December 15, 2025 • 15 mins
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Head to www.coffeepeoplepodcast.com for links from the show, context to our conversation, and much more. We'll be sharing updates on our event calendar soon.
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Coffee Smarter shares the collected wisdom of the coffee industry, and is an offshoot of the Coffee People podcast. Coffee People is one of the premier coffee and entrepreneurship podcasts, featuring interviews with professionals in the coffee industry and coffee education. Host Ryan Woldt interviews roastery founders, head roasters, coffee shop owners, scientists, artists, baristas, farmers, green coffee brokers, and more.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:53):
None. Hey, good morning, everyone.
Thank you for being here on the Coffee People podcast presented
by Rostar Coffee Packaging foundonline at rostar.com.
(01:16):
I'm your host, Ryan Wolt, and I just want to have a cup of
coffee with you today. I hope you've got something
pleasant in your mug. I'm actually drinking this
Prismatic Brooks Winery collaboration Pinot Noir barrel
aged coffee. It's my first cup and it's, it's
wild. It is.
(01:39):
I mean, you can smell it from across the room when it's
brewing. And it's definitely a unique
flavor in my mouth that I am. I'm still trying to figure out
all the different things that I'm experiencing.
Prismatic is near my new home here in Oregon and we were
planning an end of season 15 episode featuring their roaster
and co-owner GM of their restaurant Kyle Layton of
(02:01):
Prismatic Coffee. We had a rousing chat last week
in person about his coffee journey, coffee packaging, why
hospitality is so damn important.
And I left that interview pumpedup.
I was like, yeah, this is going to be a great end of the season.
And then I got home and learned that something went a bit wonky
(02:26):
with the microphones and it's going to take some tweaking to
make it all come together. And Kyle and I are going to get
back together this week and re record some some new stuff.
We're going to chat again. So it was a great reminder that
even though we have hundreds of episodes and we've been doing
this show now for five years, I still really am am just figuring
(02:52):
it out. Video is still new this year.
It was a big step for us. And getting overconfident is
never a great idea. So like many small businesses,
probably like you, I'm learning on the fly, making mistakes and
building on those and fixing them and getting better every,
(03:13):
every, every episode, every season, every time we meet
somebody new and do another interview.
So 2025, it was a big year. I can smell it.
You know, as I'm sitting here. I got to take a sip every now
and again. We took the show out of our home
(03:34):
podcasting studio and on the road.
We launched video, as I just mentioned.
We did on location shoots. We started at SCA Expo in
Houston. That was our first Test and then
did the free coffee tour up the coast of California and Oregon
and even Washington a little bit.
Nevada. I say the first free coffee tour
(03:56):
because it's not going to be thelast.
More on that just a minute. We ended up our our travel year
at Rose Summit in Portland, which was a really great
opportunity to see the industry from a different side.
I just went as a, as a visitor and, and to learn.
My wife and I spent four months this year on the road.
So we were producing this show, recording it, you know, editing
(04:19):
it from the car. We finally settled up here in
the Pacific Northwest and I've spent most of my time trying to
figure out what box I put what thing in before everything was
packed away. Through that all, I've learned
that I need to continue learningand tweaking the podcast and the
Coffee People newsletter. I believe there's a lot of value
(04:41):
in sharing the stories of CoffeePeople.
We all fail and succeed in different ways, and being a
platform for our guests to be seen and heard is something that
I take a lot of great pride in. People can share their wisdom.
It's such a great gift. The production part can be a
grind, but the time that I spendwith the guests on this show,
(05:05):
it's just a privilege I don't take for granted.
So thank you all for being here.Hearing their success stories
and failure stories and what motivates them is inspiring for
me and I hope for for you listenand watching Coffee people and
Coffee Smarter. I've got some notes here.
I'm going to scroll up a little bit has always been available
(05:28):
for free. That's not changing.
We've had great sponsors from the beginning.
Rostar has been our presenting sponsor for quite a while now.
It's become more of a collaboration than anything and
has really enabled us to to takeon some of these new challenges.
