Cat & Cloud Podcast

Cat & Cloud

Chris Baca and Jared Truby are professional Baristas and are here to introduce the world to Specialty Coffee! From placing in the finals of the United States Barista Championship multiple times, winning regional competitions, to leading training and education for some of the most progressive coffee companies around - these two have learned a ton about coffee and want to share it with you. Tune in for weekly interviews, tutorials, and general mayhem from the brothers from different mothers: Truby & Baca. Learn more at catandcloud.com

  1. 5 HR AGO

    The World of Coffee 2026: Observations, Stories, and Lots of Love for the Community of Coffee - Ep #447

    Cat & Cloud Podcast Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/ The World of Coffee Reflection: Observations, Stories, and Lots of Love for the Community of Coffee - Ep #447 In this episode, Chris, Casey, and Director of Coffee Marc Gessler, recap World of Coffee San Diego 2026: the caffeine overload, the booth shifts, the reunions, the strange travel moments, and the bigger feeling of being part of the global coffee community. What starts with jokes about over-caffeination turns into a thoughtful reflection on why events like this matter—not just for products or trends, but for connection. The crew talks about Cat & Cloud’s place in the larger coffee ecosystem, the rise of home coffee enthusiasts, the continued importance of hospitality, and how meaningful it is to see people from all corners of the industry gather around a shared passion. It’s part event recap, part coffee culture reflection, and part reminder that this industry is really about people. Chapters  00:00 Over-Caffeinated at World of Coffee
 04:00 Morning Coffee, Energy, and Showing Up
 08:00 First Expo Memories and Changing Goals
 13:00 Casey’s First World of Coffee Experience
 18:00 Memorable Conversations and Cat & Cloud Connections
 23:00 Booth Life, Dialing In, and Serving at Expo
 29:00 Hospitality as the Bigger Conversation
 34:00 How World of Coffee Has Changed
 39:00 Home Coffee Enthusiasts and Prosumer Gear
 45:00 Big Trends, Big Setups, and Coffee as a Hobby
 50:00 Team Energy, Partners, and Community
 55:00 Weird Travel Moments and San Diego Stories
 Cat & Cloud: Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale Links – The Truth! Colombia Truji y Angelita Thermal Shock Natural https://catandcloud.com/products/colombia-truji-y-angelita-thermal-shock-natural Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first. Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them.  The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations.  Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby Produced by Casey Ryan April 2026

    55 min

  2. 6 DAYS AGO

    Coffee and a Danish Barista Champion, Christopher Hoff - Ep# 446

    Cat & Cloud Podcast Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/ Coffee and a Danish Barista Champion, Christopher Hoff - Ep #446 Summary: In this episode, Jared and Casey sit down with Danish Barista Champion Christopher Hoff, a top-six finisher at the World Barista Championships, to talk about competition, coffee, and the deeper story behind both. Christopher shares how his world routine centered on the coffee variety Wush Wush, a tropical and complex coffee that became a metaphor for his own journey of trying to become something he wasn’t before learning to compete from a more grounded, authentic place. The conversation moves from signature drinks and competition strategy into bigger reflections on storytelling, hospitality, personal growth, and how coffee professionals can invite people into new experiences instead of gatekeeping them. It’s a thoughtful, wide-ranging episode about craft, identity, and what it means to share something meaningful through coffee. Cat & Cloud celebrates this relationship to the world community of coffee and our desire to connect with friends from around the globe. Chapters 00:00 Welcoming Christopher Hoff to Cat & Cloud 03:20 What Barista Competition Actually Looks Like 09:10 Breaking Down the Signature Drink 13:00 Wush Wush and the Coffee Behind the Routine 20:00 The Three Principles and the Meaning of the Presentation 26:00 Competition Pressure, Overthinking, and Performing Authentically 32:00 Discovering Coffee Through Cat & Cloud and Coffee Collective 38:00 Denmark vs. California Coffee Culture 42:00 Hospitality, Encouraging Taste, and Bringing People In 45:00 The Community of Coffee Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale Links – The Truth! Colombia Truji y Angelita Thermal Shock Natural https://catandcloud.com/products/colombia-truji-y-angelita-thermal-shock-natural Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first. Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them.  The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations.  Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby Produced by Casey Ryan April 2026

