Best Boss Barista Podcasts (2024)

1
Blue Bottle Independent Union Takes On One of the World’s Largest Specialty Coffee Chains 39:14

12d ago39:14

39:14

In May 2024, workers across six Blue Bottle locations in Boston voted to unionize. Abbey and Alex are here to talk about how workers deserve to have a voice in decision-making in their workplaces. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com

1
#65: To Blend or Not to Blend? Wine Vintages, and Harvest Update. 37:48

4h ago37:48

37:48

On today's episode I will be updating you on the coffee we made this harvest season and speaking of the importance of blends. If you’ve listened to even 1 other episode of this podcast, you’ll know that I'm usually trying to discourage the coffee industry from blindly adopting wine culture. Usually I share my thoughts that adopting a wine model ben…

1
#64: What Kind of Coffee Lover am I? How Much am I Willing to Pay for a Cup of Coffee? 35:02

1M ago35:02

35:02

This episode also comes on the heels of our recent trip to London. Our very first stop was the Nagare coffee shop in Shoreditch in North London. Nick and I do what we usually do when we step into a coffee shop and order the pour overs. They had 2 different coffees on the menu for a pour over so we got one of each and sat back at our cute little tab…

1
#63: Terroir For Busy People 37:14

2M ago37:14

37:14

Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: info.luxiacoffee@gmail.com Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos. And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPal Sign up for the newsletter for behind …

1
#62: The Commercial Yeast vs Wild Microbes Debate w/ Pranoy of Kerehaklu 1:36:06

3M ago1:36:06

1:36:06

Today I bring you a third installment with Pranoy from Kerehaklu. In this new episode we talk about: The pros and cons of commercial strains vs wild microbes The over-complication of fermentations The drawback of high altitude farming The drawback of honey process An alternative to adding fruit to your tank Terroir vs Ecological niche Pranoy's appr…

1
#61: Coffee Fermentation Review with Ashley Rodriguez of Boss Barista 52:19

3M ago52:19

52:19

RESOURCES Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: info.luxiacoffee@gmail.com Boss Barista Substack Boss Barista Podcast Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos. And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contri…

1
Fermentation in Coffee With Lucia Solis 50:10

5M ago50:10

50:10

Breaking down the microbes that help break down coffee with fermentation expert Lucia Solis. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com

1
Jessica Easto Breaks Down the Tasting Notes of S'mores 42:01

7M ago42:01

42:01

The author of "How to Taste Coffee" talks expectations, effervescence, and finding joy and delight in drinking coffee. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com

1
#60: Thermoshock, Where Does Citrus Flavor Come From & How To Find Your Fermentation Soulmate 49:17

8M ago49:17

49:17

In this listener Q&A episode we talk about: How to use Thermoshock Does drying pull sugar out of the seed? What labels are important on a coffee bag? How do I prepare my coffee? How to know if you've hit "The One" on a fermentation trial How do citrus flavors get into coffee? How did a coffee from Panama fool a listener into thinking it came from E…

1
#59: What's Altitude Got To Do With It? Microbes & Meters Above Sea Level 41:29

8M ago41:29

41:29

In this new episode I talk about: A review of how dry process and wet process are different how microbes get into our fermentations What I look for in a coffee label, 4 key elements how I’ve changed my mind about descriptive processing labels studies showing contradictory results when they look at altitude in different countries. The Altitude of Co…

1
Introducing Conference Call 26:05

8M ago26:05

26:05

This week, we would like to introduce you to Conference Call, a new comedy fiction podcast distributed by Realm. The inventors of a two-tiered dish rack start a new company with an impressive new employee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Realm

1
#58: Direct Trade & Other Misleading Labels w/ Natali from Nachteulen Coffee 49:21

10M ago49:21

49:21

In this new episode with Natali we talk about: Growing up in a coffee producing country, but finding coffee later in life Falling into the specialty coffee rabbit hole The challenges of running a small business while keeping full time jobs Direct trade, fair trade and single origin How Natali chooses what information to put on her roasted coffee ba…

1
LaChrista McArthur Did Her High School Capstone Project on Coffee 43:52

10M ago43:52

43:52

The Charlotte-based coffee consultant threw herself into the industry at a young age—and now has a wealth of thoughts to share about loyalty, robot baristas, and the best coffee cities in the world. A full transcript is available at bossbarista.substack.com

1
#57: Will Frith Solves Terroir & Other Lessons From Vietnam 1:01:25

11M ago1:01:25

1:01:25

You cannot utter a sentence about Vietnam specialty coffee without including the name Will Frith. In this new episode we talk about: Will’s journey from a coffee purist to being more reasonable Meeting people where they are The importance of a middle class to support a new coffee category Will’s rule of thumb for cheap coffee What he drinks in the …

1
#56: Finding Work/Life Balance as a Coffee Producer w/ Pranoy Thipaiah from Kerehaklu in India 1:17:47

11M ago1:17:47

1:17:47

Today I bring you a long overdue second conversation with Pranoy from Kerehaklu in India. His first appearance on the podcast was EP#34 in May 2021 I have been wanting to catch up with Pranoy for more than 2 years, and after spending a week together processing coffee and learning we were able to sit down in Jakarta after the intense week of FTC and…

