Joey Lindsey, Traffic

Joey originally hails from Charm City (aka Baltimore), MD, though he spent most of his childhood growing up in a small farming community just outside of Winston-Salem, NC. After graduating high school, Joey studied Graphic Design and Journalism at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Having always been fascinated by coffee and barista culture, he took a job his junior year at a coffee shop on campus, The Daily Grind, where he worked alongside Counter Culture’s own Lemuel Butler. After graduating, moving back to Winston and, interning at various design studios, Joey decided to revisit the world of coffee by joining Counter Culture in the fall of 2008. He currently lives in Carrboro with his cat, Olive, and his bike, Sebastian. His favorite things include pears, trees, beards, and zombies.

Q: What coffee are you currently drinking?

Copious amounts of Bwayi and Rusenyi. Africa’s been so good to me lately.

Q: Choose your favorite coffee and brewing method.

I’ll always be a fool for the luscious milk chocolate of 21st de Septiembre. I’m eagerly anticipating tasting this year’s crop. As far as brewing method, I stand by the old reliable French press.

Q: Who at Counter Culture Coffee would you most like to arm-wrestle, and why?

You know, I feel that a telekinetic duel with Karen McCallister would be much more interesting. Her wits are constantly begging to be battled. It’s also the only way I could guarantee any pain.

Q: What is your favorite book?

Currently, I’m really enjoying Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith, though some of my all-time favorites include:

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins
As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann

Q: What keeps you busy outside of work?

Most recently I purchased an old, brick-red Schwinn bicycle that I am smitten with and cannot stop riding. I also enjoy making sandwiches, reading comic books, browsing fashion blogs, and seeking out new music.

Q: Share an interesting fact you've learned about coffee while working at Counter Culture Coffee and name the person from whom you learned it.

The fruit of coffee cherries tastes very light and sweet, like watermelon and honeysuckle. I remember hearing this first from Kim while taking the Origins lab, and ever since then I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to gorge myself silly.

Q: When you were 8 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A comic book artist. I’ve always loved superheroes.

Q: If you could beam yourself anywhere in the world for your lunch break, where would you go and what would you eat?

Oh, this is easy: cherry pie and damn fine coffee with Agent Dale Cooper in Twin Peaks, WA.

Q: Which Counter Culture Coffee customer is most likely to see you outside of work?

You’ll frequently find me crying tears of joy over the delicious sandwiches at Toast in Durham. I’ve also been known to haunt the aisles of Weaver Street Market in Carrboro and the Whole Foods in Chapel Hill several times a week.

Q: Please list 5 albums that you are currently listening to and your 5 greatest albums of all time.

I am currently enjoying:

Camera Obscura, My Maudlin Career
Handsome Furs, Face Control
School of Seven Bells, Alpinisms
Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest
St. Vincent, Actor

I will forever enjoy:

Kate Bush, The Hounds of Love
Björk, Post
The Cardigans, Long Gone Before Daylight
Joy Division, Unknown Pleasures
Beach House, Devotion

Q: What’s your all-time favorite comic book or character and why?

My all-time favorite book will always be the X-men. Those stories and characters were a huge part of my childhood, and I’ve always been able to relate to the issues and themes that those particular books explore. Besides, it gives me an excuse to drink coffee every morning from the most amazing mug ever. Who wouldn’t want to share a cup of Finca Nueva Armenia with the X-men roster of the ‘80s?