rob

Male

Mason

United States

Profile Information:

What is your position in the coffee industry?
coffee enthusiast
Where are you located? ( City and Country )
Mason, Michigan
How many years have you been in the industry?
3
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.
Latte artist/artist trainer
I've trained people to be exceptional baristas who can pour some remarkable art and pull some great shots.

I can pour a killer traditional capp.

I am excellent with customers and hand-selling...increasing profits and productivity with creativity and ingenuity is always a mission I strive to attain.
What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?
All around the world and perhaps beyond
About Me:
I am Rob.

I genuinely have a passion for my all things coffee. There are endless things to learn and techniques to improve upon. After three years in the industry, I am just scratching the surface, and I am confident the best is yet to come.

There's also something profoundly satisfying about watching the skills and knowledge I've shared being passed down from barista to barista...There's nothing like watching third-generation knowledge in action... watching velvety micro foam being poured by people who learned from people who learned from me....


As far as personally...I enjoy reading good books, music (playing and listening), the outdoors, film, philosophical discussion, jazz etc. etc.
What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?
Pouring art for people and education.
Website:
http://www.coffeegeek.com

Comment Wall:

  • Shiloh Nelson

    Fellow trainer. I agree with the constant process of writing a training manaul, ours is constantly building on it's self. A real source of pride for sure! Hope to see some pics of your pours!
    Ciao!

    Jan 5, 2008

  • Sara Appleyard-Pekich

    Michigan is a great place to be a barista! Snow and all.

    Jan 5, 2008

  • Ron Rogers

    Barista in a bookstore must be pretty amazing. Definitely never run out of things to read. Who are some of your favorite authors? I'm always looking for the next great read.

    Jan 6, 2008

  • Antonios Argiropoulos

    ascasso xl...

    Jan 19, 2008

  • Casey Boeve

    we roast our own, i think it's the best...but i've been drinking it for 9 years, so i must like it!

    Feb 1, 2008

  • Chris Hooton

    That'd be pretty sweet

    Feb 29, 2008

  • Billy Kangas

    Michigan Coffee.... woot?

    Mar 1, 2008

  • Bryan Wray

    I second the woot on mich coffee... I'm up for a jam sometime. I am unemployed as of saturday, so I'm up for it whenever... what days do you work, you aren't that far away from the zoo...

    Mar 5, 2008

  • Bryan Wray

    Alright... I'll probably stop in to see you sometime within the next couple weeks. Are you going to the GLRBC?

    Mar 11, 2008

  • John Despres

    Hey, Rob

    Grand rapids is home for me! More Michiganders, I say! I'm not sure... Where's Mason? I'm not a barista, home roaster, actually, but I love a good shot.

    Apr 9, 2008

  • Josh:D

    What'd I see about a MI Jam? - in GR myself - would love to meet up

    Josh:D

    Apr 17, 2008

  • Josh:D

    a little jam - yes please - What a coincidence - I have a fully refurbed Linea in my basement - a little La Pasquini Livea on my desk and a couple of Franke Ecolino's in the garage for good measure. I wish I had a good home for any of them.

    Would love to come over for a jam - how can I help organize?

    Apr 20, 2008

  • Josh:D

    I'm at the shop almost every day - but I do want to make it over to check out your place.

    As far as jams go - I could bring a couple some coffee from a few roasters in the area - Water Street out of KZoo - Rowster (a friend - might try my hand at competitions with his stuff next year -

    I just met the guys from Moonmonkey out of Bourbonnaise, IL this weekend - checked out their shop and spro - both were good - but I bet we could get some of their competition espresso for a jam - they would probably even join in.

    as far as machines go - I have a couple of the Franke Ecolino Super-Autos left from drive through application - also a little 110 La Pasquini Livia. Lastly - and I'm holding on to her - my refurbed 2-group Linea

    I have some blenders and other stuff too -

    What are you outfitting?

    Josh:D

    Apr 22, 2008

  • Jason Burton

    Excited to work with you guys. I've heard great things. I need to get my butt up to Michigan, the secret state of great espresso.

    We'll hook ya' up on goodies.

    May 9, 2008

  • Jason Burton

    Robby rob...I'll have Jess hook you up with some single origins. Cool? Let me know what you think also.

    May 12, 2008

  • Jason Burton

    I like the new pics of the store. Very helpful.

    Let me know when you get the origins and be honest. Also, no info on the farms on the bags, but we can supply that stuff by the truckload. Just let me know which ones you want to get the full scoop.

    May 19, 2008

  • Savannah

    Yes, I am terribly excited!

    May 22, 2008

  • David Donde

    Cool. How, where, when?

    May 23, 2008

  • Chris Hooton

    A jam would be good... I'm rocking machine repairs this week. My regulars are calling my machine all ghetto, must get it back into deus ex machina splendor.

    Jun 25, 2008

  • Jack Davis

    HI Rob
    thanks for reaching out. ever make it to traverse city?

    Jul 15, 2008

  • David Donde

    Perfect. No hassle re accomodation.

    Jul 31, 2008

  • Luis Zaman

    Oh same to you! Except you probably have something real to show. We are using a little Behmor for the moment, so it's not much to see really. How is the Mason coffee scene? I'd love to take a field trip :)

    Jan 4, 2009

  • Luis Zaman

    For sure man, I'd love to meet some more people as into coffee as we are. We will be retailing at Magdalena's Tea House, right across from The Green Door. Are you a barista in Mason? I'd love to find a good shop around these parts, even if it is a little bit of a drive!

    We should have our coffee there in a week or two. Check out www.mastodoncoffee.com/blog for a few pics of our coffee journey. We're trying to organize some sort of single serve coffee options. They don't have any espresso or anything but offered us the space to start it if we want. It's tempting, but we're pretty busy at the moment with school.

    Jan 4, 2009

  • Miro

    http://www.baristaexchange.com/group/greatlakesbaristas

    Jan 5, 2009

  • Luis Zaman

    Let's hit up that coffee shop sometime soon!

    Jan 16, 2009

  • Luis Zaman

    I'm wide open on friday up till around 7 or 8pm. No classes, so it's a good day. I'm pretty excited, it would be cool to find a little shop somewhere that wouldn't mind a little after-hours jamming.

    Jan 20, 2009

  • Luis Zaman

    Wherever man, the closer to 12:00 the better for us. Just let me know what works for you and Scott and I should make it!

    Jan 22, 2009

  • Luis Zaman

    I mean, how about 4? :)

    Jan 22, 2009

  • Luis Zaman

    My email is luis@mastodoncoffee.com, where are you thinking of meeting up? Scott and I are out in the Okemos area.

    Jan 23, 2009

  • Luis Zaman

    Hey, we hit up bestsellers, best espresso I've had within 50 miles of here. A great find indeed. Missed ya though, everything cool?

    Jan 26, 2009

  • Luis Zaman

    Ah, my email may have been acting up. It does that from time to time. We'll have to head over there again sometime soon.

    Jan 27, 2009

  • Kurt Stauffer

    Check out the discussion on Michigan. Espresso. You probabl have some great insight.

    Jan 30, 2009