Coffee Sprudgecast

On the latest episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast, Zachary Carlsen brews BlendIn Coffee Club’s Colombia Los Nogales, the winning 2024 US Brewers Cup Championship coffee (which also happens to be their house decaf coffee!) Weihong Zhang of BlendIn Coffee Club in Houston, Texas, your 2024 United States Brewers Cup champion, took top honors in Rancho Cucamonga using a decaf Typica variety from Colombia, with a coffee he serves on bar every day. Pick up a bag of it online or in their cafe year-round. This is exactly what host Jordan Michelman did the evening Zhang was announced the 2024 champion! The decaf underwent a decaffeination process developed by Oscar Hernandez of Finca Los Nogales in Huila, Colombia. After de-pulping, the green coffee is then decaffeinated using, in part, its mucilage, which helps “[avoid] off flavors and [enhance] complexity with floral and fruity notes,” Zhang told Sprudge in an interview with Zac Cadwalader. Sprudge’s coverage of the 2024 US Barista Championship in Rancho Cucamonga is presented in partnership with Third Wave Water. Zachary Carlsen replicates the brew process deployed on the Brewers Cup stage as accurately as possible (with a slightly different hand grinder and variety of Hario V60—listen in to find out more). The process is especially interesting due to its use of two water temperatures and a touch of water bypass at the end.

Hold on to your coffee-loving merchandising trucker hats, because it's time for another action-packed episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast. This week, hosts Zachary Carlsen and Jordan Michelman are all abuzz about the imminent Specialty Coffee Association Expo this weekend in Chicago, Illinois. The comps! The booths! The gallons and gallons of alternative milks! We'll be there—with perhaps a special visit from Buzzy the Bean! Check out the latest show, and read on for show notes, links, and highlights. Things we're excited for at the Specialty Coffee Association's Expo in Chicago, Illinois The competitions: 2024 US Latte Art Championship, 2024 Roasting Championship, and the 2024 Coffee In Good Spirits Championship off-site at the new Lavazza Training Lab. Our Chicago Guide and special competition coverage on Finals Sunday from Arielle Rebekah! Tech and innovations reporting from our editor-at-large on the floor Jenn Chen! The True Artisan Cafe from La Marzocco featuring some of the very best coffee roasters in the country. Special thanks to Bellwether Coffee, our Presenting Sponsor of our SCA Expo Coverage, and thank you to our coverage sponsors Created Co. and Proper Syrup! What we're drinking on this episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast Relevant Coffee Hops Cold Brew from Vancouver, Washington. We just love RTD! Special thanks to Snapchill Coffee for presenting the Ready To Drink series on Sprudge this year. Loose Threads George Howell loves Buzzy the Bean on LinkedIn. The vegan Doe Donuts' Chocolate Espresso Bear Claw from Portland, Oregon is delicious with a chocolate sauce and espresso glaaaaze. Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher is a delicious alcohol-free drink. This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Baratza, Pacific Barista Series, Ghirardelli, and DONA.

Our coffee podcast program The Coffee Sprudgecast returns with an episode fresh off the US Coffee Champs première partie at Klatch Coffee in Rancho Cucamonga. Over a sun-soaked Southern California weekend, the 2024 United States Barista Champion, Brewers Cup Champion, and Cup Tasters Champion were crowned. Sprudge co-founders and hosts Zachary Carlsen and Jordan Michelman talk through it with the delicious assist of Klatch Coffee’s seasonal Songbird Blend. Host Zachary Carlsen had a conversation with a coffee enthusiast who held a strong belief that coffee blends were inherently bad. On the show, we discuss how blends like Songbird from Klatch Coffee (among several others!) are testaments to the delicious possibilities and flavor complexities specialty coffee blends can offer. How do you feel about coffee blends? Are your feelings about coffee blends true? Can you absolutely know that it’s true? How do you react when you believe that thought? Who would you be without that thought? Remember, there are no right answers—these questions will hopefully lead you toward deeper inquiry. (h/t Byron Katie) A big thanks… This year’s USBC/USBrC/CTC highlights the power of the coffee community. Competitors, judges, volunteers, and sponsors all worked together to showcase both the nation’s top competitors and finest coffees, demonstrating extraordinary talent, dedication, and passion. We’re grateful to Klatch Coffee for hosting this incredible event and making us feel so welcome. We’re deeply humbled by the kind words from y’all for our US Coffee Championships coverage. All credit goes to the Sprudge Rancho team: Sprudge Managing Editor Zac Cadwalader kept everyone at home in the loop with exceptionally detailed real-time updates as photographer Charlie Burt captured every moment in vivid detail. A huge thank you to our event coverage partners at Third Wave Water! Their support champions the specialty coffee community, our independent coffee competition coverage, and their products help make coffee even more vibrant. Thank you! This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Baratza, Pacific Barista Series, Ghirardelli, and DONA.

