Highlights of the 2022 Boulder, Colo., Caffeine Crawl

Highlights of the 2022 Boulder, Colo., Caffeine Crawl

Out Now: The February + March 2023 Issue

The February + March 2023 issue of Barista Magazine features New Zealand coffee & chef champion Sam Low on the cover. Also inside: a special section on branding, understanding trademark law, an interview with Laura Sommers, field reports from Kansas City, Indonesia, and Hong Kong, and much more. BY KENNETH R. OLSONBARISTA MAGAZINE We’re excited […]


U.S. Coffee Championships 2023 Denver Qualifiers Reach New Heights

The next group of coffee champions moves on to nationals at the Denver qualifiers. BY KATE VAN PETTENSPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE Photos by Matthew Temple and courtesy of Specialty Coffee Association The high-flying world of U.S. CoffeeChamps competitions reached new heights as coffee professionals flocked to the Denver qualifiers for the 2023 season, hosted in […]


Interest in coffee & health is rising – what do consumers need to know?

There is a wealth of scientific research available about the many health benefits of coffee – as well as the undesirable side effects of drinking too much. But like all fields of science, research about the impact of drinking coffee on human health is ever-changing as we uncover new findings.  Interestingly, the continuous discovery of […]


Medium-sized farms play an important role in specialty coffee

For many consumers and industry professionals, specialty coffee and direct trade are inextricably linked. Building strong and mutually beneficial working relationships between producers and roasters is often seen as a cornerstone of establishing a truly sustainable supply chain. So with this association between specialty coffee and direct trade, there can be a narrative of smaller-sized […]

Highlights of the 2022 Boulder, Colo., Caffeine Crawl

From Malawi to Edinburgh: The MF Coffee Project

We take a trip from North Carolina to Northern Malawi to Edinburgh, exploring the roots, roasts, and impact of the MF Coffee Project. BY VASILEIA FANARIOTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Photos courtesy of the MF Coffee Project In the quaint village of Manchewe, Northern Malawi, a story unfolded when Cameron Mcallister made the life-altering decision to relocate […]


New AFCA Director Gilbert Gatali on the 20th African Fine Coffees Conference

As the African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA) prepares for the 20th iteration of its flagship event, the African Fine Coffees Conference and Exhibition, the group is operating under new executive…


Joven and Atucún Join Forces to Empower Young Farmers

The two brands have collaborated to create a unique coffee bar and support young farmers in the coffee and cacao industries. BY VASILEIA FANARIOTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Photos courtesy of Joven Coffee  For their first-of-its-kind bar, Joven Coffee and Atucún Chocolateria combined coffee beans, extracted cocoa butter, and organic cane sugar. Committed to supporting young farmers […]


Exploring the Potential of Drones in Coffee Production 

New drone technology has the potential to revolutionize coffee farming from the air. BY VASILEIA FANARIOTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Cover photo by David Henrichs via Unsplash In an ever-evolving technological landscape, coffee producers have begun turning to drones in an attempt to increase efficiency and operations. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer a wide range of […]

Highlights of the 2022 Boulder, Colo., Caffeine Crawl

Don’t Skip the Budding Specialty-Café Culture in Quito, Ecuador

Introducing the specialty cafés of Quito, a city worth exploring on your coffee quest. BY JORDAN BUCHANANSPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE Featured photo courtesy of Stratto When traveling across South America, Ecuador can be forgotten between the high profiles of Colombia and Peru. Similarly, coffee from Ecuador may be overlooked due to its giant neighbors, including […]


Serving Coffee in the Epicenter

The Turkish specialty-coffee community is coming together to support earthquake relief. BY MICHAEL BUTTERWORTHSPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE When Niji Coffee went live on Instagram,…


The coffee industry’s biggest competition: The story of the World Barista Championship

Every year, the global coffee industry gears up for one of its most exciting and groundbreaking competitions: the World Barista Championship. For more than two decades, the WBC has been one of the biggest catalysts for change and innovation in specialty coffee, and continues to set even higher standards for baristas around the world to […]


Unique Collection in Switzerland Offers a Look at Coffee’s Rich History

Anita Vietri’s Coffee Culture Collection chronicles the brew’s journey through 1,500 artifacts. BY VASILEIA FANARIOTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Photos courtesy of Anita Vietri In the rich tapestry of coffee culture, there exists a hidden gem—an extraordinary collection that chronicles the captivating history of our beloved brew. Today, we meet Anita Vietri, an ardent coffee enthusiast and […]

Highlights of the 2022 Boulder, Colo., Caffeine Crawl

Highlights of the 2022 Boulder, Colo., Caffeine Crawl

minimum dose size?

