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How to Do International Coffee Day Right

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We love coffee at 8THIRTYFOUR, but if you’re like us, you might be using it more for fuel than for taste.
However, because October 1st is International Coffee Day, it’s the perfect time to up our coffee game!
This can be a little intimidating considering that, according to our in-house coffee expert, coffee has more than 850 aromatic and flavor compounds, while our other favorite drink (wine) only has 200.
To help us (and you) check out this guide we created to best celebrate International Coffee Day:

Finding Good Coffee

Good coffee is more than attainable in a home setting, but the learning curve is much less steep if you go to a good specialty café.
Since another one of our loves is local business, this is great time to visit the small café near you. If you live in Grand Rapids, then there are plenty options, and many are ArtPrize venues around this time of year.
You may be asking, “How do I know if a café is ‘good’ or not?” While taste is ultimately subjective, there are a few things you can look for that signal that a coffee place is offering high quality coffee:

  • They know where their coffee comes from (both from which roaster, and from which country it was grown)
  • They have a manual brew method, such as pour over, aeropress, or French press
  • The baristas can answer all questions related to the coffee they brew

What to Drink

If it is a good café, then try everything and find your favorite.
Here are some good options on where to start:

  • A simple pour over, preferably with a single origin coffee
  • A shot of espresso, while not for everyone, is definitely an experience we suggest tried at least once
  • Cappuccinos are good if you like milk, as it has a lower milk-to-coffee ratio than a latte, so you can still experience the coffee taste prominently.

Lastly, remember that this is for your enjoyment. If you know you like lots of cream and sugar, or a basic Pumpkin Spice Latte, then drink that with pride despite what the coffee snobs of the world may think.
If you like coffee as much as us, then we would love to meet sometime over a cup and chat. We can even show you some of our favorite spots around town – let’s connect!

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National Perimenopause Month starts today. We have a LOT to say, and we’re not going to be quiet about it, especially this month, so buckle up.

We were not prepared for perimenopause, much like our periods, sex, or anything else to do with our bodies. God forbid we talk about it openly.

We were taught to be ashamed, keep quiet, and to accept that it is just part of being a woman. We reject that narrative. In fact, like @bodespeaks, we want to bring it up in every conversation. 

When we normalize perimenopause and the conversation around it, we stop isolating, and we’re all more prepared.
Join us for Uncomfortable Conversations: The Pause on September 24th — a powerful conversation hosted alongside the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan 
Women’s Business Council, featuring some kicka$$ experts who will give you the real talk on perimenopause (more to come on them later).

Register at the link in bio.
You asked, we delivered.

Introducing the Women's Owners Network - a new program built for what comes first, joining our proven Fellowship model to support Michigan women at every stage of business ownership.

Whether you've got a team of 10 or it's just you and your laptop, you deserve a room full of women who get it.

Six months of leadership, finance, operations, capital access, paired with real support for the isolation, emotional volatility, and decision fatigue that come with owning your own business.

You'll have your own board of directors in your corner, including @bodespeaks plus a group of mentors, instructors, and coaches who've been exactly where you are.

Applications due October 1. Apply now at the link in bio.
"I am big enough to admit that I am often inspired by myself" - Leslie F*ucking Knope 

You are the hero in your own story. Be like Leslie and believe it. 

Come to the Big Deal Energy Workshop, @bodespeaks will show you how.

It's personal branding with a shot of tequila. Register in bio.
THROWBACK THURSDAY: We took a walk to one of the houses @bodespeaks lived in Creston. There were 3 total. We also got a history lesson of @crestongr along the way. Of course we had to take Joey too.
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