1 00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's news radio. 2 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 2: Well in nineteen years, well eighteen plus years of Nightside, 3 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:17,240 Speaker 2: I don't think we have ever dove deep into the 4 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:19,440 Speaker 2: coffee industry. But that's what we're going to do this 5 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 2: next hour. Later on tonight, we will talk about Congressman 6 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 2: Seth Moulton's decision to challenge the incumbent Democratic US Center 7 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 2: at Marquee. So we'll do some politics later on, but 8 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 2: right now, we're going to talk about coffee. I have 9 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 2: a guest that will introduce you in a moment. But 10 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 2: this story came to our attention when we realized that 11 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 2: Starbucks has decided to spend about a billion dollars on 12 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 2: restructuring and also close a lot of stores here in 13 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 2: New England, and I guess around the country. For a while, 14 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 2: Starbucks used to be like a rocket ship. It seemed 15 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 2: like they were opening stores every other week, or maybe 16 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:05,040 Speaker 2: in your neighborhood every other week. But things are going on. 17 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 2: I think all of you know that I'm a Dunkin 18 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:12,559 Speaker 2: Donuts guy, dunc or Duncan coffee guy, and I guess 19 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 2: that's probably more from habit for anything. But we are 20 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 2: joined tonight to talk about what's going on in the 21 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 2: coffee industry with a gentleman who has spent his entire 22 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:25,759 Speaker 2: life in the industry. His name is George Howell. George, 23 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,039 Speaker 2: welcome to Nightside. How are you Tonight's truck doing well? 24 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:30,479 Speaker 3: Man? Thank you for having me. 25 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, very welcome. Thanks for joining us. You started a 26 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 2: chain of coffee stores. I don't know if the word 27 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 2: chain is a good word or a bad word, but 28 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 2: you eventually grew the twenty three stores in the Greater 29 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 2: Boston area from the mid nineteen seventies to the mid 30 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 2: nineteen nineties, and you sold twenty three of those locations 31 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 2: which immediately turned into Starbucks in nineteen ninety four. Stayed 32 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 2: with Starbucks for a while as a consultant, and now 33 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 2: are back in the coffee retail business with George Howell 34 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 2: coffee at four locations in Greater Boston. So you just 35 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 2: can't kicked the coffee habit, can you. This is something 36 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 2: that you've come to know and and come to be 37 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 2: comfortable with. And thanks for joining us tonight because we 38 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 2: want to know what's going on in this crazy business. Uh. 39 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 2: My conversation with you earlier today, you explained to me 40 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:29,640 Speaker 2: that what's going on with Starbucks is not a simple 41 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,639 Speaker 2: just over expansion and then a retraction of a company. 42 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 2: What what What are the factors that that is causing 43 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:43,639 Speaker 2: Starbucks to do this? In incredible? I don't know. Restructure, 44 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 2: I guess would be one way to describe it. 45 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 3: Uh. 46 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 2: I mean from the from those of us who are 47 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:53,359 Speaker 2: not experts like you, from those the the uninitiated who 48 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 2: think about coffee, and for me, I think about making 49 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 2: my own Duncans at home in the morning because it 50 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 2: gets pretty expensive every time you're going. You I got 51 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 2: to pay four bucks, well three bucks for dunk Golf, 52 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 2: and I'm sure it's more expensive at other places than 53 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 2: Duncan we hear about Starbucks? What's going on people walking 54 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 2: away from coffee? I don't think so. But tell us 55 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 2: from your perspective, what's the deal with Starbucks? 56 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 3: Well, I think it's a number of factors. One, there's 57 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 3: certainly a lot of increased competition in every city all 58 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 3: around the States, Europe, everywhere. There are more expensive, higher 59 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 3: quality cafes now in major cities in the US. They 60 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 3: compete on one side, and now there are a host 61 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 3: of companies coming in that are really aiming to mechanize 62 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 3: absolutely everything, reduced to labor, lower rents all the rest 63 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 3: of it, and sell at least for the time being, 64 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 3: at near cost in order to build their structures. So 65 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 3: you have all of this happening at the same time. 66 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 3: You know, for instance, Starbucks has been growing like crazy 67 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 3: in China. They have over seven eight hundred Starbucks cafes 68 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 3: in China out of nowhere. Just a few years ago, 69 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 3: a company called Luckin came in in a Chinese company 70 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 3: is now equaling that number and is entering the United 71 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 3: States selling very inexpensive, not necessarily good quality coffee. And 72 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 3: you have a number of chains starting to appear in 73 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 3: the States. Westbourne really looking at the same thing. You 74 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 3: have as well, the trend for its high real estate prices. 75 00:04:54,760 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 3: A note that Starbucks is completely out of Harvard Square, Cambridge. 76 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 3: You know that's that's insane, right, You think that they'd 77 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 3: want to be there as as just you know, someplace 78 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 3: to be seen as a center. 79 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, and also with seven or eight thousand Harvest students 80 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 2: and professors in faculty and staff circulating there every day. Yeah, 81 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 2: I mean, it's it would be the it would be 82 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 2: the place to be. Tell me about this Chinese company. 83 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 2: So has this sprung up like in the last five years? 