I started my day today grinding this up and brewing a cup, realizing how much I enjoyed being in Australia. Not only was it great taking a family trip and spending time with my sister-in-law there, but I learned a lot about how much of a difference culture makes on character. In general, at least … Continue reading A Baseline Of Quality Over Convenience
What if your act of kindness is the only one another person experiences today? For several years, I worked as a barista at a coffee shop by the water in downtown Annapolis, MD. We had a lot of regulars every morning, some more awake and happy to be there than others. I did my best … Continue reading One Single Act of Kindess
It’s not always about your gift. It’s about how you present it to the world. Many years ago, when I was a technician for a large, corporate coffee company, I sat down with my supervisor to discuss a potential promotion. Another technician already had the position I wanted, but I made the case for why … Continue reading Deliver Your Gift with a Hug and a Smile
Taste is a process of paring down. For the past twenty plus years, I have worked in and around coffee shops. I have held every position from barista to manager to espresso-machine technician. In all of that time, I have tried nearly every kind of coffee-drink combination a person can imagine. I tried different syrup, … Continue reading It Is All A Matter of Taste
Jiu-Jitsu White Belt: “Professor, what should I do if somene has me belly-down in back mount, hooks in, with my arms trapped under my chest, and they begin applying a rear-naked choke?” Professor Pedro Sauer: “Tap and start over. The milk is already on the table.” The above quote is my best recollection of an … Continue reading The Milk Is Already On The Table