    49 min

  3. 13 APR

    Taking Care of the Pack with Leah Wolff in HR - Ep #445

    Cat & Cloud Podcast Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com Taking Care of the Pack w/Leah Wolff in HR - Ep #445 Summary: In this episode, the team sits down with Head of HR Leah Wolff to explore what it really looks like to build people, culture, and leadership inside a growing coffee company. Leah shares her journey from starting as a concierge during the pandemic to stepping into an executive leadership role, offering a candid look at how growth happens through ownership, feedback, and continuous learning. The conversation digs into the difference between traditional HR and a more human, culture-driven approach—covering hiring, training, communication, and the realities of managing a transient workforce. Along the way, they unpack how strong values, intentional onboarding, and honest conversations can shape not just better employees, but better people. Chapters: 00:00 Meet Leah Wolf and Casey Ryan 04:30 Leah’s Journey from Concierge to Head of HR 10:00 Knowing When You’re Ready to Lead 15:30 Feedback, Directness, and Learning to Communicate 21:00 Orientation, Training, and Setting the Tone 27:00 Hiring for Values and Cultural Fit 33:00 The Challenge of Staffing a Cafe Business 39:00 How Cat & Cloud Built Better HR Systems 45:00 Advice for Small Business Owners Hiring Their Team 51:00 Team Chemistry, Standards, and Accountability 57:00 Why Clear Expectations Matter 1:01:30 Gratitudes and Final Thoughts Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale Links – The Truth! Colombia Truji y Angelita Thermal Shock Natural https://catandcloud.com/products/colombia-truji-y-angelita-thermal-shock-natural Jared Truby Interview https://youtu.be/KaTFcHxjumk?si=wlTAbJ7ZCvZleM7B Jared Truby Zine https://www.flipsnack.com/965BBFD6AED/letter-to-young-coffee-owners-issue-with-jared-truby Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first. Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them.  The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations.  Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby Produced by Casey Ryan April 2026

    1hr 5min

  4. 6 APR

    What We Think Matters vs. What Actually Matters w/ Chris and Casey - Ep# 444

    Cat & Cloud Podcast  Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/ What We Think Matters vs. What Actually Matters w/ Chris and Casey - Ep# 444  This episode opens with an introduction to Casey Ryan—his background in filmmaking and eventually as an independent school principal, and how he found his way into Cat & Cloud—but quickly shifts into a deeper conversation about hospitality, coffee culture, and business. At the center is the question of what guests actually care about versus what coffee professionals think they care about, leading to a thoughtful breakdown of service, empathy, and meeting people where they are. Chris reflects on the tension between passion and practicality in specialty coffee, how to build excitement without overwhelming people, and why creating a welcoming, human experience ultimately matters more than showcasing expertise. Chapters 00:00 Casey Ryan’s Path from Education to Cat & Cloud 08:00 What Guests Care About vs What We Think They Care About 17:00 Passion vs. Business in Specialty Coffee 22:00 Santa Cruz, Coffee Culture, and Meeting People Where They Are 29:00 Service as Soft Skill, Performance, and Human Connection 29:00 Training, Teaching, Enthusiasm and Not Overloading People 40:00 Coffee Curiosity, Guest Journeys, and No Gatekeeping 47:30 Gratitude for Team Cat & Cloud: Instagram: www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore: Buy Our Coffee! www.catandcloud.com/ Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale Links – Cafe Imports Event at World of Coffee: Moderated by Chris Baca https://www.eventbrite.com/e/source-where-do-we-go-from-here-tickets-1983895046489 The Truth! Colombia Truji y Angelita Thermal Shock Natural  https://catandcloud.com/products/colombia-truji-y-angelita-thermal-shock-natural Jared Truby Zine https://www.flipsnack.com/965BBFD6AED/letter-to-young-coffee-owners-issue-with-jared-truby World of Coffee/SCA https://usa.worldofcoffee.org/ Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first. Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them.  The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations.  Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby Produced by Casey Ryan April 2026

