Classes & Features

This photo is only here because I think it is hilarious.

Hi Everyone,

Lots of things on my mind these days, and so many things to say… perhaps I should actually start keeping a blog and talking through everything that I currently discuss with friends and family. For now this post serves as an update for new classes and new features for the website, and a bit of an explanation behind both so that they can help you navigate what I’ve got going on here.

Features

First, I want to talk a little about the new features to my website… specifically listed under the menu item “more…”

I recognize that, because of the color of my skin, my sexual orientation, gender, and the opportunities that I have had access to I exist as a privileged person. Even as a privileged person, I know from experience how difficult educational opportunities can be for people who are young and starting out. Gaining access to information and training to help them along their career path, or along their journey of mastering a craft isn’t easy. I cannot imagine, then, how much more difficult it is being part of a marginalized portion of the population. How distant that help must seem! That is the reason for starting the +1 program. I had been hoping to start offering scholarships for people to come and take classes with me beginning with the Roasting Mentorship program, but COVID-19 had other plans, and to be honest it’s not completely straightforward to begin with. Even if I could teach someone for free, they would still need: airline tickets, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, food, and help covering their missed wages. As a small, one person operation, that’s not something we can cover. But what I can do is freely share information with those people. Now that COVID has forced me into working in an online platform, it allows me to do a bit more!

From now on, I am saving one space in each of my classes for someone who is part of a marginalized group to attend for free… all you need to do is email me through the form on the website and tell me what resource (class, book, coaching, etc) you’re trying to access and I will do my best to get back to you in a timely manner with access to the class/coaching/etc you need.

If you want to support me in doing this, there are two ways you can. 1.) Take a class with me, or buy a class for someone else. It’s what helps me do the research, design the classes, and present them. 2.) In the future be prepared to help me cover people’s cost of air-fare, hotel, food, and missed wages. When we are able to start having in-person classes again, I will be trying to continue having the +1 person be in attendance for each course.

The second feature I wanted to include is my “friends” program. I put friends in “ “ not because these people aren’t my friends, simply because that’s the name of the page you’ll want to visit. I realize now that it should be dubious to any of you that I have friends IRL but I promise that I do! And they are much cooler than me!

I have a number of friends around the world that I have added and will add because I want to amplify what they are doing, and give you access to people who have skillsets outside of my own. For example, when it comes to cupping coffee and tasting… Candice Madison will blow your mind. If you’re looking to have a properly established roastery that meets all the criteria to be an organized and safe production facility that is compliant with regulations… you’d be much better off talking to Ildi than you would me. And if you need equipment help, I cannot hold a candle to the insight and experience of Doug Graf. So basically, these are people I hold in high esteem and you all should consider when you want specific help, or want an opinion other than my own.

In reality, you could claim that I am just being lazy and whenever people ask me who I recommend for xyz, I can just say, “Go to http://hoos.coffee/friends”… you wouldn’t be wrong there either.

Final feature is my reviews page. If you’ve worked with me and want me to post your thoughts about working with me then I would love your feedback. If you want to send me that review I’ll gladly receive it and post it. If you just want to read what other people are saying then you can just do that too :-).

Classes

So… I’ve posted new online classes!

COVID-19 seems to be starting its second wave of infections… at least here in Oregon and possibly here in the USA. This is shitty for so many reasons, but sufficed to say that ONLINE CLASSES will continue to be the new normal for a while. In light of that, I am working on more a-la-cart classes as I have been doing over the last few months, and I will be working on some very new-style roasting courses as well. I am also crazy excited for another online learning platform that I am an instructor for… but more coming on that soon. Teaser, it is a beginners roasting course that is crazy good.

Anyway… the new classes are:

• IKAWA Roasting Class

  • This will be my 3rd live presentation of the IKAWA class that is up as a recording on my website for people that prefer to learn in a dynamic and live style as opposed to a video recording.

  • We will be covering everything from introductory topics to advanced heat transfer focused around the IKAWA and profile design.

  • Feedback from previous courses will be incorporated making this one (ideally) even better.

• Loring Maintenance Course

  • This 1 hour course is about giving you the tools you need to take good care of your Loring.

  • It focuses on basic cleaning routines and schedules

  • We will also focus on larger preventative maintenance and troubleshooting.

  • If you’ve been interested in Loring’s claims about low maintenance, this would be a good chance for you to come and see what it’s like owning one… spoiler alert: its really fabulously easy.

• Roasting on a Bullet

  • Yes… I’m finally teaching about my experiences roasting on a Bullet

  • We will be looking at setting a groundwork for those newer to roasting

  • We will establish a baseline and then build on it…

  • Bottom line, you should check out the class.

• Profile Design and Approach

  • This class covers an updated Modulating the Flavor Profile of Coffee

  • It covers basic Profile Roasting info

  • It covers basic Heat Transfer info

  • We will discuss how to manipulate flavor when roasting

  • We will focus on how to use your heat transfer controls to craft your roast to meet goals

  • It will be fun… this is one that is likely the most requested that I do.

Anyway…. Check out the classes:

Well, that’s a hell of a lot of writing. I hope everyone is well. Please wash your hands, keep your distancing, stay sane. Also remember that Black Lives Matter! Also, do your part to stand up for those that cannot, support people that have been marginalized by society, and be amazing to each other.

Warm Regards,

Rob