CoffeeU

In this episode, Nathan, Brad, and Joshua interview Rachel Parvin, producer of CoffeeU and the Media Coordinator for Baba Java Coffee. She discusses what it is like to work with family as well as the trust built and reciprocated in the Baba Java work environment.  "I can trust the people I work for, I can trust Brad. And that's another huge, huge, huge thing. The culture that we have at Baba...

In this episode, Nathan, Brad, and Joshua talk with Lee Wideman about joining the Baba Java team. He specifically talks about his sales experience and what he is doing to best serve Baba Java customers through Client Services. "Anybody can sell something," said Lee." But what we want to do is make sure the client is taken care of. And we do want to sell them our product because we believe it’s imp...

In this episode, Nathan, Brad, Joshua and Landon talk about how Landon joined the Baba Java Family. They discuss Landons journey from regular customer to desiring to work for Baba Java during the pandemic and where he is now in his role. "I would say just the...I mean the community is probably the main...the main thing that I enjoy. I do enjoy like creating the coffee drinks and making latte art a...

In this episode, Nathan, Brad and Joshua interview Evie Parvin and Robin Meeks on their experience as college students working at Baba Java. Evie gives us insight on working with family and being a coffee professional while not enjoying the drink herself. Robin shares what brought her to Birmingham and how she has grown to love coffee through BJC. "Everyone that works is great. I have fun with all...

In this episode, Nathan and Brad continue their series on employee interviews by talking with Jocelyn Johnson. Jocelyn shares her story about how she came to work for Baba Java Coffee after having a relationship with BJC in a different capacity. Her unique journey from corporate to small business is definitely worth the listen. "I mean starting a small business obviously is not for everyone but it...

In this episode, Nathan and Brad interview Jacob and Abby Phillips on their experiences working at Baba Java. Abby and Jacob give us the inside scoop on working with family, how they came to Baba Java Coffee, and where they think the specialty coffee industry is going. "In all honestly, in being genuine, it's been...it's been so cool. I've learned so much about you know just people, just the work...

In this episode, Nathan, Brad, Joshua and Sydney talk about how Sydney came to be apart of the Baba Java family three years ago and her journey with coffee. Sydney started as a barista with Baba Java when the cafe first opened and has continued into the promoted roles of Lead Closer and Assistant Trainer to the Head Trainer.  "I work with people that are awesome people that really love each o...

In this episode, Nathan, Brad Joshua and Reuben unpack the experience of becoming a certified Q-Grader. Both Joshua and Reuben are certified Q-Graders and they were able to speak on the process of their testing and compare their experiences both in pandemic and post pandemic.  "We have gone through class and training and have been in the coffee industry for long enough to where our sensory sk...

In this episode, Nathan, Brad, Joshua and Abby go through a series of questions that customers asked about brewing. They discuss everything from why Baba Java does not serve frappuccinos to what the difference between an iced latte and an iced macchiato is.  "As I get infinitely smaller on my grounds, how much water is going to be interacting with those spheres?" said Nathan. "The surfac...

In this episode, Nathan, Brad, Josh and Abby teach how different brewing methods result in different levels of flavor. Abby speaks on her expertise as a barista and how she comes up with recipes for different brewing methods in order to have the perfect balanced extraction of coffee.   "Nailing down a recipe, getting your ratio, your coffee to water ratio right. And there's not one way. There...

In this episode, Nathan, Brad, Joshua and Abby unpack the best ways to brew at home. From V60's to the right grinders, the team informs on all things necessary to brew the perfect cup right from your home. "Really the first thing and the easiest thing is to get good coffee," said Brad. "Get good coffee, that's number one. And then, the next step to really up your coffee game is, we talked about be...

In this episode Nathan and Brad speak with Arden Vickers, Volunteer Lead of The World Games 2022. Arden speaks to her experience traveling all the way from Bermuda to work in Birmingham with the volunteers.  "I work with about 600 volunteers back in Bermuda, so it's a bit of a jump for the games. There's about over 5,000 volunteers for the games," said Arden. "Hear at the headquarters we have...

