again, Kenneth and Katie sit down with Michael Matthews of Alinea Coffee Roasters. He explains how he got into roasting and serving specialty coffee and food in his two highly popular Bearcat restaurants in New Orleans.

For this episode, they talk through the pros and cons of different filters, ways to prepare the milk, and coffee mugs.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Metal filters do not filter out the fats, so you get a sheen on top of your cup of coffee.
Some people say they can taste the difference between a bleached and unbleached coffee filter.
Choose a mug that feels good in your hand and one that enables the coffee to cool fairly quickly to the right drinking temperature.
Letting your coffee cool for between 12 to 15 minutes helps it get to a temperature where you can appreciate the flavor better.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Always pre-rinse your filters in hot water. ´

‘Pre-warm your cups.’

‘I really like a fairly sharp edge where you’re sipping from the cup.’

GUEST RESOURCES

https://www.alineacoffees.com/

https://bearcatcafe.com/

Instagram - @alineacoffeeroasters, @michaelmatthewscoffee, @brewlikemike, @bearcatCBD

EPISODE RESOURCES

Drippy Cups - https://www.drippypots.com/

ABOUT THE GUEST

Michael Matthews used to be a professional drummer. While touring the USA and Europe with Earphunk, Mia Borders, and Hannah Wicklund he got hooked on coffee. Between load-in and showtime, or on off days, he passed the time looking for the closest coffee shops serving good espresso. Something which made him realize that, when it came to flavor, there were some huge differences.

Seeing small coffee shop owners roasting their own beans inspired him to do the same. During his downtime, he used his little Arc 800-gram roaster to learn the art and eventually ended up creating his own specialty coffee. A product that he now ships across the world and serves at the two restaurants he runs - Bearcat 845 and Bearcat Cafe in New Orleans, LA.

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Home Essentials to Make the Best Cup of Coffee, Part 2

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 11:08:06 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth and Katie sit down with Michael Matthews of Alinea Coffee Roasters, who also runs two Bearcat coffee shops in New Orleans. This is the 2nd of 3 episodes that cover what home coffee brewers need to do to be able to serve the perfect cup of coffee, every time.

This time, they explain what type of kettle gets the best results and how to get the water temperature right for each roast type. Kenneth and Michael also talk extensively about home brewers and their recommendations. Covering cone and flatbed brewers, clever drippers, Kalita Waves, April brewers, Hario V60, SCA certified brewers and the AeroPress! That's alot of ground to cover in one episode!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Temperature control gooseneck kettles give you precise control of temperature flow rate and where the water goes.
Darker roast beans are a bit more structurally compromised, so you can use water that is at the lower end of the temperature range.
For flatbed brewers, it is usually best to use a slightly coarser grind.
Keep experimenting with your brews - you'll learn so much.
If you find that your Kalita brewer chokes, put a couple of whole beans in the bottom before you add the filter!

BEST MOMENTS

‘Proper water temperature is essential to proper extraction ´

‘I really like experimenting with the clever dripper.’

'The Aeropress or a Clever is my go-to brewer most mornings.'

EPISODE RESOURCES

SCA certified home brewers - https://sca.coffee/certified-home-brewer

GUEST RESOURCES

https://www.alineacoffees.com/

https://bearcatcafe.com/

Instagram - @alineacoffeeroasters, @michaelmatthewscoffee, @brewlikemike, @bearcatCBD

ABOUT THE GUEST

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Home Essentials to Make the Best Cup of Coffee - Part 1

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth and Katie sit down with Michael Matthews of Alinea Coffee Roasters, who also co-owns the highly popular Bearcat restaurants in New Orleans. This is the first of 3 episodes that looks at what home coffee brewers need to know so they can be able to serve the perfect cup of coffee, every time. This episode covers equipment, ingredients, techniques, and tips.

They talk through choosing the right water, sourcing fresh coffee that tastes good to you, storage, grinders, and why it is worth using scales.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Using water with the right mineral content has a huge impact on the taste.
Look for coffee that has a 'roasted-on' date instead of a 'best by' date.
Oxygen and light are enemies of coffee - choose your storage container with this in mind.
There is a big difference between blade and burr grinders.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Water is 98% of your cup. ´

‘For peak freshness, I'm looking at anywhere from four days to two weeks off roast.’

‘I have a siphon brewer and I absolutely love it.’

‘A better grinder is going to give you a more equal particle size.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://thirdwavewater.com/

https://www.comandantegrinder.com/

GUEST RESOURCES

https://www.alineacoffees.com/

https://bearcatcafe.com/

Instagram - @alineacoffeeroasters, @michaelmatthewscoffee, @brewlikemike, @bearcatCBD

ABOUT THE GUEST

Michael Matthews used to be a professional drummer. While touring the USA and Europe with Earphunk, Mia Borders, and Hannah Wicklund, he got hooked on coffee. Between load-in and showtime, or on off days, he passed the time looking for the closest coffee shops serving good espresso.

Seeing small coffee shop owners roasting their own beans inspired him to do the same. During his downtime, he used his Arc 800-gram roaster to learn the art and eventually ended up creating his own specialty coffee. A product that he now ships across the world and serves at the two restaurants he runs - Bearcat 845 and Bearcat Cafe in New Orleans, LA.

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

The Perfect Coffee Shop Experience - Mastering the Trifecta of Setting, Selling, and Social

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 12:30:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Wendy Pavin of Baba Java Coffee to talk about providing the perfect coffee shop experience. The perfect experience leads to sustainable coffee shop growth. If you own (or are thinking about starting) a coffee shop, this is the episode for you! They discuss getting the setting right, keeping customers informed, selling, and creating a community.

They discuss how the layout of the café, décor, what is served, and who serves it all affect the coffee-drinking experience for customers.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Wendy and her team realized that for many people specialty coffee shops seem pretentious, even off-limits. Their café is designed to eliminate this feeling.
You need to employ approachable people.
Baba Java took design inspiration from the Middle East where coffee drinking is very much a relaxed and social experience.
Coffee is part of the hospitality sector, so taking inspiration from the hotel industry makes sense.
Showcasing how the coffee is grown and produced helps customers to identify with the hard work the farmers and roasters do.
The design has to put the customer first - for example, charging ports for every table and good wifi.
Listen politely to your customer’s suggestions and act on them when it makes sense.
Successful cafes put a strong emphasis on community.

BEST MOMENTS

‘We intentionally chose the way our bar is shaped. It’s curved. We wanted the baristas behind the bar to be accessible.’

‘We've all been in a place where you feel like you're going to ask a question, and you feel dumb, and we just don't want people to feel that way.’

‘Everyone who works for us …enjoys people.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Baba Java Coffee Website - https://www.babajavacoffee.com/

Coffee U Podcast / https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coffeeu/id1613247330

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Shop Drinks and Lingo Demystified with Morgan Eckroth, Part 2

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0000

In the second of two episodes, covering common coffee shop drinks and lingo, Kenneth sits down with Morgan Eckroth of Onyx Coffee Lab. She is the 2022 World Barista Runner-Up and the reigning US Barista Champion. Morgan is the most popular coffee expert across all of the big social media platforms. She is the go-to source for all things coffee, so is the ideal person to provide an overview of modern coffee lingo and drinks.

For part two, Kenneth and Morgan focus more on coffees that include a substantial amount of milk in them and touch on some of the cold and iced coffee drinks you can buy, including breve, cappuccino, flat white, latte, cafe au lait, mocha, affogato, flash brew, frappe and cold brew. They also briefly discuss chai and matcha teas as well as what makes a drink 'dirty'.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

In the US, half and half is used to make breves.
In the US, a flat white and a cappuccino are essentially the same, but this may not be the case in other countries.
The definitions of drinks are constantly evolving.
Mochas are a good way to introduce people to coffee. It was Morgan´s gateway coffee drink.
Affogatos are more of a dessert than a drink, but very tasty.
Caffe au lait is different from a latte - how is explained in the episode.
Cold brew, flash brew, and iced coffees have very different flavor profiles.

BEST MOMENTS

‘The traditional way to serve a cappuccino in a lot of countries is to put cocoa powder on top of it. ´

‘Cafe lattes are a wide range of combinations of milk and espresso.’

‘The caffeine content in cold brew versus iced coffee is very different. Cold Brew is one of the most caffeinated drinks that you can order.’

GUEST RESOURCES

Instagram (YouTube and Tik Tok):

@onyxcoffeelab

@morgandrinkscoffee

Website:

www.onyxcoffeelab.com

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Shop Drinks and Lingo Demystified with Morgan Eckroth, Part 1

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 11:00:00 -0000

In the first of two episodes, covering all common coffee shop drinks and lingo, Kenneth sits down with Morgan Eckroth of Onyx Coffee Lab. She is the 2022 World Barista Runner-Up and the reigning US Barista Champion. Morgan is the most popular coffee expert across all of the big social media platforms. She is the go-to source for all things coffee, so is the ideal person to provide an overview of modern coffee lingo and drinks!