84 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 2: It was coffee something. When you think about China, you 85 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 2: think about tea, not coffee. Are they Are they switching 86 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 2: over from from tea to coffee big time? 87 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 3: All of Asia has been uh and China in particular 88 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 3: is growing like like absolutely crazy in terms of coffee. That, 89 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 3: by the way, has put a lot of pressure on 90 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 3: coffee price, which is another another issue that's talk abouts 91 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 3: is facing as well as everybody in the So let me. 92 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 2: Let me ask you this. If all of a sudden 93 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 2: we have two billion potential coffee customers being exposed to 94 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:13,239 Speaker 2: coffee every day in China as well as other countries 95 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 2: in India with large populations in Asia, I should say, India, Pakistan, 96 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 2: et cetera. What is that doing to the world's coffee supply? 97 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:25,679 Speaker 2: Is the coffee comes from coffee beans, obviously, I assume correct, 98 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 2: I know, little. 99 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, they're actually seeds right growing inside proof that's the 100 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 3: size of a cherry, okay. 101 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:37,280 Speaker 2: Right, and and so odd there enough Is there enough 102 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 2: aariable land in parts of the world to provide coffee. 103 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 3: For That's the good question, that is, I mean the 104 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 3: coffee world is a buzz over over you know, what 105 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 3: we call climate change. And in Brazil, we're certainly seeing 106 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 3: that Brazil is literally producing forty percent of the world's coffee. 107 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 3: When Brazil sneezes, the world catches cold for coffee. Essentially, 108 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 3: we are seeing since twenty twenty one, every single year 109 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 3: has been freezes and droughts and high temperatures hitting records 110 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 3: over and over again, and so their production has really 111 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 3: been dropping over the last four years. And at the 112 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 3: same time you're seeing consumption world consumption actually increase over 113 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 3: the same four years. 114 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 2: And the law of supply and demand would say that 115 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 2: the four coffee prices are going up. But then there 116 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 2: comes a point, does they're not where the company that's 117 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 2: at the high end of that food chain, if you will, 118 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 2: they want to charge nine dollars for a cup of 119 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 2: coffee stats to kill themselves that the public says, guess what, 120 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 2: I can get a good cup of coffee for five 121 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 2: bucks or six bucks and not have to pay nine 122 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 2: every day. 123 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 3: So there was always, you know, there's always a threshold 124 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 3: in which you start to see that. By the way, 125 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 3: when Coffee Connection was born, my first company in nineteen 126 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 3: seventy five. 127 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 2: Well, I know what you're going to say, Go ahead, 128 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:20,239 Speaker 2: tell me how much. 129 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, that was half the trees in Brazil were wiped out. 130 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 3: It takes five years. 131 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 2: I thought you were going to tell me then, when 132 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 2: when you opened your first coffee connection in Harvest Square 133 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 2: you were charging fifty nine cents a cup or something 134 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 2: like that. What what were you charging when you just 135 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 2: to put it in perspective fifty years ago. 136 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 3: I have a photograph of this barrel that had coffee 137 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 3: bean Hawaiian ConA coffee beans in it from nineteen seventy five, 138 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 3: two dollars and ninety nine cents a pound. How's that? 139 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 2: That's not bad now? But so what would you were 140 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 2: you selling? Just were you selling also, you know, cups 141 00:08:59,080 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 2: of coffee as well? 142 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 3: Yeah, and we did. We started sometime somewhere around fifty cents. 143 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 3: Wo It's hard to remember all the prices for coffee 144 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 3: because once that killer frost hits, now you're talking three 145 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 3: to four years before production can catch up again because 146 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 3: all these trees have to be replanted. So the price 147 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:23,719 Speaker 3: went in today, it went from about seventy five cents 148 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 3: on as a commodity price to nearly to over three 149 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 3: dollars in a matter of two years. That's a frease 150 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 3: that basically was the equivalent of fourteen dollars a pound 151 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 3: in today's terms. Right, that's green. That's not even in 152 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 3: this country or roasted. 153 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 2: Do we produce any coffee beans anywhere in the US or. 154 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:53,720 Speaker 3: Now under one percent total? Puerto Rico and Hawaiian ConA. 155 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 3: That's it? 156 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 2: Okay, fair enough. My guest is George Howell. He has 157 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,839 Speaker 2: war stores here in Boston. He had at one point, 158 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 2: many years ago, Coffee Connection twenty three locations. He sold 159 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 2: those locations to Starbucks. Things are changing in the coffee world. 160 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 2: I know a lot about politics, I know a lot 161 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 2: about economics, but I don't know a lot about coffee. 