Lauren and Bryant are very professional and have so much knowledge, it was a great class no feel we are a step ahead of our competition by coming and learning from them. Everything was top notch and the equipment was top of the line yet easy to use. A class well worth taking!

The 101 class was great. This was my first time using a roaster and by the end I felt 90% more comfortable and knowledgeable on where to begin. And the same thing for sensory exercises, they taught us a great foundation on where to start in that process as well and everything in between was equally great. I’m looking forward to their advanced class in the future. Lauren, Bryant, Angie, and Steve all gave a fun, and knowledgeable experience! Thank You!

This Roasting 101 class was a ton of fun and incredibly informative. Lauren and Bryant are excellent people with loads of knowledge they are eager to pass along.
The hands-on, interactive style of instruction strikes a good balance of guided instruction with student independence. There was little wasted time. The topics were broad enough to cover issues relevant to new roaster start-ups while being sufficiently granular to start someone in the right direction.
An unexpected aspect of the class was how fun it was learning alongside others who were just as enthusiastic about coffee. I am still sharing and receiving notes and ideas with those who attended the class. I am excited to see how we all apply what we learned.

Attended this class in Aug'25. Really enjoyed it. This is the 3rd class with Mill City and have always walked away with new useful information. During this class it was fun to try roasting with are flow at high or low settings to see what happens. Talking with Bryant and Lauren is always nice and informative!

First of all I'd like to thank Lauren, and Bryant, for presenting such a great course; it was comprehensive, interactive, and very easy to take in.

Being able to take roasting theory, and then apply it using roasters of various sizes, and beans of varied origins, was exactly the kind of experience I needed as someone wholly new to roasting in practice. Tying in origin, production methods, cupping, and color grading rounded everything out to give me a clear overview of the process from A to Z. And as someone with a background in big data, I can't express how excited I am about the features RoastPath has to offer a new roaster.

The inclusion of Angie, the resident "how to navigate starting a roastery" expert, was a blessing. Production space architecture, legal hurdles, health codes, tax implications; you name it, she knows it.

The opportunity to not only have Josh, from Cafe Imports, in class, but to also get a tour of their warehouse presented us with another valuable resource. An importer that wants to build long term relationships with specialty roasters, and connect them with just the right producers. That they have ongoing relationships with producers that invest in their local economy, and have turned to more eco-conscious farming methods, is something I had hoped to see from an importer.

Having Steve pop in to discuss not only roasting, but also to give us the moral support that only seasoned business owner who knows their industry can give, was invaluable.

Everyone at Mill City wants you to succeed in this industry, and this course is only one of the many tools they can provide you with.

I look forward to getting back in touch with everyone over the next couple of months as I go down this new path, and I'll certainly be keeping an eye on the class schedule for more opportunities to learn from them.

I have been roasting coffee and running retail coffee shops for many years, but decided to take the 101 course to get current with the state of the industry. I was pleasantly surprised at how much good information I received in such a short amount of time. The folks at Mill City excel at the science of roasting coffee, and their focus on education is a service to coffee professionals and the industry overall. But it's not just roasting! They cover the essentials of starting and running a coffee roasting business, which is so valuable. If you are just starting out, this course could save you MANY future headaches, and establish Mill City as valuable allies in your efforts. I'm looking forward to implementing what I learned, thank you so much to Steve, Angie, Lauren and Bryant. Congratulations on your excellent operation!

Being completely new to the coffee roasting community, Roasting 101 really helped me develop a much better understanding on what it takes to start a business, how coffee roasting works and how to achieve your desired result. It also taught me how exactly to taste and differentiate between a variety of coffees. Overall it was an enjoyable experience where I learned a lot about the coffee world, and would definitely recommend if you are thinking of taking the class.

I had the opportunity to take Roasting 101 at Mill City this July and I can't say enough positive things.

Lauren and Bryant do an amazing job of teaching and coaching. They bring a level of commitment and energy to the classroom that make this an exceptional course. Content is tailored to the class, they coach just enough to keep you on track while letting you learn, and the entire team freely shares from their many years of combined experience.

