Chuck Korson’s quest to craft the best possible cup of coffee began in, perhaps, a not-unexpected place. He was working at Morsels, a petite coffee shop in Traverse City known for its bite-sized baked goods, espresso, and brew-to-order coffee.

Among those of us who rely on coffee as six so-what ounces of high-octane necessity, the intricacies of what ultimately goes into the making of your morning cup is hardly meaningful; it’s little more than a liquid vehicle for quickly and painlessly transporting caffeine into your veins.

But for those whose devotion to coffee’s design has become a lifelong experiment you never tire of refining (or tasting), that morning cup can be a kind of map, and its contents’ journey from tree to mug an obsession.

Korson was (and remains) one of the obsessed. And while his laboratory, so to speak, has evolved over the years, from the counter inside Morsels to his own garage to his own full-service coffee shop to, most recently, his own roastery and tasting room — Korson’s dedication to the craft of creating an extraordinary cup of coffee remains.

In this week's Northern Express, sister publication of The Ticker, read more about Korson's connections to all things coffee, including hosting guided, hands-on classes for both the coffee obsessed and coffee curious inside his Fortunate Coffee roastery and tasting room in downtown Traverse City. The Northern Express is available to read online, or pick up a free copy at one of nearly 700 newsstand spots in 14 counties across northern Michigan.