Some Thoughts On The Coffee Industry, and a Book Recommendation

Starbucks Logo

In the early 2000s (2004-2009, to be specific) I worked at Starbucks, first in Global Communications then on the Corporate Social Responsibility team. I loved my time there and is the one place I would return in a hearbeat.

We former Partners (as Starbucks employees are referred) have an alumni group, the Green Apron Network. It’s a great group of folks whose presence I greatly enjoy and am privileged to be part of. One of the great figures of Starbucks’ corporate history is a man by the name of Major Cohen. If there is anyone who knows coffee better, I am unaware of them. Recently retired, Major has written a book, “Coffee For Dummies“. Though I haven’t read it yet (I have a copy on its way), I know Major well enough to highly recommend it. A few of my friends have already read it, and recommend it. I’ll write more about the book once I have read it.

So, check it out! There’s a Kindle version, so you can start reading it right now. If you read it, leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Under the Clouds

Under the Clouds

set under the clouds
my city moves through the rain
while fueled by coffee


A rainy day here, just north of Seattle. One that brings me memories of northwestern Oregon. The winter rains in Astoria where my feet were my main mode of transportation. I guess that came from the heavy weight of the rain drops along with their coldness.

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Scent of Old Books

scent of old books: a haiku
scent of old books: a haiku

scent of old books
espresso machine’s song
hints of jazz piano

I spent many hours of my mid-twenties wandering Seattle’s bookstores and coffee shops. Fond, fond memories. Though a challenging time, mainly financial, I enjoyed that time. Traveling into Seattle became more and more challenging over the years since I returned to Lynnwood. It looks dramatically different, and I haven’t been down since the pandemic started. Puget Sound’s north end holds its charms, too. Just different ones. Evolutions, I guess.

Morning Coffee, A #Haiku

​Coffee’s gracefulness 

Awakening our brain cells

Enabling life 


The elixir of life: coffee! Memories of Seattle cafes in the 90s, a broke young man seeking moments of grace. Warmth in the winter rain, another grace. Warm memories of friends and conversation, of connecting with history’s great minds. Coffee consumed, generations apart, cold winter’s rain ensuring the seat, by the window, wondrous.