I can't say enough about the back and forth between me and
their team, their support of ourcoffee roaster collaboration
(05:52):
products like yeah, no, yeah. Coffee with Relative or the fall
series we dropped with Coffee Cycle Roasting the Pinery and
and Maria Coffee, respectively. All those coffees are available
now, by the way, link in the show notes.
So we're on coffeepeoplepodcast.com.
The point being is thank you to Rostar for the support and for
helping us grow. We couldn't have done that.
(06:14):
We couldn't have continued to dothat without it.
I also want to thank say a coffee source, Joe Benger of
Vorness Coffee and Maria Coffee,our ongoing friendships with
Chris at Coffee Cycle, all of the coffee Smarter experts
who've given their time to us, continue to uplift us and
inspire us, educate us, certainly appreciate you and
(06:38):
looking forward to spending moretime with you this year.
There's also quite a few listeners who've been part of
our growth by signing up to follow the newsletter or the
podcast somewhere. Those of you who even pay for
for it, even though you don't have to, you let us share the
show with so many more people. It's a great feeling to know
(06:59):
that you find value in what we're doing.
I can't thank you enough. On that note, as a thank you to
you and any future supporters, we're adding some new supporter
tears to the Coffee People podcast newsletter so we can
give back a little bit more to you.
We tried to do that a while backand just didn't have the
logistics figured out, but I think we're there.
(07:20):
So we're going to be adding somesome new things to show our
appreciation for paying subscribers.
New episodes that are exclusive,coffee discounts, even some free
coffee giveaways throughout the year.
Just little things to let you know that.
Yeah, we know you're there and thank you.
If you're already a paid supporter, you'll get an e-mail
(07:40):
with some more details about this soon.
And if you're a future supporter, you're getting in at
the right time. So thank you to you too.
So what's coming now for the Coffee People podcast in 2026?
Besides that newsletter expansion, we're going to
continue to interview people, interview guests and grow our
(08:01):
efforts in the video version of the show.
Can actually use your help with that.
The Coffee People podcast on YouTube needs about 400 more
subscribers to become like a potential revenue generating
place, which helps us expand andshare and learn and, and get
this show out to even more people for free.
(08:23):
All I need from you is that you subscribe.
So that type of bonus income really helps us out.
If you're on YouTube and willing, please follow the links
down below. That's like the first time I've
done that, like where I've pointed out something that isn't
really there in my life, but you're going to see on the
screen. We're doing a lot more coffee
inspired artwork. You'll see that on our Instagram
(08:46):
and social media, and we're definitely hitting the road.
I'm anticipating that we're going to reconnect with our
coffee friends at Coffee Fests in Vents in New York, Chicago,
Los Angeles, possibly Dallas late in the year.
We've got a big week planned at SCA World of Coffee in in San
Diego. For me, it's a big opportunity
to go to the place I called homefor more than a decade, the
(09:08):
place where I first kind of fellin love with specialty coffee.
So we're going to be hosting a Coffee Smarter live event at
Coffee Cycle in Ocean Beach thatdouble S as a thank you to the
San Diego coffee industry, San Diego coffee community.
Just a thank you for embracing me and what was originally
called Roast West Coast. Stay tuned for details on that.
(09:31):
But anticipate a live show, recording, some music, some
snacks, a little happy hour, youknow, all kinds of fun stuff.
Maybe some tacos. We're also supporting a, say, a
Coffee Source's annual coffee roasting competition, which is
going to culminate with an eventon the Saturday of the World of
Coffee Expo. Details on that will be shared
(09:51):
soon on how you can participate as a roaster or attend the event
in in April. And finally, we're going out
into the world to try to meet every single person who has ever
listened to this show with new additions of the free coffee
tour. If you're a Coffee Roaster Cafe
just a coffee aficionado who wants to host this podcast,
(10:15):
please reach out. We don't need much, just a table
and someone willing to to chat, maybe share some coffee wisdom.
OK, this coffee almost done. Going to need a refresher here
soon. And I don't want to leave
without sharing something that I'll call a little bit of a
(10:35):
Coffee Smarter segment that I'll90% credit to recently passed
coffee legend Bill Kennedy, CEO of the San Franciscan Roasters,
and 10% to our little hat on at the end.
