Josiah Ball's career in coffee has spanned more than a decade and taken him from making "lattes" without an espresso machine to serving $12 pour overs as the manager of AM:FM's Euclid Street location. Josiah's focus on empathy through meeting people where they are at and guiding them to an elevated experience has given him a uniquely broad perspective on Specialty Coffee, which he shares with us in this wide-ranging, delightful conversation.Companies mentioned in this episode:Hawkins Cheezies @hawkinscheeziesofficial - Hudson whiskey @hudsonwhiskey - AM:FM Coffee Cocktails Vinyl @amfm_coffee - Balzac's Coffee Roasters @balzacscoffee - Cafe Lumiere @cafelumierecanada - Proud Mary @proudmaryusa - Joe Bean Roasters @joebeanroasters - New City Cafe @newcityroc - Fuego Coffee Roasters @fuegocoffeeMentioned in this episode:Joe Bean RoastersVisit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!Behind the GlassBehind the Glass, hosted by Richard B Colón and Quajay Donnell, is a monthly talk with the current month’s BTG Roster. Artists are interviewed about their submissions and we dive deep into their process, inspiration and thought process centralized around their artwork in the Behind the Glass Gallery located in the heart of Downtown Rochester NY. https://behind-the-glass-gallery.captivate.fm/

Aaaron, Chris, and Wade sat down with Adam Solomon, currently of Ugly Duck Coffee, to hear about the breadth and depth of his experience in and understanding of serving coffee. Adam's broad-ranging experience brings out unique insights throughout the conversation, ultimately advocating for greater care for baristas and the importance of hospitality skills over coffee-making skills.Mentioned in this episode:Joe Bean @joebeanroasters - Ugly Duck @uglyduckcoffee - Rococo @rococo_coffee_ - Crunchicks @crunchicksusa - Aporia @aporiacoffeeco - Eat Local New York @eatlocalnewyorkMentioned in this episode:Behind the GlassBehind the Glass, hosted by Richard B Colón and Quajay Donnell, is a monthly talk with the current month’s BTG Roster. Artists are interviewed about their submissions and we dive deep into their process, inspiration and thought process centralized around their artwork in the Behind the Glass Gallery located in the heart of Downtown Rochester NY. https://behind-the-glass-gallery.captivate.fm/

Aaron, Chris, and Wade discuss the vital role that baristas play in the coffee industry. From the skills of making coffee to the emotional labor of handling adults who don't otherwise know how to handle themselves, baristas make coffee delightful on a number of levels. However, they also discuss how baristas are woefully under-supported for the many roles they are expected to play in the industry.IF YOU ARE A BARISTA AND YOU WANT TO JOIN THIS CONVERSATION: REACH OUT TO US! We would like to talk to baristas about your experiences making coffee delightful day in and day out. Even if you don't want to do a full interview, you can write to us or simply answer a couple of questions. You deserve to be heard, and we are listening.ShoutoutsUgly Duck (@uglyduckcoffee) - AM:FM (@amfm_coffee) - Joe Bean Roasters (@joebeanroasters) - New City Cafe & Roastery (@newcityroc) - Fuego Coffee Roasters (@fuegocoffee)Mentioned in this episode:Joe Bean RoastersVisit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!Food About TownFood About Town hosted by Chris Lindstrom, focusing on restaurants, food and drink of all kinds, and whatever topics I want to cover! https://foodabouttown.captivate.fm/

Looking back on recent episodes (and a few not-so-recent episodes) Aaron Pascucci and Wade Reed have a freewheeling (at times unhinged?) conversation about everything from Down Syndrome Awareness Month to dream coffee interviews. Coffee as a vehicle for many forms of cultural expression, the changing state of the coffee scene in Rochester, our past podcast endeavors, and other Rochester creatives to get involved with (including our Lunchador network mates and Cleveland Prost, one of our favorite Rochester Substacks) this conversation HAS IT ALL.Mentioned in this episode:Rochester Amerks (@amerkshockey) - Rochester Ice Cats - Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network (@thedsdn) - Best Buddies (@bestbuddiesny) - Bitty & Beau's Coffee (@bittyandbeauscoffee) - Sager Beer Works - (@sager_stoneyard_pub) - Cleveland Prost (@cleveland.prost) - Gigi's Playhouse (@gigisplayhouserochester) - Archers Coffee (@archers.ae) - WAYO 104.3 FM (@wayoradio) - Common Thread - (@commonthreadhxcpodcast) - Ugly Duck Coffee (@uglyduckcoffee) - Joe Bean Roasters (@joebeanroasters) - Grounds for Health (@groundsforhealth) - Kopani Coffee (@kopanicoffee) - Ghost Town Oats (@ghosttownworld)Mentioned in this episode:Joe Bean RoastersJoe Bean Coffee - Coffee that lifts everyone. https://shop.joebeanroasters.comConnections with Evan Dawson Connections with Evan Dawson - Subscribe wherever you get your podcastsConnectionsGetting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business Check out Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/gettingrealwithbossy/

