By Ted R. Lingle I had the pleasure of knowing John Rapinchuk for more than 35 years. I first met him in 1981 when SCAA was in the formative stage. At the time he was working with Marvin Golden at Golden Food and Beverage in Boston. In addition to selling fine wines (both Marvin and …
Launtia Taylor, VP Marketing & Communications, Probat Inc. (left) and Mary Tellie, Roasters Guild Executive Council Chair (right). How did you get involved in coffee? I started in cocoa when I was living in Jamaica. We grew coffee and cocoa in the area, and I was used to both products. So, I didn’t start off …
We recently asked SCAA President Tracy Allen how he thinks coffee culture is evolving in America’s Heartland. As a Kansas City native and long-time resident, his unique perspective on the region is enhanced by his frequent travels to major coffee cities, coffee farms, and of course coffeehouses around the world. From your perspective, how is …
Jimmy Sherfey is a journalist who writes for coffee industry trade journals such as Roast Magazine and culinary websites such as Eater.com. How long have you been writing about coffee and how did you get started? I’ve been writing about coffee for a little over two years now. I first started out when Jeff Taylor …
What are the most obvious ways that coffee culture is changing in India in terms of big picture trends? India is a fairly important player in the global coffee market, providing approximately three-and-a-half percent of the world’s coffee. During this coffee season of 2015/2016, the post-monsoon production estimate of the Coffee Board of India is …
By Ben Briggs, Hidden House Coffee The rapid expansion and growth of the coffee industry has drawn a variety of people to the market. The dream of owning a small “mom and pop” shop is becoming more attractive with the success that many are having in the industry. The journey that most people do not …
Brant Curtis is the Director of Communication and Innovation at Curtis. How long has Curtis been manufacturing coffee brewing equipment? How did the company get started? We’re so stoked, because this year Curtis is celebrating it’s 75th anniversary, making it the nation’s oldest manufacturer of commercial coffee brewers. In 1941, my Great Grandfather (Wilbur Curtis) …
TJ Semanchin (left) & Caleb Nicholes (right), co-owners of Kickapoo Coffee Roasters What makes Kickapoo Coffee Roasters special? Our business is situated in the small progressive town of Viroqua (pop. 4500) in rural Wisconsin. Our county is home to more quality-focused organic farms per capita than anywhere else in the country. Living here has certainly …
What are the biggest obstacles that today’s coffee farmers need to overcome to stay in coffee? Regardless of the size of one’s farm, I believe the biggest obstacle is being profitable on a consistent basis each year. This is quite challenging because there are many factors that are beyond our control: C-contract prices, climate, diseases …
Who are you and what do you do in coffee? I am Brian W. Jones, a designer and collaborator in various coffee-related endeavors. I started the website “Dear Coffee, I Love You,” co-founded the late Coffee Common, and recently helped start a new coffee roastery in Berkeley, CA called Supersonic Coffee, where I am the Director of Brand and Design. How and when did you …