In this episode, Nathan and Brad interview Kathy Boswell, EVP of volunteer and community engagement of The World Games 2022. Kathy has been a loyal customer to Baba Java since its opening and played large part in Baba Java's involvement in the World Games. She spoke on her experience as an employee for such a large undertaking and the impact that Baba Java Coffee had on the World Games. "It was th...

In this episode, Nathan interviews Jocelyn Johnson about her experience as one of Baba Java's main organizers for the large event: The World Games. Baba Java served as the Official Hot Coffee of the World Games 2022 providing coffee for nearly 4,000 volunteers during the world record breaking  "This was an amazing undertaking and a crazy experience that I never thought we could handle. So tha...

This episode with Nathan, Brad, Josh and Abby, speaks to some of the small but important steps to understand in the brewing process. Abby shares her knowledge from her experience as a barista from the fundamentals of great balance to the nitty gritty of what details to look for. As always with Abby, there are plenty of food analogies to better understand.   "Anyone can brew coffee, anyon...

In this episode, Nathan, Brad, Abby and Josh introduce some brew methods used at the cafe and at home. We get to know our head barista at Baba Java Coffee and we learn how Abigail came to make coffee her career.  "Because customer service is a huge part of what we do, and we want to provide excellent customer service, it's hard to do that when you're focused on one job, " said Brad. "When you...

In this episode, Nathan, Brad, Reuben and Josh answer some of the most frequently asked questions they receive about roasting. They answer questions like, "what is the difference between dark, medium and light roast?" or answering to the topic of adding flavors to coffee in the roasting process. Reuben and Josh also share their personal growth stories of how they became the baristas that they are...

In this episode, Nathan and Brad interview Baba Java's roaster and International team lead, Reuben and Josh. This episode serves as the second of three to introduce the art of roasting and all that it entails. "A lot of it is where you're located. If you have enough water to do a wash process," said Brad. "Up until the 1850's, there was no wash process. it was natural fermentation up until then."...

In this episode, Nathan and Brad interview Baba Java's roaster and International team lead, Reuben and Josh. This episode serves as the first of three to introduce the art of roasting and all that it entails. "We roast medium because that's our roast philosophy. We want to have...we want to accentuate and we want to highlight the natural flavors that are present in this coffee and the coffees we g...

In this episode, Brad, Nathan and Josh go in depth about the significance behind single origin coffees. They discuss what "origin" really means and why Baba Java serves the origins the they do. "We really are looking for a spectrum of flavor, really. So we want to provide customers with options," said Brad. "What we are looking for, flavor plays a lot into that. Of course price plays into it and a...

In this episode, Josh and Reuben interview multiple guests live at SCA (Speciality Coffee Association). They speak with professionals in all facets of the coffee industry in short interviews throughout their time at the convention. Take a listen to hear from producers, competitors, baristas and more! "Coffee brings joy. coffee brings laughter. and meeting with so many coffee enthusiasts has been t...

In this episode, Nathan, Brad and Josh settle the debate about fair trade coffee and compare it to ethical sourcing. Josh and Brad share their expertise about how both the farmer and the consumer can be mislead by the concept of not-so-fair trade.  “From the beginning, It’s been part of our goal and part of the way that we do business is to make sure that we’re working with people who are sup...

In this episode, we interview one of our partners, Joshua Jagelman. about ethical farming and sourcing practices. He is the producer of our China coffee with Yunnan Coffee Traders and shares his perspective of the producers side of the industry. "I would encourage your listeners to think about efficiency in the coffee chain. So when I think about things being ethical I htrink about a consumer payi...

While Josh, Reuben and Rachel were at SCA in Boston this year, they interviewed with the famous Morgan Eckroth. Soon after this interview, she was named the US barista champion of 2022. Really impressive stuff! "Being a barista is a lot of skills all wrapped up in one job. I think the very unfortunate thing that I think we are all trying to change now, is treating barista positions as like ki...

In this unique episode we take our podcast to the cafe for a live recording. Both Baba Java employees and long loyal customers step up to the mic and ask their questions about coffee. Some questions that we answer: What is the difference between iced coffee and cold brew? Are coffee cheries edible? How did Nathan and Brad first meet? Take a listen to hear their answers and more!  Nathan is th...