Coffee Roaster Warm Up Sessions

Last episode, we talked about why hand coffee grinders are better than electric coffee grinders. Now although there are many perks to hand grinders, they do come with their shortcomings and where electric grinders shine. In this episode, we unpack upsides of going with an electric grinder over a hand grinder. Pick up our coffee here: https://mirrorcoffeeroasters.com/Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

Coffee grinders are one of the most important parts and pieces of gear on your coffee bar. Over the last decade, hand grinders have skyrocketed in popularity and have become the go-to grinder for many, but what makes them so special? Are hand grinders really that good? In this episode, we talk about the main reasons hand grinders outperform electric grinders.Pick up our coffee here: https://mirrorcoffeeroasters.com/Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

As we source, roast, taste, and compete in coffee more, we're constantly learning and evolving. We've changed over the years. The coffee industry in general is shifting, and we're also evolving. How we talk about certain things, the words we use, the way we approach different parts in coffee is adjusting. This episode is about reflecting on the past and processing those changes out loud.Pick up our coffee here: https://mirrorcoffeeroasters.com/Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

As a coffee roasting company, your primary offer to wholesale accounts is coffee. That alone has to be great, but to stand out in a crowd of roasters, you might need to go further. In this episode we talk about what you can do to have a wholesale program that thrives and serves your clients well. Shop our coffee here: https://mirrorcoffeeroasters.com/

Being a good coffee roaster isn't just about roasting coffee that tastes good. A skilled coffee roaster knows how to roast coffee consistently good from batch to batch and from day to day. It may sound simple, but it's much easier said than done. This episode is all about how to increase your consistency from batch to batch by focusing on your between batch protocol (BBP) and your warm up.Pick up our coffee here: https://mirrorcoffeeroasters.com/Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

The coffee industry is going through unprecedented changes. C-Market has nearly doubled within a few months, political and economic uncertainty, and supply and demand changes are creating a storm the industry has yet to have experienced. We talk with Edwin Martinez, CEO of Onyx Coffee, about what he's seeing behind the scenes, the current state of global coffee trades, and what he thinks will happen to the industry in the next year. Onyx: https://onyxcoffee.com/Pick up our coffee here: https://mirrorcoffeeroasters.com/Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

Iced coffee is quickly growing in popularity and especially amongst Gen Z. With summer around the corner, sometimes an iced coffee is refreshing however it often lacks the nuance and flavor profile we like in hot coffees. In this episode, we share how to get the best out of your iced coffee, the kinds of coffees we found that work well, and how to make cold brew taste even better.Pick up our coffee here: https://bit.ly/36gPLRUFind us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

Juan Diaz, owner of Know Where Coffee, is always on the search for the best coffee in Colombia. Over the last several years, he has not only competed in the national competitions but also sourced coffees used by some of the top competitors in the country. We chat with him about what he's doing with Know Where Coffee and his approach to sourcing incredible coffees from the best producers in Colombia.Know Where Coffee: https://kwccoffee.com/KWC on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knowwherecoffeePick up our coffee here: https://bit.ly/36gPLRUFind us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

You bought an espresso machine for home. Your espresso tastes good, but you can't get your milk steaming and texturing right. It's something we commonly hear and that's why this episode is all about nailing your milk steaming at home. This podcast episode addresses common milk steaming issues, how to get the right texture, how milk affects your steaming, and more.Pick up coffee here: https://bit.ly/36gPLRUFind us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

We sit down with Chris Deferio from Keys To The Shop to give you clear, practical tips on how to grow your coffee shop business. Ideally, your coffee shop is growing 10-20% year over year and if that's not happening, we break down how to make that a reality. Chris shares so many valuable insights on how to scale your coffee business. Boasting more than two decades of widespread coffee experience, Chris Deferio's impact on the coffee industry is well known. His career has taken him all over the world, training organizational management and leadership, barista skills, and latte art to folks looking to elevate their respective craft and business. Chris launched the Keys to the Shop podcast in 2017 after noticing a need for content about leadership and management in the coffee industry. Today, the podcast has nearly 1,000 episodes, 3 million downloads (and counting,) and guests representing 30 different countries. In conjunction with the podcast, Chris offers consulting services for coffee shop owners and has worked to help more than 80 companies accomplish their respective business goals.To learn more about Chris Deferio, the Keys to the Shop Podcast, and working with Keys to the Shop Consulting, visit https://keystotheshop.com/Keys to the shop instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keystotheshop/