Our coffee podcast The Coffee Sprudgecast is back for another rousing episode where hosts Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen take a shortcut… a tiramisu shortcut? Michelman discusses an epic event held with La Marzocco in Florence to promote But First, Coffee that included a whole tiramisu cupping (three cakes that used three different coffees). Carlsen springs a package of Twinkies and claims to be able to make a quick tiramisu out of it. There’s some horror, some shock, followed by some shocking surprises. There’s so much more. Several coffees are had, all brewed with the Ceado Hoop Brewer. Michelman talks about Monmouth Coffee out of London and a bring-your-own-doughnut-to-a-cafe Dorkage Fee. There’s an eccles cake and Lancaster cheese. Coffee ice cream is had. A lot going on here. Have a listen! This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Baratza, Pacific Barista Series, Ghirardelli, and DONA. Beverages Discussed On The Podcast DONA Hari River Mint Herbal Tea: Dreaming of springtime, we kick off the episode with DONA’s delicious Hari River Mint Herbal Tea which is sundried at the source in Herat, Afghanistan. It’s the freshest-tasting dried mint tisane we’ve had (and we love fresh mint tea). Equator Coffees El Salvador Las Pirineos Gesha Natural & Colombia Finca El Guaca Ahi: Equator Coffees continues to push the envelope with outstanding extra-specialty coffees. We couldn’t get enough of both and clearly, others couldn’t either—the Aji is out of stock! There are plenty of options on Equator’s new arrivals page for your perusal, however, so you can find something. La Marzocco / La Accademia Tanzania Songwa Estates: Visitors at La Marzocco’s former factory La Accademia del Caffé can taste the delicious coffees from Songwa Estates of Tanzania roasted on site. La Marzocco, Probat, and Mahlkonig all went in on this project back in 2007 and the coffees shine bright here in 2024. Portland Coffee Roasters Guatemala: Representing one of its lighter roasted coffees, Portland Coffee Roasters’ Guatemala comes from their partners Miguelina and Finca El Paternal, a twenty-year relationship that has seen an increase in production innovation with tasty results. Other Mentionables St. John Eccles Cake & Lancashire Cheese Lello Ice Cream Maker by Musto

Breaking! There’s a new episode of Sprudge coffee podcast The Coffee Sprudgecast! On the newest episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast, hosts Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen talk about the winners of the 15th Annual Sprudgie Awards, all while drinking the newest iteration of the Wilder Blend from Verve Coffee Roasters in California. This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Baratza, Pacific Barista Series, Ghirardelli, and DONA.

It's 2024 and time for a new installment of the Coffee Sprudgecast! In this episode, hosts Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen sip DONA teas and tisanes, drink espresso-forward beverages with Olympia Coffee Roasting Company, and look ahead at what is shaping up to be a very big year here at Sprudge. From award programs to the decade-long Build-Outs of Coffee series, the fun just doesn't stop. If you listen deep enough, you'll even hear a podcast listener exclusive scoop! So listen right now! This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Baratza, Pacific Barista Series, Ghirardelli, and Moccamaster.

Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen return for another spirited episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast. Several beverages were prepared for this episode—including fresh offerings from Madcap Coffee, Greater Goods Coffee Co., PERC Coffee, and Rishi Tea. That's a lot of buzz for one session. This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Baratza, Pacific Barista Series, Ghirardelli, and Moccamaster.

