Coffee is traded or sold in very different ways.  In fact there are basically two coffee markets: commodity coffee or non-commodity coffee (specialty coffee).  Specialty coffee consumers value a variety of factors like origin, growing and processing techniques, roast level, etc.  But with commodity coffee only one thing matters: price.  Commodity coffee is like any other commodity, the only differentiating factor is price.  And the price for commodity coffee is set on the Intercontinental Exchange in New York city.  As a financial asset, commodity coffee has had a pretty terrible year in 2018.  Coffee prices decreased about 20% over the year, to lows that haven’t been seen since 2006.  This price collapse occurred due to a number of factors in the market that have lead to oversupply.

Roast and Reason: A Coffee Podcast

Coffee Market: 2018 Recap and 2019 Expert Predictions (RR40)

Tis the holiday season.  If you have some last minute holiday shopping this gift guide for the fellow coffee lover on your list might help.  

Coffee Lover’s Holiday Gift Guide 2018 (RR39)

Mr. Green Beans is a one-stop shop for coffee lovers in Portland, Oregon.  This shop sells a great selection of green coffee beans and supplies for home coffee roasting and coffee brewing.  Their staff is knowledgable and extremely helpful.  So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Mr. Green Beans has become my favorite place to buy coffee and coffee-related supplies.During this episode Trevin Miller, the owner of Mr. Green Beans, shares his expertise and experiences in the industry.  Trevin and I discuss what you really need to start home roasting, what many home roasters get wrong, some major trends in the coffee world, and more.Mr. Green Beans has a website.  So if you’re looking for coffee supplies or green coffee beans to roast at home check out their website www.diycoffeeroasting.com.  

Mr. Green Beans: Conversation with Trevin Miller (RR38)

Fine Line Roasting is a small startup coffee roaster from Boise Idaho.  Their founder and roaster Josh Webb started listening to the Roast and Reason podcast when he was researching coffee roasting.  So I’m honored and extremely excited to share this conversation with Josh.During this conversation Josh candidly shares his experiences starting a small coffee roasting company.  He talks about his successes like his thrill when people actually liked his coffee as well as the struggles he has encountered.  Kudos to Josh and Taylor for all they have accomplished so far as a new coffee company.  I look forward to hearing and tasting much more from them moving forward.To learn more about Fine Line Roasting or try their coffee for yourself. check out their website www.finelineroasting.com.  

Fine Line Roasting: Conversation with Founder Josh Webb (RR37)

Odds are you have tried or heard of Jamaican coffee, specifically Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee.  But how much do you know about the history of coffee growing on the island?  What makes Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee so popular and sought after?  By the end of this episode you will know all of that and more.Jamaica’s coffee growing history dates back to the early 1700s.  The island was a leading coffee producer in the early 1800s, but then the coffee industry suffered and coffee quality decreased.The Jamaican government launched several programs to increase coffee quality and created a very successful marketing program.  These changes stimulated demand for a specific designation of Jamaican coffee, Jamaica Blue Mountain.This episode will discuss the history of Jamaican coffee further, what makes Blue Mountain coffee unique and in demand, what Jamaican coffee tastes like, and more.

Jamaica and Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee - Coffee Origin Focus (RR36)

Home roasting coffee was the thing that really sparked my interest in specialty coffee and eventually led to this podcast.  I have been home roasting for about a year and a half and very much enjoy it.  Home roasting is a great hobby that is part science, part creative, and totally delicious.Previous episodes in the home coffee roasting series have discussed DIY methods for roasting coffee including roasting in the oven or on the stovetop and also dedicated home roasting coffee machines.This episode will cover some excellent options where you can find and purchase green coffee beans that you can roast at home.

Home Coffee Roasting Part 3: Where to Buy Green Coffee Beans (RR35)

Home roasting coffee was the thing that really sparked my interest in specialty coffee and eventually led to this podcast.  I have been home roasting for about a year and a half and very much enjoy it.  Home roasting is a great hobby that is part science, part creative, and totally delicious.The last episode discussed the DIY methods for roasting coffee using the oven, on the stovetop, and using an electric popcorn popper.  This episode will focus on dedicated home roasting coffee machines.  These devices come in a variety of sizes, designs, and costs.

Home Coffee Roasting Part 2: Home Coffee Roasting Devices (RR34)

Home roasting coffee was the thing that really sparked my interest in specialty coffee and eventually led to this podcast. I have been home roasting for about a year and a half and very much enjoy it. Home roasting is a great hobby that is part science, part creative, and totally delicious. This episode will focus on the different manual and do-it-yourself home coffee roasting methods. Roasting coffee doesn’t need to be expensive or require a dedicated home roasting device. Learn how to roast coffee using some cheap, DIY methods like roasting coffee in the oven, on the stovetop in a skillet or wok, and using an electric popcorn popper. The next episode will focus on more automated, dedicated coffee roasting devices. 

