S9:E5
Guest: Bryan Banker-Scannell
Role: Coffee Educator (Mill City Roasters) & Founder/Roaster (Relative Coffee Co.)
Based: Minneapolis, MN
Online: linktr.ee/relativecoffeeco • millcityroasters.com
What they order: Cortado a.k.a. Gibraltar and/or a cup of single origin pourover coffee
Being a coffee roaster himself, Bryant is better able to provide coffee education, especially as it relates to the Mill City equipment he’s working on. It’s a win-win-win (as Jared from Hacea Coffee Source would say).
Mill City benefits because they are better able to serve and, by extension, sell to their customers.
Customers win because they are getting advice and coffee education from someone experiencing the same things on the same equipment that they are.
Bryant wins because he gets to pursue a passion and develop his coffee roasting brand.
Our career (and coffee) journeys are often circuitous. We rarely know—at the moment—where a zig or a zag will lead us, but being in the right place at the right time is a start. Recognizing an opportunity is often what gets us to our destination.
Bryant set a goal and worked to put himself in a position to achieve it. Now that he’s succeeded, he’s able to go forth day after day, offering up the same opportunity for others to engage in specialty coffee.
FROM THE SHOW
The Aeromatic App is a AeroPress timer app for your phone with a bunch of aeropress recipes. I just downloaded it on my phone, and I kind of love it. It takes some of the thinking out of my 1st coffee of the day, which is when it is hardest for me to do real thinking.
Bryant’s first memorable cup of coffee was an Ethiopian Natural Washed process from Dogwood Coffee at a dying mall in South Minneapolis. What was yours? Let us know in the comments.
“I just want to make people’s morning.”
The quote above, give or take, is something Bryant said in his interview at Caribou Coffee. It may have just been something he said at the time, but it became a truth in his life as he continued on his coffee career as a barista, restaurant and cafe manager, and then as a production roaster at Dogwood Coffee
Check out the Tropicana brand redesign that resulted in a $30,000,000 loss in only two months: https://thebrandhopper.com/2020/09/25/case-study-tropicana-rebranding-failure/
Definition: Group head - The place on the espresso machine where the portafilter connects and hot, pressurized water is forced down over the coffee grounds. Also know as the brew head. During our conversation Bryant referenced a Synesso three head group. He was referring to an espresso machine with three group heads for pulling espressos simultaneously.
The playlist I listen to when I’m drinking coffee…or whiskey.
ELSEWHERE IN THE COFFEE UNIVERSE
The Washington Post took a stab at breaking down the cost of a cup of coffee. It is a nicely illustrated description of commodity coffee from the perspective of a business owner. My biggest complaint is the title. Why the negativity?
A lot goes into the cost of a cup of coffee, and the base per-pound number goes up when you consider ethical sourcing of craft coffee. While commodity pricing has ranged between $1-2.40 over the past five years, we regularly chat with craft/specialty coffee roasters who are paying $3-7.00 per pound (if not more). The added expense goes toward higher-quality coffees, improved working conditions, and long-term farm sustainability efforts.
Matt Hankes, former Coffee With Podcast guest has continued his transplant advocacy and was recently featured in the Coeur D’alene Press. Click the photo above to read the article. Check out our original podcast chat below.
HOLIDAY GUESS THE BEANS CONTEST AT R!WC INDUSTRY PARTNERS
We dropped guess the beans in the jar kits at a few great R!WC partners this week. Stop by the coffee purveyors listed below for a chance to win $50 in coffee gift cards, fresh roasted coffee, and merch!
It’s easy to play.
Guess how many beans are in the jar!
Write that guess and your contact info on a slip of paper.*
Drop your answer in the jar.
Winners announced 12/15/2023 right here on the R!WC website and on our @roastwestcoast social medias.
*Write clearly. If we can’t read your email, how will we let you know when you win?
Find Contest Jars at:
Camp Coffee Company, 101 N Cleveland St, Oceanside, CA 92054
Steady State Coffee Roasting, 2562 State St suite g, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Zumbar Coffee & Tea, 10920 Roselle St, San Diego, CA 92121
Acento Coffee Roasters, 5334 Banks St, San Diego, CA 92110
A huge, on-going thank you to all of this show’s industry partners. Click these links!
Roastar • Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Steady State Roasting • Mostra Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company • Ascend Coffee Roasters • Marea Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee Roasters • Hacea Coffee Source • Crossings Coffee • Acento Coffee Roasters • Sivitz Roasting Machines
Do you want to support the show without subscribing? Help keep us caffeinated by buying us a cup of coffee. Thanks for all your support.
MERCH ALERT!
Check out the R!WC Store for new hats, beanies, and to pick up a few extra coffee journals!
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It’s true! Promo code below.
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