

Making Coffee with Lucia Solis
Lucia
A behind the scenes look at what goes into making one of the world's favorite beverages. Lucia is a former winemaker turned coffee processing specialist. She consults with coffee growers and producers all over the world giving her a unique perspective into the what it takes to get a coffee from a seed to your cup.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 24, 2024 • 38min
#65: To Blend or Not to Blend? Wine Vintages, and Harvest Update.
On today's episode I will be updating you on the coffee we made this harvest season and speaking of the importance of blends.If you’ve listened to even 1 other episode of this podcast, you’ll know that I'm usually trying to discourage the coffee industry from blindly adopting wine culture. Usually I share my thoughts that adopting a wine model benefits consumers more than producers and further accentuates inequality between the coffee buyers and coffee producers. Usually I believe the wine mode does more harm than good.But here is a rare occasion where I think coffee could truly benefit from the wine model.In this episode I talk about:Identity shift from a wine person to a coffee personWhy coffee could benefit from adopting the wine vintage modelHow I approach blending coffee lots in the seasonIs Coffee Hunter an outdated term?My risky coffee sales strategyInquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: info.luxiacoffee@gmail.comSupport the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPalSign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.Cover Art by: Nick HafnerInto song: Elijah BisbeeSupport the show

Jul 4, 2024 • 35min
#64: What Kind of Coffee Lover am I? How Much am I Willing to Pay for a Cup of Coffee?
This episode also comes on the heels of our recent trip to London. Our very first stop was the Nagare coffee shop in Shoreditch in North London. Nick and I do what we usually do when we step into a coffee shop and order the pour overs. They had 2 different coffees on the menu for a pour over so we got one of each and sat back at our cute little table in a cozy cafe, and it was only when we looked down at our empty Kinto ceramic cups that we finally realized we had paid 18£ ($23 dollars!) for 2 small cups of black coffee.I experienced sticker shock because we have been living on farms in Colombia and Guatemala for the last 4 years and we are very out of touch with big city prices. I knew London was going to be expensive but I was not emotionally prepared to spend $11/cup on our daily coffee.Nick and I needed more coffee that morning but if we got 2 more cups at Nagare, we would be close to $50 and we hadn’t even had breakfast yet. In my head, a voice was saying, dang $11 is an expensive cup of coffee. And then immediately another voice said, hold on.... "don’t we want the price of a cup of coffee to rise?"Aren't low coffee prices a big part of the problem with our supply chain?The conversation about the price of a cup of coffee is one I have often. What should coffee cost? Who gets to set the price? How does price reflect value?The conversation about price and value is often at the forefront of my mind because there is such a disparity between what a coffee producer gets paid for growing and processing the coffee and what a consumer pays for a cup of coffee made from their raw material.Resources:https://www.macrotrends.net/2535/coffee-prices-historical-chart-datahttps://ourcountrygarden.co.uk/british-gardening-statistics/https://www.carelink24.org/doctors-prescribe-gardening/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/21/headway/peat-carbon-climate-change.htmlInquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: info.luxiacoffee@gmail.comSupport the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPalSign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.Cover Art by: Nick HafnerInto song: Elijah BisbeeSupport the show

May 20, 2024 • 37min
#63: Terroir For Busy People
Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: info.luxiacoffee@gmail.comSupport the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPalSign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.Cover Art by: Nick HafnerInto song: Elijah BisbeeSupport the show

Apr 30, 2024 • 1h 36min
#62: The Commercial Yeast vs Wild Microbes Debate w/ Pranoy of Kerehaklu
Today I bring you a third installment with Pranoy from Kerehaklu. In this new episode we talk about:The pros and cons of commercial strains vs wild microbesThe over-complication of fermentationsThe drawback of high altitude farmingThe drawback of honey processAn alternative to adding fruit to your tank Terroir vs Ecological nichePranoy's approach to cultivating his local microbesAnd much more... RESOURCES#56: Finding Work/Life Balance as a Coffee Producer w/ Pranoy Thipaiah from Kerehaklu in India#34: Robusta, Tropical Fruits and Mechanical Drying. Visiting India w/ Pranoy of KerehakluInquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: info.luxiacoffee@gmail.comSupport the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPalSign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.To connect with Pranoy:Pranoy's InstagramKerehaklu InstagramWebsiteCover Art by: Nick HafnerInto song: Elijah BisbeeSupport the show

