Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

RoR #25 : Training Up the Next Generation of Roasters w/ Steve Lee of Pocket Knife Consulting + Linea Caffe

Sep 2, 2023

Steve Lee, a seasoned coffee expert with a rich background in roasting and education, shares his insights into training the next generation of roasters. He emphasizes the need for effective mentorship and hands-on learning, discussing his personal journey from barista to roaster. The conversation dives into innovative practices at Intelligentsia and tailored teaching techniques that enhance understanding. Lee advocates for nurturing talent through open communication and continuous growth, ultimately striving to elevate the coffee industry.

47:24

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Episode guests

Steve Lee

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Creating a supportive learning environment for apprentice roasters not only enhances individual growth but also pushes the coffee industry forward.

Maintaining a balance between established roasting practices and innovative techniques fosters creativity, leading to improved quality and uniqueness in coffee.

Deep dives

Training the Next Generation of Roasters

Creating an effective learning environment for upcoming roasters is essential for the future of the coffee industry. This process involves not just teaching the technical skills of coffee roasting but also fostering a culture that encourages curiosity and exploration among apprentices. It is important for established roasters to set up mentoring frameworks where they can share their experiences while allowing new roasters to experiment and develop their own styles. By integrating hands-on experiences and promoting dialogue about roasting techniques, the next generation can learn to innovate and elevate the craft of roasting.

Intro

4min

From Barista to Roaster: A Journey Through the Coffee Industry

2min

Innovative Coffee Roasting and Collaboration in Los Angeles

3min

Crafting Coffee: The Journey of Roasting

30min

Tailored Teaching Techniques for Coffee Professionals

2min

Nurturing Talent in Coffee Roasting

6min

Effectively training up an apprentice roaster is key not only to your succession, the growth of your business, and the consistency of your quality, -but providing a great learning environment and approach to education and coaching will push the whole industry forward.

The key is to not only deliver processes, rules, and systems, but also opportunity for contribution, conversation, and room for your trainee to grow in maturity.

These are just some of the powerful things discussed in this Rate of Rise episode featuring, Steve Lee!

Steve Lee began his coffee career in 1996 as a barista at Peet’s Coffee in the San Francisco Bay Area. After spending a number of years in the Training & Education Department of Peet’s, he moved on to help open the Roasting and QC Department at Intelligentsia Coffee’s Los Angeles Roasting Works, where he developed his love for the craft of roasting. Since then he has worked on a number of consultancy projects, worked as the Director of Coffee for Groundwork and the SPC Group in Korea, worked as a green importer for Odyssey Coffees, and has served as a judge for international coffee competitions. Throughout his coffee career, the main focus has been on craftsmanship, education, and fostering relationships across the supply chain for the betterment of the coffee industry as a whole. Steve spent two terms on the Roasters Guild Executive Council where he had served as the Vice Chair to the Education Committee and Vice Chair to the Events Committee, focusing on creating content for the RG Origin Trips. Steve is currently the C.O.O. of Linea Caffe, a micro-roastery based in San Francisco, CA.

In this conversation we discuss Steve's own now 25 year journey in being trained, becoming an educator, and the way he would love to see learning take place in roasteries that can deliver the most value for both the one being trained and the roasting company itself.

Links:

https://www.pocketknifecoffee.com/

https://lineacaffe.com/

Related episodes:

RoR Live! w/ Anne Cooper

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