Home Coffee Roasting Part 1: DIY Methods (RR33)

Home roasting coffee was the thing that really sparked my interest in specialty coffee and eventually led to this podcast. I have been home roasting for about a year and a half and very much enjoy it. Home roasting is a great hobby that is part science, part creative, and totally delicious. This episode will focus on why I like home coffee roasting. My goal is to provide you will some pros and cons to allow you to decide if this something that you might enjoy. Future upcoming episode will focus on different home roasting techniques and devices as well as where to purchase unroasted green coffee beans. 

Six Reasons Why I Roast My Own Coffee At Home (RR32)

If you listen to this podcast I am willing to bet that you enjoy drinking good coffee. But there’s a problem. There are literally hundreds of coffees, coffee shops, and coffee roasters out there. So where do you even start? To help you I will occasionally recommend coffees to try. In this episode we will discuss two recommendations for delicious, can’t miss coffees. For the complete list of 5 Can’t Miss Coffees and to be the first to hear future coffee recommendations and special news from Roast and Reason be sure to sign up for the email list on roastandreason.com. 

A Few Coffee Recommendations (RR31)

Kenya is one of the most important coffee producing countries in the world. There are many unique features of Kenyan coffee including a unique grading system, several unique coffee varieties, and a characteristic flavor. In this episode we will discuss the history of coffee growing in Kenya, the unique grading system and what it actually means to you as a coffee consumer, several special varieties of coffee that are grown in Kenya, and the unique flavor characteristics that can be found in Kenyan Coffee. I will also share a few Kenyan coffee recommendations. 

Kenya - Coffee Origin Focus (RR30)

Water makes up 98% of your coffee. But most of us hardly ever talk about it. Instead we focus on the coffee bean, how it is grown, roasted, and brewed. But water can make a huge difference. Have you ever had this experience…you taste an amazing coffee in a coffee shop, buy the coffee to make at home and when you do it just doesn’t taste the same? Or maybe you can’t taste any of the floral or fruity flavors listed on the bag? Well, it could be the water! Third Wave Water has a solution. They have developed a package of minerals that you can add to distilled water to create the optimal water for brewing coffee. I was a skeptic at first but their product really does make coffee taste better. The difference in flavor was noticeable right away. In this conversation with co-founders Charles Nick and Taylor Minor we will discuss the importance of water for coffee brewing, the idea behind Third Wave Water, their business success including a successful Kickstarter campaign and appearance on Shark Tank, and most importantly how Third Wave Water can help you drink better tasting coffee.

Third Wave Water: Interview with Co-Founders Charles Nick and Taylor Minor (RR29)

Lets take a tour of the best specialty coffee in Vermont! I recently traveled back to Vermont to visit family. While I was there I spent some time exploring the coffee scene and I was blown away. A lot has changed since I moved away some 15 years ago. In this episode I will share the 3 coffee roasters and 2 coffee shops that I think are amazing and well worth your visit if you are ever in the area. Also check out the websites and online shops of the coffee roasters. It’s always fun to try new and different coffee right?

Best Specialty Coffee In Vermont (RR28)

Coffunity is changing the way that the coffee community connects and communicates. This is a free mobile app that lets you discover new coffee, rate and review coffee, and learn specifics about a coffee (processing method, information about the origin and producer, flavor notes). Coffunity also has a social aspect. You can follow your friends or favorite local barista to see what they are drinking and recommend. Coffee ratings are public so you can easily see the community’s reaction to different coffees. In this conversation with Coffunity’s co-founder, Andrea Bolanos Pacas, we discuss how Coffunity works, the idea that created it, and her vision for her company and the world of coffee. 

Coffunity: Interview with Co-Founder Andrea Bolanos Pacas (RR27)

Black Oak Coffee Roasters is one of my favorite specialty coffee roasters out there. These guys do an amazing job of sourcing and roasting delicious coffees. Black Oak Coffee and their head coffee roaster, Steve Cuevas have won numerous awards including several Gold Medals for different coffees, the overall Champion Roaster at the 2017 Golden Bean North America roasting competition, and the 2017 US Cup Tasters Championship. Steve and Black Oak Coffee’s production manager Mckenzie Alexander have a wealth of coffee industry knowledge. I hope you enjoy this conversation.

Black Oak Coffee Roasters: Steve Cuevas and Mckenzie Alexander (RR26)

Why suffer through a bitter cup of burnt or stale coffee when there is a world of amazing coffee out there? Roast and Reason podcast is a coffee podcast that explores the world of specialty coffee. Each week with dive into a wide variety of coffee topics with educational and actionable information. Are you curious about the best techniques for how to make coffee at home? How to buy the best coffee? How to store coffee? How a coffee roaster transforms green coffee? Join us as we answer these questions and more. Roast and Reason is here to expand your coffee knowledge, introduce you to the coffee farmers, the coffee roasters, and the baristas that push the coffee industry forward. Join us and drink better coffee. Because life is too short to drink bad coffee! 

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Roast and Reason: A Coffee Podcast

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