Hello to anyone who has any reserve about this class. Have no fear Bryant is here.. and also Mr. Steve …. But mostly Bryant!!! This class was so informative and educational. I went from being the equivalent of a blind man to being able to roast in 3 days. I would recommend this class to anyone and everyone. Whether you are wanting to start roasting or just wanting to learn. Jet coffee is eternally greatfull to Mill City for all the care and attention you put into everyday. I can’t wait to do the next class.
My wife and I just attended the roasting 101 class. We own other businesses but starting a new venture in the coffee roasting market. If you are thinking about signing up I would highly recommend this class for someone new, or if you have been in the coffee roasting business for any period of time. I don't think you'll find anyone sharper than Bryant when it comes to specialty coffee and how to make a premium product. Steve's knowledge and advice about making your brand and business successful (or what will make it not successful) was nothing short of priceless. After going through the 3 day training, I would honestly say the training is the best investment we have made this far and it should way more expensive. Mill City definitely has it together.
Amazing experience being taught the industry skills to have understanding from the top of the line of roasters and wonderful people too!
Es un equipo de mesa, no está a la alcance para emprendedores, demasiado alto su valor,
This course exceeded my expectations! It was recommended to my husband and me by another person in the coffee roasting industry. He gave it high praise and he was not wrong. We are new to roasting and currently have the Aillio Bullet R2 1kg roaster (electric). We weren't sure how the knowledge would translate from their larger scale, gas roasters. We learned the science is the same regardless of what you're roasting on. And, you really have to get to know YOUR roaster. Every roaster is going to roast a little bit different.
Bryant and Lauren are incredible educators! They are so dynamic in their teaching styles. They're able to communicate and educated to whatever level you are at. They patiently answered all of our questions and we truly learned so much. We are incredibly thankful for the opportunity and for everything we learned. I can't recommend this course enough! If you're new to roasting or if you've been thinking about getting into roasting/starting a business, this class is definitely for you.
Love it! Great quality :)
Lauren and Bryant are as kind as they are knowledgeable. We have been operating for a while and still learned a ton at this class while having a great time. I'd recommend it to anyone.
As a small business owner, I always weigh the true cost of professional development—not just the tuition, but the lost time and operational stress of being away from my shop. I can confidently assure you that Roasting 201 is worth every penny and minute.
If you took Roasting 101, you already know how knowledgeable and approachable Lauren and Bryant are. Roasting 201 builds on that foundation. The class was smaller, highly collaborative, and packed with hands-on practice. The deep dive into sensory skill building was exceptionally valuable. Thank you!
The Roasting 101 class was an amazing deep dive into building out your foundation as a coffee roaster. Weather new to the industry as a whole or a long time professional building up your knowledge pool. There is information here for everyone. Both Lauren and Bryant are amazing instructors and really know how to meet people where they are at in the journey.
I cannot think of enough words to describe how incredible Mill City Roasters was as an educational resource. My business partner and I are beginning to plan our roasting business and after taking their roasting 101 class we both feel both more prepared and more excited than ever to begin roasting.
Our instructors, Lauren and Bryant, were excellent teachers who explained the foundations in ways that were accessible and digestible. They took time to answer the questions we had thoughtfully and they really made us feel like part of their team.
I am very new to coffee and my business partner has been working in coffee for roughly 20 years and even has solid roasting experience but both of us got so much out of this class.
Even more wonderful than the knowledge itself was just how fun it was. Lauren and Bryant helped to foster an environment where everyone in the class (all 15 of us who came from all across the country with different levels of experience and ambitions) was laughing together while learning together. It was a really remarkable few days that I won't soon forget and will remember fondly and vividly.
Thank you to Lauren and Bryant and everyone else at Mill City Roasters.
I can't recommend this class enough! Bryant, Lauren, Steve and Angie have a wealth of information from years and years in the industry. I've owned cafes for a little over 4 years and I'm planning to start roasting this year. In this class I learned a lot not just about roasting coffee, but a lot about starting a roasting business and I had a great time networking with other coffee professionals. I feel 100x more confident in my ability to operate a coffee roasting program and I've made connections that I know will be valuable throughout my career. If you are considering signing up for this class, do yourself a favor and go for it. This is truly one of the best investments I've made in myself and my business.
The coffee roasting workshop at Millcity was easily one of the best experiences I’ve had as a coffee enthusiast! Whether you are a total beginner or an aspiring roaster, this workshop is an absolute must.
The instructors were incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, and patient, breaking down the art and science of roasting into manageable, engaging, and hands-on steps. I learned so much about the journey of the bean, from green to cup, and came away with a clear understanding of complex concepts like heat management and the "first crack."
Lauren, Bryan and everyone at mill city is professional, creative, enthusiastic and passionate about coffee. They are a joy to be around and i learned a lot from the class. Will be looking forward to seeing them again:)
If you are considering whether this service is worth it, the answer is without hesitation YES!!! Even with our own design experience in building out our entire coffee shop ourselves, when it came to building out the roast room and green staging room, we are so incredibly grateful we used this service. We didn't know what we didn't know, and had we moved forward with our original plans, we would have ended up with major regrets and annoyances that were completely avoided by working with Angie. She has an unmatched wealth of experience in both the design world and roasting world, so in combination she truly provides the perfect perspective needed in the decision making process. Her schematics made planning the space so much easier, she asked questions and provided insights and options based on what she gathered and learned about us and our business, and she is simply a gem to work with.
Moving forward, if we have any additional expansion or new building plans, there is no doubt in my mind we’ll be using this service again. It is BEYOND worth the financial expense, I can promise you that!
