Cathren Kull | she/her
2022 US Roaster Judge
Rojo's Roastery
I was drawn into the coffee community in 2007, originally as an illustrator finding inspiration in people’s stories. As a barista at a small roastery and bookstore in Baltimore, I grew out of my shell, finding a home within the ever growing web of connection that coffee enables.
Moving back home to New Jersey soon showed me an opportunity to help open a new cafe as a part time barista and roastery PA in Highland Park. Less than a year had passed when, over a beer, I was given a 4 day notice that I’d be taking the roaster's position. It didn’t take long for me to recognize that the creative/analytical balance of being a coffee roaster suited my curious brain. Ten years, 2 national awards, 2 jobs, 4 machines, lots of dust, a pandemic, a major flood, many hours, many miles, and infinite lessons learned later as a full time roaster, I appreciate the strength of that web so much more. I currently roast for Rojo’s Roastery in Princeton, NJ, and in my spare time I snuggle cats.