How you store roasted coffee at home can have a huge impact on its flavor. Coffees should be rested off of roast, especially if they're roasted light, however, how you rest coffee matters! It's the difference between a vibrant, juicy cup and a cup that tastes subdued and leaves you hoping there was more. In this episode, we dive into how to store coffee and some ways we've found that preserves coffee flavor.Pick up coffee here: https://bit.ly/36gPLRUFind us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

We wrap up our series on coffee flavor profiles by diving into varietals. There are many coffee varietals in the world with nearly all coffees being under two main categories: arabica coffee and robusta. Within arabica coffee, you find many different varietals and each have their unique characteristics. When combining varietals, processing, and origin, you start to build the bulk of what each single origin coffee's flavor profile is made up of.Pick up coffee here: https://mirrorcoffeeroasters.com/Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

Coffee processing plays a huge role in flavor. It's one of the biggest variables that impacts the end flavor profile. We have already covered the core three processing methods, washed, honey, and natural, however, in this episode we dive into a few of the experimental processing methods. We cover thermal shock, carbonic maceration, and mosto process in coffee.Pick up coffee here: https://mirrorcoffeeroasters.com/Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

Coffee is grown in about 70 countries where most are located in the coffee belt. This is where climate and terrian meet to create the necessary conditions for coffee to grow. Each origin comes with it's unique flavor profile. In this episode, we share some of the common flavor profiles you can expect in countries around the world.Pick up coffee here: https://mirrorcoffeeroasters.com/Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

This is an introduction to coffee roasting. We go through the tools you need to get started outside of a roaster, how to approach your first 20 roasts, and how you can improve after those initial coffee roasts. We tried to go very practical in this episode and help those who are thinking about starting a coffee roasting operation or are getting into home roasting as a hobby.Pick up coffee here: https://bit.ly/36gPLRUFind us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

Coffee reddit threads and facebook groups erupted with talks of the new tariffs. On one side, tariffs can increase the cost of a roasted coffee bag significantly and even more so on large quantities of imported green coffee. In this episode we talk about the impacts of these tariffs.

Have home coffee bars and setups become the death of the coffee shop? With the rise of interest in better coffee gear, more education online around coffee, and accessibility to coffee from around the world, will cafes struggle to pull those interested in higher end coffees if they can brew it at home? We talk about the dynamics between brewing at home and getting a cup of coffee as well as what managers and cafe owners can start doing to step up their game. Pick up coffee here: https://bit.ly/36gPLRU Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/ Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

High scoring coffees in 100g cans or bags are becoming increasingly popular. They're oftentimes delicious and pricy so making the most of that limited amount is always a struggle. In this episode, we break down how to limit waste, what you can try to dial in those coffees quicker, and our approach to getting the most out of those coffees. Pick up coffee here: https://bit.ly/36gPLRU Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/ Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

Running a coffee roasting company for the last 5 years has taught us a lot about business, coffee, and ourselves. As we evaluate the past, we've realized there are handful of things that need to be addressed for us to continue to grow and take on our goals for 2025. In this episode, as we processes these things out loud, we hope you can take our approach to growth for the goals you've set for yourself this year.

We chat with founder, Douglas Weber from Weber Workshops about their approach to building some of the best coffee gear in the world. From becoming known for their coffee grinders to creating beautiful accessories and tools for the coffee bar, Weber Workshops has made its mark in the industry. Weber Workshops: https://weberworkshops.com/ Pick up coffee here: https://bit.ly/36gPLRU Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/ Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

As we step into 2025, we look back at the big coffee roasting takeaways from this past year. We're walking away with changes to how we roast and run our business which has made us feel excited about the new year ahead of us. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us this past year! Pick up Coffee Here: https://bit.ly/36gPLRU Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/

Continuing our discussions on breaking down coffee misconceptions, in this episode we focus on roasting. The world of roasting, preferences, technology, and styles has drastically changed over the last 5-10 years. There's been a lot of great advancements but it has challenged traditional beliefs about roasting. We cover these beliefs and ideas in this episode.

