Workshop | Discover Coffee Roasting

Ever wondered what happens to coffee before it reaches your cup?

Spend time with James, our Head of Coffee, for an introduction to the craft of roasting. This workshop is for anyone roasting at home, starting to learn on a larger machine, or you may just be curious and interested in how roasting works. No prior roasting experience is necessary.

We’ll follow coffee from green bean to finished roast, exploring what happens as it heats up and how those changes affect its colour, aroma and taste. You’ll see the stages of a roast, learn what to watch and listen for, and discover why the same coffee can taste different depending on how it’s roasted.

We’ll also look at the decisions behind a roast: how to approach an unfamiliar coffee, what to pay attention to as it develops, and how tasting the result helps guide the next batch. You’ll leave with a practical foundation and a few things to look for next time you taste a coffee.

The Details

What you'll learn

  • What happens to coffee as it heats, and how this affects flavour
  • The key stages of a roast and what to watch and listen for
  • How roasting decisions influence the final cup
  • How to approach an unfamiliar coffee and make decisions as it develops
  • How tasting the finished coffee can help guide future roasts

What's included

  • 90-minute hands-on workshop with James, our Head of Coffee
  • An introduction to the roasting process from green bean to finished roast
  • Time around the roaster to observe roast development
  • Guided tasting of coffees and different roast profiles
  • Practical roasting tips and knowledge to take away
  • Coffee roasted by you to take home and brew (40-80g)

What to bring

  • We will provide everything you need, but bring a notebook if you'd like to make extra notes.
  • Please bring the remaining balance in cash to your workshop.

Booking + payments

$400 per person | 90 minute workshop

  • A 50% deposit of $200 is paid online when booking.
  • The remaining balance of $200 is payable on the day, please bring cash.
  • Sessions are for 1–4 people. For group bookings larger than 4 people, email james@coffeeembassy.co.nz
1 1

James hosts workshops every weekend  (excluding long weekends) . Check availability and book a workshop below.

$400 per person, per class. 50% non-refundable deposit to be paid online upon booking, with the remaining amount paid in cash on arrival.

View full details

More Classes & Workshops