Who the heck is @layman_rob?

Who is Rob and why is he all over my Instagram feed?

A photographer? A nurse? A father? Ultimately, Rob is a man with many hats (literally) and a man of lesser words. A zen practitioner who loves coffee and the community that cultivates it.

When I first met Rob I was enthralled by his composure. I enjoyed the conversations we had over the chronicles and virtues of life. What would start as a simple welcome would then become an extended stay. Even as busy as we say we are, there is always time for a nice chat with Rob.

I met with Rob at Catalina Coffee on a busy Saturday morning. We sat outside and enjoyed the weather while catching up. He had been there earlier to take pictures for the shop’s Instagram account, which he manages.

HCC: How did you get started on taking photos for Amaya/Catalina Coffee accounts?

RS: When I first started taking coffee photos back in 2017, I found myself at several shops that had been serving Amaya Coffee. So I would often tag them. One day I walk into Reserve Supply Company and Max Gonzalez (Owner of Amaya/Catalina) was there. We talked about my photography and he asked me if I wanted to take photos for them…now here we are.

HCC: You were a barista at some point as well? Tell me about that.

RS: I work three 12 hr shifts a week as a nurse. So because that left me with 4 free days, I decided to pick up a shift at Retrospect Coffee once a week and try out the barista life. I really like the mechanical repetitions behind the bar. If I could make a living strictly on that.. I would be very satisfied. But unfortunately I don’t barista much anymore because I had to add an extra day to my full time job.

HCC: Will you still be participating in Coffee Fests?

RS: Yeah next year I am for sure going to Chicago and New York. I really want to do some street photography, especially in New York. Visit more shops, and visit Chinatown!

HCC: New York’s Chinatown is amazing. Some of the best ramen I have ever had was in Chinatown NYC.

Throughout our conversation we chatted about coffee scenes in different cities like New York or Los Angeles. He had highly recommended Menottis in Venice Beach for their execution on milk based drinks.

RS: Some of the best espresso I have ever had was at Blue Bottle. A Burundi too. And some of the best bar efficiency I have seen was at Cat & Cloud in Santa Cruz. I was impressed with the quality even during a peak rush. Consistency was key.

HCC: Agreed. Consistency goes a long way. What are your thoughts on the Houston coffee scene and how shops handle bar flow during a rush?

RS: I have had some really great coffees here in Houston. I get my flat whites at Blacksmith and my espresso at Catalina. All great shops with each having their strengths especially during a rush. What I wish to see more is the educational part of being a barista. Focusing on getting everyone on the same page when it comes to serving coffee at their shops. Sometimes details slip and people notice.

HCC: Of course, sometimes things get lost in translation. Being mindful of not only quality and consistency but also on how we approach customers.

RS: Creating an experience is what brings the customer back. The best part of coffee are the people.

It’s always a treat speaking with Rob. Follow him online @layman_rob and visit his website www.laymanrob.com