Remember that coffee I roasted last week with my neighbor Robby?  Find out how we did with that roast in today's episode, as the professionals at Thrive Farmers Coffee evaluate and score my coffee.  (FYI, there are only a few thousand licensed Q Graders in the world, and you'll get to hear from one of them in this episode). I'd never been through an experience like this before.  It was new.  It was objective.  It was educational.  It was a little nerve-racking.  It smelled GREAT.   Because...

Ride along with me and my neighbor Robby as we roast a batch of green coffee from start to finish on my back porch with my Hottop Roaster.  Robby is a "coffee person" but is new to coffee roasting so his insights, takeaways and questions are On Point for anyone who is curious about roasting their own coffee. My Home Roasting Process (as played out in the episode) 1) Preheat ("charge") roaster to 420 degrees (internal temp of roaster) 2) Set final roasting temperature at 374 degrees (temp of...

Have you gotten the itch to get started roasting coffee at home?  Or, do you have someone in your life who is constantly asking you to roast coffee for them?  Well, thanks to Sweet Maria's we're offering a FREE Home Roaster Starter Kit this week!  The winner of this Giveaway can either jump-start his/her home roasting journey OR gift the kit to your mooching friend :) Here's what you'll get: - Nostalgia Popcorn Popper - 4 pounds of green coffee - Some Sweet Maria's swaaaaag Listen to the...

Byron and the Home Roasting guru's of Sweet Maria's take me to school on what happens to green (unfrosted) coffee beans as they go through the roasting process.  Learn why some roasted coffee beans end up looking different than others.  Learn how Sweet Maria's helps everyday coffee people like you and me find tasty green coffee.  This easy-to-digest episode should help take some of the mystery and confusion out of roasting coffee. Getting the itch to try out roasting at home?  Get 15% off...

Byron Dote is the head of Marketing for Sweet Maria's based in Oakland, CA.  I sat down with Byron at Sweet Maria's HQ for a fun and interesting conversation about home roasting, specifically how to get started.  Enjoy! Don't forget to use the promo code CRAFTCOFFEE at sweetmarias.com to get 15% off your purchase of green coffee and roasting gear between now and 3/31/2020!  Big thanks to Sweet Maria's for being a supporter of CYOC Season 2. Please send in Home Roasting questions, comments,...

Roasting your own coffee is not as complicated as you'd think, and it's a kick-butt way to elevate your craft of making delicious coffee at home.  Roasting coffee at home is fun, affordable, attainable, and delivers you the peak of coffee yummy-ness. In this episode I share my personal journey into the home coffee roasting world in hopes that you might get curious and try it out yourself.  You won't regret it, and you can literally get started for $30!  Listen to the episode to hear...

Season 2 launches next Monday, January 27th! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/craftyourowncoffee/message

In the final episode of Season 1, we'll look back and recap some key takeaways from "Your Home Coffee Routine, Plus 1" and look forward to Season 2 exploring a topic that I'm very excited to talk about...listen to this episode for more details! Happy Coffee, you beautiful people. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/craftyourowncoffee/message

Rachel sent in an interesting voice message with a question about how to get "flavored coffee" without adding a bunch of sugary flavored creamer.  Her question prompted a good discussion with my friend and previous CYOC Podcast guest Joel Norman with Bellwood Coffee in Atlanta.  We talk about Rachel's question specifically, and then more broadly about the difference between "flavored coffee beans" and "inherent flavors in coffee beans." Check out @bellwoodcoffee on Instagram for the...

If you WANT to like coffee but just haven't "gotten there" yet, this episode is for you! Join me and a couple friends (Justin & Jay) as we talk about personal journeys into the world of enjoying good coffee, how others "get there" in their coffee journeys, and a few ways that coffee lovers can serve as "guides" for those who are "coffee curious" 1) Call to Action for the "Coffee Curious":  try tasting some different beans!  Here are 2 places to start exploring &...

Don't want to use your hotel room's dusty by-the-cup brewer?  Going camping and want some tasty coffee in the morning?  Unsure what your vacation Airbnb coffee setup is going to be?  My friend Justin Winter shares what he does to make delicious coffee even when he's away from home.  This was a super fun conversation with a lot of great ideas.  To help you build out your Christmas wish list, below is a "shopping list" with links to all the things Justin and I discussed in this episode....

You’ve moved to a new city.  You’re on a road trip.  You’re traveling to a new city for work.  You’re exploring a new place.  And you need good coffee!  But how do you know where these places are, and if a place will be worth the visit? I'll share a few tricks I've learned for how to make your hunt for an awesome coffee shop a little easier. Because, sometimes you just want someone else to craft delicious coffee for you. Happy Exploring! --- Send in a voice message:...

