Draw Coffee

NERBC

2012-02-27T08:07:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to Katie Carguilo of Counter Culture Coffee, and Jordan Barber of Third Rail Coffee. Katie took home the NERBC Championship and Jordan took the Brewer's Cup.

Check out Sprudge for more on the entire event.

Doodle: Coffee Con 2012 and Passion Coffee Roasters

2012-02-26T17:35:00.000-05:00

I'll be writing a review over the next few days, but I wanted to get a doodle done.

Yesterday was a fantastic day of learning, networking, and all things coffee. Being able to meet and chat with George Howell and Geoff Watts was absolutely incredible. Those two have done so much not only for coffee, but for millions of farmers, workers, and producers around the world.

It was also great to hang around with Mark from Clive Coffee and to meet so many great people who love coffee. A big thanks to Kevin Sinnott for putting the event together, and also to Passion House Coffee Roasters for hooking me up with the Rwanda Buf I enjoyed this morning.

Thursday Morning Coffee: Augie's Rwanda Coko Co-Op

2012-02-23T18:26:00.001-05:00

Austin over at Augie's Coffee Roasters in Redlands, CA was kind enough to send me some coffees this week. I'm really enjoying this particular Rwanda. I'm not a coffee note expert, and typically use the roaster's description to pull out notes - I think the description is perfect: tons of vanilla, clove, and sweet citrus. Reminds me of rooibos tea sometimes.

If you're part of the LA Coffee Club, I'm pretty sure this coffee is on its way to you right now. Very tasty.

Augie's sent over three coffees: Rwanda Cokoco-op, Brazil Fazenda Rainha, and Guatemala. I haven't tried the Guatemala yet, but the Brazil has a nice milky, almond taste to it. Brazilian has never been my favorite, but this coffee is a unique and stands out. I like the bright labels on the black bags:

"The color represents the growing region of that specific coffee. Red - Africa, Green - South America, Blue - Central America, White - Espresso Blend."

Coffee Con 2012

2012-02-23T12:42:00.001-05:00

When I started this project almost two months ago, I was looking for a unique way to explore the love I have for coffee, and to do something creative with it that would somehow allow me to participate in the coffee industry. Thanks in large part to the amazing support of folks like you, I'll get my first opportunity this weekend.

I'm heading west to Warrenville, IL (outskirts of Chicago) to participate as a VIP Blogger at Coffee Con 2012, hosted by Kevin Sinnott. The event claims to be the first ever international consumer coffee conference, and is centered around the idea of total transparency and hands-on coffee education for those who love coffee and love to brew it.

"CoffeeCON 2012 is an opportunity to journey into the world’s most amazing coffee varieties from around the world and learn about brewing, and even roasting, in every style imaginable. Top world amateur and professional coffee experts will present a wide variety of seminars and hands-on labs. Attendees will sample the world’s best beans and experiment with the latest brewing equipment. Exhibitors will include many high-end coffee roasters, coffee equipment manufacturers, coffee farmers and innovative coffee products."

Registration is free and open to the public until Friday, February 24th - if you show up at the door on Saturday, you'll have to pay $10 to get in. Brewing labs, coffee stations, and vendors will be around all day, and there are quite a few classes you can sign up for: AeroPress hacks, Beginner Home Roasting, Correct Grinding, Coffee Farming, and Chemex Brewing just to name a few.

The entire event seems like a great way to learn more about home brewing, different ways to brew coffee, and the entire coffee process from farmer to cup.

Kevin Sinnott

For me, this is a great opportunity to not only network and connect with those in the coffee industry, but to learn more about coffee as a whole. I'm especially excited about the opportunity to meet and interview Geoff Watts, (Intelligentsia), George Howell (Terroir), and Oren Bloostein (Oren's Daily Roast). To some degree, these guys are legends in the coffee industry, so it really is a privilege to get the chance to chat with them.

I'll be taking pictures and posting updates via twitter throughout the day. If you'll be at the event, I'd love to connect.

Check out the full Coffee Con Press Release.

Wednesday Doodle: Vespertine Press London Coffee Book

2012-02-23T00:08:00.001-05:00

Big thanks to Vespertine Press for sending me a copy of the London Independent Coffee Book and Keep Cup. It was nice receiving a package in the mail with a large "Royal Mail" sticker attached - makes you feel more important than usual.

I love the design of this book.It's small enough to carry around, easy to navigate, and really looks nice sitting on a coffee table. So far it's been helpful to me as I plan my upcoming trip to London in early April. I'm looking forward to checking out some of the great coffee joints that London has to offer.

Dear Coffee, I Love You beat me to it, and has already put together a great post on the book. Make sure to go take a look, then head over to the Vespertine Press site to order your guide.

Tuesday Morning Coffee: Kuma Honey Pot Espresso

2012-02-21T22:32:00.001-05:00

I'm continually blown away by how diverse, unique, and complex the coffees I've had from Kuma Coffee are. I didn't think the Honey Pot Espresso could live up to the Panama Elida Estate, Kenya Gichatha-ini, or Kenya Gethumbwini I tried from Kuma, but it does. Kuma continues to impress me and has really started to separate itself as a premiere coffee roaster.

Nice job, Mark.

In case you haven't seen the great mugs I collaborated with Kuma on, you can check them out here:

On a completely separate note, the Bonavita electric kettle that @myBonavita was kind enough to send me has been a godsend. Before I had the luxury of a gooseneck kettle, I was basically splashing water all over my pourovers and chemex to brew coffee. Now, I get a nice, skinny, even pour that doesn't require much tipping. Highly recommend this kettle.

Monday Morning Coffee: Tonx Tanzania Mpito

2012-02-21T00:27:00.001-05:00

I love the smooth, fruitiness of this coffee - it's almost like fruit and cream, especially when brewed in a V60. Today I used a Kaffeologie steel filter with a ratio of 28g coffee to 415g water. Bloomed for 30 seconds with 60g of water, then a small, one-inch counter clockwise pour in the center.

I'm glad I stuck with my Tonx subscription - I enjoy the little card with some thoughts from the folks at Tonx, along with the card that explains about the coffee itself. These extras really paint Tonx as a thoughtful, informative coffee roaster who is committed to excellence and education as far as coffee goes.

Looking forward to the next shipment.