In this episode, they cover drip coffee, pour-overs, and batch brews. Before moving on to espresso, red and black eyes, americano, long black, macchiato, cortado, cappuccino, and a few others. During the episode, they also debunk a few myths and answer some interesting questions, for example, whether espresso is as strong as drip coffee.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

In the US, drip coffee is still the most common way to drink coffee. The fact that it can be made in large batches makes it an efficient option.
Batch brewing can still produce a phenomenal cup of coffee. It is a good way to get a consistent cup.
Espresso is more concentrated than drip coffee.
Americanos are a great introduction to coffee because the taste is milder and smoother.
Macchiato means stain or mark which makes it the perfect name for a coffee with a smidge of steamed milk on top.
How the milk is prepared has a big impact on the mouthfeel.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Outside of the US, you´ll hear drip coffee referred to as filtered coffee. ´

‘Very roughly speaking, on average, a double shot of espresso ... will have an approximate amount of caffeine to an 8oz cup.’

‘A macchiato is just a way to soften and kind of take off the edge of espresso,’

GUEST RESOURCES

Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok:

@onyxcoffeelab

@morgandrinkscoffee

Website:

www.onyxcoffeelab.com

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Season 2 Trailer

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 11:00:00 -0000

Katie’s scary yet funny story provides a compelling reason for you to subscribe to Season 2 of Coffee 101 - a season that gets into the nitty gritty of making and serving the best coffee. Whether you’re coffee curious or a coffee connoisseur, this is the season for you!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Coffee 101 will teach you everything you need to know to take your coffee game from zero to hero.
Understand every brewing process you have ever heard of.
Learn about new ways to brew and serve coffee.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Pick the best coffees, brew like a champion.’

‘Don't be that friend that drinks and serves subpar coffee.’

‘I woke my friend up and we went out of there faster than you could say shaken espresso.’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Myths - Part Dos

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 06:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth once again sits down with Dylan Morse of Tinker Coffee in Indianapolis to look at more common coffee myths. Between them, they explain whether they are true or not, sharing the facts behind the myths including a couple of weird ones, for example, coffee ruins your teeth or stunts your growth.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Is coffee addictive? If it is, how big of a problem is that?
Does espresso have more caffeine than drip coffee? – it depends, why that is the case is explained in the episode.
All coffee does not contain the same amount of caffeine. What factors impact the levels are explained.
Why do most people struggle to make coffee at home that tastes as good as the cup they drink at a local café?
How to choose the right water to make your coffee at home.
Coffee does have to mature a little after the roast to taste its best.
Is decaf full of chemicals?
Can dark roast coffee upset your stomach?
Does coffee stunt your growth?

BEST MOMENTS

‘If you're using a really great coffee, the flavor of an espresso is so intense that it's more of a drinking experience.’

‘The coffee bean has no idea where it is.’

‘Having that perfect balance of the electrolytes in the water helps with the extraction.’

GUEST RESOURCES

Website Tinker Coffee – https://www.tinkercoffee.com/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/tinkercoffee/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TinkerCoffee/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/tinkercoffeeco

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Myths - Part Uno

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Katie and Dylan Morse of Tinker Coffee in Indianapolis to look at 10 common coffee myths. Between them they blow most of them out of the water, explaining where these misconceptions came from and why they are wrong. This is the first of two episodes on this fascinating subject.
Here are some takeaways and a list of some of the questions they provide answers for. You will also learn something surprising about Kenneth´s coffee-drinking habits and how he and Dylan can tell that one of their customers is pregnant.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Does darker coffee contain more caffeine? – You´ll be surprised by the answer.
Will coffee sober you up? Will it keep you awake?
Caffeine blocks adenosine which does help you to feel more energized.
Is coffee good for pregnant women?
How much caffeine is really in decaf coffee?
Who really discovered coffee?
Should you put coffee in the fridge or freezer?
Coffee does not have to be super fresh. Sometimes a bit of aging brings out interesting taste notes.
Can coffee dehydrate you?
Does coffee make you more alert – keep your brain cogs turning?
Coffee really is good for your health. Why is discussed in the episode.
…. And more.

BEST MOMENTS

‘It's calorie-free. It's sugar-free. It's coffee. ´

‘I think it'll make you more alert and also drunk.’

‘I'm pretty caffeine sensitive.’

GUEST RESOURCES

Website Tinker Coffee – https://www.tinkercoffee.com/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/tinkercoffee/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TinkerCoffee/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/tinkercoffeeco

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description
Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Episode 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Storage Best Practices

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Stefan Tribble to discuss the best ways to store your coffee. They explain how light, heat, moisture, and oxygen begin to break down coffee beans.

Listen to this episode to find out whether you should store your coffee beans on the counter, in the fridge or in the freezer. As well as to learn what type of container will keep your coffee at its freshest for the longest. They also explain how to tell whether the coffee you are buying is fresh, including what the bloom is and how it helps you to establish how fresh your coffee is.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Oxygen is good for us but bad for coffee beans! Exposure to it causes oxidation, which is a bit like rust.
Some storage canisters enable you to remove most all of the oxygen.
Choose an opaque, air-tight container with a one-way valve when possible.
Coffee beans may look hard and durable, but they are not - they are just as susceptible to organic decay as any other plant product.
You would not leave a piece of fruit in a hot place, so don´t do that to your beans.
Light also leads to the beans beginning to break down. This is called photodegradation.
While beans always stay fresher than ground coffee.
Buying fresh coffee is an essential first step. In the episode, Stefan and Kenneth explain how to ensure that you do this.

BEST MOMENTS

‘If it's a good quality bag, make sure you're sealing it in the bag that you purchase it. Make sure that it's got a one-way valve on it. ´

‘Also be careful of temperature fluctuations because that can lead to condensation.’

‘Photodegradation (light exposure) leads to a loss in aroma and flavor.’

‘Ground coffee is going to degrade way quicker than the whole bean and it has to do with surface area.’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Why is Good Coffee So Expensive?

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 06:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Matt McLaughlin of Starved Rock Coffee Company to talk about the cost of good quality coffee. Their discussion provides “behind the scenes” insight into what it takes to source the best beans from sustainable sources. Then roast them in a way that keeps as much goodness as possible in the product and do so consistently, so the customer always enjoys the taste they are expecting.
They also share low-cost ways to get started with making good quality coffee at home. When you use their approach a great tasting cup costs under $1 to make!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Right now, the price of good coffee is lower than it should be.
Some grocery stores are charging less per Ib than specialty coffee producers are paying for the green beans they buy.
Growing and processing high-quality beans simply costs the farmer more.
Specialty coffee tends to be far fresher than that available from commercial producers.
You can make fantastic-tasting coffee at home for less than a dollar. Matt and Kenneth explain how in the podcast.
If farmers can find uses for some of their waste products e.g., the mucilage, prices will not have to rise. There are several promising ideas being explored right now.

BEST MOMENTS
‘Why does it (coffee) cost what it does? And is it on the opposite end a steal, and people really just don't know it?!'
‘Shipping costs right now are the highest they've ever been… the cost of propane to roast with is very high.’

EPISODE RESOURCES
Kenneth interviews Professor William Ristenpart, who is the director of The UC Davis Coffee Center

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/engineering-a-better-cup-of-coffee/id1616624229?i=1000578688324

GUEST RESOURCES
Website / https://starvedrockcoffeecompany.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/starvedrockcoffeecompany/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/rock_starved

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description
Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf!

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Obtaining the Best (and Healthiest) Cup of Coffee

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 06:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Katie to continue to talk about the health benefits of coffee. This time the focus is on making coffee in a way that ensures that you get the maximum benefit from each and every cup.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

If coffee smells a little stale or the aroma is weak, the chances are it is not that fresh.
Look for a roasted-on date. That is the best way to tell how fresh the coffee really is.
Lighter roast coffee contains more antioxidants, so is generally healthier.
For drip coffee, a 16/18 to 1 ratio of water to coffee is about right.
Buy whole beans when you can, they degrade slower than ground coffee.
The water you use is important, it makes up 91 to 95% of your cup.
When you make coffee at home make sure it is around 195 to 205 Fahrenheit.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Usually, the cups that taste the best black are the healthiest for you. ´

‘If you're in a coffee shop, look and see if they are using a scoop. Are they using a scale when they're weighing out the beans, because that can make a difference in the quality.’

‘The higher the elevation, the denser the bean, and the higher the quality of coffee.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Umble Healthy Coffee Calculator™️ - https://umblecoffee.com/calculator/

Third Wave Water - https://thirdwavewater.com/

SCA certified home brewers - https://sca.coffee/certified-home-brewer

Coffee 101 episode about farm elevation - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-coffee-farm-elevation-impacts-cup-quality/id1616624229?i=1000563766427

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

Enjoying the show?! We’d love for you to leave us a review. It helps us grow and educate more people about coffee! Here’s how: if you’re on apple podcasts, ‘search’ for us as if you didn’t already follow the show. When you click on the show, scroll down to ratings and you’ll see where you can leave a rating. Spotify is a little easier - follow and listen to the podcast, and then you can rate and review it.