162 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:25,439 Speaker 2: As they say, I am the traditional blue collar Duncan 163 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:29,240 Speaker 2: coffee drinker who only a few years ago realized that 164 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 2: I could actually brew coffee at my home. And well, 165 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 2: it said you some money. It does, And I'll tell 166 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 2: you I can go down and have breakfast and have 167 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 2: two cups of coffee and with little effort. But I 168 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 2: know that's not necessarily people who are heading off to 169 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 2: work in Boston and other places at your locales. I 170 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 2: know that your reputation is excellent reputation because of the 171 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:00,199 Speaker 2: fifty years that you've been involved in this business. To 172 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 2: get folks out there who know more about coffee to 173 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 2: join the conversation six one seven, two four ten thirty 174 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 2: or six one seven, nine three one ten thirty. Uh, 175 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 2: it love to know what your coffee habits are. If 176 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 2: you are impacted by this Starbucks closures here in the 177 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:20,679 Speaker 2: Boston area or elsewhere where you are going to find 178 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 2: your next Starbucks if you no longer have a Starbucks. Uh. 179 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 2: If you're like me and you have been a Duncan Donut, 180 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 2: a Dunken coffee connoisseur, if you will, we'd love to 181 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:37,320 Speaker 2: hear from you, And if you are concerned about coffee 182 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 2: is such an essential product. When I you really begin 183 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 2: to realize that so many people Duncan has the phrase 184 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 2: Duncan runs on the country runs on Duncan. Well, I 185 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 2: think that's true that we run on coffee, and then 186 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 2: everybody has to wake up in the morning and a 187 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:57,680 Speaker 2: lot of people have to have that first jolt of 188 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:00,679 Speaker 2: java or the day doesn't really get going. So this 189 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 2: is a little different hour we're doing six one seven, 190 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 2: four ten thirty six seven, I older callers and new callers. George, 191 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 2: I got to take a break. If you can hold 192 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 2: that thought for one second. I gotta just jump on 193 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 2: here and share a couple of commercial messages and we 194 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 2: come back. We'll, we'll, we'll continue our conversation. My guess 195 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 2: is George Howe. 196 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 3: Uh. 197 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:29,559 Speaker 2: He now runs four locations in Boston called George Howell Coffee. 198 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:31,560 Speaker 2: We'll be back on Nightside right after this. 199 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:36,959 Speaker 1: You're on night Side with Dan Ray on wz Boston's 200 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: news radio. 201 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 2: With me is George how We're talking about coffee and 202 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 2: what's going on, uh in the business, in the industry, 203 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:49,559 Speaker 2: industry locally, and also uh internationally. George, before we went 204 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 2: to that break, I think I interrupted you. You were 205 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 2: about to make a comment, Go. 206 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 3: Right ahead, Yeah, on you know, is there more space 207 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 3: to grow coffee or whatever? Climate change. What we're seeing 208 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 3: is the coffee is having to grow at higher and 209 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 3: higher altitudes. Like take Guatemala. A lot of their coffee 210 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 3: was grown at three thousand feet. Today there's almost no 211 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 3: coffee grown at three thousand. It's all over four thousand 212 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:18,959 Speaker 3: and five thousand. You couldn't grow coffee at a little 213 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 3: over six thousand now it's going up over to six 214 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:24,719 Speaker 3: thousand and seven thousand feet and as we all know, 215 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 3: the higher up you go, the less land there is. 216 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 3: So that's another issue. 217 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:37,440 Speaker 2: Just to mention, just coming back to this situation that 218 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 2: we have. If there are more and more people becoming 219 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:46,559 Speaker 2: coffee drinkers, and if in Asia a society that used 220 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 2: to rely on tea now is switching to coffee. At 221 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,959 Speaker 2: the same time with the production of coffee, whether it's 222 00:13:55,040 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 2: climate change or whatever the cause is, we could we 223 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:02,839 Speaker 2: could have a whole conversation about climate change. But this 224 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 2: is a great example where maybe climate change is having 225 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 2: a direct impact. You have you have two forces here. 226 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 2: You have people coming into the market and you have 227 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 2: product being less available, which is going to with economics 228 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 2: one on one force the price of coffee up. At 229 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 2: what point does coffee become potentially prohibitive That has to 230 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 2: be of some concern to the industry. 231 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 3: Yes, the consumer will tell us. 232 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 2: No, I do get that. The consumer will tell you, yeah, 233 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 2: that's that's that's fine. But then I guess the question is, 234 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 2: with science and UH from AI now coming along, is 235 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 2: it possible in your opinion that if these these two 236 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 2: UH tendencies these trends, more people coming into the market 237 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 2: from parts of the world that is just learning about coffee, 238 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 2: and the availability and the prices go up. Do you 239 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 2: think that at some point some brilliant scientists or group 240 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 2: of scientists will event invent something to take the place 241 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 2: of coffee? 242 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, all of the above. 243 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 2: Oh that's gonna be. That's gonna be troubling to think 244 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 2: that future generations might be not drinking what we drink 245 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 2: is real coffee. That has to concern you, not only 246 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 2: is a businessman, as somebody who's dedicated your life to 247 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 2: this product. 