AA Cafe Podcast

The annual convention for the Specialty Coffee Association was held in Houston April 25-27. Amanda, Mark and Brian all went down to represent DoubleShot, try and pre-sell some of The Coffee Purist books (slated to be on your coffee table by fall 2025), catch up with old friends, and get a pulse on what's happening today in "specialty coffee." This episode is all about that experience. Of note: a first introduction to Wondafrash Edema, a run with Firaol Ahmed, an insightful conversation with George Howell, and a lot of whispering about the T-word.

Brian has just returned from another trip to Nicargaua, where he had a few revelations concerning cupping, relationships, and the world economy. Mark comes along for the ride and the diatribe. Throughout the episode, you might learn about the effects of tariffs on coffee prices and business sustainability, the importance of judging coffees circumstantially rather than absolutely, and the prevalence of coffee roasters lying about their relationships with producers. It's hot and heavy. And hopefully thought-provoking.

DoubleShot Coffee Company turns twenty-one on March 5, 2025. Mark and Brian discuss the ever-perplexing birthday poster, which incorporates a spray painted chimpanzee ripped off from nemesis, which was originally created as a part of the second human trial for a banana coffee through the spurious American Society for the Caffeination of Primates. Wednesday marks the launch of the Sappy Meal, available at DoubleShot. You too can wear the Sappy shirt seen in the nemesis painting, available at DoubleShotCoffee.com. While you're there, buy a pound of Juan's Montelin Pacamara Natural. Happy birthday to us.

It's January and coffees harvested a year ago are just arriving in Tulsa. With coffee commodity prices soaring and shipping complications worldwide, the coffee industry is in chaos. Jim McEnanay joined Brian and Mark via zoom to discuss the state of affairs. This interview was recorded December 6, and since then the EUDR has been postponed to December 30, 2025. The dockworkers' strike that was set to begin on January 15 has been averted due to a new contract agreement. The commodity price of coffee today is $3.98, up from $1.89 one year ago today.

As 2024 draws to a close, Mark and Brian talk about the highlights of the past twelve months. And end with their annual "ten things" lists. Check out the playlist on spotify, if you dare. Happy holidays.

All this talk about "the Gesha," and the day finally arrived for Franklin to roast it. With over eighty orders in the queue, the roastmaster went to work. And then sat down in the AA Cafe studio immediately afterward to talk about how it felt. If you pre-ordered the coffee, you'll be enjoying it soon. If you didn't, you're missing out on an amazing experience. Don't let that happen to you again; check out the craziness unfolding at purist.coffee/nemesis.

Franklin is roasting another Gesha. Maybe the best one he's ever roasted. Certainly one of the best that Felipe Arcila at Cofinet has ever produced in their ten years. Felipe sat in on a zoom interview with the roastmaster. Mark and Brian sip on some coffee from La Pastora - the second holiday coffee of the year at DoubleShot. Buy the Gesha online at DoubleShotCoffee.com.

It's the Thanksgiving episode of AA Cafe and full of holiday cheer. Mark and Brian sip Beredo and talk to Firaol Ahmed about its origins. There's a diversion discussing Firaol's VO2 Max, and then they launch directly into talk of a very fresh Gesha natural out of Colombia, which is available for pre-purchase on the DoubleShot app and at DoubleShotCoffee.com.

Herb Gottfried is quite a character. A renaissance man, Mark says. Herb has been a regular at DoubleShot for quite some time, and decided to give us an oar he got from Cornell University when he taught rowing there. We sat down with him to discuss his life and career, his love for rowing, and the history of this oar. He's a fascinating guy, and his episode of the DoubleShot Folk podcast is well worth a listen. Find it at DoubleShotFolk.org or on the DoubleShot website. The first holiday coffee of the year is on the shelves and available online and on the DoubleShot app. And David De Olier came through with another chocolate bar that's unusual and intense. Find both of these at DoubleShotCoffee.com.

With the political season coming to a close and autumn in full swing, Mark and Brian fire up the mics to talk about shipping. Significant issues have caused delays in shipping that have hindered our ability to get coffee from both Ethiopia and Nicaragua. Brian has a conversation with Firaol Ahmed from Moii Coffee about shipping out of his home country of Ethiopia. And then Brian Phillips from Anthem Coffee Imports made the drive from Kansas City to Tulsa to discuss shipping delays out of Nicaragua. Things you might not normally think about, but our societies ride the tides of worldwide shipping. Have a listen.

