This is the first of an ongoing series of quick interviews with coffee professionals I've run into who were kind enough to participate.

Today's victim is Casey Blanche of Just Coffee.

[Me] Before we get started, what's your name, company, and title?

[Casey] Casey Blanche, Just Coffee, Director of Coffee.

1. What do you do, how long have you done it, and how did you get started?

I am in charge of sourcing, roasting, purchasing, quality control, inventory, and product development. I’ve been working in coffee for over 10 years. I started as a barista and worked my way up.

2. What's your favorite bean right now and how are you brewing it?

My favorite coffee right now is the soon to be released Ecuador auction-lot #4. I prefer cupping this coffee to brewing it so I can savor its aroma.

3. What do you like most about the coffee industry right now?

I like that the industry is finally getting serious about highlighting, discovering and preserving unique coffee varietals.

4. What do you like least about the coffee industry right now?

There are so many, it’s hard to determine exactly. I wish flavored coffee would just die already and go away. I get agitated when I hear people use the term direct trade to market their coffee when they never traveled to origin (their importer did). I wish the organic coffee market was bigger because pesticides harm people and the environment. I get upset when I see start-ups marketing themselves as high end specialty coffee roasters when you know they just learned how to roast last week.

5. What would you like the average end-consumer to know about what you do that you don't think they know already?

I travel the world to find the best coffees and I take a lot of pride in what I do. I have a “Jiro dreams of Sushi” dedication to my work. Every coffee is meticulously profiled to highlight its best flavor characteristics. I operate two small batch roasters, a Diedrich and a Loring, and chose the roasting technology that works best with the type of coffee I am roasting. I stand be hind my coffee and would put my offerings up against any roaster.

Casey is the Director of Coffee at Just Coffee: http://justcoffee.coop.
Check out their blog at http://justcoffee.coop/blog/.