248 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 3: Well athetically, especially because I love coffee even more for 249 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 3: its slavery than for its caffee. So yeah, yeah, a 250 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 3: lot to me. 251 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 2: Is there Let me ask you this, s George, isn't 252 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 2: there also? And I want my audience to weigh in this, 253 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 2: isn't there also something about coffee? Because it has I 254 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 2: never drank coffee until I started working the morning shift 255 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 2: in television back in the mid nineteen nineties. I was 256 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 2: I was not a coffee drinker. I never drank coffee, 257 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 2: but in the morning, when you're out and about doing 258 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 2: stories at five am in live shots at six o'clock, 259 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 2: in the morning. Well normally doesn't help, but it's totally 260 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 2: necessary just to wake up. And but there's something about 261 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 2: the smell of coffee brewing, whether it's again in a 262 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 2: in a store or in your own, in your own kitchen, 263 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 2: that that says, Okay, the day has started. There's something 264 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 2: there psychologically above and beyond just the value of the 265 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 2: caffeine and the value of of the flavor and the experience. 266 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 2: It says something about the clock, your your personal cloth. 267 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 2: Am I getting a little romantic here about coffee? That 268 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 2: that I'm going over the top? But I really believe 269 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 2: that that this says, this says I mean, okay, this 270 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 2: is a new day. This this, this, there's more to 271 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 2: this than just coffee. The slate wipe's clean. Yesterday I 272 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 2: screwed up this that I screwed up this, I can 273 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 2: make today a better day. 274 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 4: Is that? 275 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 2: Do you sense that? 276 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:04,159 Speaker 4: Or? 277 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 2: Am I way over pay? 278 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,119 Speaker 3: It's possible. There are some people who are theorized, you know, 279 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 3: of the eighteenth century in Europe and stuff was called 280 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:15,640 Speaker 3: the Age of reason. Guess what century coffee was introduced 281 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 3: in full blast? 282 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 2: I'm going to guess the eighteenth century. 283 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 5: Yeah, right, So you'll never know, right, Yeah, yeah, wow, wow, 284 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 5: this is are you again? 285 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 2: We're going to go to phone calls after the break, 286 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 2: after the news break here at about of the hour. 287 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 2: But generally on this topic, are you when you take 288 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 2: everything that we've talked about, all of these economic forces, 289 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 2: these population forces, et cetera. Are you optimistic or are 290 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 2: you pessimistic? Are you a glass half full guy or 291 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 2: a glass half empty guy? 292 00:17:53,320 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 3: I worry, but you know, I'm my own mission coffee 293 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:03,679 Speaker 3: connection already, but even more so with with the current company, 294 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 3: George Howell. Coffee really has been to take it in 295 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:13,399 Speaker 3: the direction of wine. Really, I mean, commodity has always 296 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:17,679 Speaker 3: been Coffee has always been a commodity, really, uh. And 297 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 3: the price has not varied very much from the most 298 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 3: expensive to the least. That's changing drammatically because of the 299 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:31,440 Speaker 3: because of the development of quality that coffee farmers are discovering, 300 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:38,159 Speaker 3: and so they've got varieties and with real craftsmanship and skill, 301 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 3: they're producing coffees that when when you drink it black, 302 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 3: are naturally sweet. You don't need sugar, you don't need milk, 303 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 3: there's really no bitterness to it, and it can have 304 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 3: fruit notes or floral notes that you just wouldn't believed 305 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 3: be coming from that, from those coffee beans. So the 306 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:08,120 Speaker 3: range of prices is growing as well, at the at 307 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 3: the lower level. Uh. In opposition to that, the opposite. 308 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 3: You know, I think you're going to have artificial coffee soon. 309 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 3: It'll be terrible, you know, a little worse than instant coffee, 310 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 3: which is getting work, which is pretty bad to start with. Uh. 311 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 3: And you know, if I'm drinking that, that's what. 312 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 2: The that's what the astronauts drink. 313 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 3: Right. Well, I'm adding milk and sugar to that because 314 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:36,639 Speaker 3: I can't help it. Right, But if I'm drinking my 315 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 3: stuff a really high quality elsewhere, I'm drinking it black. 316 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 2: So so you you have look, look, you've been around 317 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:47,879 Speaker 2: this your entire life. Okay, so you have developed a 318 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 2: palette almost similar to a genuine wine connoisseur. 319 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:58,159 Speaker 3: Going in that direction. Yes, love rain coffee, like like 320 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 3: there's a rainbow of flavors that coffee by itself, with 321 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:06,120 Speaker 3: no additives has and very few people know that. 322 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 2: Still, well, let's see we'll get people reacting on the 323 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:10,919 Speaker 2: other side of the news. We've got a couple of 324 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:12,919 Speaker 2: callers already, if you'd like to fill the lines up. 325 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 2: Six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty. Six one seven, 326 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:19,120 Speaker 2: nine three one ten thirty. We have spanned the globe 327 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:22,200 Speaker 2: on this topic, and I'd love to get as many 328 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 2: of you involved. Now six one seven, two, five, four, 329 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 2: ten thirty is filled. However, I got a couple of lines. 330 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 2: Here's here's an inside tip. Six one seven nine three 331 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 2: one ten thirty. Your experience your relationship with coffee George 332 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 2: Howe of George George Howe Coffee four locations in Greater Boston. 