Aaron, Chris, and Wade sit down with Lily and Michelle Soehadi, who founded Kopani Coffee in November, 2024. Alongside roasting delicious coffee, they've served drinks from their signature menu on their coffee cart, and held educational events to enrich their community's experience of coffee. Their story and approach to coffee are driven by gotong royong, a commitment to mutual enrichment in community settings, a value they carry from their Indonesian heritage, but especially from their late mother. Coupled with a drive to truly learn and teach about coffee, Kopani continues to grow in every direction, telling an inspiring story along the way.Mentioned in this episodeKopani Coffee (@kopanicoffee) - Cat & Cloud (@catcloudcoffee) - Wonderstate Coffee (@wonderstatecoffee) - Friedhats (@friedhats) - Mill City Roasters (@millcityroasters)ShoutoutsUgly Duck (@uglyduckcoffee) - The Potted Bean (@the_pottedbean) - Whole Latte Love (@wholelattelove)Mentioned in this episode:Food About TownFood About Town hosted by Chris Lindstrom, focusing on restaurants, food and drink of all kinds, and whatever topics I want to cover! https://foodabouttown.captivate.fm/Joe Bean RoastersJoe Bean Coffee - Coffee that lifts everyone. https://shop.joebeanroasters.comConnections with Evan Dawson Connections with Evan Dawson - Subscribe wherever you get your podcastsConnections

Aaron and Wade sit down with Marvin Gay of LoPhase Coffee, to follow a journey through hard times, big successes, adversity, and self-assertion. Marvin's describes his experience of coming into conflict with the dominant cultures of the coffee industry and his decisions to trust himself, express himself, and ultimately be himself in spite of the pressure to conform. Marvin's story is not merely about coffee; it is a powerful example of how to rise from challenges, stay true to yourself, demand more of those around you, and ultimately expand the cultural purview of the coffee industry.Mentioned in this EpisodeLoPhase Coffee (@lophasecoffee) - AM:FM (@amfm_coffee) - Ugly Duck Coffee (@uglyduckcoffee) Krudco Skateshop (@krudcoskateshop) - Hooked Venice (@hooked.venice) - Fauve Coffee (@fauve_coffee) ShoutoutsThe Potted Bean (@the_pottedbean) - Kopani Coffee (@kopanicoffee)Mentioned in this episode:Common ThreadCheck out Common Thread on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/common-threads-hardcore/Joe Bean RoastersJoe Bean Coffee - Coffee that lifts everyone. https://shop.joebeanroasters.comConnections with Evan Dawson Connections with Evan Dawson - Subscribe wherever you get your podcastsConnections

Aaron, Chris, and Wade sit down with Anthony Coffaro of The Potted Bean: a very new coffee popup here in Rochester. Anthony's journey in Specialty Coffee began five years ago when a friend replaced his morning drive-thru coffee with a local Rochester option. Since then, Anthony's growing passion and natural curiosity have led him to a love of coffee service through the Potted Bean.ShoutoutsPotted Bean (@the_pottedbean) - Pearson's (@ilovepearsonsroc) - Charlie Riedel's (@charliereidelsrestaurant) - Valor Coffee (@valor.coffee) - AM:FM (@amfm_coffee) - Artisan Works (@artisanworksny) - Sips Coffee & Cafe (@sipsrochester) - Irondequoit Market (@irondequoit_market) - Fauve Coffee (@fauve_coffee)Mentioned in this episode:It’s A LotCheck out It’s A Lot on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/itsalot/ Joe Bean RoastersJoe Bean Coffee - Coffee that lifts everyone. https://shop.joebeanroasters.comConnections with Evan Dawson Connections with Evan Dawson - Subscribe wherever you get your podcastsConnections

Chris and Wade sit down with Billy Lyons, Rochester native and founder of Fauve Coffee. Billy walks us through his wide-ranging experience in coffee and the art world, and how that comes to both are expressed in the unique perspective Fauve delivers.Companies mentioned in this episode:Mentioned in this episode:Connections with Evan Dawson Connections with Evan Dawson - Subscribe wherever you get your podcastsConnectionsJoe Bean RoastersJoe Bean Coffee - Coffee that lifts everyone. https://shop.joebeanroasters.comNights and Weekends Check out Nights and Weekends on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/nightsandweekends/

In this episode we taste two coffees from different regions of Mexico and two different roasters. Then, we dive into some stats and characteristics of Mexican coffees.You can still grab the @behindlassroc YearBook Zine (Years 1-3)!Listen to @plantsxbeats by the illustrious @byrobbell.C’mon. Who doesn’t love @fellowproducts Drops?Coffees enjoyed in this episode were from @onyxcoffeelab and @broadsheetcoffee.The ever-amazing Jackie McGriff BLEW OUR MINDS with a literally perfect, single-take ad read for @voicesproj during our break.@allianceforcoffeeexcellence holds @cupofexcellence competitions and auctions in 17 countries. The results are fascinating.Shoutouts@uglyduckcoffee@gimmecoffee@fauve_coffeeMentioned in this episode:Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business Check out Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/gettingrealwithbossy/Connections with Evan Dawson Connections with Evan Dawson - Subscribe wherever you get your podcastsConnectionsJoe Bean RoastersJoe Bean Coffee - Coffee that lifts everyone. https://shop.joebeanroasters.com

Peaks Coffee CompanyUgly Duck Coffee CompanyAporia Coffee CompanyWhat is washed coffee?What is Natural Process Coffee?Anaerobic respiration Mentioned in this episode:Joe Bean RoastersJoe Bean Coffee - Coffee that lifts everyone. https://shop.joebeanroasters.comConnections with Evan Dawson Connections with Evan Dawson - Subscribe wherever you get your podcastsConnections