Unpacking Coffee

Today we answer the question, “Why does fresh green coffee matter?” in a visit with Seattle’s Kuma Coffee as they release their new look. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/kuma-coffee/ Brought to you by: https://needmoredesigns.com

Travel to Seattle with us to open the envelope on a vintage-stamp-inspired jack of all trades, Jake Deome, as he fulfills a dream of opening a roastery and talks of creating a home where one is. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/looking-homeward/ Brought to you by: https://needmoredesigns.com

Take at trip with Areli Barrera de Grodski, Leon Grodski de Barrera, and Michelle Durango Lopez of Little Waves Coffee Roasters as they manifest their dreams through coffee, language & design. Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/little-waves-coffee-roasters/ Brought to you by: https://needmoredesigns.com/

On the eve of their 25th year, Intelligentsia Coffee reworked their packaging. We chat with CEO James McLaughlin on this refresh and attempt to uncover the secret to their longevity. Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/intelligentsia-coffee/ Brought to you by: https://needmoredesigns.com/

Meet coffee legend Gabe Boscana, founder of Máquina Coffee Roasters, as he takes us on a journey of acceptance, transformation, and bravery. Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/maquina-coffee-roasters/ Brought to you by: https://needmoredesigns.com/

Meet Benjamin Paz of San Vicente, a third-generation Honduran coffee farmer and exporter. Benjamin enlightens us on the current crisis in coffee production and cooperative learning. Benjamin is joined by Metric Coffee’s co-founder Xavier Alexander. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/san-vicente/ Brought to you by: https://needmoredesigns.com

Look up “Best Coffee in Iceland” and right away, Reykjavík Roasters (previously know as Kaffismiðja Íslands) rises to the top with their excellent coffee served in well thought out, minimalist spaces. Join us as we head to Iceland to chat with two of the co-owners, CEO Dussy and Head Roaster Torfi about Icelandic coffee culture, rebranding, and that one very exciting thing that was happening…. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/reykjavik-roasters/ Needmore Designs: https://needmoredesigns.com

Camber Coffee is a microroaster out of Bellingham, Washington making a big splash with their beautiful coffee, classic design, and thoughtfully prepared food. Join co-founder David Yake as he talks about their quick rise, elegant packaging, and award-winning full café. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/camber/ Needmore Designs: https://needmoredesigns.com

Meet Chicago’s most hustling coffee roasters. In conversation with Metric co-founder Xavier Alexander and San Vincente’s Benjamin Paz, we get to the heart of Metric’s “Made by Humans” motto. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/metric/ Needmore Designs: https://needmoredesigns.com

On the heels of a colorful packaging redesign, we chat with Linea’s Andrew Barnett and longtime friend Scott Callender from La Marzocco. Unpacking Coffee Episode 067: https://unpacking.coffee/linea/ Needmore Designs: https://needmoredesigns.com/

We chat with the local roaster, Dapper & Wise. We learn the meaning behind the name, take a deep dive into their philosophy on building relationships beyond the counter, and discuss their packaging refresh. Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/dapper-wise/

Discover the pioneers of third wave coffee in China. Shanghai’s Seesaw is bringing Specialty Coffee to China by roasting outstanding beans from the Yunnan Region. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/seesaw-coffee/

Barista Parlor, fueling creativity through coffee in Nashville, Tennessee. Join Managing Director Christopher Ayers on a journey as they pursue new heights. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/barista-parlor/

Copenhagen’s Coffee Collective is founded on a vision of improving the coffee chain from seed to cup, all the while offering up unforgettable flavors in their lightly roasted coffee and chef collaborations. Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/coffee-collective/

Equator Coffees & Teas is a woman-owned, LGBT coffee roastery weaving a chain of well-being for those in their ecosystem and becoming us all to join in. All the while, they are growing and roasting phenomenal coffee. Join us as we chat with Co-Founder & CEO Helen Russell as we trace their journey over the last couple decades. Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/equator/

They like their music loud and their coffee carefully curated. After opening their doors in 2015, Bobby and Correne Hernandez worked their way into roasting coffee in Long Beach, California. Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/recreational-coffee/

