Anthony Ragler Interview
I initially approached Anthony Ragler for an interview after he had interviewed for a Board position for the guild. He made some compelling points during his board interview about current barista culture, gentrification and inclusivity in our industry. I wanted to know more I reached out to him for an interview. In a break for […]
Interview with Terry Z.
It’s rare for me to find someone who has been in coffee as long or longer than me. Terry Z’s name has come up since the beginning of the Coffee Technicians Guild. He is a true craftsman. He is one of the most highly regarded tech voices in our industry. It was a real honor […]
Shad Baiz Interview
My first experience with Shad was in his role as a contractor working for me. He was servicing a client of mine in the San Diego area and I called to follow up on a service and I got.” Yeah the dude just drove up on a Motorcycle and got everything fixed.” Customer was happy, […]
Interview with Rich Leeson
1. Caffeine Motor Machines: How long have you been in the industry? Rich Leeson: 33 years. 2. CMM: Best technical advice you’ve ever received? RL: Take the time, make the effort to do your work right 3. CMM: Favorite coffee origin or drink? RL: Ethiopian, or really any fresh cup available 4. CMM: What is […]
A Chat with Nick Brown
I’ve been Following Nick Brown and Daily Coffee News since its inception. I’ll readily admit I’m a bit of a fanboy when it comes to Daily Coffee News. Nick and his team are avid supporters of the guild. They have spearheaded efforts to get the CTG’s name out there by re-posting some of our blog […]
Interview with Jay Kistner
Jay Kistner and has team at Dolce Neve remind of my years working in Fine Dining. Him and his team embody that limitless drive to provide both quality technical service and customer service with the added humility you find from truly great professionals. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Jay, his wife Heather and […]
Interview with George Alam
For part three of the “Coffee Wonders of Australia” I was able to get George Alam from Specialist Espresso on the phone for a short chat. The Specialist Espresso Team come highly recommended by manufacturers in Australia. Hylan Joseph: Speak to a short history of your company. How, why was it founded? What values do […]
A Short Conversation with Caleb Heinselman about Service and the Coffee Experience in Australia
I’ll start with: I do not work for the Australian Board of Tourism. Over the next few months you will see a lot of articles about the service culture and coffee experience in Australia. I’ll be working with our agent in hiding in Australia, Richard Muhl of Five Senses. What drives this series is I’ve […]
Arno Holsuch Interview
Arno is an incredibly fascinating individual. He is a consummate conversationalist. He was one of the early hires at Blue bottle and has been involved with the specialty coffee community since early 2004 Now he works with roasting innovator Bellwether Coffee. Arno was an early member in the guild. He has been a great contributor. […]
Ways to Manage Remote Service Techs
Battling Isolation Managing your remote tech team is difficult. With the new normal, managing remotely can be even more difficult. I discovered the hard way that I needed to adapt my strategy to ensure that my techs were not feeling isolated and they were feeling supported. Humans are social animals. We tend to suffer and […]