In this episode we try to define beauty and aesthetics of coffee, understand the purpose of art and beauty, put forward a theory on the evolution of flavor, and understand the role of taste makers & critics in coffee. Here is a white paper that supports the theory: Paper Here is a step by step guide for becoming a taste maker: Research different ta…

Seven roasters come together with 50+ years of combined roasting experience to answer questions from instagram and a live crowd. Follow the speakers: Kimhak @kimhak.em - Pair @pair.cupworks Spencer @spencer.aidukaitis - Peixoto @peixotocoffee Matt - Moxie @moxiecoffeeco Blair @theblairista, Curtis - Presta @prestacoffee Randy - Xanadu @xanadu.coffe…

In this podcast we are joined by our good friend Kimhak Em of Pair Coffee to talk all about espresso theory and what espresso tools will help you pull the perfect espresso. Items mentioned: Weiss distribution tool Porcupress B plus espresso filter Ims screen Ims basket Vst basket Cube auto tamp by compak Puqpress Science tamp Malhkonig e65 Malhkoni…

In this podcast we talk to Shelby Williamson about her coffee journey, learning to taste with her mentor Daniel Mendoza (a previous guest), her roasting philosophy, pros and cons of the different roasters she has roasted on, how to think about green coffee, how to QC effectively, and the future of coffee. We are deeply sorry about the audio quality…

In this podcast we are joined by our good friend Kimhak Em to talk all about espresso theory, espresso machine mechanics and what espresso machines to buy. Tip us or our guests (Type episode # and we will split the tip with the guest) Venmo: @spencer-aidukaitis Instagram @unfilteredcoffeepodcast Email unfilteredcoffeepodcast@gmail.com…

In this podcast we talk all about coffee species, varieties and the potential threats to coffee as we know it now. We start with out talking about species, then we move into the history of Typica and Bourbon, some thoughts on genetic diversity, what we think the future of coffee may look like and much more. Disclaimer: Neither Eddy or Spencer are b…

In today's episode we talk to Nick Rayer. We were excited to talk to Nick as he is the middle of building his first business. He gives us his in the moment perspective of what it feels like to put it all together, along with some of his ideas on the future. We also get into his jazz career, as well as some talk about working on bar. Special Guest N…

In today's episode we break down what's happening during coffee fermentation. We start with some definitions, then move into processing types, microorganisms and carbohydrates, fermentation types, environmental factors, and flavor creation. This is all from an essay I wrote that you can find below. This is where I put in the disclaimer that I am ju…

Help us get better! Survey Link Equipment list Absolute Low end budget (below $50) Quality coffee Spring water Coffee mug Hand grinder Solid low end budget (below $300) Encore/Bodum/Chinese flat burr grinder Hand Grinder Thirdwave water Perfect water Kettles Digital Scale Brewers Mid/High Tier ($300+) Niche Zero Fellow Ode Timemore Chestnut X Timem…

In this podcast, Eddy and Spencer break down extraction theory, brewing variables, ways to assess your coffee, and ways to brew better at home. We created a feedback form and would love to hear back from you guys about how we can make the show better in the future! Click here to fill it out. Links Flavor Map Waters Third Wave Water Perfect Water GC…

Our guest today is Steve Holt, founder of Unravel Coffee Merchants, a business working directly with farms in Ethiopia with his partner Ashenafi Argaw. Steve started his specialty coffee career in 2002 at Novo Coffee in Denver, before moving to co-found Ninety plus where he has worked up until he started Unravel. He has spent years, working on farm…

Our guest today is Blair Smith, the general manager at Presta Coffee. Blair has had a long and storied career in coffee. Starting with a position as a barista at Tart baking company in Massachusetts and then moving across the country to work for Augies, where she would become the general manager. She also started her competition run with Augies sta…

In this podcast we talk to Jake Miller, the CEO and Founder of Fellow, a coffee product designer and manufacture based out of San Francisco. We talk to Jake about a bunch of different aspects of his business including how he thinks about product design, the process behind creating the Ode grinder, marketing, and running his business during covid. T…

In this podcast we talk to Anita Tam, owner of Slow Pour Supply, which is a distributor of coffee tools. We talk about how she got into coffee, what makes for good design, latte art, inclusivity, and so much more. Special Guest Anita is incredibly intentional and thoughtful in everything she does. We learned so much from her and were so happy to ha…

In this episode, we talk with our guest Curtis Zimmerman owner of Presta Coffee, where he is also the green buyer and roaster. Curtis is a long time friend and incredible person. He talks to us about how he got into coffee, roasting, sourcing, how he thinks about building out cafes and biking. We learned a ton from Curtis and think you guys will lo…

In this episode, we start by cupping coffee sourced by our guest, Aaron Jordan from The Roast House. The Roast house is a fully organic roastery in Spokane, Washington. We talk to Aaron about his start in coffee, then we dig deep into the organic process and sourcing organic coffees. Aaron also shares valuable insights on growing a roasting team an…

In this episode we talk to Daniel Mendoza, he led an interesting career in coffee working for many different coffee roasteries around the country including Buddy Brew Coffee in Tampa, as well as Corvus and huckleberry in Denver. He then moved into the world of Specialty tea, where he helped bring to specialty coffee shops across the west coast. He …

