3 Tips About Sending Free Things to “Influencers”
I get it. It’s tough out there. You have a new product or you’re a new roaster and you need to get the word out. You think, “If I send […]
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What to Look for in a Social Media Consultant
This is Part 3 of my outsourcing series. Here’s Part 1 and Part 2. How do you figure out if the social media consultant you see online is the perfect […]
What to Outsource for Social Media Marketing
This is Part 2 of my outsourcing series. To read Part 1, visit the article here. As I mentioned in my previous post, there are many things that make up […]
When to Outsource Your Social Media
When you’re a business owner, you often find yourself pulled in a thousand different directions. Whether because it’s your least favorite activity or it just falls down on the priorities […]
Making Changes Where You Can: Small Diversity Efforts
This isn’t going to be a how-to guide on diversity efforts. It’s more of a reflection on what you can do as a business (or a person). On the two […]
Instagram Story Covers & My Week in Seattle
This marketing tip is going to be short and sweet – as well as easily implementable – just in time for Expo!
Audiences: Designing a Strategy to Reach Them
Earlier this month, I wrote about researching your digital audience. This is a followup to that post, where I present three scenarios that might’ve happened.
Digital Audience Research: Do You Know Who You’re Speaking To?
Chances are, your audience on Twitter is not the same as your audience on Facebook. Why is this important? Knowing who you’re speaking to helps you fine-tune your social media […]
Social Media Workflow: How I Work
There’s some fascination that exists for people wanting to peek in on others’ working habits. How I work may not work for you. My early years of freelancing was a […]
2018 Goals: The Year of Me
It sounds a little selfish when I write it out like that, but it’s the truth. If I can’t be my best self, then I’m not able to give much […]
2017 Year in Review
It’s been an interesting year. I’ve found myself feeling simultaneously down in creative juice and also so pummeled with information that I’m too frozen to execute anything to completion. It’s […]
Things to Consider Before Setting Up a Company Blog
This article for those of you who think you want to set up a company blog, but don’t know where to start. Before you even begin researching blog designs, there […]
Boss Coffee Pros: Liz Dean
I first met Liz in real life last October while I was in New York for Tamper Tantrum. Since then, I’ve watched her be elected to the BGA Executive Council, […]
Why You Should Have a Social Media Crisis Management Plan
Despite your best attempts and intentions, something will go wrong for you on social media. A crisis management plan helps you get through the situation. It could be limited only […]
Bad Social Media Advice I’ve Heard Given
Inspired by this post on Social Media Today about the worst social media advice the author has heard experts give, I decided to write my own version. This is a […]
Project Reveal: Coffee Equity Toolkit
One of my two goals this year was to create some sort of resource for alleviating the emotional labor I was seeing performed by marginalized coffee people. After a few […]
How to Find and Keep Sponsors for Your Coffee Event
I’ve requested sponsorship for events and also received numerous requests to sponsor. From all this time, I’ve learned a few things and this guide is meant to be a resource […]
One Year of the Coffee Marketing Newsletter
Back on August 10, 2016, I committed to writing my coffee marketing newsletter. I had been sending it off and on first through Tiny Letters and then through Revue. That […]
“Social Media Isn’t Marketing’s Job” (Spoiler: Yes, it is)
“Customers aren’t happy, they’re complaining on social media. How are you responding?” “That’s not Marketing’s job.”
Sarcastic or Punny: 5-Minute Brand Voice Audit
Take one minute right now and think to yourself: if your brand was a celebrity or fictional character, who would it be? If you’re not great at recalling names, think […]
What I’ve learned from 5 years of self-employment
I recently celebrated my five-year freelance-iversary. This is a pretty remarkable milestone for me and I honestly wouldn’t have thought it’s where I’d end up. I had written this up […]
SCA Expo 2017 Preview
Despite the last couple of months of prep for this week, it’s still been down to the wire for Seattle. I’m heading to SCA Expo and am quite excited to […]
3 Facebook Ad strategies for your cafe
There are many different ways you can utilize Facebook Advertising for your coffee business. In this piece, I’m going to provide three strategies on ads you can run for your […]
Boss Coffee Pros: Elizabeth Chai
I met Elizabeth Chai in real life last year in Kansas City (the qualifying event). But I first knew of her when I learned she was doing a big camper […]
Small ways to optimize your current blog
There seems to be a million articles out there in the variation of “101 Ways to Improve Your Blog.” If you’re like me, you’re probably thinking, “101?! I can barely […]
Why you need the iPhone 7+
Last month, when my iPhone Upgrade Program came around to its full year, I debated on whether I should stay with an s model or upgrade to the 7+. I […]
Coffee is political
Coffee is political. Food is political. Your damn clothing is political. I would not be the person I am today without immigration.