Sunday Coffee: Kuma Honey Pot Espresso

2012-02-19T23:55:00.001-05:00

Don't let "espresso" fool you. This honey pot from Kuma is a light to medium roast that puts out some serious honey sweet, milky smooth, and berries and cream notes. Made in a V60 with Kaffeologie steel. 25.5g coffee to 365g water.

Review: Relax, It's Just Coffee (Mansfield, OH)

2012-02-19T21:31:00.000-05:00

I'll be honest. I was skeptical when I first heard about Relax.

Over the years, I've seen about as much coffee culture in the rural, rust-belt town of Mansfield, Ohio as you might expect there to be in a rural, rust-belt town like Mansfield. I spent most of my high school and college years trekking 60 miles south to Columbus in order to indulge in my love for good coffee. I don't mean to speak poorly of Mansfield, because it's a great place, but it's seen it's fair share of tough economic times.

So, when I was told there was a "great coffee shop" in Mansfield, I brushed it off. I ignored it and chalked it up to a miserable attempt by a local business to play off of a weird mix of small-town charm and a Starbucks sweet-tooth obsessed menu.

After checking out some photos on the Relax facebook page, I started to think otherwise. A couple brief Facebook exchanges with the Relax staff later, I decided it was time for a visit.

Relax is nestled under a balcony in the historic Carousel District of downtown Mansfield. When I got to Relax, owner Paul Kemerling was standing behind the bar, wearing a MadCap shirt, arranging a Hario V60 dripper on a sweet copper pourover stand. I was floored. I immediately fell in love with the shop. I introduced myself, and we got to talking about our stories.

Pourovers at Relax. Thoughtfully brewed coffee.

Relax, It's Just Coffee was named after a painting Paul purchased a few years back from a local artist, and the shop itself stemmed not only out of his love for quality coffee, but also out of his love for art, community, and creativity:

RELAX, It’s Just Coffee is a genuine neighborhood coffee shop providing an "all access atmosphere" where artists, business leaders, students, and neighbors can come together to work, create, relax, socialize, and unwind. Our objective is not to just sell coffee (though we are happy to do just that!), but to use the "coffee shop experience" to cultivate a multi-generational community united by its love of local arts and entertainment. With an extraordinary staff, welcoming environment, and high-quality goods, we aim to become an essential part of your communal life.

Paul and his staff brew all of their coffee by the cup, using hand-brewed techniques like the V60 pourover from Hario. If you go there, and don't have a clue what that means, they are more than happy to explain to you the benefits of brewing coffee by hand. Don't worry, they're nice about it! If you want a brief explanation, you can read a guest-post on brewing methods I did here.

During my visit, I had a fantastic cup of Stauf's Nicaurgua brewed via Pourover, and really enjoyed my chat with Paul. We talked about fundraising, brewing methods, and touched on his vision for what he wants Relax to be. I believe in what he's doing, and think Relax brings a lot to the city of Mansfield, even beyond great coffee. They play host to concerts, community events, and they proudly decorate their walls (and ceilings) with the creativity of local artists.

I'm looking forward to making Relax a normal stopping place while visiting family up in Mansfield, and I hope to get involved in some of the coffee educationals and classes Paul wants to host in the future.

When we finished talking, my sisters joined me for a short visit. While we were talking, Paul handed me a filter and asked me if I had a pen. Naturally, a doodle had to happen. After I finished the doodle and got up to leave, Paul kindly asked me my shirt size and handed me a t-shirt adorned with the painting the shop was named after.

I had a great visit, and am still in disbelief over what this shop is accomplishing. I'm certainly glad I was wrong about it, and would highly recommend it to anyone. Can't wait to go back.

Copper pipe pourover stand created by Mike Thompson. On sale here. (photo credit to Mike Thompson)

Saturday Morning Coffee: Kuma's Honey Pot Espresso

2012-02-18T11:27:00.001-05:00

It's been about a month since I last had Kuma, and I've missed it dearly. Mark Barany must have sold his soul in turn for roasting and sourcing skills, because he has something special going on up in Seattle.

It's an honor and a privilege for me to be collaborating with Mark on some projects.

The Honey Pot Espresso is a medium to light roast that melts in your mouth. Tons of berries, honey, and clovers pop out at you. I've made this in both the AeroPress and the V60 (with Kaffeologie filter) and I like them equally as much. Go get some Kuma today.

Also, make sure to check out the Seattle Cityscape mugs - you can get one for only $10 on Kuma's web site. It's really cool to see one of my doodles on a mug. They came out really nice.

Grab one here: http://www.kumacoffee.com/collections/frontpage/products/kuma-mug-seattlescape

Thursday Coffee: Mpito from Tonx

2012-02-16T23:19:00.001-05:00

Wednesday Morning Coffee: Stauf's Brazil Santos

2012-02-15T23:37:00.001-05:00

When I opened the bag, it instantly smelled like chocolate teddy grahams in the room. I know that's not a proper coffee aroma descriptor, but it's accurate.

Really earthy, dirty, spicy taste to this coffee. A really nice contrast to all the fruity, syrupy coffees I've had as of late.

Draw Coffee: Creative Inspiration

2012-02-15T20:45:00.000-05:00

Voting is now live for the Specialty Coffee Association of America's "Attendee Video Contest." The contest is centered around the phrase: "Specialty coffee is..."

SCAA challenged anyone who loves coffee to create a video that finishes that sentence, and to do it in their own unique way. The winner gets $500 and gets their video played at the SCAA opening ceremonies in Portland, Oregon at the end of April. It's a really cool opportunity for me to be involved, especially as I begin to explore diving into the coffee industry. It's nice to be able to feel connected to it through things like the SCAA.

Since I've taken up this project to doodle every day on Draw Coffee, I thought it would be nice to answer the question through a doodle. So, I wrote up my sentence, reeled in a videographer, and got to work.

Check out the video, and vote for it by clicking the button below. The winner will be decided by most votes. So, share this on Facebook, re-tweet it on Twitter, post the link on your blog, whatever. I'd really appreciate your support! Oh, and you can vote once each day. So, if you really don't have anything better to do, and you find yourself bored, vote again.

A huge thanks to Kristin Van Valkenburg for shooting and editing - she drew up the storyboard, planned the shoot, and did all the editing - she did great work and this video came out exactly how I envisioned it. Also thanks to the band "the Lighthouse and the Whaler" for letting me use their song "Under Mountain, Underground," and to artist John Donnelly for letting me use his amazing studio space in downtown Mount Vernon, OH.