As the coffee industry grows and research increases, we begin to realize the ideas we used to believe about filter coffee brewing isn't true. In this episode, we address some of these myths we used to believe about brewing filter coffee. In our last episode, 173, we talk about myths about espresso brewing so if you haven't listened to that episode, we'd highly recommend it! Pick up Coffee Here: https://bit.ly/36gPLRU Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/ Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

As the coffee industry continues to grow, science and research is proving more and more beliefs to be wrong. Although these three myths have turned out to be wrong, we still hear them being talked about in coffee forums, mentioned in cafes, and even encouraged in barista training. In this episode we cover three common myths that we should be leaving behind in the past. Pick up Coffee Here: https://bit.ly/36gPLRU Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

This past month we saw the c-market price reach highs that haven't been seen in 50 years. The coffee industry has long been an advocate for paying producers and farmers more to make a more sustainable supply chain. This is a huge win for producing origins. On the other hand, with inflation, wages, and increased green costs, cafe guests are experiencing rising costs for their drinks. This podcast episode is us processing ideas on the supply chain, sustainability, and our role as coffee roasters.

The season of giving gifts is upon us so we decided to help you with ideas with our top picks of what you can get coffee enthusiasts for Christmas. We have a wide spectrum of gifts on this list, from accessories to grinders and machines. These ideas also work great year round for birthdays and other events.

One of the most important parts to pulling the perfect shot of espresso is puck prep. It can make or break your shot of espresso, make dialing in challenging if not done well, and can't be skipped over. In this episode, we talk about how to crush your puck prep and some of the tools we use to help us do that. Pick up Coffee Here: https://bit.ly/36gPLRU Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/ Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA

The way you design your coffee bar layout in your cafe can make or break how efficient your coffee shop runs. This impacts so many things including how your team feels working in the space, how quickly they can serve your guests, and the maximum potential of your retail space. Having an intentionally layout for your cafe is essential and that's what this episode dives into.

We're in Chicago this week, visiting Soloway Coffee. It's a thriving, popular coffee shop that is bringing a unique experience to it's guests. This experience, their offering, and more make this a special place that has created a buzz in the area. Sergei walks us through what their doing well that is helping them win.

Our coffee roasting business got tax audited and we're right in the middle of the process. Being our first time, this is a big learning experience and has brought up a few things that we realized we need to pay closer attention to. We cover what we've learned and some things you can do right now to make things easier in the future. Pick up Coffee Here: https://bit.ly/36gPLRU

There are many perks of having a built out home coffee bar setup outside of the convenience of not needing to go to a coffee shop and spend money. In this episode we talk through some of the essentials of building out a home coffee bar setup, what we would recommend focusing on, and some tips for those just getting into brewing at home.

We're answering and troubleshooting the most common coffee brewing issues we hear about and also personally run into. We talk about coffee resting, clogging in pour over brews, the impact of grinders on your cup, and more. In this coffee podcast episode, you'll find practical tips on how to adjust your brew to get the results you're chasing.

Having good gear is essential, but oftentimes that takes the main stage and we don't know how to use our gear to get the most out of our coffee. In this episode, we cover some helpful tips you can implement to make your coffee taste better, improve your recipes, and potentially help troubleshoot some brewing issues.

Coffee bean selection has never been so diverse. Diverse in roast color, varietals, origins, and flavor profiles. People's preferences have also never been so scattered across the board. We talk about some of our recent interactions with people, the rising trend towards ultra-light roasts, and why gear actually does matter and impact what coffees people gravitate to. Shop Our Coffee: https://bit.ly/36gPLRU Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/ Mirror Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Bellingham, WA.

We had a spontaneous guest join us, Alex Sciarrotta owner of Narrative coffee, as we talked about underrated and overrated parts of coffee. We touched up on coffee varietals, coffee competitions such as Cup of Excellence, and even got into Sergei's iconic outfits behind bar. We had a lot of fun recording this episode and diving into these topics together.

Coffee roasting companies that don't have a storefront, like us, oftentimes don't get the local, face to face interaction that can be very helpful for business growth. Even though launching a storefront for your coffee roastery might not be in the plans, there are other ways to have those interactions with guests that can be very financially beneficial and help you expand your reach.

Oftentimes, coffee business owners are stuck with always needing more time, overworking, and feeling like you're not getting much back. Time is one of your most valuable resources so we have to learn to manage it well and make sure it's getting the most done while helping you achieve your goals. This episode covers how we're maximizing efficiency in our coffee roastery and how we approach using it to grow.

