Coffee IS Big Business

L-R: Optimist Members Scott Onson and Amy Coffey, Darin Shireman from Wayfarer Coffee, Optimist Club President Terri Ellis

Darin Shireman is the former owner of Badger Bros Coffee and current owner of Wayfarer Coffee. Wayfarer Coffee is a coffee roaster and shop in Dubuque known for ethically sourced, small-batch roasted beans, and a mission to promote community connection. They also supply their roasted beans to other local businesses. Darin admits that after many years in the industry, he still finds surprises in coffee.

Coffee is big business! Darin shared that 66% of adults globally drink coffee on a daily basis and coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world behind oil. What makes coffee so great is its' origin. It is produced in over 70 nations and is the main cash crop in 50 nations. Coffee seeds are grown in high altitudes between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Seeds like mild temperatures and are highly susceptible to disease. Good coffee seeds are handpicked. It takes 2000 coffee cherries (seeds) to make one pound of roasted coffee. A good picker can pick 20-40 pounds a day. However, coffee growers are facing challenges as kids are leaving the farms and people don't want to work that hard.

The seeds are processed (washing / naturally) before they are shipped. Darin stated that coffee coming from one farm, processed three different ways, will taste like three different coffees. He stressed that it's important to understand the differences, and to know the growers, processors, and weather conditions that may have impacted the growing season.

Darin further explained what he does on a daily basis to include:

• Sourcing - picking what coffee they buy and trying to figure out what it tastes like from behind a screen

• Roasting of the seeds / plant material - removing surface moisture and transforming it into a useable product. It takes ~15 minutes to roast one 30 pound batch

• Packaging / bagging

• Marketing - convince buyers to buy

Random tidbits:

• If you want to start drinking coffee, start with a medium roast as it's smooth and easy to drink.

• Good decaffinated coffee is expensive.

• Once the caffeine is removed, it's sold off for energy drinks, chocolate companies, etc.

• The "official" answer for the shelf life of coffee is 6 months, but 3 months is more practical.

• Coffee found in the store is often stale and/or over-roasted.

• How to make better coffee at home:

  • Freshness of coffee matters and it can be too fresh. Coffee that is 2-6 weeks old is best

  • Purchase decent coffee

  • Grind size - buy a good grinder to have at home so you have consistency in particle size / extraction

  • Ratio - the golden ratio is 1 part coffee to 16 oz water

    • use a kitchen scale to weigh out the coffee and the water

  • Quality & temperture of water - be sure it's hot enough

  • Rinse your paper filter if you use one or use mesh filters

  • Clean your coffee brewer

• Keys - better coffee / better water / fresh grind