United By Coffee

Join U3 Coffee co-founder Kristi Ross as she digs in with Kevin Sinnott—coffee-brewing expert, author, and creator of the CoffeeCon Coffee Festival event. Kevin tells Kristi how one sarcastic remark from a friend launched his entire coffee career, and how he’s working to educate, inspire, and empower coffee lovers to brew the perfect cup of coffee. Discover Kevin’s journey from the Players Worksho...

Listen in as U3 Coffee co-founder, Kristi Ross explores Jim's remarkable coffee origin story, where a passion for coffee blossomed during his early years as a session musician. Learn how he went from local coffee shops to owning his own café and eventually becoming a Starbucks roaster. Jim's dedication to quality and commitment to community and mentorship have fueled his journey. Find out why he b...

Listen in as U3 Coffee co-founder, Kristi Ross explores Mark's remarkable coffee origin story as a wine expert turned coffee connoisseur. Discover how he transitioned from wine to coffee, ultimately becoming the Director/Senior Trader at Covoya Coffee, with a strong focus on sustainability and ethical practices in the coffee supply chain. Learn how Mark is driving transformation and fighting clima...

Listen in as U3 Coffee co-founder, Kristi Ross dives into Jerry’s inspiring coffee journey as the founder of North Central College’s Coffee lab, a groundbreaking student-led coffee business. Discover how the Coffee Lab, born from a student fundraising initiative, has evolved into a cross- disciplinary learning lab for students across campus—from the business department to the humanities and the ha...

U3 Coffee co-founder, Kristi Ross explores Brandon's coffee journey, from his early days experimenting with an espresso machine at the age of twelve to his current role as the Director of Sustainability at Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea. Learn why he's driven by creating sustainable relationships with coffee producers and educating consumers about the value of sustainable coffee. Join us as Brandon...

Listen in as U3 Coffee co-founder, Kristi Ross learns about the health benefits of coffee from Ildi Revi, Chief Coffee Officer at Purity, a company dedicated to creating coffees centered on health. Hear her insights on the potential health benefits of coffee and how Purity uses scientific research to optimize their processes. Learn about the integral role she played in pioneering coffee education...

U3 Coffee co-founder, Kristi Ross talks with Allen Leibowitz, a tech-industry veteran turned coffee entrepreneur. Listen as he shares his story from home roasting experiments to founding Zingerman's Coffee Company. Explore Allen's current role at Pit Crew Coffee, where he supports businesses and invests in up-and-coming coffee professionals. Learn about his mission to ensure coffee entrepreneurs h...

U3 Coffee co-founder, Kristi Ross chats with Baylee Engberg about how her coffee odyssey began as a teenager in the Pacific Northwest, working as a drive-through barista in the greater Seattle area. Join us as she shares her remarkable journey and current role as an account manager at Ally Coffee. Learn about her passion for promoting women and nonbinary representation in roasting through the She'...

Listen in as U3 Coffee co-founder, Kristi Ross is captivated by how Tim Volkema dove headfirst into the coffee industry when he acquired Schuil Coffee Company, a family-owned roaster and importer. Tim now serves as the CEO of Schuil and Sparrows Coffee, a third-wave specialty roasting company. Learn how his pragmatic approach and customer-centric mindset fuel his work. Understand the complexity of...

Listen in as U3 Coffee co-founder, Kristi Ross discovers the fascinating journey of David Myers, the founder of Mighty Good Coffee Company, who transitioned from a commercial photographer to a pioneer in the craft roasting industry in 2006. Learn how David grew Mighty Good Coffee into a company that was named one of the Michigan 50 Businesses to Watch by 2015. Discover how his passion for educatio...

Listen in as U3 Coffee co-founder, Kristi Ross has a captivating conversation with Nathan Hamood who started his career in the coffee industry when he was only 13 years old. Today, he’s the president and co-owner of Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters, a thriving coffee business that includes a specialty coffee roasting company, four cafes, and a baking department with an incredible array of cheesecakes...

Listen in as U3 Coffee co-founder, Kristi Ross goes deep with Dale Schotte who was working as an IT consultant for a start-up coffee shop when he fell in love with the industry and two years later, he owned the shop he helped set up. Learn how he transformed a small café into a thriving coffee empire. Explore Dale's evolution from IT consultant to CEO of Park Avenue Coffee , which includes a roast...

Listen in as U3 Coffee co-founder, Kristi Ross steps into Sara's captivating coffee journey as she transitioned from a career in education to becoming a co-founder of Sightseer Coffee , a roasting company that empowers women producers and co-ops. Learn about her role in the Rising Tide Coffee Collaborative , offering support and resources to small roasting companies. Sara's passion for diversity,...