Curiously in the Moment

When was the last time you were in a learning situation, genuinely curious, and lost track of time?  I had that experience recently at a Kona coffee estate.  A friend and I -- on the spur of the moment -- decided to sign up for a coffee roastmaster session.  It included a coffee tasting, a tour of the coffee farm, and an individual roasting class that allowed us to create our own signature roasts.

What is interesting:  I have had less than 5 cups of coffee in my life!  I love the smell of coffee but have never acquired the taste or the habit.

Do you remember the last thing you did not know?
(Photo:  Coffee plant and flowers,
Ueshima Coffee Company - Larry Gardepie)

So, during the tasting portion of our tour, it was difficult for me to appreciate the differences between medium, dark, and peaberry!  They all tasted like... coffee!... that hot beverage that I never drank!

Our tour guide explained why Kona coffee is a premium product: the volcanic soil; the higher elevation; the dry days, rainy afternoons, and cool evenings; the hand-picked ripe "cherries"; and the slow drying and roasting processes.

I have been on several wine tours, but I found this coffee experience much different:  there were similarities... but there was so much I did not know.

When are you ready to learn?
(Photo:  Coffee plant and coffee cherries - Larry Gardepie)

Because the experience and information were new, I found myself engaged, willing to learn, and fully present.  I recalled earlier in life when these moments came more often:  I would listen intently, ask questions, and sense that I had truly learned.  The guide was wonderful in that he stayed on script, acknowledged my questions, and wove in answers when the timing was appropriate to the coffee planting timeline or sequence of his presentation.

The willingness to learn, ask questions, and take in new information encouraged my curiosity.

What is your desired outcome?
(Photo: Coffee roasting options - Larry Gardepie)

By the time we went to the roasting session, I understood the differences between a coffee cherry, bean and peaberry, and the importance of waiting for cherries to ripen individually and be handpicked.  This understanding helped me to appreciate Kona coffee and why it is considered a premium coffee.

The roasting had a series of instructions based on the desired result: length of time and constant monitoring.

Do you monitor your progress?
(Photo:  Classic coffee roasters - Larry Gardepie)

How does this relate to dialogue, you might be asking?!

There were several lessons learned in the few hours at the coffee estate:

• Pay attention to what you know, think you know, or don't know.
• Be willing to ask questions... and wait for the answers.
• Test your understanding by sharing any thoughts or conclusions.
• Apply what you have learned and be willing to change any previous conclusions.

After the tour and roasting session, we went back to the coffee tasting area.  The coffee taste had changed... or had I?

Larry Gardepie

Dialogue San Diego Consulting