Bill said that in order to make it, you need to make sure that
you believe in what you're doing, that you have grit,
(10:56):
perseverance and endurance. And I'd just add to that by
saying it's really helped me to have other people who believe in
me too. Others who picked me up offered
help when I needed it, other people who've heard my ideas and
help me shape or enhance them, and others who knowingly or
(11:17):
unintentionally picked me up andinspired me when I needed it.
You know the perseverance and endurance part.
That can be tough, especially when you know you're working and
you're not sure anyone's and seeing it or or hearing it.
And I certainly think of of Billevery time I kind of put that in
(11:37):
my head and and push forward to do another show.
Refrigerator just kicked out, which just feels perfect.
So whatever you're doing in the world of coffee, grit,
perseverance, endurance, be willing to be open with others.
Open yourself to the other coffee people come into your
(11:59):
life and and just celebrate thatyou get to do this thing in this
great industry. So now that all that is out of
the way, I need a cup, another cup of this damn good coffee
from Prismatics. Stay tuned for that episode
featuring Kyle Layton from Prismatic Coffee Roasters.
Please be forgiving of the audio.
(12:20):
That's on me and I'll leave you with this.
This show, the Coffee People podcast season 15 is part of the
Roast West Coast Coffee Network.In this episode is was has been
written, produced, researched and recorded by me.
Ryan Walt, thank you, thank you,thank you for listening to us
(12:43):
share the stories of coffee people.
Always tip your baristas and be sure to drink with coffee.
(13:30):
The. Airplane.
(13:55):
I never know how much gets picked up by this microphone.
It's like people don't even carethat I'm recording this.
(14:42):
Hey, good morning. I'm Ryan Wolt, the host of the
Coffee People podcast. I also write books.
I wrote this one, Eli and Jane, about two characters travelling
across the country in opposite directions, run into each other,
have to decide if they want to keep on going together down the
road. I followed it up with Future Eli
and Jane and close it out with Tomorrow Eli and Jane.
(15:04):
I had to get this story out for some reason.
These books are available now. I sell them online.
You can find them on Amazon or barnesandnoble.com or wherever
you like to shop. Although it really helps me if
you buy them from me and I can promise you they go great with a
cup of coffee. Cheers.
Happy holidays, thanks for checking it out.
None. Hey, good morning, everyone.
Thank you for being here on the Coffee People podcast presented
by Rostar Coffee Packaging foundonline at rostar.com.
(01:16):
I'm your host, Ryan Wolt, and I just want to have a cup of
coffee with you today. I hope you've got something
pleasant in your mug. I'm actually drinking this
Prismatic Brooks Winery collaboration Pinot Noir barrel
aged coffee. It's my first cup and it's, it's
wild. It is.
(01:39):
I mean, you can smell it from across the room when it's
brewing. And it's definitely a unique
flavor in my mouth that I am. I'm still trying to figure out
all the different things that I'm experiencing.
Prismatic is near my new home here in Oregon and we were
planning an end of season 15 episode featuring their roaster
and co-owner GM of their restaurant Kyle Layton of
(02:01):
Prismatic Coffee. We had a rousing chat last week
in person about his coffee journey, coffee packaging, why
hospitality is so damn important.
And I left that interview pumpedup.
I was like, yeah, this is going to be a great end of the season.
And then I got home and learned that something went a bit wonky
(02:26):
with the microphones and it's going to take some tweaking to
make it all come together. And Kyle and I are going to get
back together this week and re record some some new stuff.
We're going to chat again. So it was a great reminder that
even though we have hundreds of episodes and we've been doing
this show now for five years, I still really am am just figuring
(02:52):
it out. Video is still new this year.
It was a big step for us. And getting overconfident is
never a great idea. So like many small businesses,
probably like you, I'm learning on the fly, making mistakes and
building on those and fixing them and getting better every,
(03:13):
every, every episode, every season, every time we meet
somebody new and do another interview.
So 2025, it was a big year. I can smell it.
You know, as I'm sitting here. I got to take a sip every now
and again. We took the show out of our home
(03:34):
podcasting studio and on the road.