Mark just got back from competing in the U.S. Aeropress Championship in Arkansas at Onyx Coffee Lab and got 3rd place. This episode breaks down his recipe, preparation, and the mistake that cost him first place.

Texes A&M launches the first acedemic coffee certificate. This is a huge overall step for the growth of the specialty coffee industry, however, what role will it play in the coffee industry? Will we see the industry favor those who do have the certificate? We break these questions down and more in this episode of the Coffee Roaster Warm Up Sessions podcast.

Coffee competition isn't perfect. We competed in our first aeropress competition and loved it! It was a great experience overall, but there were a few things that were challenging. As much as we wish competition was a flawless system of evaluation of who's the most skilled, it oftentimes isn't that. This is a debrief of our experience competing in the Canadian regional aeropress competition.

Most of us, if not all, have experienced burnout whether that's within the coffee industry or not. We know what those exhausted, long days feel like when you've lost your passion and drive to do the work let alone do anything. It sucks. With this episode we wanted to break down what burnout is, what might be causing it, and how we can do to avoid falling into burnout.

At face value, coffee shops are there to serve you a drink, pastries, and occasionally offer a full food menu. From what we've noticed, that is really only the beginning and oftentimes just a sliver of why people even show up to coffee shops. Here's how coffee shops impact communities, cities, and the vital role they play in society.

We want to help set you up for your next interview at your favorite coffee shop. Although it could feel like experience behind bar is prioritized, but we think there are other ways you can increase the chances of getting hired at a cafe. We talk about being a regular, building meaningful friendships, and a few ways to prep for your interview. There are a handful of practical steps you can take that can increase the chances of you getting hired at the coffee shop you've been eyeing.

We've all been there where we go to a cafe only to receive a beverage we did not like or wasn't brewed right. Although few things can be done at this point, is giving feedback the right thing to do? Would anything change if you did give feedback? As a barista, it may be uncomfortable to receive feedback, however, it's far from the end of the world. In this episode, we talk through both giving feedback and how we should approach getting negative feedback.

Over the last few years we've seen the home coffee shop trend on social media explode. Home baristas are hosting coffee shop experiences in their home for their community. These experiences are very impactful for local communities as well as the broader coffee industry. In this episode, we unpack why they're so important. Shop Our Coffee: https://bit.ly/36gPLRU Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/

The most important part of running a coffee shop business are the people you serve and the people you work with. You can get away with having bad coffee, but you can't get away with serving people poorly or not having a good team around you. In this episode, we talk all about investing specifically into your team behind the coffee bar which has the potential to change the whole trajectory of your team.

The last episode in our Level Up series is focused on leveling up your palate. Because taste is at the core of coffee, developing your palate is probably the most important thing you could do as a coffee enthusiast or professional. It can drastically change how you experience coffee and might even be the thing that you're missing from enjoying coffee even more than you do now. In this episode, we provide practical tips on how you can grow as a coffee taster and expand your palate.

We're continuing our series on Leveling Up in coffee and this episode is for management and cafe owners specifically. We cover have 1 on 1s with your team, why it's important to spend time behind bar, and how to surround yourself with the right people to supercharge your growth. Being a manager or owner of a coffee business is challenging, but if your looking for ways to get better, this podcast might give you some practical tips you can implement this week.

This episode is all about leveling up as a coffee roaster, and it's packed with very practical steps you can take. We go from broad roast curves to in depth, nerdy green coffee storage solutions. Whether you're just getting started or you've been roasting for years, we think this is packed with valuable information we wish we had years ago.

We continue our podcast series on how to level up in coffee. In this episode, we're diving into what that looks like for baristas. We cover things like going above and beyond in your job, paying close attention to what happens behind the bar, why might need to leave your current job, and so much more. This episode gets very practical for baristas and sets you up to grow in your craft. Shop Our Coffee: https://bit.ly/36gPLRU Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorcoffeeroasters/

We're starting a podcast series on how to level up in coffee. This series is all about what we can do as those working in the coffee industry to get better at our craft. We're hoping this series is filled with practical steps that you can start making immediately in your coffee journey. This episode is an introduction and general overview of how we're approaching leveling up and covering the basics. In the following episodes, we'll go very specific into unique rolls and positions in the industry.