Podcast Description

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee And Health - What Coffee Companies Can Do

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 06:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down again with Katie to continue their discussion about the impact coffee has on health. In this one, the 4th in the health and coffee series, they discuss what coffee companies can, and are doing, to make their product as healthy as possible,
As well as how you can optimize coffee for health, when you make it at home and how many cups are healthy to drink for most adults. He also introduces the Umble Healthy Coffee Calculator™️, which anyone can benefit from using.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

How coffee is grown, stored, processed, and made has an impact on the level of health benefits it delivers.
Generally speaking, the higher the elevation, the beans are grown at the higher the antioxidant levels are.
Bean density has an impact.
Freshness is important, so always grind just before you make your coffee.
The darker the roast the more of the beneficial chlorogenic acid has been cooked out.

BEST MOMENTS
‘At Humble Coffee, we tend to select beans that are grown at a higher elevation so that we can get more of those antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. ´
‘The lighter the roast, the higher the antioxidants and anti-inflammatories.’
‘Another thing anyone can do for freshness is to refrigerate or freeze coffee.’

EPISODE RESOURCES
Umble Healthy Coffee Calculator™️ - https://umblecoffee.com/calculator/

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

You’re disciplined and high achieving. You never settle. Shouldn’t the fuel that helps you reach your goals be held to those same standards? Instead of a crash-inducing cup of jo, you need coffee with optimal antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. A coffee so good that you can drink it black.
At Umble Coffee, we only roast specialty-grade arabica coffee from around the world with cupping scores 84 and above. Don’t sabotage yourself in pursuing your goals - drink coffee that tastes better and is better for you. No crash, great taste, and better long-term health benefits. That’s Umble Coffee.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW
Enjoying the show?! We’d love for you to leave us a review. It helps us grow and educate more people about coffee! Here’s how: if you’re on apple podcasts, ‘search’ for us as if you didn’t already follow the show. When you click on the show, scroll down to ratings and you’ll see where you can leave a rating. Spotify is a little easier - follow and listen to the podcast, and then you can rate and review it.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee and Your Health - Metabolism, Heart Health, Mental Health and the Negatives

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Katie to talk more about how coffee can affect your health, both good and bad. For this episode, the focus is on the impact coffee has on your metabolism, heart health, and mental health. Kenneth shares the details of some extensive long-term studies and talks about what he has noticed while working as a physician.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

If you suffer from acid reflux, try drinking your coffee black instead of with creamer.
Coffee increases your metabolic rate, so you burn more calories.
A study of 208,000 people showed that those who drink coffee are less likely to die prematurely.
Antioxidants and anti-inflammatories reduce endothelial dysfunction, which is why it is thought that coffee is good for the heart.
Moderate consumption does not have a long-term effect on blood pressure or arrhythmias.
Repeated intake of 75mgs of caffeine, every 4 hours, has been shown to improve mood in a sustained way.
Coffee can be protective against some neurological disorders and cognitive decline.
If you are an anxious person, the caffeine in coffee can make things worse.
It is possible to get addicted to coffee.
The caffeine in coffee is a diuretic.

BEST MOMENTS

‘It´s (coffee is) loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, and that's the key to prevention of a lot of health issues. ´

‘Drink good coffee so you can drink it black.’

‘It (coffee) improves learning and retention.’

‘Coffee decreases the risk of developing diabetes by 11 to 33%.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Annals of Internal Medicine coffee drinker longevity study - https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/abs/10.7326/M21-2977?journalCode=aim

A roundup of coffee drinker longevity studies - https://www.foxnews.com/health/coffee-may-perk-up-life-expectancy-study-suggests

Framingham heart study and coffee - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28802304/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee And Your Health - Antioxidants, Microbiome, Diabetes, Cancer, Bone Health, And Liver Health

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Katie to discuss the health benefits of coffee. The first of 4 or 5 episodes that will dig deep into the subject. Kenneth is a physician as well as a coffee roasting expert, who has spoken about how coffee drinking impacts people's health at US medical conferences. Today´s episode is primarily about the antioxidants coffee contains and the role these play in reducing the risk of developing several chronic diseases.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

If you drink coffee correctly, it can be healthy and very beneficial for you.
Coffee contains very high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories.
Reducing inflammation in the body has been shown to help to manage the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson’s.
Coffee slows down or stops inflammatory markers.
There is growing evidence that coffee can play a role in improving your gut microbiome.
Coffee helps metabolism and improves insulin sensitivity, so it helps to reduce the risk of diabetes.
Research shows coffee does not increase the risk of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or kidney cancer or peptic ulcer disease.
Coffee is also good for bone and liver health.
The right amount of caffeine is very healthy for you.

BEST MOMENTS
‘Coffee is probably the healthiest thing you can put in your body. ´
‘Coffee has more antioxidants than red wine or green tea.’
‘Coffee alters the gut microbiome…it does this to favor an anti-obese profile.’
‘Looking at all studies, there's about an 11% lower risk of developing type two diabetes per cup per day, compared to non-coffee drinkers.’

EPISODE REFERENCES

2017 Article on Coffee and Health - https://www.bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j5024

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/
You’re disciplined and high achieving. You never settle. Shouldn’t the fuel that helps you reach your goals be held to those same standards? Instead of a crash-inducing cup of jo, you need coffee with optimal antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. A coffee so good that you can drink it black.
At Umble Coffee, we only roast specialty-grade arabica coffee from around the world with cupping scores 84 and above. Don’t sabotage yourself in pursuing your goals - drink coffee that tastes better and is better for you. No crash, great taste, and better long-term health benefits. That’s Umble Coffee.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee
ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”
CONTACT METHOD
Want to reach Kenneth? Have questions, show ideas, or want to just let us know you’re enjoying the show? The best way is to leave us a great review and put your thoughts in the comment section - Kenneth reads all of them! The second-best way is through DMing on social media.
Podcast Description
Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Packaging - Why It Matters

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Paul Reed of Savor Brands to talk about coffee packaging. In particular, they discuss the role packaging plays in ensuring that you can always enjoy the perfect cup of coffee. They also discuss the role design and branding plays in how we select products as consumers.

Paul also provides insights into the packaging industry. Including how it works to save roasters time, ensure that the product is kept fresh, that the packet is environmentally sound and much more. Coffee packaging really is a fascinating subject.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The packaging is what makes the first impression on coffee buyers.
How coffee is packaged tells consumers a lot about the company that produces it.
Often, there is a connection between how good the packaging looks and the quality of the coffee.
Choosing the wrong type of packaging can harm productivity.
Sensory (your senses) plays a surprisingly crucial role in the design of a coffee bag. Paul explains how in the episode.
The one-way valve is there to help preserve the coffee.
Other products can be made out of coffee bags.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Your first impression of a coffee is the packaging. So, it´s important. ´

‘How you represent your product is how people perceive your company.’

‘The packaging has to meet the speciality or quality standards that you ask of everybody earlier in the chain.’

‘Packaging is a reflection of the quality of the coffee.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Savor Brands - https://www.savorbrands.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from seed to shelf!

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Single Origins vs Blends

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth and Stefan Tribble compare single origin coffee to blended coffee. They explain what both terms mean. Then, talk through the differences between them. They also discuss the pros and cons of each option.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

There is a place for both blended and single origin coffee in most people's lives.
Blending coffee enables you to balance out sweetness, acidity, and other elements to produce a more predictable cup.
You can blend before or after the roast. The pros and cons of both approaches are discussed, in detail.
The darker beans are roasted, the closer they come to each other taste-wise, regardless of the single origin bean used.
Single origins may not mean all of the beans come from the same farm.
At the end of the day, if the coffee tastes good to you it doesn't really matter if it is blended or single origin.

BEST MOMENTS
‘Single origins can have a lot of uniqueness to them. ´
‘Single origins can be unpredictable… especially if you are trying to have a consistent product across multiple growing seasons.’
‘Most origins have one harvest season.’

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD
Want to reach Kenneth? Have questions, show ideas, or want to just let us know you’re enjoying the show? The best way is to leave us a great review and put your thoughts in the comment section - Kenneth reads all of them! The second-best way is through DM on social media.

Podcast Description
Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Tasting Notes And The Flavor Wheel

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Jeremy Moore of Bonlife Coffee in Cleveland, TN to discuss coffee tasting notes. In particular the flavor wheel. They explain what it is and how it is used in a way that anyone can understand.

They also talk about some of the other tools they use including the sensory lexicon. Jeremy also shares details of how Bonlife Coffee has evolved and found ways to discover the best coffees you can buy.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The original flavor wheel, which was produced in 1995, had to be updated to keep pace with changes in the way coffee was being roasted.
The new wheel is more scientifically based and considers how everyday coffee drinkers perceive taste.
Initially, the core flavors are identified, which are in the middle of the wheel.
Coffee tasting also involves smelling the coffee to pick up the fragrance and aroma, which feeds into the taster’s assessment of what flavors are present.
In the same way that sommeliers do for wine, coffee tasters have to constantly practice before they can identify different flavor notes and assess the coffee properly.
There are food items coffee tasters can sample to improve their understanding of what each section of the flavor wheel should taste like.
Some tasters use both Counter Culture's and the SCA's flavor wheel together.
On the wheel, the flavor notes are quantifiably related to each other. How is explained in the podcast.