    55 min

  5. 30 MAR

    Coffee Futures Fund: Community and Support for Emerging Coffee Shop Owners - Ep# 443

    Cat & Cloud Podcast  Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/ Coffee Futures Fund: Community and Support for Emerging Coffee Shop Owners - Ep# 443 Summary In this episode, the crew sits down with Akshat Khandelwal, founder of Coffee Futures Fund, to unpack the reality of coffee shop ownership—and why so many founders struggle in silence. Drawing from conversations with hundreds of operators, Akshat shares how the industry has focused heavily on product quality while overlooking the people behind the bar. The conversation explores loneliness in ownership, the myth of “figuring it out alone,” and how mentorship, community, and shared experience can dramatically shift outcomes for emerging shop owners. From funding models to values-driven leadership, this episode highlights a growing movement to support independent coffee businesses in a more human, connected way. Chapters 00:00 Akshat’s Origin Story and Why Coffee Pulled Him In 08:00 Why So Many Coffee Shop Owners Said “Don’t Do It” 16:00 From Romantic Dream to Coffee Futures Fund 24:00 Building a Village: Mentorship, Community, and Capital 32:00 Why Coffee Shop Owners Feel Isolated 40:00 Values, Clarity, and What Makes a Cafe Actually Matter 48:00 How the Cohort Works: Goals, Mentors, and Growth 56:00 Funding Without Equity: A Different Way to Support Shops 1:04:00 Letters to Young Coffee Shop Owners and the Future of Coffee Futures Fund Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale Links – The Truth! Colombia Truji y Angelita Thermal Shock Natural  https://catandcloud.com/products/colombia-truji-y-angelita-thermal-shock-natural Coffee Futures Fund: Jared Truby Interview https://youtu.be/KaTFcHxjumk?si=wlTAbJ7ZCvZleM7B Jared Truby Zine https://www.flipsnack.com/965BBFD6AED/letter-to-young-coffee-owners-issue-with-jared-truby Roundtable Event https://coffeefutures.fund/Roundtable.html World of Coffee/SCA https://usa.worldofcoffee.org/ Cafe Imports https://www.eventbrite.com/e/source-where-do-we-go-from-here-tickets-1983895046489 Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first. Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them.  The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations.  Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby Produced by Casey Ryan March 2026

    1hr 23min

  6. 20 MAR

    Monday Morning Coffee Industry Check-in - Ep #442

    Cat & Cloud Podcast  Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/ Monday Morning Coffee Industry Check-in - Ep #442 Summary In this episode, Chris, Jared and Casey cover a wide mix of coffee-industry updates, behind-the-scenes projects, and big-picture reflections on what makes specialty coffee compelling. They preview upcoming events including a Bay Area roundtable with Coffee Futures Fund, their plans for World of Coffee in San Diego, and Chris’s upcoming Cafe Imports panel focused on the real challenges business owners are facing right now. The conversation also dives into the design and philosophy behind the new third version of the Chris Baca Dial Tamper, exploring how tools can become expressions of craft, ritual, and identity. From there, they wander into a thoughtful discussion about trade shows, coffee culture, Blue Bottle’s evolution under corporate ownership, and the tension between hospitality, scale, authenticity, and business reality—while still keeping the whole thing loose, funny, and very Monday-morning Cat & Cloud. Chapters 00:00 Coffee Futures Roundtable on Cafe Business Ownership 06:00 World of Coffee in San Diego: Why This Year Feels Big 10:00 Chris’s Cafe Imports Panel: Less PR, More Reality 15:00 The Third Dial Tamper and the Beauty of Overbuilt Tools                            26:45 Why Coffee Gear and Design Geek Out 35:00 Blue Bottle, Big Business, and the Arc of a Brand 40:00 Nestle, Specialty Coffee and Cafes Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale Links: Coffee Futures Fund: Jared Truby Zine https://www.flipsnack.com/965BBFD6AED/letter-to-young-coffee-owners-issue-with-jared-truby Coffee Futures Fund: Roundtable Event https://coffeefutures.fund/Roundtable.html World of Coffee/SCA https://usa.worldofcoffee.org/ Cafe Imports https://www.eventbrite.com/e/source-where-do-we-go-from-here-tickets-1983895046489 Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first. Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them.  The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations.  Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby Produced by Casey Ryan March 2026