333 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:47,120 Speaker 2: We'll give you those locations also, uh during this next 334 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 2: half hour in case you are unfamiliar, and you'll be 335 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 2: able to stop in and avail yourself and test the 336 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 2: product that mister Howell has been involved in for really 337 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:00,360 Speaker 2: the entirety of his life. We'll be back on side. 338 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:02,840 Speaker 2: My name's Dan Ray. Let's have at it right after 339 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 2: the break. 340 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 1: You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on w BZ, 341 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: Boston's news radio. 342 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 2: My guest is George Howl. George, if you're ready, we'll 343 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 2: get to some phone calls. Okay, ready, you got it 344 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 2: all right, here we go. Let me go. First off 345 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 2: to Murray is calling in from Lexington, Massachusetts. Hey, Murray, 346 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:22,919 Speaker 2: welcome to night side. Have you called us before? 347 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 6: This is your first time, this is the second time, Dan, 348 00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:28,359 Speaker 6: but it's been a lot of years since I spoke 349 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 6: with you. 350 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 2: Well, we can give you a round of applause, but 351 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 2: we can say welcome back and don't be a stranger. 352 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 2: Go right ahead. You're all with George. 353 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 6: Hole Holy, such a pleasure, George, if I may call 354 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:42,159 Speaker 6: you that. I remember when you we are in Lexington 355 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 6: and we you had your coffee connection in Lexington on 356 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 6: Massaff right in the center. I'm sure you remember that 357 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 6: very well. 358 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 3: I know you were. 359 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 6: You were there with another enterprise following that. But anyhow, 360 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 6: I have to tell you Geor which the coffee actually 361 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 6: coffee connection has for me made a lot of connections. 362 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 6: I mean, we used to gather there. I think it 363 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 6: was somewhere around nineteen eighty five or eighty six when 364 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:19,440 Speaker 6: the store opened. I can't remember exactly, but I had 365 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:22,200 Speaker 6: heard nice things about you. You came in from was 366 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 6: it California, San Francisco when you moved to the Boston area. Yes, 367 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 6: that's true, exact. We'll welcome to the area. It's a 368 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 6: beautiful area as a San Francisco, of course. But the 369 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:36,879 Speaker 6: thing is that I developed so many friends because of 370 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 6: the Coffee Connection. I said, hey, guys, this has really 371 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 6: connected us. They've got the right name for the right store. 372 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 6: And the coffee. Yes, the coffee was absolutely phenomenal. It's 373 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 6: where I really learned to enjoy coffee. When I was 374 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:56,879 Speaker 6: doing my residency at BU. That's when I really started 375 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 6: liking coffee. Not for the flavor of it. It tasted good, 376 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 6: but it was coming out of a machine, not nothing 377 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 6: like Coffee Connection and some of the better coffees we have. 378 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 6: But I found that despite the fact that it's got 379 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 6: can and it might make some people a little nervous, 380 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:17,800 Speaker 6: a little shaky, et cetera, I found it totally relaxing. 381 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:20,199 Speaker 6: I could drink three or four cups a day and 382 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:22,639 Speaker 6: sleep well at night. I just found it just a 383 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:26,919 Speaker 6: relaxing drink. I hate to say it, but it's almost 384 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 6: like smoking a cigarette, except it's a lot less. It's 385 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:32,920 Speaker 6: a lot healthier Cigrettes. 386 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 2: He's what you're saying right ahead. 387 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 6: It's not what we know, Dan, and. 388 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:43,880 Speaker 3: It's delicious, as you pointed out. 389 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:46,720 Speaker 4: Absolutely delicious. 390 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 6: It's an absolutely right and with my friends from Coffee Connection, 391 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:56,879 Speaker 6: when you sold it out this Tarbucks another story came in. 392 00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 6: I'm sure you've heard of Beats coffee and teas from 393 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:04,880 Speaker 6: the San Francisco Bay area, Berkeley, and so I enjoyed 394 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:07,560 Speaker 6: the coffee here. But George, I have to tell you something. 395 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:10,639 Speaker 6: There were a bunch of us that tied it up 396 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:13,120 Speaker 6: with a coffee connection here. That is thirty years no, 397 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:17,640 Speaker 6: forty years later, yeah, nineteen eighty five to now, and 398 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 6: we're still talking about coffee connection and how good the 399 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:22,960 Speaker 6: coffee was. Now, the coffee piece is very good. I'm 400 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 6: not saying it's not. It's very good, but yours was 401 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:27,400 Speaker 6: our favorite. 402 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 2: And Murray, let me ask you. Have you Murray, have 403 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:32,359 Speaker 2: you tried Duncan. 404 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 3: Dan? 405 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 6: If I need a quick breakfast and h I have 406 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 6: to get to the office, I'm I'm retired now, and 407 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 6: if I didn't have time to go in, I would 408 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:47,440 Speaker 6: grab a Duncan, but it will be would be mostly 409 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:50,080 Speaker 6: for the bagel and the cream tea and the bagel 410 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:53,479 Speaker 6: and the creamcheese, or the bacon and the eggs. And 411 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:54,879 Speaker 6: I'm not supposed to all. 412 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 2: Right, a coffee connection is no longer in business. Be 413 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:00,879 Speaker 2: concerned about George Howle coffee and we'll we'll talk about 414 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:01,359 Speaker 2: that later. 415 00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:03,119 Speaker 6: I want to go to George Howell Coffee. 416 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:06,159 Speaker 4: So I'm gonna give you thirty second Murray. 