Sharing stories and adventures about all things coffee, stories, and stoke
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Reflections
How do you normally brew coffee? Do you brew coffee differently at home compared to when you’re on a week-long bikepacking trip or exploring the high desert backroads in your conversion van? By the way, there’s no right or wrong answer here. If you feel stuck, would you like some more ideas and options?
Nacho the van has come a long way from being an 11-passenger van used to carry collegiate athletes to games all over the Pacific Northwest. At the same time, there’s still a LONG way to go. Since I bought the van from the university where I teach, many students know its backstory as they see it sitting in the school parking lot. Some joke, saying, “Yeah … it still looks a little sketchy.”
So, what is the latest on the Nacho conversion process?
While the title of this article sounds like I'm about ready to pick a fight, let me explain. I'll share a story about serving coffee to those who are not coffee nerds.
Yeah, I said coffee nerds.
We … yes, "we," get all nerded out about coffee. Talking about how coffee is processed, the varietals, cupping, roast profiles, flavor notes, and so on really is a lot of fun. Like, A LOT. However, if our customer is the very tiny slice of coffee drinkers out there who actually nerd out about this, then we might as well be speaking an unintelligible language.
Hey crew, this is Sean, founder and owner of Loam Coffee Roasters. Yesterday, I posted the question on social media, “What makes Loam unique?” I’m excited to share a bit more about this brand and, more importantly, why this matters to you.
I love roasting coffee. It’s a mindful activity. At the same time, I use it as an opportunity to listen to podcasts and watch YouTube videos related to branding, marketing, and social media. One of my favorite people to read and listen to is Gary Vaynerchuk (known as Gary Vee). I watched several episodes yesterday while roasting where he was interviewed. Throughout the interview, he covered a wide variety of topics, from social media to marketing. But something he shared stopped me in my tracks …
I’m often asked to describe or define what the term “loam” means. Simply put, it is dirt. More technically, “Loam is a type of soil that’s got a lot going on: loam contains clay, sand, and decaying organic substances.“ That describes perfectly the soil we build trails and ride on here in the Pacific Northwest. But the Loam Coffee origin story began in a place not known for its rich soil … the Sonoran Desert. So, how did Loam Coffee come into being? Let me tell you a story …
