On this episode, Trevor and Josiah call long-time friend Peter Luong, founder of Song Tea out of San Francisco, CA. Song Tea has been Madcap’s tea partner since 2015, providing Madcap cafes with exceptional teas on a seasonal rotation. 

Shenanigans include: 

Trials and tribulations of aging teas, how Peter’s family business led him to creating Song Tea, and the challenges of sourcing amidst changing market dynamics. 

Thanks for tuning in to TPC! New episodes twice a month.

Episode chapters:
00:00 The Art of Aging Tea
00:03 Peter's Journey into the Tea Industry
03:06 The Philosophy Behind Song Tea's Selection
05:38 Understanding Tea Making
08:40 The Evolution of Tea Preferences
11:27 Challenges in the Tea Business
22:57 The Art of Tea Making
26:01 Crafting Unique Teas
29:59 Understanding Tea Terminology
33:46 Sourcing and Quality Control
37:32 Navigating Trends in the Tea Industry
45:33 Future of Tea Experiences

Check out Madcap Coffee:

Website: Madcapcoffee.com

Everywhere on socials: @madcapcoffee 

Check out Song Tea: 

Website: songtea.com

Socials: @hellosongtea

Music: Blue Shell by Connor Price and K. Keed

On this episode, Trevor and Josiah sit down with founder of Artisan Coffee Imports Ruth Ann Church to discuss her experience intentionally importing coffees from East Africa. Madcap works with Ruth Ann and Artisan Coffee Imports to contract Ejo Heza, a delicious coffee grown by an all-womens group within the Kopakama Co-Op in Rwanda.

Shenanigans include: 

Ruth Ann’s unconventional start in the coffee industry, moving her family to Rwanda for a year, and the challenges of growing a small remote team.

Thanks for tuning in to TPC! New episodes twice a month.

Episode chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Artisan Coffee Imports
02:44 Ruth Ann's Journey into Coffee Importing
05:26 The Importance of Economic Development in Coffee
08:12 The Role of Women in Coffee Production
11:18 Sustainability in Coffee: A Holistic Approach
14:36 Building Relationships with Coffee Producers
17:25 The Impact of Education and Training
20:31 Team Growth and Management Challenges
23:24 Creating a Positive Team Culture
43:48 Planning Team Bonding Activities
45:53 Creating a Social Environment
48:34 Team Growth and Future Plans
53:09 The Evolution of Coffee Culture in Michigan
57:45 Challenges in the Coffee Industry
59:31 Building Relationships with Producers


Check out Madcap Coffee:

Website: Madcapcoffee.com

Everywhere on socials: @madcapcoffee 

Check out Artisan Coffee Imports: 

Website: artisancoffeeimports.com

Socials: @artisan_coffeeimports

Music: Blue Shell by Connor Price and K. Keed

On this episode, Trevor and Josiah hang out in the Madcap roastery to chat about the complicated but exciting world of specialty coffee competitions. 

Shenanigans include: How competitions inspired Madcap to offer a seasonal signature beverage program, Trevor's own experience competing, how participating in a coffee competition impacts daily life behind bar, and the pressure of judging a coffee competition. 

Thanks for tuning in to TPC! New episodes twice a month.

Episode chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Seasonal Beverage  
02:51 The Connection Between Seasonal Drinks and Coffee Competitions  
08:05 Understanding Coffee Competitions 
13:52 Personal Journey in Coffee Competitions  
22:07 The Impact of Competition on Barista Skills  
29:55 Judging and Feedback in Competitions  
32:19 Community and Competition Dynamics  
36:09 The Importance of Competition for Baristas  
39:56 Professional Development Through Competition  
46:11 Judging and Its Impact on Coffee Evaluation  
51:28 Industry Trends and Competition Influence  
56:38 Defining Success in Coffee Competitions 

Check out Madcap Coffee:

Website: Madcapcoffee.com

Everywhere on socials: @madcapcoffee 

Music: Blue Shell by Connor Price and K. Keed

On this episode, Trevor and Josiah sit down in San Franciso, California with Abigail Gullo.
Creative Director at Loa Bar at the International House Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana, Abigail met Trevor and Josiah after working together at Chris Thile's Acousticamp, where they each taught cocktail and coffee classes side by side for 3 summers in a row.

Shenanigans include: Bartending at 7 years old, the ideal way to order a drink from a bartender, and through lines between coffee, cocktails, and music.

Thanks for tuning in to TPC! New episodes twice a month.

