The CoffeeGeek Podcast

Mark Prince

The CoffeeGeek Podcast covers everything and anything in the world of consumer and professional coffee and espresso. Guest interviews, round tables, Emails, Voicemails, important news, product reviews, coffee tastings and more await you with each new episode. Remember, Coffee is culinary, and it's never about the buzz.

  1. CoffeeGeek Podcast 046 - Tom Owen, Karen Foley and CoffeeGeek's Dad

    09/22/2006

    CoffeeGeek Podcast 046 - Tom Owen, Karen Foley and CoffeeGeek's Dad

    Intro - Tom’s Diner, Suzanne Vega (0:06) If you’re in town this weekend, be sure to visit the Canadian Coffee and Tea Expo and Canadian National Barista Competition, September 24 – 25. (1:25) Interviews (2:03) Tom Owen, Sweet Maria’s (3:08) Tom is profiled in the September/October issue of Imbibe Magazine. - Sweet Maria’s web site: unpretentious and all about what’s in the cup, where thousands of home roasters got their start (3:23) - Exotic coffees: the story of St. Helena coffee, the perception of coffee as culinary, and the growing demand for specialty coffee (5:50) - Sweet Maria’s purchase of Best of Panama 2006 coffees, including the Hacienda la Esmeralda Gesha at the record-breaking price of $50.25/lb (12:56) - Sweet Maria’s home roaster mailing list and the development of coffee communities (18:21) - Coming soon to Sweet Maria’s: Late harvest Esmeralda Gesha to be offered at about $16/lb and a fantastic dry processed Yirgacheffe Idido Misty Valley (28:22) Karen Foley, publisher of Imbibe Magazine (43:39) - The Tom Owen profile (44:34) - Imbibe’s coverage of coffee and readers' response to Mark’s article on french press coffee (48:00) - Mark’s espresso article in the September/October issue and a contest for future articles (see entry rules below) (51:49) - Coming up in the next issue: holiday drinks and gift guides; an article on Prague; coffee origins by Richard Reynolds (1:01:11) - The response to the magazine from the coffee communities and other beverage-related communities (1:03:03) - Comment on Imbibe at their new blog or order a subscription through their web site (1:08:14) Mystery Guest Interview! (1:12:26) - Cafés and coffeehouses in the ‘50s and ‘60s (1:13:45) - Milk (1:19:25) - Mark’s secret shame exposed: Maxwell House instant, pre-ground Folger’s, and blade grinders (1:23:23) - “If I want blueberries in my coffee, I’ll put blueberries in my coffee!” (1:32:22) - The 20 oz cup (1:33:56) Outro – Tom’s Diner, Michigan and Smiley (1:46:02)

    1h 49m
  2. CoffeeGeek Podcast 045 - Black Gold the Movie, New Coffees and Equipment

    09/10/2006

    CoffeeGeek Podcast 045 - Black Gold the Movie, New Coffees and Equipment

    Show Notes Black Gold, Superautos and More with Mark and Beata This episode brought to you by 1stincoffee.com, your one-stop shop for anything and everything espresso or coffee related! Intro - Tom’s Diner by Suzanne Vega (0:11) New coffees we’ve tried lately   - West Coast Roasting’s Espresso Torro (4:04) - Intelligentsia’s Kid O is back! (7:21) - Ecco Caffè’s Bolivian 2005 Cup of Excellence and Daterra Espresso (7:57) - Novo Coffee’s wild forest coffees (9:53) Black Gold – Mark and Beata’s review (11:07) - Starbucks’ portrayal in the movie (12:27) - The rise in the New York “C” price  (14:04) - Tadesse Meskela of the Oromia Coffee Farmers’ Coop and building schools in Ethiopia (16:53) - A few criticisms (19:18) New espresso machine news! - La Marzocco GS3 – delivery dates have gone out (23:04) - Krups’ new superauto coming out this fall (26:34) Contest results!  (37:18) - Haiku contest winner: Jeremey Barrett of Sugar Land, Texas (37:43) - Zoka DVD contest winner: Travis from Bellingham, Washington (email us by 9/12!) (39:31) News about CoffeeGeek (40:16) - A fix to the forum search functionality is in the works (40:22) - The Marketplace, a place for advertisers to announce their latest products, is coming (41:19) - The annual Holiday Gift List is returning (hopefully) in mid-November (43:05) Mark’s latest magazine articles - City Food, Restaurant coffee and Mark’s challenge (45:15) - Imbibe Magazine, Espresso 101 (51:43) Wrap up (53:53) - Next podcast: the Imbibe Magazine episode Outro  – Tom’s? by Michael Stipe

    58 min
  3. CoffeeGeek Podcast 044 - The Massive Email Show!

    08/21/2006

    CoffeeGeek Podcast 044 - The Massive Email Show!

    Show Notes Massive Email Show with Beata, Live to Tape! Featuring two prize Giveaways! Two prize giveaways are buried in the show - the excellent "Zoka Way" Instructional DVD for home baristas, and an autographed copy of "Cafe Haiku" – listen to the podcast for details on how to win! Deadline is August 31, 2006, and entries should be sent to beata.s at coffeegeek dotter com. The questions: - What is a “sweet” shot of espresso? (2:00) Mark talks about supertasters, the characteristics of a sweet shot of espresso, and what might cause excessive bitterness.(4:03) - I need a grinder for $100 to $120 US, can you recommend some options? (7:39) Mark suggests a Solis Maestro Classic or Solis Maestro Plus for that price point, but his real recommendation is – don’t skimp on a grinder! (8:31) - I get iced coffee at Ritual Coffee, it’s everything I wish iced coffee could be! Could you explain how to make this? (10:30) Mark describes two devices for cold brewing made by Hario and Toddy and gives his recipe for iced americanos. (11:22) - Where can I get a replacement for the frothing tip on my Francis! Francis! X1? (16:11) The frothing aid tip is proprietary and can’t be removed easily, but Mark discovered that there is a way to produce latte art quality microfoam with the froth aider. (16:50) - How can I develop my ability to accurately taste coffees and describe what we are tasting? (19:32) Mark suggests the Le Nez du Café kits from the SCAA, if price is no object, or a simpler method: visit a farmers’ market. (20:27) - Do you have any ideas for home roasting single origin coffees for espresso? (23:40) Mark, who is anti-single-origin espresso, suggests creating an espresso blend using different roast levels with the same coffee. (26:35) - A suggestion for a future podcast – discuss coffee house culture in other cities, especially Montreal. (30:22) Mark names streets in Montreal known for their really cool cafés and recommends one café in particular: Caffe Art Java. (31:20) - Why use anything but a perfectly flat tamper? (33:10) Mark discusses the theories behind convex bottoms, Euro curves, American curves and the C Flat, and his work with Reg Barber on a new tamper design. (33:49) - Where does Kona stand in the world of specialty coffee? (37:51) Mark buys Kona directly from Smith Farms, but cautions that the name Kona doesn’t guarantee quality. Too delicate for an espresso blend, Kona can be memorable when brewed in a vac pot. Find a small farmer and buy green from them direct. (38:48)

    1h 2m

About

The CoffeeGeek Podcast covers everything and anything in the world of consumer and professional coffee and espresso. Guest interviews, round tables, Emails, Voicemails, important news, product reviews, coffee tastings and more await you with each new episode. Remember, Coffee is culinary, and it's never about the buzz.