When small motions create stellar customer service
During my last visit to Chicago, I went with two other people to Au Cheval for a burger. It was the usual two-hour wait and we made sure to fill […]
My theme for 2017: Deliberate
I place a lot of importance on words. Articles swirl around in my head for weeks until I feel content enough to write all the words down. This one has […]
2016 Recap
This recap is primarily for my own memory (I have a terrible memory). I started off the year with a career plan in mind and it seemed like the plan […]
Contributing Writer: Sprout Social
I’m happy to announce that I’m a contributing writer for Sprout Social’s Insights blog. I’ve been an avid user of their social media management tool for four years now and […]
Managing customer service on social media
In the past few years, social media evolved from a channel of personal stories to one of customer service complaints. “Social customer care” is the new phrase. You, operating as […]
[Free Template] How to Set Up Your Own Trello Editorial Calendar
Tell me if this sounds familiar: you kind of have a blog, but you don’t post frequently and it often feels like you’re scrambling around.
Finding the balance in your business decisions
Recently, I received a pretty interesting business opportunity. On paper, it looked great. The contract would diversify my audience, increase my reach, and establish myself as a, for lack of […]
Key to getting started on social media is using small goals
One of the first questions I receive about social media marketing, especially in relation to coffee companies, is: “How do I get started?” There is so much information out there. […]
How to use someone else’s photos for your Instagram account
You don’t. (I was tempted to end the blog post here.)
How to write for a global audience
Writing for a global customer base is tricky. At its core, great customer service is all about understanding what the customer wants and delivering it. If your main language is […]
Boss Coffee Pros: Bethany Hargrove
Like many of my real-life coffee friends, I first met Bethany on social media. Her sassy, brutally honest tweets were a refreshing escape from the carefully curated streams many of […]
Speaking: Sprudge live podcast and Tamper Tantrum
2016 is surely the year of saying yes to all the things that terrify me (terrify in a good way). When you’re off working for yourself, you don’t have an […]
The pros and cons of using Instagram stories for your business
Should you invest in Instagram’s newest feature? Is it worth the effort for your business? A few days ago, Instagram announced to the world their newest feature – stories – […]
In Review: SCAA Expo 2016
Another Expo over with and I’m only just now feeling back to my regular self. Collaboration appeared to be the main theme for me this week. Over and over again, […]
Kansas City in Review
The countdown to SCAA Expo is 7 days and I’m just now getting to posting my photos from Kansas City USBC and USBrC regionals in February. I met some wonderful […]
Instagram: Multiple Account Log-Ins and Other New Tips
It’s been a whirlwind of announcements around Instagram these last two weeks! Here are some new features Instagram adds multiple account logins Have you heard? Possibly the largest update to […]
Boss Coffee Pros: Lauren Morlock
We’re staying in New Orleans for this second installment of Boss Ladies of Coffee. There was a real sense of community when I was there in the Crescent City. As […]
Social Media Goals to Tackle in 2016
A new year means a fresh start and for many out there, new goals. But as we all know, goals are meaningless without actionable items. In the new year, I […]
Boss Coffee Pros: Reneé Blanchard
There’s an uprising that is happening around New Orleans. I recently visited and was told by a local friend, “Ladies dominate the industry here.” This was a must-see. During my […]
My tools: How I work & what I use
Working for myself & remotely for the past few years has had me experimenting with a slew of apps & productivity hacks. More significantly, I’ve transitioned from the approach of […]
5 Tips for Driving Organic Facebook Engagement
An engaged community begins with an engaged brand. Engaged brands care about the social media communities in which they’ve built. With the current Facebook algorithm, brands must get a little […]
Why I don’t know if I want a Facebook Page
If I were my own client, I would still debate this. Working in social media marketing, you spend a lot more time on the social networks than the average person does […]
How to create your own coffee community
Communities are difficult to build & difficult to maintain. With a solid foundation & the right people believing in the same vision, you have a higher chance of succeeding. In […]
Last day at Thin Pig Media
Fifty-one weeks into my role as a part-time Social Media Manager at Thin Pig Media, I’ve decided to leave.
#seaPDXsfo: Coffee, Eats, and Serenity in Portland
This is Part 3 of my #seapdxsfo vacation, dedicated to the coffee & food of Portland. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here. In the second leg of […]
Adjusting to San Francisco // Golden Gate Park
Someone asked me this week if I plan my writing out in my blog. To this, I took a 12-hour break after writing that first sentence. And then, I took a […]
Looking ahead
Take chances. This is a philosophy I’m trying to wholeheartedly embrace, not just for 2015, but for a general life motto. 2014 was a year full of surprises. I believe […]
#SEApdxsfo: Seattle Coffee and Food
This is Part 2 of my #seapdxsfo vacation, dedicated to the coffee & food of Seattle. You can read Part 1 here.
