My first job while in college was as a barista at Blackbird Coffee in Milledgeville, Georgia. Not only was it a coffee shop, but it was also a small batch roaster. Once or twice a week, I'd walk into work to the smell of a freshly roasted batch of beans. The job gave me an appreciation for the craft of everything coffee. Up until Friday, it had been 4 years since I had walked through the coffee shop. Blackbird Coffee, set in historic downtown Milledgeville, was never lacking any character. … [Read more...]