Nick and Ryan Drink Coffee: April
SCA EXPO is only days away. See you there? Maybe?
Nick Schmitt is the Specialty Coffee Ambassador at Roastar, Inc. We regularly catch up for a cup of coffee, so we decided to start recording our chats. Check back each month as we catch up on what’s new.
NOTES FROM THE SHOW
Check out Firedancer Coffee Educators at: www.firedancereducators.com.
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) EXPO is rebranding for 2025 as the World of Coffee. https://www.coffeeexpo.org/world-of-coffee-san-diego-2026
If you want to drive in Southern California, you need to be aware of traffic patterns. A 15-minute drive could easily be an hour at the wrong time of day. Taking a trip between San Diego and Los Angeles? I suggest the train, but if you’re driving, add an extra just in case hour. There is a stretch of The 5 where there is no on, no off, and nowhere to go if there is an accident or slow down.
BTW: My wife and I are moving out of SoCal. It’s been in the works for a while. The eleven years we’ve been here is the longest we’ve ever settled down. We’re hitting the road in June for the Free Coffee Tour and then an adventure. We don’t know the final destination, only that our lease ends in May.
June Gloom is famous enough in SoCal to have its own Wiki page. May Gray has (anecdotally) been getting grayer and cooler each year!
The Coffee Chronicles on @roastar via Instagram.
I’ll be at Roastar’s SCA EXPO booth #919 on Friday and Saturday, April 25th and 26th, at 10:00, recording live interviews with some awesome guests for Season 14 of Coffee People. If you’re in Houston, don’t hesitate to hit me up for a cup of coffee or stop by the booth.
What is the relationship between a customer and their local coffee shop or barista?
Can you be a regular if you only go somewhere once a year? I stop at Kiln Coffee in Grand Junction at least once a year. It is a regular stop. We appreciate the consistency of the experience and the lovely downtown of Grand Junction. I feel like a regular when I’m there, even though it is a single annual visit. What turns someone from a customer to a regular? Thoughts?
The Phoenix coffee shops I stopped by were Songbird Coffee & Teahouse, Xanadu (which had some major changes the week after I was there), aftermarket in Belhaus, and Caffio Espresso Bar in the Pueblo plant nursery.
Don’t get jaded!
We’re on Bluesky.
So is coffee writer Fion Pooler. His The Pourover blog is excellent.
With cold brew, especially cans, check the best-by dates. Be cautious with an older coffee. I assumed drinking an old can mean it might not taste good, not that I could get botulism!
What loyalty do you owe a coffee shop that you feel partial toward if the quality of the product drops, but the service doesn’t? Would you say something? Let us know in the comments.
A FEW TIPS FOR SCA EXPO
Hydrate! Drink water. It is easy to get a coffee buzz and then hit up an EXPO afterparty. Not drinking water makes for a difficult day two.
Bring a backup shirt. It gets hot in Texas. In my case, I’ll likely spill coffee on myself!
Take a break to explore coffee outside the convention. When will you get back to Houston?
Wear comfy shoes. Bring more than one pair to switch out day-to-day.
If you’re there for business, have a plan. The convention floor can be overwhelming. Download the SCA app and check out the map. Hit up the essential stops for your business first. Then, enjoy the remaining time exploring.
If you’re there for fun, have fun!
Bonus tip: If you see a bearded podcast host wandering around with a big backpack or shoulder sack, say hello. That bag is filled with goodies he doesn’t want to haul back home.
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