417 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 2: I'm gonna give you the second time called the thirty 418 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 2: seconds here because we've we've spent three hours at three 419 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 2: three fifty coffee connection. So I've let you go a 420 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,639 Speaker 2: little bit. You can wax poetic poetic for thirty more seconds. 421 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:18,800 Speaker 2: Go ahead, you're on the clock. 422 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 6: Okay, No, I just want to continue doing it. I 423 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 6: want to hear the George Howell coffee houses are coffee connected, 424 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 6: the George Howell coffee outlet star because I'm gonna go, okay. 425 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 2: We will get those for you. You beat the thirty 426 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:37,159 Speaker 2: second mark, Murray, come back soon, okay, thanks right, good. 427 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 2: Let me go to Alex and Millers. Alex your next 428 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 2: night's I go ahead, Alex. 429 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 7: Hey, good, good, good evening. I was gonna say, uh 430 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 7: for uh, you know, I've tried Starbucks coffee. I've tried 431 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:53,679 Speaker 7: Dunkin Donuts, but I found the Starbucks is very bitter or. 432 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:54,679 Speaker 8: Very uh you know. 433 00:25:55,119 --> 00:26:00,480 Speaker 7: I really it's like burns. And I do like international coffee, 434 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:06,240 Speaker 7: like either Greek or Turkish. So my question is coffee 435 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:09,920 Speaker 7: is coffee? So it's all in the way it's roasted, right, So. 436 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 3: If you take it, it's a lot to do with it. 437 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 2: Right. 438 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:16,919 Speaker 7: So basically speaking, the same coffee bean that comes from 439 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 7: country on the Columbia wherever can taste five different ways. Correct, correct, 440 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:24,439 Speaker 7: absolutely correct. 441 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 3: You can destroy it in the roast, okay, you really can. 442 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 3: You know, we do some dark roast, not very but 443 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 3: my whole feeling is a lighter roast, not too light, 444 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,240 Speaker 3: but a lighter roast gives you the flavors that are 445 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:45,800 Speaker 3: in the bean, not the roastiness that's on the outside 446 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 3: that smothers the actual flavor within. 447 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:53,120 Speaker 7: Right. I found I found that when you know, because 448 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:55,920 Speaker 7: I make coffee at home and it's really pretty good. 449 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 7: I use folders, and I found I stuck with that brand. 450 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 7: It seems to be not too strong and not too weak. 451 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:07,879 Speaker 7: And you know, if you if you put cream or milk, 452 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 7: it becomes you know, uh, you know, that much more appealing. 453 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:16,960 Speaker 2: All right, Alex, thank you for your experience. We appreciate 454 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:20,600 Speaker 2: it very much. Talk so all right, good night, We're 455 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 2: going to take quick break. Here more phone calls coming 456 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 2: up from my guest George Howell. I prefer your questions 457 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:29,480 Speaker 2: of him, he's the expert. Six one seven, two four 458 00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:33,880 Speaker 2: ten thirty, six one seven, nine ten thirty. So far 459 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:37,200 Speaker 2: we've had Murray, who wants to advertise Coffee Connection, which 460 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:39,479 Speaker 2: is no longer in business. We will get the George 461 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:42,879 Speaker 2: Hawl coffee locations mentioned in the next break. Get your 462 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:48,600 Speaker 2: pencils and papers and your GPS directions ready, uh, and 463 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:53,360 Speaker 2: we'll we'll take some more phone calls. Go ahead, George. 464 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 3: No, just to let you know, I don't know Dan 465 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:57,920 Speaker 3: never spoke to him. 466 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:02,280 Speaker 2: The Murray you mean Murray Murray. I'm sorry, right, that's okay. 467 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 2: Mury Murray's remembers your product, which is great. I remember 468 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:09,960 Speaker 2: restaurants which have long left Boston, and unfortunately, sometimes the 469 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 2: great restaurants are the ones that leave, and the ones 470 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:16,919 Speaker 2: that stay are overpriced and not particularly good. So again, 471 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 2: I appreciate your time tonight and your expertise, and I 472 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:24,920 Speaker 2: hope our audience might have questions that that would actually 473 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:28,120 Speaker 2: plumb that expertise. We'll be back on Nightside right after 474 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:30,520 Speaker 2: the break. The only lines open right now six one seven. 475 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 1: Night Side with Dan Ray. I's Boston's News Radio. 476 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 2: From mister Hal George. How we have full lines We're 477 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 2: going to try to get to everybody here. Let's see 478 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 2: what we can do. John and Brookline. John, you are 479 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 2: next on Nightside. Go right ahead. 480 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:50,680 Speaker 9: Thanks for taking my call. Dan and your guests is 481 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:53,880 Speaker 9: very interesting. I have a kind of a question that 482 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:58,320 Speaker 9: maybe it doesn't make any sense. What happened to the 483 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:02,320 Speaker 9: coffee that we could get You could actually smell the aroma. 484 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:08,200 Speaker 9: I drink about four cups a day. I hit my 485 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:14,320 Speaker 9: own bun machine, but there's no I at one time 486 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 9: I thought we could smell the coffee after it's pour 487 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:19,040 Speaker 9: like a China zone. 488 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, they used to say wake up and smell, wake 489 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:22,720 Speaker 2: up and smell the coffee. 490 00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 3: What about that, George Well, percolators were famous for that. 491 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 3: They put out the smell. And then there was that's 492 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 3: probably what it is. Dark roast has clearly the smell 493 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:40,840 Speaker 3: of the roast like burned toast. Then there are some 494 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:44,120 Speaker 3: really amazing coffees, some new varieties that are coming out, 495 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 3: like Geisha that's very expensive. But then there was a 496 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 3: pink boord Bon as it's called, coming out of Columbia, 497 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 3: which has a floral smell to it and you could 498 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:59,280 Speaker 3: literally smell it. Geisha, you can smell from ten feet away, 499 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:05,320 Speaker 3: sometimes jasmine like notes. And there are certain fruity coffees 500 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 3: that you can smell as well, and pure coffees. It 501 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:13,320 Speaker 3: depends on the strength and how well it's brewed, but 502 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 3: you do get the aroma. A lot of coffees serve 503 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:19,400 Speaker 3: too thin and so you get nothing. 