Top 3 Takeaways from Roast Summit Portland

Our West Coast sales representative, Shaa’ista Sabir-Zamastil, headed to Roast Summit Portland, Oct. 1 - 2, to represent Artisan, which was proud to be a sponsor of this year’s event.  Events like this are where we get to step out from behind the green coffee and spend real time with the roasters and coffee professionals we work alongside every day.  When she got back, we asked her for her top three takeaways from the event. 

#3 Portland is the place to be. 

Maybe it's the plethora of local coffee roasters/shops, the perfect fall weather of the PNW, or all the cool bonus things you get to do by being in a diverse, walkable city (I'm looking at you, food truck park with the vegan Reuben Sandwich); but Roast Summit Portland just gets better, and bigger, every year. This year we saw higher attendance for both new and seasoned coffee professionals.

#2 Feedback matters and they listen (but don't judge). 

Were two lectures back-to-back a struggle for the active coffee person brain? Now there's a break and a stimulating activity in-between. Last year there were four roasters to share between ~ 75 people in a group? This year there were 10 roasters of greater variety, including Sample roasters. It felt good to return and see positive changes implemented based on actual feedback. It's me...I'm feedback.

#1 Low Stakes, High Reward. 

l found myself describing Roast Summit Portland to newcomers this way a lot. It's an unassuming space that gets you out of the comfort of your home base. Maybe you'll be challenged, maybe you'll be affirmed, you'll definitely learn something new and meet other roasters and coffee professionals in a space dedicated to collaboration. Speaking of transparency, walking away with Laila Ghambari/Guilder Coffee's COGs for their shops and roastery? Priceless. Because when you know better, you do better,  and then you share!

Until Next Year

Collaboration, transparency and a willingness to keep getting better are values we share at Artisan, and it was great to see them on full display in Portland.  A big thank you to the Roast Summit organizers, the speakers who shared so openly, and everyone who stopped to say hello.

If we missed you this time, we’d still love to connect.  Reach out to Shaa’ista or anyone on the Artisan team to talk green coffee, sourcing, or what you’re roasting this season.  And if you’re on the fence about attending next year?  Take it from us: low stakes, high reward.  We hope to see you there!