We launched video, as I just mentioned.
We did on location shoots. We started at SCA Expo in
Houston. That was our first Test and then
did the free coffee tour up the coast of California and Oregon
and even Washington a little bit.
Nevada. I say the first free coffee tour
(03:56):
because it's not going to be thelast.
More on that just a minute. We ended up our our travel year
at Rose Summit in Portland, which was a really great
opportunity to see the industry from a different side.
I just went as a, as a visitor and, and to learn.
My wife and I spent four months this year on the road.
So we were producing this show, recording it, you know, editing
(04:19):
it from the car. We finally settled up here in
the Pacific Northwest and I've spent most of my time trying to
figure out what box I put what thing in before everything was
packed away. Through that all, I've learned
that I need to continue learningand tweaking the podcast and the
Coffee People newsletter. I believe there's a lot of value
(04:41):
in sharing the stories of CoffeePeople.
We all fail and succeed in different ways, and being a
platform for our guests to be seen and heard is something that
I take a lot of great pride in. People can share their wisdom.
It's such a great gift. The production part can be a
grind, but the time that I spendwith the guests on this show,
(05:05):
it's just a privilege I don't take for granted.
So thank you all for being here.Hearing their success stories
and failure stories and what motivates them is inspiring for
me and I hope for for you listenand watching Coffee people and
Coffee Smarter. I've got some notes here.
I'm going to scroll up a little bit has always been available
(05:28):
for free. That's not changing.
We've had great sponsors from the beginning.
Rostar has been our presenting sponsor for quite a while now.
It's become more of a collaboration than anything and
has really enabled us to to takeon some of these new challenges.
I can't say enough about the back and forth between me and
their team, their support of ourcoffee roaster collaboration
(05:52):
products like yeah, no, yeah. Coffee with Relative or the fall
series we dropped with Coffee Cycle Roasting the Pinery and
and Maria Coffee, respectively. All those coffees are available
now, by the way, link in the show notes.
So we're on coffeepeoplepodcast.com.
The point being is thank you to Rostar for the support and for
helping us grow. We couldn't have done that.
(06:14):
We couldn't have continued to dothat without it.
I also want to thank say a coffee source, Joe Benger of
Vorness Coffee and Maria Coffee,our ongoing friendships with
Chris at Coffee Cycle, all of the coffee Smarter experts
who've given their time to us, continue to uplift us and
inspire us, educate us, certainly appreciate you and
(06:38):
looking forward to spending moretime with you this year.
There's also quite a few listeners who've been part of
our growth by signing up to follow the newsletter or the
podcast somewhere. Those of you who even pay for
for it, even though you don't have to, you let us share the
show with so many more people. It's a great feeling to know
(06:59):
that you find value in what we're doing.
I can't thank you enough. On that note, as a thank you to
you and any future supporters, we're adding some new supporter
tears to the Coffee People podcast newsletter so we can
give back a little bit more to you.
We tried to do that a while backand just didn't have the
logistics figured out, but I think we're there.
(07:20):
So we're going to be adding somesome new things to show our
appreciation for paying subscribers.
New episodes that are exclusive,coffee discounts, even some free
coffee giveaways throughout the year.
Just little things to let you know that.
Yeah, we know you're there and thank you.
If you're already a paid supporter, you'll get an e-mail
(07:40):
with some more details about this soon.
And if you're a future supporter, you're getting in at
the right time. So thank you to you too.
So what's coming now for the Coffee People podcast in 2026?
Besides that newsletter expansion, we're going to
continue to interview people, interview guests and grow our
(08:01):
efforts in the video version of the show.
Can actually use your help with that.
The Coffee People podcast on YouTube needs about 400 more
subscribers to become like a potential revenue generating
place, which helps us expand andshare and learn and, and get
this show out to even more people for free.
(08:23):
All I need from you is that you subscribe.
So that type of bonus income really helps us out.
If you're on YouTube and willing, please follow the links
down below. That's like the first time I've
done that, like where I've pointed out something that isn't
really there in my life, but you're going to see on the
screen. We're doing a lot more coffee
inspired artwork. You'll see that on our Instagram
(08:46):
and social media, and we're definitely hitting the road.