Here's my sentence:

"Specialty coffee is captivating, because it inspires creativity and collaboration, cultivates community, and carries constantly changing characteristics."

Tuesday Morning Coffee: February 14, 2012

2012-02-14T13:31:00.001-05:00

Really getting the syphon method down - grinding coarser, making sure the temperature doesn't continually rise (keeping it below 202F), and removing all heat at the right time. Really rewarding when everything works together.

Highly recommend the Honduras Santa Barbara from Batdorf. It has a rugged, smoky, fruity aroma to it. Very smooth, with a nice tart kick to it. The bag describes it as having lemon, cream, and custard notes. I'd say, in my infantile knowledge of picking out notes, that they nailed it.

Active Citizen: Creative Inspiration, a GOOD doodle - Monday, February 13, 2012

2012-02-13T20:35:00.000-05:00

A couple weeks back, Joyce from Baratza (@BaratzaTalk) emailed me a link to a contest put on by the magazine and website "GOOD." The contest asks for doodle submissions that display what it means to be an active citizen.

I loved the idea of the contest, and it seemed right up my ally, but I figured I had some time and kind of tucked it away and forgot about it. Well today, Brian W. Jones, a designer and creator at "Welcome" sent me a tweet with the link to the contest, which reminded me I had better get busy if I wanted to meet the February 15th deadline.

So today, my doodle features coffee, but it's not as much about coffee as usual. For me, the idea behind being an active citizen reaches far beyond getting involved in politics or attending a city council meeting. Those things are good, for sure, but I think being an active citizen starts at a basic human level, and I think it happens naturally and organically when you strip some layers off of the broader question.

In the doodle, I emphasized this in the following ways:

Learn: Understand your surroundings, your community, the people around you. Get to the root.
Re-Use: Be a good steward. Order a Keep Cup and quit using paper ones. Recycle. No more K-Cups.
Plant: Plant a tree. Plant a seed somewhere. Grow and cultivate ideas within the community.
Bike: Be active, literally. Enjoy your surroundings.
Participate: Do some local shopping. Support the community around you.
Join: Find local groups or organizations that have a mission and passion that align with your own.
Raise: whether it's dollars or new leaders, grow resources that support your community.

Sunday Morning Coffee: February 12, 2012

2012-02-12T13:03:00.001-05:00

Batdorf's Kenya Brewed up in a SoftBrew this morning.

This coffee has a nice grapefruit kick to it, which I think gives it a juicy or punchy feel to it. Its countered nicely with sweet fruit notes.

The thing I love most about the SoftBrew is the filter. The micromesh filter allows you to grind a bit finer than you would with a French press, which, in my naive opinion, allows for a more diverse cup of coffee. Plus, it's removable, so you don't have to decant- you can leave your coffee right in the porcelain pot.

The SoftBrew looks great sitting on any table. Beautiful design.

SERBC

2012-02-11T18:54:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to Lindsey Kiser of Peregrine Espresso and Matt Luswikowski of Octane Coffee on their impressive wins in the SE Barista Championship and Brewers Cup, respectively.

I've doodled for the NWRBC and the IBC, so I suppose I will keep going! Congrats, guys!

Saturday Morning Coffee: February 11, 2012

2012-02-11T15:06:00.001-05:00

Finishing up my Ethiopia Worka from Verve. One of the best cups of this coffee I've had. Used a standard Intelligentsia ratio of 28g to 415g of water- but I used a Kaffeologie steel filter rather than a paper. It turned out beautifully.

Though it's not my favorite coffee, this has to be the most diverse and smooth coffee I've had all year. The strong berry notes are leveled by a smooth, almost tea-like roundness. There were times that it was like drinking a floral, herbal tea. Just a spectacular array of tastes.

Still waiting on my favorite pens to be delivered. I've been using an inferior pen, and I'm ready to have old faithful back.

Friday Morning Coffee: February 10, 2012

2012-02-10T18:10:00.001-05:00

Broke into my Kenya AA Kangocho from Batdorf today - V60, carried around in my 8 oz. DCILY Keep Cup. Perfect.

Grapefruit, wine, and a sweet middle.

Doodle is a bit rushed because I'm headed out of town and time was short.

Thursday Morning Coffee: February 9, 2012

2012-02-09T11:35:00.001-05:00

As I reached to finish off my Verve Ethiopia Worka, I couldn't resist the lemon smell of the Batdorf Honduras. I brewed a great chemex of this coffee using a 30g:443mL ratio. Tons of lemon, cream, and tang. Also, leaves a nice buttery feel as you finish a drink. I love this coffee.

Random thought: I wonder if Bronson ever feels cheated.

Wednesday Morning Coffee: February 8, 2012

2012-02-08T22:10:00.001-05:00

Tried the Klatch Belle Espresso in a V60 this morning. I don't really like darker roasts unless it's used for espresso, but this was actually an enjoyable Pourover and many of the spicy, sweet notes were pronounced. I'd really like to try this coffee in espresso form.

Draw Coffee, Baratza, and Sprudge

2012-02-08T10:40:00.000-05:00

About two months ago, I decided to get serious about my love for coffee. I had been drinking coffee, grinding my own beans, and lightly experimenting with alternative brew methods for some time, but had never really taken the next step.

At some point, I entered a contest sponsored by Baratza - basically, all I had to do was 'like' their facebook page, and I would have the chance to win one of their grinders. Well, I won.

I connected with Joyce Klassen over at Baratza through twitter, and they sent me the grinder, an Aeropress, and a sharp-looking Baratza bench-scraper. All have been wonderful additions to my coffee collection, and I can't imagine ever going back to a lesser quality grinder.

Around that same time, I began a year-long project - inspired slightly by La Marzocco's Facebook challenge - I decided I was going to doodle my morning coffee on a v60 filter every day for a year. So, I started drawcoffee.com to be some sort of daily journal that I could post the doodles to and share with others.

Well, Baratza took notice and kindly offered me the opportunity to doodle their latest ad for sprudge.com. I'm truly humbled that a company like Baratza would take a chance at letting an unknown create something for them. This opportunity has given me the chance to feel a bit more connected to the coffee world, something that I hope to be heavily involved in in the future.