BEST MOMENTS
‘When we are talking about flavor, we´re not just talking about the taste…. ´
‘The more you can pick out some of those individual scents, the more you are likely to be dealing with a really exceptional coffee.’
‘Process is becoming a very big part of what you’re tasting. Especially in the most unique and differentiated coffees.’

GUEST RESOURCES
GUEST - Jeremy Moore of Bonlife Coffee in Cleveland, TN - https://www.bonlifecoffee.com/

EPISODE RESOURCES
SCA Coffee Flavor Wheel - https://atlanticspecialtycoffee.com/wp-content/uploads/SCA_TasterWheel_English_8.5x11.pdf

Counter Culture Flavor Wheel - https://counterculturecoffee.com/learn/resource-center/coffee-tasters-flavor-wheel

World Coffee Research Sensory Lexicon - https://worldcoffeeresearch.org/resources/sensory-lexicon

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description
Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf!

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Cupping 202 - Describing How Coffee Tastes and Smells - Cupping Language

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 07:18:33 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth once again sits down with Andrew McCaslin of Kaldi´s Coffee to talk about coffee cupping. This time they talk through how to explain what you are smelling and tasting to others, something professionals do using the language of coffee cupping.

Kenneth and Andrew talk about how different types of defects affect the taste, what happens to roasts that do not meet the parameters, and how to achieve consistency. They also explain what the 10 different cupping attributes are, including body, uniformity, acidity, after taste and more.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Cupping is an important part of testing the roast, getting feedback, and fixing issues.
The smell of the dry grounds is what the SCA scores fragrance on. Aroma is something different, which is explained in the episode.
Flavor is the dominant taste or characteristic you experience from the first sip to the aftertaste.
Coffees that have several very distinctive flavors tend to score high.
There are different types of acidity. For example, coffee can be citric like lemons or taste a little sour like grapes.
The SCA does not actually have a sliding scale score for sweetness.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Acidity can range from low intensity to high.’

‘Clean cup is really all about looking for defects.’

GUEST RESOURCES

Website: https://kaldiscoffee.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-mccaslin-7a7360b9

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Cupping 101 – How to Taste Coffee Like a Pro – Cupping Basics

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Andrew McCaslin of Kaldi´s Coffee to talk about the basics of cupping coffee. Or to put it another way – how to taste coffee and do it as the pros do!

Kenneth and Andrew explain what cupping is and why it is a crucial part of delivering great-tasting coffee, every time. They take you through the entire process, step-by-step.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

There is a global standard that is used to evaluate the taste profile of a coffee.
It is not uncommon to cup a roast more than once to confirm your findings and see how it holds up over time.
Cupping is sometimes used to create coffee blends.
The approach you take to cupping must be consistent. If it is not, there is no way you can carry out a proper side-by-side comparison.
When cupping you need to learn how to filter out your personal tastes.
When you cup, the coffee grounds are still in there.
The coffee is left to steep for 4 minutes.
Slurping and smelling deeply ensures your senses are fully awakened.
As the coffee cools, the taste profile changes, so you need to taste it at the right temperature.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I know I've had a good day when my left eye twitches. ´

‘Cupping is just a way to evaluate coffee. ´

‘Calibration is something we spend a lot of time on whenever we have a new cupper.’

‘The standard ratio is 8.25 grams coffee to 150 ml of water. ´

GUEST RESOURCES

Website: https://kaldiscoffee.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-mccaslin-7a7360b9

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Engineering a Better Cup of Coffee

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Professor William Ristenpart who is the director of The UC Davis Coffee Center to discuss the efforts that are being made to engineer a better cup of coffee.

They discuss how the industry is working to reduce the level of waste generated and make better use of the byproducts. Currently, humans only consume around 3% of the coffee cherries that are harvested. That is why the industry is exploring new ways to use those waste materials, as well as working to enhance the fermentation and roasting processes so that less energy is consumed.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

A huge amount of engineering goes into taking coffee from its picked state and turning it into beans for export.
Around 50% of the coffee cherry mass is discarded in the form of the cascara (fruit pulp) and parchment.
Yet, that cascara waste can be used to make a tasty drink and a nice jelly.
Every day in America, about 22 million pounds of spent coffee grounds are generated.
Engineering during the fermentation and roasting processes can be used to get more flavor out of the beans.
At UC Davis they run a competition that challenges students to make a great coffee using the least amount of energy and materials possible.

BEST MOMENTS

‘For every 100 pounds of coffee cherries that are harvested, humans actually consume about 3 pounds of it. ´

‘You could say that is 97% waste or you could say that is 97% opportunity.’

‘We are just trying to make everything better for everybody and the environment along the chain.’

GUEST RESOURCES

Website: https://coffeecenter.ucdavis.edu/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee’s journey from seed to shelf!

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

How Roasting Affects Your Cup of Coffee

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Mark Michaelson, 2017 US Coffee Roasting Champion, to talk about how roasting impacts your coffee cup. He was head roaster at Onyx Coffee Lab and now works with San Fran Roasters and has his own coffee roasting consulting business. Mark is a coffee roasting consultant who helps his clients to take their roasts to the next level.

They discuss why the same bean tastes so different depending on how it is roasted, how the various parts of the process, in particular how the heat is applied, impact the cup - in particular, the acidity, body, sweetness, and balance.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Where the coffee is from, its density, its moisture and age are all considered when deciding how to roast.
The dryer the bean gets the more impact minor changes in the roast process has.
Once you reach the 2nd crack stage the acidity tends to mellow out.
Sweetness is especially important; it rounds off the cup.
Body is a perception on your tongue combined with the aftertaste.
Ethiopian washed coffee has a tea-like body. The type of bean means you can´t make the body heavier than that.
To start with, low heat is applied slowly. Once the bean warms up you can typically go with a higher heat application.
Consumers want predictability. Developing an industry-wide standard would help them to know in advance what the taste is likely to be in their cup.
You need to wait before drinking your freshly roasted coffee. How long is discussed in the show.
If you want to minimize the aging of your coffee make sure it is the whole beans, not the ground.

BEST MOMENTS

‘As it ages, it´s going to lose some quality points…we typically suggest that people roast those coffees a little bit darker. ´

‘I always look at a good Kenyan from a tomato basil tasting note.’

‘The longest profile you will ever do is 12 minutes.’

‘Different coffees shine at different roast levels.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

WEBSITE: https://www.sanfranroaster.com/

GUEST RESOURCES

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/mark_michaelson

WEBSITE: https://www.michaelsonconsulting.coffee

ABOUT THE GUEST

Mark Michaelson - 2017 US Coffee Roasting Champion, now has a coffee consulting firm - Michaelson Consulting, former head roaster at Onyx Coffee Lab - 2012-2021.

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Roasting (More Than) Basics

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 10:30:00 -0000

For this episode, Kenneth sat down with Eric Stone of Mudhouse Coffee Roasters to talk about the art and science of roasting. They recorded this episode in Boston while competing as finalists to determine who's the best specialty coffee roaster in America.

Eric and Kenneth discuss the subject of roasting coffee in-depth including the different types of coffee roasters, how temperature imoacts the roast, the roast curve, halogen roasting, first and second crack, and tipping just to name a few of the subjects covered. They explain how the look, smell and even the noise the beans make when in the roaster at the various stages of the roast impact your cup of coffee.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The way your coffee is roasted has about a 30% impact on how it tastes.
Small sample roasters are used to evaluate new batches of beans, identify the flavor profile, and manipulate those flavors to create the best overall taste.
The same bean, roasted in different ways, can taste extraordinarily different.
A new variable in roasting is emerging which uses halogen as the heat source.
The roast profile curve is the order in which key stages of the roasting process occur - Kenneth and Eric walk you through this curve.
Light roasts are more sensitive to changes in the roasting process than dark roasts.
It is particularly important to cool the beans down as fast as possible to stop the cooking process at the right temperature once roasting is complete.
The water content and density of the bean have a significant impact on your roast.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Our sample drum roaster also has airflow moving through the drum, so you´re roasting with both convection and conduction. ´

‘There are countless ways you can manipulate the flavor of a coffee.’

‘Once you're past the first crack, if you apply too much heat you run the risk of making some roaster errors.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Link to episode 6: What is Specialty Coffee? With John Lawrence who is also from Mudhouse Coffee Roasters: https://omny.fm/shows/coffee-101/what-is-specialty-coffee

Link for Stronghold coffee roaster mentioned in the episode that uses radiant heat - https://www.roastronix.com/

GUEST RESOURCES

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/mudhousecoffeeroasters

WEBSITE: https://mudhouse.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Why You Should Drink Decaf

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Katie to talk about why everyone should give drinking decaffeinated coffee a go. He explains how to choose a good quality decaf and use it to make a tasty drink that is also good for your health.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Decent quality decaf tastes as good as regular coffee.
Decaf does not extract as much, so you need to use a bit more coffee to make a good quality cup.
Decaffeinated coffee is good for you. Kenneth explains, in detail, why that is.
Drinking the decaf coffee that has been produced without the use of chemicals is probably best.
People who find that regular coffee makes them restless or find it hard to sleep can still enjoy the decaf version.
Decaf coffees tend not to affect your stomach or bowels as much.
Decaffeinated coffee is not a diuretic like regular coffee is.

