Unpacking Coffee with Kandace and Ray: Counter Culture Coffee

Needmore Designs photo.

This episode of Unpacking Coffee marks the launch of Season 2, and with that, a name with which most people in contemporary coffee will be familiar: Counter Culture Coffee.

The Durham, N.C.-based wholesale roaster, now more than 20 years in existence, has been a pioneering force not only in pushing forward quality coffee, but also in promoting transparency and education among consumers, its staff and wholesale partners.

In addition to exploring some of CCC’s various packaging types, Kandace and Ray visited Scott Callender of La Marzocco Home at the beautiful, five-month-old La Marzocco Café and Showroom in Seattle, where they were also treated to a tasting flight led by renowned barista James McCarthy, the 2013 World Brewers Cup champion. McCarthy works at the New York training lab of CCC, which is currently the monthly roaster-in-residence at the La Marzocco showroom.

Unpacking Coffee is a weekly show discovering new coffee roasters one episode at a time led by Kandace and Ray of the Portland-based studio Needmore Designs, which specializes in coffee, wine and lifestyle brands.