RoR #39: Making Big Impact with Small Batch Roasting w/ Adrian Seligman Founder of Scandinavian Alps Coffee Roasters!

RoR #39: Making Big Impact with Small Batch Roasting w/ Adrian Seligman Founder of Scandinavian Alps Coffee Roasters!

Author: Chris Deferio November 2, 2025 Duration: 47:48

Being a small roastery is beautiful thing. Agility, lower waste, and a different flavor intentionality and flexibility offer many advantages that can aid in building an engaged community around your coffee.

Today on Rate of Rise, brought to you by our friends at Mill City Roasters, we will be talking with Adrian Seligman whose small batch roastery, Scandinavian Alps Coffee Roasters, has exemplified these traits with a community of customers who have joined him in his coffee journey. 

Adrian Seligman is the founder of Scandinavian Alps Coffee Roasters, an independent specialty coffee roastery based in Hemsedal, Norway. Blending his passion for the mountains with a dedication to precision and storytelling, Adrian has built a small-batch roasting company known for its clean, expressive Nordic-style coffees, fun easy going blends, and creative collaborations with brands like Salomon and Blundstone.

His roasting philosophy centers on clarity, terroir, and craftsmanship — treating each batch as a reflection of both nature and discipline. Through Scandinavian Alps Coffee Roasters, Adrian continues to champion quality, consistency, and community from the heart of the Norwegian Alps.

We will discuss: 

  • Adrian's journey from ski instruction to coffee roaster
  • Limitations due to the size of available spaces.
  • The power of local community 
  • Why entrepreneurship in remote areas requires creativity
  • The intersection of tradition and modern business.
  • Shifting styles of roasting from feedback 
  • The advantages of small operations
 

 

Related Episodes:

 

Our Sponsor for Rate of Rise!

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
SHIFT BREAK: Perspectives To Help Your Productivity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:24
The hustle of business creates a fear culture where operators worry about their productivity at a near constant rate. We scratch our heads over how to prevent burn-out and talk about work life balance, but what about hav…
SHIFT BREAK! How To Keep Your Customers Excited [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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We talk a lot about engaging our customers and spend time, money, and effort to try to capture their attention in a crowded market. With so many things competing for their attention, what can a coffee shop do to keep the…
598: When To Quit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:57
Quitting a job is a normal part of any career. Problem is that sometimes we don't know when to quit and hang on too long to ours and even the cafe's detriment. When should you as a staff member quit? What does positive q…
SHIFT BREAK! Don't Waste Your Presence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:04
Leaders have authority to make decisions, guide, delegate, affirm, coach, and grow the business and those they serve. The presence of a leader is only a benefit when that leader sees their authority as a tool for serving…
SHIFT BREAK: Making Leadership A Real Process [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:24
Leadership and management are things we talk a lot about, but what does it take to actually make them a real process in the cafe? Most of what is in a job description is either unreasonable and poorly though through, or…
596: 7 Reasons Why You Have High Turnover [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:39
Employee turnover in specialty coffee shops is the most talked about and difficult issue deal with, it has been for a long time. There are many causes for high turnover and sadly owners and managers frequently try to low…
SHIFT BREAK! Fixing My Face: Why Optics Matter in the Shop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:42
I can hold an average weight business card in the furrow of my brow. Kinda proud of that. However in my career my natural resting face has inspired a lot of "interesting" assumptions. Now, to some degree, there is a limi…