Guelph, Ont. man gains millions of YouTube views by helping people work espresso machines
If you’ve ever had a tough time figuring out an espresso machine, a Guelph, Ont. man has you covered.
Matt Stiver is an engineer and fell in love with coffee as a student at the University of Guelph.
“Coffee is as nuanced as wine, if not more nuanced, in the processing methods, the origins,” said Stiver.
He became a coffee connoisseur and bought an espresso machine.
Stiver quickly ran into a problem – how to work it.
“There was no one to teach me about it,” he said.
Stuck with the complicated contraption, and knowing others were in the same boat, he decided to fill the gaps after not being able to find helpful espresso-related videos.
So he began making videos showing people how the machines work and which ones to buy.
“I try to help people essentially make the correct buying decisions when venturing into the deep and scary ocean that is at-home coffee,” said Stiver.
He began putting more effort into his YouTube channel, Lifestyle Lab, over the last few years while juggling his full-time day job.
“I often joke that I work 9 to 5 as an engineer and then 5 to 9 as a content creator,” he said. “It really is the truth.”
He says he doesn’t pretend to be an expert.
“I really lean on my skills as an engineer, breaking things down, both technically doing physical product reviews, and then teaching it back in an easy-to-digest way,” Stiver said.
Coffee connoisseur, Matt Stiver, takes a sip of an espresso he made in his studio. (CTV News/Spencer Turcotte)
Brands have started sending him products to review. He travels the world for it and he has nearly 23 million video views to go along with his 85,000 subscribers.
He says it speaks to the demand for content like this.
“Anybody can go to a shop and look at one, but to see two [espresso machines] working side-by-side, that’s part of the value of the internet. You can compare in a really easy way,” said Stiver.
As his audience has grown, so has his at-home studio.
It has moved from the living room of his apartment to one of the bedrooms. But considering he’s making money from his videos, the investment is worth it.
“A person that stands in front of the camera and talks to millions of people on the internet about coffee is definitely not something I expected at all,” said Stiver. “It’s probably one of the largest accomplishments in my life.”
One day, he may have to choose between his current career and coffee content. But for now, he feels there is space for both – staying confident and caffeinated.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lanny McDonald and a few old Flames take the Stanley Cup on a surprise visit to the man who saved his life
The Stanley Cup was passing through town Friday, and Lanny Legend took it upon himself to take it for a surprise visit.
Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting
A brief break during Wednesday's city council meeting in Saskatoon nearly cost the city dearly.
Chad Daybell sentenced to death for killing wife and girlfriend’s two children in jury decision
Jurors resumed deliberations Saturday on whether a man should be sentenced to death after being convicted days earlier of the murders of his wife and his girlfriend’s two youngest children in Idaho.
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Father who killed one-year-old son with axe may be allowed to travel in southwestern Ontario
A Mennonite father who killed his one-year-old son with an axe may be allowed to travel to parts of southern Ontario in the coming months
'It feels like freedom': Why some Albertans like going nude in nature
Few people can say they accidentally purchased a nude beach — but Shelley can. When she saw a piece of land she could fondly remember camping on was up for sale, she inquired about it and ended up purchasing it. She soon found that there were already inhabitants on it.
This Calgary home has a giant tree in the middle, and it's for sale
There's a luxury 'tree home' for sale in Calgary.
China lands spacecraft on the moon amid growing space rivalry with U.S.
A Chinese spacecraft landed on the far side of the moon Sunday to collect soil and rock samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.
Pedestrian dies after being hit by train in Brockville, Ont.
Brockville Police says a pedestrian has died following a collision with a train that was heading to Toronto.