Skyler Cooper, the host of afternoon news at FM102.3 KRMG and producer of the Full Access OK podcast, came to DoubleShot and sat down in the AA Cafe studio to talk about coffee during National Coffee Month. He graciously let us use this audio, which features the entire interview, as the new cycle only allowed time for an edited version. Listen here, and catch Skyler's podcast and news broadcast at KRMG.com.

Morgan Long is a farmer at Prairie Creek Farms and a regular at the DoubleShot. She wrote a children's book called Sandwich the Pig, which is a true story about a half-wild pig she rescued on the farm. Morgan sat down with Brian to talk about the book and her life, and to share a little more about Sandwich. Buy Morgan's book at DoubleShotCoffee.com. Pre-order Brian's book, The Coffee Purist at purist.coffee.

Firaol Ahmed emailed roastmaster Brian Franklin a few months ago, asking if he'd like samples of his Ethiopian coffee. Franklin get emails like this from random strangers a lot, but for some reason decided to look into this one. The young importer and seasoned roaster found a lot in common, and made a deal on some outstanding coffee. In this episode, Firaol tells about his history, while Mark and Brian discuss the backstory behind DoubleShot's Ethiopian coffee drama. Get the Ethiopia Guji Buku Abel at DoubleShotCoffee.com. Pre-order The Coffee Purist at purist.coffee.

Cristina Garces and Ariel Montoya visited DoubleShot for the first time the week of Independence Day. After visiting Washington, D.C., they hit the coffee capital of the world, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Cristina is the daughter of Don Ernesto, who was once the largest independent producer of coffee in Colombia. Ariel was the owner of Hacienda El Boton, producer of the very first natural out of Colombia: our very own Maduro. This episode is probably the longest in AA Cafe history, but it's packed with compelling content. Listen in bits, but listen twice. Shoot us an email with your comments and questions: sales@doubleshotcoffee.com. Get the coffee here: DoubleShotCoffee.com

DoubleShot roastmaster, Brian Franklin has just returned from another trip to Nicaragua. He and Mark talk about what coffee farms are really like and the difficulty of getting to Dos Manzanas and Finca Massif. While en route to Finca Massif Nueva Segovia, Brian interviewed Luis Miranda about the farms and how he got into coffee. It's worth a listen. And worth thinking about. Buy the coffee they're drinking at DoubleShotCoffee.com.

Mark and Brian keep it brief this time and let the DoubleShot regulars talk. It's a lengthy cast of eighteen characters, all with something interesting to say. Quite a range of voices and stories and memories of DoubleShot history. Listen to the end for some juicy, intimate content where the tables are turned and Brian spills the beans on his private life. Thanks to everyone who participated in this episode, to everyone who didn't but still has a story to tell, and to everyone whose lives have been touched in any way by the DoubleShot. You are the reason DoubleShot exists.

With the DoubleShot's 20th birthday just around the corner, Mark and Brian reconvene to taste one of the two coffees Brian sourced and roasted for the occasion. It's sold as a box set called The Gemini Project, which is available at DoubleShotCoffee.com.  The coffee jolts their memories and they spend the majority of the episode talking about the past. A few of the things they remember from twenty years of coffee and hijinks.  Talk to Mark and Brian in person at the 20th birthday celebration March 5. All day and half the night.

Brian Franklin opened DoubleShot Coffee Company on March 5, 2004. On March 5, 2024 we celebrate its 20th birthday. And there's a lot to celebrate. In this episode, Mark and Brian talk about the theme of this year's party and walk through an entire day's event schedule. There will be commemorative cups, a commemorative beer, unusual coffees, and a game to keep you entertained. Listen up, you don't want to miss this. More at DoubleShotCoffee.com Download the new DoubleShot app here.

