In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Katie Thomas and Fred Cowell to talk about the impact soil has on the quality of the coffee you drink. Fred is the general manager of the Kauai Coffee Company in Hawaii.  It is the largest coffee producing farm in the United States and is also known as the 'Disneyland of Coffee'. 
Fred explains why he told his team they were going to 'stop growing coffee and start growing soil'. They also discuss why volcanic soil is so good for coffee growing and the role that both microbiology and water play in soil health.
 
KEY TAKEAWAYS

Coffee plants need about 17 different nutrients for optimal growth.
Coffee plant grow optimally at a pH of between 4.9 and 5.6.
Healthy microbiology is essential - without it the plants cannot utilize the nutrients in the soil.
Water is simply a carrier for the nutrients.
Root vegetables play a vital role in revitalizing soil for coffee. Find out why in the episode.
So much of the health of a tree depends on what happens underground.
The waste products from producing the beans (like pulp and chaff), when combined, make a compost that coffee trees love.

 
BEST MOMENTS
‘The principles we talk about today apply to anything you grow. ´
‘Optimal soil leads to an optimal cherry, bean and, ultimately, coffee!’
‘There are more microorganisms in a tablespoon of soil than there are humans on earth!'
 
EPISODE RESOURCES
Kauai Coffee on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kauaicoffeeco/
Visit the Kauai Coffee estate: https://kauaicoffee.com/visit-the-kauai-coffee-estate/
Jayber Crow By Wendell Berry - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jayber-Crow-Novel-Port-William-ebook/dp/B003SNIZV2/
The World-Ending Fire: The Essential Wendell Berry - https://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Ending-Fire-Essential-Wendell-Berry/dp/0141984139/

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/
You’re disciplined and high achieving. You never settle. Shouldn’t the fuel that helps you reach your goals be held to those same standards? Instead of a crash-inducing cup of jo, you need coffee with optimal antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. A coffee so good that you can drink it black.
At Umble Coffee, we only roast specialty-grade arabica coffee from around the world with cupping scores 84 and above. Don’t sabotage yourself in pursuing your goals - drink coffee that tastes better and is better for you. No crash, great taste, and better long-term health benefits. That’s Umble Coffee. 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/
Twitter:  https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee
 
ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”
 
CONTACT METHOD
Want to reach Kenneth? Have questions, show ideas, or want to just let us know you’re enjoying the show? The best way is to leave us a great review and put your thoughts in the comment section - Kenneth reads all of them! The second-best way is through DM on social media.
 
Podcast Description
Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! Season 1 is all about coffee's journey from seed to shelf.BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.comThis show was brought to you by Progressive Media