Founded in 1972, Thanksgiving Coffee came to our attention as 2017 Roast Magazine Roaster of the Year. Accolades aside, what got our hearts aflutter is the honest, pure, clear-heartendness of this roastery. Join us as we chat with co-founder Paul Katzeff and Roast Magazine publisher Connie Blumhardt. Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/thanksgiving-coffee/  

What does a coffee roaster with a heart look like? How does one dance to that particular beat? La Colombe’s co-founder Todd Carmichael puts his heart on his sleeve as he takes on ethics, global impact, and…well…beautiful coffee served up with love. Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/la-colombe/  

As Zurich’s nano coffee roaster Birchbach tells it, every coffee is a story. See how they pair these beautiful stories with illustration and a passion for precision. Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/birchbach/

Upper Left Roasters embodies the light, energy, and thoughtfulness of founder Katherine Harris. Today, Katherine and designer Adam Garcia stop by the studio to give us a glimpse into the magic and heart that fuels Upper Left Roasters. Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/upper-left-roasters/

From roast dates to the frappuccino, George Howell has been innovating in coffee for over 40 years. Today, we talk to George and Jenny Howell about the foundation and future of Boston’s George Howell Coffee where single origin coffees are sought with care and coffee itself is treated with the reverence of wine. From almost setting fire to a roaster to freezing coffee, join us as we head to the La Marzocco Café in Seattle to hear George and Jenny Howell give an insider’s view. Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/george-howell-coffee/

Busting onto the 2011 scene in Tacoma Washington, Bluebeard Coffee Roasters brings 253rd wave coffee to the world and makes it a little less sleepy every day. Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/bluebeard-coffee-roasters/

Onyx Coffee Lab co-founder Jon Allen takes us on his source trip to Ethiopia. Along the way, he opens up about branding and transparency. Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/onyx-coffee-lab/

In our Season 03 inaugural show, we stay close to home with Portland’s own Junior’s Roasted Coffee. Caryn and Mike Nelson dive into their early days and why they believe coffee should cost more. Designer Elizabeth Chai gives us insight into the colorful, illustration-driven branding. Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/juniors-roasted-coffee  

Founded in 1993 in New Zealand, Coffee Supreme has been roasting fantastic, understated coffee since before the term “third wave coffee” was coined. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/coffee-supreme/

Norway’s Talor&Jørgen have barely celebrated their first birthday, yet have already made our wishes come true with striking package design and social media savvy. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/talorjorgen/  

AKA Coffee co-founder Brian Jones deep dives into the unexpected experience of completely revamping a brand and packaging without altering the coffee itself. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/aka-coffee/  

A revisit to San Francisco’s Four Barrel Coffee and their new packaging. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/four-barrel-revisited/  

From conservationists to coffee, gorgeous illustrations and heart, Denver’s Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters has us swooning. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/sweet-bloom-coffee-roasters/  

Organic-only Groundwork Coffee started in the Los Angeles area, but has recently expanded into Portland. Chief Coffee Guy Jeff Chean acquaints us with their commitment to their farmers and the challenges of serving all organic coffee. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/groundwork/  

New York City’s Devoción Coffee roasts exclusively Colombian coffees, dry mills them at source, and ships them directly to their roastery, making it very likely the fastest trip from farm to cup of any coffee you’re likely to taste. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/devocion/  

Winner of the 2017 Roast Magazine Microroaster of the Year award, Mudhouse Coffee Roasters of Charlottesville, Virginia has been building their sometimes-quirky reputation for coffee for the past two decades. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/mudhouse-coffee-roasters/  

Oslo’s Tim Wendelboe is a bit of a celebrity in the barista world and he’s earned it, having won a World Barista Championship and then gone on to found his own eponymous roastery, world-famous café, and now a farm to test out his ideas about growing coffee at source. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/tim-wendelboe/  

East Greenbush, New York is home to the most micro of the micro-roasters we’ve covered. While the operation is modest, the coffee—and story—gets our respect. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/barkeater-coffee-roasters/  

Portland’s Heart Roasters brings a rigorous, scientific approach to their meticulous, clean coffees. We spoke with Rebekah and Wille Yli-Luoma about their history, and about what makes Heart special. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/heart-coffee-roasters/  