January 20-25 Mark and Brian traveled down to Costa Rica to visit Hacienda La Minita. It was Mark's first foray into coffee territory. And La Minita was Brian's first origin trip in 2005. Here they chronicle some of the details of the trip, observations, and takeaways. To purchase a pound of La Minita, go to DoubleShotCoffee.com. Read more about the trip at DoubleShotCoffee.com/blogs/newsletter

Each year, Mark and Brian convene for one last episode of AA Cafe in which they enumerate their "Ten Things." Every year is different, but they all come from the heart. It's a moment to forget about all the turmoil of the holidays and take a breath before the onslaught of a new year, and to focus on some things that make life really special. This episode is all about simple pleasures. Think of your ten, they tell theirs. And if you want to see Brian's ten things he doesn't do, check that list out at DoubleShotCoffee.com. And while you're there, pick up a bag of Juan Ramon's cascara tea. Happy New Year.

The DoubleShot's second and final holiday coffee is from Nicaragua! From a farm called Montelin in Nueva Segovia owned by a young man named Juan Ramon Diaz, jr. This episode is packed with info about the coffee, about the farm, and about the cascara that came from these coffee beans. Luis Miranda (Finca Massif) interviewed Juan Ramon in Spanish, and DoubleShot Folk hero Clint Stevens translated it all into English. Listen, and then go check out the latest holiday offerings at DoubleShotCoffee.com.

The holidays are upon us, and the DoubleShot has released their first holiday coffee of the year: Maracay Pink Bourbon Natural. Mark and Brian convene to sip and talk about it. An interview with the producer of the coffee, Luz Helena Salazar, interpreted by Felipe Arcila, her son and the owner of Cofinet - the company that sold the coffee to DoubleShot. See the gifts mentioned on the podcast here: DoubleShotCoffee.com.

Felipe Arcila, the owner of a Colombian exporter called Cofinet, visited the DoubleShot earlier in the year to talk shop. Brian cupped a bunch of samples and bought a hefty alotment, all from one farm: Maracay. Obviously the roastmaster had to go and visit the farm, meet the producer (Luz Helena Salazar), and cup a lot more coffees. In this episode, Brian talks with his host from Cofinet, Maria Ocampo, en route to another coffee farm. Mark and Brian go over the main takeaways from the trip. You can find that Maracay coffee here: DoubleShotCoffee.com

Originally recorded and published on Halloween 2016, this episode was re-Edited for Halloween night 2023. A weaving of ghost tales from the ever-memorable, former DoubleShot baker Shelley Womack and Big Bob Hendrick, who went off to BE a ghost in 2022. You can probably find him knocking around and flickering lights at The Rookery tonight. Happy Halloween.

This blockbuster episode marks the launch of a new Kickstarter campaign to fund The Coffee Purist, a coffee table book filled with the details, stories, and lessons from the career of Brian Franklin. As it were, Mark Brown takes the reigns in this episode and is joined by co-host Katie Hader. Brian joins in as a guest on his own show to line out all the details on the book, the project, and the rewards.  Read more about it on The Coffee Purist website: purist.coffee Or go straight to Kickstarter and back the project: kickstarter.com/projects/thecoffeepurist/the-coffee-purist Campaign ends November 28 at 11a. Don't wait. 

With Tulsa Tough in town this weekend and Mark out of town this week, Brian sits down for a solo session to introduce the latest edition to the DoubleShot Elite: the Omnia Midstream cycling team. They will be competing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in some hot and high-speed criterium races in downtown Tulsa. Captain of the team, Chad Cagle took some time out of the saddle to talk about racing, his team, their goals, and what they represent. See more at DoubleShotCoffee.com. And for the full race schedule, visit TulsaTough.com.

Journalist Julie Wenger Watson published a story in April's issue of Tulsa People magazine about the SoBo district of Tulsa. Her interview for the story with DoubleShot owner Brian Franklin was recorded in the AA Cafe studio, and published in this episode. Julie's kid gloves meet Brian's boxing gloves in this episode. Mark and Brian, as always, round up the conversation with more pertinent and innocuous details. Read Julie's story at TulsaPeople.com. Buy El Conejo Malo at DoubleShotCoffee.com.

