PODCAST · society
Boss Barista
by Boss Barista
Ashley Rodriguez talks to folks about gender, race, sex, and other important issues in coffee. We invite people from all realms of the coffee world to share stories and engage in discussion - we want to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]
Episodes
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Blue Bottle Independent Union Takes On One of the World’s Largest Specialty Coffee Chains
In May 2024, workers across six Blue Bottle locations in Boston voted to unionize. Abbey and Alex are here to talk about how workers deserve to have a voice in decision-making in their workplaces. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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Fermentation in Coffee With Lucia Solis
Breaking down the microbes that help break down coffee with fermentation expert Lucia Solis. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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Jessica Easto Breaks Down the Tasting Notes of S'mores
The author of "How to Taste Coffee" talks expectations, effervescence, and finding joy and delight in drinking coffee. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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LaChrista McArthur Did Her High School Capstone Project on Coffee
The Charlotte-based coffee consultant threw herself into the industry at a young age—and now has a wealth of thoughts to share about loyalty, robot baristas, and the best coffee cities in the world. A full transcript is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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Negotiating a Contract with the Madison Sourdough Union
Workers at Madison Sourdough are striving to ratify their first contract—a process that's proven to be more hampered by management than they anticipated. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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Mandy Naglich Time Travels with Smell
The author of the new book "How to Taste: A Guide to Discovering Flavor and Savoring Life," talks building up your sensory skills and unlocking more enriching experiences. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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Context Matters with Junior's Roasted Coffee
Coffee is in crisis, and one of the big problems is that some farmers aren't paid enough to cover their production costs. A new template from the team at Junior's Roasted Coffee looks to change that. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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Sunergos Union Workers Fight to Make Their Voices Heard
The Louisville-based coffee chain won its union vote in January 2023—and is still waiting on leadership to ratify a contract. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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Claire Bullen is Clearing Away the Thorny Brambles
A long-form conversation on writing with the newsletter's editor. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com
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Lucia Bawot Redefines the Protagonist of the Story
The photographer and author of the book "We Belong" centers the stories of women coffee workers in Colombia. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com
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Kristen Hawley is Glad Restaurants Aren't Going Away
The author of Expedite, a newsletter about restaurant technology, sees both the potential—and flaws—of tech in the food world. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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Stephanie Alcala Loves Bats And Coffee
Asking coffee trader Stephanie Alcala what does it mean to source responsible coffee and think holistically about sustainability. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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For Jackie Nguyen, a Coffee Shop Was Plan C
The owner of Cafe Cà Phê, Kansas City's first Vietnamese-owned coffee shop, talks about starting a business in a new city during a pandemic—and the importance of having a specific mission. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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Going Beyond Price with Brendan Adams
Specialty coffee distinguishes itself by its higher price tag—and stops there. To make meaningful change, Brendan Adams of Semilla argues that cost alone cannot be the finish line. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com
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What Baristas Actually Make with Adam JacksonBey and Valorie Clark
The average wage for baristas is $14 per hour—but many are only scheduled to work 26 hours a week. Go Fund Bean representatives discuss barista wages and more. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com
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Differentiating Between 'Value' and 'Values' With Ted Fischer
On neoliberalism and translating value in coffee with anthropologist and author of the book 'Making Better Coffee,' Ted Fischer. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com
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Keith Hawkins and the Zoom Call That Never Happened
The 20+ year industry pro and founder of Color of Coffee Collective talks about the start-stop pace of progress—and following through on attempts to do better. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com
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Namisha Parthasarathy on Romanticized Coffee Relics
The co-founder of Ārāmse on Indian coffee tools, colonial history, and the problem with flavor wheels. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com
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Coffee and Climate Change with Karla Boza
The third-generation farmer comes back to talk climate change and quality as a moving target in coffee. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com.
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Eight Essential Coffee Questions with Jim Ngokwey
A managing partner at Mighty Peace Coffee, Jim Ngokwey is creating pathways for Congolese coffee growers and posing difficult questions about the future of the industry. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com
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Baristas Can Do It All With Camila Coddou
The coffee pro-turned-coach talks about the gentleness of service work. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com. Listen to past episodes of Camila on the Boss Barista Podcast in 2019 and 2020.
