Coffee Lover: Kara on Road Trip, a shared carafe, and coffee in Ethiopia

Around here, most mornings start the same way. I make a carafe of drip coffee to fill a big mug for me and a traveller for Joe to take to work. Mine is black, no sugar, nothing fancy about it... except the coffee.

You probably know me as the person who blends and ships your Sparkplug Coffee (and sometimes shows up at your door on a Vespa or BikeShare).

But I'm a coffee lover first. So before asking you to fill out our Coffee Lover questionnaire, I figured it was only fair to answer it myself.

If you're still looking for your coffee, our Coffee Taster Pack is a good place to start. Otherwise, pour a cup of whatever you’ve got on hand, and come say hi.

What I do

I'm a coffee lover, the founder of Sparkplug, and a Vespa and motorcycle rider. I spent my 20s and 30s roaming around the world and tasting as many coffees, cultures, and foods as I could.

Home base

I‘ve lived in Toronto for a long time, but Vancouver will always be my hometown.

When I moved east, most of the coffee I found in Toronto left me lukewarm. There are dozens of great coffee spots all over the city now. But that search got me wondering: why don't we drink amazing coffee every day? Especially at home, where we control the beans and the brewing.

That question turned into Sparkplug.

My go-to coffee

I love them all - I'd never sell you a coffee I don't like - but my go-to is Road Trip, our sweet and balanced lighter roast blend. I also love the Roadside Attraction series, trying something new that's only around for a short time. I also brew a lot of Super Automatic and Globetrotter for Joe.

My coffee day

Although I love my AeroPress, most days start with a carafe of drip coffee shared with my guy, Joe. I drink it black, no sugar. Joe likes a splash of milk and dash of monk fruit sweetener.

Road Trip lighter roast - my Go To blend

One nice-sized cup every morning. Sometimes two. I try not to have full-strength caffeine after 2 p.m.

If drip is your coffeemaker too, here's how to get the most out of your drip coffeemaker. And if you've got an AeroPress sitting in a cupboard, my AeroPress guide will bring it back out.

My coffee style

I'm a Coffee Lover, like most Sparkplug customers.

Something that drives me crazy is finding a spectacularly delicious coffee, then having it taste completely different the next time I buy it. That's why every Sparkplug blend is crafted to taste the same every batch. Your next bag should taste pretty much like your last one.

My most memorable coffee

EVERY coffee I drank in Ethiopia. From the espresso bars in Addis Ababa to the homes and restaurants around the countryside, every one was delicious! Most were served the traditional way, made from green beans, roasted over a bowl of coals, ground by hand, and always served in three rounds.

It doesn't get much fresher than that. If you're curious, here are a few more Ethiopian coffee fun facts.

My best coffee tip

Stick to these 3 simple rules of thumb and your coffee will almost always be delicious.

use fresh roasted coffee
match the grind to your coffee maker
use the right ratio of coffee to water

These three things have the biggest impact on how your coffee tastes. A little more on each:

Fresh roasted. Coffee isn't like wine. It doesn't get better with age, so use it up within 3 - 4 months of the roast or "packaged on" date. Here's how to tell if your coffee is fresh or stale.
The grind. In general, the longer the time the coffee is in contact with water, the coarser the grind. So coarse for French press and extra-fine for espresso.
The right ratio. As a rule of thumb, 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per mug. That's an old-school mug (200 ml / 1 cup) not an extra-large travel cup.

Coffee doesn't need to be complicated to be delicious. If you want all my tips, start with Coffee 101.

What I love most about Sparkplug

I love helping people make their best coffee, the brew that suits their coffee style and palate. It makes me so happy to hear that someone loves my coffee and the service.

An unexpected bonus is how many coffee lovers I've met through Sparkplug that have become friends. ❤️

One more thing: where the name comes from

Did I mention that I ride a vintage Vespa scooter? 😉 My Vespa is what inspired the Sparkplug Coffee name and our scooter gal logo. A sparkplug is a small yet essential part that starts an engine and keeps it moving, just like coffee gets your day off to a good start.

Most Sparkplug orders go out by mail or one of our awesome courier partners. But if the weather's good and you live in Toronto, I might bring your coffee over on the Vespa.

Find your go-to

If something here made you curious, browse the Sparkplug coffees.. Once you find yours, the Autopilot Coffee Club makes sure it just shows up, fresh, every 2, 3, 4, or 6 weeks. Free shipping, save on every order, and you can pause or cancel any time.

Want to meet more coffee lovers? Watch our blog and emails for more Coffee Lover spotlights.

Let’s put the spotlight on you!

Every coffee lover has a story, and I'd love to hear yours. Want to be our next Coffee Lover?

Email sparky@sparkplug.coffee and I'll send you the questions. They're all optional, and there are no wrong answers. Unless you drink instant coffee, in which case... what are you doing here?!