Project Description

Germany
Kilian Seger
Hoppenworth & Ploch

Please tell us a little about yourself: 
I am from Frankfurt. I’ve been working for Hoppenworth & Ploch since 2014. I started as a Barista, but roasting expanded my horizons a lot. In my free time I enjoy traveling, and I am a fan of Eintracht in Frankfurt.

How long have you been roasting for?:
I started roasting coffee at the beginning of 2015, so it’s been more than 3 years now.

What roaster do you currently roast on?:
I use a L12 by Probat. It’s quite an old roaster but I actually really enjoy working with it.

What is your coffee of choice:
Ethiopian natural coffee beans are my first choice. When trying to make people familiar with specialty coffee, it’s a very good option because it’s quite easy for beginners to taste the sweet berry flavour of these beans.

How did you learn to roast? Did you have a coach or trainer:
It’s mostly been trial and error, I just put a lot of effort into studying roasting in theory and trying to realize what I learned. Both of my bosses at work helped me a lot to develop my roasting skills and show me the support I needed.

Who is your roasting hero?:
Scott Rao. His book “The Coffee Roaster’s Companion” helped me to gain a lot of the knowledge I have about roasting.

What’s your favorite weather to roast in?:
I usually like roasting in winter better than in summer, as it’s always hot around the roaster. Besides, it’s nice to have constant weather that does not affect the roasting process too much.

What music do you listen to when roasting?:
I usually listen to hip-hop music while roasting, but when there are other people working with me
I also have to compromise.

What is your secret weapon when roasting?:
When it comes to roasting, I am very focussed on what I do. It is very important for me to be patient and to accept mistakes that I make, so that I can constantly get better and better.

What is your BEST roasting memory?:
I really enjoy getting to know so many like-minded people through roasting.

What is your WORST roasting memory?:
The first (and last) time I accidentally totally burned coffee beans.

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