Totally Dissolved

We have an insightful and fun conversation all about dairy with Carl Hollifield. Carl has been in the Dairy Industry for a few decades and has lent his expertise to a few Barista Competitors and Champions. This is the beginning of a few conversations into Dairy Science. We hope your curiosity is peaked and we look forward to having Carl on again in future discussions to continue learning more! Car...

We go through many discussions with a variety of new and seasoned Specialty Coffee Pros about careers and owning your own shop. It's a path filled with many firsts, success, and loss. We get to chat with the very talented and phenomenal pro, Erica Escalante about owning a business and career going forward. We loved learning not only about her journey, but her insight into creating it, making i...

We wanted to continuing highlighting our discussion on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This week we talk with our good friend Mo and we get into it about Roasting, SE Asian Coffees, and being a Minority Business Owner. Mo Maravilla is the owner and founder of Kindness and Mischief Coffee Roasters. Born in Manila, Philippines, Mo and her family moved to Los Angeles when she was 3 years old. After...

Specialty Coffee has so many opportunities for career growth, but often can feel overwhelming and confusing. This week we talk to Tarra Samuelson about how she took the path of being a consultant and what that can look like. Tarra has worked specialty coffee for the past 12 years with Klatch Coffee, Verve Coffee, Equator Coffees and Provision Coffee. Over the years she worked in both retail and wh...

We start Season 3 (!!!) with everyone's favorite Friend to All and Enemy to (maybe) None, the adventure seeking and very knowledgable Josh Littlefield. We laugh lots, but also talk shop about being a Coffee Tech and Coffee Equipment. Josh Littlefield (He/Him) is currently “The other guy” at Technico Coffee Service out in Nashville, TN. With his buddy Jake they manage an equipment sales and repair...

When we started Totally Dissolved, we wanted to put out a resource for coffee professionals that would go beyond  the 'basics' of coffee, to provide info out there to further develop as a coffee professional, AND have fun doing so. After 2 Seasons (!!!) we hope we've provided that for you all. We certainly have been getting inspired and having such a good time conversing with other lovely cof...

We had a fabulously fun and enlightening conversation with Bailey Arnold and Becky Reeves. They both give insight on the importance of building and nurturing relationships and finding a path of work that is both fulfilling, fun, and true to yourself. Bailey Arnold is above all else a seeker of sensory delight. After wearing several hats in the coffee industry for nearly a decade she now works for...

We're going to chat about oat milk and we do, but really we talk about business with Michelle Johnson. She has been a force and and inspiration in Specialty Coffee. It was amazing to talk to her about being a Founder and what's it's like creating a product for communities often not considered. Michelle is the founder of The Chocolate Barista, a coffee culture platform and creative consulting agenc...

We take some time this week for a lovely conversation with Anita Tam on the tools we as coffee professionals use. It was inspiring and refreshing to discuss her take on design, functionality, and intentional use of supplies and tools we use daily, but often overlook. Anita Tam is the Founder and Owner of Slow Pour Supply - a specialty coffee equipment distribution company based in Houston, TX. Ani...

What makes a memorable cafe experience? We all love going out to cafes and coffeeshops for a variety of reasons. This episode, we chat with Jaymie Lao not only about her favorite experiences, but her willingness to share how these experiences helped her shape cafe experiences for others. Jaymie Lao is a coffee human based in Los Angeles who has spent 14+ years in the coffee industry. Most recently...

Sustainability in coffee has many facets and the industry has made progress or has it? Tyler Duncan of Coracle Coffee shares his views on sustainability in terms of the growing market of convenience and how to make Specialty Coffee more accessible for all. Tyler has been in the industry for around a decade. Beginning at Starbucks and then Topeca Coffee Roasters, he now owns an instant coffee busin...

Technological developments in coffee has created some drastic changes in the Specialty Coffee industry. Tune in as Marcus Young helps us distill how technology has helped make Specialty Coffee what it is today and where it can continue to grow. Marcus Young has spent nearly twenty years in coffee. He is motivated to create sustainable economic opportunities throughout the coffee supply chain. Marc...

