Question for Kevin- In Tripio, Jay is frustrated by the expectation that all the espresso shots had to be between 18-23 seconds. Did Howard Behar, Howard Schultz really believe all the pours were to specifications? Even on 1,000 customer mornings? Answer-1-1.25 fluid ounces including. crema made from 7 grams of espresso blend in 18-24 seconds.” …
“The last time I saw Howard was at my store in Oak Park. I was the manager then. He was with the new Regional Manager- Stu. Yes, Stu Fields. God no. I give Stu hell in Tripio. Not really. But, the whole incident with the spilled mocha on the door and Stu talking into his …
Question for Kevin–If Howard (Schultz) had stayed at Xerox, would Starbucks have come to be? In other words was a company like Starbucks inevitable to some degree? Answer – Without a doubt Starbucks would have remained regional without Howard. I had a conversation with Jerry Baldwin after the buyout and his move down to Peet’s …
Jay kept his place in line at the Palm Springs Starbucks. He remembered when they used to sell coffee. He remembered all the varietals under the counter. The shiny dark beans, dated and organized by growing region. Such great coffee. For now the line that held Howard Behar and him was not moving very fast. …
When my sons were much younger they loved dinosaurs, specifically the animated series of movies starring a group of singing dinosaurs called The Land before Time. Now they are young men out on their own in this world holding down jobs, concomitant adult responsibility and doing a damn fine job of making their way in …
I recently read Howard Schultz’s book, From the Ground Up. This was not the topic I was going to write about today. Especially since this happened over a year ago in real life. At some point, yes, I was going to let you know how my request for a blurb from Starbucks Founder, CEO …
“Society often forgives the criminal….it never forgives the dreamer. – Oscar Wilde I am willing to write this post on the proposition that anyone reading it has had daydreams for their novel, whether it is finished yet or not. A side bet I would make is that the dreams are not of the novel ending …
A troubling thing has been happening on this journey to publish Tripio. I have been getting asked quite a bit: “What is a tripio?” This was first brought to my attention at a class on memoir writing at the Indiana Writers Center. No one in the class with me knew what a tripio was. It …
I published my novel, Tripio, on Amazon on April 11th. Exactly how did this happen?? If you found this blog hoping to find help with writing your own novel, you have come to the right place. If you are hoping for some quick and easy bullets points to help you slap out a book in …
“Barc Shif!” -attributed to Fishy Man I saw it today. It happened at a chance meeting with the artist who is doing the cover art for my first novel, Tripio. I loved it of course. What I saw was a mock up for the cover of my book. My name was on the cover. It …
Coffee Novelist 
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