Podcast listeners, do we have a surprise for you. That’s right, there’s a new episode of The Coffee Sprudgecast. Hosts Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen are back with fresh coffee, new gear, and a heck of a lot news and updates. Nightswim Coffee’s Ultraviolet Blend is brewed live on-air using the new award-winning Hoop Brewer from Ceado and the results are surprising! Never one to limit oneself to a single beverage, the hosts also try a new Rishi Tea botanical blend. This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by The Fargo-Moorehead Caffeinated Crawl, Baratza, Pacific Barista Series, and Ghirardelli.

The latest episode of the coffee podcast The Coffee Sprudgecast is out! Hosts Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen are back—and they’re drinking delicious a new offering from Bellingham, Washington superstars Camber Coffee. The pair had the La Papaya Anaerobic Typica from legendary Ecuador producer Juan Peña. Brewed in a Chemex, the coffee’s flavors of pineapple, milk chocolate, maraschino cherry really shined. While the Ecuador La Papaya Box Set is currently sold out, you can sign up for Camber Coffee Artist Series text alerts to learn about the latest Artist Series drops! Camber Coffee participates in our new Roasters Village program. Are you looking for a coffee recommendation right now? Check out http://sprudge.com/coffee for fresh recommendations from our roasting partners! Listeners have the opportunity to hear the thumping beats of summer single “Build It Out” one last time as the hosts talk about four outstanding new cafes from the Build-Outs of Coffee summer series. This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by The Fargo-Moorehead Caffeinated Crawl, Lelit, Baratza, Pacific Barista Series, and Ghirardelli.

Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen are back for another exciting episode of the coffee podcast The Coffee Sprudgecast. Michelman and Carlsen drink some stunning coffee from Monogram Coffee. The hosts enjoy La Llama from Bolivia and an exceptional offering from Finca Takesi, a small-screen gesha coffee brewed in an automated dripper and a Chemex, respectively. La Llama is part of their Wonder Collection, coffees that exhibit an adventurous quality and is a Coco Natural processed coffee. Monogram explains: La Llama does grow many different varieties, but they are really well known for their beautiful caturras and javas. This particular coffee has been processed using Agricafe’s Coco Natural process, which leaves coffee to ferment longer than the average natural process. They pay very close attention to their processing during every step to ensure that they produce the most delicious coffee that they can. They refer to this process as “Coco Natural” because of the way the bean resembles a cocoa bean at the end of processing. Monogram Coffee participates in our new Roasters Village program. Are you looking for a coffee recommendation right now? Check out http://sprudge.com/coffee for fresh recommendations from our roasting partners! The steady build of the summer hit single “Build It Out” makes way for another exciting edition of the Buildcast—where Michelman and Carlsen discuss brand-new cafes featured in our Build-Outs of Coffee summer series. New cafes from Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Orange County, and Denmark are discussed. Are you building out your dream cafe? Let us know! Read more about these beautiful builds in the show notes below. This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Lelit, Baratza, Moccamaster, Pacific Barista Series, and Ghirardelli. Show Notes Roaster’s Village Build-Outs Of Coffee: Urban Sailor Coffee In Salt Lake City, UT Build-Outs Of Coffee: Play Coffee In Orange, CA Build-Outs Of Coffee: Equator Coffees In Los Angeles, CA Build-Outs Of Coffee: Ubuntu Coffee Roasters In Sakskøbing, Denmark

Welcome to another episode of the coffee podcast The Coffee Sprudgecast with hosts Zachary Carlsen and Jordan Michelman. In this episode, Michelman and Carlsen drink Block Party, the new limited-release summer blend from Partners Coffee in Brooklyn, New York, with an incredible packaging collaboration with illustrator Sophie (@soupiestudios). Sandwiched by the new summertime hit single "Build It Out," Michelman and Carlsen discuss brand-new cafes in the US, Canada, and UK. These cafes are featured in our annual Build-Outs of Coffee series—submit your build today! Read more about these beautiful builds in the show notes below. This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Lelit, Baratza, Moccamaster, Pacific Barista Series, and Ghirardelli.

The Coffee Buildcast is back! Featuring Naomi Joe Coffee, Greenstreet Coffee Co., Considered, and Wayward Coffee. This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Baratza, Moccamaster, Pacific Barista Series, and Ghirardelli.

This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is all about Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen’s new book But First, Coffee. Michelman and Carlsen take us behind the scenes, talk about the juicy innards, and discuss the process of making the book. But First, Coffee is out 10/10/23 and now available for pre-order everywhere fine books are sold. This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Baratza, Moccamaster, Pacific Barista Series, and Ghirardelli.

