Issue 134: March | April 2026
From the Publisher
The founder and publisher of Roast magazine, Connie Blumhardt has spent over 25 years in magazine publishing and has worked in the coffee industry for the last 20 years. Connie brings the same passion and commitment to this industry journal that is present within the roasting community.
With each issue, Connie brings insight and inspiration to the pages of Roast with this column.
As the new year progresses, the world at large continues to defy almost any attempt at prediction. That said, I’m starting to see a few specialty coffee trends that feel worth noting. After reviewing my notes from nearly every major coffee event I’ve attended over the past few months, a handful of themes stand out.
Last year, there was a noticeable demand for more community-focused events—perhaps still part of a post-covid rebound. In addition to the traditional trade show circuit, new community events launched, including the Level Up event in Minneapolis and our own Roast Summit series expanding from Portland to Chicago and Melbourne, Australia. This year appears to be continuing that momentum. For example, Barista Magazine has announced a new event, Camp Coffee Shop. Alongside in-person gatherings, there’s also growing interest in online communities. For something on the lighter side, check out the US Mystery Coffee League at us.mystery.coffee.
Roasters are increasingly spotlighting varieties that were once considered niche, including Sidra, Wush Wush, and Eugenioides. Is this growing search for distinctive coffees being driven by consumers who are becoming more educated and willing to broaden their expectations of coffee flavor?
At World of Coffee Dubai, there was an abundance of shop roaster manufacturers—such as IRM, RC Tech, Yoshan, HB Roaster, and Kuban Coffee Roasters—targeting smaller production lots. Given the location of the show, it wasn’t entirely surprising that some of these brands were unfamiliar to me. What stood out, however, was the sheer number of manufacturers from China, other parts of Asia, and Europe. This feels like an indication of growing demand in these regions, as well as a broader shift toward in-country and in-region manufacturing.
Finally, with a heavy heart, I want to pay respect to an industry legend, Bill Kennedy of San Franciscan Roaster. Bill passed away in December of last year. A friendly face at every trade event, Bill was a passionate supporter of the coffee roasting community and a friend to everyone he met. You can see his warm smile on page 94 of this issue. He will be dearly missed.
Warmest Wishes,
Connie
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