This episode takes us on an enlightening discussion on taste, smell, and how we can better develop our palates for tasting. Supertaster Candice Madison helps us understand the hows and whys of taste and how we can all benefit from exploring different tastes and smells. Candice Madison has worked in specialty coffee for almost 15 years, as an accomplished barista, roaster, green buyer, and instruct...

We get in-depth and science-y with Christopher Hendon discussing water. This was a fun conversation that challenged us, we learned lots, and gave us better insight on water for coffee. To the boundaries of science! Dr. Christopher H. Hendon is a Professor of Computational Materials Chemistry at the University of Oregon. His interests are in energy materials and coffee science.  Prof. Hendon’s...

Our inaugural episode for Season 2 we spill the tea with the spirited and lovely Tricia Lu of Spirit Tea. We chat tea, community, and what's it like being in a coffee adjacent field. Tricia Lu (she/her/hers) is the West Coast sales manager for Chicago based tea company Spirit Tea and has been part of the coffee industry for over ten years. Before she was tea she was coffee and her background in th...

Happy End of Summer/Autumn is here!!! Quick update for what is to come in Season 2 of Totally Dissolved. Stay tuned and catch new episodes starting in October!

We get geeky and philosophical about Espresso Machines with the brilliant Tommy Gallagher in our last episode of Totally Dissolved Season 1! Espresso machines can often be intimidating and talking with Tommy we breakdown the ins and outs to help make this tool easier to understand for the Coffee Pro. Tommy Gallagher (he/him) manages product and brand development for Seattle-based espresso machine...

This week we get to talk about whirs and burrs with Josh Kimbrough of GH Grinding & Brewing Solutions. Grinders are some of the most under-appreciated pieces of equipment in any coffee bar/restaurant/cafe that serves coffee. We discuss the why, how, and what makes them so important and Josh gives us lots of great insight into this overlooked and sometimes misunderstood piece of equipment. Josh...

Brewed coffee is a popular staple on many cafe menus that doesn't always get the most attention. This week we are fortunate to pick the brains of the Co-Founders of Ground Control, Eli Solomon, Josh Avins, and Jason Sarley. They are some of the most innovative minds when it comes to thinking about brewing and gives us new perspectives on how to do brewed coffee on another level. Eli is the Co-Foun...

We start getting in-depth with equipment and tech knowledge beginning with one of our favorite Coffee Techs, Rebecca Jones. Her insight is not only valuable, but unexpected combining curiosity with patience and empathy.  Rebecca Jones is a coffee tech ☕🔧with SteamVolt in Chicago, IL. She loves people, coffee, and solving puzzles, so fixing espresso machines is the perfect gig. Beyond fixing...

Episode 008 "Career Series: Trish Rothgeb Gives a Lesson on Becoming a Cafe Owner" We are so fortunate to talk with one of Specialty Coffee's greats, Trish Rothgeb. Her experience and breadth of knowledge is extensive and we hope you have as much fun listening as we had chatting with her! Trish Rothgeb (she/her) is the co-founder, roastmaster, and director of coffee at the San Francisco-based Wrec...

We had a such a great time talking with Dana about her career path to becoming a Broker. Her story is insightful and unique and hope you all are inspired! Dana is a trader at Atlas Coffee Importers and has been with the company since early 2016. She manages the purchasing and origin relationships for 9 countries across Latin America and Asia. Dana first entered the coffee world working as a barist...

We're kicking off a series of episodes the next few weeks delving into Coffee Careers. Tony Querio starts off this series with his take on a path toward becoming a Coffee Roaster. His perspectives are full of thoughtful insight and wisdom considering his long, storied career and we hope you all take something valuable from it. Tony has been working in the coffee industry for 15 years with the last...

This week we recap SCA Expo 2022 in Boston with the incomparable Julie Housh. We recount our adventures through the world of the annual coffee tradeshow. Julie Housh is currently the Knowledge Development Manager with the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) and an Authorized SCA Trainer (AST). She is passionate about sharing specialty coffee with as many people as possible and working to improve th...

We discuss Customer Service with the inspiring Selina Viguera. Customer service is not always easy. Selina has spent over a decade in retail guiding and teaching Baristas hospitality, all while being kind and having fun (#selinaselfie) Selina works for Blue Bottle Coffee in Venice, CA and has been with the company since 2010. As a Café Leader, she continues to enjoy her work as a barista, but also...