504 00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:23,880 Speaker 9: Yeah. Is it because of the real hot water or 505 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:24,920 Speaker 9: that kills it though? 506 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 3: So that yeah, you want to brew it around two 507 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:33,080 Speaker 3: hundred and five somewhere in their degrees fahrenheit period anything low. 508 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:36,719 Speaker 3: A lot of the automatics, well, that's the thing. Actually 509 00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:39,880 Speaker 3: a lot of the automatics even today, the cheaper ones 510 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 3: are brewing at one five. You cannot that's too low. 511 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:46,680 Speaker 3: You're not getting what you want out of the coffee. 512 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:50,640 Speaker 2: Good information, George, for people, how can they tell you 513 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:53,800 Speaker 2: that automatic? How can they tell what they what the 514 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 2: what the level of the heat is. 515 00:30:56,640 --> 00:31:00,720 Speaker 3: If you need to ask, you know, and when you 516 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:03,200 Speaker 3: go on the internet, typically they give you specs. 517 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:06,720 Speaker 2: Check the specs, uh okay, And do those automatics lose 518 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:10,160 Speaker 2: their effectiveness in terms of delivering the heat over time? 519 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:14,680 Speaker 3: They can? You really? Yeah? And so once again, if 520 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 3: you really after the quality, unfortunately, you have to make 521 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:20,960 Speaker 3: a one time expense, you know, and it's going to 522 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:24,000 Speaker 3: be I don't know, two hundred to two three hundred 523 00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 3: dollars period, gotcha? 524 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:28,480 Speaker 2: Okay, all right, hey John, thanks for the call and 525 00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:31,320 Speaker 2: get right lines, buddy, appreciate the call. Real good questions, 526 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:34,480 Speaker 2: Thank you, perfect, talk to you soon. Let me go 527 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 2: next to Mark in Boston. Mark, you're on with George 528 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:38,240 Speaker 2: Howell of George Howell Coffee. 529 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:41,840 Speaker 8: Go ahead, Mark, Well, good evening. And I'm sorry if 530 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 8: maybe this has already been asked, but let me just 531 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:50,800 Speaker 8: preface my coffee connection story. I was friends with entertainers. 532 00:31:50,920 --> 00:31:53,680 Speaker 8: They work for Ringland Brothers Circus, and they traveled around 533 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 8: the United States. They couldn't wait to get the Boston 534 00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:58,880 Speaker 8: to go to coffee connection by Coffee who was the 535 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:00,480 Speaker 8: best coffee in the United Stay. 536 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:01,880 Speaker 3: Well, goodness, thank you. 537 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:04,560 Speaker 8: All right, that's my coffee connection story. 538 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:05,360 Speaker 2: All right. 539 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:08,960 Speaker 8: So I missed the first part of the program, and 540 00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:11,320 Speaker 8: I might have already been said, but will you want 541 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:14,240 Speaker 8: to non compete after you sold the company? 542 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:17,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, briefly, but it didn't matter because I wasn't really 543 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 3: after opening any new stores. I really wanted to learn 544 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:24,120 Speaker 3: a lot more about coffee by going to origin, and 545 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:27,960 Speaker 3: that's what I really did for the next multiple years. 546 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:30,640 Speaker 3: So yes, I had a noncompete, but it didn't get 547 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:32,480 Speaker 3: in my way SRD. 548 00:32:32,560 --> 00:32:34,760 Speaker 2: Mark. I appreciate the calls and the questions. And by 549 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:37,040 Speaker 2: the way, if you want to hear the first of 550 00:32:37,080 --> 00:32:40,920 Speaker 2: the hour all our programs posted at the podcast, all 551 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:42,920 Speaker 2: I have to do is go to Nightside on Demand. 552 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:46,520 Speaker 2: This hour will be posted sometime around two am tomorrow morning. 553 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:48,160 Speaker 2: When you get up and you brewin the coffee. You 554 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:50,440 Speaker 2: can just go to Nightside and Demand and check out 555 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:51,960 Speaker 2: the nine o'clock hour from last night. 556 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:54,720 Speaker 8: Okay, I will, But can I also asked you have 557 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:56,640 Speaker 8: plans to open more stores? 558 00:32:57,240 --> 00:32:58,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, we have four right. 559 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 2: Now, and we're gonna give those addresses market So get 560 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:05,200 Speaker 2: your pencil and paper and we'll give you those addresses 561 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:08,920 Speaker 2: as well. Okay them. 562 00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:10,400 Speaker 8: I was just worrying about the future. 563 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:15,080 Speaker 2: Well, we got to answer that question for you Mark today. Yeah, 564 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 2: we'll get you that information. I just got three other 565 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 2: folks who I'm trying to accommodate as well. Mark, Thank 566 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:21,560 Speaker 2: you very thanks. All right, let's keep rolling here. Arthur 567 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:23,239 Speaker 2: and Hollis theon. Arthur, you got to help me out 568 00:33:23,280 --> 00:33:25,600 Speaker 2: here because you're calling late, as a couple of other 569 00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:26,360 Speaker 2: people are as well. 570 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:29,400 Speaker 4: Go right ahead, all right, Dan, first time call it. 571 00:33:29,480 --> 00:33:30,880 Speaker 4: Thank you very much, great show. 572 00:33:31,080 --> 00:33:32,720 Speaker 2: Well we'll give you right of the pass from my 573 00:33:32,840 --> 00:33:35,000 Speaker 2: versus of the studio audience. Go right ahead, Arthur. 