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Jay Caragay

Male

Towson

United States

Profile Information:

What is your position in the coffee industry?: coffee shop owner
Where are you located? ( City and Country ): Towson, Maryland
How many years have you been in the industry?: Since 2002
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.: Spro Coffee is an experiment leading up to a progressive concept that will combine coffee and cuisine.
What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?: If there's a nation, I'm interested in traveling to it.
About Me:: I am a person who is interested in experiencing life and expressing the pursuit of excellence through coffee and cuisine.
About My Company:: The Spro Coffee is just a little, tiny espresso bar located in the Baltimore County Public Library's Towson Branch. We focus on quality coffees made by hand to order. We're not always perfect, we're not always right, but we try to welcome our customers and deliver to them a product that we are proud to serve.
What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?: Las Mujeres!
Website:: http://sprocoffee.com

Comment Wall:

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Jeff Taylor

Happy Birthday Big Kahuna!

Apr 2, 2008
Jason Dominy

Happy Birthday Jay! Hope it's the best yet! Keep rocking the Spro!

Apr 2, 2008
Aaron Meza

Hey Jay,

I'm going to be in D.C. this June for a conference. I'm staying with a group at the Howard University dorms and we are looking for restaurant recommendations within close proximity. Do you know that area? Any suggestions? They are probably looking for something that isn't too expensive (most of them are students), but I'll take any recommendations you have.

Apr 8, 2008
Anette Moldvaer

It's saturday! shouldn't you still be in bed?

Apr 12, 2008
LieAnne

Hey Jay,

It was nice meeting you, the coffee was delicious. Hopefully I can take a trip over there once in a while when I'm on a Trader Joes run. Come visit sometime!

Apr 14, 2008
Chuck Gutilla

How's it goin', Jay. We met in the hotel lobby just before flying out of Minneapolis. Hope you had a good safe trip home.

May 22, 2008
Chuck Gutilla

Yep. Things are good. Getting ready to roast after I have some pizza. Spro Coffee sounds cool. Last time I listened to the podcast it was Jay Shave Ice, no?

May 22, 2008
Chuck Gutilla

Hi Jay. I'll absolutely send you some. I'll roast up a new batch and send a bag your way on Monday. Thanks.

Jun 5, 2008
Roberto

hello Jay! how are you? I want to work for you!

Jun 6, 2008
Anthony Epp

Did you get the drink recipie I sent you?

Jun 6, 2008
LieAnne

Hey Jay,

How's it going? I visited Bonnie yesterday at the shop, she rocks your haupia machiatto. I had an empanada too, man that made me homesick. Take care!

Jun 7, 2008
LieAnne

Hey Jay!

Thanks for visiting the shop and I'm definitely thankful for the support :)

Jul 18, 2008
Chris DeMarse

I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the culinary approach you take when you blog. I feel as though you are positively blurring the lines between coffee and the rest of the culinary world. I've never been to the east coast, but it seems that checking out 'spro might be a decent enough excuse.

Aug 5, 2008
Chris DeMarse

Also, on a similar note to your blog, my good friend who works at Alinea and has also studied in the summer at Iowa State's creative writing program decided to start an artfully written site dedicated to critiquing Chicago area restaurants. The site is www.chigagou.wordpress.com

Aug 5, 2008
Chris DeMarse

I've been really attentive especially to your preparations and dish selections for 'spro. Chris Deferio and I are in the midst of helping dream for a new shop and want to introduce a more culinary aspect to both what we do on the bar and the kind of food we offer. It's good to see more than just a deli sandwich menu

Aug 6, 2008
Chris DeMarse

that's some pretty helpful insight. I really appeciate the tips. On a separate note, I noticed in your blog that you not only love coke, but mexican coke; so what is the defining difference that makes it so desirable?

Aug 10, 2008
mike cubbage

Hello and aloha, I hear you might know a bit about hawaii and I was wondering if i might pick your brain a bit. I am moving to the big island in Oct/Nov and am wondering about coffee jobs on the island any tips. thanks.

Aug 16, 2008
mike cubbage

I was drawn to the Hilo side and that was my first instinct so i think i should stay with that. i am also a massage therapist so friends are pushing me more to the kona side. i also am a chef and well trained barista also am thinking waiting tables might be okay as well. i am open to many things. i figure once i get there and get situated i can start fine tuning and searching out opportunities. what do you think about that?

Aug 19, 2008
Chris DeMarse

I finally had some Mexican Coke and it was very pleasant. A clean sweetness that lacked some of the acid I often taste in a can or bottle of coke. Not to mention the finish was wonderfully absent of any sort of mouth coating film. I can see why it is one of your beverages of choice.

Aug 24, 2008
Andy Newbom

grandmasterJayflashbang, how the hell are you? I miss your rabble rousing and party-startin ways.

Sep 7, 2008
Andy Newbom

I am feelign the same. No SCAA work, no committes, no politics and no online discussions. Focused on coffee and farmers and love. Its so much better.

Hows your new cafe place?

Sep 18, 2008
LieAnne

Hey Jay! How's it going?

Sep 22, 2008
LieAnne

Congratulations on the citypaper best of!!!

Sep 22, 2008
Laura Perry

hola Jay!

Oct 30, 2008
The Barista Formerly Known As JavaJ

I just saw you.

Dec 2, 2008
Ray Hencken

Nice meeting you this past weekend!

Feb 9, 2009
Jill

It was a pleasure meeting you, we must do dinner again...next time our paths cross, maybe Easton in June?

Feb 14, 2009
Dex

Great to see you again in Chi-town thanks for the advice! Congrats on your cert too!

