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Lirac’s Quiet Revolution: The Southern Rhône’s Best-Kept Secret

Lirac’s Quiet Revolution: The Southern Rhône’s Best-Kept Secret

Lirac is the Southern Rhône’s best-kept secret—and it’s finally getting the attention it deserves. Nestled just across the Rhône River from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this appellation shares the same terroir, grape varieties, and mistral winds, yet it’s carving out its own identity with wines that are fresher, lighter, and more approachable. Over the past decade, a wave of new producers has crossed the river to plant roots here, turning Lirac into a hotbed of innovation. The results? Reds that echo Châteauneuf’s boldness but with a signature brightness, thanks to cooler microclimates and unique soil compositions. The magic of Lirac lies in its…
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Bend’s Hidden Gems: Where Artisan Coffee Meets Soul

Bend’s Hidden Gems: Where Artisan Coffee Meets Soul

The verdict is in: Bend’s coffee scene is less about beans and more about the people who grow, roast, and serve them. For years, the city boasted the highest number of coffee roasters per capita in the U.S.—a title now held by Portland—but its legacy of craftsmanship remains unmatched. Here, coffee isn’t just brewed; it’s curated. Third-wave roasters spend years building relationships with farmers, swapping stories over coffee rather than just transactions. At Bellatazza, owner Stewart Fritchman describes his work as “hours with plantation owners in Guatemala, discussing Uncle Juan’s surgery.” This intimacy isn’t just about beans—it’s about connection. These…
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Beyond the Roaster: How Tech is Reshaping Every Step of the Coffee Journey

Beyond the Roaster: How Tech is Reshaping Every Step of the Coffee Journey

Get ready to sip on this: The coffee industry’s tech revolution is expanding far beyond the roaster. While automation in roasting has long been celebrated for its precision and efficiency, the real transformation is happening across the entire supply chain—from farms to cafés. Data analytics, AI-driven tools, and integrated platforms are now redefining how coffee is grown, processed, brewed, and sold. This shift isn’t just about speed or consistency—it’s about unlocking deeper insights into quality, cost, and customer preferences. For years, roasting dominated the conversation around coffee technology. But as Branson Sondrol of Buddy Brew Coffee explains, the industry is…
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2025 Southeast Coffee Scene: 10 New Shops Redefining the Brew

2025 Southeast Coffee Scene: 10 New Shops Redefining the Brew

Listen up: The Southeast’s coffee scene just got a shot in the arm. After a year of turbulence for independent operators, 2025 saw a surge of creativity, resilience, and bold design. From Tampa to Staunton, these 10 new shops aren’t just serving coffee—they’re redefining what it means to brew with purpose. Belleair Coffee Co. in Largo, Florida, turned a former brewery space into a velvet-lined haven, blending industrial grit with Scandinavian comfort. Its second location, once home to Olde Florida Brewing, now hums with cafe tables and curated brews. Meanwhile, Applied Arts Coffee in New Orleans fused Nordic brunch artistry…
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The Science of Coffee Color: Why Roasters Are Rethinking Their Craft

The Science of Coffee Color: Why Roasters Are Rethinking Their Craft

Consider this your morning briefing: The difference between great and exceptional specialty coffee often hinges on seconds of adjustment during the roasting process. While temperature curves have long guided roasters, coffee color—measured via spectrophotometers or Agtron meters—reveals a more precise snapshot of roast development. Yet this critical metric remains shrouded in ambiguity, with no universal standard to unify the industry. For roasters, the stakes are high: misaligned color readings can mislead customers, distort flavor profiles, and erode trust. Here’s what you need to know. Color analysis is the missing piece in the roasting puzzle. As beans transition from green to…
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Paradigm Spark: Calgary’s New Coffee Hub for Baristas and Enthusiasts

Paradigm Spark: Calgary’s New Coffee Hub for Baristas and Enthusiasts

The verdict is in: Calgary’s coffee scene just got a powerful new player. David Kim, a veteran barista and roaster with a knack for blending skill and soul into every cup, has opened Paradigm Spark—a café that’s as much about community building as it is about exceptional coffee. This isn’t just another spot to grab a latte. It’s a deliberate effort to create a space where baristas can practice, professionals can learn, and coffee lovers can connect. Kim’s vision is simple: to return the favor of the mentorship he received early in his career, now giving back to the next…
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The 2025 West Coast Coffee Renaissance: 10 New Destinations Redefining Specialty Culture

The 2025 West Coast Coffee Renaissance: 10 New Destinations Redefining Specialty Culture

Time to spill: 2025 wasn’t just another year for West Coast coffee—it was a revolution. From Salem to San Francisco, independent operators turned survival into art, blending heritage, design, and hyper-local storytelling. These 10 new shops didn’t just open doors; they redefined what specialty coffee could mean in a world still reeling from chaos. At Prismatic Coffee Roasters in Salem, Oregon, color isn’t just a trend—it’s a language. The airy space glows with soft lighting, Roman clay walls, and Topanga tiles that echo the Oaxacan roots of co-founders Honorio and Andrea Martinez. Here, coffee isn’t just brewed; it’s curated as…
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Why the SR800 is My Roasting Game-Changer

Why the SR800 is My Roasting Game-Changer

For home roasters chasing precision, the SR800 isn’t just a machine—it’s a revelation. After years of tinkering with Behmor roasters, I’ve settled into a rhythm with this beast, and it’s transformed my approach. The SR800’s visibility isn’t just a gimmick; it’s a lifeline. Watching beans dance in real time cuts through guesswork, turning roasting into a science of intuition. My results? Consistently better, with a clarity I’ve never achieved before. The SR800’s countdown routine is where it shines. I start at 20:00 with Power 7 and Fan 9, letting the beans settle. By 18:00, I dial the fan down to…
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First Roast, First Lessons

First Roast, First Lessons

Here’s something to stir your curiosity: Your first roast didn’t just turn out dark—it sparked a question about coffee’s alchemy. You popped beans in a popcorn popper, roasted too fast, and ended up with a cup that’s bold, uneven, and oddly satisfying. The result? A messy experiment that’s already made you rethink everything. Roast level isn’t just about darkness. It’s a dance between time, heat, and the bean’s inherent character. Your popcorn popper likely over-roasted because it’s a crude tool, but the outcome still hints at a deeper truth: some beans thrive in specific roasts. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, for example, reveals…
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Roasting 500g on a 350g Roaster? Here’s How to Fix It

Roasting 500g on a 350g Roaster? Here’s How to Fix It

Coffee lovers, wine enthusiasts, tea devotees—here’s a problem that’s been quietly brewing. The Skywalker V1 roaster is sold as a 500g machine, but its actual capacity is closer to 350-400g. That mismatch creates a tricky situation: profiles designed for smaller batches don’t work well for larger ones. Users report that auto profiles for 500g result in underdeveloped, flat roasts—think “baked beans” instead of bold, nuanced flavors. The question is simple: Can tweaking preheat, power, and fan settings by 10-15% salvage the process? The root issue lies in how roasters calculate heat distribution. Smaller batches require shorter, more intense bursts of…
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