I'm anticipating that we're going to reconnect with our
coffee friends at Coffee Fests in Vents in New York, Chicago,
Los Angeles, possibly Dallas late in the year.
We've got a big week planned at SCA World of Coffee in in San
Diego. For me, it's a big opportunity
to go to the place I called homefor more than a decade, the
(09:08):
place where I first kind of fellin love with specialty coffee.
So we're going to be hosting a Coffee Smarter live event at
Coffee Cycle in Ocean Beach thatdouble S as a thank you to the
San Diego coffee industry, San Diego coffee community.
Just a thank you for embracing me and what was originally
called Roast West Coast. Stay tuned for details on that.
(09:31):
But anticipate a live show, recording, some music, some
snacks, a little happy hour, youknow, all kinds of fun stuff.
Maybe some tacos. We're also supporting a, say, a
Coffee Source's annual coffee roasting competition, which is
going to culminate with an eventon the Saturday of the World of
Coffee Expo. Details on that will be shared
(09:51):
soon on how you can participate as a roaster or attend the event
in in April. And finally, we're going out
into the world to try to meet every single person who has ever
listened to this show with new additions of the free coffee
tour. If you're a Coffee Roaster Cafe
just a coffee aficionado who wants to host this podcast,
(10:15):
please reach out. We don't need much, just a table
and someone willing to to chat, maybe share some coffee wisdom.
OK, this coffee almost done. Going to need a refresher here
soon. And I don't want to leave
without sharing something that I'll call a little bit of a
(10:35):
Coffee Smarter segment that I'll90% credit to recently passed
coffee legend Bill Kennedy, CEO of the San Franciscan Roasters,
and 10% to our little hat on at the end.
Bill said that in order to make it, you need to make sure that
you believe in what you're doing, that you have grit,
(10:56):
perseverance and endurance. And I'd just add to that by
saying it's really helped me to have other people who believe in
me too. Others who picked me up offered
help when I needed it, other people who've heard my ideas and
help me shape or enhance them, and others who knowingly or
(11:17):
unintentionally picked me up andinspired me when I needed it.
You know the perseverance and endurance part.
That can be tough, especially when you know you're working and
you're not sure anyone's and seeing it or or hearing it.
And I certainly think of of Billevery time I kind of put that in
(11:37):
my head and and push forward to do another show.
Refrigerator just kicked out, which just feels perfect.
So whatever you're doing in the world of coffee, grit,
perseverance, endurance, be willing to be open with others.
Open yourself to the other coffee people come into your
(11:59):
life and and just celebrate thatyou get to do this thing in this
great industry. So now that all that is out of
the way, I need a cup, another cup of this damn good coffee
from Prismatics. Stay tuned for that episode
featuring Kyle Layton from Prismatic Coffee Roasters.
Please be forgiving of the audio.
(12:20):
That's on me and I'll leave you with this.
This show, the Coffee People podcast season 15 is part of the
Roast West Coast Coffee Network.In this episode is was has been
written, produced, researched and recorded by me.
Ryan Walt, thank you, thank you,thank you for listening to us
(12:43):
share the stories of coffee people.
Always tip your baristas and be sure to drink with coffee.
(13:30):
The. Airplane.
(13:55):
I never know how much gets picked up by this microphone.
It's like people don't even carethat I'm recording this.
(14:42):
Hey, good morning. I'm Ryan Wolt, the host of the
Coffee People podcast. I also write books.
I wrote this one, Eli and Jane, about two characters travelling
across the country in opposite directions, run into each other,
have to decide if they want to keep on going together down the
road. I followed it up with Future Eli
and Jane and close it out with Tomorrow Eli and Jane.
(15:04):
I had to get this story out for some reason.
These books are available now. I sell them online.
You can find them on Amazon or barnesandnoble.com or wherever
you like to shop. Although it really helps me if
you buy them from me and I can promise you they go great with a
cup of coffee. Cheers.
Happy holidays, thanks for checking it out.
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