DoubleShot Coffee Company just turned 19! Mark and Brian discuss the aging of the business as the customer base increases and fans with 19 years under their belts begin to wane.  Listen in on a brief discussion of Brian and Wiley's trip to Costa Rica. New happenings at La Minita combined with introductions to a few other long-term coffee roasters gave Wiley a taste of the larger industry and opened Brian's eyes to what's happening post-COVID.  This episode winds up with a few messages from friends and customers well-wishing and sharing stories from the DoubleShot. 

In this year-end, holiday spectacular, Mark and Brian settle in for a long Winter's chat. This episode spans the ages with the annual "Ten Things," but begins with a whimsical conversation featuring Natalie Reed of Muddy Paws Pottery. Natalie's Campesino cups are available while they last at DoubleShotCoffee.com/gift, along with a few other gift ideas hand-picked by the Roastmaster himself. While you're there, go on over to DoubleShotCoffee.com/stuff to find a different list of suggestions for things you might want to buy for yourself, which aren't available at the DoubleShot. Pour yourself a big cup of cascara or one of DoubleShot's holiday coffees and get comfy because this is a long listen. Happy Holidays, or whatever.

Andrew breaks into the middle of a conversation about gift giving to deliver the last holiday coffee of 2022, from Nicaragua, El Bosque Yellow Catuai Anaerobic Natural. Tasting and dicussions ensue, then Mark and Brian talk about a few new items to hit the DoubleShot shelves. Notably, The Launchpad is about to make its debut, a device designed to contain all your pourover gear. With promises of top ten lists, the boys sign off and prepare for the final episode of the year.

If you missed the big announcement at the DoubleShot, get all the news here. Mark and Brian sit down to recap, to unveil the next step in the evolution of DoubleShot Coffee Company, and to continue guiding us through a migration of the DoubleShot holiday coffees. To see the Dos Manzanas video, go to DoubleShotCoffee.com/farm.

Something's amiss in the AA Cafe studio. Mark and Brian sit down to chat over a cup of the recently-released, third holiday coffee at DoubleShot: Bambito Estate Red Bourbon Natural. There's apparently change in the air, and the two cohosts discuss a bit of Thanksgiving tradition: football, coffee roasting, and chicken ramen. Buy the coffee and watch the video at DoubleShotCoffee.com.

Mark and Brian reconvene to discuss the latest holiday coffee at DoubleShot, Bambito Estate Yellow Catuai Natural. They reveal the tip of the iceberg as the story of the 2022 holiday coffees progresses and a transition is in the works. A new cup design by Natalie Reed Goehl is also revealed in this episode. Listen, taste, imagine, and stay tuned for future episodes as the story continues. Buy the coffee and the cup at DoubleShotCoffee.com.

The weather has turned and the holidays are officially upon us. With the release of DoubleShot Coffee Company's first holiday coffee of the season, Mark and Brian sit down to imbibe and reflect, to tell about the mystery behind this coffee and what's special about it. To taste the coffee yourself, go to DoubleShotCoffee.com.

DoubleShot Elite, David Carter, stopped swimming, cycling, and running long enough to talk about his stellar finish at Ironman Tulsa. Meanwhile he's out in Kona, Hawaii competing in the Ironman World Championships. Back at home, Mark talks about his sport highlights and lowlights, and Brian recounts a recent 50 mile footrace in Flagstaff Arizona. It's all about sport. Sport, and coffee.

Mark Brewin joins us to talk about the function of public spaces, the difference between places and spaces, and the history of media in the public realm. Coffee is obviously the centerpiece of it all.

In this marathon episode celebrating the 18th birthday of DoubleShot Coffee Company, Mark recounts specific events along the timeline as Brian tries to explain what happened. Find yourself immersed in DoubleShot lore and then go to DoubleShotCoffee.com/memories to tell about your own experiences.

Mark and Brian celebrate the end of 2021 with their annual list of ten things. Drinking a Gesha coffee from Finca Momoto, the duo rattle off people who've influenced their writing and coffee careers. Paul Bowman stops by with his bagpipes to perform Auld Lang Syne on the shortest day of the year.  And there's a hand, my trusty fiere! and gie's a hand o' thine! And we'll tak' a right gude-willie waught, for auld lang syne.