Want to brew and drink the worlds best cup of coffee?  Try the Pour Over brewing method!  It's not as hard as you think, and it just might change your [coffee] life. My bride Katie joins the podcast to talk about how we brew a Pour Over at our home, and why it’s become her favorite way to make coffee. Want to try it at home?  You got this!  Here's a list of what you'll need: 1) Gram scale 2) Burr Grinder 3) Pour Over brewing device (Chemex // V60 // Kalita Wave + Server) 4) Paper filter...

Are you a French Press kind of coffee person?  Or maybe you're looking to branch out and try a new brewing method?  Immersion brewing gives you a different take on your morning cup of coffee and there are several key tips in this episode to help you make it taste better. When my good buddy Jordan Lee makes coffee at home, it's all about the Full Immersion brewing method for him.  In this episode, Jordan and I brew some coffee on my back porch using his Clever brewing device and talk about...

This episode is dedicated to the Drip brewing method.  What it is + How to make it + Tips to "level up" your drip game at home Enjoy! Drip brewing resources: Great overall coffee-brewing tips from Atlas Coffee Club! Cuisinart Grind & Brew machine user guide Check out a list of SCA-Certified Drip Machines --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/craftyourowncoffee/message

If you're brewing coffee at home with a Keurig or something similar, you already know you're not drinking the most amazing coffee on the planet.  Even though there are downsides to By-The-Cup brewing, there are plenty of great reasons why people love their Keurig.  And the good news is, there are a couple easy ways to make it taste better too.  #NoShameClub for the Keurig fans out there! Try out these simple tips for taking your By The Cup game up a level: 1) Use filtered water 2) Use the...

Ever wondered why coffees from different parts of the world taste different?  Or why it's important to grind coffee to a consistent size?  Or what in the world a "Winter Blend" actually means? Check out these topics and more in Part 2 of my interview with Joel Norman, co-founder of Bellwood Coffee (Atlanta, GA). Bellwood Coffee website IG: @bellwoodcoffee IG: @craftyourowncoffee --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/craftyourowncoffee/message

Ding Ding Ding!  We've got a coffee expert! I met up with Joel Norman, co-founder of Bellwood Coffee (Atlanta, GA) to talk [coffee] shop.  I learned a lot from our conversation and I know you will too! Bellwood Coffee website @bellwoodcoffee @craftyourowncoffee --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/craftyourowncoffee/message

Nope! Here's my pitch: If you use a recipe to cook or bake, why wouldn't you use a recipe for brewing coffee too?  Recipes take out the guess work.  And guess what...if you want to develop your coffee-making craft, weighing out your coffee to a specific coffee:water ratio takes out the guess work, especially for beginners! Guess who's on the show?  It's my bride of 12 years, Katie! · Call to Action:  Start figuring out your own coffee “recipe” for whatever way you are brewing hot coffee....

This week we dive into two more of my "Top 5" variables to pay attention to in your home coffee making journey: Grinding Whole-Bean Coffee and Holding Coffee. Send in a Voice Message with your ideas/questions/thoughts to be featured on future episodes!    Call to Action #1 (free): Grind 3 days worth of whole-bean coffee.  Use 1/3 of it for today, seal the rest.  Use 1/3 tomorrow and 1/3 the next day.  Do you notice a difference in the taste in your cup? Call to Action #2 (expensive): If...

Coffee is 98% Water and 2% Coffee Bean!  To give yourself the best chance at a delicious cup of hot coffee at home, it's a good idea to pay attention to the water and the bean, which are two of my "Top 5" variables to focus on in your home coffee journey. Call to Action: Water....brew 1 batch of coffee with tap water, and another batch with filtered water.  Do you taste a difference? Call to Action: Beans...look for "Roast Date" the next time you purchase a bag of whole bean coffee.  Buy a...

What is "drip coffee"?  Are Cold Brew and Iced Coffee the same thing?  Is Espresso a coffee bean or a drink?  Let's simplify and demystify some common coffee terms as Season 1 of the CYOC Podcast kicks off. Call to Action:  Send in a Voice Message with ideas/thoughts/questions; we may feature YOUR voice on the podcast on a future episode! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/craftyourowncoffee/message

Season 1 of the podcast launches in late-August 2019! Follow on Instagram to start the conversation **audio shout out to Hidden House Coffee and Ben Briggs for being my gateway into the coffee rabbit hole!  Thanks for helping me realize I could turn my coffee game from a "routine" into a "craft" --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/craftyourowncoffee/message