Interviews October 2024 | I KNOW JERRY FROM TORONTO

Who was in the October 2024 box?

More letters in the art collection of Jerry Utrecht (NL).
Modern coffee in Anderlecht (BE).
Coffee on the Right Side in the Skateboard capital Barcelona (ES) and Don't bullshit but polish! with a matter of concrete in Rotterdam (NL).

Utrecht - The Netherlands

Daan Rietbergen

Based in the Dutch city that for years did not tax beer and wine to lure students.
With a little detour, we still get the chance to work together.
His letters have always fascinated me, glad to include them in the Jerry collection.

Can you briefly introduce yourself?

Typography addict.
Grid-based.
Football fanatic.
Phone addict.
Birdspotting.
Meditation.
Lack of focus.
Searching for balance.

What inspires your designs?

I inspire myself by playing with typographic shapes and systems, but I cannot deny that my work has strong references to the work of Dutch Designers such as Wim Crouwel and Jurriaan Schrofer.

Can you tell us about a project that you're particularly proud of?

Nespor type specimen book

Do you think coffee and art have a natural connection?

I get a rush from both.

You went to New York, was it a success?

Probably the most special 2,5 months of my life.
My girlfriend Korinna van Balkom and I explored the city and met many people.
It was overwhelming and fantastic.

If you could share a cup of coffee with anyone, who would it be and why?

My grandfather, because he passed away a few years ago and he was one of the warmest people I knew.

Finally, what can we expect from your upcoming projects?
Any exclusive hints?

Eager to make more hand-painted artworks on paper on a larger scale for upcoming exhibitions and art fairs together with Moving Gallery Utrecht.

"Be kind to each other and stop the fucking wars worldwide"

Anderlecht - Belgium

Boo!

Boo! Modern Coffee Co. is a new player in the coffee scene based in Anderlecht, Belgium.
They’re known for focusing on high-quality single-origin coffees and promoting inclusivity and sustainability in the coffee industry.
They’ve hosted events like "Brewed Bold: Empowering Women in Coffee", which highlights gender equality and the role of women in coffee farming and roasting.
Boo! often collaborates with local coffee shops and communities, making them a prominent name in the Belgian specialty coffee scene.

The roastery's name, and what is the story behind it?

(Benoit) In the beginning, we were working on the concept of our roastery, our brand, and our name.
We were thinking about the concept of the ghost kitchen, the dark kitchen.
It’s a concept very popular in the United Kingdom.
We thought about a name in the universe of a ghost, and Boo! was the result.

What was the most memorable coffee in your life, and was there one that you’d like to forget?

(Benoit) The most memorable in my life was 3 years ago, during a cupping at Café Winok (a coffee shop in Schaerbeek).
It was a Colombian Wush Wush from Café Velvet.
And one I’d like to forget is probably one of those I used to drink before my journey in specialty coffee.
I used to drink coffee from Starbucks and used to find it tasty.

You were in the final of the Aeropress championship.
How did you guys experience this?

(Benoit) It was my third time trying the Belgium Aeropress Championship.
I was participating with the idea of finishing in the semi-finals.
I was my objective, my idea of a good result.
I wasn’t ready to be in the final, and even less ready in the first place.

Do you have an Aeropress recipe for the coffee in the box?

(Benoit) For Aeropress, I use which allowed me to win the Belgium Aeropress Championship.
I use the by-pass technique.
Dose 18gr, Water Spa 93°c.
A first pour of 100gr of water, after 30 seconds infusion I close the cap and I push.
Then I dilute the concentrate with hot water until 150-200gr of total liquit.
It gives only 2 or 3 cups but is full of flavors

Your roastery is located in a unique building.
Can you tell us a bit more about it?

(Benoit) It’s a building managed by a company called COOP.
This place is set to help launch small and medium enterprises.
It’s an old refurbished factory.
Even more surprising is the workplace we have used to be the workplace of another Belgium roastery (Wide Awake).

Will you share with us your favorite places in Anderlecht?

(Benoit) I haven’t visited all the places from Anderlecht, so I can't answer.
But what I can say is when we are on the top floor of the COOP building, it gives us a pretty unique view of all the surroundings.

If you could share a cup of coffee with anyone, who would it be and why?

(Benoit) If I could share a cup of coffee with anyone, it would be James Hoffmann.
He is a world-famous barista. He won the world barista championship in 2007.
I used the COVID lockdown to improve my practice and knowledge about specialty coffee and his YouTube channel was the first thing that helped me that much to improve my skills.
Not directly, he taught me a lot of things about coffee on a very wide range and it was exactly what I was looking for.

""

Barcelona - Spain

Right Side

Some say this city is even older than Rome!
Barcelona, a captivating blend of Gothic and Modernist charm, sits along the Mediterranean Sea, offering a cosmopolitan yet relaxed vibe.
It's a dream for history buffs and architecture lovers alike, with countless iconic sights and attractions.
Beyond its artistic and historical significance, the city's thriving coffee culture is not to be missed.
And of course, for Jerry, it’s known as one of the skateboarding capitals of the world!

What was the beginning of your coffee project?

.
.
.
.

What's one thing about coffee that people still don't understand?

.
.
.
.

What can we expect from your coffee?

.
.
.
.

What is the one thing that you would miss the most if you could not work in coffee anymore?

.
.
.
.

I hear a lot of interesting things about your city!
Can you help me make the most of my time here?

.
.
.
.

The quest for art and coffee keeps going for Jerry.
Can you recommend some places in Barcelona where we can find them?

.
.
.
.

And finally…
tell us about your most unforgettable cup of coffee.

.
.
.
.

""

Rotterdam - The Netherlands

A.M.O.C.

“Don't bullshit but polish!” That’s how it goes in Rotterdam.
A Matter of Concrete is a specialty coffee roastery with a passion for precision and sustainability.
Based in the heart of Rotterdam, A.M.O.C. takes a no-nonsense approach to coffee, focusing on sourcing high-quality beans and roasting them to perfection.
Their industrial dark style pleases me a lot!

Can you tell us about the origin story of A.M.O.C.?
How did the idea for a coffee roastery come about?

https://thecoffeevine.com/blog/a-matter-of-concrete-the-new-project-of-award-winning-barista-rob-clarijs/

What’s one piece of advice you wish you had when you first started roasting coffee?

I’ve been roasting for 10 years now, I think there is not one thing you can skip in the process of becoming a good roaster.
Fail, try again, fail, try again :)

Coffee brewing methods have evolved significantly.
Are there any specific brewing techniques you recommend for enjoying A.M.O.C. at its best?

https://www.amatterofconcrete.com/recipe

What’s the most interesting or unique coffee origin you’ve worked with?

Chinese Geisha!

Other than roasting coffee, what are the other facets of coffee that interest you?

Everything!
From chemistry, extractions, technology of equipment, water composition, brewing techniques, automation, design.

Jerry thinks your jar packaging is super!
Who worked this out for you guys?

That was all me! (Rob)

When in Rotterdam, what would you recommend us to do?

Walk around the city, enjoy the architecture, get wine at Bar Cult, Lunch at Nice, and dinner at Rotonde.

""

we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists! we're the artists!