    1hr 3min

  7. 16 MAR

    Finding Joy in Every Season of Work: Part II - Ep# 441

    Cat & Cloud Podcast  Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/ Finding Joy in Every Season of Work: Part II – Ep #441 Summary In part two of this conversation on finding joy in every season of work, the team (Chris, Jared and Casey) digs deeper into the shift from barista life into leadership, ownership, and building something that lasts. Chris and Jared reflect on how early work experiences, both inspiring and dysfunctional, shaped the kinds of leaders they wanted to become and reinforced the importance of community, fun, and genuine human connection in coffee. The episode explores how easy it is for owners and leaders to lose sight of the original passion that got them started, especially under the pressure of business realities, but argues that joy can still be created intentionally through trust, teamwork, better systems, gratitude, and a commitment to improving the experience for both staff, guests and for yourself. Ultimately, it’s a conversation about staying connected to purpose, remembering where you came from, having gratitude, and building workplaces where success and joy are not enemies. Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back: Finding Joy in Every Season (Part 2) 4:00 The Transition from Barista to Leadership 11:00 Early Lessons from Tough Work Environments 20:00 Creating Culture Through Energy and Hospitality 30:00 When Business Pressure Steals the Joy 36:30 In a Tough Season of Business Ownership, Where to Next? 41:00 Where Did You Come From? Where Did You Go? 46:45 What Still Fires Us Up Today Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first. Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them.  The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations.  Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby Produced by Casey Ryan March 2026

    59 min

  8. 9 MAR

    Finding Joy in Every Season of Work: Part I - Ep # 440

    Cat & Cloud Podcast  Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/ Finding Joy in Every Season of Work: Part I – Ep #440 Summary In this episode, Chris and Jared (plus Casey) reflect on the early days that pulled us into specialty coffee and how those experiences shaped the work we’re still doing today. From skateboarding friendships and barista competitions to building cafés and leading teams, we talk about how the things that bring joy evolve over time. As careers grow and responsibilities expand, the work changes—and sometimes the parts you loved most become harder to hold onto. We explore the idea that every season of life and business brings different sources of meaning, and that part of the real work is finding the through lines that keep the joy alive. This conversation looks back at where it all started while asking an ongoing question: how do you stay connected to the things that made you love the work in the first place? Chapters 00:00 – Missing the Old Days: Skate Culture, Community, and the Idea of “a Place”
 05:00 – What Attracted you to Coffee and the Industry?
 10:30 – Origin and Drive Around Being a Competitive Barista
 15:00 – Competition, Connection, and Energy
 20:00 – Competitions as a Frontier of New Ideas, and Judging 27:10 -- Barista Origins and Attitudes in the Business DNA Today
 31:00 – Competition and Competition Evolution 38:00 – Transitioning to Career Focus 40:45 – Moving Forward and End of Part 1 Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first. Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them.  The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations.  Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby Produced by Casey Ryan March 2026

    50 min
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About

Chris Baca and Jared Truby are professional Baristas and are here to introduce the world to Specialty Coffee! From placing in the finals of the United States Barista Championship multiple times, winning regional competitions, to leading training and education for some of the most progressive coffee companies around - these two have learned a ton about coffee and want to share it with you. Tune in for weekly interviews, tutorials, and general mayhem from the brothers from different mothers: Truby & Baca. Learn more at catandcloud.com

Information

  • Creator
    Cat & Cloud
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    447
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Cat & Cloud Podcast

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