Gene Leiterman from Glacier Confection stops by for a visit at the AA Cafe studio to talk about how chocolate is made, from the tree all the way to the bar. Glacier's collaboration with DoubleShot Coffee Company came to a culinary pitch this year with the creation of four unique dark chocolate bars infused with the four holiday coffees roasted and released by the DoubleShot for 2021. Learn all about this delicacy, and order the bars at DoubleShotCoffee.com.

Doug Casebeer, artist in residence at The University of Oklahoma and world-renowned potter, sat down in the AA Cafe studio to talk about art, the shapes of things, the environment, and the handmade object. Doug has just finished his second piece for DoubleShot Coffee Company, The Crosstimber Cup, a sequel to The Rookery Cup, which was born in 2020. His ideas will open your mind to a different way of living and consuming. Find more of Doug's work at DougCasebeer.com.

Mark and Brian welcome to the podcast Michael Wallis, storyteller, author, and the voice of the Sheriff in the Pixar movie Cars. Michael tells about a few of his 19 books, of the great fallacy of manifest destiny, and his interest in Route 66. A raconteur of the highest caliber, you will be enraptured by this icon of Tulsa and of the literature of the American West. 

Meet David Carter, principal clarinetist for the Tulsa Symphony and the Tulsa Opera Orchestra, but better known for being a DoubleShot sponsored runner and triathlete. In this episode, Brian interviews David about his life, career, and sport. Meanwhile, Mark and Brian try to figure out how to just continue being average. 

Mark and Brian go in-depth on costs associated with coffee and retail pricing structure. The transparency movement in specialty coffee seems to have created some confusion, and this is their attempt to sort that out. 

We interrupt your regularly scheduled episode of AA Cafe to bring you a special announcement. 

With the help of DoubleShot barista, Andrew Robinson, Mark and Brian explore various coffee brewing methods you can use at home. Learn about the nuances of using each device, how they effect the taste of the coffee, and which one(s) might be right for you.  Get the AA Cafe Cup at DoubleShotCoffee.com

Transubstantiation happens when the Eucharistic bread and wine changes into the body and blood of Christ. Father Gary Kastl visits with Brian about Catholic beliefs and puts up with his tomfoolery in bringing these beliefs to coffee. Mark and Brian bloviate about these things at length.  To read about Eucharistic miracles, go to: https://media.ascensionpress.com

Brian and Mark finally get behind the mics again to catch up on what's happening in the coffee industry. Edwin Martinez calls in to talk about how things have changed for him as a coffee buyer, exporter, importer, and broker. Learn more about Edwin's business at www.onyxcoffee.com.

In March 2004, Brian opened DoubleShot Coffee Company in a strip mall at 18th & Boston in Tulsa, Oklahoma. People started coming in regularly and the business took on a place in life that no one expected. While Brian was focused on serving coffee exactly the way he thought it ought to be consumed, a group of folks rallied around the DoubleShot and created an experience that deeply affected almost everyone who stumbled in the door. Mark and Brian reflect on those early years and try to unfold what really happened. And this year, they list ten things that went missing in 2020.

In this episode, Brian is joined by DoubleShot head barista, Andrew. The two recount their trip to Panama earlier this year and discuss the details of coffee selection at origin and how that translates to roasting and brewing coffee at the cafe. Luis Miranda, co-owner of Finca Momoto, answers all the tough questions about farming and post-harvest production. Finca Momoto's Gesha natural lote uno is one of the featured holiday coffees at the DoubleShot this year. 

Roastmaster Brian is seeking ultimate control while roasting coffee for the DoubleShot. After fighting with an improper power burner for well over a year, Joerg Bollgen stepped in to save the day. Joerg is the owner of Intelligent Combustion Control Technology, and previously worked as a factory technician at Weishaupt Corp. in Germany, the manufacturer of the new DoubleShot roaster burner. Joerg talks about the difference between the old and new burner, as well as the seemingly-limitless applications a good modulating burner can be used for. 

It's the holiday season and it's time to enjoy some of the most special coffees of the year. In this episode, Mark and Brian discuss the coffee variety Bourbon and its possible etymology, the visit to Panama early in the year to see Bambito Estate, and a special message from Priscilla Gonzalez talking about the farm and the coffee at Bambito. It's a Thanksgiving special fueled by amazing DoubleShot Coffee.