Brewing Guide: Chemex

Since its invention in 1941, the Chemex has been a must have in every coffee enthusiast’s line up. Its design (leather cord, wood handle, tapered glass) not only brews several cups for you and your friends, but also makes you look good while brewing. Head over to our blog for an in-depth guide on brewing with a Chemex.

What you will need: 

• Chemex
• Chemex Filter
• Gooseneck Kettle (Hot water heated at 202˚)
• Scale/Timer
• 42 g coffee, medium coarse grind (similar to kosher salt.)
• Mug/decanter 

Step 7

Wait for it to brew

Let the bed drain. This should take 4-5 minutes. Pinch the tops of the filter together and dispose of the grounds.

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STEP 8

Serve and Enjoy

Pour into two cups and share the coffee with someone you love.

 

 

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Barista Feature: Simeon Bricker

We want to continue featuring the wonderfully talented baristas amongst our partnering cafes.

Today, we want to introduce you to Simeon Bricker of Splitlog Coffee.

Origins

Where you can find him

These days, Simeon stays very busy managing Splitlog Coffee Co, a brand new shop in Kansas City, Kansas. His knowledge of coffee and high standards of service create a wonderful space for coffee to be brewed perfectly, served quickly, and enjoyed easily. Pay them a visit as soon as you get the chance!

Stay Tuned

The KC coffee culture is rich with talented baristas that we can't wait to feature so keep your eyes peeled!

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Staff Bio: Brian Hoggard

We love our team here at Messenger. We wouldn't be who we are without the people that work hard to make Messenger what it is. That being said, we want to introduce you to an integral member of our team.

Brian, our wholesale director, is the jack of all trades of Messenger. His years of experience in coffee has given him a wide range of skills, whether he’s fulfilling orders, roasting/barista-ing, servicing equipment, you name it, he does it. Here he is shuffling bags of green coffee around the warehouse to keep us organized.

Brian's Favorites

Favorite coffee brewing method:

- Auto-drip

Music he is currently listening to:

- Angel Olsen

Favorite place to eat in Kansas City:

- Brewery Emperial

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Barista Feature: Kyle Weishaar

We want to continue featuring the wonderfully talented baristas amongst our partnering cafes.

Today, we want to introduce you to Kyle Weishaar.

Origins

Being a KC native, Kyle got his start in coffee back in 2007, after he was introduced to the local cafe manager of Homers Coffee House at the ripe age of 16. Helping people has always been a constant value for Kyle. In college, he began studying nuclear mechanical engineering in pursuit of helping people on a large scale. His creative passions for writing and photography seemed juxtaposed to his more scientific endeavors of school. As Kyle continued to grow as a barista, however, he began to discover how these two opposites seemed to be interwoven in a single cup of coffee. 

Yet it wasn't just the coffee that appealed to him. "The customer relationships that are formed through my work make being a barista really rewarding. I know more about my customers' lives than my own family's half the time," he says. 

Where you can find him

These days Kyle spends the majority of his time as a barista at Crows Coffee.

When he isn't catching up on his customers' lives, he can probably be found behind the bar pouring perfect tulips. He prefers 4-shot lattes in a mug, "a latte artist's dream," he says. Outside the cafe, Kyle enjoys camping, traveling, and seeing new places. His creativity is kept alive by continuing to write and read other's writing, which is an ongoing passion.

Stay Tuned

The coffee culture in KC is ever evolving, and we hope to continue featuring the many talented baristas within our community. Stay tuned. 

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Barista Feature: Nate Vanderpool

We want to continue featuring the wonderfully talented baristas amongst our partnering cafes.

Today, we want to introduce you to Nate.

Origins

Nate grew up in Blue Springs, Missouri. Years ago, after a cup of Ethiopia, Nate fell in love with the coffee culture and has been working in coffee every since. 

Where you can find him

You can find Nate throwing down some lattes (preferably 12 ounce) at Homers Coffee House throughout the week. If he's choosing music, lately he's been putting on The Oh Hellos or Mankind Forever, depending on the day.

Stay Tuned

We really believe in the coffee culture here in KC, so be on the lookout for more baristas we are going to feature in the coming weeks!

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Brewing Guide: Bee House

 

Bee House Ceramic Single Cup Brewer Melitta #2 Filter Burr Grinder Pouring Kettle (Hot water heated at 202˚) Digital Gram Scale Timer Mug/coffee pitcher

 

 

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Staff Bio: Kiersten Rex

 We think we have a great team here at Messenger and we’d love for you to get to know us!  We’re publishing a few posts featuring each member, and today we want you to get to know our Head Roaster, Kiersten.

 Origins

Kiersten grew up in Independence, Missouri. Her first real coffee experience didn’t involve fancy coffee -- in high school she loved mochas. Later, a trip to a Kenyan coffee farm had a profound impact on her perspective of coffee, where she saw the intricacies of the process. Coming back from the trip, she got involved with a local cafe and began her journey from barista to roaster (one of 3 female roasters in Kansas City).

Vision

All these years later she’s a part owner with us in Messenger, and we’re super proud of her work and her level of skill in coffee. Her passion is to see people come together over great coffee, as well as educating about the farmers that make the coffee excellent. She’s the incredibly consistent heart of the company, showing up for long days carefully crafting roasts and helping us carry the quality of the farm to our cafe partners.

Kiersten's Favorites

Favorite coffee brewing method:
Bee House

Favorite place to eat in Kansas City:
Winsteads every time. Except date night - then it’s Westside Local

Fun fact: Kiersten loves hanging out with high schoolers in her neighborhood and loves throwing parties for people. She’s a consummate host and kick ass dancer.

What song gets you on the dance floor: Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”

Stay Tuned

We are going to continue featuring the rest of our amazing staff in the coming weeks, so keep your eyes peeled.  

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Introducing: The Colombia Lago Bonito

We are very excited to release our new coffee from the Huila region of Colombia. The Lago Bonito is an easy to drink washed coffee with a nice floral aroma. In the cup, you’ll find subtle tasting notes of cola and lime.

Where to buy

Purchase online or in partnering cafes.

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