0

Benza Lance

Male

Sacramento

United States

Profile Information:

What is your position in the coffee industry?: barista, manager, barista trainer, coffee roaster, home barista, coffee enthusiast, industry professional, consultant, service tech/repair, supplier
Where are you located? ( City and Country ): Sacramento, CA
How many years have you been in the industry?: 10
If you are a barista or shop, are you interested in a barista exchange with another coffee shop/barista?: yes
Tell us more about your coffee shop or barista skills.: I'm with people who look for sustainability, quality without sacrifice, and doing some justice.
What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?: Origin
About Me:: I enjoy single origin shots, a nice enchilada, brews with my boys, and generally being, in all likelyness, the most funny and/or ridiculous person you will ever meet.
About My Company:: Insight Coffee Roasters is a roasting company in Sacramento, CA, opening our first coffee bar in November 2011. Dedicated to supplying Northern California, and elsewhere, with the best coffee, tea, and beer we can get our hands on.
What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?: Being able to create sustainability so we can keep this train rolling for generations to come.
Website:: http://www.insightcoffee.com

Comment Wall:

Load Previous Comments

Monica Rae Hill

best recognize i'm mama killz u... hey what's up? Looking forward to a little central cali coffee vacation in a few weeks. Hope you're having fun up there killin things while sean's getting hitched. be seeing you soon.

Jun 17, 2008
Conrad

Niiiice, just read your barista pickup line. I married a Romanian woman I met at a cafe (in romania).

Props, we'll have to come and visit temple one of these days.

Jun 17, 2008
Alex Negranza

Hahaha, Ratatat is going on my competition playlist yo! I'm actually from Modesto, CA...I just moved to Seattle. I'll be coming back to Modesto soon. Looking for a guest barista? I'd love to jump on the bar for a shift if you guys are down? Either way...I can't wait to be in Central Cali!

Jun 22, 2008
Joe Stormer

it's likely that i won't be around for coffee fest (out of the country) but, if i am, i would love to join you in combining the effects of caffeine, alcohol and oxygen deprivation (biking). give me a shout again when coffee fest gets closer.

Jun 23, 2008
Jenny K

I was hung over! Come back and we'll plan fun at Camp Fannyho for real!

Jun 23, 2008
Sarah Allen

hells yeah. i can't wait!
your portland piece will be in the next issue for shizzickle.

Jul 2, 2008
Chris Y. Gaoiran

Dang Benza, you're all over the place! You ridin' next week?

Jul 2, 2008
Yaëlle Levine!

if i kill conrad can i be the favorite again?

Jul 2, 2008
Chris Y. Gaoiran

I was wearing a really cool bucket cap for a helmet until I found out it was an undersized mock-Confederate hat. Ugh, those guys had slaves and scabies.

You wanna trade for something?

Jul 2, 2008
5.0 Reasons

oh fo sho...I'm workin in the am then whoridin your way to hit the streets.

Jul 2, 2008
Yaëlle Levine!

I would love to but there is no way I can get to sac! I have to work! At the cafe and at my other job... You gotta give me another chance!

Jul 3, 2008
5.0 Reasons

dude that shot you pulled me was ludacris.

all killer no filler.

Jul 12, 2008
Andy Newbom

benza is a deck of cards on a fixed wing supersonic jet

and tahts pretty cool

Jul 20, 2008
Andy Newbom

remembered.

Jul 22, 2008
Conrad

So when are you gonna come down and visit the Works? We cup almost every weekday around noon.

Jul 24, 2008
Marista

I'm not opposed either, that's why I'm ok with running my mouth, Benza.

Jul 25, 2008
daniel

try to avoid odd statements that may make my co-workers feel uncomfortable when searching for the magic word... GOT IT! thanks!

Jul 27, 2008
Tony Serrano

SLC kicks ass... if you like riding bikes, drinking beer and visiting Bevalo... which won't be open for a week or two.

Jul 28, 2008
Janelle

totally. I can't imagine not using them.

Jul 28, 2008
Steves

Dude, pleasure was ours! Now if I could only get the bastards up for a Sacto Road Trip...

BTW, I don't always sound like a totally awkward jackass over the phone. I swear.

Jul 28, 2008
Steves

Umm, last I checked, you totes didn't qualify for standing as Cyclops, dude...I challenge!

Aug 11, 2008
Alex Negranza

BTW,...I'll be in SacTown at the end of the month. I'll be sure to stop by. I'll keep you posted, see you then man.

Aug 13, 2008
Brady

Thanks, Benza.

Aug 14, 2008
Steves

Does he have your number? I'm txting him as we speak to get off his lazy ass to hit you up. Don't fuss it -- it's not like you have any other way of getting to me in off hours :-)

Also, with regards to crossing you, I'll do it when I damn well please. 'Cause when I get my flame on, you gonna get buuurrrned.