The entire process was extremely enjoyable, and the wonderful folks over at Baratza were easy to work with. I've been amazed by how transparent they've been in answering questions from me, how great they are at interacting with users on twitter, and for even considering giving me the opportunity to do a doodle for them.

I want to thank Joyce (@baratzaTalk) for the amazing opportunity - I know it's a wee-little ad, and lots of people produce lots of ads all the time, but it really means a lot to me.

It's amazing that two months ago, I hadn't even thought of doing the Draw Coffee project. Now, because of people like Joyce, companies like Baratza, and tons of other users on twitter, I'm in the middle of an interesting adventure.

Check out the ad as it appears on sprudge.com

Tuesday Morning Coffee: February 7, 2012

2012-02-07T22:57:00.001-05:00

A great cup of Tonx's Colombia Huila made in a V60 using a Kaffeologie steel filter. This Colombia has a lot of spice and chocolate, and I really look forward to it each time I make it. I'm going to miss it.

Monday Coffee: February 6, 2012

2012-02-06T23:32:00.001-05:00

A great V60 of Batdorf's Honduras in a Kaffeologie steel filter. Thanks to Jason Dominy for hooking me up with the coffee.

Week 5 Doodles

2012-02-05T21:24:00.000-05:00

The list of people I need to thank is growing larger and larger by the week. I've been able to interact with some really great folks in the coffee industry this week, and have been presented with some great opportunities. I couldn't have imagined this project to take off in the way it is. Total page views and twitter followers are nowhere near representative of the amount of interest and collaboration opportunities that have come my way since starting Draw Coffee in January. I'm very thankful.

This week, I want to thank:

1. Jennifer Stinnett and CoffeeCon 12: I saw a random tweet from the CoffeeCon12 twitter account a few weeks back that asked for links to coffee blogs, as they were beginning to acquire a list of bloggers. I didn't think much of it when I sent the link to Draw Coffee. Well, this week I received an email with an invitation to attend the event as a "VIP." My invitation includes access to all of the great workshops, and an opportunity to personally interview Geoff Watts (Intelligentsia), George Howell, and Oren Bloostein. I couldn't be more excited to attend and meet people involved in the coffee industry. It actually comes at a great time - I've felt a bit detached from the coffee world living in Mount Vernon, Ohio - this really gives me an opportunity to explore, network, and gain experience. Thanks for the opportunity!

2. Kaffeologie: for the wonderful steel filter set. The siphon filter is beautiful, and I can't wait to try some different techniques with the filters. I love the artisan, hand-crafted look of the filters. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for your thoughts on the NWRBC brewer's cup. Check out this picture of their filters.

3. Allie Lehman and her Show & Tell Blog: for the opportunity to talk about brewing methods on her site. I love the design and graphics she added to the post, and really appreciate the chance to chat about different brewing methods. Thanks again - I hope there are more in the future!

Here are this week's doodles:

Sunday morning coffee: February 5, 2012

2012-02-05T09:55:00.001-05:00

Stauf's Peru in a V60.

Saturday Morning Coffee: February 4, 2012

2012-02-04T12:43:00.001-05:00

I used my Kaffeologie K250 Aeropress filter for the first time this morning. Combined with the San Sebastian from Handsome, it really produced a nice cup of coffee. I'm not sure if it was the honey nut Cheerios I had earlier this morning, or the coffee itself, but the San Sebastian has a very sweet, honey-like taste to it. Not too sweet, but just enough.

Grind: 22 with the Baratza Maestro Plus
Ratio: 18g coffee to 215g water
Brew: Aeropress Inverted. Pour 75g, stir. Continue pouring until 215g, give a gentle stir. Steep for 30 seconds, pre-plunge, flip onto cup, plunge for 25 seconds.

Friday Coffee: February 3, 2012

2012-02-03T23:55:00.001-05:00

The kind folks at Kaffeologie were kind enough to send me a set of their wonderful hand made steel filters. I love the way they look, and found out first hand how wonderful they are to use. Thanks a ton, guys!

Also, I took advantage of Tonx's subscription offer, and have been "enjoying the half-bag of goodness" they sent today. Colombia Huila. So good.

Re-Doodle: Coffee Common x NYC

2012-02-03T09:51:00.000-05:00

Really enjoyed reading DCILY's reflection on the Coffee Common event in New York City. I admire what they're doing, and it really gets me excited about sharing coffee with others. In fact, we're trying to organize a bi-weekly gathering for local college students and coffee lovers to share the same experiences.

I decided to bring back this doodle, because it's one of my favorites.

It was frustrating having to watch the Coffee Common event through Twitter and G+ hangouts (awesome, by the way), so I vividly remember creating this doodle, wishing I could be there.

Here's the original post:

Even though I can't make it to the Coffee Common event out in NYC, being there in spirit is pretty easy. Coffee Common is a collaboration of some of the great brands in coffee that want to share the love. So, they rented out a storefront for a few days in NYC to hold an event educating people about all things coffee.

This is the type of thing I appreciate about those involved in coffee. It's this mutual passion and appreciation that, by human nature, almost demands sharing. These folks are doing it right.

Even if you can't make it to their event this week, share a cup of coffee with someone.

Thanks, cC.

Thursday Morning Coffee: February 2, 2012

2012-02-02T23:11:00.001-05:00

Awesome cup of Batdorf's Guatemala Antigua in a SoftBrew.

Irish Barista Champion 2012

2012-02-02T08:06:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Colin Harmon of 3FE in Dublin, Ireland on his second win in the Irish Barista Championship - nice work, Colin!

Specialty Coffee Is...Doodle

2012-02-01T19:00:00.001-05:00

Working on a video project with Kristin Van Valkenburg for the SCAA Attendee video contest. I'm really excited to see the final product, but here's the doodle that was created throughout the process.

Wednesday Morning Coffee: February 1, 2012

2012-02-01T11:58:00.001-05:00

Kicked off February with an Aeropress of Batdorf & Bronson's Guatemala Antigua Finca el Valle. This is my first Batdorf Coffee, and after hearing so much about it from some of the great people that work there, I'm very happy to finally possess a bag. A huge thanks goes out to my friend Nathan Okuley (@ndokuley) who shipped this coffee up to me from Atlanta. He was privileged enough to take a tour and learn a bit from Jason Dominy last week. Really appreciate it, Nate.

