Join us for a 2-day Intro to Roasting Class at Bay Area CoRoasters (CoRo)

Thursday, August 3 – 9am-2pm

Friday, August 4 – 9am-12pm 

Sign Up Here!

Intro to Coffee Roasting offers a comprehensive introduction to the craft of roasting. Over the course of two days, students will be exposed to crucial concepts that will shape their experience and provide the tools to practice both sample and production roasting safely and successfully. The class includes multiple tastings of the work performed as well as plenty of hands-on roasting time. (Co-taught by Jen Apodaca & Chris Kornman.) Core subjects covered will include:

  • Sample Roasting & Production Roasting Basics
  • Roaster Safety
  • Familiarization with Equipment
  • Roast Profiling
  • Cupping & Evaluation of Roast Success
  • Introductions to Coffee Origins

About the Instructors

Jen Apodaca, Director of Roasting, Royal Coffee, Inc.: 

Jen started roasting coffee in 2005 for McMenamins Inc. in Portland, Oregon. She has roasted coffee for Ecco Caffe, Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, and Blue Bottle Coffee. She is now the Director of Roasting for The Crown: Royal Coffee Lab & Tasting Room. She has experience on several styles of roasting machines and is dedicated to the craft of making coffee more delicious. She serves on the SCAA’s Roaster’s Guild Executive Council, is a certified Q-Grader, is the Chair Emeritus of the Coffee Committee of the Good Food Awards and has been an international juror for the Cup of Excellence.

Chris Kornman, Education and Lab Manager, Royal Coffee, Inc.:

Chris is a seasoned coffee quality specialist with a decade of experience working at Intelligentsia under Geoff Watts as a cupper, educator, green coffee buyer, and roaster. Chris logged thousands of miles across the coffee lands in East Africa and Brazil, though lately his focus has been developing educational curriculum and written media for The Crown: Royal Coffee Lab & Tasting Room. His passion for coffee and education has led him to speaking opportunities at Anacafé in Guatemala City, Roasters Guild Sensory Summit at UC Davis, and a position on the newly formed SCA Research Council. Chris rides a 1986 Schwinn Prelude, plays banjo and trumpet, and always carries a Frisbee – just in case.

About the Host Venue

Bay Area CoRoasters provides the tools, training, and space needed to roast, package, and source coffee in a collaborative and community space. They are passionate about connecting the coffee community with the people, equipment, and resources they need to roast great coffee. Their diverse membership includes commercial roasters with established reputations, roasters dedicated to developing new brands in this changing coffee landscape, home roasters passionate about honing their skills, and coffee enthusiasts.