Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters is a coffee roasting company in the San Francisco Bay Area. We're working on quickly becoming the area's most recognized purveyor of sustainably sourced, expertly roasted specialty coffee, presented with unparalleled service.
Principals & Management Team:
Trish Rothgeb: co-founder, owner, director of coffee, and roastmaster.
Her experience in the industry spans over 30 years as a coffee roaster, green coffee buyer, and teacher of all things coffee. An avid traveler in coffee growing regions worldwide, she teaches "cupping" to coffee producers and coffee professionals around the world. She is also credited with coining the term "third wave coffee" and identifying the relevant concepts.
Trish is a licensed Q-Grader and credentialed Q Trainer by the Coffee Quality Institute. She has served on the SCAA’s Roasters Guild Executive Council, was a charter member of the World Barista Championship Board of Directors and a founding member of the Barista Guild of America.
Starting in early 2013, Trish began work on staff with the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) as the Director of Programs: Q and Educational Services in addition to her work with Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters.
Trish on Twitter: @trishrothgeb
Nicholas Cho: co-founder, head barista, and marketing director.
Nick founded murky coffee in 2002, which developed to be Washington DC's premier coffeebar, winning barista competitions and recognition around the specialty coffee industry.
Over the past few years, Nicholas served as a director on the Barista Guild of America’s Executive Council, on the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s Board of Directors, on the World Barista Championship Board of Directors, and as the chairman of the United States Barista Championship. He was also the 2006 South East Regional Barista Champion and has served on the SCAA Standards Committee.
Nick has been a guest lecturer at the University of California Berkeley, Dartmouth College, University of California Davis, and a speaker at various events around the world including SCAA Symposium. He also co-hosts a podcast for coffee professionals and enthusiasts at portafilter.net.
Elise Hogan: Managing Director
A graduate of Dartmouth College, Elise has worked previously as a barista, as well as an administrative manager for Ritual Coffee Roasters. Prior to her position as managing director, Elise was the director of our Kalita USA division.