Time for us to revisit Cat & Cloud, who now not only has a recently opened Santa Cruz café of their own, but is also this month’s resident roaster at La Marzocco’s cafe in Seattle.Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/cat-cloud-revisited/

Forty Weight Coffee has established a name for themselves in New York State, combining their goal of 100% direct trade coffee with a unique sense of style and craftsmanship. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/forty-weight-coffee-roasters/

It's our first holiday special, featuring Royal Coffee, Roseline, Clive, Baratza, La Marzocco, and many more. Follow us as we trace a beautiful small batch coffee from Royal Coffee Importers through roasting at Roseline Coffee and then off to a sparkling new home as a fundraiser for Children's Cancer Association.   Read more: https://unpacking.coffee/holiday2016/

This is our second profile of Pilot Coffee Roasters, leaders in the vibrant Toronto coffee scene and 2014 Roast Magazine Roaster of the Year. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/pilot-coffee-roasters-revisitted/

Joel and Leticia Pollock founded Panther Coffee in 2010 to bring specialty coffee to Miami, Florida. With a third location now open, and a residency at La Marzocco’s showroom in Seattle, we discussed their history, their future, and how they work together. Read More: https://unpacking.coffee/panther-coffee/  

City of Saints Coffee Roasters is part of Bushwick’s renaissance, bringing a modern and community-minded approach to coffee roasting in one of New York’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Read More: http://unpacking.coffee/city-of-saints/  

Chicago’s Intelligentsia, a major representative of third wave coffee, celebrated their 21st birthday just this month. We joined them at their residency in La Marzocco’s cafe to chat about what they have learned along the journey. Read More: http://unpacking.coffee/intelligentsia/  

Say goodbye to stale, overly roasted, or bitter coffee...Jersey City’s Modcup Coffee Co. is on a mission to distinguish themselves by serving fresh, modern coffee at all times and under any circumstances. Read More: http://unpacking.coffee/modcup

One of the pioneering Third Wave coffee roasters, Counter Culture Coffee is distinguished by their large variety of sustainable offerings, their meticulous attention to bean quality, and their educational programs. This episode features our interview with Erin McCarthy of their New York Training Center, America's first World Brewer's Cup Champion!   Read More: http://unpacking.coffee/counter-culture/

Explore the visual and cultural evolution of Ritual Coffee Roasters from their roaring 2005 appearance on the San Francisco coffee scene to an increasingly warm, intimate vibe today. Director of Marketing and Communications Tim Schofield joins us from their Roastery. Read More: http://unpacking.coffee/ritual-coffee-roasters/

Truth Coffee Roasting of Cape Town, South Africa. Long weeks with a vintage roaster and the scientific approach leads to a straight up dope coffee served in an eclectic steampunk-inspired roastery. Read More: http://unpacking.coffee/truth-coffee-roasting/

Perc Coffee Roasters, founded by musician turned roaster Philip Brown, jump started the specialty coffee scene in Savannah, Georgia back in 2010. Since then, their focus on beautiful coffee, welcoming atmosphere, and spot-on brand voice has spurred a steady growth. Read More: http://unpacking.coffee/perc-coffee-roasters/

Springing forth from a tiny loft in the Bushwick neighborhood, New York’s Lofted Coffee Roasters have made big waves in a short time, roasting distinct clean, loud, sweet, boisterous single-origin coffees (all in the presence of a boss cat, of course). Read More: http://unpacking.coffee/lofted-coffee-roasters/

When they’re not bringing the dead back to life for science, Philadelphia’s ReAnimator Coffee Roasters is roasting phenomenal coffee with curious minds and meticulous detailed sourcing. (Oh, about the dead…don’t worry. It’s just a story they dreamed long ago.) Read More: http://unpacking.coffee/reanimator-coffee-roasters/

Three New Zealanders travel to London, England, enter the restaurant business, and build the forward-thinking Caravan Coffee Roasters in the process. Read More: http://unpacking.coffee/caravan-coffee-roasters/

Founded by NPR alum Chip Grabow, Atlanta’s Radio Roasters is a micro-roastery combining beautifully designed vintage radio themes with hand-crafted, single-origin coffees. Read More: http://unpacking.coffee/radioroasters/