Summer of Sound
Soundtracks for Cold Brew
“So much world all at once—how it rustles and bustles!”
This past year, one of the things we have missed most are the many different sounds that once gave rhythm to our days. Without guests filling our spaces, the soundscapes shifted so that even the noises of the cafe that we still heard throughout the day—like the tap-tap of the portafilter emptying espresso grounds—felt bare without the accompanying din of people staying for a while to enjoy their drinks.
But now, in these hotter, brighter days, we’re thankfully back together again. Suddenly the familiar sounds we used to take for granted are once more becoming a part of the ambient background, bringing comfort and pleasure to our ears. There are small sounds, like the pop of ice cubes cracking in glass tumblers and the fizzle of sparkling water mixing with cold brew. Or the more noticeable ones: the steady chatter of guests in line and the beat of cumbia from a car’s open windows as it passes by.
To this aural reawakening, we want to contribute something more—our own musical selections. Throughout the summer, we are dropping a few playlists with the songs that are keeping us on our toes.
The first playlist is inspired by the celebration of Pride and compiled by Blue Bottle Area Leader Apprentice and role model to all he works with, Rashawn Johnson, followed by selections from seasoned barista Victor Maquilon who’s helping to lead our first Chicago cafe. Our third playlist is from lead barista at our newly opened HUMAN MADE CAFE in Tokyo, and Shibuya cafe team member, Sho Takahashi.
Our fourth and final playlist, as summer passes from the windshield to the rear view mirror, is from a Blue Bottle legend. Vanessa Gates Mowell has worn many hats over her twelve years here, from leading the Ferry Building cafe to her current role managing culture and internal communications, but we know her best as VGM.
As a fond wave to the end of summer, she’s collected all her favorite summer jams that feel like home, from the Laurel Canyon songwriters she grew up hearing on the family record player to the songs that shaped her early adulthood. Perfect for a long drive with the windows down.