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Cxffeeblack's Renata Henderson and Bartholomew Jones Make Connections [re-air]
In this episode from July 2020, we chat about legacy and reclaiming coffee's Black identity and origins. Check out the trailer to their documentary, Cxffeeblack to Africa, here, watch the documentary by joining Patreon, and keep an eye on their Instagram account for tour dates to watch. A full...
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Marie Cheslik Reflects on Making Wine (and Coffee) More Accessible
Wine and coffee are a lot alike—up to a point. Marie Cleslik of Slik Wines explains more. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com.
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Oddly Correct Inverts the Minimum Wage [Reair]
In this episode from November 2019, we ask, "What if the minimum wage actually reflected the minimum you need to live?" A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com
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Lori Flores Breaks Down Latinx Food and Drink Labor in the United States [172]
An associate professor of history, Dr. Lori Flores digs into the realities of agricultural working conditions—and the invisible labor behind the foods and goods we enjoy. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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BONUS: Intelligentsia's Chicago Workers Are Unionizing
This bonus episode features Ravani Grace, an Intelligentsia barista who's helping to organize one of specialty coffee's most pivotal unions. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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Niki Tolch Gets #Deep [171]
The creator of the Not Caffeinated Enough platform connects community, curiosity, and coffee. It's all a circle. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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David Tortolini Goes Beyond IRL Spaces [170]
Scholar and incoming graduate student at Purdue University David Tortolini talks about the importance of digital connection, and all the ways that communities are built through the internet. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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Gefen Skolnick Is Making Coffee Fun [169]
The founder of Couplet Coffee eschews traditional ideas to make delicious coffee available to all. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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Julien Langevin believes there's a place for everyone who wants to be here [168]
Julien Langevin is a production worker for Coffee by Design and the 2022 United States Cup Tasters Champion, going on to represent the United States at the World Cup Tasters Competition in June. A full transcript of this episode can be found at bossbarista.substack.com
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Valorie Clark Stands Up for Hourly Coffee Workers [167]
When COVID-19 laid off a substantial number of coffee workers, Valorie Clark helped start a nonprofit called GoFundBean to provide essential services and financial support. A full transcript of this episode is available at bossbarista.substack.com
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Morgan Eckroth Rebels with Coffee [166]
The 2022 United States Barista Champion and TikTok star subverts expectations through humor and silliness. You can find a full transcript at bossbarista.substack.com
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Bianka Allyon and Sabreen Naimah Are Keeping it Cute [165]
The co-founders of Cute Coffee urge you to keep it cute or put it on mute—or you're gonna get slimed. You can find a full transcript of this episode at bossbarista.substack.com
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Jaymie Lao Wants You To Say Something Nice [164]
Go Get Em Tiger's very first employee wants you to praise your friends, your coworkers—everyone! A full transcript of this episode is available here.
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The Tartine Union Asks for Their Bread and Roses [101]
Revisiting our February 2020 episode with the members of the Tartine Union in the Bay Area. For a full transcript, go to bossbarista.substack.com
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Carlos de la Torre Wants You to Buy Coffee Roasted in Mexico [163]
The owner of Café con Jiribilla talks about Mexico's unique coffee scene and why you should discover its roasters. You can find a full transcript of this episode here.
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Sonam Parikh Is Getting Comfortable Saying 'I Don't Know.' [162]
My guest is Sonam Parikh, one of the co-founders of Mina’s World, a coffee shop in West Philadelphia. Sonam and their partner, Kate, opened Mina’s World 18 days before COVID-19 forced the majority of hospitality businesses to close or completely revamp how they serve food and drinks to customers....
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Eric Grimm on HR and Setting Workplace Culture [161]
How Eric Grimm of Glitter Cat Barista and Ghost Town Oats has approached building more accessible spaces through the lens of human resources. A full transcript of this episode can be found here.