BEST MOMENTS

‘You can drink decaf coffee to hydrate yourself and that will jack up the antioxidants and anti-inflammatories.´

‘Regular coffee can be a bit more acidic than decaf, which can affect your gut.’

‘Coffee or caffeine does not cause anxiety, but it can exacerbate it.’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

How Coffee is Decaffeinated

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 10:00:00 -0000

This episode is all about decaffeinated coffee. Kenneth tells you about the history, the 5 most common processes that are used to produce it, and some of the pros and cons of this style of coffee. He then digs deep into how the Swiss Water method was developed with Erin Reed from Swiss Water. She is part of a dedicated team of people who make high quality decaffeinated coffees using a process that is 100% chemical free.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Caffeine was first extracted from coffee beans in 1820.
There are at least five ways to remove the caffeine from coffee beans.
In Brazil, they are working on developing a coffee tree variety that would produce caffeine free beans.
Decaffeinated beans roast a little differently. Kenneth explains those differences.
Methylene chloride or ethyl acetate can be used in both chemical extraction processes, but only tiny amounts are left behind by the end of those processes.
The Swiss Water method achieves caffeine removal rates of around 99.9%.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Sanka is one of the oldest established coffee decaf varieties.'

‘You can’t actually remove 100% of caffeine from coffee.’

‘At Swiss Water, they cup (taste) every single batch of coffee pre and post decaffeination for quality assurance.’

GUEST RESOURCES

Website: https://www.swisswater.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swisswater/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winningsingle-origin specialty coffee:https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter:https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

A Coffee Certification Masterclass

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 10:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Mark Inman of Sustainable Harvest to talk about coffee certifications. They discuss each of the recognized certifications, explaining what they mean and the standards the farmers have to follow to gain each of them.

Understanding all of this will help you to choose a coffee that fits in with your values and the way you want to live your life.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Organic coffee is about more than chemical free farming. It is designed to support the environment.
ROC certification encourages a more advanced level of organic farming.
For small farms, it is cost prohibitive to go through the certification process.
If you see certifications that are different from those discussed in the show, the chances are they are misleading or even fake.
Rainforest Alliance is focused on farm safety and the preservation of biological species.
Fairtrade certification creates a minimum floor price to ensure small farmers can make a profit. Coffee is severely underpriced.
Fairtrade America is different from Fair Trade USA.
Carbon neutral certification is still being developed.
Direct trade is not as good as it sounds. Mark explains why.

BEST MOMENTS

‘USDA organic is an offshoot of just the organic certification. ´

‘There are a handful of chemicals that are systemic that go into the root system and attack the oils of the coffee.’

‘Coffee continues to be a crazy good foodie bargain.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

USDA’s National Organic Program standards : (https://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/programs-offices/national-organic-program)

Rainforest Alliance standards: https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/

Bird Friendly Standards: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/bird-friendly

Fair Trade International (Fair Trade America) - https://www.fairtrade.net/standard

Fair Trade USA - https://www.fairtradecertified.org/business/standards

GUEST RESOURCES

Website: https://www.sustainableharvest.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustharv/ on Instagram for Sustainable Harvest

Mark Inman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/norcalglobetrotter/ on Instagram for Mark Inman

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Importing Basics

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Juan Carlos Arango, owner of Arango Specialty Coffee, a family-focused Columbian specialty green coffee importer. They discuss how coffee is imported. Juan Carlos explains the ins and outs of the process, highlighting some of the challenges that are faced by importers by sharing interesting stories about what has happened to him while importing coffee.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Dealing with bureaucracy and paperwork is very time-consuming.
In certain parts of Columbia local political unrest creates additional challenges, for example, dealing with guerilla groups.
A lack of shipping capacity is becoming an increasingly common issue.
If customs decides to do a bag-by-bag search, it costs the importer a lot of money, regardless of whether customs find any issues.
Customers (roasters) may want to taste the coffee again once it has arrived in the warehouse, so samples are usually sent out.
Juan Carlos explains why they match farmers with customers and encourage long-term business relationships between them.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I think one of the biggest challenges we have is logistics.' ´

‘We work a lot with pre-shipping samples.’

‘We want to understand the business model of our customer so that we can offer them the best coffee lots that we have.’

‘The biggest mistake you can make is not learning from your mistakes.’

GUEST RESOURCES

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arangospecialtycoffee

www.arangospecialtycoffee.com

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Exporting Basics

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Gino Roverssi who oversees Operations at Dinamica Coffee Exporters which is based in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Kenneth and Gino discuss how coffee is prepared, packaged, sold, and exported.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

A typical coffee sack weighs about 154LBs (69 kgs).
A standard shipping container can hold around 275 69 kg bags of coffee.
GrainPro Bags are a highly effective way to protect coffee during transport and storage.
Some countries do not use GrainPro Bags. Others only use them at certain times of the year.
Coffee bag numbers tell you which country it comes from, the company that exported it, and the sale lot number.
Once the beans have been dry milled, they are sometime further separated by density and color.

BEST MOMENTS

‘A jute bag is kind of like a burlap sack. ´

‘The role of the exporter is to protect the quality of the coffee.’

‘You have to take care of that coffee like it is a baby.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Website: http://www.dinamica.coffee/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinamica_coffee/?hl=es-la

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dinamica.coffee/

LinkedIn: Dinamica // Green Coffee Exporters | LinkedIn

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Green Coffee Grading and Why It Is Important

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 10:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down to discuss green coffee grading with Mark Inman of Sustainable Harvest. The duo weaves through the ins and outs of the green coffee grading process - what matters and what doesn’t, why it is important, and the impact it has on the way your coffee tastes. Mark and Kenneth share a few insider tips, for example, how to tell if a hole in the bean is a defect or rather a result of a natural process, which does not negatively impact the taste.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Sustainable Harvest focuses on having a relationship with coffee farmers. They tend to buy from them every year.
Some buyers want pristine beans. Others are happy with much, much lower grades.
Appearance plays a role in coffee grading e.g., peaberries.
Mark lists out and explains the primary defects, including foreign objects, sours and insect damage.
There are primary and secondary defects. Mark explains what they are and how their presence impacts the grading process and ultimately the taste in the cup.
Mis-shaped or chipped beans tend to roast unevenly.
In Mexico, chipped beans are used to produce 'grinder coffee'.
The fact that there are ways to use lower-grade beans helps to make coffee more sustainable.

BEST MOMENTS

‘That sense of permanence enables us to invest in training, in project work on behalf of the client. ´

‘For specialty grade coffees, you can’t have any primary defects involved.’

‘When you see a preponderance of floaters or Quakers, it´s usually poor wet processing.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Guest - Mark Inman with Sustainable Harvest

https://www.sustainableharvet.com/

@sustharv on Instagram for Sustainable Harvest

@norcalglobetrotter on Instagram for Mark Inman

Common Coffee Varieties, Varietals and Cultivars C101 Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/common-coffee-varieties-varietals-and-cultivars/id1616624229?i=1000560421288

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

All Other Coffee Processing Methods De-Mystified

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 10:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Elika Liftee of Onyx Coffee Lab again to talk about coffee processing methods. This time they are discussing some of the less widely used methods including pulped natural, honey processed, wet hulled (giling basah), and anaerobic. Kenneth explains the difference between white, yellow, gold, red and black honey processing techniques.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Pulp natural is something between wet and dry processing.
With pulp natural processing the aim is to remove the skin rather than the entire fruit. The pulp (mucilage) is left on.
Pulp natural processed coffee tends to be sweeter (compared to washed process) and has more body.
Honey is not used in honey processing!
Honey processed coffee tends to have very crisp acidity.
Wet hulled processing removes the parchment before the bean has been fully dried.
Wet hulling creates more tobacco and spicy or leathery flavors.
Fermenting in closed tanks reduces the variance in the flavor of the coffee.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Pulp Natural is predominantly used in Brazilian coffees. ´

‘Honey processing is a very controlled natural processing method.’

‘The fermentation process generally takes a longer period of time in these anaerobic environments.’

GUEST RESOURCES

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onyxcoffeelab/

https://www.instagram.com/elikaliftee/

Website: https://onyxcoffeelab.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OnyxCoffeeLab

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

The Two Main Coffee Processing Methods

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 13:00:00 -0000

How does that coffee cherry actually get reduced down to just the coffee bean? And how does that affect the ultimate question…how does my coffee taste?

In arguably one of Coffee 101's most important episodes to date, Kenneth and Stefan are joined by Elika Liftee of Onyx Coffee Lab. They take a deep dive into the 2 main coffee processing methods: washed processed coffee and dry (or natural) processed coffee.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Farmers are getting better at having final cup taste in mind when processing their coffee. Alot of times they're processing in the manner they have access to and the way that will give them the most money to support their farm and their family.

