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Ken Palmer

Male

Houston, Texas

United States

Profile Information:

What is your position in the coffee industry?: coffee roaster, coffee grower, industry professional, consultant
Where are you located? ( City and Country ): Houston, USA
How many years have you been in the industry?: 29 years, yea it's been another year guys
If you are a barista or shop, are you interested in a barista exchange with another coffee shop/barista?: maybe
Tell us more about your coffee shop or barista skills.: I will leave the barista to the Sean and Max , I just offer coffee roasting and processing knowledge, which I have done half my life
What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?: I have traveled to most all coffee producing countries
About Me:: Alfred Peet taught me to Roast and cup 25 years ago and I have a coffee farm and house in Costa Rica. I just spent 2 years in Ethiopia consulting with Farmers and coops and installing new processing equipment
About My Company:: Coffee, Inc is my consulting company mostly consulting in processing coffee and roasting
What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?: Coffee
Website:: http://Nope

Comment Wall:

Sean Marshall

We'll if you're leaving the barista to us, I guess I'll leave the roasting to you. Saturday night is the latte art throwdown at Catalina. Free beer.

Sep 25, 2008
Mike

Ken do you roast in the same way Alfred Peet had or have adopted different standards as time has gone by?

Sep 28, 2008
Mike

HI Ken, I am marginal typer and so bare with me.THe story of my life in coffee has been a hard one and probably better told if I blog it on my page rather than in your comments. It looks like you have had an awesome adventure and life in coffee and the details could fill a good book. Coffee is an integral part of my life and I at the level of my funds and family life I am chasing this wonderful plant product.

Sep 28, 2008
Mike

Sound advice. I have heard it the other way around. to see how light you can go to find the beans taste.5 ways sounds wise.To speak of my happiness as you asked before not totally.I long to see farmers benifit as they should and coffee treated as a produce and not some dry good. Farmers and there workers work very hard.They should be better provided for. People first not consumers.Right now I'm just a Barista.A link but not the chain. Thanks for the reply. Keep doing your great work its very valuable.

Sep 28, 2008
Alun Evans

Hey Ken, we have a lot in common! Have you done any work with coops and smallholders in Indonesia?

Sep 28, 2008
Don Heaberlin

I have been to some third world countries. I have traveled extensively thru SE Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China). I have a small company in China that works with the disadvantaged. They make copper tea pots, carpets, knives and baskets for me. We are located on the far side of China in Kashgar (now called Kashi) near the Kyrgustan border. I have another small entity in Uzbekistan and I am currently starting up a small office in KL, Malaysia. I hope to use the KL office to do some business in Indonesia. I hope to sell these crafts in my coffee shop and on the internet.

Sep 29, 2008
Alun Evans

Hey Ken. I arrived about the time a lot of the blood letting started. Things are a lot calmer now- Sumatra in particular is settled. You have to come for a visit. BTW, love the pictures!!

Sep 29, 2008
BaristaOnDutY

Hats Off, Impressive, let me know when you need an apprentice...

Sep 30, 2008
BaristaOnDutY

Hi Ken,
My Consulting includes,basic coffee house startups,bean purchasing, equipment recommendations, also I turnaround plans to help get a place on the right track, I'm a Computer Consultant by trade, Coffee wise, I have adapted to it as an art, because of that, people around me,have looked to me for advise,and referrals, as far as coffee roasting, everything in a pan for about 4years prior to that I had a local roaster and did private label, I'm now at the point, where I kind of want to do more than be the Artist or Jack of all trades so to speak, I feel my experience is unique, but I'm ready for the next level or should I say main stream, because I wasn't rushed into it, Coffee is my Conduit. Thanks for your reply..

Oct 1, 2008
BaristaOnDutY

I do cuppings, never have done what you call a "professional one" at a roaster besides when I use to private label but he closed the business about 5 years now, I was living in Atlanta, got familiar with St Ives, Coffee Am, Batdorf, Intelligentsia, Partners and a handful of other micro roasters, green beans I personally would get most from my Ethiopian Friends, when it came to cafes I would recommend them certain roasters,without payout for me... sometimes feature my pan roasted coffee, however it would be nice to have a personal roaster I can back, I have a few blends I would like to market but some of the bigger roasters aren't necessarily interested in little accounts, I would like to brand at least 1 for now and spread it like wild flowers, problem is with my PAN i would only be able to roast by the time I got the accounts it be time to roast again...Right now I have a few PAN roasted accounts, but these aren't the shops that will sell $10 a cup coffee, my PAN ROAST goes for $10 6oz bag, it would work great in highend areas, however I know lots more of lowend areas where their interest is keeping their cost low ..6oz @$10 vs 16oz@$10

