Ashley Rodriguez

Julien Langevin is the 2022 US Cup Tasters Champion, founder of the Tomato Coffee Class, and an outspoken advocate for mental health and trans rights. In this episode, Langevin discusses the recovery process after a mental health episode, and the stigma around mental health. Help Julien with Emergency Recovery and Expenses GoFundMe Podcast transcript available here. A Better Table is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series.

Umeko Motoyoshi interviews Vancouver, BC-based Slothee Coffee founder Jessica Lui on the latest episode of A Better Table. Lui specializes in a form of latte art known as etching (when tools are used after milk is poured to draw and/or sculpt) and creates incredible works of colorful art. With Slothee Coffee, Lui teaches latte art classes, organizes coffee service pop-ups, and works as a photographer and content-creator. This episode is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series.

You might know Oregon-based coffee professional Morgan Eckroth from their wildly popular @morgandrinkscoffee TikTok and YouTube and Instagram accounts. You might know Morgan Eckroth as the Director of Content at Onyx Coffee Lab. You might even know Morgan as the 2022 US Barista Champion and the 2022 World Barista runner-up. And if you don’t know Morgan? Listen to the latest episode of A Better Table with Umeko Motoyoshi! A Better Table is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series.

In this episode, Motoyoshi interviews Mx. Suni Reid, founder of Auntie’s Coffee in West Hollywood, California. 

Welcome to a new episode of A Better Table, a podcast on the Sprudge Media Network where host Umeko Motoyoshitalks to guests and discusses social, economic, and environmental sustainability. "Sustainability means a lot of different things, but here are my guiding questions, the questions I want to explore," explains Motoyoshi. "What sustains communities? What sustains relationships? What sustains your heart?" In this episode, Motoyoshi interviews Marissa Childers, founder of Coffee Asians and co-founder of Tanbrown Coffee. Marissa Childers is a member of the Sprudge Twenty class of 2022—read their Sprudge Twenty interview here, and listen for a lively interview with Umeko Motoyoshi. A Better Table is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series.

In this episode, Motoyoshi interviews Ashley Rodriguez. "Ashley is a freelance writer," says Motoyoshi, "creator and host of Boss Barista podcast, my friend—which is such an honor—and an all around really powerful, but also gentle and also creative and funny figure in coffee who's so important to the community in terms of putting ideas out there for people to chew on about social sustainability and also all kinds of sustainability."

In this episode, Motoyoshi interviews 2022 United States Cup Tasters Champion Julien Langevin (he/them) from Coffee By Design in Portland, Maine. Langevin goes on to compete in the World Cup Tasters Championship this week in Milan.

Motoyoshi interviews Sonam Parikh of Mina's World in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sonam Parikh is the co-founder of Mina's World, a Philadelphia cafe with an innovative menu, a beautiful selection of local handmade goods, and thriving community ties. Last year, Arielle Gordon wrote about Mina's World for Sprudge: Mina’s World was built on the excitement of shared dream: founders Sonam Parikh and Kate Egghart wanted to create a space where their local community of artists, musicians, youth, and queer and trans folks could safely gather and form meaningful connections. The folks at Mina’s World want to be known for creating a safe and welcoming environment where “amazing humans” can gather to consume a delicious product served by kind people. Each member of the Mina’s team has a unique and varied skillset that sets them apart. Parikh and Egghart’s passion for helping their community extends far beyond their cafe doors. They maintain consistent involvement in mutual aid efforts around their city, setting aside a percentage of profits for donations. They love to support Coalition for Black Trans Economic Liberation (CBTEL), a West Philadelphia-based mutual aid network seeking to redistribute wealth to Black LGBTQ+ people, as well as the People’s Fridge. This episode of A Better Table is sponsored by Chobani.

Umeko Motoyoshi interviews Neichelle Guidry, founder of Black Girl Black Coffee, an initiative to amplify the voices and stories of Black women through specialty coffee.

In this episode of A Better Table, host Umeko Motoyoshi interviews Glitter Cat Barista Director of Positive Outcomes Eric Grimm. "Glitter Cat is probably best known for their coffee competitions, which are accessible and free, created to spotlight marginalized, hospitality professionals, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, disabled and persons of marginalized gender," explains Motoyoshi. In this episode, we learn more about Glitter Cat's initiatives beyond coffee competitions, and Eric Grimm talks about the Human Resources program they've helped build. This episode of A Better Table is sponsored by Acaia.