2025 RoasTronix Summit: Exploring the Future of Coffee

The Roastronix 2025 Summit is an educational event designed to help people expand their knowledge in the specialty coffee industry and develop their businesses. Hosted at the University of Houston, this summit will feature in-depth seminars focused on improving coffee quality, innovation in specialty coffee, the impacts of self-roasting, and more.
Join us as we speak to industry experts about the progression of coffee and what they believe are the tools you need to become the next specialty coffee expert.
Guest Speakers Include:

• Yannis Apostolopous, CEO of Specialty Coffee Association (SCA)
• Christopher Hendon, Assistant Professor at the University of Oregon
• Christopher Feran, Consultant at Hinterland Coffee Strategies
• Sean Lawless, General Manager of Cougar Grounds
• Erwin Mierisch, Executive Director of Alliance for Coffee Excellence, Cup of Excellence (COE)
• Hunter Tedman, President of Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP)
• Victoria Koyner, Quality and Development Manager of Kotowa Farms
  Afterwards, join us as we kick of the 2025 SCA Expo with the COE at the Get Your Happy On Event at Cougar Grounds, University of Houston. Learn more about COE, enjoy light appetizers, meet producers and more.

Info: Despite coffee’s widespread popularity, there are currently no quantitative methods to connect its chemical properties to gustatory experiences. In this session, Christopher H. Hendon will present his groundbreaking research on cyclic voltammetry, a technique borrowed from molecular chemistry, to measure coffee quality.
Key insights include:
(1) How cyclic voltammetry quantifies beverage strength and roast characteristics independently.
(2) The relationship between protonic features, hydrogen evolution, and beverage strength.
(3) How roast composition affects flavor profiles through chemical suppression.

Info: Christopher Feran will explore the intricate challenges facing specialty coffee production in a changing world. Drawing on his experiences in regions like Huila, Colombia, and Ethiopia, he will discuss how climate change, economic pressures, and the pursuit of quality impact producers and the entire coffee value chain.
Key topics include:
(1) The evolving harvest cycles caused by climate change.
(2) Innovative processing techniques to improve quality and profitability.
(3) Managing risks equitably across the coffee value chain.
(4) Aligning sustainability with profitability to shape a thriving coffee future.

Info: In this session, Sean Lawless will share his journey of transforming Cougar Grounds from a café into a café roastery. Through this transition, Sean has explored and implemented a variety of benefits, including:
(1) Enhanced quality control and consistency in coffee offerings.
(2) Leveraging roasting as an educational tool for students.
(3) Improved customer feedback and satisfaction.
(4) Significant cost savings and operational efficiencies.
(5) Increased productivity and employee engagement.
Sean’s presentation will provide insights into the challenges and rewards of operating a café roastery within an educational institution, demonstrating how this model can elevate quality, enrich customer experiences, and serve as a powerful educational platform.

Info: In this presentation, Erwin Mierisch will introduce the Cup of Excellence program, renowned for identifying and celebrating the world’s finest coffees. Erwin will delve into how these award-winning coffees not only elevate the global coffee industry but also bring unique benefits to coffee shop owners and roasteries.
Highlights of the session include:
(1) Understanding the Cup of Excellence process and its impact on coffee quality.
(2) Exploring the benefits of sourcing Cup of Excellence-winning coffees.
(3) Enhancing customer experiences with distinctive and premium offerings.
(4) Building stronger connections with coffee producers and supporting their livelihoods. (5) Unlocking marketing and branding opportunities by featuring award-winning coffees.

Info: Hunter Tedman will explore the evolving landscape of specialty coffee, moving beyond Geisha to highlight the future of quality and innovation in coffee production. Drawing from his extensive experience managing Hacienda Bárbara and Beneficio El Bajareque in Panama, he will discuss how regenerative farming practices, cutting-edge processing techniques, and a focus on terroir-driven quality are shaping the next generation of exceptional coffees.
Key topics include:
(1) The role of regenerative farming in enhancing soil health and coffee quality.
(2) Innovation in coffee processing to elevate cup profiles and sustainability.
(3) Beyond Geisha—exploring the next frontier of high-quality coffee varieties.
(4) Balancing tradition and technology for long-term farm viability.

Info: Kick off the 2025 SCA Expo with the Cup of Excellence at Cougar Grounds, University of Houston!
Join us as we kick off the 2025 SCA Expo with the Cup of Excellence at Cougar Grounds, University of Houston.
Learn more about Cup of Excellence as we taste COE coffee, enjoy light appetizers, meet producers and more!

Host or Publisher RoasTronix