We first encountered Portland-based artist Michelle Blade through her paintings. We found them so rich, soulful and warm, often conjuring scenes that convey elements of wonder, while providing comfort at the same time. Over time, we also began to take special notice of Michelle's beautiful ceramics, and dreamed of partnering with her on some coffee mugs. Last fall, to our delight, she accepted our proposal to collaborate on a line of mugs for us to enjoy at home and to make available through our online shop, so you can enjoy them, too! We learned quick that we aren't the only fans of Michelle's work. Within 2 hours of our first Instagram post introducing them, we sold out of mugs (and then some). Since then, we've made the...
Okay, disclaimer: we're not the kind of people who say "You MUST have a scale to make good coffee!" In truth, we're strong advocates of the just-eye-ball-it approach—especially when you're just starting to make better coffee at home. We think it nurture a hands-on sensibility of how to make great coffee.
However, there inevitably comes a time when coffee lovers want to bring their at-home coffee to the next level. Here's how to do it...
We're always inspired by the stories of creative people for whom following their passions or honing their art led them to starting a business. These are the very kind of people who inspired us, a model and musician, to turn our passion for coffee into something tangible we could share with the world. We also love when opportunities to collaborate with such creative people arise. Such was the case with Kelle Ramsey, and it happened in a very synchronistic way. Often overlooked or taken for granted, the coffee scoop is a crucial and treasured part of our home coffee set up. Learn why here. Long story short, we were looking for a local artisan who could make a wooden coffee scoop, and do it...
With myriad espresso shops to choose from, we sought out to find places that embody the soul of what makes Italian coffee so great.
Here are five of our favorites from the spots we visited. Most champion that classic Italian vibe, and one is a local roaster carrying the third wave torch in Florence.
We first visited County, Ltd. when we moved to the East Side of Los Angeles late last year. On the quest for special pieces to bring into our new home, we wandered into this lovely little world of quality clothing, specialty home goods, art, and vintage and custom furniture. Everything unique, everything made to last. Beyond the quality and elegance of the pieces, we were taken with the kindness and friendliness of the people behind the shop: four guys who have clearly developed keen eyes for the artwork and pieces they showcase. It's a combination of the beauty and charm that keeps us coming back; the gestalt that these four have managed to create. We were intrigued to learn more about their story...
