RoR #37 : Tariffs, Relationships, and Resiliency for Roasters | A Conversation w/ Steve Green of Mill City Roasters

RoR #37 : Tariffs, Relationships, and Resiliency for Roasters | A Conversation w/ Steve Green of Mill City Roasters

Author: Chris Deferio July 30, 2025 Duration: 48:40

These are challenging times for roasters. With the topics of green prices and tariffs dominating the airwaves and minds of owners, everyone is looking for the best way to respond to what seems like an existential threat to their business if left unaddressed.

The truth is that the businesses that do the best in these times not only respond well in the moment, but can respond well because they have prepared well before hand by investing in building a business around integrity, depth of relationships, and cultivating resiliency through contingency planning and structures that uphold all people in their sphere.

I am very happy for this months RoR to talk with someone whose trials and triumphs in life and business have led to being able to help so many others succeed through his very influential business. We are talking with founder and president of Mill City Roasters, Steve Green! .

Before founding Mill City Roasters®, Steve designed and developed machinery and processes for many of the largest manufacturers in the US in industries ranging from 3D printing, aviation, automotive, health care, medical devices, software, and fabrication.

Over the last 10 years, his single focus has been the development of the most advanced specialty coffee roasting systems and making information and education more accessible and equitable for those entering the industry. His latest project, RoastPATH®, is a modern SAS platform that allows not only for day-to-day profile tracking but serves as a career-long work portfolio to extend the collective memory & experience of the roasting profession.

In this conversation we discuss some very practical and also very deep aspects of mindsets, philosophy, meaning, and practical. business strategy and planning that together will allow you to better build a roastery that not only survives challenges, but thrives enough to provide stability for others as well. 

 

Related episodes:

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www.millcityroasters.com


Running a coffee shop is about so much more than pulling great shots. It's a complex dance of craft, culture, and commerce that demands a unique kind of leadership. That's the space where Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders lives. Hosted by Chris Deferio, this podcast digs into the real, often unspoken challenges faced by owners, managers, and aspiring leaders in the specialty coffee world. Each conversation moves beyond abstract theory to deliver concrete, usable strategies you can apply directly to your operation. You'll hear from a diverse range of voices, including seasoned coffee professionals and insightful experts from other fields, all focused on the practicalities of building a thriving business. Episodes tackle the full spectrum of running a shop, from daily systems and financial health to fostering a positive team environment and developing your own skills as a leader. The aim is to provide a genuine resource for growth, whether you're looking to refine your barista program, improve your shop's profitability, or scale your vision thoughtfully. Tune in for honest discussions that equip you with more than just inspiration-they offer the tangible keys to building a better, more sustainable coffee business. This podcast understands that your passion is for coffee, but your success depends on mastering the craft of leadership.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Podcast Episodes
554: Formal Education vs Real World Experience : Which is Better? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:25
What is necessary before opening a cafe? Which is better to prepare you for the challenges and opportunities you will be presented with in your career and as an owner of a coffee shop? This question is asked often by peo…
SHIFT BREAK! New Managers: Learning Before Changing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:45
When a new manager is placed in a cafe, they often will try to change a lot of things in a bid to justify their role and/or create what they believe is the positive change they have long wanted to see as a barista. While…
553: Career Success, Hospitality, and Cafe Culture w/ Akaash Saini [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:57
How we grow in the coffee industry will determine how we lead and how we influence those around us. Our guest today has developed a career that has allowed him to not only grow himself into one with a broad and practical…
SHIFT BREAK! Should You Remodel or Renew Your Cafe? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:52
If we change anything in the cafe, it will more likely be something related to the optics, branding, or remodeling the physical cafe in order to get that feeling like we have become different and this will usher in more…
551: Encore: Designing the Guest Experience w/ Doctor Lisa Waxman! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:38
Designing the experience is pretty much all we focus on. From the colors, textures, sounds, layouts - to the drinks themselves, people's experience is something that is born from design. If we want it to be a good one, w…
SHIFT BREAK! Better Than Bad is Not Good [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:53
Your decisions in the business related to hiring, quality, operations etc need to be based on what is actually good for the business and the people you work with and for now. Trouble is that we often are stuck at a low l…
550: Replace These Distractions and Watch Your Cafe Grow! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:27
I don't think there has been a time in the history of coffee shops where we have been so distracted by things that promise to bring value but turn out to be simply distractions. Noise vs signal, image vs substance, and s…

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