Overall, the coffee was fantastic, and I think the AeroPress really let a lot more of the notes shine in comparison with the V60 I did last night. My first Batdorf did not disappoint. Looking forward to many more bags in the future.

January Doodles

2012-01-31T18:43:00.001-05:00

It's been a month since I started this project, and I'm still going strong. At least a doodle each day, documenting my exploration of everything coffee. I've had so much fun and been humbled by the amount of collaborations and projects I've been offered. It's been a real joy to learn more about coffee, and there are tons to thank. I've had so much good coffee. Can't wait to see what the rest of this project brings about.

Here are my doodles from this month:

Tuesday Coffee: January 31, 2012

2012-01-31T15:05:00.001-05:00

Less of a coffee doodle today, and more of a shout out to the recently crowned champion of the Northwest Barista Competition and the Brewer's Cup: Devin Chapman. Congrats to him and all the hard work he put in. I've had chats with a few of the participants, and I know every single one of them put in tons of hours preparing and practicing.

Devin Chapman is with Coava Coffee.

Monday Morning Coffee: January 30, 2012

2012-01-30T23:30:00.000-05:00

Had a great SoftBrew of Handsome's San Sebastian. I can't get over how amazing this coffee smells - the aromas carry over into the cup and present a very nice taste. I love this coffee.

Week 4 Doodles

2012-01-29T20:21:00.001-05:00

This week's doodles feature:

Intelligentsia, Verve Coffee (thanks to Jamie Ferguson), Kuma Coffee, Handsome Coffee Roasters, Kaffeologie (and their steel mesh), Luck Bros. Coffee House, the LA Coffee Club, Cup to Cup Coffee Roasters (thanks to Paul Yates).

This week, I want to thank:

1. Kaffeologie and Nate Jones: Nate was kind enough to send me a piece of scrap steel mesh to see if my doodles would stick on them - they did, and it was one of my favorite doodles yet, simply becuase of it's unique nature. You can see some of the shots of the doodle here. Nate participated in the NWRBC this weekend and was really transparent and offered a lot of insight to the process while we were chatting. I appreciate that, because I'm simply trying to learn right now - people like Nate really encourage me and teach me a lot. Check out his post on the NWRBC here.

2. Jamie Ferguson and her Coffee Adventures: I think I thanked Jamie earlier this week, but I want to specifically thank her for giving me the opportunity to collaborate with her on a neat Moleskine Notebook doodle. Check out the doodle here. I had a lot of fun doing it, and I got some great Verve Coffee in return. Thanks, Jamie, and keep up the good work and exploration. Can't wait to share a cup of coffee some day.

3. Jason Dominy: I talked about how awesome Jason is when I posted on Friday, but I'll thank him again. My friend, Nate Okuley (@ndokuley) was treated to a nice tour of the Batdorf Roastery with Jason. I appreciate that, and I know Nate did too. Check out Nate's post on the whole experience here.

4. LA Coffee Club: last week, I thanked LA Coffee Club for putting me on their site. This week, I'm thanking them for sending me some wonderful coffee from Handome Roasters and Freedom Roast Coffee in a sweet package. I love the creative things they're doing. Also, I'm really excited to be collaborating with them and appreciate the opportunity.

5. Andy Luck and the baristas at Luck Bros. Coffee House: I had a great first experience over at Luck Bros. in Grandview Heights, OH. They roast their own coffee, serve it via single cup brewing methods, and whip up sweet latte art. I loved the two Clevers I was made, and appreciated the chat about coffee with you all. Keep up the good work, and I hope to see you again soon. I'd love to collaborate on bringing some coffee events to Columbus.

6. Thunderkiss Coffee Guy: we still haven't officially met yet, but the roaster over at Thunderkiss has been awesome at giving me coffee recommendations and has given me a heads up multiple times when he's going to roast, just in case I wanted to swing by. I really appreciate that transparency and helpfulness. I can't wait to try your coffee, and to learn more about roasting from you.

Sunday Morning Coffee: January 29, 2012

2012-01-29T17:12:00.001-05:00

Made my first coffee from Handsome Coffee Roasters thank to the LA Coffee Club - absolutely wonderful. The aromas from the bag are overwhelming, and the clementine and brown sugar notes compliment each other nicely.

A huge thanks to the LA Coffee Club for hooking me up, and for making the overall "opening" experience great with their creative packaging. Check it out below.

Saturday Coffee: January 28, 2012

2012-01-28T21:32:00.001-05:00

Started the morning off with a siphon pot of Verve's Ethiopia Worka. Turned out quite nice- really tasted strawberry throughout the entire cup. Seriously, everything Verve does turns out beautifully.

Today, I also visited a local Columbus coffee house located in Grandview Heights, Luck Bros. I knew this place was legitimate when one of the baristas was asked "will you microwave this coffee for me? It's cold." The barista dumped it out and responded with a sly "we don't like to microwave things here, I'll make you another."

I ordered a Clever of both of the Guatemalas they had available, as well as a latte, complete with latte art. Quite tasty, and the barista whipped it up like a pro. Really enjoyed my chat with both baristas, and appreciated their insight and opinions on various brew methods. I was also lucky enough to have a brief chat with Andy, the owner and roaster.

Anyone in Columbus would grow in both their coffee knowledge and appreciation by visiting Luck Bros. Highly recommended.

Here's today's doodle.

Kaffeologie Steel Mesh Doodle

2012-01-27T22:09:00.000-05:00

Kaffeologie makes great steel-mesh filters for all your favorite brewing methods. They were kind enough to send a piece of their steel mesh over to me to see if I could get some sort of ink to stick to it in order for me to do a doodle. Well, it worked, and the transparency of the mesh is awesome. One of my favorite doodles, simply because it's on steel. Thanks, guys!

Here are the photos:

Who to Follow: January 27, 2012

2012-01-27T11:11:00.000-05:00

It's #FF on twitter - or, "Follow Friday," and I just thought I'd expand a little bit on why I think you should follow certain people. Here is this week's list:

@LACoffeeClub: I like them because they're doing some cool things out in LA - bringing together local roasters and getting them out there to the general public. I love their design work, and really appreciate what they're trying to do. I'm excited to be collaborating with these guys.

@BaratzaTalk: Joyce Klassen runs this account for Baratza. I was introduced to her when I found out I was the lucky winner of one of their contests. She does customer service so well, and always goes above and beyond simply promoting her company. I've appreciated my interactions with Joyce since day one.