An aspect of the class that I didn't expect was essentially a short-course in small business. Angie provided insightful and pragmatic advice that was really helpful in thinking through building you business. She is a key resource, breaking the process of starting a roastary into clear steps and highlighting pitfalls.

I tend to be wary of rave reviews but this course deserves it. Steve's culture of excellence really shows and the team comes together in a way that is rare to find.

Thanks guys!

Recently, I had the pleasure of flying to Minneapolis for the Roasting 101 class at Mill City Roasters. I had strong expectations coming into this course, and I am delighted to say that the team at Mill City surpassed them all.

First and foremost, the staff is top notch. They bring a depth of experience, professionalism and fun together in a class that shares critical knowledge and business minded perspective for anyone working in the coffee space. Believe me when I tell you that this class will greatly aid you and your staff as you endeavor to craft and deliver beautiful coffees to your customers. Worth every penny.

For myself, working as a rookie coffee roaster, I left feeling equipped to tackle the challenges of new greens, roasting, cupping, blending and selling. I cannot wait to sign up for the Advanced Roasting Workshop!

This shirt is amazingly comfortable and fits perfectly!

I attended the June Roasting 101 class. It was a well-organized, professional, and fun experience.

Lauren and Bryant did an amazing job teaching and guiding us while keeping it approachable and providing a lot of individual attention to all the participants. The guided cupping and sensory work really helped connect the concepts to the coffee itself. Steve opened each day with solid business insights and some broader perspective, which set the tone in a good way. Angie shared practical advice on setting up your roasting space—things you probably wouldn’t think about until they cause problems. It was cool watching Sam at work in the production side of things.

The tour of Café Imports was another highlight. Seeing their operation first hand gave a better understanding of sourcing and green coffee selection, and just what goes into getting coffee from the farm to the roaster.

I also really enjoyed meeting and getting to know coffee lovers from all across the country! There is a lot of value in making connections.

If you are looking for a comprehensive roasting course, whatever your experience, this is it!

I first found them through their YouTube channel and immediately got the sense that they weren’t just selling roasters, they were building up a community. The way they share knowledge, bring personality into everything they do, and make the craft feel accessible really stood out.

Getting to take a class with them brought all of that to life. They truly are people who genuinely care about coffee and care about helping others succeed with it.

Steve, thanks for the warm welcome and for sharing both your space and your perspective. Hearing about the road you’ve traveled and seeing what you’ve built was super inspiring.
Angie, I really appreciated your insight on space planning, it gave me a lot to think about as I map out my own setup.
Lauren and Bryant, you struck that perfect balance of keeping things fun while still packing in so much value. I hope we cross paths again!

This wasn’t just a coffee class. It was a reminder of why I fell in love with roasting in the first place. I left feeling more confident, more connected, and honestly just more excited to keep going.

Huge thanks to the whole team for making it such a great experience. You’re doing something really meaningful, and I’m grateful to have been a small part of it.

If you want to take your roasting to the next level Mill City’s advanced roasting class is a great way to do just that! The teachers are very engaging and informative but some of the real gold comes from just rubbing elbows with other experienced roasters in class.
This class was just what I needed to feed my curiosity and equip me to keep pushing.

If you want to take your roasting to the next level Mill City’s advanced roasting class is a great way to do just that! The teachers are very engaging and informative but some of the real gold comes from just rubbing elbows with other experienced roasters in class.
This class was just what I needed to feed my curiosity and equip me to keep pushing.

If you have been hesitating to take the Mill City Roasting 101 Workshop because you are not a coffee professional, think again. I am a home roaster with very little experience and I attended their workshop in March. OH MY GOSH!

There was so much valuable information and hands-on experience. We roasted (a lot!) on four different machines. We learned how to properly cup coffee and how to taste it as it relates to roasting profiles. We learned how to inspect green coffee beans and toured the green coffee bean importer’s warehouse. There were sessions geared to professionals for creating a roasting space and building a business (ideas I can implement in my home cottage business). In short, my brain was fried at the end of each day with information overload – and it was fabulous!

