We, the 21st century human race, are witnessing the long-impending increased awareness and celebration of women. This Thursday, 08 March 2018, is International Women’s Day; we, BeanGenius, are partaking in this celebration by sharing the stories of women in coffee, who work with our roaster partners. Read on to meet some rad women in coffee who contribute to bringing you the best coffee out there.

Cristy – Revelator Coffee Company

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Long-time BeanGenius subscriber, Vanessa Ramirez, is an artist, sculptor, and the self-proclaimed, “Coffee Assassin.” She is as creative as she is caffeinated; her figures and sketches feature furry and non-furry creatures, alike. We had the pleasure of chatting with Ramirez about her coffee assassin-ating and more.

Favorite way to brew your coffee?

Pour over. Hands down.

How did you get into coffee?

My parents drank coffee all the time and as a kid and I always loved how it smelled. I could not wait to drink it and they were only able to hold me off until about 13-14. Fast forward to about 5-6 years ago, I decided to cut out all creamers and sugar and started drinking black coffee so I then became obsessed with finding coffee that tasted great.

How does coffee fuel your art?

It keeps me alive. Kidding aside, it’s part of my routine and creative process. And the coffee love bleeds into my work for sure. I often draw monsters drinking coffee.

Why do you use BeanGenius for your coffee needs?

I wanted to try different coffees outside of the ones I know. I like the possibility of discovering a coffee you may never have tried otherwise. And it’s tailored to my flavor profile, so that’s cool.

If you could choose one superpower to have what would it be and why?

Telekinesis. So I can use my powers to make coffee without having to get up and make it myself. Also would be handy when the remote is out of reach.

Favorite coffee to drink?

I occasionally will drink cold brew but I love hot brewed coffee. If I am going somewhere i am not familiar with an Americano is my go to.

Roaster you typically buy coffee from?

My staples are Intelligentsia and Stumptown.

What is the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had?

A friend gave me a bag of Black Ring Coffee, and so far that has been my favorite.

What is your daily coffee routine?

I don’t drink coffee until I get to work, because I like to enjoy my first cup. I grind my beans and do the pour over thing (I have my kettle and hand grinder in my office). The second cup comes around 11am also pour over. When I get home it’s art time so I will either do pour over or french press if I have a lot of work.

Favorite coffee shop and drink to have when you are there?

Right now. Copa Vida in Pasadena. I usually go for an Americano.

What do you drink outside of coffee?

I drink carbonated water, regular water, Kombucha, cold pressed juice, tea, and, on occasion, Ginger Ale.

If you enjoyed this interview check out our past interviews with Aeropress champion Ben Jones!

The post Artist Vanessa Ramirez BeanGenius Interview appeared first on The BeanGenius Blog.

Part 1

The 2016 US Aeropress Championship has crowned a champion. Ben Jones of Ristretto Roasters in Portland, Oregon won the gold with his top recipe and knack for improvisation. After being frowned 2016 US Aeropress Champion, Jones heads to Ireland for the World Aeropress Championships! Amidst his journey, Ben graciously took the time to answer our questions about competition brewing, entrance music, past lives, and everything  in between.

Where do you reside when you’re not championing the Aeropress in Atlanta?

We just bought a home in a little town somewhere between Portland and Olympia. I grew up in Portland, went to college there, started my family there, but it is time for me to get the heck out.

What did you do before getting into coffee? 

I studied English Lit, Writing, and Education with the intention to teach. A bit of life happened, I got a gig in post-secondary special education where I developed and ran an espresso cart training program. I worked with 18-21-year-old kids who otherwise wouldn’t have developed the skills/ habits needed for independent adult life.

After 5 years of that, I decided I really wanted to work in depth with coffee.

What are your non-coffee related hobbies?

I like to make things. I’m a casual book binder and typewriter enthusiast. I like to read. I’m really just a regular guy. Beyond that, I have a yard to take care of and cars that need oil changes and kids that need to eat.

How did you get into coffee? 

I started brewing at home in 1999 after tasting my first “3rd Wave” plain black cup of coffee. That changed everything for me. I was in college and started doing all my homework at the cafe. After I began teaching, I got a part-time job at a little shop in Portland. Fun part of the story: the current owners of that space are Ristretto customers, so I still get to go back to that space often. So much nostalgia.

When and where did you fall in love with coffee?

It was that little diner mug of French Press from Stumptown in November of 1999… I quit my Mexican Mocha habit then and there.

Where do you make coffee outside of work and competitions? 

My role among my in-laws and extended family is to brew coffee at ALL holidays and gatherings.

Do people now have championship expectations when you brew a cup of coffee for them even if they aren’t into coffee? Do you try and blow their minds with every brew? 

Oh, the expectations… I think expectations were a major factor in the rise of the geisha variety. It certainly wasn’t the flavor profile. People expect “championship” coffees to taste completely different from their normal cup. Even a moderate quality geisha will present novel to most casual drinkers, much like a natural Yirgacheffe. No matter what I am brewing, I aim for balance and clarity. I like my balance to blow minds.

Do you drink coffee outside of what you make? If so, where are your favorite places to get coffee as a customer? 

I drink entirely too much coffee. First I like to go to a roaster cafe then to an independent that serves the same roaster’s coffee. I like to see the different ways the same coffee can be prepared and presented.

How did you prepare with your coffee before competing in the Aeropress Championship?