@PaulCoffeeFreak: Paul loves coffee, but beyond that, he appreciates people. I've found so much value in Paul and in his interactions on twitter. He has helpful tips and offers them to any who will ask. I'm also excited to be working with him on a small project.

@CoffeeAdventure: Jamie set out to learn everything there is to know about coffee. She offers great coffee reviews, and is genuinely interested in what you have to say. I've had tons of helpful interactions with her as I have basically set out to do what she's doing: learn about coffee.

@Kaffeologie: I love artisan-looking things, and I love steel coffee filters. So naturally, I love what Kaffeologie is doing. Go check them out and follow for interesting updates about their products.

@jasondominy: I don't even know where to start. I've never met Jason, but the way he interacts and posts, you can tell that he values and appreciates people, community, and life - way more than even coffee. Jason is genuine in what he says -and not only does he post awesome insight about Batdorf and Bronson and the coffee world in general, he has great thought-provoking posts on his blog.

@DCILY: If you love coffee, this is a must-follow. DCILY posts everything good about coffee and culture, and has been really helpful in guiding me in some of my coffee endeavors - think brew methods, techniques, cafe locations, etc.

Go follow them!

Thursday Morning Coffee: January 26, 2012

2012-01-26T13:24:00.001-05:00

I received some of Verve's Ethiopia Worka from Jamie Ferguson of "the Coffee Adventures" yesterday. First off, thank you!

Second, Verve's packaging is magnificent. I can't remember being as engaged and enthralled by packaging of any kind as I was by this coffee bag. Great work on the design.

This morning, I tried the Worka in a SoftBrew, and it turned out great - better, actually than in the AeroPress I made yesterday. Parameters were 36.5g of coffee, ground on setting 23 on the Baratza Maestro, to 495g of 198F water.

Overall, a fantastic cup of coffee, with very pronounced berry/fruit notes - has almost a syrupy taste to it. Very nice. So far, I love everything about Verve.

Wednesday Morning Coffee: January 25, 2012

2012-01-25T14:37:00.000-05:00

Enjoyed a cup of Guatemala Antigua with a friend this morning. Aeropress at 18:215. Peachy and fruity with a nice, heavy, buttery feel toward the end of the cup.

Tuesday Morning Coffee: January 24, 2012

2012-01-24T09:38:00.001-05:00

Kenya Gethumbwini from Kuma Coffee in Seattle, WA.

I used up my last bit on this cup- really going to miss both of the Kenyas I snagged from Kuma. So many fruity, smooth notes. Go get yours before they run out.

Monday Morning Coffee: January 23, 2012

2012-01-23T09:23:00.001-05:00

Kenya Gethumbwini from Kuma Coffee in a Chemex. Left my trusty pen at home, forced to use this one. I don't like it!

Sunday Morning Coffee: January 22, 2012

2012-01-22T23:58:00.001-05:00

Intelligentsia Anjinalaka, Bolivia in a Bodum siphon. Lovely.

Week 3 Doodles

2012-01-21T19:41:00.001-05:00

This week's doodles feature:

Coffee Common, Craft Coffee, Cup to Cup Coffee, Intelligentsia, and ZPM Espresso.

This week, I want to thank the following people:

1. Coffee Common: for setting up an awesome event in NYC and for sharing coffee-related education with anyone willing to learn - whether in person, online, or on your Google Plus page. This group and this event summarizes everything I love about coffee and the culture it brings with it. Thanks for being awesome.

2. Craft Coffee: for bridging the gap between quality, sometimes small artisan roasters with the general coffee-loving public. The idea behind your business is awesome, and I really appreciate what you're doing. Can't wait to get my first box.

3. Paul Yates (Pineland Bakery, @PaulCoffeeFreak): for hooking me up with Cup to Cup Coffee, and for the opportunity to collaborate on some cool ideas. Everyday on twitter, it's clear that Paul loves coffee and loves sharing it with others.

4. Intelligentsia: for being thorough in everything you do. I will never forget my first visit to Intelligentsia Millenium Park. I thought I knew coffee, and I thought I knew what a coffee shop was - you guys changed everything. The set up, the personal touch on each cup of coffee, the helpful, chatty baristas, and that incredible siphon that I'll never forget. Keep it up.

5. ZPM Espresso: for working so stinking hard on creating and delivering an affordable and quality espresso machine to our kitchens. If you missed it, these guys became the 6th most funded project on Kickstarter, and destroyed their funding goal, putting them one step closer to full production. Can't wait to see what's in store!

6. LA Coffee Club: for putting me up on your website and finding value in these doodles. It's still crazy to me that people enjoy these doodles so much, but I really appreciate the opportunity to be featured. Also, thanks for wanting to share LA's best roasters and for helping others appreciate local things.

Saturday Morning Coffee: January 21, 2012

2012-01-21T12:10:00.000-05:00

Woke up to a nice, snowy morning here in central Ohio - seemed like a perfect time to use the SoftBrew.

Thanks to some tips from DCILY and a few others, I've been using the same ratio as i would for a French Press - 36g of coffee to 500g of water, steeping for 4 minutes. It took using a more fine grind (26 on the Baratza Maestro) than a French Press grind, but that's ok - the SoftBrew's microfilter does a pretty good job at keeping the grit out.

Today's coffee: Intelligentsia's Anjinalaka, Bolivia - green grape, apple, berry, caramel
Sent to me by web developer, drummer, redhead, and friend, Mr. Jake Long.

Friday Morning Coffee: January 20, 2012

2012-01-20T22:02:00.001-05:00

Cup to Cup Roasters- Savannah, Georgia: Hario V60 at 33g:500g

Thursday Coffee: January 19, 2012

2012-01-19T23:44:00.001-05:00

Eeked this one in at the deadline, but well worth it. After a day spent without access to coffee and my trusty Aeropress, this Kenya Gethumbwini was magical. I keep waving Kuma's flag, but if you haven't gotten ahold of a bag of their coffee, you're missing out. Good things are happening up in Seattle at Kuma Coffee.

Not only is it good coffee, but Mark (Kuma's owner an roaster) is a quality guy, and always willing to help. His passion for his coffee is evident.

