Demonstrations

We’re delighted to present some of the best speakers in the business. Be sure to visit the demonstration stage while you’re at the Cincinnati Coffee Festival.

SATURDAY
Tea-riffic Cocktails & Mocktails Saturday 8:30am Let’s move beyond iced tea! Come taste four tea-riffic mocktail & cocktail recipes with simple ingredients, most of which you can grow! Elevating your everyday tea blends with fresh ingredients and simple infusions requiring minimal time & effort. Cass Ruhlman – Tea Blender & Owner Hi, it’s me Cass, your local tea lady! My love of tea began when I studied abroad in college all over Europe. As an avid gardener it was only natural that I began growing my own tea blends. What started as a hobby bloomed into a wonderful profession. Now 10 years in, I work with over two dozen local farmer to help grow around 80% of tea blends, right here in the Cincinnati area. In the past few years, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking at the World Tea Expo, teaching tea blending workshops for P&G, Miami University and many other local organizations all about the Farm to Teacup concept – a dream come true!
	The Legend of the Bottomless Cup The Secret to the Best Extraction of Your Life Saturday 9:30am All coffee is not created equal, and our understanding of what makes coffee good can be as relative as our tastes in music or food. A lot has changed over the past twenty years to improve the cup quality of the coffee we drink; has our perceived value and experience of satisfaction followed suit? There’s a lot of coffee out there – how can we find the diamond in the rough? This talk will dispel myths and align expectations of coffee’s potential. From global to home economics, through the science and art of brewing, and by tasting 3 cups like Goldilocks would, we will aim to discover the beauty of what makes coffee balanced and harmonious. Jon Lewis, Director of Community Engagement for Deeper Roots Coffee In his role as Director of Community Engagement for Deeper Roots Coffee, Jon ties together common threads of the intersecting communities which compose the big picture: from coffee-producing partners, to local environments where coffee is enjoyed, within a company culture and extending out into the world. Jon has had his hands in coffee in café settings and roasting operations, barista competitions and the Cup of Excellence program – finding daily and seasonal rhythms and following the mantra: let it flow.
Making Espresso & Seasonal Syrup Recipe Pairings Saturday 10:15am Combine the education of pulling a good shot of espresso and staying with the trends of seasonal syrups. We’ll take you through what works for your machine and what syrup will pair best with certain drinks that you love. Kimberly Rollins – La Terza Operations Consultant & Co-owner/General Manager Square Mile Coffee Company Kim is co-owner and general manager of Square Mile Coffee Company, based in Mt. Healthy, Ohio. She has been running her shop for 6 years and in the coffee business for 10. Kim has been a proud partner with La Terza for 7 years and has created a report that brought her on to the La Terza team as an operations consultant to create an experience for customers at La Terza’s High Grain location.
	Pottery mug making demo Saturday 11:15am Ryan Durbin from RD Ceramics will be sharing the process of making his ceramic mugs. He’ll start by throwing a few on the potter’s wheel and then attach handles to a few that are already in-progress. The audience is encouraged to ask questions about his process during the demo and presentation. Ryan Durbin, Owner and Maker, RD Ceramics Ryan began his exploration into creating functional pottery in 2007 during high school in Louisville, KY. He has continued to improve and experiment within the clay medium by learning at various local clay studios and studying ceramics at Northern Kentucky University. His work is designed to be simple, lightweight, comfortable, and appealing to the eye. I fire my work in an electric kiln to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. He also co-hosts a podcast with Becca Otis called Wheel Talk where they discuss life as a potter, small business owner, and interview other creative peers.
Vietnamese Coffee 101: From Classic Phin Brews to Modern Creations Saturday 12:15pm Discover the bold and versatile world of Vietnamese coffee in this hands-on session. Learn how to brew traditional phin coffee using Saigon Phin Daklak beans while exploring the cultural roots and unique flavor profile of robusta. We’ll also dive into creative applications beyond the cup, from cocktails to desserts where strong coffee truly shines. There will be samples of a Vietnamese Iced Coffee Cake by AberSon’s Desserts Shoppe. Bao Nguyen – Partner Bao Nguyen is the co-owner of Lang Thang Group and the driving force behind Lang Thang Coffee. His passion for Vietnamese coffee runs deep—his father founded Viet Coffee, a coffee roaster in Saigon, Vietnam, where Bao first learned the craft. Since 2010, Bao and his team have been serving Cincinnati through their restaurants and coffee program, continually exploring new ways to share Vietnamese coffee with the world. Lang Thang Coffee has been at the forefront of innovation, from introducing kegged Vietnamese coffee long before it became a trend to developing creative brewing methods and recipes that highlight the bold flavors of robusta.
	From Origin to Roast: A Coffee Conversation Saturday 1:15pm Join us for an intimate conversation between the coffee farmers and the head roaster at Viva Coffee Roasters, exploring the journey of the bean from soil to cup. This session unpacks the human stories, sustainable practices, and collaborative spirit that bring exceptional coffee to life. It’s not just about flavor—it’s about values, culture, and connection. Gerardo Ramos Vivas, Founder and Head Roaster Gerardo A. Ramos Vivas is the passionate owner and roaster behind Viva Coffee Roasters in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2020, inspired by his family’s coffee farm in Honduras, Gerardo decided to bring the rich flavors of Honduran coffee to Cincinnati. He founded Viva Coffee Roasters, a micro-roastery dedicated to sourcing the finest beans and roasting them to perfection. At Viva Coffee Roasters, Gerardo meticulously sources beans directly from small farmers and cooperatives in Honduras, ensuring fair trade practices and exceptional quality. His commitment to sustainability and community is evident in every cup of coffee, which showcases the unique flavors and aromas of Honduran beans. Gerardo believes in the power of coffee to bring people together and create positive change.
