La Taza Habla

Part 2 - Boston: The Patriotic Origins of Specialty Coffee

In this episode of La Taza Habla, we dive into the origin of America’s caffeine obsession, tracing it back to the cold waters of Boston Harbor. While many know the Boston Tea Party as a political protest, few realize it was the moment specialty coffee began its journey toward becoming the patriotic drink of a new nation. We explore the "paradox" of the tea boycott: how Parliament actually lowered tea prices, yet the Sons of Liberty rejected it because a cheap cup became too expensive to drink morally.

Drawing on 20 years of experience, I discuss how the Green Dragon Tavern served as the headquarters for revolution, transforming coffee houses from simple gathering places into engines of social change. From John Adams’ personal sacrifice to the modern supply chains and farmers we support today, this episode examines why what is in your cup still matters. We aren't just coffee roasting for flavor; we are roasting for a legacy of freedom and human dignity.

• Check out the Bald Guy Brew Youtube Channel
• Stay Connected: Get exclusive coffee stories & tips delivered to your inbox
• Fresh Roasted Coffee delivered to your door: Bald Guy Brew Coffee Roasting Co.

5 Takeaways

1. Conviction Over Comfort: Resistance in 1773 required colonists to give up familiar rituals like tea because they became symbols of submission.
2. The Price Paradox: The cheapest option isn't always the one that costs the least; sometimes low prices mask a high moral cost.
3. Coffee as Participation: While tea belonged to the refinement of the Empire, coffee became the drink of participation and the common people.
4. Habit vs. Values: In the 1770s, "taste followed conviction," proving that people can and will change their habits for their beliefs.
5. The Coffee House Ideal: Beyond the building, a coffee house is a place where neighbors can disagree on politics but still share a table.

Part 1 - Coffee Houses: The Drink of Defiance

In this episode of La Taza Habla, we draw on 20 years of specialty coffee expertise to explore the dangerous and defiant history of your morning brew. We journey back to 15th-century Mecca and 17th-century Istanbul, where coffee roasting and consumption were once capital offenses. Discover why rulers like Sultan Murad IV personally hunted coffee drinkers in the streets and why King Charles II of England tried—and failed—to shut down the "Penny Universities" of London.

This isn't just a history lesson; it's an exploration of coffeehouse culture as a catalyst for revolution. From the birth of the London Stock Exchange at Jonathan’s Coffee House to the Sons of Liberty planning the Boston Tea Party at the Green Dragon Tavern, we examine how coffee became the ultimate "drink of independence". Join us as we discuss the true cost of trading community for convenience and why the conversation in your cup still matters today.

• Check out the Bald Guy Brew Youtube Channel
• Stay Connected: Get exclusive coffee stories & tips delivered to your inbox
• Fresh Roasted Coffee delivered to your door: Bald Guy Brew Coffee Roasting Co.

Five Takeaways

1. Coffeehouses as Political Threats: Historically, rulers feared coffee not for the caffeine, but for the unregulated, democratic conversations that happened in coffeehouses.
2. Economic Powerhouses: Many modern financial institutions, including the London Stock Exchange and Lloyd’s of London, originated in 17th-century coffeehouses.
3. Social Equality: The "Penny University" model allowed people of all social classes—from lords to shoemakers—to sit together and debate for the price of a single penny.
4. The Power of Resilience: Despite severe penalties, including execution and beheading, the demand for coffee and community consistently outlasted the tyrants who tried to ban them.
5. Community vs. Convenience: Modern coffee culture risks losing its "dangerous" revolutionary spirit to the ease of convenience.

Part 4 - Life of a Javapreneur: Leaving a Legacy of Good

Legacy, Community, and the Java-preneur Life

In this concluding episode of our four-part series with Explore Boone, Don reflects on his personal legacy, moving from a past of "rage and dysfunction" to finding a "wired different" life through faith and community service. We dive into his vision for the High Country, lamenting the loss of the unified "Old Boone" spirit while celebrating the "Mountain Strong" resilience that emerges in times of crisis.

