Entrepreneur Todd Carmichael has traveled to the furthest corners of the globe to source the very best coffee the world has to offer - while also elevating the way America experiences its favorite brew. Now, Carmichael is bringing this same blend of boldness and passion to an all-new Travel Channel series, "Uncommon Grounds," premiering tonight, September 14 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT. In this eight-part series, Carmichael's desire to push his personal and professional limits takes him, along with his cameraman sidekick "Hollywood," to global destinations known for food, culture and innovation.
During each hour-long episode of "Uncommon Grounds," Carmichael explores the culture of each country through the lens of coffee in an effort to build his business and learn more about how coffee plays a critical role in society. From Paris to Lusaka, Istanbul to Havana, Carmichael crisscrosses the globe to meet with influential personalities, chefs and experts who share his fervor for exploration and adventure. Driven by his interminable quest to find the next big thing in a highly competitive coffee industry, Carmichael combines tradition with inspiration to devise new products he can release to customers back home.
"I'm excited to combine my love of coffee and culture in my new series, 'Uncommon Grounds,'" said Carmichael. "Coffee has enriched my life in countless ways - from developing solid friendships and exploring the world to building my successful company, La Colombe."
In the series premiere, Carmichael introduces a revolutionary new device called "the Dragon" that could change the way coffee is brewed by aficionados around the world. When demand for the device skyrockets, Carmichael takes his invention to Japan in the hopes of finding a business partner that can reliably mass-produce his complex glass design. His mission takes him from the back streets of Tokyo to the rice fields of Okayama where he encounters everything from unconventional foods and nightlife to bullet trains and aikido. As one of the most notoriously eccentric places to conduct business on the planet, Carmichael has his work cut out for him in Japan to complete his cross-cultural deal.
"Uncommon Grounds" is produced by Nancy Glass Productions. For Nancy Glass Productions, the executive producers are Nancy Glass and John Yakovou. The co-executive producer is Brandon Gulish. For Travel Channel, the executive producer is Bill Howard.
ABOUT TODD CARMICHAEL:
A thrill-seeker his entire life, Carmichael ran his first ultra-marathon at the age of 20 and soon after sailed solo across the Atlantic. In 2008, he set the still-standing world record for the fastest unsupported trek to the South Pole - 39 days, seven hours and 49 minutes. In addition to being an avid adventurer, he is also an active humanitarian. Carmichael's expedition to the South Pole raised a great deal of money for Orangutan Foundation International and he worked with the Clinton Global Initiative to raise considerable funds and awareness toward a coffee university in Haiti. In addition, he's the CEO and founder of La Colombe (www.lacolombe.com), a coffee roasting company with 12 cafes in Philadelphia, New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C, with dozens more locations in the pipeline. Fueled by Carmichael's passion to push the U.S. coffee scene forward, La Colombe sits at the forefront of the ethical trade movement and regularly dabbles in untouched terrain, inventing ground-breaking new brewing devices and beverages, such as the first ever Draft Latte.
TRAVEL CHANNEL is a multiplatform travel lifestyle brand with the core mission of providing inspiring and compelling programming that takes viewers beyond their everyday destinations, making the unfamiliar familiar, whether it's around the world or around the block. A dual feed network that is also available in HD,
Travel Channel is the world's leading travel media brand, and is available in over 94 million U.S. cable homes. Owned and operated by Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI),
Travel Channel has offices in Chevy Chase, Md., and New York, N.Y. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI) also owns and operates HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network,
Cooking Channel and Great American Country.
Photo courtesy of Travel Channel
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