La Taza Habla

In this special episode of La Taza Habla, we deviate from our usual format to reflect on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene's devastating impact on Western North Carolina's high country. Our host, Don Cox (aka Bald Guy), speaks from the international headquarters in Boone, NC, to share his personal experience and gratitude for the community's response. He reflects on the flooding and lan...

Welcome to La Taza Habla, the podcast where we dive into 20 years of specialty coffee stories. In this episode, we're busting a common myth: that coffee is best right after it's roasted. We share a personal story from seminary days to illustrate why freshly roasted beans need to rest. The key is a process called degassing, where coffee releases  CO2​ for 24 to 48 hours, allowing the flavors to tru...

In this unscripted episode of La Taza Habla, Don Cox sets aside the usual specialty coffee talk to wrestle with something heavier: the cultural normalization of violence. From the most recent assassination to a tragic stabbing in Charlotte, NC, our communities are fraying. Disagreement has become enmity, and violence is met with silence—or worse, celebration. Don reflects on why silence in the fac...

Welcome to a special episode of La Taza Habla, where we continue our deep dive into the art of coffee grinding and its profound impact on coffee flavor. Join Don Cox as he welcomes back specialty coffee expert Gary Horn from GH Grinding and Brewing Solutions. In this episode, we address common questions from home brewing enthusiasts, from finding the perfect grind size (a little above table salt!)...

Unlock the secret to café-quality coffee at home. In this episode of La Taza Habla, host Don Cox sits down with his high school friend and grinding expert Gary Horn, founder of GH Grinding and Brewing Solutions, to demystify one of the most overlooked steps in coffee brewing: the grind. For anyone frustrated by the difference between their home brew and a barista-made cup, this episode is a game-c...

In this episode of La Taza Habla, join us as we dive into a game-changing discovery about the world of specialty coffee and the single most important ingredient: water. For years, the coffee industry has believed that minerals must be present during the brewing process for proper flavor extraction. But a new concept, "ionic influence on brewed coffee tastes," completely shatters this long-held bel...

Have you ever wondered why your home-brewed specialty coffee doesn't taste like the cafe's? The answer might be in your tap. In this episode of La Taza Habla, we dive deep into the crucial, but often overlooked, role of water in your daily brew. Discover why 85% of Americans have hard water and how it affects the flavor and extraction of your favorite beans. We explore three main solutions for eve...

Are you truly satisfied with your morning coffee? ☕ In this foundational episode of our three-part series on water, we dive deep into how a hidden factor—your home's water hardness—could be secretly ruining your coffee. We explore the difference between  hard water and soft water and how the minerals dissolved in your tap water impact everything from soap lathering to the scale buildup in your ex...

What really happens when coffee goes decaf? Discover the truth of the often-misunderstood world of decaffeination as we peel back the layers to reveal the surprising history and cutting-edge science that creates your favorite caffeine-free brew. Discover how decaf coffee went from using dangerous chemicals like benzene to today's revolutionary supercritical CO2 process. Our expert guest, Dr. BJ Yo...

Join us on La Taza Habla as we pull back the curtain on the coffee industry's environmental and social claims, revealing the uncomfortable realities often hidden behind marketing buzzwords. With over two decades in specialty coffee, your host exposes the brutal truth: coffee is a tree-cutting, diesel-burning, ozone-busting industry with a massive environmental footprint. This episode dives deep in...

La Taza Habla: The Coffee Mycotoxin Myth In this eye-opening episode of La Taza Habla, we dive deep into the pervasive myths surrounding mycotoxins in specialty coffee. Join your host as he unpacks the real science behind ochratoxin A (OTA) and other naturally occurring byproducts from certain molds, addressing the alarming claims that your morning brew is making you "toxic and sick". We'll explor...

Step inside the roastery with Don Cox, "The Bald Guy," on this experimental episode of La Taza Habla, as he takes you on a sensory and scientific journey through the coffee roasting process. Discover the magical transformation of green coffee beans into the rich, aromatic brew you love. Don demystifies the complex interplay of conduction and convection heat transfer, tracing the historical evoluti...