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Courtney Heald is Sticking Up and Sticking Around [160]
The lead roaster at Modern Times helps navigate the San Diego roastery's next phase while advocating for herself. A full transcript of this episode can be found here.
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Tio Fallen Travels The Road Less Taken [159]
The co-founder of Three Keys Coffee in Houston talks jazz riffs, trumpet keys, and I ask him some weird questions. A full transcript of this episode can be found here.
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David Lalonde Falls Down the Rabbit Hole [158]
What it means to want to do things differently—and actually do them. With David Lalonde, co-founder of Rabbit Hole Roasters in Montreal, Quebec. A full transcript of this episode can be found here.
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December Rewind: Rachel Northrop Asks "Who Is The C-Market For?"
In the last episode of our December Rewind series, Rachel Northrop digs into the coffee commodities market, and asks who this antiquated system serves. Spoiler alert: You probably know the answer. A full transcript of this episode can be found here.
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December Rewind: Rachel Northrop Breaks Down the C-Market (Part One)
The commodities market, or c-market, is how most coffee is bought and sold. It's a complicated, antiquated system that's persisted for years. Rachel Northrop explains how this system came to be. A full transcript of this episode can be found here.
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December Rewind: Maggy Nyamumbo on Big Coffee and the Coffee Price Crisis
Today, we're re-releasing our episode with Maggy Nyamumbo. Maggy is the founder of Kahawa 1893, a social enterprise aimed at connecting farmers directly to consumers in an attempt to get more money back to farmers. There is so much money in coffee — with farmers making less money than it costs to...
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December Rewind: Alice Wong Says #SuckItAbleism
In 2018, the internet lit up with debates about plastic straw bans. Disabled activist Alice Wong talks about how these kinds of conversations silence the voices of disabled people. This episode was originally released in August 2018.
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Investing in Young Farmers with Frankie and Tim Volkema [157]
At 13 years old, Frankie Volkema became the world's youngest Q grader. While she received her certification, she also learned that the average coffee farmer is in their mid-50s, and if we don’t make farming viable for young people to pursue, the future of coffee is in jeopardy. So she decided to...
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Pepe Uechi Isn't Afraid To Pivot [156]
Today, I’m chatting with Jose Uechi, co-founder of Compadre, a coffee brand based in Peru. Jose—or Pepe, as he goes by—is an industrial designer by trade, and got into coffee because of his friend, Juan Pablo. Juan Pablo invented a solar roaster, a machine that could roast coffee without...
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Neichelle Guidry Brings the Light [155]
Neichelle Guidry is a storyteller. Neichelle is a college administrator and the founder of Black Girl Black Coffee. The brand began as an Instagram account, as a way for Neichelle to document her journey through coffee, and her passion for the subject, during the upheaval of the pandemic. Since...
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Sierra Yeo and the Mythical Career Ladder [154]
If you've ever asked yourself, “Is this real? Or am I imagining it? Did I take something the wrong way on purpose? Did my boss really do that thing that I now feel so angry about?” then this is the episode for you. Sierra Yeo of The Kore Directive and Alpro UK get real vulnerable. This episode is...
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Exploring Coffee Through Fast Fashion with Rachel Faller [153]
Rachel Faller is one of the co-founders of tonlé, a zero-waste clothing company that believes in promoting equal value across the supply chain. Like coffee, most of the clothing we wear goes through hundreds of hands and relies on a system of manufacture and exchange that is a relic of…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Ashley Rodriguez talks to folks about gender, race, sex, and other important issues in coffee. We invite people from all realms of the coffee world to share stories and engage in discussion - we want to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]
HOSTED BY
Boss Barista
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Boss Barista have?
Boss Barista currently has 208 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Boss Barista about?
Ashley Rodriguez talks to folks about gender, race, sex, and other important issues in coffee. We invite people from all realms of the coffee world to share stories and engage in discussion - we want to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]
How often does Boss Barista release new episodes?
Boss Barista publishes regularly with 208 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Boss Barista?
You can listen to Boss Barista on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Boss Barista?
Boss Barista is created and hosted by Boss Barista.
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