Issue 136: July | August 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.
THE ONE WITH A DUMPSTER FIRE
If you’re a fan of the sitcom “Friends,” you know every episode title starts with “The One ...” We just wrapped up Roast Summit Chicago, and it will forever be remembered as “The One With a Dumpster Fire.” Don’t worry, the event itself was fantastic, but there was an actual, literal dumpster ablaze. I’ll get to that story in a minute!
A few times each year, we have the privilege of gathering this community to learn from expert speakers and from each other. Before the most recent Summit began, our events manager, Stacy Woods, asked if I ever get emotional at these gatherings. I confidently told her no. Yet, as I stood there during the closing remarks, it hit me just how wrong I was. There is something profoundly meaningful about watching roasters and industry peers connect. The greatest perk of my job is to get to know the remarkable people in the coffee world. Beyond the education, it’s really about building lasting friendships. Coffee people are just incredibly cool, and there is nowhere I’d rather be than in a room full of them.
And clearly, I’m not alone. I was moved to see this social media post from Trêve Coffee Lab, capturing the magic of the event perfectly:
Roast Summit was an absolute masterpiece.
Our founder and head roaster, Jeet, had the opportunity to spend time with some incredible people from across the coffee industry—sharing stories, exchanging ideas, learning from world-class speakers, roasting coffee, and building friendships that will last far beyond the event itself. From insightful seminars and hands-on roasting sessions to countless conversations over great coffee, every moment was a reminder of what makes this industry so special: the people behind it.
We’re returning home inspired, energized, and full of new ideas for the future of Trêve. To everyone we met along the way—thank you for making it unforgettable.
Here’s to great coffee, lifelong learning, and the community that brings it all together.
Now, back to the dumpster fire. Yes, we had an actual fire at Roast Summit—but thankfully, it wasn’t inside a coffee roaster! The culprit was likely an abandoned catering fuel canister. (Note to self: Those little Sterno cans stay hot for hours even if you’ve doused them in water.) Fortunately, we had a room packed with folks who are highly qualified to wield a fire extinguisher. The blaze was quickly handled, though we still called the fire department just to be sure.
Thank you to the incredible Roast magazine team for executing the event so seamlessly. I’m grateful every day to work together as we support the coffee industry and the people in it.
Warmest wishes,
Connie
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