Constantly learning.
Sharing excellence.
Always share.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, I want this newsletter to be a place where I can share all the things I have learned and the things I am currently learning. I love it when my current perspective is challenged and this is one of the many reasons why I have become so fascinated with this complex industry.
I think it would be wrong of me not to explore as many topics as possible however, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to filter out what is worth my time and what isn’t. One rule I try to stick by is - I try and get my information from a trusted source - over the coming months I will be sharing these sources but for this post, I want to concentrate on where one of them has guided me!!!
Where do I start? With an introduction I guess.
Making coffee with Lucia Solis - A winemaker turned coffee processing specialist. Lucia spits the truth about her encounters in coffee-growing regions and is hellbent on closing the gap between coffee producers and consumers. If you are at all interested in coffee then I would really recommend you to check Lucia out and also listen to her podcast.
I don’t know her personally but her ideas and opinions have resonated with me on such a level that I am already 20 episodes deep into her podcast.
Firstly I will start by saying it has been a very long time since I have been this excited by someone’s opinions on coffee and its current systems. Also, the crossover from Wine to coffee has provided an interesting insight into how the two industries have slight similarities with huge differences. Something I hear a lot is how similar the wine industry is to the coffee industry, and I was as surprised as anyone to find out that nothing could be further from the truth.
Lucia also delves into the current lack of credible terminology to communicate coffee processing (with which I agree) and takes a deep dive into fermentation practices on a microbiological level. With the use of specific yeast strains and environmental control protocols, the idea is to elevate coffee quality and provide a blueprint for scalable production for the producers she works with.
Listening to the podcast at every chance I can grab I am often reminded of the important role we play as coffee professionals on this side of the industry in making sure we are sharing the stories and rewarding the hard work of coffee producers. I have also just recently cupped some of the most incredible tasting coffees and it is down to this kind of post-harvest processing work. So, the timing seems strangely apt…. I could go on for hours on this one but I would rather you go and give the podcast a listen.
Have a great weekend.
Burts.