– Can you please introduce yourself in a few words.
I’m a husband and padre from Texas and I live in Latvia where I work as a freelancer (photography, copywriting, social media).
– What’s your story in the coffee industry?
I’ve yet to work in coffee, I guess I work alongside the industry taking photos for the BGE & various local coffee events in Riga. Though I’ve independently brewed filter coffee at a few catering events, does that count?
– What was your first coffee experience?
The aroma of my parents brewing the American classic, Folgers.
– How/when have you discovered about specialty coffee?
At some point I stopped going to Starbucks and started to casually drink specialty (noticing something was different) at Local Coffee in San Antonio, Texas. I had a wow moment with Counter Culture’s Rustico and then started to get a little more into coffee.
– What was your best coffee experience?
That Rustico moment was pretty cool. And cupping a bourbon barrel aged Burundi at Barista Camp in Italy was nice!
– Do you prepare coffee at home ? If yes, what method do you use?
I do! Good ‘ol V60.
– How do you like your coffee? Black, sugar and milk, iced, vietnamese style,…?
Black. And when it’s hot I prefer iced pour overs rather than cold brew, unless it’s MacIntyre’s (London) bourbon oaked cold brew.
– How would you qualify yourself as coffee drinker (occasional, heavy, addict…)?
Well before I got into specialty I’d say I was a pretty heavy drinker. But now, I’d say normal? I mean, I taste a lot of coffee when I visit shops or a roaster.
– What other place would you recommend, anywhere in the world (coffee or not)?
Alpine, Texas. My sister and bro-in-law opened up Cedar Coffee Supply last year in the remote Texas town. They brew great coffee and the Alpine/Marfa area is legendary. Just ask Beyonce, she knows what’s up.
– What is/are your favorite website(s) to get information about coffee?
I get Perger’s newsletter, which is mostly not relevant for me. And I find James Hoffmann’s newsletter pretty cool as it’s not just about coffee.
– What would you say to people who don’t know much about coffee?
Never stop enjoying coffee 🙂