Greener entrepreneurs, Oliver Stormshak and Sam Schroeder ’04 pose in front of a cupping.

Roast Magazine, an insider’s publication for the coffee industry, selected Greener-owned Olympia Coffee Roasting Company as the 2013 Micro Roaster of the Year.

Late last week, Oliver Stormshak and Sam Schroeder ’04 shared some thoughts on coffee, Evergreen and the award while “cupping”  the latest roast at their flagship cafe in downtown Olympia.

Abby Kelso (AK): Tell our readers about this award. What does it mean? Why is it important?
Oliver Stormshak (OS): Roast is the trade magazine in our business and this award is its most prestigious competition for a company like ours.  There were over 600 applicants. We submitted a written application and then we sent three of our coffees for the judges to taste at a cupping.
Sam Schroeder (SS): We’ve been using the application process for the past few years as a way to assess our business practices.  We have a business plan, but this helps us see how we’re doing in terms of sustainability, fair trade, labor standards and coffee quality.

AK: How has your your Evergreen experience influenced your work as entrepreneurs?
SS: At Evergreen, you have to be self-motivated and direct your own education — that carries over in the direction of a company.
OS: Evergreen definitely worked well for me, because I was driven to get what I needed.  I studied with Donald Morisato and Martha Rosemeyer.  They both helped me as I moved towards becoming a small business owner.

AK: What do you see in the future of roasting?
OS: Technology will change the industry, this is a new field that is intensely complex.  Today’s roasting is based on 18th century technology and is very craft oriented. Technology will reveal the potential in coffee.
SS: We don’t even know what coffee is capable of yet!

AK: Do you have a particular business philosophy?
OS: Basically we are coffee fanatics and we let that drive our business.

Oliver and Sam enjoy some espresso at Olympia Coffee Roasting Company’s west side location. The company was recently named Micro Roaster of the Year by Roast Magazine.