Let’s start at the beginning shall we? The spring of 2020 was a…let’s say “transformative” year for most and mine was no exception.
Lost my job as a teacher. The school district wanted to cut costs… and I guess it seemed like an opportune time.
Moved back in with my parents. When you tell people about the move they always say “That’s okay! You’ll get to save some money.” They are right but to me it felt like two steps backwards at a time when I needed to move forward.
Spent the summer getting rejected from every teaching job I applied for within a 100 mile radius. I had three degrees in my field of study and 5 years of experience. I thought I’d at least get a few interviews. Rough times.
I do realize how lucky I was to have a safe place to hunker down and watch the world turn upside down. But sometimes it's tough to reframe misfortunes in the present moment. I wasn’t feeling optimistic about much but tried to remain grateful for what I had. While the outside world was enduring the pandemic, the lockdown inside my parent’s house was quiet - filled with empty space. I wrote music, texted old friends, read books that were collecting dust, but felt restless for long stretches of time. A new routine was in order.
Rewind to sometime before the world shut down and I was walking a narrow, dusty path through a flea market in northern Wisconsin. The friendly scent of espresso led me through rows of knickknacks (some people claim to not like the smell of coffee… I’m always skeptical of these folks. I think they just want to be different or get a reaction from someone). I arrived at a small table lined with three v60 drippers operated by a woman and her father. Pour-overs were on tap for any patrons savvy enough to stop by. My only experience brewing coffee before this encounter came from poor attempts with a french press - usually too strong and plenty bitter. These v60 drippers intrigued and calmed me simultaneously. As I thanked her for my coffee I noticed a few ceramic drippers and filters for sale. I couldn’t resist. This brewing process felt approachable and I needed to try it for myself. I ended up spending around $40 more than expected (had to pick up some fresh beans too of course hehe). This was the start of the journey.
Snap back to 2020 inside my parent’s kitchen and this simple ceramic dripper became the start of my morning routine. It was simple, meditative, and kept me grounded. I could make something of value that provided joy for myself. I used a cheap electric kettle, a Hamilton-Beach blade grinder, and no scale for measuring anything but I was having fun making my own coffee every morning. And that’s all that mattered at the time.
As the start of the school year drew near my attempts at finding a teaching position were looking bleak, along with my bank account. I needed some source of income so I took a temporary step outside of teaching. I wanted to learn more about coffee but wasn’t sure who would hire a guy with zero experience…actually I did know but was a little embarrassed to start there. I applied to Starbucks in August of 2020 and began work two weeks later.
My expectation was to learn the bare minimum about coffee aaaand that’s exactly what I got. I learned all the brewing methods they offer and got extensive experience behind the espresso machine. Their methods were extremely automated and designed to make drinks as quick as possible. I felt disconnected from the process. I knew how to do the job well but there was a ceiling to how well I could craft drinks. I was sacrificing quality for quantity - essentially working for a fast food restaurant in cafe form. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the business model and they’re obviously successful training their baristas this particular way. I still stop by Starbucks every so often but I’ve seen behind the curtain. I prefer quality. I know there are better options to get my morning fix and most of the time it’s in my own kitchen with that dripper I stumbled upon in Wisconsin.
I’ve recovered from that pivotal 2020 but the v60 morning routine stuck around. The best thing I learned that year was that I truly enjoy the brewing process just as much as the first sip. I’ve continued to learn more through books, classes from a local coffee shop, and of course the endless stream of YouTube suggestions. So, now I’m creating a space to document my journey and collaborate with other coffee folks. I’ll be writing about beans, equipment, brewing methods, and sprinkle in some thoughts on life every now and then. My goal is to brew a great cup of coffee while keeping it as simple as possible - “Simple but significant” to quote Don Draper. This newsletter will be an outlet for me but the hope is to create a spot for us to share thoughts and ideas on this delicious beverage that carries us through the days. Tag along for the ride - cheers!
- Jamie