– Can you please introduce yourself in a few words.
Hi, I am Dan Streetman. I am the Green Coffee Buyer for Irving Farm Coffee Roasters.
– What’s your story in the coffee industry?
I’ve been working in coffee for about 15 years now. I started as a barista, then I worked at a roasting company doing sales/education before joining Irving Farm as the Green Buyer in 2011.
– What’s your specialty and what makes you different?
I have had the privilege of working in many different areas of coffee businesses, traveled a lot, and had some great mentors. I think it gives me a unique perspective on coffee. Also being in coffee as long as I have, I’ve really seen the Specialty Industry emerge in the US, even though I am still very young. I don’t think there are many people in the industry who are as young as I am, but have been involved for as long.
– What was your first coffee experience?
My first day of training as a barista is the first time I remember tasting coffee. It was a very interesting experience that led me on this long and incredible journey. The biggest thing I remember from that day was: « If you want to be a good barista, you have to taste your coffee.’
– How/when have you discovered about specialty coffee?
I try to learn something new everyday. Mostly it comes from engaging with other people and seeking out new ideas.
– What was your best coffee experience?
Probably, Sensory Judging the WBC Finals in Rimini, Italy when Hideonori Izaki won. There is nothing like having baristas of that caliber serve you drinks inside of an experience they have crafted with such care.
– Do you prepare coffee at home ? If yes, what method do you use?
I use a Bonavita BV1800 everyday. I find it makes really consistently tasty coffee, especially at 6:00am when I’m not awake yet.
– How do you like your coffee? Black, sugar and milk, iced, vietnamese style,…?
I really only drink Black coffee or Espresso. Sometimes when it really bad, I add just a tiny amount of sugar, it is my best trick for when I am traveling.
– How would you qualify yourself as coffee drinker (occasional, heavy, addict…)?
I would say I am a normal coffee drinker. Most days I drink 1-2 cups. The real consumption comes in depending on how much cupping I have to do, or when I am judging barista competitions. Sometimes those days can be really excessive on the consumption.
– Have you always been into the coffee industry? If not, what was your previous job?
I have been in the coffee industry since before I graduated college… so yes! I guess I have always been in the coffee industry. I had a couple odd jobs before that…
– Do you have another passion or a hobby besides coffee?
Lately, I have been really getting into wine. It is fun to use my skills as a taster, but on a different medium. Also to view the way that I think about/talk about coffee from the way that I can engage (or not) with the way wine professionals look at wine.
– What other place would you recommend, anywhere in the world (coffee or not)?
Oh, that is such a tough question. I’ve been to many really spectacular places in the world, but I think I’ll have to say visiting Barolo in Italy with my wife on our honeymoon was the best.
– What is/are your favorite website(s) to get information about coffee?
I feel like there used to be better websites for coffee. Now-a-days I feel like most of it is more « news » driven than education driven.
– What would you say to people who don’t know much about coffee?
Just drink it, and enjoy it! Try to learn more about what you like, so you can understand how to get that more often.