The world of coffee processing methods is changing though. There’s more awareness of how processing method impacts cup taste and more and more companies out there like Onyx and Umble who are communicating directly with the farms.

The two main ways of processing coffee are natural (or dry) processing and wet processing. Other methods include honey processing, pulped natural, wet hulled (giling basah), and anaerobic - these four will be covered in the next episode.

Natural (Dry) processing is the oldest method for processing coffee; therefore, it makes sense that it’s still the most common method used in African growing regions since that’s where coffee originated.

Washed processed coffees are the most common coffees (and what you expect ‘coffee to taste like’). They tend to be a little more acidic and some would argue more complex. Kenneth and Elika discuss further how complexity is related to 'a clean cup'.

BEST MOMENTS

“Washed process, this is basically what people expect coffee to taste like”

“I would say that I prefer a natural most of the time”

“There’s some data behind the slower it’s dried the longer it will retain some of those good quality flavors when it’s stored”

GUEST RESOURCES

Elika Liftee

@elikaliftee

@onyxcoffeelab

https://onyxcoffeelab.com

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee Harvesting Methods - Why Does It Matter?

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Want to learn more about that black magic elixir we call coffee?! Look no further! I’m Kenneth Thomas and this is Coffee 101, brought to you by Umble Coffee Co. Coffee 101 is your complete knowledge base for all things coffee.

This episode is all about coffee harvesting methods. Is there a better one? Why does it even matter how it's harvested? Is one way better for certain situations and another way better for others? We'll answer these questions and more in the show!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The harvesting method impacts the quality, environment, and cost.
The ripest cherries taste the best.
Not all hand-picking methods only select the ripest berries.
Having green berries go into your equipment and machinery wears the equipment out quicker.
Machines harvest at a rate of around 200 times faster than a hand picker.
Adjusting the vibration of the mechanical pickers targets beans of a certain ripeness.
Most over-the-row coffee harvesters were originally developed for the berry industry.
Currently, handpicking is more environmentally friendly, but machines are getting better.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Strip picking is where they run their hand along the branch and pull off all of the berries. ’

‘You can adjust the height of the rods to initially get the riper cherries.’

‘There´s a right place for hand picking and a right place for machine picking.’

GUEST RESOURCES

Guest - Delvin Navarro of Navarro Farms-Hawaiian Monarch Coffee

Instagram - @hawaiianmonarchcoffee and @navarrocoffeefarm

Guest - Fred Cowell of Kauai Coffee, general manager

www.kauaicoffee.com

Instagram - @kauaicoffeeco

Machine Pickers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emK2L6woquQ

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Why Coffee Tree Pruning Is So Important

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 23:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth and Katie sit down with Delvin Navarro of Navarro Coffee farms and Hawaiian Monarch Coffee located on 'The Big Island' in Hawaii. They discuss how pruning impacts the way coffee grows, how it is harvested and the way it tastes. Delvin also explains what the Beaumont-Fukunaga cycle pruning system is and how some coffee growers use it.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Pruning can make a big difference in coffee cherry yield and quality.
More trees annually die from improper pruning than pests or disease.
The Beaumont Fukunaga system ensures there is never a break in production. It can increase productiveness by 20%.
Composting the pruning waste is a popular approach.

BEST MOMENTS

‘We have an 8 to 10 months season out here in Hawaii.”

‘Every farmer has a different practice.’

GUEST RESOURCES

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hawaiianmonarchcoffee/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/navarrocoffeefarm/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Playing in the Dirt - Soil’s Impact on Coffee

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 06:17:22 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Katie Thomas and Fred Cowell to talk about the impact soil has on the quality of the coffee you drink. Fred is the general manager of the Kauai Coffee Company in Hawaii. It is the largest coffee producing farm in the United States and is also known as the 'Disneyland of Coffee'.

Fred explains why he told his team they were going to 'stop growing coffee and start growing soil'. They also discuss why volcanic soil is so good for coffee growing and the role that both microbiology and water play in soil health.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Coffee plants need about 17 different nutrients for optimal growth.
Coffee plant grow optimally at a pH of between 4.9 and 5.6.
Healthy microbiology is essential - without it the plants cannot utilize the nutrients in the soil.
Water is simply a carrier for the nutrients.
Root vegetables play a vital role in revitalizing soil for coffee. Find out why in the episode.
So much of the health of a tree depends on what happens underground.
The waste products from producing the beans (like pulp and chaff), when combined, make a compost that coffee trees love.

BEST MOMENTS

‘The principles we talk about today apply to anything you grow. ´

‘Optimal soil leads to an optimal cherry, bean and, ultimately, coffee!’

‘There are more microorganisms in a tablespoon of soil than there are humans on earth!'

EPISODE RESOURCES

Kauai Coffee on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kauaicoffeeco/

Visit the Kauai Coffee estate: https://kauaicoffee.com/visit-the-kauai-coffee-estate/

Jayber Crow By Wendell Berry - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jayber-Crow-Novel-Port-William-ebook/dp/B003SNIZV2/

The World-Ending Fire: The Essential Wendell Berry - https://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Ending-Fire-Essential-Wendell-Berry/dp/0141984139/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

The Ultimate Coffee Debate: Sun vs Shade

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0000

In this fun episode, Kenneth sits down with Katie Thomas to debate and provide a comprehensive answer to one of the biggest, most long-standing coffee debates – shade or sun - which is best for growing coffee?

Kenneth walks the audience through the pros and cons of each growing method. Looking at which is best for the environment, the farmer, and taste in that final cup. He provides an overview of how agroforestry polyculture and monoculture growing techniques work.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Shade-grown coffee is usually grown under native trees and is good for the environment. Kenneth explains why.
Beans grown under shade tend to mature more slowly, which usually results in better taste.
Growing under shade creates some extra challenges for farmers, so it is not sustainable in all parts of the world.
Shade growing does have some advantages for farmers. The presence of birds reduces the incidence of the coffee berry borer by up to 70%.
Unsurprisingly, more coffee is being grown in the sun than ever before.
In some circumstances, coffee grown in full sun can have better cup quality than beans grown in shade.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Shade provides wind protection for the plants... and helps to prevent erosion. ´

‘A study in 2016 showed the best cup quality at higher altitudes, in full sun and/or medium shade.’

‘Shade-grown coffee isn't the answer to everything and sun-grown coffee isn't the devil.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

The Bubba Cup - https://www.bubbabrands.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

How Coffee Farm Elevation Impacts Cup Quality

Wed, 25 May 2022 10:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Stefan Tribble and Steph Parsons to continue their discussion about how the way the beans are grown affects the taste. Today, they are talking about the impact elevation has on the coffee we drink.

They delve into how elevation impacts the rate of growth, the density of the bean, and the taste profile. Importantly, you will also learn about some simple tricks you can use to quickly pick out the best-tasting coffees - tips you can use whether you are buying beans or a cup of coffee.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Just like humans, coffee beans are impacted by the fact the air is thinner at high altitudes.
The higher it grows, the denser the bean is, which has a positive impact on the taste.
The variety that is grown and which country it grows in also plays into the elevation/taste equation.
There are exceptions to the rule. Some coffees that are grown at low elevations still have superior taste profiles. Examples are shared in the episode.
Coffee farms near the coast and on islands also have the potential to produce high-quality beans.
Coffees grown in mountainous areas near the equator typically have the highest potential for giving you that perfect cup.
The coffee cherry matures slower at higher elveations, which contributes positively to the flavor.

BEST MOMENTS

‘The coffee farm has about a 50% impact on your cup.´

‘With higher density, you´re gonna get a higher cup quality.’

‘With coffee, if you can grow it slower….., then you will have a higher quality.’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Podcast Description

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Challenges Coffee Farmers Face

Tue, 17 May 2022 23:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Eric Brenner from the Bourlag Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M. They discuss the challenges coffee farmers face. They discuss how the price they are paid, climate change and diseases and pests impact the farmer.

Eric explains the relationship between these issues, and how one problem feeds into the others. He also shares details of how by working together these challenges can be overcome so that everyone can continue to enjoy superior quality coffee. Eric also talks about the work the Center for Coffee Research and Education at Texas A&M is doing in conjunction with growers and others involved in the coffee industry to improve the quality and supply of coffee.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The three main challenges that coffee farmers face are closely related.
Coffee leaf rust has always been an issue, but climate change is making things a lot worse.
Older coffee plants are more prone to disease. Also, in some countries, most of the plants are 50+ years old.
There is a correlation between low prices and the prevalence of leaf rust. Eric explains the link in the podcast.
Effectively dealing with leaf rust requires an integrated approach that involves everyone.
Diversity in coffees planted is essential for tackling leaf rust and changes in weather patterns and growing conditions.
The research the Bourlag Institute is doing means they can provide expertise for every link in the coffee supply chain.

BEST MOMENTS

‘With climate change, coffee leaf rust is getting worse because temperatures are more unpredictable. ´

‘There is no silver bullet that is going to get rid of leaf rust, only a holistic approach will help.’

