Episode Details

Cat & Cloud Podcast 

Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/

From Soil to Service Part 3: Coffee Roasting Field Trip and Interview with Cat & Cloud Roastery Leaders continued -  Ep# 451

Chris Baca continues his interview with the Head of Coffee Roasting at Cat & Cloud, Jonson Henry and Connor Doyle. What starts as an honest look at the operational pressures of running a roastery — labor challenges, unpredictable wholesale orders, the stress of being the last line of defense — opens up into something deeper. We hear about the transition to a new leadership structure, the philosophy of building systems that outlast any one person, and what it means to let go of a military-bred "eat last, sleep last" leadership style in a coffee roastery. Then it’s time for a FIELD TRIP!  Chris Baca joins Connor in the Roastery for an actual live roast, and the episode shifts into something genuinely rare — real-time, unscripted coffee science happening right in front of you. Enjoy!

Chapters

00:00 Welcome Back & Series Recap

07:00 Building Systems That Outlast You

13:00 The Invisible Work of Leadership

20:00 The Navy Mindset & Letting It Go

26:00The New Team Structure

30:00 Gratitude and Appreciation

34:35 FIELD TRIP - Live Roast Begins 

42:00 Airflow, Damper & Rate of Rise

50:00 Always Pursuing Better

57:30 Evaluating the Curve

Cat & Cloud:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/

Webstore: Buy Our Coffee! www.catandcloud.com/

Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions

Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale

Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first.

Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them. 

The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations. 

Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby

Produced by Casey Ryan

May 2026