As a veteran Java-preneur, Don shares the mission of his podcast, La Taza Habla, where he uses a non-conventional approach to storytelling to explore everything from global dynamics to the intricacies of the olfactory system. Whether he’s at the "bougie" Blowing Rock store or sitting by the wood stove in Boone, Don’s goal remains the same: connecting people through coffee, Jesus, and shared stories. Join us for this "unhinged" take on why what is in your cup truly matters.

• Check out the Bald Guy Brew Youtube Channel
• Stay Connected: Get exclusive coffee stories & tips delivered to your inbox
• Fresh Roasted Coffee delivered to your door: Bald Guy Brew Coffee Roasting Co.

5 Takeaways

1. Legacy is Service: A meaningful legacy is built on being a "friend of sinners" and a faithful servant to one's community.
2. Resilience is Internal: Being "built for the climb" means using past struggles—addiction, anger, or dysfunction—as raw material for a transformed life.
3. Community Over Agenda: True community strength ("Mountain Strong") is found when individuals lay down their political or social agendas to help their neighbors.
4. The Art of the Olfactory: Understanding coffee goes beyond the bean; it involves developing your palate and olfactory system to appreciate global dynamics.
5. Storytelling Connects Us: Sharing personal stories of how "coffee, Jesus, and community" intersect can change lives and foster deep connections.

Part 3 - From a Fire In Boone to Lessons of Trust in Rwanda

In this powerful third installment of our series on La Taza Habla, we go behind the scenes of coffee roasting to explore the "faithful finish". This episode dives deep into the raw reality of starting over after a devastating fire destroyed a local Boone, NC roastery. We discuss the 20-year "long obedience" required to grow as a business person and the resilience needed when you lose everything.

Whether you are a fan of specialty coffee or someone navigating a difficult life pivot, this episode offers a profound look at how community support and global perspectives shape the soul of a roaster.

• Check out the Bald Guy Brew Youtube Channel
• Stay Connected: Get exclusive coffee stories & tips delivered to your inbox
• Fresh Roasted Coffee delivered to your door: Bald Guy Brew Coffee Roasting Co.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Identity is Internal: Your value as a person and an entrepreneur is not tied to your equipment or your "stuff".
2. The "Faithful Finish": Success isn't just starting; it's the consistent work you put in between the beginning and the end.
3. Community is the Ultimate Safety Net: In moments of total loss, the support of your local community can be the bridge to starting over.
4. The Power of Forgiveness: Lessons from the Rwandan genocide teach that the capacity to forgive and trust is a transformative "tribal thing".
5. Perspective Over Poverty: If people can build businesses with ducks in a dump in Peru, there is always a path forward through God's calling.

Part 2 - Faith, Fire, and the Art of Roasting

In this episode of La Taza Habla, we explore the 20-year journey of specialty coffee roasting in Boone, NC . Our guest on Explore Boone, the founder of Bald Guy Brew Coffee Roasting Co., shares the raw reality of entrepreneurship—from the early days of the "Bald Guy Buggy" mobile espresso van to surviving the devastating 2016 arson in Valley Crucis and the recent impact of Hurricane Helene.

We dive deep into how a bean to cup business is more than just a transaction; it is a reflection of faith-integrated leadership and a commitment to a "faithful finish". Whether you are interested in the technical side of coffee roasting or the mental grit required to keep a small business alive through economic crashes and natural disasters, this conversation offers profound insights into the coffee culture of Watauga County. Discover why "properly roasted coffee sells itself" and what it truly means to stay "built for the climb" when the bottom falls out

• Check out the Bald Guy Brew Youtube Channel
• Stay Connected: Get exclusive coffee stories & tips delivered to your inbox
• Fresh Roasted Coffee delivered to your door: Bald Guy Brew Coffee Roasting Co.