‘There is a lot of need for coffee research.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Coffee Education Website: https://coffee.tamu.edu

Contact page - https://coffee.tamu.edu/contact/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

Enjoying the show?! We’d LOVE for you to leave us a review. It helps us grow and educate more people about coffee!

Podcast Description

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Common Coffee Varieties, Varietals, and Cultivars

Wed, 11 May 2022 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Stephen Tribble and Steph Parsons to talk about the basics of coffee varieties. You will learn about the botany of the coffee plant and what the difference is between a variety, varietal, and cultivar.

What you learn in this episode will help you to look at the bag, read what the variety, varietal and/or cultivar are, and instantly anticipate what it should taste like. If you understand the varieties better, you can get better at selecting the coffee you want to drink!

This topic is discussed across two episodes, and this is the second part - focusing more on the actual varieties themselves and the predicatable taste attributes they lend to your cup of coffee.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Understanding what the varieties are will help you to identify the coffees you are likely to enjoy the most.
Variety is not the same as varietal. The difference is explained, in the podcast.
Cultivars are coffee varieties that are purposely modified. They are plants that have been crossed or cultivated selectively.
There are several thousand heirloom coffees that occur naturally, often growing wild - especially in Ethiopia.
Thousands of varieties are still not farmed commercially.
About 50% of the taste is dependent on the farm. Why that is the case is explained in the podcast.
The roaster is responsible for creating 20 to 30% of the taste.
Even the shape of the plant has an impact on how the bean grows and, therefore, how it tastes.

BEST MOMENTS

‘You´re going to be able to identify and pick a better coffee.’

‘Varieties do make a big difference to what the actual cup tastes like.’

‘The varietal… has to do with the actual tastes associated with the beverage.’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

Enjoying the show?! We’d LOVE for you to leave us a review. It helps us grow and educate more people about coffee!

Podcast Description

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

The Basics of Coffee Varieties, Varietals, and Cultivars

Tue, 03 May 2022 23:00:00 -0000

What you learn in this episode will help you to look at the bag, read what the variety, varietal and/or cultivar are and instantly understand what it is likely to taste like. Helping you to pick a better coffee.

This topic is discussed across two episodes, and this is the first part.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Understanding what the varieties are will help you to identify the coffees you are likely to enjoy the most.
Variety is not the same as varietal. The difference is explained, in the podcast.
Cultivars are coffee varieties that are purposely modified. They are plants that have been crossed or cultivated selectively.
There are several thousand heirloom coffees that occur naturally, often growing wild - especially in Ethiopia.
Thousands of varieties are still not farmed commercially.
About 50% of the taste is dependent on the farm. Why that is the case is explained in the podcast.
The roaster is responsible for creating 20 to 30% of the taste.
Even the shape of the plant has an impact on how the bean grows and, therefore, how it tastes.

BEST MOMENTS

‘You´re going to be able to identify and pick a better coffee.’

‘Varieties do make a big difference to what the actual cup tastes like.’

‘The varietal… has to do with the actual tastes associated with the beverage.’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

Podcast Description

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

The Coffee Tree, Cherry, and Bean

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Wes Walton, the owner and head roaster of Manuscript Coffee, to talk about the coffee tree, cherry, and bean. Kenneth and Wes explain what the bushes and trees look like as well as how the beans are extracted from the fruit and how the different processing methods used impact the way your cup of coffee tastes.

They also walk you through the taste profile for several of the most popular coffee-growing areas of the world and provide an insight into how the product produced by each of the major coffee-growing regions can be enjoyed.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Coffee is a fruit, a cherry.
The coffee we enjoy is brewed from the seeds of the coffee cherry.
The coffee yield varies depending on the variety, microclimate, pruning practices, and many other things.
It takes 3 to 5 years to get the first harvest.
Coffee is grown in 3 major areas (Asia/Indonesia, Africa, and the Americas), which Wes breaks down into sub-regions and talks about the flavor profile for each one.
The 'washed' process tends to reduce the vibrancy of the flavor compared to the 'natural' process.
The parchment on the outside of the bean protects it and seals in the flavor.
Regardless of where the coffee is grown, you want that complexity of flavor.
Peaberry coffee is growing in popularity.

BEST MOMENTS

‘The more dense the bean, the more bells and whistles that go off in my mouth as far as complexity. ´

‘As a Q Grader, you have to be open-minded to what other peoples' preferences are.’

‘Farm practices play a huge role in specialty coffee.’

‘Bees will preferentially go to flowers that have caffeine.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Website: https://manuscriptcoffee.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

Podcast Description

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

The Coffee Farm

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 23:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Rob Hoos of Iteration Coffee and Hoos Coffee Consulting. He is a coffee roasting consultant who has visited numerous coffee farms during his career. Today, he provides insight into what modern coffee farming is like. Rob speaks about the different coffee farming business models he has seen. Everything from harvesting coffee from wild bushes to running huge heavily mechanized farms.

They also discuss some of the challenges the farmers face. Including dealing with diseases, and pests and gaining and maintaining organic certification. As well as talking about the challenge of making sure that those who work in the industry are not exploited by having to work long hours for little pay.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Many coffee farmers still run small farms. Some even pick it from wild trees.
In places, farmers take small batches of coffee to a central processing point or a co-operative facility.
There are also large-scale, highly mechanized farms in every country.
In many areas, people are still working for little pay. Specialty coffee is helping to change that.
Fighting disease and pests is expensive and can negatively impact the quality of the product.
Naturally dried coffee has a nicer flavor profile.

BEST MOMENTS

‘For example, harvesting coffee in Ethiopia where they don´t even necessarily own the trees. ´

‘Specialty coffee …. saves coffee farmers by giving them better pricing.’

‘Coffee is actually more nuanced than wine.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Iteration Coffee: http://iteration.coffee/

Hoos Coffee: http://hoos.coffee/

Contact Rob of Hoos Coffee: rob@hoos.coffee

Angel´s Cup Coffee: https://angelscup.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

Podcast Description

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Origins - Where Does Your Coffee Come From?

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 23:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Omar Herrera of Café Imports, out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. They come together to discuss where the coffee comes from. In particular, the coffee that comes out of Colombia, which is the country Omar mainly deals with.

Kenneth and Omar discuss how the country has managed to become the number three coffee exporter in the world and how they are able to produce such a huge range of different tasting coffees. Kenneth and Omar provide a fascinating insight into how different varieties and how they are farmed have developed over time.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

In terms of ecology, Colombia is very diverse, which means they produce coffees that have very varied taste profiles.
Colombia has 16 recognized coffee farming areas.
It is the 3rd largest exporter of coffee.
The coffee traditions and customs in each region of Colombia significantly impacts the flavor profile of the bean.
Origin is only one piece of the taste puzzle. Other factors, e.g., soil PH are discussed, in detail.
Coffees that are grown very close geographically can still end up tasting very different from each other.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Columbia has two harvest cycles per year. ´

‘When it comes to taste, the origin is only a piece of the puzzle.’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Cafe Imports: https://www.cafeimports.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

Podcast Description

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

1st, 2nd, & 3rd Waves of Coffee

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 03:07:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Stephen Tribble to discuss the waves of coffee. Or to put it another way, they discuss the different types of coffee that have been developed and enjoyed during each era. This episode covers pre-wave, first, second, third and fourth wave coffee.

They explain when each wave started, how the product was presented, prepared, and enjoyed. Finishing the episode by discussing the fourth wave, which is just starting to emerge and evolve.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Most people do not know what a coffee wave is. During the podcast, Kenneth explains what the term means.
The first wave started during the late stages of the industrial revolution, with roasted and pre-ground coffee.
During the first wave, the aim was to make coffee more accessible.
The second wave saw companies like Peets and Starbucks enter the market.
During the second wave, there was more focus on taste.
It was the second wave that pushed the industry forwards, and created the foundations for today´s coffee culture - especially the coffee shop culture.
Light roasts only really took off during the third wave.
Great tasting coffee has led to more people drinking their coffee without cream or sugar.
The industry is now more interested in the science behind what makes a great coffee.
There is still a lot of debate about what the fourth wave is.

BEST MOMENTS

‘The waves are mainly a US thing. ´

‘During the third wave, the roast is more towards a lighter roast.’

‘The third wave focuses more on the science of coffee.’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

Podcast Description

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

What is Specialty Coffee?

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 03:06:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with John Lawrence the Co-founder and owner of Mudhouse Coffee Roasters in Charlottesville, Virginia. John has been creating specialty coffee for 20+ years. In 2014, he and his co-founder became licensed Q graders. They were also Roast Magazine´s Coffee Roaster of the Year, in 2017.

