Guest: Chris (Scooby) Dennis
Company: Ox Coffee Roasters
Role: General Manager
Based: San Diego, CA
Online: https://oxcoffeeroasters.com/ • @oxcoffeesd • @baristaoclock
What they drink: Literally, everything…but especially great chai.
There is just so much investment that goes into this, and there has to be this decision in the prelims part of season that I’m willing to go the distance, and not stop.
• Chris Dennis on preparing for competition.
The Orange Creamsicle combines orange peel, 2 shots of espresso, ½ shot of Kahlua, 1.75oz vodka, Monin Vanilla Syrup, and Breve served over fresh ice. Flavor notes include white chocolate, semisweet chocolate, and orange.
Taste more of Chris’ signature drinks at Ox Coffee Roasters, Breakfast Republic, Fig Tree Cafe, and Breakfast Company stores in San Diego, CA.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE PODCAST
Chris is someone who sets goals and looks–no seeks–opportunity to expand who he is. He is willing to acknowledge that what makes him feel like Chris is always changing.
As a kid, he would secretly make instant Folgers coffee in the middle of the night, being sure not to let the kettle boil to avoid the whistle. Something compelled him to explore those flavors.
We are all role models to someone, sometimes without even realizing it.
He felt isolated in part by his age within his family, which would cause him to retreat to the kitchen for family events. There he found relief in cutting onions or tasting foods or having the opportunity to express himself.
Competitions are high-stress, highly creative experiences that require great sacrifice to achieve success. You need your support team to be fully in your corner because your ability to reciprocate will be limited. We don’t always have a great balance between the various states of our life. When something is important, sometimes we go all in, in one area. Having a support team is invaluable.
Developing the Orange Creamsicle was a highly personal experience that originated in his memories of getting a french fry and shake at Ruby’s in San Diego. Food and drink are integral to our memories. We connect to places and to people over the things we’re ingesting.
The Orange Creamsicle! Photo credit: @BaristaOClock Pro-tip: Dip your fries in a shake.
For 2024, the Coffee In Good Spirits rulebook is 34 pages long with five different scoring components per round. Check out all the rules here: https://www.worldcoffeeingoodspirits.org/rules/
The you that is authentically you can inspire others, and you’ll be inspired by others when you least expect it. That happened to Chris on the competition circuit. His story reminds us that it’s okay if your motivation comes in waves.
In coffee, humans are the most important part of the equation, no matter how fancy your beans are.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) refers to the amount of ground coffee that has fully dissolved into the water that has been added during the brewing process. We defined TDS in our podcast about refractometers.
See all the winners from the 2024 US Coffee Championships in this recap from Sprudge.com.
Chris Dennis (right) with the other winners. This photo is from Sprudge.com. Click to view. ©Sprudge.com
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
ROAST! INDUSTRY PARTNERS
A huge, on-going thank you to all of this show’s industry partners.
Roastar • Zumbar Coffee & Tea • Steady State Roasting • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company • Ascend Coffee Roasters • Marea Coffee • Cape Horn Green Coffee • Hacea Coffee Source • Crossings Coffee • Sivitz Roasting Machines • Craft 42 Roasters • Me and My Uncle Coffee Roasters • Cozy Canine Coffee
Affiliate marketing: I don’t do a lot of affiliate marketing. This particular product, the Simply Good Coffee Brewer, is one I’ve agreed to promote because I use it almost daily. The original review was written before accepting any sort of affiliate marketing payments. If you click through using our links and end up purchasing a brewer, it will help support R!WC.
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