How I teamed up with an engineering wizard to help every home brewer master specialty coffee.
My Golden Question: Bridging Expertise with Home Brewing
Although my paws are usually busy with the science of roasting, I’m always looking for ways to share my secrets. I spent so much time in the professional space roasting, cupping, and even competing. But I was missing the perspective of the passionate home brewer. My question was simple: how could I bottle up my roastery secrets and deliver them to every single home kitchen?
That’s how I stumbled upon my new friend, Lifestyle Lab! By training, Lifestyle Lab is an engineer with a magical gift for making the most complex brewing concepts approachable. His mission to help people brew better coffee at home was a perfect fit for mine. Soon after, I was thrilled to welcome Lifestyle Lab as De Mello’s Educational Ambassador, it was a true coffee collaboration and an instant join of forces!
The Brewventure Begins: Creating a New Curriculum
From that point on, my experiments got even more interesting. Our most memorable outcome was the creation of Golden Hour coffee, a special specialty coffee roast crafted by me to capture that perfect, warm moment in our day. It’s my gift to the home barista community. But Golden Hour was just the start of our journey into coffee education.
We launched the Brewventure series on our YouTube channel. In this series, Lifestyle Lab thoughtfully guides viewers through each of De Mello’s OG coffee blends to provide clean, structured home barista tips and guides Every visit from Lifestyle Lab is an adventure! Matt arrives with a new brewing machine in hand to test, and his technical insight continues to open new worlds of coffee knowledge for me, fueling my own inspiration and learning.
A Storm, a Shot, and a 15-Minute Miracle
Of course, even brilliant tigers like me have moments we’ll never forget. One time, Lifestyle Lab came to film at my roastery when a sudden storm warning threatened to cut our day short. The rain was getting serious, and Matt needed to head home quickly. Still, in a little miracle of professionalism, Lifestyle Lab nailed the entire Brewventure shoot in just one take, a record 15 minutes from setup to finish! This commitment proves that the pursuit of learning and quality is truly driven by dedication.
We shared these projects mainly through YouTube and Instagram, reaching not just my followers but Lifestyle Lab’s loyal community too. The response has been wonderful, Golden Hour coffee continues to sell steadily, and people send me questions about our coffee recipes every day. It’s solid proof that the thirst for coffee knowledge is as strong as the love for the drink itself!
Building Confidence: The Next Chapter
At its heart, this coffee collaboration has always been about more than just beans. It’s about building confidence, connecting two worlds: the professional roaster and the passionate home brewer, and creating those golden-hour moments that make everyday life just a little more special. This partnership shaped my mission, reminding me that my expertise is best used when I share the superpower of learning with my community. I can’t wait to host live sessions soon where coffee lovers can explore different machines, taste fresh brews, and learn directly from people like Lifestyle Lab.
Frequently Asked Questions: Home Brewing
Q. How can I brew better coffee at home?
A. The best way to brew better coffee at home is to start with a precise coffee-to-water ratio (usually 1:15 or 1:16) and a consistent grinder. Watch De Mello's Brewventure Series on YouTube for the best home barista tips and techniques!
Q. What is the Golden Hour coffee blend?
A. Golden Hour coffee is a specialty coffee blend roasted by De Mello and designed specifically for home brewing. It’s meant to be that perfect, warm, easy-drinking cup for any time of day.
Q. Does De Mello offer coffee education?
A. Yes! De Mello offers extensive coffee education through the Brewventure series, in-person coffee workshops (like latte art, espresso, and pour-over brewing), and with Educational Ambassador Lifestyle Lab, providing comprehensive home brewing guides and insights into coffee recipes for all of our blends.
Q. What are the best coffee brewing methods for beginners?
A. For beginners, the French Press and the simple Drip Machine are often the easiest coffee brewing methods to master. They offer great results with minimal fuss while you build your barista skills at home.