BEING UG SERIES

BEING UG - A BOTZ 2.0 PRELUDE

Botzonians, we know our communication has been sparse lately. The past year has been one of the most encouraging, exciting, and pleasantly stressful periods in the span of our small-but-mighty venture. BOTZ 2.0 is our next version update with a new UG-15 vintage Probat roaster, increasing our output capacity. You and others may be slightly confused when it comes to our little BOTZ business and pink hero. We want to fill you in on what’s been happening. But as always, our past and nostalgia lead our present. Welcome to “Being UG – A BOTZ 2.0 Prelude” (spanning 2013-2025).

We’ll be releasing a small blog series in chapters in hopes of providing an introduction to new BOTZ folks and a deeper dive into some of BOTZ’s kindest supporters, all in the hope that our “coffee story” might urge you to try beans from our solo-operated bot venture. With scattered photos and little detailed tidbits of our most cemented memories, we hope it gives you insight as to how BOTZ came to be and what we’re seeking going forward.

 

CHAPTER 01 - [Diehard Motherly Confidence, Pierogi Pies, and the Will to Experiment]

BOTZ made an audible in our Being-UG blog series for our first chapter (we went Nabokov with our index cards, you could say). It’s Mother’s Day. It’s time my Mom receives some recognition for her inner BOTZ workings. She’s been more influential in your BOTZ cup of coffee than you may realize. Here’s a short BOTZ tale of Mama BOTZ and Danny BOTZ…and Tetkas (all motherly to me in their ways, too).

I’ll never forget sitting at our yearly Thanksgiving celebration table in the early days of BOTZ. BOTZ was trying to understand itself (frankly…this hasn’t changed haha). In this period of self-exploration, everyone was politely providing ideas that could propel it to a new level (one with a bit more business, sales, and security). My Mom, in particular, had visions of a few new menu item ideas for the BOTZ Weekend Tasting Lab that she thought might spark more interest. Pierogi Pies are her most ingenious invention. They were executed with brilliance by my Tetka Dorth. If you tried them, you know how special they were. If the Tasting Lab ever comes back, they’ll be there. Self-admittedly, I tend to be a wee bit stubborn when it comes to any changes to BOTZ’s essence. “I love you and value your ideas, but I don’t think this is the best one for MY (yes, I emphasized it…) business.” Immediately, I felt a gentle but firm tetka-slap on my wrist under the table. Here it comes – another insightful life lesson from my Tetka Vera - “It may be yours, but don’t forget all the moments that led to it. In many ways, it is hers, too.” ZOOM – instantaneously, I’m teleported through motherly time (thanks, Tetka). All the BOTZ moments with my Mom come flooding through.  

I remember the sun sprinkling through her dense grape vines from the old country with brews from my earliest test roasts. No matter what, she said they were stellar. Our dogs would sunbathe nearby as she’d politely express her coffee preferences – “I know you enjoy the fruity cups, but don’t forget the caramel folk.” I’d bring up ideas, like putting coffee in VHS tapes in honor of Free Willy – “That’s amazing. People will love it. Always embrace your creativity!” Lastly, and this is raw, I’d shower her with my major insecurities (there were many) when BOTZ was getting off the ground. She acknowledged them and didn’t minimize how they were making me feel, but she also used her superpower (for those who know her well, you know what I’m talking about) – the ability to instill an undying confidence I’ve never known. When my Mom looks at you and says, “You've got this,” you’re going to give it everything you have. Case in point – finding Jobo’s tuning (Jobo is our little Buckeye BC-5 roaster).

Initial BOTZ roasts were solid, but just that. I was seeking so much more out of the BOTZ roaster, Jobo. Where was the juicy glide that I remembered so vividly from 2015 from my favorite roasters? Where was the aromatic intensity and reverberating finish that lasted for…hours (I’m not exaggerating)? I’d show my Mom roast curves (she has literacy in Cropster…how many moms can analyze the rate of rise in sensitive and recommended?). She noticed some patterns herself and provided some feedback that changed everything for our small business. “Schmotzal, you’ve always been very smart (thanks, Mama), but all your lines are more or less the same. Why continue to do something that yields the same result? Break free and experiment! I know you’ll find…IT!” She was right. I spent the next few days trying techniques I never dreamed of doing behind a drum roaster. It was a slow and controlled process. Some of the coffees tasted bad. And some of them felt like…cheating (a self-proclaimed BOTZ term when a roasting system, despite the operator’s influence, is exceedingly beneficial to the beans). None of the roasts were perfect, but I dove in the direction of the tuning that was making the coffee sing with minimal operator intervention. I worked diligently to refine the style with close-roasting friends. I finally found a mode that I thought was unique. Kind and encouraging emails started rolling through from random BOTZ brewers about the coffees from Jobo. I was overwhelmed with happiness when others started to communicate and taste what I was seeking all along. All thanks, truly in many ways, to Mom.

In the past 5 years of my life, I’ve noticed an internal change preparing me for what’s to come with BOTZ 2.0 (and life) moving forward. While I’m still stubborn (as my Mom would say – “Okay Taurus”), I’m maturing and learning the beauty of ideation and suggestions from my closest loved ones, most pointedly my Mom. The fact that someone could care so vividly to make an earnest suggestion (flowers for BOTZ’s new space, bag design with the website on the bag, codes for BOTZ’s initial supporters) makes me realize that BOTZ means just as much to them as it does to me. Some ideas might not work, but the energy behind the ideation – that’s the intangible. To even think it signifies you’re inextricably and genuinely tethered to the process (or that person’s life). So, these days I don’t just hear someone talk. I make an effort to listen earnestly. Thank you, Mom.

I asked my Mom recently if she thought I’d figure out the sweet spot for our new UG-15 roaster. “Yes, and please hurry because we’re running out of coffee. Your Dad is buying Starbucks, and I despise it.” WAKE-UP CALL. Needless to say, I’ve been laser on the machine with each roast we drop. Thank you for everything, Mom. Happy Mother’s Day. I’m with you forever and always.  

Beep Boop,

SCHMOTZAL