Jan 31, 2024 |

I use the Hario switch to brew my coffee and am trying to reduce my caffeine consumption. Hence I would like to brew smaller cups of coffee. I am currently using 10g of coffee with 160g of water. (1:16 Ratio) I am wondering if there is a minimum amount of coffee...

Highlights of the 2022 Boulder, Colo., Caffeine Crawl

Boulder is a small city with lots to offer—including exceptional-quality cafés.

BY J. MARIE CARLAN
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Caffeine Crawl started out in Kansas City, Mo., as an offshoot of The LAB. Founder Jason Burton has brought Caffeine Crawls all over the USA, with attendees visiting between six and 30 locations per city. Tour guides may be locals or travel from afar. The Caffeine Crawls can vary widely between cities and locations—some shops do presentations, with a menu’s worth of provisions, while some offer a single beverage of choice.

In 2022, Colorado was one of the lucky states chosen for a Caffeine Crawl. “Colorado has so much talent. We are just happy to be a part of it and be able to give people a little taste behind the scenes,” says Jason.

A sunlit creek ripples through a creekbed near Boulder Colorado. The creek has sharp stones jutting up throughout. Green and gold leafed trees line the shore. The sun sits low in the sky behind, showing it is late afternoon in autumn.
Colorado is home to natural beauty and fantastic coffee. Photo by Jason Burton.

Boulder Beginnings

Being new to Colorado, I jumped at the chance to attend the Boulder Caffeine Crawl in early October. With a population of just over 100,000, Boulder is by no means a large city. However, it is a destination for many Coloradans for food, drink, culture, and winter sports. Situated in the Rockies, the view around town is spectacular. The downtown area is immaculate, with plenty of upscale shops, boutiques, restaurants, record stores, and, praised be, coffee shops.

A bright orange espresso machine sits on the work counter at Ozo. Ozo branded mugs are lined up in front of it. A barista pours shots behind the bar.
Ozo’s bright interior shows off the exquisite taste of their roasts. Photo by J. Marie Carlan.

Ozo Coffee Roasters

The first stop on the Boulder Caffeine Crawl was Ozo Coffee Roasters. Our gracious host Todd brought out tray after tray of delicious drinks, including a sparkling lemon mint maté with peppermint tea. One notable coffee was a dry process Brazil Irmãs Pereira with notes of peanut butter, chocolate, and strawberry jam. (The claim was that this coffee tasted like a PB&J. Can confirm.) They had multiple coffees and house-made teas on tap, and plenty of single origins available for purchase. Since its origins in 2007, Ozo has worked to obtain ethically produced coffees and invested back into coffee-producing communities.

The wood paneled and glass exterior of Boxcar. There is a Pride flag in the window, otherwise the decor is black and white.
Not just a coffee shop, Boxcar shares space with a deli and wine store. Photo by J. Marie Carlan.

Boxcar Coffee Roasters

A brilliant concept has been established here. In addition to a full coffee bar, there is a sandwich/fresh deli counter and a wine shop sharing the downtown space. They still manage to have plenty of comfortable seating without making it feel cramped. Boxcar also offers a coffee subscription service, so you need never run out. The most notable drink we tried here was a Café Amara Soda, made with cascara fruit, soda water, and warming spices like cinnamon and clove.

The bar inside Tune-Up Tavern. There are liquor bottles and bicycle signage along the wall. There are tall barstools in front of the counter and tall top tables throughout the room.
& shares space with a bike shop at Tune Up and offers a full bar. Photo by J. Marie Carlan.