5 Takeaways

1. Integrity is the Foundation: Success in business requires being 100% integrated—treating customers, employees, and brokers with the same high standard of character.
2. The "Faithful Finish" Matters: A creative start is exciting, but the key to longevity is the work put in between the beginning and the end.
3. Ownership Requires Humility: Being a business owner means being willing to work on the "bottom floor," handling everything from high-level creative content to taking out the trash
4. Quality Speaks for Itself: Focus on the craft of roasting; properly roasted beans don't require aggressive advertising—they prove their own value.
5. Built for the Climb: Entrepreneurship is a continuous uphill journey; you must develop the faith and resilience to keep moving even when you don't feel "ahead"

Part 1 - The Journey Begins: Built for the Climb

In this episode  Don Cox—better known as Bald Guy—takes us behind the scenes as a recent guest on the Explore Boone Podcast where he shares how he went from the pulpit to the roastery. Discover how a history student at App State transformed into an artisanal coffee roaster after a life-altering Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) shifted his path from a PhD to the pursuit of the perfect cup.

Don shares his deep-rooted connection to the coffee lands of Mexico and Rwanda, explaining the philosophy of La Taza Habla (The Cup Talks). This episode explores the technical and spiritual sides of roasting coffee, emphasizing a "low-tech" approach that relies on the five senses rather than computer algorithms. Whether you are interested in the grit of Watauga County history, the ethics of socially responsible coffee, or the mechanics of making green beans brown, this episode offers a rich look at what it means to honor the hands that pick every bean.

• Check out the Bald Guy Brew Youtube Channel
• Stay Connected: Get exclusive coffee stories & tips delivered to your inbox
• Fresh Roasted Coffee delivered to your door: Bald Guy Brew Coffee Roasting Co.

5 Takeaways

1. Honor the Origin: The role of a roaster is not to make coffee special, but to avoid "buggering up" the hard work already done by the farmers.
2. Sensory Roasting: You don't need a computer to roast world-class coffee; you can achieve excellence through time, temperature, sight, smell, sound, and taste.
3. The "Wreck Your Truck" Rule: Evaluate your work-life balance by asking if the risk of the "commute" (physical or emotional) is worth the reward.
4. Bivocational Resilience: Career pivots—even those forced by injury—can lead to a "stinking awesome" life if you are built for the climb.
5. Socially Responsible Sourcing: True artisanal coffee requires knowing the cooperatives and ensuring they align with eco-friendly and social priorities

 

Remembering Bill Kennedy - Mentor, Teacher, Friend, and His Legacy

In this heartfelt tribute episode of La Taza Habla, host Don Cox honors the life and legacy of Bill Kennedy, CEO and founder of San Franciscan Roaster Company, who unexpectedly passed away in December 2024. Over two decades of friendship, Bill transformed specialty coffee through American-made coffee roasting equipment, education programs, and unwavering mentorship.

This deeply personal episode recounts their first conversation in the early 2000s when Bill refurbished Don's 25-pound roaster—his very first customer—sparking a partnership that would impact coffee professionals worldwide. From his background as an educator and principal to becoming a coffee industry pioneer, Bill embodied servant leadership, faith-driven values, and commitment to excellence in coffee roasting. The episode explores Bill's role in creating coffee roasting curriculum, launching the Coffee Roasting Legends podcast, establishing Telegraph Coffee & Tap in Fallon, Nevada, and supporting countless entrepreneurs through equipment sales and personal mentorship.

Bill's legacy lives on through his family, six grown children, and the thousands of roasters whose lives he touched. A moving remembrance for anyone in specialty coffee, entrepreneurship, or small business ownership seeking inspiration from a true industry gentle giant.

I'll add more links as they become available

1. Daily Coffee News Official Obituary (Must-read industry tribute)
   https://dailycoffeenews.com/2025/12/11/bill-kennedy-san-franciscan-roaster-owner-and-educator-dies/

Ep 2: Mexico's Map of Flavor

Discover the intricate flavor map of Mexican Specialty Coffee, a world leader in high-quality, organic coffee. In this episode, your 20-year veteran host of La Taza Habla takes you on an origin journey through Mexico’s "Big Three" growing regions: Chiapas, Veracruz, and Oaxaca. Learn why Chiapas is the "heavyweight champion," producing 40% of the country’s coffee with a chocolate-rich flavor profile and intense citrus acidity, thanks to its high-altitude volcanic soil. We explore Veracruz, the "wise veteran" and Mexico’s oldest coffee roasting region, known for its delicate, approachable cup with cinnamon and soft citrus notes. Finally, we unveil Oaxaca, "the artist," home to the masterpiece Pluma Hidalgo , a unique, lighter-bodied origin with floral complexity. Most importantly, understand that choosing Mexican coffee means partnering with the small family farms and coffee cooperatives that cultivate the world's highest rate of USDA certified organic coffee.