Reach for the sky and hold your head up high. For tonight and every night? You're a superstar. On the latest episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast, Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen are jamming out to Love Inc. and Superstar DJ Keoki while sipping on a honey-processed single-origin Verve Coffee Roasters brewed on a brand new Moccamaster KBGV Select in the Pistachio colorway. Michelman and Carlsen discuss Sprudge's latest Berlin guide from Tatiana Ernst, a lovely new fashion hub in Portland, and much more. Have a listen! This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Baratza, Moccamaster, Pacific Barista Series, and Ghirardelli.

On the latest episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast, guest host and photo journalist Elizabeth Chai reports live from the 2023 United States Barista Championship! Chai had an opportunity to interview competitors Frank La (he/him) of Be Bright Coffee in Los Angeles, California and Gray Kauffman (they/them) of Caffe Vita in Seattle, Washington. Each competitor brought their own unique set of skills to the stage and Chai finds out how they brought it, what they brewed with, and what makes them tick. It’s a fabulous episode and we’re thrilled to finally share it with the world! This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Moccamaster, Pacific Barista Series, and Ghirardelli.

Things are really heating up here at the Coffee Sprudgecast, as your intrepid hosts guard their ears and gird their loins for the impending 2023 SCA Expo, hosted in Portland, Oregon April 20th-23rd. You'll be reading and seeing much more about the show right here on Sprudge, but in the meantime, we taste and sip our way through an eclectic assortment of specialty coffee products, from a very exciting new home brewer with a proud, steady stream to a satchel of evocatively spiced coffee gummies in flavors like Cascara and Spanish Latte. All this and much more on this latest episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast. This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Moccamaster, Pacific Barista Series, and Ghirardelli.

What time is it? It's time for another episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast. In this stirring episode, Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen take a first-class ticket to Chocolate City. There they'll discuss the benefits of using real chocolate chips in mochas, the oat milk supply chain (Pacific Foods Barista Oat is back, baby!), whether or not you can make a satisfying inexpensive Macguyver mocha using household ingredients, and if Willy Wonka's chocolate factory focused too heavily on novelty and not enough on sustainable labor and sourcing practices. This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series and Ghirardelli.

On the latest episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast, Sprudge co-founders Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen drink coffee and eat almond pastry on foggy morning in Portland, Oregon. Not just any coffee, but the first release of Finca el Suelo—an Ethiopia landrace coffee grown in Colombia on a farm owned in part by Sprudge Award winner Tim Wendelboe. The limited release represents the very first harvest, years in the making, and the hosts share their excitement for the farm’s future harvests. Can’t get enough podcasts? Want to learn more about Finca el Suelo? Listen to the Sprudgie Award winning Tim Wendelboe Podcast Episode 21 – “A Conversation About Our Coffee Farm Finca el Suelo”. Carlsen and Michelman discuss the Sprudge Twenty program presented by Pacific Barista Series. Now in its fifth year, the Sprudge Twenty nominations are now open. Nominations are free thanks to the support of Pacific Barista Series. Read the in-depth interviews of the participants from previous years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, Sprudge 20 interviews can be found here. The hosts talk at length about the ongoing Sprudge Special Projects program made possible by La Marzocco. The hub is home of long-form coffee journalism from a growing international team of writers. Visit specialprojects.sprudge.com to find thought provoking and original work—updated each and every month. This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Straus Family Creamery, DONA and Pacific Barista Series.

Welcome back to the Coffee Sprudgecast! In our very first episode of 2023, hosts Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen share the winners, honorees, and finalists of the 14th Annual Sprudgie Awards Presented by Pacific Barista Series. For the full list, visit here. This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Straus Family Creamery, DONA and Pacific Barista Series.

This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is all about flavor. Some might even call it… Proof Of Taste. But how do we get there? By drinking several unique beverages, including coffees from Process in Northern Ireland (via Dayglow Coffee‘s excellent subscription box), some tasty cascara refreshments from Needs & Wants of Raleigh, North Carolina, and a whole mess of non-alcoholic wine-adjacent analog beverages from the company Canadian brand Proxies. This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series, Straus Family Creamery, and DONA.