I estimate that out of the approximately 20 people attending the workshop, 70% of the people were associated with the coffee “biz”: baristas, coffee shop owners, roasters. But there were people like myself who just wanted to learn more about coffee and roasting. The staff was equally attentive to the novices as they were to the professionals. I doubt that Lauren has ever been asked a stupid question - all questions are pertinent. Bryant, a master roaster, answered my questions about roasting on a home Hottop machine as if I was roasting on the massive 6kg machine in their fabulous facility. Angie and Steve offered valuable insights to those who were in the coffee business or hoped to be. And Lauren’s dog, Patty, was always there for support!

If you are a novice, do not hesitate to attend the workshop. If you aren’t a coffee professional you will still gain useful information that will help you in your quest for that perfect cup of coffee. You will network with other students who will feed your enthusiasm and share your excitement to be learning from the best! Do it!

I had almost no experience roasting before taking this course. I’ve been screwing around in my kitchen with a popcorn popper and my oven. After the 3.5 days with the Mill City team, I feel exponentially more prepared to roast. Beyond using some really cool machinery in a beautiful space, there are fundamental building blocks in this course you can’t learn from a book or YouTube video. The team has some great ideas beyond the actual roasting process extending into business, people, staffing, importing, cupping, tasting, menu development and more. You will also link with some incredibly cool people who love coffee. I left the course energized in a way I haven’t felt in some time.

This is our second Mill City Roaster. We started with a 3 kg; then we upgraded to the 30 kg. Surprisingly, the 30kg machine is just as easy to control as the smaller roasters. It requires high pressure gas and industrial power, and it is well built. We chose Mill City because they provide more advanced features per dollar over other roasters. The variable speed controllers for drum speed and airflow, along with the gas control valve, makes it easy to control all parameters of the roasting profile. The industrial grade PLC provides automation of the between batch protocol and assistance with functions such as charging and discharging into the cooling tray. Roast replay has been a great tool to maintain consistency and improve efficiency. Loading and destoning 30kg of beans takes a little time. With roast replay, you can continue to roast while destoning and prepping the next batch of greens. You don't have to worry about missing a fuel or gas adjustment, you can simply monitor the trends on Roast Path and intervene if needed. And finally, the Mill City support team is amazing! Any time you have a question, they pick up the phone and are able to help. They really understand their machines and are truly craft roasters themselves. They can help you with machinery and your roasting.

The Roasting 101 class is a high-quality experience. The class setting is very professional, everything is explained very clearly, and no time is wasted during the four days you spend there. If you are new to the world of coffee roasting, the class includes videos to watch in advance to help you attend with confidence. The lecture portions and activities are deeply engaging, making the learning process both enjoyable and informative.
Thank you so much! You are an awesome team!

I could not recommend this course enough to anyone interested in coffee or pursuing coffee roasting as a business. The approach to teaching is diverse and extremely approachable. I loved the way that they structured the classes and provided us with several professional perspectives in key components of starting your own business or the technical side of roasting.
I honestly feel like the price they are asking for is a steal and advise anyone to hop on this while they can!
10/10 and am thankful I was able to attend that week in January! Thank you for the knowledge and inspiration!

Even though we haven’t taken delivery of our new 20kg Mill City Roaster yet, the experience so far has been absolutely stellar. Angie and the entire team have gone above and beyond to help us plan our space and ensure every detail is set up for success. They’ve been more like trusted partners than just a manufacturer—offering guidance on layout, answering endless questions, and helping us envision how our roastery will operate once everything’s in place.

We recently flew out to Minnesota for a class at Mill City, and Angie took the time to walk us through the roaster’s setup in person. Her step-by-step explanations and practical insights gave us the confidence we need as we look forward to our roaster’s arrival. We can’t wait to get this 20kg machine installed, seasoned, and turning out some amazing coffee for our customers. If you’re in the market for a commercial roaster, we couldn’t recommend Mill City enough!

