S5:E8: COFFEE SMARTER
Topic: US Coffee Tasting Championships
Guest: Ryan Sullivan, Mostra Coffee
Title: Director of Coffee Operations
Instagram: @mostracoffee
Website: www.mostracoffee.com
In a random coincidence, I met Ryan Sullivan—Director of Coffee Operations at Mostra Coffee Company—for the first time in the parking lot at Coffee Cycle a few days before we recorded this episode. I recognized him from a TV spot he had done following the US Coffee Championships.
He and Chris used to work together at Bird Rock Coffee Roasters. Chris and I worked together at Coffee Cycle. Now, I have this podcast in which I reached out to Ryan. The coffee industry is both large and yet fairly small. The more interviews I do, the more I see the connections between coffee pros, and the more it is noticeable that there are some people who influence and connect large swathes of the industry.
The crew that worked under Chuck Patton at Bird Rock has gone on to become leaders in coffee. Multiple times in one week, guests on my show referred to the team at Cat & Cloud Coffee (Santa Cruz, CA) as inspirations for what they do now.
Ryan joined the show to talk about the competitive coffee experience and how it compares to the day-to-day coffee tasting he does for Mostra Coffee. The competitive circuit is a niche within the industry that helps set standards for the rest of the industry to strive for.
Ryan will be back next week to talk about bourbon-barrel coffee and innovation in the industry. Before then, listen to the previous interview I did with Bev Magtanong & Jelynn Malone, Co-Founders & Co-Owners of Mostra Coffee Company.
FROM THE LAST SHOW
During the episode featuring Karen Eland, Coffee Painter, I mentioned I had been inspired to pick up a paintbrush. I did a bunch of trees and a bunch of colorful backgrounds before getting on a coffee cup and cactus kick. My need for instant gratification makes me a less than an excellent painter, but they could be worse…right?
FROM THE SHOW
I listen to the Hysteria podcast. They dropped this episode, “Laws>Prayers,” in response to the Uvalde school shooting and the condolences offered by politicians who also refuse to vote on new gun laws. It was simultaneously devastating, angry, and yet hopeful. I definitely recommend it. Hosted by political commentator and comedy writer Erin Ryan and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco.
R!WC Industry Partners
Mostra Coffee’s newest roasts just dropped, including a Burundi Kayanza Gahahe, a Sumatra Tano Batak, and an Ethiopia Uraga Raro Boda.
CAFÉ LaTERRE is hiring a part-time employee. Send an email to info@cafelaterre.com for more information.
Click these R!WC Industry Partners 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 • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company • Ascend Coffee Roasters • Marea Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee Roasters
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Coffee Smarter: US Coffee Tasting Championships