Explore coffee’s ties with music through new Spanish language podcast by baristas and Latin musicians.
BY KATRINA YENTCH
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Photos courtesy of Jueves de Paches
Many hobbies are fueled by coffee, but none can prove to be as interwoven with coffee and music. Coffee consumed in silence at a café is an experience robbed of a proper soundtrack; music without coffee is, well, not as stimulating without stimulants. The creators of Jueves de Paches are two coffee pros and a musician, all of whom have undoubtedly recognized this, and their podcast is here to explore that connection through both retail and consumer perspectives.
Jueves de Paches was co-created by Ishto Juevez, a Guatemalan singer-songwriter who got his start busking in the streets of South America and beyond. Somewhere along the journey, he crossed paths with and befriended podcast co-founder Frosty Girón of Coffea Guatemala. As the story goes, Frosty opened Ishto’s eyes to the world of specialty coffee. “He was amused about the flavours and traceability,” explains Bea Macías, the third co-founder and a high school friend of Frosty’s. Bea is also a coffee professional who currently reps Café Estelar in Mexico. “He said music and coffee both have to grow and become better over time and effort. Both disciplines need passion in all the producing chains, and every step of making them happen need to be carefully done.” And so, Jueves de Paches was conceived as a way to explore the niche world of specialty coffee through the lens of a home coffee (and music) lover—perfect for café frequenters stuck indoors during COVID-19.
Jueves de Paches directly translates to “Thursdays of Paches.” Paches is not only a type of natural mutation on Guatemalan Bourbon coffee; it is also a potato tamale typically sold on Thursdays. The title flows seamlessly with Ishto’s last name, which also means “Thursday” in Spanish. Every episode of the podcast features either a musician or a coffee professional discussing the complexities of coffee like processing and varieties. “The podcast seeks to make a parallel between the professions of music and coffee; both develop over time and specialize with effort, dedication, and above all, passion,” says Bea.
Guests on Jueves de Paches so far have featured a mix of Latin America-based coffee professionals and musicians, including Guatemalan barista champ David Solano, Mexican indie producer Wet Baes, 2019 Mexican Roaster Champ Jorge Sotomayor, guitarist Jona Mendez, and plenty more. There have been eight episodes so far, and the gang hopes to interview more Spanish-speaking coffee and music people across countries like Puerto Rico, the United States, and Colombia.
We also asked Bea what the Jueves de Paches team’s favorites musicians to soundtrack their coffee drinking were, and they answered:
Ishto: Tom Waits, Caetano Veloso, Devendra Banhart, Afrobeat, Brazilian music
Frosty: Jack White and all his projects, Finch, R.L. Burnside
Bea: Wet Baes, Theophilus London, Nicolas Jaar, Agar Agar, Kerala Dust
To listen to the podcast, you have a wonderfully large array of options depending on what platform you prefer. Check it out now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Buzzsprout, and Stitcher. You can also get updates about new episodes and giveaways on their Instagram.