Aug 17, 2008
Joe Stormer

It looks like I'm going to still be in Seattle during Coffeefest so my hours won't be available, but I really don't know anything about the scheduling. I just open five days a week and don't worry about anything else. You ought to contact him yourself.

Do you think a cycling cafe crawl turning to a cycling pub crawl is a good idea? I wish I still had a bike someone could borrow, but my fixie got swiped at a party not long ago.

Aug 25, 2008
Alex Negranza

Hey! What's your schedule at Temple like? I'll be NorCal on Friday. I'll be hittin' up Ritual, Barefoot, Temple and Verve. Let me know what's going down...

Aug 27, 2008
Alex Negranza

Tuesday. Tuesday is the day I'll be at Temple. I have a whole bunch of coffee if you want to do a cupping. Bunch of coffees from 49th, a Stumptown and also a Victrola. damn tasty.

Aug 31, 2008
The Barista Formerly Known As JavaJ

Benji, what's happenin' fool? Miss me yet?

Sep 7, 2008
mike cubbage

thanks for your input on " stepping outside the bucks" would love to stop in sometime. sounds like my kinda shop.

Sep 11, 2008
Andy Newbom

Ben seems to be the one true coffee man. His ideas are just, his science is tight and his art is right.

Sep 16, 2008
Schroaster

It was great meeting you and having you guys stop by the roastery. Will have to give you a ring when I'm in the area, I been meaning to get down to no-cal, there is so much going on down there.

Sep 17, 2008
Tony Serrano

I won't be shy. I can make a horse cry!

Sep 18, 2008
Andy Newbom

heard you were the party-starter.

Sep 18, 2008
Andy Newbom

saw your last LA and thought it was sweet! too bad about teh two seconds!

Sep 18, 2008
ZekEaZoiD

Shiiiiit.... goin to put the GB/5 back up tonight . Drop by soon!!!

Sep 18, 2008
Andy Newbom

Ben is the one true sprohican!

Sep 19, 2008
Jared Truby

you and whomever are always welcome...come hang, it's perfect with the weather an all right now. Middle of the week is bettter than the weekends, we busy then fool.

Hollla!!!

Sep 19, 2008
Monica Rae Hill

hey benza, heard coffeefest was a blast... sorry to hear about your laptop... f•ckers. I've been cookin up some crazy coffee ideas with Andy for a meeting of all coffee minds... California Coffee Cup... seed to cup competitions and classes... Workin towards January... all very ambiguous right now... We should talk... drop me a line.

Sep 19, 2008
Sara Louise

Are you the fool who want to exchange to Oly Coffee?

Sep 20, 2008
Nicely

Thanks yo! I too hope we get to chill sometime. I'm thinkin' about doing the Vegas Coffee Fest. I don't know if that is too far from where you are, but I'll let you know. Talk to you soon homie!

Sep 20, 2008
Marista

Hey! Things are good, business as usual. Today was crazy, but awesome givin out free drinks and pulling the finca 408, ghimbi and el eden all day for the anniversary party. I'm working part time doing barista trainings at the works which is dope...always learning. Anyway, how are things up in Sac? How was Seattle?

Sep 23, 2008
Tony Serrano

No shit. the laptop was taken. Damn! I hope you called somebody's supervisor and dropped f bombs like they was sweet shots of the Boss!

Sep 23, 2008
Mike

Good meetin' you in Seattle! Can't wait to one day drink your Spro!

Sep 24, 2008
Andy Newbom

huh fella! Pump that sweet nectar!

Sep 24, 2008
Andy Newbom

annd feeeeel the love!

Sep 24, 2008
Rotsko

Have you ever so stoked that benza added you as a frend on bx that you burn the sht out of the ghimbi you are suposed to be roasting for him. in stead your posting messages..... oh shhhttttt!!!! ha

Sep 24, 2008
Rotsko

Mr. Benza! So the "Mocha" Harrar Hugh. Im pretty sure the only thing Moka, or Mocha, refers to is a port in Yemen where coffee was first exported to Europe. the name has bean used in reference to coffee since then and were talkin the 18th century here. Think the mocha java blend, a mix of Yemeni and java coffee. The Yemeni often being substituted with Harrar in this blend. also perhaps mocha refers to Harrar as well being so close in origin. So with that said the Harrar Illili Darartu has nothing to do with mocha. in fact mocha is strictly an arbitrary name slapped on harrar as the mocha java name is slapped on blends not containing yemeni or java coffees ect... but now Conrad just came in and told me it was an actual varietal so maby i dont know what im talking about. Ive read so many different stories from so many different books i don't know what info is correct. Can anyone clear this up once and for all? But to answer your question Ben: Our current Harrar has nothing to do with moka...

Sep 25, 2008
Sara Louise

I am sooo sorry, i will never make the mistake again.
I heard that one of the wonderful Temple coffee kids wanted to exchange, I was just wondering if it was you...do you have any idea who it is?

Sep 25, 2008
Mike

Look forward to It!

Sep 26, 2008
Mike

come join Westside!!!

Sep 27, 2008