This week, we’re excited (and a little bit sad) to release the sixth and final episode of the World Coffee Championships Podcast’s first series. “Worlds Apart” tells the stories of the World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship and the World Brewers Cup, two competitions that take vastly different approaches to growing the specialty coffee community…

In this episode, we start by cupping coffees that have been exported and imported by our guest Herbert Peñaloza and his buisness La Real Expedición Botánica. Then, we talk with Herbert about how he got started in coffee, why he started exporting and importing himself, and ask about his views on coffee processing. Segment 1 Coffee Rankings: 1st plac…

This week, we’re excited to release the fifth episode of the World Coffee Championships Podcast. “Turn It On” tells the stories of the World Coffee Roasting Championship and the Cezve/Ibrik Championships, two competitions with incredibly close-knit communities at their heart. Along the way, co-hosts Anna Oleksak and Sara Al-Ali lead us through stor…

This week, we’re excited to release the fourth episode of the World Coffee Championships Podcast. “But I Need It!” continues the story of the World Barista Championships from where we left off in Episode 03, nearly halfway through the competition’s journey, to today. Along the way, co-host Roukiat Delrue leads us through stories of evolutionary mee…

In this episode, we try to understand what the job of the barista would be in a fully automated coffee shop, the benefits of automation with covid, and how this may impact the producer. Then we bring back Kimhak to ask him his thoughts on automation and coffee trends more generally. Special Guest Kimhak Em is part owner, roaster and barista at his …

“We Were the Punks” traces the early days of the World Barista Championships from a rag-tag group of volunteers looking to raise specialty coffee awareness to a powerful, monetizable stage grappling with questions of scale and professionalism. Along the way, co-host Sonja Bjork Grant leads us through stories of spit buckets, snakeskin boots, backst…

This week, we’re excited to launch the second episode of the World Coffee Championships Podcast. “Paint a Picture” traces the history and evolution of the World Latte Art Championship through the medium itself, from early etchings to the innovative realistic pours that grace the competition’s stage today. Along the way, co-host Rie Moustakis leads …

This week, we’re excited to launch the first episode of the World Coffee Championships Podcast. “It’s a YES!!” traces the history and evolution of the World Cup Tasters Championship through stories about rule-breakers, phone calls home mid-competition, and backstage ballet. Co-hosted by Gloria Pedroza, 2006 World Cup Tasters Champion and long-time …

In this episode, we are joined by Kimhak Em in our first cupping to evaluate some of his coffees. Then Eddie and Spencer talk about cloud cafes, delivery coffee and wholesale hardships. Kimhak then joins in to talk about frozen green coffee and his future innovations in his coffee shop. Segment 1 Coffee Rankings: 1st place Panama - Hacienda La Esme…

In this introduction podcast, we share a clip from our friend Kimhak Em, who shares his candid advice for a new barista just starting out. This clip comes from a future podcast with Kimhak, where we talk about the future of coffee and his unique approach to running a coffee shop. Kimhak Em is part owner, roaster and barista at his coffee shop PAIR …

Coming soon to the SCA Podcast channel: The World Coffee Championships podcast! Across six episodes, the series offers a glimpse behind the scenes, bringing to light some of the hidden stories woven in and around these annual events that serve as the culmination of local and regional events around the globe. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, a…

There are big questions facing specialty coffee sellers and buyers. According to numerous studies in different coffee-producing countries, prices paid for green specialty coffees often don’t cover the full cost of production, let alone support thriving livelihoods for farmers and their families. Moreover, unless price discovery moves beyond commodi…

With producers facing issues of climate change, migration of the younger generations to urban areas, and fluctuating coffee prices, it has become increasingly difficult for smallholder farmers to be successful and sustainable. It’s been 17 years since the last coffee crisis, and since then the industry has largely failed in making sustainable coffe…

This week, we're taking a break from the 2019 World of Coffee lecture series to share Recap's fifth episode. The Recap podcast offers a brief overview of recent coffee developments every two weeks from the Specialty Coffee Association. Now a pandemic, the COVID-19 outbreak continues to have a devastating impact on the coffee industry. Around the wo…

This session brings together recent work on the history and anthropology of coffee in the context of a discussion about the role of specialty in rebalancing the fundamentals of the market. Professor Jonathan Morris presents an overview of the history of price volatility across the five eras of coffee history he has identified, with some suggestions…

Consumer-driven changes will reshape the global coffee world. To help companies throughout the coffee value chain prepare for the future, today’s presenters - Maria Catroviejo and Michaël de Groot - look ten years ahead at key change they expect to stir up the coffee market, offering a TED-style discussion about how changes in consumer preferences,…

The SCA has a history of investigating the scientific principles of coffee, from chemistry to physics to agronomy and sensory perception; this research is then used to develop education, standards, and best practices. In today's lecture, learn about the science driven by the SCA's Research Center, with reports on projects and outputs of our researc…

In December of 2018, the SCA launched its Coffee Price Crisis Response Initiative to develop alternative economic models for the specialty coffee sector. In today's lecture, recorded at World of Coffee in Berlin, representatives from the SCA Sustainability Center and Board of Directors identify factors that contributed to the wholly unsustainable e…

Throughout its long history, coffee has been cast in very different roles: exotic beverage, colonial good, global commodity – but also as a staple of the local cuisines of the countries where it was produced. Leaning on an ongoing Sociological study conducted in Paris, today’s lecturer - Noa Berger - will show how specialty coffee changes and adapt…