INTERVIEW: Stephen Crocker, Crowbeard Coffee
Stephen was actually the first person I interviewed for season 2 of the show a few weeks ago. I saw the name Crowbeard, and reached out. We talk about his theory regarding the name choice on the pod, and he’s right in thinking it is pretty catchy.
Like a lot of entrepreneurs, Stephen started by getting really passionate about something. The pounding you hear is Stephen emphasizing his point during our conversation. With his passion for his coffee roasts it felt right to leave it in the show, but starting a company requires a lot more skills. Often entrepreneurs are doing a half dozen different jobs at once just to do the one part of the job that inspired them in the first place. Why do entrepreneurs do that?
I don’t have an answer other than to say in my own experience it is because something is driving me to want to share something I care about with others. At Crowbeard, Stephen is the roaster, the marketing department, web designer, shipper, maintenance guy and so much more. You don’t do all that unless you love what you do, and it was clear to me that he really loves making coffee for others, and believes in the future of Crowbeard.
During the episode Stephen references the style of coffee processing (natural, washed etc), and I promise to link to a Coffee Smarter segment explaining the differences coffee processing including washed versus natural. I’m doing that here.
Head to Stephen’s website to see the current coffee offerings, learn more about his altruistic mission to help animals and people, and buy to snag a bag of coffee. His organic coffee’s are roasted in small batches, and are always Fair-Trade. He’s been working on a new website, and streamlining the shopping process.
BIRDNOTE
I like birds. I don’t know when exactly it happened. I blame my father-in-law. He also likes birds, and can even identify them by their call or feather pattern. Some of them. Not all of them, but it is still really impressive. He gave me my first set of binoculars. Then I got a bird book. Then I started noting what birds I found. Then I started listening to BirdNote.
Birdnote is two minute daily podcast that just gives you a quick fact about birds. Last week they dropped an episode called, “Tanagers - Coffee Birds. What do migratory birds and your latte have in common?” The answer is in the impact that coffee plantations have on bird habitats, and it is one more way that buying transparency is important when it comes to coffee.
Bird-friendly coffee is sometimes called shade-grown coffee. It is popular in Brazil where there are often clashes between coffee plantation owners and those keen to preserve and protect the rainforests. These coffees are grown amongst the native plants, trees, and animals in an effort enable producers to continue growing coffee without negatively impacting native species and preventing damage to forests. This is an especially important effort in Brazil where deforestation in the Amazon is happening way too fast.
COFFEE VOCABULARY
Today’s coffee vocabulary terms are all pretty random except for this first one, chaff, which Stephen refers to in this weeks podcast. It’s also a repeat from Season 1 which is why we have the bonus vocabulary word this week.
Chaff: Coffee chaff is the green dried skin that exists on the coffee bean when it is first picked from a coffee tree. It is the husk of the coffee bean. The hot temperature of the roasting allows the chaff to peel off easily, without the need of additional extraction.
Micro-Foam: the appearance of very tiny bubbles on top of a properly frothed milk. Micro-foam is what latte art is made out of.
Tamper: a heavy stainless steel device which the barista uses to press coffee grounds firmly into the portafilter when preparing to brew an espresso shot. Learn how to tamp properly right here.
INDUSTRY LEGACY PARTNERS UPDATE
• If you are looking for a career in coffee, Zumbar Coffee and Tea is hiring. Check out their current openings here.
• Mostra is hosting their first ever @SEEKERS "Coffee & Explore" event on Saturday, April 17th. “If you have a rig, love awesome Trucks + SUVs, or want to come out and ask a few questions, this event is for you.”
“Bring your rig and your family! The event is from 9AM-2PM on 4/17 at Mostra 4S Ranch. Don’t forget we have beer and wine available starting at 10AM.”
The Roast! podcast is supported by some local coffee industry (or industry adjacent) partners. These companies not only support Roast! efforts to share more coffee content they are the foundation I lean on when I need some coffee expertise.
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
IN CLOSING
Need to get caught up? Don’t forget to listen to the first episode of Season Two, an interview with Kayak Coffee Delivery’s Brendan Abrams. And you can find all of the episodes from Season 1 here.
Listen to the show 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! - Stephen Crocker, Crowbeard Coffee