Oct 1, 2008
BaristaOnDutY

Hey, I used to manage a Cafe in Tucker GA We got our coffee from Batdorf, so I know them through someone, also my friends in Atlanta some of them get their bean direct from Ethiopia not sure what parts or Broker, they all say it's Yirgachefee..lol...I would also get it locally from the Farmers Market, because as you may know pan roasting is really only popular in Ethiopia and what I have been trying to establish is getting cafes to feature "authentic" coffee however with the way of technology only few care to take their time and drink coffee that way like in Ethiopia "ritual", anyway my Ex Girlfriend is from Ethiopia we were gonna go into business together but things didn't work out, such as life.I would love to be able to have a single source for my bean and be able to guarantee my coffee to my clients, but right now i make more money consulting in computers, I'm trying to merge painlessly into the coffee because thats where my heart is.To answer the question directly, my main source is the Dekalb Farmers Market for my green bean supplies.I'm all my goal is to establish a relationship with a roaster, and get my private label back going. Ameseganalo!!

Oct 2, 2008
BaristaOnDutY

I forgot to say, as of now, I only carry 3 Coffees, Colombian, Harrar & Yirgacheffe. I do single origin, and also mix them, and roast them light -med-dark to create my variations,as said I don't have many (PAN Accounts, but I do catering and special events) I have lots of possible Cafe& Cigar Shop Accounts if I can show and prove a good bean for a good price, I've notice especially small accounts they love someone that is personally and reachable by phone, some of the bigger companies don;t offer that special support, that's where I come in...Ameseganalo~

Oct 2, 2008
Alun Evans

The diving in Indonesia is awesome, and of course Micronesia legendary. Both could be tied together you know as part of a trip. Continental Micronesia flies several times a week from Bali to Guam (in Guam you can then connect to lights to palau etc).

Oct 3, 2008
Greenway Barista

Hey ken,
Right now im not too interested in the synesso machine. Maybe if I do a new shop with a larger budget I can afford one of those guys! Im actually looking into a used silvia, just something better than my single boiler HX rancilio 3 group... on another note I was able to sneak some of your beans out of fioza and they were pretty good. I ordered some larger 21 gram portafiler baskets so I will be able to gauge the shots better, at this point I don't think im qualified enough to say until I have the new baskets.

Oct 9, 2008
Greenway Barista

I said silvia but I meant LINEA.. Lol I just need a more stable temperature setting at this point

Oct 9, 2008
Greenway Barista

lol good make sure you get paid good before the espresso gets out. im at the donut shop every single day if you ever feel the need for complimentary croissant sandwiches and kolaches. bring some espresso and we can play around too!

Oct 9, 2008
Matt Swenson

Hey Ken,

I haven't been in the industry for 29 years like you have, but i have had a good fair amount of experience for the time i have been in the industry. I started out as a barista 8 years ago, working up our regional mgr. From there, i headed up our distribution and roasting company for almost a year before i started traveling and opening the new stores for our company. I have also been a station instructor for SCAA on a few espresso classes. As far as the "consultant" goes, I am a training and operations consultant to new stores opening. Most of the time for the Bear Creek stores, but have done several trainings for independently named shops throughout the country as well.

Others in our company that make up our consultant team each have 20+ years experience in project management, sales, and former starbucks senior management. That being said, I'm definitely the young guy on our team.

I didn't mean to offend you by calling myself a consultant but by your definition of 2+ decades, Matt Milleto wouldn't be considered a consultant either. I personally think he is one of the best in the industry in what he does. Aside from that, i'm glad that he started this site to help network and allow people like me to learn a few things from my peers like yourself.

Cheers

Oct 10, 2008
BaristaOnDutY

When You Get A Moment If You Could email me prices and min for your green beans I'd appreciate it, also roasted offerings, my Biz is starting to pick up and I'm gonna need a good supplier till I take over the Coffee World. Thanks...Mr Pan Man aka Baristaonduty

Oct 28, 2008
Greenway Barista

i saw some mexican you had roasted up, it looked great ken!

Dec 17, 2008
Greenway Barista

misty valley was refreshing.
mexican tasted more of something i could drink every morning!

Dec 28, 2008
Greenway Barista

you coming home?! if not, i don't blame you for staying!!! lol

Jan 27, 2009