Apr 22, 2024 • 52min
#61: Coffee Fermentation Review with Ashley Rodriguez of Boss Barista
RESOURCESInquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: info.luxiacoffee@gmail.comBoss Barista SubstackBoss Barista PodcastSupport the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPalSign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.Cover Art by: Nick HafnerInto song: Elijah BisbeeSupport the show

Dec 15, 2023 • 49min
#60: Thermoshock, Where Does Citrus Flavor Come From & How To Find Your Fermentation Soulmate
The podcast dives into the intriguing world of Thermoshock and its effects on coffee flavor. Listeners learn how drying impacts sugar in coffee seeds and the importance of coffee labels. Personal brewing journeys are shared, highlighting the shift to minimalist methods. The discussion also uncovers the origins of citrus flavors in coffee, linking them to microbial activity. Finally, the hosts advocate for community support to fund coffee education events, enriching the listener experience.

21 snips
Nov 21, 2023 • 41min
#59: What's Altitude Got To Do With It? Microbes & Meters Above Sea Level
The podcast discusses the differences between dry and wet coffee processing, the role of microbes in fermentation, and the importance of coffee labels. It also delves into the impact of altitude on coffee fermentation and microbial communities, the challenges faced by farmers growing non-trendy varieties, and the misconceptions surrounding specialty coffee.

Oct 5, 2023 • 49min
#58: Direct Trade & Other Misleading Labels w/ Natali from Nachteulen Coffee
In this new episode with Natali we talk about:Growing up in a coffee producing country, but finding coffee later in lifeFalling into the specialty coffee rabbit holeThe challenges of running a small business while keeping full time jobsDirect trade, fair trade and single originHow Natali chooses what information to put on her roasted coffee bagsWhy Decaf is important for night owls & coffee loversEducating new marketsRESOURCESInquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: info.luxiacoffee@gmail.comSupport the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPalSign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.To connect with Natali:InstagramWebsiteCover Art by: Nick HafnerInto song: Elijah BisbeeSupport the show

Sep 12, 2023 • 1h 1min
#57: Will Frith Solves Terroir & Other Lessons From Vietnam
You cannot utter a sentence about Vietnam specialty coffee without including the name Will Frith. In this new episode we talk about:Will’s journey from a coffee purist to being more reasonableMeeting people where they areThe importance of a middle class to support a new coffee categoryWill’s rule of thumb for cheap coffeeWhat he drinks in the morningBeing careful to not bring a western mindset to VietnamFrench occuption and the resulting mash-up cultureRESOURCESInquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: info.luxiacoffee@gmail.comVietnam: A New Vocabulary VideoSupport the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPalSign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.To connect with Will Frith:InstagramWebsiteCover Art by: Nick HafnerInto song: Elijah BisbeeSupport the show

Aug 29, 2023 • 1h 18min
#56: Finding Work/Life Balance as a Coffee Producer w/ Pranoy Thipaiah from Kerehaklu in India
Today I bring you a long overdue second conversation with Pranoy from Kerehaklu in India. His first appearance on the podcast was EP#34 in May 2021I have been wanting to catch up with Pranoy for more than 2 years, and after spending a week together processing coffee and learning we were able to sit down in Jakarta after the intense week of FTC and talk. In this new episode we talk about:How he has found new markets to export his coffeeAdvice for producers attending coffee Expos like SCA and MICEThe impact of climate change on his farm, including the changing monsoon season.His approach to biodiversity.How Covid revived an interest in Indian farm lifeThe lingering prejudices of the Indian caste systemHow Australian culture has influenced his life philosophyRESOURCESInquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: info.luxiacoffee@gmail.comSupport the show on Patreon to join our live Discord hangouts, and get access to research papers, transcripts and videos.And if you don't want to commit, show your support here with a one time contribution: PayPalSign up for the newsletter for behind the scenes pictures.To connect with Pranoy:Pranoy's InstagramKerehaklu InstagramWebsiteCover Art by: Nick HafnerInto song: Elijah BisbeeSupport the show