Tune-Up Tavern and Espresso

& (Ampersand) has a good thing going here. Located inside a bike shop, this spacious coffee bar has plenty to offer to cyclists and pedestrians. & owner Kurt offered us three different Toddy-style cold brews. My favorite was a smooth, nutty Bolivian, but the fruit-forward Ethiopia and chocolatey Honduras were also excellent. Kurt also gave the most detailed coffee lecture of the tour (Kurt is a certified Q Grader, and it shows). Ampersand sources all organic and fair-trade beans; seventy percent of them are bought from women-owned farms, actively working toward female empowerment.

John wears a beanie and chambray shirt over stripes. Kristi wears a button-up shirt with cheetahs printed on it and black jeans. In front of them on a table is a sign that says welcome caffeine crawl. Also are coffee boxes, urns, and a potted plant.
John, left, and Kristi, right, of January Coffee. Photo by Jason Burton.

January Coffee

Named after Janus, the god of gateways, this shop rotates roasters regularly, and chooses them based on the alignment of their values. On offer in October were beans from Onyx Coffee Lab and Dune Coffee Roasters. Owners John and Kristi are industry veterans and had always dreamed of opening their own coffee shop. They built the swanky interior themselves and gave a thoughtful presentation on their story and ethos, which was both insightful and charming. One standout coffee at January was the Colombia Gabriel Castaño Buendia roasted by Onyx. An extended fermentation process on this Pink Bourbon varietal solidified the complex cherry candy and funky, acidic flavors: just strange enough to be magical.

If you have an opportunity to attend a Caffeine Crawl, I highly recommend it. It’s a great opportunity to explore the coffee spots in your city, discover somewhere new, or find your new favorite brew!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. Marie Carlan (she/they) is the online editor for Barista Magazine. She’s been a barista for over a decade and writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. When she’s not behind the espresso bar or toiling over content, you can find her perusing record stores, collecting bric-a-brac, writing poetry, and trying to keep the plants alive in her Denver apartment. She occasionally updates her blog.

The post Highlights of the 2022 Boulder, Colo., Caffeine Crawl appeared first on Barista Magazine Online.

Highlights of the 2022 Boulder, Colo., Caffeine Crawl

Perfect Little Beans

Chinmey Hill Coffee uses specialty-grade beans with zero primary defects (such as black beans or sour beans) and less than five secondary defects (such as broken beans). This is important because primary defects will greatly affect the taste of the coffee. Having zero defects allows the coffee to be the most optimal flavor.

Window for Optimal Flavor

Chimney Hill Coffee ships our coffee the same day it was roasted, so you will receive it before it enters the window of optimal flavor.  This means you’ll never miss the opportunity to enjoy the coffee’s peak flavor.

Coffee Ratings

Coffee undergoes many scoring processes by professionals who achieved their Q Grader certification. Coffee is first graded when it’s green. If there are defects the coffee is determined to be “not-specialty grade”. For those coffees that pass green grading, they are sample roasted and cupped. (Cupping is the official term for critically tasting and scoring coffees. The official cupping form is standard worldwide, and where the 100-point scoring system comes from.) A coffee’s dry fragrance, wet aroma, flavor, aftertaste, body, acidity, balance, and overall impression are taken into consideration while uniformity issues and defects, will lower the overall score.

Specialty Coffee

Specialty coffee, coined by Erna Knutsen in 1974, refers to a coffee that receives a quality grading score of 80 percent or higher. While “premium” or “gourmet” seem like they’re synonymous with “specialty,” they simply are marketing terms with no defined standards. Specialty coffees are grown in specific and ideal micro-climates, and have distinctive and unique flavor profiles, with little to no defects.

Third-Wave Coffee

We’re currently in the third wave of coffee. The first wave of American coffee put pre-ground, vacuum-sealed cans in kitchens across America. The second wave started with the late ‘60s introduction of Peet’s coffee (by Alfred Peet) through the proliferation of Starbucks. The third wave of coffee focuses on origin transparency, nuanced flavors, and artisan roasting. The term “third wave” is synonymous with specialty coffee.

Highlights of the 2022 Boulder, Colo., Caffeine Crawl

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