We recently attended Mill City Roasters’ Roasting 101 class, and it surpassed all our expectations. Our roastery is upgrading from a trusty 2kg machine to a 20kg Mill City Roaster, and we brought along two complete beginners plus our current head roaster. Despite such different levels of experience, each of us came away with valuable insights and hands-on skills that will directly impact our roasting process.

The instructors did a fantastic job breaking everything down—from foundational roasting theory to practical applications. Their passion for coffee was contagious, and the interactive format kept us engaged from start to finish. We’re from Arizona, so the chilly Minnesota weather was definitely an adjustment, but layering up was more than worth it for the chance to learn and practice on Mill City’s top-notch equipment.

Whether you’re just starting out or have been in the coffee game for years, Roasting 101 offers a wealth of knowledge and a real sense of community. We can’t wait to put what we learned into action on our new 20kg roaster. Huge thanks to Angie, Lauren, Bryant, Steve, and the entire Mill City team for an unforgettable experience!

We had such an amazing time expanding our coffee education through this class. What a wealth of knowledge that extends far beyond just roasting coffee. We have been in business for 7 years and the learning never stops! Taking this class was more than worth the value. From chatting over roasting equipment with the people who engineer them, talking about roastery layouts with the people that walk you through installing their equipment, and cupping coffee with extremely talented tasters and coffee roasters, what a wealth of information! Just starting out? Been in the industry for years like us? This class is for you! A huge thanks to everyone at Mill City, especially Steve, Bryant, Lauren and Angie! Y'all are awesome!

I just completed the Roasting 101 class. Lauren, Bryant, Angie and Steve and the entire, really do an amazing job form the minute you walk in the door. They welcome you and put to rest any anxiety one might have about their level of experience.

I’m basically a total newbie to the process and working alongside other, more experienced roasters we an excellent way to learn.

Lauren and Bryant lead the class and do a great job of distilling a lot of information in a cohesive, easily digestible way.

If you’re at all considering roasting as hobby, side hustle, or career- this should be your first stop.

Working on Mill City Roasters make it immediately apparent why these machines are the talk of the industry. They are so well made and thoughtfully designed.

Take the class. You won’t leave disappointed. Thanks so much Mill City.

I recently completed the Coffee Roasting 101 class at Mill City Roasters in Minneapolis, MN, led by Lauren and Bryant. While the class is not cheap, if this is what you want to do this is the place to learn it. , I found it well worth the investment. The insider knowledge and industry experience available right inside the roaster’s space are truly priceless.

Lauren and Bryant expertly broke down everything from the basics of green coffee to the nuances of roast profiles, making even complex concepts accessible. They also teach about blending, offering invaluable insights into creating unique flavor profiles. Their hands-on approach ensured that every participant could immediately apply what they learned. We were lucky enough to learn on a variety of machines, with the emphasis being on learning how to control any roaster and produce a good product. Additionally, the owner of Mill City Roasters played a significant role in guiding the curriculum, adding an extra layer of depth and real-world insight that enriched the overall experience. The owner is pretty down to earth. I really enjoyed his presence throughout the course. You will also meet tech support and the production team. The first day we took a tour. The tour to their strategic partner cafe imports warehouse was very impressive. And relatively close by.

I also learned that an advanced class starts this fall—though you must complete the introductory course first. After taking the Coffee Roasting 101 class, I feel much more prepared to enter this industry.

If you’re serious about developing your coffee roasting skills and want to learn from some of the best in the industry, I highly recommend this class. It’s an investment in quality education that pays off with invaluable experience and a solid foundation in the art and science of coffee roasting. They provide a spread of snacks and the box lunches match the elevated quality of the coffee. I couldn’t think of anything I would add.

Roasting 101 is a great class for those just getting in to the coffee world or even those with a bit of coffee roasting experience already. The curriculum is well thought out and Lauren and Bryant are fantastic teachers, both with a wealth of knowledge in their respective areas of expertise. Steve Green pops in from time time to time and drops little nuggets of business/coffee wisdom as well. There's also plenty of time for asking your own questions if something isn't covered that you want insight on. 100% recommend this course and don't miss the "optional" Saturday session