Blog

New Bean - Tanzania Mwalyego

Hey everyone, Mark here.   I'm pretty excited about this bean for a few reasons.   1) It's unique and it's good (that's two reasons combined as one)!  This coffee presents a distinct melon/cantaloupe/citrus combination with nice acidity.  Okay, that's technical talk, sorry.  But its good, and also often described by our baristas as "interesting".  We will have this on pour over and retail bags soon!  Come give it a try.  2) The second reason is because I have some refugee friends that lived in refugee camps Tanzania for over 10 years after fleeing civil war in Burundi.  Whenever I...

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Solid's Guide to Roasting: Importing

Coffee is often overlooked as a product. The statistics vary, but experts agree that somewhere around 1 Billion people in the world wake up with a cup of coffee every single morning. It's one of the few things shared by so many us on this planet, yet we rarely think about where it comes from or how it's made. The abundant availability and mass conglomeration of the coffee industry makes it seem almost mundane at times. For so many of us, it becomes a part of our daily routine, and we forget about the many countries and people that go into...

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Meet Team Solid: Jo-Jo, Store Manager

Jo-Jo is our retail store manager at both the Artesia and Santa Ana Locations. She wears a lot of hats: from day to day you can find her placing stock orders, scheduling, working behind the bar, etc. Ultimately, we rely on Jo-Jo for a lot, and she plays a huge role in making sure Solid runs smoothly day in and day out. Jo-Jo is very easy going, and she's really fun to work with. A self described Jack of All Trades: she's got experience with calligraphy, graphic design, event planning, cooking, etc. All of her experience comes into play when running...

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Meet Team Solid: Mark, Owner/Managing Partner

  Mark's journey with business, entrepreneurship, and coffee has been somewhat unconventional.  After college, Mark began his career in commercial real estate in San Diego where he gained valuable business experience and learned from some of the best in the industry.  After realizing the corporate grind was not what he wanted, he knew he needed to work for himself.  "I remember the first time I went to Coffee & Tea Collective in North Park in San Diego.  After visiting that place, I knew I was going to eventually work in coffee".  Mark spent the next few years selling real estate...

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