Roast Summit 2025 | Speakers & Sessions
Speakers
Sessions
Confirmed sessions are listed below. Please check back for updates and additional session descriptions.
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Presented by Christopher Hendon
In 2024, Chris Hendon and his graduate student, Doran Pennington, began documenting their scientific readings in a podcast, Coffee Literature Review. There are plenty of scientific articles published every month on coffee, but which ones move the needle? This seminar explores recent literature on topics ranging from agriculture to economics, chemistry to café operation.
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Presented by Karl Schmidt
Newcomers to the coffee Industry increasingly turn to electric roasters to meet sustainability goals in response to rising energy costs and the perceived lower barriers to entry and installation cost.
While electric roasters may seem like an attractive choice because of their simplicity and ease of setup, this presentation will highlight the significant challenges and considerations that often accompany this decision.
The presentation will address the complexities and challenges of transitioning to electric coffee roasting systems, particularly within the framework of the global push toward Net-Zero by 2030
Key points will include the complexities of preparing for electric roasting, such as ensuring adequate power supply and infrastructure. Attendees will learn about the limitations imposed by local power availability and the need to coordinate with power companies to support the energy demands of electric roasters.
It will emphasize that while electric roasters may initially appear straightforward, the process of setting up a new coffee shop requires thorough preparation and an understanding of both the technical and regulatory challenges involved.
The goal is to provide a realistic view of what it takes to successfully enter the specialty roasting market with an electric roaster, moving beyond surface-level appeal to ensure a well-informed and strategic approach. -
Presented by Rob Hoos
The session goal is not only to make a case for how dark roasted coffees can be great, but to also showcase how to modulate the flavor of dark roasted coffee to craft the kind of coffee you want!
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Presented by Kenzel Fallen
In specialty coffee, we pride ourselves on the craft—the detail, the sourcing, the profile. But what often gets lost in the pursuit of quality is the business itself. This session focuses on the financial truths behind roasting and what it takes to operate a profit-driven roastery. How much does it cost to produce a pound? What are the mindsets that hold roasters back? What opportunities do we miss when we follow RoR (rate of rise) more closely than another important RoR—rate of return?
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Led by Rob Hoos
This hands-on session invites you to taste through a curated set of dark roasted coffees, each crafted to highlight different aspects of flavor development, texture, and balance. Through guided tasting and discussion, you’ll sharpen your sensory skills and gain a deeper understanding of how roast decisions impact the final cup—and how to shape dark roasts to suit your own preferences or goals.
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Join us for a unique side-by-side comparison of electric and gas coffee roasters of the same make and model. In this session, we’ll explore the differences in roasting theory and practice between the two heat sources, focusing on how each system influences roast control and cup outcome. The session will feature a live, simultaneous roast demonstration on both machines. As they work to match profiles, Mike and James will walk participants through key considerations in managing heat and airflow, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities each system presents. Expect real-time insights, interactive discussion, and a chance to experience firsthand how different energy sources can influence your roasting approach.
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