All three of our management team members came to take the roasting 101 class and each of us left incredibly thankful that we did! It is a significant financial and time investment but it is absolutely worth it! Lauren and Bryant are wonderful teachers! Every part of the class is intentionally thought through and overseen by them. They walk you through everything from coffee origin to processing to importing to cupping then of course roasting. Lauren is a wealth of knowledge and she will instill great confidence in your professional development throughout the class. If you're concerned about the one on one time while roasting, don't be! Bryant is incredibly hands on and coaches you on each machine each day. By the end of class you will be confident that you are able to drive a roast profile. The class also covers various business topics from marketing to building design to state regulations. The CEO Steve and VP Angie take time to teach and answer questions for all students as well!
We also were truly grateful for all of Mill City Roasting's wonderful hospitality throughout the entire experience! Plus who doesn't love a shop dog to greet you everyday?!
I walked into the Roasting 101 workshop having never roasted a day in my life, while some of my classmates already ran their own businesses. Yet, the experience was exceptional for everyone. Despite only knowing what I’d seen on YouTube, I never felt out of place.
The instructors, Lauren and Bryant, were incredible—they taught the art of roasting, cupping, and sensory training with hands-on guidance that left me feeling both challenged and empowered. Angie provided straightforward, invaluable advice on roastery business design and regulations, and Steve’s passion and wisdom were truly magnetic.
I left class after every day reflecting on how everyone was so genuinely kind. It was honestly one of the best workshops I’ve ever taken. Whether you've been roasting for a while, or a total beginner, take this workshop!
This was one of the best classes I've been able to take part in over my professional career. Lauren and Bryant do a fantastic job on delivering the course and helping students truly understand the basics of roasting coffee. Every part of the day is strategically planned out and you are learning from the best in the business. This class is well worth the money and I would do it all over again.
I've been home roasting for over ten years with a Behmor 1600. Daily, I include about 20% caffeinated beans with the Columbian Huila decaf. Everyday, the taste is consistent and is great. I intend to continue to buy these decaf beans as long as they are available.
Of note, I use a Wolf Gourmet Coffee System (WGCM100S - the machine is still sold at Sanoma Williams under a different name). The brewer weighs the grounds, which ensures that the coffee is the same every day.
We love our Industrial Roaster from Mill City. It is easy to use, roasts consistently, and cools batches incredibly quick. I could go on and on of all the features we love about this machine. But, none of them compare to the team behind it. The Tech Support, Master Roasters, and Coffee Education team is the real reason to what separates Mill City Roasters, from all the others like Probat, Joper, Loring. Their attention to detail and willingness to adapt with you on the fly, is far beyond what most businesses will ever offer. To be the best, you have to do what no one else is willing to do and go the extra mile. And, let me tell you Mill City has done that. We will not buy any other roaster for that reason.
I learned so much from this class! From the fundamentals of different greens to machine roasting and "cupping" & reviewing the beans that you roasted. We got to 'play' on the different size machines in groups and figure out how to best get the results (light, med, dark) that we wanted.
Lauren and Bryant had so much information to share with us during the roasting/cupping sessions, Angie knew everything about everything else, and Steve had amazing insight on the working world.
10/10. My co-workers and I work on a Mill City Roaster so when ee got back home we had a grand time putting thr knowledge we learned into making even better beans ❣️
This class is an excellent investment as a beginner in roasting, cupping and all things coffee roasting business. They cover everything you might need to know to get started in roasting. The entire experience is well rounded and thoughtful. Lauren, Bryant, Steve and Angie were all incredible teachers and so helpful with all questions. There’s nothing like hands on learning and this class delivers in spades. Visiting Cafe Imports and Mill City’s manufacturing facility really help give a rounded sense of what goes into making excellent coffee in this industry. Thanks again to everyone at Mill City for an excellent experience.
Great experience! I’ve been roasting commercially for about six months and wasn’t sure if Roasting 101 would be right for me—but it exceeded expectations. The class validated what I was already doing while still offering so much new insight. The exercises were thoughtful and confidence-building, and I truly feel more equipped to roast any coffee on my own. Lauren and Bryant were patient, kind, and incredibly knowledgeable. Highly recommend!
If you are reading reviews to decide whether the Roasting 101 class is worth it, IT IS!! The wealth of knowledge you'll walk away with far exceeds the financial currency it takes to register. Regardless of whether you are brand new to roasting or have years of experience and looking to scale, this class is beneficial and worth your time and investment.
Lauren and Bryant led the class and were absolutely fantastic. They not only have the knowledge and experience to back up what they are teaching, they have an incredible amount of patience and adaptability to ensure the experience met the needs of everyone in class. They provided a fantastic balance of educational materials/resources with hands-on training and kept an intuitive sense of learning styles and what we needed to be at our best throughout the day.
The intermittent involvement of Steve and Angie were an incredible addition to the experience and offered an even broader scope of knowledge to walk away with. As we began looking to scale and purchase a bigger roaster, a good friend in the coffee world recommended Steve/Mill City Roasters because of the rare combination where high quality equipment (now entirely produced at MCR) meets high quality customer service - our friend was SPOT ON!
We highly recommend this class and also look forward to pursuing our future growth in partnership with Mill City Roasters.
There’s really no place like. From manufacturing to roasting, cupping and education- MCR is offering it all. The entire team was patient, information was given comprehensively and everyone was such a pleasure. I’ll be expanding my roasting operations and MCR was exactly who I needed to move forward. I’ve currently got a 2kg roaster and can’t wait to upgrade to the new M-Series made at the place. I highly recommend anyone who loves coffee to take this class.
If you're looking to get a start in coffee roasting or you're looking to refine your skills, this is a great class! One thing that I was pleasantly surprised by: even though Mill City builds and sells coffee roasting equipment, this isn't a three day sales pitch. You learn genuine skills that can be applied to any equipment. 10/10 would recommend.