Travel Coffee Gear, Hand Grinders, & Coffee Roasting with Calibration Coffee Lab’s Alex LeBlanc

Travel Coffee Gear, Hand Grinders, & Coffee Roasting with Calibration Coffee Lab’s Alex LeBlanc

Author: BLISTER November 5, 2025 Duration: 51:20

How do you make great coffee on the road? Jonathan talks with Alex LeBlanc, the owner and head roaster at Calibration Coffee Lab, to talk about our recent attempts at this. Then, we discuss Alex’s own approach to roasting, and what becomes clear is that there are lots of different priorities and values that a particular coffee roaster might have — and understanding those will likely help you identify your favorite roasters.

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TOPICS & TIMES:

New Coffee Gear & No-Bypass Brewing (3:31)

Water Additives (13:14)

Hand Grinders vs Electric Grinders (14:49)

Bed Pressure (23:44)

Filter Coffee & Various Brewing Styles (26:13)

Roasting: Alex’s Approach (32:42)

Over Roasting & Other Coffee Crimes (42:19)

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There's a particular kind of conversation that happens when someone has dedicated their life to making something tangible, driven by obsession over details most of us overlook. CRAFTED, from BLISTER, is built on those conversations. Each episode moves beyond a simple product review to explore the entire ecosystem of creation, whether the subject is a meticulously roasted coffee, a complex whiskey, a precision timepiece, or a bold new wine. You'll hear directly from the individuals who define these fields-brewers, distillers, founders, and artisans who started their ventures not because it was easy, but because they couldn't imagine doing anything else. This podcast digs into the raw materials, the failed experiments, the business risks taken on a principle, and the quiet triumphs that happen long before a product reaches a shelf. It’s about the philosophy embedded in the process as much as the technical skill. Tuning in feels less like listening to an interview and more like pulling up a stool in a workshop or a tasting room, offering an intimate look at the patience, setbacks, and unwavering standards that transform a simple idea into a crafted object. The stories are specific, but the themes of creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit are universal, connecting anyone who appreciates the depth behind a well-made thing.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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