2

Bryan Wray

Male

Vancouver, WA

United States

Profile Information:

What is your position in the coffee industry?: coffee shop owner, barista trainer, coffee roaster
Where are you located? ( City and Country ): Vancouver, WA
How many years have you been in the industry?: Eight.
If you are a barista or shop, are you interested in a barista exchange with another coffee shop/barista?: yes
What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?: Contact me with an exchange option and I'll let you know if I'm willing to go!
About Me:: Coffee is terrifying isn't it?

As baristas we usually screw up the coffee more than anyone else before us; that's if we're paying attention and at least a little lucky. Temperature, dose, dwell time, pressure, bloom, tamp, extraction time, coffee rest, grind. The variables are daunting.

Should you dose 18 grams? 18.5? 19 grams? Should the temperature be 200.5f? 201? How much should the shot yield? How long should it take? 25 seconds? 28 seconds? Pre-infusion? And what about tomorrow when the coffee is older, the air pressure is different and the door opens?

As professional baristas, the variables that face us from day to day are some of the most critical and finicky of any at any point in the chain.

It isn't our responsibility to add to the coffee. It's our responsibility not to screw it up. To pay attention. To learn. To educate. To adapt. To showcase everyone else's hard work while making ours look effortless.

If that isn't terrifying to you as a barista you need to reset your focus.

Welcome to coffee.
About My Company:: Compass Coffee is a quality focused roasting company with three cafe locations in the areas around Portland, OR. Our cafes focus on more traditional beverages with an emphasis on comparing different single origin espressos, as well as manually brewed coffees. We strive to obsess.

Some companies develop large mission statements with elaborate details, lofty goals, and words so foreign and confusing that you spend as much time deciphering it as the company did developing it.

While our goals are many and our passion is immense, our mission is simple. We want every person that walks out of our door to know one thing about coffee:

“Coffee is Culinary.”

Stop by one of our locations and experience our mission at work.
What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?: Education through exploration.
Website:: http://www.compasscoffeeroasting.com

Comment Wall:

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Eric

im not sure if you realize this, but there is a woe right in the middle of your page that says"false" its totally weird, but otherwise, i love the art its is sick!

Jan 22, 2009
Eric

word*

Jan 22, 2009
Scott Bruggman

Hey Brian I came across your discussicon about chocolate recipes. I'm a sales rep for Mont Blanc and I would love to help you out. Drop me line at 530 591 0725.

Jan 26, 2009
Abbey

Aww Bryan I miss my midwest friend! I'm so glad I'm not involved in that silly thing called Winter anymore. It's about 80 degrees here. It is so gorgeous. How have you been? I'm glad to here that you're going to Holland still :) How's the shop? Anyway, stay warm.

Ps. The coffee here sucks.

Jan 30, 2009
Pat Wray

Hey, hey!!! I haven't gotten a chance to check out my coffee page in a few days!! (You've probably noticed). I just got done with FB and decided to take a look-see here. How are your hands? Yeah, ALWAYS wear rubber gloves when you're using chemicals like that. I guess you know that by now . . .

Feb 1, 2009
Brendon Parsons

Yeah, Kalamazoo! Good to know my hometown is being represented with great coffee and beer! Will try to visit in the next couple of years (living in Florida now).

Feb 5, 2009
Terika

Haha! Yeah! I was able to see a few of them, but class sure gets in the way! I did see Ryan and he did well. I also saw January from Portland and thought she did well also. I dunno, it's going to be a tough call. It'll be interesting to see who wins. I guess Trevor from Madcap goes tomorrow. Oh, and keep an eye out, we should be posting something soon about a Latte Art throwdown at JP's. :)

Mar 5, 2009
Brendon Parsons

Hey Bryan, I am from Kalamazoo, but no relation to Graham. Good name though...

Mar 6, 2009
Terika

March 29th @ 5pm, mark your calendar! There will be a Latte Art Throwdown at JP's. I will get you more details and how to sign up when they get figured out.

Mar 11, 2009
Miro

It's on the 7th of July. We have been kicking around the idea, but nothing set in stone. But let me work my magic and I'll let you know.

Mar 12, 2009
Terika

The latte art throwdown is posted on here...you should go online and buy a ticket. :)

Mar 17, 2009
Terika

missed you at the throwdown yesterday...hope to see you at the next one!

Mar 30, 2009
Brady

Hi Bryan. So great to finally meet you this weekend. I hope you guys had a great time. Take care.

Apr 19, 2009
Ethan Billips

thanks for stopping in the other day. it was good to see you.

Apr 21, 2009
Terika

Hey Bryan! How was Atlanta? Our next Throwdown is on Sunday. Hope to see you there!

Apr 22, 2009
Jason Dominy

You, too man!

Apr 23, 2009
Brady

I'm contemplating Anaheim. At very least I'll be in Michigan next summer for a family reunion - likely Sleeping Bear area. Would try to stop by when I'm in the area. Till then...

Apr 23, 2009
Sam Granger

I hear that an old chef friend of mine is working at the Strut. Is name is Todd (I think his last name is Dutch or something), and we worked at Groundsphere in Allegan. Is this true?

It was great to meet you at the Throwdown,
Sam

May 11, 2009
Terika

Bryan!
July 10th is the next Barista Jam and Latte Art Throwdown at JP's. You need to buy a ticket! Here is the link http://www.eventbrite.com/event/349377999
Oh, and Happy Six Month by the way! ;)
-T-

Jun 9, 2009
Alex Chojolan

How are you doing Bryan? How was the art hop for you guys at the Strutt?? For us here was really crazy, everybody told us that it would be, it was just so many people in Kalamazoo that weekend. YAY!! For Kalamazoo. Well just stoping by to say hi and hoping things are going well for you. We need to get behind the bar to pull some double shots and maybe pour some latte art. Hope everything is going well, take care.
Alex

Jun 16, 2009
Alex Chojolan

Sounds great man, I'm busy this week but i well give you call next week for sure. What are your hours at the Strutt? About the barista jam in July, I have not yet been invited :) but yeah I'm thinking about it, the next winner from the latte art throws-down needs to be from Kalamazoo, that's you or me baby! Well nice to hear from you, I will for sure give you a ring next week. Take care!
Alex

Jun 17, 2009
Kevin Ayers

Hey man, I dropped by the shop to check it out today. Pretty cool place. I left a kenyan for you to try. Let me know what you think.

Jun 28, 2009
Garrett

Hey,
Hope all is going well at The Strutt. It's a great place!

Jul 4, 2009
Maggie Cook

yeah, I work at Lemonjello's...where do you work?

Aug 8, 2009
Kevin Ayers

No Problem. That kenyan was pretty good no? Sweet marias hooked it up on that one. It was also really close to harvest when I purchased it so it was fresh on all fronts. Thanks for the feedback, and if I/you are ever in the area we should get together and talk coffee. I got two cases of TwoHearted while I was up there that were bottled 4 days before I bought them. Best "vacation" ever. Bells F'ing Rules!

Sep 8, 2009
chad

hey bryan, shoot me an email. chad@madcapcoffee.com. id love to chat about what youve got going at your place. i hadnt heard of it, and im in kalamazoo from time to time at the inlaws cottage, and am always looking for new places to try out, especially since it is seemingly hard to find excellent coffees in the area.

Sep 14, 2009
Maggie Cook

Your comments on that exchange about firing that girl cracked me up. And I also agree. :)

Sep 21, 2009
Maggie Cook

Oh. And Flaming Lips? nice.

Sep 21, 2009
Maggie Cook

Hey I'm probably coming to your store soon! When's the best time to come?

Sep 24, 2009
Maggie Cook

Oh I don't know....next weekend maybe? When do you work?

Sep 27, 2009
Maggie Cook

Awesome! My number is 616.510.4519 but I'll for sure leave a message if you don't answer...I don't answer weird number either :)

Sep 28, 2009
Terika

I almost cheered out loud at what you were writing to Kayakman's discussion...then I remembered that it is 2am and my roommates probably would not appreciate that. Audible cheer or not, I appreciated your posts.

Sep 28, 2009
Maggie Cook

Hhahahahaha! Sorry, I had to laugh :)
That actually sucks though, I hate hate hate the feeling of realizing you're late for something!

Oct 2, 2009
Trevor

Hey, I just realized I think I passed you on the sidewalk on Saturday. You weren't at the jam yesterday though were you?

Oct 5, 2009
Maggie Cook

So I am currently at The Strutt, but you are not. How rude! :) Your friend/co-worker Dustin told me you left to start a coffee shop though, which is sweet!

Dec 29, 2009
Stacy Wofford

Nope it isn't Caribou, but it is a "Chain", its a Barnes and Noble Cafe. I just didn't want to get flack for it being Starbucks coffee, thats why I never said. I know its not always the best received in the coffee world. :) I like it though, because we only sell their coffee, we are not a Starbucks, so I can tweek things a bit.

Jan 20, 2010
Jessica Lamb-Brown

Thanks :) Yeah, most of those tulip pics are about a year old. With flow control, I've discovered that using handle-less pitchers do the best pour for tulips. I'm adding some more recent photos today with a tulip poured from a handle-less pitcher. makes a huge difference.

Jan 27, 2010
Mike Sabol

Thanks, Bryan.

Feb 23, 2010
Julie Stewart

Thanks Bryan. Appreciate your help and enthusiasm. Julie

Mar 31, 2010
Mike McGinness

OMG, got your Gold Star! :-)

Apr 30, 2010
june kang

teach me the ways of kick ass 'spro!

Jun 1, 2010
june kang

this is actually my first day on bx. I'm usually over on guitar forums, so this is all new to me.

Thank you for the spot! I won't let you guys down man. hopefully will be seeing you guys soon!

Jun 1, 2010
Brandi Heath

are you still in vancouver? its great to meet other baristas from washington state!

Aug 17, 2010
Brady

Hey Bry. I didn't see anything offensive in that thread. I thought all of the responses were appropriate, given that it started off as a rant anyway. There was no moderation activity that I'm aware of. The discussion disappeared when the OP left the community - which he seems to have done on his own. You know I'll tag you in the unlikely event that you get too far out. I hope your summer is good so far. Take care!

Aug 22, 2010
Mike Spence

Hi Bryan, Free passes are already passed. But! I have some generic fake names registered for the show. If you call me at the show on my cell (253-820-1587) I can see if I still have some left - Otherwise, I do have passes that discount that down to $10.00 when used on site.
Hope that helps! Call me for more info if you want - 800-454-4434
Mike.

Oct 26, 2010
Lynnette Norman

Well I just finished my Pdx run. I'm still in Seattle though!

Nov 9, 2010
Mark

Is there any other Mark that rocks as much as I do?

Nov 18, 2010
Mark

Yep, still holding it down (while pondering why I'm not somewhere that is warm year round).

Nov 19, 2010
Mark

It's not the same at all, but yet it is. The old faces are gone pretty much with the exception of a few.... I was in AZ for Labor Day and scoped out some properties there... IF I decide to go anywhere else Phoenix metro is my next home.... At least thats the 5 year plan. But really it's pretty much business as usual here. I can't complain...

Nov 19, 2010
Benza Lance

I gotta say, thanks for all the kind words. Its been a while since Ive been up thataways, and last time was 'the roadtrip from hell', but I should be up there within te next few months. Your place is on the itinery fa sho.

Jan 26, 2011

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