They talk about the specialty coffee movement and how this approach ensures that you get the best from every bean. John also speaks about the new Panamanian specialty coffee farm he is developing with a partner. He provides a fascinating insight into what it takes to source and prepare the land, plant & take care of the coffee bushes and the ecosystem they are growing in. They round off the episode by discussing the new super specialty coffees that are made with experimental varieties and processing techniques.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Specialty coffee is sustainably produced and has a superior cup quality and taste.
The term 'specialty coffee' has been around since 1974.
There is a lot of pride in the way specialty coffee is produced and made. Everyone brings their best, at every stage of the process.
It only takes one underripe cherry, impurity, or foreign object to ruin your cup of coffee.
Sustainable coffee farmers take care of the soil and the ecology of the area they are farming.
Specialty farmers protect and nourish their bushes without using chemical herbicides or pesticides.
There is more to coffee. More to discover and learn about. Take Geisha coffee for example.
Super specialty coffees are the next iteration.
In time, people will start talking about the different types of coffee like they do with wine now.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Specialty coffee is a sustainably produced product, and we all have a responsibility to that.’

‘A defect in just one bean can destroy a cup or decanter pot.’

‘For specialty coffee, there is more to come – more to discover, learn about and create out of.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Mudhouse Specialty Coffee Roasters website: https://mudhouse.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Arabica vs Robusta vs...Stenophylla?!

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 03:05:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Daniel Lopez from Frothy Monkey. To talk about the two main coffee species and a third one that is showing great promise. They discuss the differences between the three. Including, how they grow, what they taste like, and how they are used.

Daniel explains how coffee is tasted and graded. They also walk through why it is hard for farmers to switch from growing Robusta to producing specialty arabica coffees. As well as talk about how the industry is working to change the taste profile of Robusta and starting to experiment with the promising Stenophylla variety.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

There are different species of coffee plant. Within each species, there are many varieties.
We drink mostly Arabica and Robusta, but there is a new species that is generating interest.
Coffee is tasted and tested at several stages, which results in a cupping (quality) score.
Coffea Canephora, also known as Robusta, is used for a lot of instants and first wave coffees.
Arabica is harder to grow than Robusta.
Robusta has double the caffeine levels of Arabica. But the taste is nowhere near as rich or appealing.
Robusta can be grown better and is likely to become more widely used by fresh coffee makers.
Persuading farmers to switch to Arabica is not easy. Why, is explained in the podcast.
Stenophylla is a promising species. It has good taste, is drought-resistant, and is easier to grow.

BEST MOMENTS

‘There are currently 131 species in the coffea genus. But Arabica and Robusta are what we mainly drink. ´

‘Arabica producers are going for higher quality and higher trade costs.’

‘Robusta can likely be good...when grown in the right temperatures by the right producers.’

’Stenophylla can taste just as good as Arabica.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Frothy Monkey - https://frothymonkey.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

At Umble Coffee, we only roast specialty-grade arabica coffee from around the world with cupping scores 84 and above. Don’t sabotage yourself in pursuing your goals - drink coffee that tastes better and is better for you. No crash, great taste, and better long-term health benefits. That’s Umble Coffee.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee History - The Industrial Revolution to Present

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 03:04:00 -0000

Kenneth once again sits down with Jonah Holland of the Unfiltered Coffee Company to finish their discussion about the history of coffee. In the last episode, they looked at the origins of coffee and how it reached the shores of Europe. Today, they discuss how its use grew from the late 1800s to the point it is at, now.

They touch on the impact the industrial revolution, trains, vacuum packaging, modern marketing, the percolator, espresso machine, and new roasters had. As well as explaining how some of the brand leaders got started and which innovations they used to produce and distribute their coffee.

Want to know what coffee has to do with the invention of the teabag? Just listen to find out and learn many more fascinating facts about the history of coffee.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Trains made transportation easier, which was a game-changer.
Vacuum packing and new styles of roasters played a big role in making coffee more accessible.
Pre-roasted coffee reduced transport costs and improved shelf life.
The first instant coffees were awful, but many soldiers still viewed them as essential.
When leaf rot killed off a lot of Arabica bean plants, the canephora variety replaced them. The impact this had on taste is discussed.
Nescafe is created in 1938, which sparked the invention of the teabag.
Instant coffee is what made dark roasts popular. Why, is explained in the podcast.
Percolators gave way to coffee filters, French presses, and Espresso machines all of which are discussed, in the podcast.
Fair pricing for coffee has its roots in an agreement made between the USA and Cuba, in 1962.
The specialty coffee industry did not get started until the 1970s.
American coffee culture has its roots in Italy.

BEST MOMENTS

‘During WWI and WW2, the rations that went with our soldiers were not green coffee, it was instant coffee. ´

‘Mass production gets coffee further and further into the hands of the consumer.’

‘In the 1950s, 98% of Americans drank coffee.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Unfiltered Coffee Company - https://unfilteredcc.com/

The Coffee Song, Frank Sinatra - https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-coffee-song/1442925179?i=1442925624

Black Coffee, Ella Fitzgerald - https://music.apple.com/us/album/black-coffee/1427384015?i=1427387817

SCA Certified Brewers - https://sca.coffee/certified-home-brewer

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

Podcast Description

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Coffee History - Origins to the Industrial Revolution

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 03:03:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Jonah Holland of The Unfiltered Coffee Company to talk about the history of coffee. They talk about the Legend of Kaldi and why it is unlikely a goat herder started the trend of drinking coffee made from roasted beans. Kenneth explains how the early forms of coffee, Keisha, cascara, and Kahwa are made and how they evolved into the drink we know today.

They explain how coffee ended up being widely drank in Europe as well as where it had a big impact on how society worked. Kenneth and Jonah explain how the way coffee was grown, exported, made, sold, and drank, evolved. This episode takes you up to the late 1800s. Next week, Kenneth will cover the history of coffee from the 1900s to the modern-day.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

We don't have a specific date for when coffee was first brewed. But there are some interesting theories.
Coffee fruits and possibly other parts of the plant were first regularly consumed, in drink form, in Africa.
Turkish coffee is probably the earliest example of the drink we recognize today.
Coffee beans were not initially roasted to enhance the taste.
Early European coffee was mostly water and alcohol.
The Dutch were responsible for propagating coffee on Java.
Governments tried to ban coffee.
Coffee was important to soldiers who fought on both sides of the civil war.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Around 1450’s the dried coffee cherry was starting to be exported to Yemen. ´

‘Europe started drinking coffee around the 1600s.’

‘When they were running low on coffee they roasted okra seeds.’

GUEST RESOURCES

Website: https://unfilteredcc.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

Podcast Description

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Why do we Like Coffee?

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 03:02:00 -0000

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Stefan Tribble to talk about why people like coffee so much. He explains how caffeine is metabolized by the body and the mechanism that stops you from feeling sleepy. As well as how athletes and others use coffee to help them to perform better. Kenneth also talks about the differences between synthetic and natural caffeine.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Historically people drank coffee for the caffeine hit. It really does help to keep you awake and energized.

Taste is now playing a bigger role in why we like coffee. But the caffeine is still the star.

It takes most people between 30 minutes and 2 hours to benefit from the caffeine.

Athletes can improve their performance by 1 to 3% by drinking coffee at the right times.

Tasting a coffee that is familiar to you is a powerful way to take yourself to a different place, mentally.

Coffee shops have been bringing people together for centuries.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Coffee tastes good and it gives me a pick me up … the two main reasons I am into coffee.´

‘Every single cell in your body is good at taking in coffee.’

‘Athletes can improve their performance by 1 to 3% by drinking coffee.

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

Podcast Description

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

What is Coffee?

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 03:01:00 -0000

This is the first episode of the Coffee 101 Podcast. Your host is Kenneth Thomas, physician, and multi-year US Coffee Roasting Competition Finalist for Umble Coffee. Today, Kenneth sits down with Stefan Tribble, one of his coffee friends, to answer a very fundamental question – What is Coffee?

You will be surprised by the answer. It is far more than just a drink that is made from coffee beans. Coffee has, and still is, changing the world. Just listen to the episode to find out why and how.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

· Coffee means different things to different people.

· For many people coffee is a vital part of their life. Often it provides them with energy.

· In the USA, 65% of people drink at least one cup a day.

· Coffee can ignite memories.

· The way people view and enjoy coffee is changing. How is discussed in the podcast.

· Bees like caffeine, find out why in the podcast.

· Coffee played an important role in the industrial revolution.

· In recent times, coffee has become a leading force when it comes to positive social change.

BEST MOMENTS

‘A lot of people define coffee as energy or as caffeine. ´

‘Coffee is life. Coffee is the world’s hello.’

‘Coffee is a community builder.’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/

At Umble Coffee, we only roast specialty-grade arabica coffee from around the world with cupping scores 84 and above. Don’t sabotage yourself in pursuing your goals - drink coffee that tastes better and is better for you. No crash, great taste, and better long-term health benefits. That’s Umble Coffee.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee

ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

Want to reach Kenneth? Have questions, show ideas, or want to just let us know you’re enjoying the show? The best way is to leave us a great review and put your thoughts in the comment section - Kenneth reads all of them! The second best way is through DM on social media.

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

Podcast Description

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/

Introducing Coffee 101 - brought to you by Umble Coffee!

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 08:45:00 -0000

Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf

ABOUT THE HOST

“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”

CONTACT METHOD

HOW TO LEAVE A REVIEW

BUY COFFEE

https://umblecoffee.com

BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.com/