Coffee industry veterans Sandra Loofbourow and Rachel Apple are launching a comprehensive six-week virtual education series titled “Roastery Operations Masterclass” starting October 8, 2024. Fresh Cup is a media partner of this series.
The program, born from a successful workshop at the 2024 SCA Expo, aims to provide essential insights and practical tools for coffee professionals looking to enhance their roastery operations.
Why It Matters: Roastery operators often find themselves navigating complex and evolving challenges with limited support and resources. This educational series aims to help roasting companies make their roasting operation run smoothly and more effectively—the classes will help folks thrive in today’s challenging market and offers a unique opportunity for professionals at all levels to gain valuable knowledge and gain skills that are immediately applicable.
“Running and operating a business is scary, but it’s not a mystery,” Loofbourow said. “No problem under the sun is unique, and there are proven best practices that we want everyone to have access to tackle those issues when they arise. Or even better, prevent them from ever happening in the first place.”
The series consists of six weekly sessions, each focusing on a crucial aspect of roastery operations:
- Green Buying Fundamentals: The Basics (October 8)
- Green Buying Fundamentals: Advanced (October 15)
- Roastery Operations: Coffee Lifecycle (October 22)
- Inventory & Forecasting (October 29)
- Quality Control Strategies (November 12)
- Production Floor Efficiencies (November 19)
Each class will take place on Tuesday afternoons at 3 p.m. PST / 6 p.m. EST. Participants can sign up for individual sessions at $49 each or commit to the full series for $249.
The Full Extraction: Loofbourow, a certified Q Arabica Instructor, and Apple, a coffee consultant and international competition judge, joined forces to bring their collective experience and insights to this roastery series.
Although folks are encouraged to sign up for all six classes, the duo specifically designed the series for classes to work on their own. “We decided to structure the class in a choose-your-own-adventure style,” Loofbourow said. “Hop on for the whole ride, or cherry-pick the class that’s most relevant to your current needs or growth areas.”
Whether you’re a startup roaster, an established company training new hires, or a seasoned professional looking to refine your strategies, Loofbourow says the series will provide valuable insights and practical tools to elevate your roastery game. Each session will include a free downloadable resource related to that week’s topic, with additional educational materials available for purchase.
“We hope to provide students with a roadmap of successful roastery ops that allows them to plan ahead, tackle problems head on, and build systems that support the entire team and allows the company to continue growing,” Loofbourow said.
Classes start October 8. For more information and to register, visit the series website.
