Batdorf Coffee

This morning, I visited the Batdorf and Bronson Coffee Roastery, through an invitation extended by coffee enthusiast and Batdorf social-media master, Jason Dominy. Batdorf and Bronson has built an incredible reputation across the nation, from Olympia, Washington and all across the nation.  Jason, too, has developed quite the reputation, ranking as one of the Top 3 Baristas in this region, and a contender in the upcoming SERBC competition. This company first hit my radar several weeks ago when Ben Blake (@bejabl) recommended I meet Jason while living in Atlanta for Campus MovieFest. Upon Jason’s recommendation, I began working from Dancing Goats Coffee in Decatur and immediately fell in love with their brewing methods, coffee knowledge, and clean atmosphere that beats a typical office space any day of the week. (If only I could find an electrical outlet to plug in after a few hours of work.) A taste of their Costa Rican Tarrazu was all I needed to understand that these guys were the real deal. Those thoughts were confirmed moments after tweeting live from Batdorf, as @thechavez revealed that the Dancing Goats blend was his first-ever “real, good coffee” experience.

Batdorf teamed up with Groupon’s biggest threat, Scout Mob, to invite Atlanta locals to a morning of coffee talk and a look at the local roastery, a spectacular sold-out opportunity that has left plenty of Atlanta residents eager for a second round of opportunity. Having a barista background, I’ve always felt like I had a slight edge on most people when it comes to flavor descriptors, coffee regions, and even pairings. But my knowledge is scarce in regards to roasting methods and the process of extracting a coffee bean from the cherry. This mornings session at Batdorf took care of that. I gained a wealth of new knowledge; from wet vs. dry processing, an understanding of the difference between robusta and arabic conditions, to a closer look at the Clever drip method. I even managed to catch up on global economics. Did you know that Brazil is the largest producer of coffee in the world? Probably so… But now they are the 2nd largest consumer of coffee, next to the USA.

While Jason teased all of us with his personal coffee cup of “buttermilk” through the tour and training, the wait was well worth it. We tested our knowledge and watched as our two-hours with Jason proved meaningful, tasting three different coffees from various regions.  I walked out of the roastery with an exclusive ScoutMob mug, some samples of recently roasted coffee, and an even greater understanding of that mystical power that brings us together as a community. Jason, Batdorf, and many other coffee enthusiasts are simply connecting with their community in an effort to fellowship while educating on the art that we call coffee. An understanding of the methods make a bag of $16.00 coffee one of the most extraordinary experiences one can have in their own home. While it has been years since I made the commitment to coffee with class, I’ve found an even stronger bond with new brewing methods and the search for the perfect cup. As Jason talked about his many years “in coffee” as a profession, I could only sit and wonder if my high-school dream job was one step closer to a reality. The business model is back out.

Thanks to Jason and Batdorf & Bronson for a wonderful experience and an encouraging opportunity to connect with community members that share similar passions. Be sure to check our Jason’s website for some of the best coffee-related you can find on the web, including a great look at the K-Cup Controversy as well as the musings of a fellow food aficionado.