#SEApdxsfo: SCAA in Seattle
In April, I embarked on my first vacation in two years. I happened to have a free ticket to SCAA Expo, courtesy of Coffee Kind, so I decided to extend it […]
A few of my latest articles
I know I said that I’d post every week in 2014. Well, it’s the 3rd week and I’ve yet to write a second post. Whoops! That’s why it’s a goal, […]
2014 Goals & Coffee Resolutions
2013 has flown by. In the past year, I have: Made it into the Chicagoist, AAA Living magazine, and the Zagat blog Took on a social media freelance opportunity Ran […]
Presenting: My new job at Coffee Kind
It’s been an exciting four months for me and the next four are shaping up to be just as crazy. There’s something about working for a startup that is deeply […]
Social Media Week: My schedule
Social Media Week in Chicago is happening next week and I could not be more excited. Last year, I went on a frenzy of talks, presentations, and panels. If you’re […]
Surrounding yourself with positive people
I’m not the type of person to surround myself with crowds of people so the people I choose to surround myself with are chosen with care. As life progresses on, […]
Passion vs snobbiness: it’s all in the attitude
There have been a slew of articles lately that have flung the word “snob” into them like it’s some sort of buzzword. Every time I see one of these articles, […]
Friday interesting reads: 08.17.13 – 08.23.13
Another week passed by and I have yet to write anything since last Friday. To be fair (maybe), I did work late into the night a few times this week. […]
Friday: Interesting reads 08.10-08.16.13
I’ve been bookmarking (Pocket-ing) links for two weeks now, telling myself that I will eventually write up a post with some of my favorite articles. I think on Fridays, people […]
On a panel: “Women and Gender in the Coffee Industry”
Hey guys, hey! I have a litany of excuses on why I haven’t posted much, but I won’t bother you with that. There’s a panel discussion this Wednesday at CityGrounds […]
Twitter pet peeves, according to coffee people
In this (unknown number)-part series, I bring to you coffee & Twitter. Twitter is my favorite social media network, mainly for its quick info bites and the ability to access […]
How to finish 12 pounds of strawberries in less than a week
I have been seriously slacking on my blog posts. They’re now just building up in my head until I’m sure I’ll do a word vomit in one night. Recently (and […]
Why I’m running a 5k when I hate running
Let’s get facts straight here. I hate running. I hate conventional exercise like lifting weights, doing the elliptical, aerobic classes, and again, running. Hate is a strong word, I know. And I […]
Brunch it out: The Publican
The Publican has been on my Chicago restaurant list (to be published soon) for the last three years. The restaurant seemingly comes up in conversation at least once a week […]
Six lessons I’ve learned in the last year
One year and two days have passed since I left Groupon employment. I’ve posted before on the trials of starting a business. Since then, I’ve waded through difficulties and learned […]
Aeropress: Inverted Recipe
This past Thursday, Passion House Coffee Roasters hosted another brewdown in conjunction to their two-year anniversary party. Called the “Jokers Wild Brewdown,” competitors and judges went in without knowing the […]
Personal branding: what to expect from me
As the first post on my new domain, it seems fitting to write about personal branding. I once bought jennchen.org (because .com was already in use) with the intention of […]
WordPress: thecuriousbean
My previous iteration of a personal blog was hosted on WordPress.com. I used the template “Confit” and modified it to my preferences. Sidebar widgets included menus, photo, social media […]
Lofty desires: Potential birthday gifts
My birthday is coming up really, really fast. If I go by tradition, I would be planning to spoil myself for it, which oftentimes include: birthday shoes, birthday dress, birthday […]
In review: Chicago Roasters Jam
Last night, I had the pleasure of attending an event that was the first of its kind in Chicago. The Chicago Roaster Jam brought together roasters all in one room […]
Quick life update
Can’t believe it’s nearly May. Just bought the domain jennchen.com, which is unheard of. My name is SO common that I took about 2 hours to make the decision and outright […]
Coffee trip across Michigan: One dozen shops
Last week, I journeyed across Michigan in quite possibly my biggest coffee crawl drive yet. In 3 days, I hit up a dozen shops and met an unbelievable amount of […]
Introversion behind the bar
I had a conversation with a customer the other day that resonated with me. This customer is a bartender and has bounds of energy every time I see him. He’s […]
RECIPE: Frozen marshmallows dessert
For record’s sake, I’m going to be writing up recipes that I’ve found to be tasty & useful. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I love making […]
In review: GastroIntellectual Property Law Symposium as it relates to the coffee industry
Last night, I attended the GastroIntellectual Property Law Symposium, presented by the Chicago-Kent Intellectual Property Law Society & The Chicago Bar Association. The tagline for the event was “global innovations […]
February goals: #CodeYear & fitness
It’s 11 days into February and 11 days since I made some personal goals to improve my general satisfaction in life. While this blog is primarily a coffee blog, it’s […]
