Week 1 of the One-Week Job Project is underway and I am beyond grateful for today. I am in heaven working alongside head roaster of Jittery Joe’s Coffee, Charlie Mustard. Jittery Joe’s is a unique coffee company for many reasons:
- Sponsor a Pro Cyling Team
Jittery Joe's Sponsored Cyclist
- Pack their coffee in stylin’ aluminum cans
Morning Ride Coffee from Jittery Joe's
- Roast small batches to ensure the highest quality
Roastmaster Charlie checks color of beans during roasting
When I initially found out I got the chance to be in the One Week Job Program, I knew one of my jobs had to center around Coffee! Ever since my freshman year of college in Chicago, I have been captivated by all things coffee. It was absolutely necessary to consume this hot delicacy to make it through my 7:15 AM classes. Not only this, but in working at the on-campus coffee shop, I learned what’s most important about coffee: it brings people together.
This may seem weird for my to wax on this topic of coffee but I love it because coffee is so much more than just a good beverage or trendy thing to carry around. Here are a few things to consider:
Coffee and Cafes provide a venue for community to happen-everyday people gathering to share life, eat, drink, and take a breather from the daily rush.
Roasters buy green beans from coffee farmers and this provides wages for people to live on! Also, the coffee industry employs many people from all over the world who thrive because of simple coffee beans and tried and true, brewing methods.
Coffee is both an art and science and inspires creativity. Despite roasting being highly subjective, there is a benefit to this: the roaster has free reign and freedom to experiment to create the best coffee.
To give you a quick recap of my day:
I arrived at the Jittery Joe’s at 8 AM sharp after walking 4 minutes from the apartment downtown where I am staying.
Side Note: It pays to let your needs be known friends! On Saturday night, I still did not have lodging for my week in Athens. When my brother returned from work, I whined about my predicament. He then realized his connection to a UGA student who has a sweet apartment that is not occupied for the summer. 1 hour later, I had a key, a free parking place, and the address!
Getting back to my day: After meeting Charlie Mustard, the roast master and my boss for the week, I was given a tour of the roasting facility. It is amazing to see the behind the scenes at a roastery. To see a 360 degree view of where I am working, click here.
Charlie wanted me to get a good overview on coffee and the whole process so most of my morning was spent reading “The Science of Espresso” at the Five Points Jittery Joes Location. I took copious notes to help me learn the most possible about roasting this week.
After a fabulous lunch at Mama’s Boy, a local Athens, GA restaurant, it was time to roast.
Charlie walked me through the whole process and taught me what color the beans should be at each stage of the roast. I enjoyed learning how to blend and even got to help bag the coffees in preparation for canning tomorrow!
3.5 Hours later…Charlie and I had roasted over 300 pounds of coffee!
To learn more about my adventures this week, stay tuned! Wednesday, I will post again. Feel free to leave Comments and questions below. Follow me on twitter & Email me: bestweekjob(at)gmail.com (Still setting up one-week jobs for August!)
Till Next Time,
Kieley B.