Episode chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Culinary Delights
02:03 The Art of Cocktails and Regional Influences
03:59 Abigail's Journey into Bartending
08:07 The Importance of Storytelling in Cocktails
12:01 Building Community Through Hospitality
15:59 Navigating Emotional Energy in Service
19:49 Memorable Bar Experiences and Culture
23:48 New Orleans: The Heart of Cocktail Culture
30:26 Empowering Bartenders with Coffee Knowledge
32:18 The Cocktail Expo Experience
34:11 The Importance of History in Cocktails
36:35 The Ritual of Drinking: Coffee and Cocktails
39:27 Creating Unique Cocktails: A Bartender's Perspective
39:56 Ordering Drinks: The Ideal Bartender Experience
44:58 Adapting to Non-Alcoholic Options
48:09 Inspiring the Community Through Cocktails
51:58 Bridging the Gap Between Coffee and Cocktails

Check out Abbie Gullo:

Instagram:   ⁨@AbigailGullo⁩  

Check out Madcap Coffee:

Website: Madcapcoffee.com

Everywhere on socials: @madcapcoffee 

Music: Blue Shell by Connor Price and K. Keed

On this episode, Trevor and Josiah sit down at the Monroe Center Madcap cafe with its cafe manager, Rhianna, to chat about the inner workings of retail.

 Shenanigans include: starting a career in coffee at Starbucks, how ballet dancing relates to managing a successful team, and Rhianna’s coffee competition days.

Thanks for tuning in to TPC! New episodes twice a month. 

Episode chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Madcap Coffee Podcast
05:19 Rihanna's Path to Management
10:24 Lessons in Leadership
16:10 Creating a Positive Work Environment
24:20 The Power of Positivity in Coffee Culture
29:12 The Versatility of Coffee: A Flavor Exploration
37:12 Observing Other Cafes: Learning from the Best
44:32 Seasonal Innovations: Elevating the Customer Experience

Check out Madcap Coffee:

Website: Madcapcoffee.com

Everywhere on socials: @madcapcoffee 

Music: Blue Shell by Connor Price and K. Keed

This is part 2 of Hustle Culture with Erik and Layah of Carbon Stories, a creative visual story telling agency based in Grand Rapids, MI - not to mention Madcap's go-to photography and videography team!

 Shenanigans include: Erik's personal coffee journey from church coffee to seeking out third wave coffee shops, finding one's stride in a creative industry, and how to camp like a professional. 

Thanks for tuning in to TPC! New episodes twice a month. 

Episode chapters:

00:00 Hustle Culture: A New Perspective
00:25 Sacrifices for Growth
00:25 The Coffee Connection
08:34 Creating Content with Passion
19:39 Lessons in Leadership and Emotional Intelligence
24:52 Improving Quality of Life

Check out Carbon Stories:

Website: https://carbonstories.us/
Youtube:  @CarbonstoriesUs  
Socials: @carbonstories

Check out Madcap Coffee:

Website: Madcapcoffee.com

Everywhere on socials: @madcapcoffee 

Music: Blue Shell by Connor Price and K. Keed

On this episode, Trevor and Josiah sit down with Erik and Layah of Carbon Stories, a creative visual story telling agency based in Grand Rapids, MI - not to mention Madcap's go-to photography and videography team!

There was so much gold in this interview, we had to break it into two episodes. Shenanigans include: why Erik and Layah hate the word hustle, the early days of operating a small business as a couple, and A5 Wagyu steak regret.

Thanks for tuning in to TPC! New episodes twice a month. 

Episode chapters:

0:00 Intro
1:19 Tasty Pregame
6:24 About Carbon Stories
9:07 Hustle Culture
14:47 Balancing Family and Work
19:27 The Early Days of Carbon Stories
29:02 "Take the meat, spit out the bones"
32:33 Any Regrets?

Check out Carbon Stories:

Website: https://carbonstories.us/
Youtube:  @CarbonstoriesUs  
Socials: @carbonstories

Check out Madcap Coffee:

Website: Madcapcoffee.com

Everywhere on socials: @madcapcoffee 

Music: Blue Shell by Connor Price and K. Keed

Welcome to the first episode of The Proper Cap: A Madcap Coffee Podcast! 

On this debut episode, our hosts Trevor and Josiah join Mark and Todd from Covoya Specialty Coffee Importers and hosts of their podcast, The Exchange, from the Specialty Coffee Expo hosted in Houston, TX. 

Thanks for tuning in to TPC! New episodes twice a month. 

00:00 The Proper Cap Introduction 

01:07 The Exchange Introduction

02:55 Introducing The Proper Cap Podcast

04:32 The Vision Behind The Proper Cap

08:26 The Exchange Podcast Journey

12:48 Navigating Challenges in the Coffee Industry

18:32 Teasing Future Episodes and Guests

25:34 The Espresso Experience: Crafting Perfection

28:05 Exploring Coffee Options: Tradition vs. Innovation

31:57 The Podcast Journey: Embracing Imperfection

34:51 Building Relationships: The Heart of the Coffee Industry

40:15 Inspiration and Community: Creating Meaningful Connections

Website: Madcapcoffee.com

Everywhere on socials: @madcapcoffee 

Welcome to the Proper Cap: A Madcap Coffee Podcast. New episodes twice a month. 

An unfiltered dive into coffee, hospitality, and small business. Sitting down with friends across industries - bartenders, photographers, mug makers, and more - for in-depth conversations on the work folks are doing, what motivates them, and their expert tips that everyone should know. Expect candid interviews, hot takes, and plenty of tasty things. Tune in for good coffee and tasty banter.