Opportunities for specialty coffee still abound in certain areas of the American South. With those opportunities comes challenges of communicating coffee in a way that both meets people where they are, and helps open them up to new experiences that expand their enjoyment. Today we are talking with someone who has not only been communicating to his customers through the coffee he roasts, but also through a podcast designed to be an entertaining AND educational. We are chatting with Kenneth Thomas of Umble Coffee! Kenneth Thomas is host of the very popular Coffee 101 podcast and interviews coffee experts weekly from around the world.  He is owner and head roaster at Umble Coffee Co, an online and wholesale coffee company.  Kenneth and Umble Coffee have been ranked as one of the top specialty coffee roasters in the United States consistently for the last several years.  He is also a physician and chemical engineer - both of which lend expertise to Umble’s mission of sourcing and roasting the best coffees from around the world in a way that optimizes for taste quality and health.  In my conversation with Kenneth we will cover how his own curiosity sparked his obsession and business, how he crafts customer service through roasting excellent coffee in an approachable way, and the importance of always learning and providing opportunities to learn for himself, his customers, and listeners.  We Cover: Discovering coffee and roasting Listening to customer feedback Blue ocean opportunity Meeting people where they are Coffee and health Advice for coffee roasters in coffee desserts The importance of always learning and teaching Don't sit on innovation Links:  www.umblecoffee.com Coffee 101 podcast Listen to these related episodes next! 387 : Innovation and Building a Better Coffee Business w/ Miranda Caldwell 184 : Making Great Business Decisions w/ Dave Stachowiak 286 : Coffee Roasting Best Practices w/ Scott Rao 333: Bridging the Professional and Home Barista Gap w/ Lance Hedrick of Onyx Coffee Lab 063 : What Your Roaster Wants you to Know w/ Rob Hoos, Author, Modulating the Flavor Profile of Coffee 168 : How to get the Best from your Coffee w/ WBC 2013 Champ, Pete Licata 370: Founder Friday! w/ Tony Dreyfuss of Metropolis Coffee Company, Chicago, Illinois Visit our awesome Sponsors! GROUND BREAKING BREWING MADE SIMPLE! www.groundcontrol.coffee   THE BEST PLANT-BASED BEVERAGES ON THE PLANET! www.Pacificfoodservice.com   30 years of resourcing you with the best products and education! www.coffeefest.com Use Code: "KEYS" for 50% General Admission