Cool Coffee Things

Let’s be real: there’s no such thing as a coffee expert. The specialty coffee industry is always changing, learning, and growing. Barista Friend doesn’t have all the answers; luckily, we have lots of friends who know things we don’t know!

Here’s an on-going list of resources coffee people should know about. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, or if you know someone/something we may have missed, please tell me about it! DM me on Instagram (@baristafriend) or email me at miranda@yourbaristafriend.com.

Palate Development

• Local cuppings: the best way to get better at tasting is to do it more often with experienced cuppers! In Austin, you can cup at Barrett’s Coffee (Weds @ 12p), Greater Goods (Thurs @ 8a), Houndstooth (weekdays @ 1p), and Proud Mary (first Mon @ 5p).

News Outlets

• Sprudge: no BS coffee news + frequently updated jobs board

• Fresh Cup: coffee news for industry folk

• Daily Coffee News: more coffee news for industry folk

• Standart: pretty printed coffee magazine

Podcasts

• Fifth Wave: coffee business podcast from the UK

• Keys to the Shop: business tips, interviews, and more from an industry veteran

• Valor Podcast: coffee business tips + lifestyle from three dudes in Georgia

• The Barista Friend Podcast: THE BEST COFFEE PODCAST ON THE INTERNET ;)

• Coffee Lit. Review: nerdy coffee pod reviewing scientific papers

• Cat and Cloud: inspirational business podcast from Santa Cruz, CA

Books

• Water for Coffee by Maxwell Dashwood and Christopher Hendon

• The Business of Specialty Coffee by Maxwell Dashwood

• The Physics of Filter Coffee by Jonathan Gagne - textbook for manual brewing

• The World Atlas of Coffee by James Hoffman - the coffee bible

• How to Taste Coffee by Jessica Easto - sensory development

• The New Art of Coffee by Ryan Castelaz - signature drink inspo

• Terroir by Jem Challender - origin info by barista hustle

• Cheap Coffee by Karl Wienhold - an honest look into the green coffee trade

Certifications + Courses

• SCA Coffee Skills Program - 1-3 day intensive courses with a certification program

• Coffee Quality Institute - Q-Grader and Q-Processing

• Coffee Technician’s Program - learn how to fix machines and stuff

• Barista Hustle - online barista education program

• Ed+u by Cafe Imports - free video series about origins + processing

Competitions + Events

• US Coffee Championships - brewer’s cup, barista, cup tasters, roasters, coffee in good spirits, and latte art

• Specialty Coffee Expo - the biggest coffee event, houston, april 2025

• CoffeeFest - coffee events with good latte art competitions

• The Barista League - fun, low-key international barista competition

• Coffee Masters - all-encompassing coffee competition at the NY Coffee Festival

• Golden Bean - a global roasting competition

• World Aeropress Championship - need i say more?

Content Creators

• James Hoffman - the grandaddy of coffee content

• Lance Hedrick - gear reviews

• Emilee Bryant - latte art

• Morgan Eckroth - signature drinks + recipes

• Jimmy the Barista - home barista lifestyle + “coffee hot takes”

• Kat Melheim - roasting tips

Even MORE AMAZING THINGS!!!

• getchusomegear - free gear for marginalized coffee folk

• Coffee Asians - elevating and amplifying the voices of Asian coffee professionals

• Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity - scholarships, resources, and a podcast committed to building a racially diverse and equitable industry

• Color of Coffee Collective - driving equitable change throughout every facet of the specialty coffee supply chain

• The Coffee Human Resource - HR training for coffee people