In the Brewers Cup, we get to use our own coffee. That equates to a lot of cupping with green importers. This year I took a coffee that was brought in by Catalyst Coffee Consultants. They were super helpful in the process.

With the AeroPress, everyone uses the same coffee provided by the beautiful people at Cafe Imports.

Do you have a confidante with whom you test your recipes?

I made up that AeroPress recipe the evening of the competition, at the venue. Water has a huge impact on flavor. I brewed a few and had my wholesale guy and our USBC competitor taste it. Based on their feedback I made a few changes. They never tasted the actual recipe.

Do you ever make adjustments during the competition based on fellow competitors’ methods?

Not really. There are so many little factors that aren’t always easy to see. Plus, I think 2nd guessing yourself is one of the worst things you can do. Maybe. I’m not really certain.

Competitors were all sent the same coffee to compete with for the finals. What was the biggest challenge with the coffee you used when you became the 2016 US Aeropress Champion?

The biggest challenge was using new water. Water chemistry is huge. Also, the competition was held in the courtyard, so everything got a little chilly as the show heated up.

Is Aeropress your preferred brewing method outside of the competition?

That is a completely unfair question; I have a hard time with favorites. My kitchen, like most coffee people, is overrun with brew gear. I frequently use the Bee House, Chemex, and Kalita Wave. AeroPress is definitely a front runner for regular use.

Probably, because of its diversity, the AeroPress would be my one-and-only brewer if I had to choose.

In the finals, the competition was outside at night with a pretty brisk side wind whipping through. What adjustments were you able to make to counter the weather?

I have an Old German beer can kozy that I used to insulate the AeroPress. Mike Cannon, who took 2nd, used a cardboard box to shield from the wind. Thermal stability took it home on that cool Atlanta night.

Which of your strong opponents were you expecting to do well, and who exceeded your expectations at the 2016 US Aeropress Championship?

I had my eyes on Megan O’Connell and Neil Oney. Luckily, I was put up against them in round 1. I figured I had it made if I could clear them. And Dylan McClain. He frightens me in the best way. Honestly, I came in to have fun because that is what our competitions are about. I got to high five a bunch of people I only know through Twitter. That was great.

The coffee community is often very communal and genial; was there any trash talk during the competition?

Like I said, we have fun. If someone let the beast loose, I missed it. There was too much fun happening.

If you had entrance music (like in baseball and wrestling), what would yours be?

Comfort Eagle by Cake. Because why not?

Part 2

Who are the 3 people you would like to share a cup of coffee with, and what would you brew for that occasion? 

I’d love to brew coffee on Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. I’d choose a Guatemalan.  Huehuetenango.

Second, I would like to have a cup of coffee with Andy Sprenger. He is someone I’ve always enjoyed seeing but have never really sat with over coffee. I’d love to hear his thoughts on the business and art. We’d be at a diner in a small town, sipping whatever they had on the burner. Cream and sugar.

Third, none other than Alan Adler himself, inventor of the AeroPress. I’d choose a well rounded south Colombian.

Who influences you in coffee?

I work in Portland and there are a lot of guys who ‘built’ the Portland coffee scene but no longer work in coffee. They are entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, designers, small business owners, all types of fun jobs. When I get to make coffee for them, I like their feedback. We chat about how things have changed. It is always inspiring. Sometimes they even like the coffee.

Pre-competition meal… What was it, and what will it be? 

In Atlanta we had arepas at a little Venezuelan street cart. So good. Messy. There was a lot of beer, gin, and whiskey involved too.

For Dublin, I have no idea. Something traditional.

Biggest thing you learned from competing in Atlanta? 

Gin over cotton candy is both better than I expected and not as good as I thought. Or, I learned that I should trust my intuition a little more. Don’t overthink life.

Favorite non-coffee book?

The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky. So much angst.

Trailblazers or Timbers? 

Timbers. I have a hard time with sports that allow 100 goals per game.

What is your spirit animal?

Michael Fernandez.

How many paddle agitations is too many? 

Depends on water temp, grind size and the coffee. Probably stop at 20 though.

Best unknown coffee roaster in Portland?

Anyone who does it in their garage. That is a special kind of bravery.

Best cup of coffee you’ve ever had?

February 2013. A Colombia & Castillo blend from Louis Alberto Rivera, a small producer from Monserrate La Plata in Huila, Colombia.

First thing you do when you win the World Aeropress Championship? 

You will find me running through the streets of Dublin with an American flag cape singing the Star Spangled Banner. In the morning I will be waiting in line to see the Book of Kells.

Where would you like your statue erected when you bring home another gold Aeropress?

In Portland, at the intersection of NE Glisan & Cesar Chavez Blvd, there is a gold statue of Joan of Arc riding a horse. I want a statue of me, kneeling before her offering a mug of coffee in one hand, AeroPress in the other. Cesar Chavez, Joan of Arc, AeroPress. It’s the trifecta.

How often do you use the golden Aeropress to make coffee?

Every day. Several times a day.

Would you rather be known as the 2016 US Aeropress Champion or some other place in the World Championship?

Whichever gets the best endorsements. I just want to pay my bills.

Thank you to Ben for taking the time to share with us a bit about you and your experience.

If you’d like to see Ben’s winning recipe, check it out HERE.

The post An Interview with 2016 US Aeropress Champion Ben Jones appeared first on The BeanGenius Blog.