Welcome back to La Taza Habla, the podcast where we bring you 20 years of specialty coffee stories! In this insightful episode, we crack open the fascinating world of coffee processing and uncover how it transforms a humble fruit into the incredible coffee flavor you love in your cup. Ever wondered about the journey from farm to flavor? We go back to the origins, long before espresso and baristas,...

In this captivating episode of La Taza Habla, Don "Bald Guy" Cox delves into the surprising parallels between the humble apple and the intricate coffee plant, revealing how nature's blueprint dictates the extraordinary flavor journey from farm to cup. Unpacking the core elements of the flavor equation—terroir, plant, processing, and roasting—listeners will gain a profound appreciation for the spec...

Ever wondered why one specialty coffee tastes bright and citrusy, while another from the same country is deep and chocolaty? The secret is coffee terroir—the unique "taste of place" that gives every bean its character. In this episode, we unpack the science and story behind coffee flavor, exploring how every cup is a direct reflection of its coffee origin. Join us for a journey from bean to cup as...

Join us on La Taza Habla as we shatter a long-held myth about taste: the "tongue map" is wrong! In this compelling episode, we conclude our miniseries with "The Flavor Jigsaw: Unlocking the Science of Taste" we dive into how your sense of taste truly works, beyond the sweet-sour-salty zones you were taught. Discover how your 10,000 taste buds regenerate every two weeks, constantly reshaping your p...

In this intriguing episode of The Nose, we delve into the fascinating world of our olfactory system and its profound impact on our lives. Discover how old-timers used a simple box of matches as a tool to clear the air, and why certain scents can instantly transport you back to childhood memories, like the aroma of freshly baked cookies. Explore the essential role of smell in human survival through...

Join La Taza Habla as we embark on a fascinating 20-year journey into the world of specialty coffee, challenging deeply ingrained notions of "quality." This episode unpacks the intriguing paradox between objective quality, like that of a well-made knife, and the often subjective, performative "quality" applied to coffee. We explore how global definitions of excellent coffee are frequently excluded...

Have you ever wished you could understand the story behind your daily coffee? In this episode, we journey from a sun-drenched coffee farm in Costa Rica's Valley of the Saints to a bustling Zocalo in Mexico to explore a profound idea: "La Taza Habla" - The Cup Speaks. Host [Don Cox], drawing on 20 years in the specialty coffee industry, shares a transformative moment with a coffee farmer that chang...

Season 1 -Episode 4 In this last episode of a three part series on the global cultivation of coffee, we delve into the extraordinary tale of Gabriel De Clou, the French naval officer who risked everything to introduce coffee to the Caribbean. Discover his audacious mission to smuggle a coffee plant across the perilous Atlantic, facing pirates, jealous passengers, and life-threatening conditions. S...

Season 1 - Episode 3 In this special episode of "La Taza Habla," join Bald Guy and his guest, Jacob Frankel, from San Cristobal Coffee Importers, as they discuss how weather, tariffs, and the current instability in Mexico will not only impact local coffee growers but the coffee industry worldwide. This episode offers insights into the inner workings of coffee production and echoes the sentiment of...

Season 1 - Episode 0 Master the simple coffee technique that redefined mornings for Bald Guy Brew founder Don Cox. Follow his Java Journey from childhood curiosity to coffee roasting mastery."  Share Your Story and Comments: Leave us a voice message using SpeakPipe Stay Connected: Get exclusive coffee stories & tips delivered to your inbox Download your Ratio Companion Guide Travel the World f...

Season 1 - Episode 2 Journey to 17th century India where a daring Sufi monk's seven smuggled coffee beans changed history. Discover how this sacred theft cultivated a global coffee movement that spread from Indian shores to Indonesian islands. Share Your Story and Comments: Leave us a voice message using SpeakPipe Stay Connected: Get exclusive coffee stories & tips delivered to your inbox Down...

Join your host, Don Cox (The Bald Guy), on a deep dive into the legendary and spiritual origin of coffee—Ethiopia, the true birthplace of the Coffea Arabica species. This episode moves beyond the daily coffee ritual to explore the foundation of the specialty coffee world. We start in the Kaffa region with the famous Legend of Kaldi, the goat herder whose unusually energetic, dancing goats led him...