In this episode, I sit down with one of my closest friends, Ben — a barista of several years and a chef with over a decade of experience.

We talk about coffee, food, flavor, and what happens when friendship and craft overlap. From working together on a coffee cart to learning how taste, trust, and creativity shape the things we build, this conversation is relaxed, honest, and very us.

It’s just a real conversation between two friends about the things we care about and how coffee played a role in bringing us together.

Show notes:

• Ben’s path into coffee and why he keeps coming back

• Working as a barista on and off over the years

• How his background as a chef shapes his approach to flavor

• Similarities between kitchen culture and coffee culture

• What we learned running a coffee cart together

• Building something with a friend — the good and the hard

• How coffee strengthened our friendship

• Why caring about craft still matters