January dranks, eats, makes
We’re one full month into 2013 and for this week’s post, I’m taking a look at my drinking, eating, and making consumption in January. So that idea that I wanted […]
Craft time: What to do with old coffee bags
Most people throw away their retail bags of coffee once they’re through with the beans. I tend to keep all my bags. Design fascinates me in every way, coffee packaging […]
Importance of barista competitions
This post was meant to be posted on Thursday (I wrote myself an editorial calendar. Will probably take two months for me to actually transition to it). But it doesn’t […]
Emotions in life and workplace
At the time of writing this, I am 27 minutes away from my Twitter-peer-imposed writing deadline. It’s been a weirdly emotional 24 hours for me. I know a number of […]
Meta post: Coffee blogging about coffee blogging
A coffee professional once asked me rhetorically, “Does it really matter what coffee bloggers say?” Which, since we’re being rhetorical, let’s just ask, “Do bloggers actually have influence?” My answer […]
Coffee 2013 Resolutions
A couple of weeks ago, Oliver Strand’s column “Ristretto” (last post) ended and coffee lovers all around the world shed caffeinated tears. Since I want to write more often, need […]
Coffee Chemistry
Note: These are my thoughts & notes from a coffee event. Facts stated do not have linkable sources, but were talked about in the lab. If I made any errors, […]
#foodiechats lesson: there are always people to educate about coffee
This past Monday, I learned how many consumers still needed to be exposed to great coffee. It was a very humbling, if not hair-tearing, experience. Every Monday, there exists a […]
Chicago Coffee Ladies
This post is long overdue. By about ten days… It’s not usually until I’m half an hour into a coffee event that I notice how I’m one of ten women […]
Coffee Conversions
I read somewhere that if you make a difference in one person’s life, then it should be a reason to keep on going in your passion’s path. Five months out […]
Quotables from #SMWChicago
I’m getting back into blogging and I’m going to ignore SEO for now just because I think I need to spout off creative nonsense. In the past few months, I’ve […]
Friday Roundup: Articles in Decor, Food, Coffee
I read a lot of articles in my spare time. I figure that most people probably don’t enjoy tech, fashion, or random Chicago events like I do, but what the […]
Defining Identity
I didn’t write the above note, but it does represent my emotional turmoil pretty well. I’ve been refraining from writing here, because I feel like my posts need to […]
Equating a Corporate Job to a Bad Relationship
In full disclosure, I used to work for Groupon. But this could really just apply to any job you feel unfulfilled in. In the end, I left not because of […]
Make an effort to smile
Is it really that difficult to smile? I understand that when you’re exhausted on your feet and you just don’t want to serve cups of coffee anymore, maybe the smile […]
Pride & Other Business Thoughts
As some of you may be aware, my last day of corporate work was on May 25, 2012. Since then, I’ve revamped my personal life, social activities included, and gone […]
Coffee & Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe
I’m a pretty picky coffee drinker. So when my coffee beans go two weeks over the roast date, I just don’t want anything to do with the beans anymore. Unfortunately, […]
Life thoughts from a rooftop
I was at a friend’s place yesterday, sitting on the roof, contemplating the skyline. I find skylines, especially at night, very calming. Meditative. The clouds move in, creating layers that […]
Word Vomits
I can’t believe this. After two years of not updating this blog, I’ve all of a sudden, in one night, decided to publish three blogs. Three. I must be insane. […]
Cupping Comparsions
The following was drafted about a month ago and I just never got around to publishing it. I’m not a pro at cuppings and I’ll be the first to say […]
When you want to help a shop
I walked into a recently opened local shop today, hoping to get my caffeine fix with a cappuccino. It was my second time visiting and this time, there was one […]
Icy Beans and Bonding
I’m an absolute nerd and so I appreciate gadgets, especially if they’re humorous. Want some fun in your iced coffee? Get one of these from Fred. Gigantic coffee-bean-shaped ice cubes? […]
Ambiguity in Tasting Notes
We all know it’s advertising psychology when Coca-Cola features cute little penguins and polar bears in ads (I didn’t want to have a Coke, but the penguins look so happy! […]
Snickersprodoodle
If you’re a coffee elitist like me, you balk at using beans more than two weeks past the roasting date. But what if you don’t finish it all? I usually […]
Wintry Iced Coffee
Aka Japanese iced coffee. I’ve only experienced cold-brewed iced coffee before (Toddy system w/Lavazza medium-dark roast beans with no roast date= still amazing sweetness and low acidity) and was under […]
It’s a Stumper
Word around The Windy City is that Stumptown is opening up a shop here (see edit below). But hey, maybe it’s just the gossip blowing around (I know, I know, […]
Coffee as Tea?
I’ve been reading Coffee: A Dark History for the last month or so. And while I’m only 48 pages in (it feels like I’m reading a history textbook and I […]