S4:EP9: COFFEE SMARTER
Topic: Developing Flavors During the Roasting Process.
Guest: Siri Simran Khalsa, Lofty Coffee Company
Title: Director of Coffee
Instagram: @loftycoffeeco, @SDCoffeeNetwork
Website: www.loftycoffee.com
I never take for granted that awesome people like Siri Simran Khalsa (Lofty Coffee Co.) take the time to be on the R!WC podcast. I often wonder why they do, but I’m not going to stop asking!
During the podcast recording, Siri mentioned the “iconic” new stacks that connect down to Lofty Coffee’s new Loring roaster. I went to check them out.
While I was there, Siri was teaching one of her team members how to set up a Kyoto Cold Brewer that was custom-made for Lofty Coffee back before the pandemic. Kyoto cold brew towers trace their history back more than 400 years to some passing Dutch traders.
The drip brewer has three sections: the water chamber on top, the column of coffee grounds in the middle, and the carafe at the base. The water chamber is filled with ice and water that drips very slowly over many hours at about a rate of one drop of water per second. A paper filter under the grounds can slow down the process even further and keep grounds from draining into the carafe below.
Besides the inherent coolness of seeing this cold brew contraption being assembled, it was really interesting to hear Siri teaching in real life. Providing coffee education on the podcast creates some unique challenges, but, somehow, each week, we—mostly she and our other Coffee Smarter experts—figure it out.
What I observed at Lofty Coffee was that free of those constraints, Siri was able to both show and tell, making for a very effective lesson. As a casual bystander, even I learned a lot. I appreciate the challenges our Coffee Smarter experts face trying to explain complex topics over audio even more than I did before. Over the next few weeks, Siri will be dialing in the brewer before making some unique cold brews for customers. The brewer is stationed across from the barista bar at the Lofty Coffee Roasting Works location in Encinitas, California.
Kyoto cold brew is not the same as Japanese iced coffee. Unlike cold brew that steeps over time, Japanese iced coffee is a pour over coffee that is dropped down over ice to flash chill the coffee. The amount of coffee and ice are calibrated together to make sure the temperature and water to coffee grind ratio adds up. Coincidentally, Chris at Coffee Cycle Roasting offers Japanese iced coffee as their cold brew offering.
COFFEE JOBS
Steady State Roasting in Carlsbad is currently looking to add a new team member. They are in need of a Barista / Assistant manager. Email your resume to hello@steadystateroasting.com.
CAFÉ LaTERRE is hiring asap for their newest location in Encinitas. Check out the R!WC Coffee Jobs thread here.
Lofty Coffee is hiring. I know because I saw this sign yesterday.
R!WC INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Leap Coffee’s logo has a coffee bean frog in it. I legit never saw that. Shop Leap Coffee coffees.
First Light Whiskey is now being distributed throughout California. Look for it at your favorite premium beverage stores, or order direct to you from Bar Bank Spirits here.
Mostra Coffee added Matcha Green Tea to the menu. Order as a traditional tea or as a Matcha latte (hot or iced). Available in all Mostra locations.
Follow @mostracoffee. Where this photo is from.
The R!WC Industry Partners are awesome. Click these links. Drink their coffees and whiskeys. Visit their cafes. Support local coffee shops. You won’t be disappointed.
Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Leap Coffee • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee Importers • Marea Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company
UPCOMING COFFEE SMARTER TOPICS
How to taste coffee like a pro.
Milk: Steaming, Frothing, non-dairy, drink making, chemistry.
LISTEN ON THESE PLATFORMS
APPLE PODCASTS • SPOTIFY • ANCHOR.FM • GOOGLE PODCASTS • AMAZON MUSIC • THE COAST NEWS • TUNEIN RADIO • I HEART RADIO • POCKETCASTS • BREAKER • RADIO PUBLIC • OVERCAST • YOUTUBE • STITCHER
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Roast! Coffee Smarter: Developing Flavors