Boot Coffee Campus - San Rafael, California

Juan K.

Roasting with Valerian was a fantastic experience. He is incredibly knowledgeable about roasting coffee, and the coffee business. As a seasoned coffee, roaster professional, Valerian taught the course, adding a personal touch coming from his experience as a roast master. He made sure that student always had enough time To practice and experience roasting coffee. Boot Campus It’s also well equipped with enough roaster to have plenty of time of practice for each student. I recommend taking courses and classes at Boot and with Valerian as instructor.

Kirk H.

The cost of a training course is often less than the personal cost of setting aside the time to attend and learn. The quality of the instructor is what determines the quality of the investment. I attended a weeklong training course on starting a Coffee Roasting Business, taught by Valerian Hrala. Valerian's ability to transfer his knowledge and experience is impressive. He worked with each student based on their ability to make certain that everyone left with a new and improved set of skills. The course covered coffee evaluation skills, coffee roasting skills, and coffee business skills. These are vastly different topics. Valerian is supported by a classroom designed to do nothing but teach these things. Learning sensory skills requires a large, darkened room with tables and cups, all laid out and supervised by a coffee cupping expert. Learning roasting skills requires a variety of coffee roasting machines designed to do sample roasts as well as the larger production sized roasters. And learning business skills requires a classroom with a large display and comfortable seating. When I first saw the term Boot Coffee Campus, it amused me by the grandeur of the self-reference - but - gosh - that is without question what I experienced. Valerian brought it all together into a quality learning experience that was worth much more than my time. Even if you have many years of experience working with and around coffee, I think you will still find this course a worthwhile investment.

Brenna

We flew all the way from the Philippines to attend our course. I can’t recommend Boots Coffee Campus enough. Valerian is a fantastic instructor. He’s experienced, passionate, and enthusiastic. The hands-on training they offer is comprehensive and engaging. Whether you’re a seasoned coffee connoisseur or a newbie learning the ropes, Boots Coffee Campus is the perfect place for anyone looking to venture into the coffee industry.

Angela B.

I had a great experience at Boot Coffee Campus. I had previously looked at several options for roasting classes, but the added business focus of this course made Boot's course an easy decision. There was a very good balance between hands-on time at the roaster and more formal "classroom" instruction. We also had ample time for discussion of our personal plans and goals amongst our group.
Everyone in our class arrived with varying backgrounds in coffee and very different plans for roasting in the future, but the class is set up with the flexibility that allowed us to personalize our experience and goals. I also think the varied backgrounds within our group, and Valerian's encouragement to develop our plans for our businesses, created a valuable opportunity for peer to peer learning. I look forward to coming back for another class or workshop soon! Thank you!

bob B.

This was a super class and delivered just what I had hoped. The first 2 and 1/2 days were focused on learning to roast and the remaining days were focused on discussing the business side of the industry. Although the roasting training portion was naturally focused on how to use the equipment (roasters, color analyzers, etc) at the school, there was plenty of exposure and discussion about other types equipment and roasting styles.

Our class had a nice mix of folks both with and without coffee roasting experience. The discussions and input from students was particularly good. Valerian does a great job getting everyone involved in discussions and it was great hearing the give and take throughout the week.

Bottom line: This course is perfect if you're looking to learn how to roast and explore the myriad of factors you must consider if you're thinking of opening up a roastery or a coffee shop. Well done, Boot Coffee. I'll be back for other classes!

TheCaffeineSpot

I had an amazing experience at Boot Coffee, and I couldn't be happier with the Coffee Roasting BIZ – Start Your Coffee Business course! As the proud owner of The Caffeine Spot, attending this course was a game-changer for my business.

Our instructor, Valerian, was not only incredibly knowledgeable but also passionate about coffee, which made the learning process enjoyable and engaging. The training facilities were top-notch, providing us with the perfect environment to dive deep into the world of coffee roasting.

Throughout the course, I acquired valuable insights into the coffee business, from roasting techniques to understanding market trends. The hands-on approach allowed me to put theory into practice, and I can confidently say that I am now equipped with the necessary skills to take The Caffeine Spot to new heights.

Boot Coffee's guidance and support have been invaluable in helping me refine my existing business and expand my offerings. I am eager to apply my new knowledge and expertise to enhance the coffee experience for my customers.

I highly recommend Boot Coffee's courses to anyone looking to excel in the coffee industry. With the knowledge I gained and the support of Valerian and the Boot Coffee team, I am excited about the future of The Caffeine Spot!

J K.

If you're going to dive into the business of coffee, learn from people who have deep knowledge, success in the industry, and--maybe most importantly--an open mind. Valerian Hrala fits the bill perfectly. Valerian is the Boot Coffee pro who led our coffee-roasting course in September 2023. He has studied trends in the industry (and talks about them on his podcast, Coffee is ME), started and sold roasteries both in the U.S. and abroad, and despite his experience and success remains open to new ideas and innovative approaches.

During our week-long course, every day began with an expert brew from Boot Coffee's Ground Control brewer. This made Boot Coffee easily the best spot for coffee in town despite the relatively high number of coffee shops in downtown San Rafael (most of which I visited at least once). Early in the week, Valerian led lectures and discussions each morning followed by roasting in small groups later in the day. Later in the week, our group talked through the challenges and benefits of roasting coffee professionally, and even participants with prior experience in the business took away tips sure to help level up their games.

As one highlight at the end of the week, Valerian turned us loose to roast a batch (or two, or three) for ourselves--a special Geisha coffee that I can't wait to enjoy at home. If you're considering coffee roasting as a career or even a side-hustle, I highly recommend this course, and I'll be taking advantage of other courses that Boot offers as soon as possible.

Mohammed A. S.

Memorable and most importantly educational experience. Mr. Boot was very welcoming and responsive. Valerian Hrala was an amazing teacher. He promised to teach us how to roast in a few days and he delivered on that promise. The class was informative and fun. Valerian was light hearted and professional at the same time. I would highly recommend the roasting course.