1
Negotiating a Contract with the Madison Sourdough Union 29:26

11M ago29:26

29:26

Workers at Madison Sourdough are striving to ratify their first contract—a process that's proven to be more hampered by management than they anticipated. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com

1
Mandy Naglich Time Travels with Smell 44:45

11M ago44:45

44:45

The author of the new book "How to Taste: A Guide to Discovering Flavor and Savoring Life," talks building up your sensory skills and unlocking more enriching experiences. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com

1
#55: Coffee Waste, A Feminine Approach, & Confident Processing–With Rani Mayasari 50:34

12M ago50:34

50:34

Today I bring you a conversation with an extraordinary producer: Rani from Java Halu in Indonesia. I do not use this word lightly. Rani is a truly exceptional person and my new coffee crush. I met her because she was the only woman who attended FTC Indonesia in June. Each previous FTC has been minimum 50% female, this is very important to me becaus…

1
Context Matters with Junior's Roasted Coffee 46:23

12M ago46:23

46:23

Coffee is in crisis, and one of the big problems is that some farmers aren't paid enough to cover their production costs. A new template from the team at Junior's Roasted Coffee looks to change that. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com

1
#54: Visiting Producers, Advanced Tourism & The Coffee Hunter with Tom of Sweet Maria’s 1:38:45

12M ago1:38:45

1:38:45

The conversation with Tom Owen is wide ranging, but one main theme we talk about is coffee travel and tourism. How the host and guest dynamics play out including the unintentional burden we may be placing on coffee producers when we visit them. Its an interesting time to be reflecting on the role of travel in coffee, since I just had a major trip t…

1
Sunergos Union Workers Fight to Make Their Voices Heard 34:54

1y ago34:54

34:54

The Louisville-based coffee chain won its union vote in January 2023—and is still waiting on leadership to ratify a contract. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com

1
Claire Bullen is Clearing Away the Thorny Brambles 1:06:49

1y ago1:06:49

1:06:49

A long-form conversation on writing with the newsletter's editor. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com

1
Lucia Bawot Redefines the Protagonist of the Story 56:12

1y ago56:12

56:12

The photographer and author of the book "We Belong" centers the stories of women coffee workers in Colombia. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com

1
Kristen Hawley is Glad Restaurants Aren't Going Away 44:08

1y ago44:08

44:08

The author of Expedite, a newsletter about restaurant technology, sees both the potential—and flaws—of tech in the food world. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com

1
#53: Reforesting, Finding Your People & The Hidden Cost of Coffee Production w/ Mark from Finca Rosenheim 1:06:40

1y ago1:06:40

1:06:40

In this conversation I got to ask him how he feels differently about the coffee industry since our last conversation. I highly recommend you listen to Ep #27 first, or as a refresher because we refer to that conversation frequently in this episode In this episode I follow up with him on his thoughts on: coffee certifications and competitions his re…

1
Stephanie Alcala Loves Bats And Coffee 46:59

1y ago46:59

46:59

Asking coffee trader Stephanie Alcala what does it mean to source responsible coffee and think holistically about sustainability. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com

1
For Jackie Nguyen, a Coffee Shop Was Plan C 45:13

1y ago45:13

45:13

The owner of Cafe Cà Phê, Kansas City's first Vietnamese-owned coffee shop, talks about starting a business in a new city during a pandemic—and the importance of having a specific mission. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com

1
Going Beyond Price with Brendan Adams 44:23

1+ y ago44:23

44:23

Specialty coffee distinguishes itself by its higher price tag—and stops there. To make meaningful change, Brendan Adams of Semilla argues that cost alone cannot be the finish line. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com

1
What Baristas Actually Make with Adam JacksonBey and Valorie Clark 38:32

1+ y ago38:32

38:32

The average wage for baristas is $14 per hour—but many are only scheduled to work 26 hours a week. Go Fund Bean representatives discuss barista wages and more. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com

1
Differentiating Between 'Value' and 'Values' With Ted Fischer 44:16

1+ y ago44:16

44:16

On neoliberalism and translating value in coffee with anthropologist and author of the book 'Making Better Coffee,' Ted Fischer. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com

1
Keith Hawkins and the Zoom Call That Never Happened 40:36

1+ y ago40:36

40:36

The 20+ year industry pro and founder of Color of Coffee Collective talks about the start-stop pace of progress—and following through on attempts to do better. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com

1
#52: Carbonic Maceration in Wine vs Coffee & Two Ways to Improve Robusta 1:24:55

1+ y ago1:24:55

1:24:55

In this episode we talk about: Carbonic Maceration in winemaking Carbonic Maceration in coffee and best guidelines to follow How to process Robusta differently than Arabica Benefits of fermentation in coffee fruit vs green seed modification Support the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts. And if you don't want to commit, show your sup…

1
Hitting the Right Note | #CCP026 36:35

1+ y ago36:35

36:35

The Coffee Commune invites Miguel from Flor a Fruto in Colombia to sit and chat about all things coffee. Miguel owns and runs an 80-hectare or 500 000 coffee trees on his plantation in Colombia, and brings with him, to the trade, 3 generations of facts and information. Miguel is currently visiting Australia and has spent some time travelling around…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Boss Barista Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide