There are a myriad of things that happen to a coffee, between the time it is harvested from the tree, to the moment it is brewed, cupped, and tasted; and even then, takes different courses depending on the type of cup. A universal experience, yet dynamic, delicate, and unique; sacred in its unrefined, natural essence and unabridged…

There are a myriad of things that happen to a coffee, between the time it is harvested from the tree, to the moment it is brewed, cupped, and tasted; and even then, takes different courses depending on the type of cup. A universal experience, yet dynamic, delicate, and unique; sacred in its unrefined, natural essence and unabridged…

Beneficio El Manzano is now receiving coffee cherries every day, and with that the patios are beginning to fill up with the many different batches of coffee that has been processed. Batch number eight was laid out on the patio last night, however, like the rest of the current coffees on the patio, is forced to wait out the rainy afternoons…

Santa Ana, ES - Who remembers saving files to a floppy disk? Personally, I recall labeling each different one with permanent marker, and getting strange stares in college when attempting to retrieve a paper from one in my university library. And that was six years ago.

For many students in El Salvador…

There are a myriad of things that happen to a coffee, between the time it is harvested from the tree, to the moment it is brewed, cupped, and tasted; and even then, takes different courses depending on the type of cup. A universal experience, yet dynamic, delicate, and unique; sacred in its unrefined, natural essence and unabridged…

Santa Ana, ES - Who remembers saving files to a floppy disk? Personally, I recall labeling each different one with permanent marker, and getting strange stares in college when attempting to retrieve a paper from one in my university library.And that was six years ago.

For many students in El Salvador however, working with computers…

The new mechanical dryer has arrived at the plantation, and after sitting at port for a hectic week, rests disassembled, scattered about the plantation, awaiting the completion of its covering at the new patios, for installation.

The 2011-2012 coffee harvest has officially begun at Beneficio El Manzano, in Santa Ana, El Salvador; receiving its first two batches of bourbon cherries on the twelfth of September from farms: Finca El Manzano and Ayutepeque.

After processing and drying, the pergamino, or parchment coffee, is bagged in…

I have recently been asked how I come up with my cupping notes. Do I really taste things like “musty, cocoa dusted over-ripe strawberries,” “apricot syrup,” “sweetness like meringue over cooked bananas,” “damp pipe tobacco,” “leather soaked in apple juice,” and so on. My answer for this probably qualifies as a tangent (hence my necessary category: “Ramblings”), but I have attempted to illustrate the problem, and perhaps the solution, with analogy from art history and theory. If you just want…

My boss and the other barista who's been here for about 3 years off and on, are both getting on my case because I adjusted the grinder to a finer grind because my shots were too fast (like <15 seconds fast).



Now, during our summer hours, I was the only barista here, so I had time to perfect MY technique, and I didn't have to worry about other people in my workstation. We also are a slow enough place that we only have one person on shift at a time.



Well, we're back to…

Do any of you ever need coffee but you don't have time to go where you know the good stuff is or it's to far away?  Most likely not, because the majority of you are Baristas and working in the industry.

That was me today, and on a coffee lovers holiday!  I don't work in the coffee industry, but for me coffee is passion; a daily passion that takes me all over my city seeking out my black gold.

Today was interesting....

I woke up only to realize…

I find it so frustrating that my boss doesn't give two licks about this place.

I understand that his main business is his cabinets and the coffeeshop was just an after-thought to take up some extra space, but still. If I have to work for anyone, I want to work for someone who is just as enthusiastic about coffee as I am.

If the location of this place was better, I'd work out a deal with him to take over the shop with my husband, but I refuse to stay in Walla…

The 2011-2012 coffee harvest has officially begun at Beneficio El Manzano, in Santa Ana, El Salvador; receiving its first two batches of bourbon cherries on the twelfth of September from farms: Finca El Manzano and Ayutepeque.

For the last few days, I have been throwing out everything I know about making myself a good cup of coffee and just trying random methods.

My tea ball did not work to brew at all

but

My little tea pot does surprisingly well at brewing coffee.…