Not at the Coffee Common event

2012-01-19T16:23:00.001-05:00

Even though I can't make it to the Coffee Common event out in NYC, being there in spirit is pretty easy. Coffee Common is a collaboration of some of the great brands in coffee that want to share the love. So, they rented out a storefront for a few days in NYC to hold an event educating people about all things coffee.

This is the type of thing I appreciate about those involved in coffee. It's this mutual passion and appreciation that, by human nature, almost demands sharing. These folks are doing it right.

Even if you can't make it to their event this week, share a cup of coffee with someone.

Thanks, cC.

Nevin Street Coffee Peru Label

2012-01-18T21:33:00.001-05:00

Having some Peru "Cafe Feminino" Fair Trade/Organic roasted tomorrow from Stauf's Coffee Roasters- since we've never had this roasted, I thought it would be neat to sketch a label up.

Find out more about Stauf's and Cafe Feminino here: http://goo.gl/X3EuD

ZPM Espresso

2012-01-18T15:55:00.000-05:00

ZP Machines has set out to bring something amazing directly to your kitchen: cafe-quality espresso. Typically, you'll spend a small fortune to be able to have the luxury of a PID-controlled espresso machine on your counter. The gang over at ZPM are about to change that.

I'm fairly new to the coffee world, and am simply an onlooker, but this idea excites me, and should excite anyone who loves coffee. The mock-ups look fantastic, and so far, it seems like things are running smoothly.

Check them out over on Kickstarter, then head over to the ZPM Espresso website to stay updated.

Good luck, guys! Here's a little doodle as you near the goal you've been working toward. Very happy for you.

Wednesday Morning Coffee: January 18, 2012

2012-01-18T13:32:00.001-05:00

Big thanks to Paul Yates (@paulcoffeefreak) for sharing this wonderful coffee with me from Cup to Cup Roasters in Savannah, Georgia- Great coffee.

Tuesday Morning Coffee: January 17, 2012

2012-01-17T17:54:00.001-05:00

Still enjoying the Anjinalaka, Bolivia. It's a very rich cup of coffee, in that it presents many tastes at once- a smooth, sweet start as you begin to sip, followed by an apple/pear type taste, and rounding off with dark honey or, as Intelligentsia describes it: "burnt caramel."

Highly recommended!

Craft Coffee Doodle

2012-01-17T08:50:00.001-05:00

Craft Coffee is a great service out of Brooklyn, NY - basically, they choose three quality roasters each month, and send a small bag of each to your doorstep for an extremely reasonable price.

I first heard about Craft on DCILY's post "Enjoying the Variance of Craft Coffee."

Craft is a great way to try new coffees from great roasters all over the country if you aren't able to travel and visit them, or if you just aren't sure which coffee to try next - Craft has already done the work for you.

Monday Morning Coffee: January 16, 2012

2012-01-16T14:48:00.000-05:00

Brewed an Aeropress full of Intelligentsia's Anjilanaka, Bolivia this morning - not the same initial fruity 'punch' as Kuma's Kenya Gichathaini, but quite good. Water temp. around 198F and a ratio of 18g:214g water. Smooth at the start, with more and more fruit and tart notes coming through (green grape/apple peel as described by Intelli), finishing up with a pleasant sweet/burnt taste.

First Bolivian coffee for me, and I'm very much impressed.

Week 2 Doodles

2012-01-16T10:52:00.000-05:00

Here are doodles from January 8 - 15. I did more than the daily coffee doodles last week - feeling a bit creative thanks to all the chatter on twitter.

I really do want to take a second to thank the following:

Kuma Coffee: for the opportunity to design their next set of mugs, t's and hoodies, and for the amazing coffees and chats about roasting - I'm learning a ton from you.

Dear Coffee, I Love You: for the willingness to share knowledge and experiences with people like me who want to learn about coffee. My eagerness to learn and connect is probably a bit annoying, but your website and twitter interactions have taught me a ton about coffee, and I really enjoy the content you put out there.

Baratza: for setting up a contest and for choosing me to win. I was shocked to learn that I had won a Maestro plus burr grinder and an Aeropress - the grinder has been magnificent and I would recommend Baratza to anyone. It sure blows my old burr grinder out of the water. Also, thanks to Joyce Klassen at Baratza (twitter: @baratzatalk) for her encouragement and willingness to interact. That's how brands and companies should interact with their customers and potential customers. Keep up the great work, Joyce.

Thanks from me doesn't carry much weight - I am not a coffee professional (yet), and I really don't carry much influence, so I know that your interactions and willingness to share stems from a genuine love and passion for coffee. It's contagious, and I appreciate it. Thanks for your help, and for your willingness to put up with a barrage of annoying emails, tweets, gmail chats, etc. etc. etc. I'm learning from you.

Oh, by the way, I think I'll turn this blog into a "project." That is, at a minimum, I will feature a doodle each and every day of the first coffee I had - I think I will put them all on Hario V60 filters as well.

Here are this week's doodles:

Sunday Morning Coffee: January 15, 2012

2012-01-15T16:54:00.001-05:00

I'm really going to miss this Gichathaini when it's gone. Changes flavors and notes all the way through the cooling.

Saturday Morning Coffee: January 14, 2012

2012-01-15T00:40:00.001-05:00

Kuma's Kenya Gichathaini

A Tribute: Dear Coffee, I Love You (DCILY.com)

2012-01-14T00:42:00.001-05:00

I've only known about the popular coffee blog "Dear Coffee, I Love You" for two months, but discovering it has resparked my love for and interest in coffee.

Sites like this, quality roasters, and helpful coffee lovers have all been an inspiration for me to begin pursuing my dream of being involved in the coffee world.

It's not just about the coffee- its about what coffee can represent. For some, like farmers, it's a living, an art, a skill. For others, it's an enjoyment, a hobby, and an inspiration.

Whatever it means to you, coffee can bridge gaps. Coffee has the ability to cultivate community and unite groups of people under one common love.

Anyone can enjoy a good cup of coffee, but the beauty of that cup is that it is laden in a story. The stuff in that cup has had a long journey, and has touched a lot of people along the way. Sharing it with someone else only prolongs that story and passes it along to the next person.

That's why I love coffee. It's not an addiction or an obsession as much as it is a passion and an inspiration.

Sites like Dear Coffee, I Love You allow me to truly learn and explore more about coffee and the great people around the world that are involved with it.