• Check out the Bald Guy Brew Youtube Channel
• Stay Connected: Get exclusive coffee stories & tips delivered to your inbox
• Fresh Roasted Coffee delivered to your door: Bald Guy Brew Coffee Roasting Co.

5 Takeways

1. Mexico is the global leader in Organic Coffee: 25% of the world's USDA certified organic coffee comes from Mexico, the highest rate on the planet.
2. Altitude is a "Slow Cooker" for Flavor: Higher elevations, particularly in Chiapas, slow down the ripening process, allowing sugars and acids in the cherry to fully develop a deeper, more complex flavor profile (like a vine-ripened tomato).
3. The "Big Three" are Distinct: Chiapas is powerful and chocolate-forward; Veracruz is delicate and approachable with cinnamon notes; Oaxaca is elegant, floral, and lighter-bodied.
4. Pluma Hidalgo is Protected: This Oaxacan coffee has earned a Denomination of Origin—a protected status ensuring that only beans from that specific region meeting quality standards can use the Pluma name.
5. Shade-Grown = Sustainability: The widespread return to traditional, shade-grown and organic methods preserves forests, protects biodiversity, and keeps carbon in the ground, making your cup an act of environmental partnership.

A Glossary of Key Terms from La Taza Habla

Altura Spanish word for "height," used to designate premium, high-grown coffees, such as the "Altura beans" from the highlands of Veracruz.

Altitude The elevation at which coffee is grown. High altitudes (e.g., 2,600 to 6,000 feet) are said to act as a "slow cooker for flavor" by providing cool nights and warm days that extend the ripening period, allowing sugars and acids to fully develop.

Chiapas Known as the "heavyweight champion" of Mexican coffee, this state sits near the Guatemalan border and produces 40% of all Mexican coffee. Its coffee is characterized by a chocolate-rich, deep flavor with a bright citrus acidity.

Coffee Co-operatives Groups formed by small, multi-generational family farms in Mexico that collectively returned to traditional, shade-grown, organic methods to preserve their ancestors' knowledge and empower their communities.

Denomination of Origin (Protected Status) A certified designation, similar to a protected status, given to Pluma Hidalgo coffee. This ensures that only coffee sourced from that specific region and meeting high quality standards can use the name.

Flavor Profile The set of sensory characteristics (taste, aroma, body) unique to a coffee. For example, the Chiapas profile is chocolate-forward, while Oaxaca's is lighter-bodied and floral.

Gesha Variety An acclaimed, high-quality coffee varietal. When grown in the Soconusco subregion of Chiapas, a Gesha lot scored 93 out of 100 points in the Cup of Excellence, showcasing flavors like jasmine, bergamot, and vanilla.

Oaxaca Described as the "artist" among Mexico’s coffee regions. Located between Chiapas and Veracruz, its coffee is notably lighter-bodied, with floral aromatics, a wine-like complexity, and a robust chocolate backbone.

Pluma Hidalgo The "masterpiece" or "crown jewel" subregion in Oaxaca. Its name, Pluma, means "feather" in Spanish.

Shade-Grown A traditional, environmentally-conscious farming method where coffee plants are grown under a canopy of larger trees. This preserves forests, protects local ecosystems, and is a key component of sustainability efforts by Mexican farmers.

Soconusco A subregion within Chiapas where many coffee artisans work, known for producing balanced beans with clear finishes.

USDA Certified Organic Coffee Coffee certified to meet strict organic production standards. Mexico produces 25% of the world's USDA certified organic coffee, which is the highest rate on the planet.

Veracruz The "wise veteran" and Mexico's oldest coffee region, where beans have been grown since the late 1700s. Its Gulf Coast location contributes to a more delicate, medium-bodied cup with softer citrus and cinnamon undertones.