574 00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:39,000 Speaker 4: Okay, mister Howell. It is great to hear that you've 575 00:33:39,040 --> 00:33:41,640 Speaker 4: got some stores that are opening up. I was involved 576 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:46,200 Speaker 4: in a small coffee shop about ten years ago or so, 577 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:49,960 Speaker 4: and I actually still have a bad your espresso, So. 578 00:33:53,040 --> 00:33:56,120 Speaker 2: We're losing him here. Yeah, he's a caller from Hollist 579 00:33:56,120 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 2: and one of my favorite towns, so super. I was 580 00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:01,680 Speaker 2: just saying, Arthur, I love Holliston, used to live close 581 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:04,680 Speaker 2: to Holliston, the super at the Fisks General Store. And 582 00:34:04,720 --> 00:34:07,160 Speaker 2: you've got a couple of great coffee got one great 583 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:09,440 Speaker 2: coffee place by the train station in Holliston. 584 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:11,960 Speaker 9: Yes, yes we do. 585 00:34:13,160 --> 00:34:14,080 Speaker 4: Can you hear me now? 586 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:16,239 Speaker 2: Yes? Gotta be quick though, because they got two more 587 00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:17,640 Speaker 2: real quick. 588 00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:24,040 Speaker 4: I actually have a package of George Powell espresso Sorrento beans. 589 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:28,200 Speaker 3: Still all right, I. 590 00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:31,319 Speaker 4: Hope you're enjoyed here that you have that you do 591 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:34,880 Speaker 4: have new stores opening up. And one quick question, what 592 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:38,120 Speaker 4: is the best way for long term storage. 593 00:34:37,719 --> 00:34:43,240 Speaker 3: Of beans sealed and frozen frozen. 594 00:34:43,560 --> 00:34:47,640 Speaker 2: Okay, yes, great question, better answer. Thank you, Thank you, Arthur, 595 00:34:47,719 --> 00:34:50,520 Speaker 2: call again, appreciate it. Thank you. Let's keep rolling. You're 596 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:52,960 Speaker 2: gonna get two in. We're gonna try Michael and Boston. Michael, 597 00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:53,560 Speaker 2: go right ahead. 598 00:34:54,560 --> 00:35:00,640 Speaker 4: Hi, thank you. I have passed Washington Street, George Howell 599 00:35:00,719 --> 00:35:04,440 Speaker 4: many times, and I have never gone in. I'm a 600 00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:08,080 Speaker 4: coffee drinker, and I will definitely go in tomorrow at 601 00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:11,640 Speaker 4: eleven o'clock. I'm very anxious to try your place, mister Hall. 602 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:12,719 Speaker 3: Thank you. 603 00:35:12,800 --> 00:35:16,440 Speaker 4: I'm a nice coffee drinker. It would be a difference 604 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:20,760 Speaker 4: in taste and flavor between your ice and your hot coffee. 605 00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:21,840 Speaker 4: Is there ever a difference? 606 00:35:22,360 --> 00:35:25,600 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, Oh yeah, No, it's a whole other it's 607 00:35:25,600 --> 00:35:30,480 Speaker 3: a whole other ballgame. Look into getting yourself these these 608 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:33,640 Speaker 3: setups that you can get. We will be selling them 609 00:35:33,640 --> 00:35:36,680 Speaker 3: as well. Where you can brew coffee and freeze it 610 00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:40,600 Speaker 3: immediately within a minute and a half. That's the best 611 00:35:40,719 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 3: kind of ice coffee you can get. And it's still 612 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:45,920 Speaker 3: not that available commercially. 613 00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:48,839 Speaker 4: Will you be there to the store? I should try. 614 00:35:49,239 --> 00:35:52,240 Speaker 3: Our ice is as close as you can get to that. Now, 615 00:35:53,080 --> 00:35:53,359 Speaker 3: let me. 616 00:35:53,320 --> 00:35:55,160 Speaker 2: Ask you thiss, George, will you be at that store 617 00:35:55,200 --> 00:35:57,040 Speaker 2: tomorrow morning at eleven o'clock because. 618 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:04,640 Speaker 3: If Mike, if Michael uh calls follows my company and 619 00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:08,640 Speaker 3: acting uh and says he was on the radio, I 620 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:12,480 Speaker 3: will find out next week sometime and I'll be there. 621 00:36:13,520 --> 00:36:14,520 Speaker 4: Oh, that's kind of you. 622 00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:15,600 Speaker 2: Sounds great. 623 00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:18,880 Speaker 4: Imagine there are many things to supplement the coffee in 624 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:23,960 Speaker 4: the store, like, oh, certainly are and always getting better. 625 00:36:24,160 --> 00:36:26,040 Speaker 2: All right, Michael, we got to save some time to 626 00:36:26,040 --> 00:36:28,920 Speaker 2: get it. These addresses on. Thanks Michael, Thank you very much, 627 00:36:29,280 --> 00:36:32,160 Speaker 2: Thank you. All right, thanks Michael. Here, George, we're are 628 00:36:32,160 --> 00:36:34,560 Speaker 2: the full locations real quickly if you can. 629 00:36:35,239 --> 00:36:39,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, the most recent one is the Lyric Building. That's 630 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:43,200 Speaker 3: the two tower white tower over the Turnpike where mass 631 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:44,880 Speaker 3: Ave meets Newberry Street. 632 00:36:46,520 --> 00:36:47,080 Speaker 8: We're there. 633 00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:49,839 Speaker 3: And then the main one as well is five oh 634 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:56,319 Speaker 3: five Washington Street. It's adjoining the Godfrey Hotel. It's right 635 00:36:56,440 --> 00:37:01,640 Speaker 3: where Macy's is across the street. Uh. And then Boston 636 00:37:01,680 --> 00:37:03,279 Speaker 3: Public Market is the third. 637 00:37:04,080 --> 00:37:04,200 Speaker 4: Uh. 638 00:37:04,719 --> 00:37:08,560 Speaker 3: That's on the other side of downtown Boston. Uh. We're there. 639 00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:13,400 Speaker 3: And then the fourth one UH is Oh god the 640 00:37:13,600 --> 00:37:18,439 Speaker 3: bookstore in Harvard Square loves Struck and they have a 641 00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:21,880 Speaker 3: cafe there our crew and they are serving our coffees 642 00:37:21,920 --> 00:37:24,360 Speaker 3: as well, so they're perfect. 643 00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:26,359 Speaker 2: That's good. And you know what we got. We got 644 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:28,560 Speaker 2: a few seconds left from Mannie. Let's get one more in. 645 00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:31,000 Speaker 2: Rob will push it a little bit. Manny in Boston. Manny, 646 00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:32,719 Speaker 2: you're next on night side. You got to be quick, 647 00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:33,439 Speaker 2: go ahead, Manny. 648 00:37:33,840 --> 00:37:37,799 Speaker 7: Okay, Hi George, George. I love the coffee connection. I 649 00:37:37,880 --> 00:37:41,319 Speaker 7: miss it every day. You must have the best Sumatra. 650 00:37:41,480 --> 00:37:44,799 Speaker 7: You're going to have the same. I've tried many, none. 651 00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:51,560 Speaker 3: Compared to yours Sumatra. They have changed the variety and 652 00:37:51,719 --> 00:37:55,799 Speaker 3: they have destroyed it. I mean I cannot find any 653 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:59,600 Speaker 3: decent Sumatra for years now. I hate to tell you that, 654 00:37:59,640 --> 00:38:01,800 Speaker 3: because all right, we would love to grab it. 655 00:38:02,120 --> 00:38:05,959 Speaker 2: We have to end that down note, unfortunately, Mannie. Thanks, 656 00:38:06,080 --> 00:38:07,120 Speaker 2: thank you for the question. 657 00:38:08,080 --> 00:38:10,520 Speaker 3: Tomatra. I will have it all right. 658 00:38:10,520 --> 00:38:13,000 Speaker 2: Good luck with that, okay. In search of a great Samantra. 659 00:38:13,600 --> 00:38:16,480 Speaker 2: George Howell enjoyed it very much. Thank you so much 660 00:38:16,520 --> 00:38:19,440 Speaker 2: for joining us tonight, and I'd love to have you back. Okay. 661 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:22,400 Speaker 2: Thanks George, best of luck with the new locations. 662 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:24,920 Speaker 3: Thanks and thank everybody else. 663 00:38:25,840 --> 00:38:28,759 Speaker 2: You're welcome. We came back on talk a little politics, 664 00:38:29,400 --> 00:38:32,920 Speaker 2: Molten versus Marky or Markey versus Moulten, whichever you like. 665 00:38:33,160 --> 00:38:34,960 Speaker 2: We'll be talking about that on the other side of 666 00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:36,560 Speaker 2: the ten o'clock news here on night side