SUNDAY
	From Tea Noob To Tea Nerd & Rare Tea Tastings Sunday 8:30am We will be having a wild crash course in foundational tea knowledge for brewing, purchasing, understanding quality, and tasting all teas. We will cover everything from very basic intro level tea knowledge to tasting challenging, bizarre, and unique single estate teas. Sky White, Creator, Wendigo Tea Co. I accidentally developed a taste for high quality teas while traveling the planet playing rock and roll. Between every sound check and show, I would find the greatest tea each city had to offer. After 2000+ shows around the world (and 2000+ teas), I knew exactly what I loved and found myself wondering what would happen if a company decided to carry ONLY THE BEST. Wendigo Tea Co. runs by one simple business plan: Buy awesome tea and share it with friends.
The Art of the Process: Washed, Honey & Natural Sunday 9:30am Every coffee bean has a story—and that story takes a sharp turn after harvest. In this engaging session, Viva Coffee Roasters’ coffee roaster and founder Gerardo Ramos Vivas breaks down the three primary processing methods—Washed, Honey, and Natural—and how they influence flavor, texture, and aroma in your cup. Discover the roles of fermentation, drying, processing, and roasting, and leave with a deeper understanding of the choices and challenges faced at origin. Gerardo Ramos Vivas, Founder and Head Roaster Gerardo A. Ramos Vivas is the passionate owner and roaster behind Viva Coffee Roasters in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2020, inspired by his family’s coffee farm in Honduras, Gerardo decided to bring the rich flavors of Honduran coffee to Cincinnati. He founded Viva Coffee Roasters, a micro-roastery dedicated to sourcing the finest beans and roasting them to perfection. At Viva Coffee Roasters, Gerardo meticulously sources beans directly from small farmers and cooperatives in Honduras, ensuring fair trade practices and exceptional quality. His commitment to sustainability and community is evident in every cup of coffee, which showcases the unique flavors and aromas of Honduran beans. Gerardo believes in the power of coffee to bring people together and create positive change.
	Coffee Bag Decoding: How to decipher jargon and find the coffee that best fits you Sunday 10:30 Ever feel overwhelmed by all the words on a coffee bag? In this fun, beginner-friendly session, we’ll unpack everything from roast dates and tasting notes to industry terms like direct trade, altitude, and processing methods—using real-life visuals and popular brands. You’ll leave knowing how to read a coffee label and choose the right bag for your taste, values, and brewing style. Nicky Reardon / Owner Nicky Reardon is the founder and head roaster at Fruits & Roots Coffee Roasters, a specialty coffee company based in Columbus, Ohio. With a passion for making great coffee and tea approachable, Nicky brings years of hands-on experience in sourcing, roasting, and brewing to help everyday coffee drinkers better understand what’s in their cup. Whether behind the roaster or leading a tasting, Nicky is all about saying more—sharing the stories, processes, and people behind each bag.
What does Direct Relationship coffee taste like? Sunday 11:30am It tastes delicious! Come hear about the coffee farmers we have direct relationships with and try their specific coffees featured in simple and unique ways. Emily Shinkle, Chief Operations Officer Emily Shinkle has been the Chief Operations Office for Carabello Coffee for over 6 years. She loves making spreadsheets, drinking iced americanos, and visiting local coffee roasters on her travels.
	Tea-riffic Cocktails & Mocktails Sunday 12:30pm Let’s move beyond iced tea! Come taste four tea-riffic mocktail & cocktail recipes with simple ingredients, most of which you can grow! Elevating your everyday tea blends with fresh ingredients and simple infusions requiring minimal time & effort. Cass Ruhlman – Tea Blender & Owner Hi, it’s me Cass, your local tea lady! My love of tea began when I studied abroad in college all over Europe. As an avid gardener it was only natural that I began growing my own tea blends. What started as a hobby bloomed into a wonderful profession. Now 10 years in, I work with over two dozen local farmer to help grow around 80% of tea blends, right here in the Cincinnati area. In the past few years, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking at the World Tea Expo, teaching tea blending workshops for P&G, Miami University and many other local organizations all about the Farm to Teacup concept – a dream come true!
Making Chai Concentrate from Scratch Sunday 1:30pm We’ll review a brief history of chai, talk about differences in chai, and then together we’ll demonstrate how to make chai concentrate from scratch. Colin Wiseman, Founder, Chai For Colin launched Chai For to re-shape the chai America drinks. Too often, chai is made from inauthentic ingredients that lean on sugar as a core flavor – rather than the natural dynamism of traditional chai. Founding Chai For, Colin has worked to introduce chai products that engage every core Chai-service arenas – from coffee shops to grocery stores – to put real chai in the hands of Americans.