Feb 22, 2009
sophie

I am trying to start a coffee shop with a budget of $ 35,000. Filling this out would greatly help me. I am disabled and trying to get off of uncle sam's payroll. Also any advice is appreciated. i am in my business planning stage at the begning balnace statement. My head just spins
from talking about it!

1 What kind of coffee machines do you use
2 How long do they last
3 How much is the rent for your store
4 After you found your location for your store, what condition was it in
and how much did you spend to fix up?

5 How much is store insurance a month
6 how much are your utlities
7 When you were first in business did you ever need a payroll loan,
if yes how long did it take for your credit to become established to get a loan

8 how many differnt types of coffee do you brew a day
9 How many employees do you have a day
10 How many pounds of beans do you order in a week
11 Ball park customers and cash take in a month
12 how big is your store and town located in
13 do most of your customers live or work in town
14 what hours are your shop open
15 how long has your shop been open

Apr 5, 2009
nik orosi

hello my brother, hows life?

Apr 24, 2009
nik orosi

any news? traveling around?

May 4, 2009
nik orosi

its fieramilano, the biggest coffee fair in europe and even in the world. also, at the same time, la marzocco is not having their stand on fieramilano, but having their on sho called 'in the box'. ill visit la marzocco, dont care for others actually...im heading to la marzocco next month to test new machine and see the factory...

May 4, 2009
Cedric

You're not Filipino are you?

May 14, 2009
Greg Suekoff

Sedona, in the verde valley

Aug 3, 2009
Matt Swenson

Hey Jay--if you are interested in the curtis tower, give me a call at 317.403.1239 sometime this week. Also, sorry for the late response, I went on vacation for a week and forgot to check the bx.

Aug 31, 2009
Ben Cram

Jay, any chance you'll be in Van for the Canadians?

Sep 18, 2009
Ben Cram

I will be talking to Les in the next few days. Maybe I'll lobby to get you there. Regardless, it was good to have you at the regionals.
Cheers,
Ben

Sep 19, 2009
Joe Marrocco

Jay,
I completely agreed with you and the kid needs to grow up. Noy like he hurt your feelings or you care at all, just giving support anyway. I tried to do it on the thread before it was pulled. Oh well. Godspeed.

Sep 29, 2009
Joe Marrocco

BTW, What is a haupia Macc.?

Sep 29, 2009
Joe Marrocco

That sound very interesting. I find it very uplifting that you actually offer you sig bev on your menu. I mean, what a novel idea!! I think this should almost be a requirement. If your customer cannot take part, then what's the point of it all. Ok... I know the point,... But it would be refreshing.

Sep 30, 2009
Jarred Hoffpauir

I do get what your saying and by the time I got to your second post it started to become clear. I do think that the author of the thread would not get it though. I dont think he has ANY experience as a manager and has no real tools for background to make the kind of hiring decisions and conduct the training that would be needed under your style of management.

What he needs is probably some documentation and some direction which should come from his employer but he is likely not going to get. Its too bad and that is why most places have such a high overhead when it comes to employee turnover. training and efficiency.

I do think that we need a good thread on management styles and tools. Ill try and dig up some of the stuff I had from my last employer and post it. Some might find it interesting and helpful and im sure others will have different opinions to post.

Oct 13, 2009
Phil Proteau

Hi Jay, no worries, I will be back through your area on Nov 5th and again on the 19th. Let me know if you will be around one of those days and we can go eat some food.

Oct 16, 2009
Chris Y. Gaoiran

Hey Jay, I've been following the discussion on the "And your recommendation would be..." thread, saw that you're opening up a shop, and was pleasantly surprised to read that Barefoot made it onto your cupping table. I'm not with the Foot-proper anymore, but I wanted to drop you a line and say it was good to meet you back in December at the Barefoot Cafe.

Cheers.

Oct 23, 2009
Chris Y. Gaoiran

Heya Jay! I'm don't own Red Berry but I am the manager and definitely the barista with the most experience. I'm chronicling the experience as best I can. It's feeling more like Hunter S. than Kerouac; definitely lucid at times. I'm learning first hand what you've known three or four times now. Cheers, and TTYL.

Oct 25, 2009
FinerGrind

Hey Jay, the Baristas at Spro were cracking me up the other day!

I tried the Aricha I left for you, and I think I roasted it too light - if you try it as a SO shot let me know if it was better than the way I had it, which was vac-pot.

Also, I did stop in to Woodberry Kitchen for dinner after visiting Spro, and it was amazing... Oyster soup | Wreckfish, greens, and white carrots | Sweet Potato Pie... very nice indeed! I'll be back.

Woody

Nov 4, 2009
Joseph Robertson

Hey Jay,
Great set of photos. Nice work with your mission and business direction.

Nov 28, 2009
Mike M

Hey Jay! I just posted a response to your comment in the 'iced on foamed lattes' discussion and was hoping you could enlighten me a bit more on the topic. Thank you kindly!

Dec 19, 2009
JOHN MULI MAKAU

Hi Jay,
Its un belivable what i have read,keep it men.Do you remember our days at Atlanta?

Dec 21, 2009
Chris Dodson

Hey Jay,

I visited your shop last summer, and had the pleasure of getting some spro from one of your very talented baristas! I think her name was Ruth? She had a guest espresso in the hopper that knocked my socks off..

Is your new shop opening soon? I'd very much like to be one of your first customers!

Feb 13, 2010
Chris Dodson

I'm going to Philadelphia in a few weeks to visit my brother. Will definitely check out Spruce Street. I went to Ultimo when I was up there last..

Feb 14, 2010