Thanks, DCILY for spreading the love.

Also, a big thanks to everyone in the coffee world that continue to move forward and make the world a better place through such a wonderful outlet.

Follow Dear Coffee, I Love You on twitter: @DCILY

http://www.dcily.com

This Week's Morning Coffee: January 9-13, 2012

2012-01-13T18:16:00.001-05:00

Here are this weeks doodles.

Morning Coffee: Friday, January 13, 2012

2012-01-13T10:20:00.000-05:00

After hearing about the Kenya Gichathaini from Kuma Coffee for the last week, I received my 8oz. and dug in this morning with a V60. Thoughts: it was like biting into a juicy, tart, sweet, and smooth grapefruit. It rounded off into more of a melon, rye, and rooibos taste toward the end. The after taste really reminded me of a vanilla syrup and rooibos combo. Fantastic.

Oh, discount the burlap sack -Mark from Kuma informed me that the Kenya Gicha comes in 15 kilo vacuum bricks, not burlap sacks!

Morning Coffee: 01.11.2012

2012-01-11T14:24:00.000-05:00

Stauf's Moka Java in a V60 Pourover. Quite tasty... not as flavorful after having an Aeropress of Kuma's Panama Elida, but still a good cup of coffee.

Kuma Coffee + Draw Coffee Blog

2012-01-11T08:27:00.000-05:00

I'm very excited to be partnering with Kuma Coffee on their next line of mugs, t-shirts, and hoodies. Kuma is roasting some incredible coffees - rumor has it that the Kenya Gichatha-ini Mark just put out is the best coffee in Seattle right now. Excited that they've chosen to use a custom doodle from me for their products.

This picture includes: Seattle Space Needle, Kuma Coffee on Stoneway, Empire Espresso, Cafe Bambino, Mark's Probat roaster, the Fremont Troll, Panama Elida Burlap, and a custom "engraved" bottomless portafilter.

A lot of fun for me to do, and I think the mugs are going to look great - especially holding some freshly made and freshly roasted Kuma.

A big thanks to Mark Barany over at Kuma.

Europe Doodle II

2012-01-10T16:14:00.001-05:00

Morning Coffee: 01.10.2012

2012-01-10T11:27:00.001-05:00

Monday Morning Coffee

2012-01-09T09:33:00.000-05:00

This morning I busted out my bag of Kuma's Panama Elida Estate after a weekend lull. Fantastic choice. Aeropress'd at 17g:212g, water at 198F. Can't wait to get my hands on Kuma's two new Kenyas.

Had a great chat with Mark from Kuma last night - the guy works so hard and is doing some fantastic things out in Seattle. Check it out: Kuma Coffee

Workplace Doodles

2012-01-06T16:10:00.000-05:00

Doodles of the University where I work - the coffee cups are in there, they're just hidden!

First taste of Kuma's Panama Elida Estate

2012-01-06T15:03:00.000-05:00

I received my Panama Elida Estate today from Kuma Coffee, so the first thing I did was share a cup made in the SoftBrew with my wife, Amber. The next thing I did was make it in an Aeropress.

It knocked my socks off. Best coffee I've had since my trip to Intelligentsia in Chicago.

The third thing I did was doodle it.

Go check out Kuma.

Europe Doodle II

2012-01-06T09:44:00.000-05:00

Europe doodle for a friend's kitchen. He wanted a doodle of some places he went while in Europe. Locations include: London, Paris, Germany (Rothenburg), Austria, Switzerland (Lake Geneva, Matterhorn), and Venice.

Had a lot of fun rehashing some memories I have in these places (I asked my wife to marry me in Rothenburg).

Morning Coffee: Stauf's Ethiopia Yirgacheff, Pourover.

2012-01-05T08:57:00.001-05:00

Evening Coffee with Company

2012-01-05T08:20:00.001-05:00

After dinner coffee... Stauf's Papua New Guinea in an AeroPress, followed by Stauf's Costa Rica in a stovetop. Enjoyed it with good company. Be sure to share your coffee.

My Daily Coffee: 01/04/2012

2012-01-04T09:47:00.001-05:00

My Daily Coffee: 01/04/2012

Ethiopia Sidamo from Impero Coffee Roasters

Chemex: 48g coffee to 710g water

2012-01-02T08:34:00.000-05:00

#coffee and #doodles (Taken with instagram)

2012-01-02T08:26:00.000-05:00

Brew #coffee by the cup. #doodle (Taken with instagram)

2011-12-30T18:53:00.000-05:00

My #aeropress brewing method. Doodled. #coffee (Taken with instagram)

Chemex Brewing Instructions

2011-12-28T07:27:00.000-05:00

Illustrated Chemex Brewing guide doodled by hand the other day, edited on Photoshop. Nothing special, but a lot of fun to create!

Thanks to Intelligentsia and Stauf’s Coffee Roasters for the instructions.

2011-12-26T13:05:00.000-05:00

One-third of my doodled Chemex instructions. Instructions thanks to a combo of @intelligentsia, @staufs, and personal preference. (Taken with instagram)

2011-12-25T18:45:00.000-05:00

Coffee Doodles from today. Feeling creative and inspired. (Taken with instagram)

2011-12-25T14:09:00.000-05:00

If you’re interested in getting “into” coffee, here is a list of the basics:

Fresh, whole bean coffee.
A quality burr grinder.
A Kettle (Hario’s are great).
A small scale (measuring in grams rather than tablespoons and ounces ensures consistency and good water to coffee ratio - don’t worry, you can find these for about $10).
A brewing method: ditch your electric coffee pot and go with something hand made. Pourover, Chemex, and French Presses are great places to start.

To someone who doesn’t care about the quality of their coffee, this all seems a bit intense. But once you start brewing single cup, grinding your own beans, and using proper ratios, you’ll never go back.

Make the effort- you’ll appreciate your coffee and get way more involved in the process and origin of the coffee itself. Plus, you’ll impress people along the way.

2011-12-22T06:11:00.000-05:00

#coffee doodle (Taken with instagram)

2011-12-19T10:43:00.000-05:00

Seuss-Inspired #coffee doodle. Words from “Oh the Places You’ll Go” can be found on the scroll. #seuss #drawing #doodle

2011-12-19T05:37:00.000-05:00

My #Europe trip, inspired and doodled with a cup of #coffee. #picture #drawing