In 2009 I wrote a series of articles for The Semi, a weekly school paper for Fuller Theological Seminary, called “CoffeeWithChuck.”
I later created a blog and added over 50 reviews of Los Angeles coffee shops. It was fairly popular for a few years. It never generated any income, however, and died the same way many interesting things die – lack of inertia. But it was fun, and some of the articles held up over time.
Here are a few of my favorites.
Friedrich Nietzsche believed that art is the proper task of life. This sentiment is something that resonates strongly with my own desire to make, create, and express in all areas of life. And yet, can coffee fall into the category of art? Coffee addicts who drink to feed a need for caffeine, sugar, or even … Continued
Recently a friend asked why Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea coffee bag labels said “Direct Trade” instead of “Fair Trade,” and what the difference was. Of course, in my infinite wisdom of all things coffee, I proceeded to “BS” an answer that I think I heard someone tell someone they had heard (or read) sometime on … Continued
I’ve decided that a person’s ‘favorite’ coffee shops has little to do with coffee itself! What they appreciate are cafes that have the same values as they have, which undoubtedly vary between customers. It is impossible to accurately guess which coffee shop someone will like. That is because everyone is looking for something different. I’ve … Continued
Cold brew, also known as “toddy” coffee could quite possibly be the best American invention that no one uses. This method produces coffee that tastes great more than a week after brewed, has 60% less acidity than traditional brewed coffee. And once finished, this takes less than 30 seconds to make into a savory iced … Continued
One year ago while dining with friends here at Fuller – my sister Jennifer spoke out about her distaste for people who used Styrofoam.It was brought to our attention that using the white evil little cups may not be the worst thing a coffee drinker can do. The argument that followed is laughable at best … Continued
When I first laid hands on a Bialetti Moka – also known as “Stovetop coffee maker,” “Italian espresso maker,” and just “Italian Moka” – i was so giddy. I was on my way to West Africa and that little 3 cup machine would allow me to enjoy delicious coffee without electricity. Hmm. 8 years later, … Continued
When Howard Schultz purchased Starbucks in 1987, 5 years after falling in love with the coffeehouses and espresso bars of Milan, Italy, the world had no idea what he was about to do with our lame American coffee culture. 20 years later, while Starbucks is frequently compared to Walmart – coffee’s mass distribution chain, we … Continued
May God forgive you, devoted COFFEEwithChuck reader, if you have now spent years using your 4 cup automatic brewer while a FP (French Press) was hidden somewhere between an old slow-cooker and your backup toaster. Those years of delicious cups of coffee – squandered as it were – were likely due to lack of knowing … Continued
Study better, focus longer, improve memory retention, avoid dementia, fight cancer, get high (sort of): these are just some of what studies prove as part of the profits of a few daily cups of joe. Most studies that include both pros & cons of caffeine (the most important ingredient of coffee) have 1 thing in … Continued
Many casual coffee drinkers don’t know what a ‘traditional’ cappuccino is. The elite coffee shops that offer this heavenly drink have to explain to rookies all the time what they’re about to experience. I want you to be able to enjoy the frothy coffee bliss of a cappuccino without an explanation from a barista next … Continued
As cool weather approaches, many of us won’t want to leave the house just to make amazing coffee. Let me give you the low down on how to make the best coffee on earth with a grinder, glass pitcher, and your tea kettle. This takes a little investment upfront, because you need a grinder, coned … Continued
What is now being called ‘Clover Coffee’ is coffee brewed using the expensive machine made by Clover Equipment Company based in Seattle, WA. When the machine first started popping up around 2007, very few coffee shops had it (since it used to start at the reasonable $11k) and it become a real attracting boon for … Continued
Finding good coffee shops in LA is sort of like trying to find good actors in LA. There are thousands of options, and many of won’t make the grind. So how do you sort out the good ones? Well, reading COFFEEwithChuck is a start. But I’m a believer in giving a man a fishing rod … Continued
There are very few people more passionate about coffee culture than Chuck. Ok that’s weird – no more referring to myself in the third person. Hi, I’m Chuck. I love coffee. As I was saying, you might find people who make better coffee, drink more coffee, have been to more coffee shops, have met more … Continued