Circus Coffee Blog

The Call of the Road

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:43:02 -0700

steps...stages...eras...these all pieces of liner time that have a beginning and end, and sometimes fit into a larger picture or probably more accurately, a puzzle. And so, that is what this week will be, then end of an era...a step in my stages of life...an event that will simultaneously end one part of my life and begin another.

6 years

That's 72 months...or 2,190 days...or 52,560 hours (hooray...I can do simple maths!) That's the amount of time I have spent in the circus life...living, breathing, and growing in that lifestyle. When I drove the 2000+ miles to join up with the show playing Montana in August of 2005, I knew I was in for a wild ride, but had no idea of just how wild it would be...sure, numbers are numbers, but it is interesting look back and realize that I've played roughly 2,100 2 hour shows for over 2 million people in this time. Most certainly not as much as Merle Evans, but more than your average working trumpet player I'd say. In so many ways I've been blessed...since I graduated college in 2004 I've worked professionally in both degrees that I earned. Of the jobs and friendships that have resulted from that expensive piece of paper...all have influenced me and become part of the tapestry that is my life as a 30 year old single male (who likes long motorcycle rides on the beach). We are all the sum of the events in our lives, but it is what we do with those events that determine who we are...that determines our sense of self, ethics, and place as a human being on this planet. Some one asked me last week what was the biggest thing I have gained from this intense 6 year life experience...and after thinking about it, I said, and still feel, it's perspective. I've been to most of the US states, have driven most of this country's interstate system, have listened to hundreds of its people, and have parked/slept/practiced on a good handful of its Walmart parking lots. So what does this perspective mean to me as I move forward?

Life is about story

Everyone has a story...if you take the time to sit down with mechanic in rural mississippi and ask him about his dog, you'll learn about his life. If you ask the stripper doing laundry in the middle of missouri about her town, you will hear her life. We ALL have a story, the faces that we pass every day are but the tips of the iceberg of the pain, passion, triumph, or sacrifice that lies beneath the surface. And it's the power of those stories to transform us and change the way we will write our OWN story tomorrow that is the real meat of experience. Listen, engage, grow, feed, and BE...these are threads of my own tapestry. This 6 years has taught me to listen better and realize that not all is at is seems. I have realized that not all people in positions of power or knowledge really know as much as their position implies, and more importantly that most people are afraid. Afraid to take a risk, afraid to fail, afraid to offend, and afraid to be themselves. And so, as I move on to the next stage/step/era/ I'm jumping off into the delicious unknown...opening my arms to embrace the adventures that await and seek those relationships that will influence the next era in my life's story...my legacy

A new season on the road begins

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:55:49 -0800

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

While you were opening you presents and stuffing yourself with inordinate amounts of holiday food, I was playing circus shows and serving up coffee....GOOD coffee. In fact, for those of you who don’t know, I roast all the coffee myself and serve it directly to my fellow circus performers from my coffee stand backstage....that’s right, Circus Coffee is a stand located backstage, and since the circus changes towns each week, so do I and so does Circus Coffee. It is in fact nice to have a change in scenery, but then again each town comes with its own set of challenges too (i.e. finding a place to get electricity and dump my waste water! There was actually a time in puerto rico when I was pulling espresso shots with a crosswind....no lie, but I’ll save that for another entry)

So, as this new 2 year tour begins, I looking forward to making the best coffee possible, learning as much as possible, and meeting as many coffee people as possible. Over the years with my Best Mocha Latte in the World podcast, I have visited and catalogued over 600 cafe around north america....this has given me a deep and informed perspective into the cafe culture (or sometimes the lack thereof) on this continent. But, it has given me a fire to fuel my desire to share quality coffee with those who have yet to taste what coffee can be. I always love seeing that “ah-ha” moment of someone tasting a real cappuccino for the first time...it always brings a smile to my face...in fact, over the years of Circus Coffee I have found that it is hard for anyone to be in a bad mood when they are drinking awesome coffee... it is a fact.

So, stay tuned, watch for more exciting things and pictures and we begin another 2 year tour around north america...

A Very Merry Christmas 2008

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 08:34:07 -0800

Merry Christmas to one and all, here’s how I started my Chhristmas morning..... it was some Kona peaberry from my friend
Vince’s Kena Estate
farm and some home-made
biscotti from a dear
friend. Santa should be
jealous!

A compulsive adventurer

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:18:31 -0700

Well, it’s been a while since a coffee update.... suffice it to say that besides the exhausting circus schedule as of late, I’ve been take a couple of thousand miles worth of motorcycle side trips...... all have been worth it, but it’s been hard to absorb it all and organize it into cohesive thoughts and type it in a way others will understand. Touring around the country full time... seeing so much.... experiencing so much..... I tend to just take things in, absorb them. Sometimes I feel the need to share the adventure (I know some arm chair travelers that enjoy the vicarious experiences) and other times I take it all in with a joy that no one can know but me. In any case..... since my last entry about the portland adventures I’ve been to Illinois, Tennesee, Vermont, Montreal, Maine, Prince Edward Island, Pennsylvania, and New York...... just to name a few. In the next few entries I’ll try to give you a coffee-slanted update on my recent outings around the US. Oh, yes, and I’ve still been recording interviews all along the way..... I have some juicy podcasts in my pocket. Dang, it’s October already, BOO.

circus and coffee times in Portland

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:25:45 -0700

Well I’m finally here.....one of the few major cities in the US in which I have yet to explore the coffee scene.... and so far it’s been a mixed review...

When I first got in, I got to hang out with my good friend and coffee artist Karen Eland. We spent some time checking out the coffee scene and landscape of Bend, OR and then headed up to Seattle. In Bend we checked out Backporch Coffee, Thump coffee, and Sparrow Bakery, more on that in another entry. What great coffee for a little town (but then again, it is the northwest) Then we headed up to Seattle, stopped at Lava Java on the way and then got in some quality swing dancing at the Century Ballroom. Thurs. she headed off to an LA wedding and I headed to Portland. I stopped at Trabant coffee to fuel up for the drive, and then arrived in Portland just in time to check out my fellow circus people playing the Rose Garden this week. It’s always nice reconnecting with friends....especially ones in the circus. So, today after being awoken by the tigers and going out for breakfast with the guys, I finally started my coffee adventures in PDX. First up was coffeehouse NW.... cool place, good vibe, but didn’t have a clue with what they were doing with their mochas... I was surprised, but in a bad way. Next up was Stumptown annex, nice espresso and pretty amazing milk... it had an uncanny sweetness, almost marshmellowy...I wasn’t disappointed. Finally then, I made my way over to Albina press... that was a treat, espresso was served as a ristretto shot, serves the hairbender blend very well, and then had a killer mocha.... even thought it was served in paper... a nice day over all.... tomorrow.... hmmmmmm