Coffee sourcing is undergoing a quiet, tech-enabled revolution, and there are few people better equipped to talk about than Kat Melheim.

Through her roles at Black & White, her time on a Hawaiian coffee farm, and now at Algrano, Kat has been part of a shift toward greater transparency and accessibility, especially in the roasting and green buying realms.

The digitization of coffee sourcing isn’t just a convenience play – it’s fundamentally altering who gets to participate and how value flows through the supply chain.

I wanted to understand if we’re witnessing a true disruption or just a repackaging of the same old power structures with a tech interface. Kat’s perspective, from someone who’s operated at multiple points in the value chain, offers some great clarity on what’s really happening here, and what roasters who are just coming onto the green buying scene need to know about sourcing digitally.

What You’ll Learn

• How coffee roasting’s culture of secrecy is evolving toward openness and collaboration
• The shift from traditional importing to technology-enabled direct sourcing platforms
• Algrano’s digital marketplace model for connecting producers and roasters
• The business advantages of forward buying for both sides of the supply chain
• Current market challenges facing traditional coffee importers
• How small roasters can now establish direct relationships from day one
• The important distinctions between direct sourcing and direct trade
• Why origin experiences fundamentally change coffee professionals’ perspectives
• How immersive origin trips create meaningful connections across the coffee industry

Chapters

00:00 Breaking Down Coffee Roasting Secrets

07:00 Modern Coffee Sourcing Evolution

15:15 Defining Direct Trade vs. Direct Sourcing

21:03 Algrano: Simplifying Coffee Trade Logistics

24:10 Digital Marketplaces vs. Traditional Importing

30:22 Current Challenges for Coffee Importers

34:01 How Technology Transforms Producer Relationships

37:33 Overcoming Forward Buying Hesitation

40:09 Algrano’s Transparent Business Model

44:06 Building Meaningful Producer Connections

46:01 Kat’s Origin Journey: Farm to Roastery

53:34 Creating Immersive Origin Experiences

58:08 How to Connect with Kat and Algrano

Where to Find Kat Melheim

• RoasterKat Instagram
• RoasterKat YouTube
• Algrano
• Coffee People Zine

Mentioned in the Episode

• Kona Farm Direct (Hawaiian coffee farm)
• El Vergel (Colombian coffee producer)
• Mountain Harvest

The Coffee Think Tank podcast is a show about trends, ideas, and innovations in coffee by Fresh Cup, hosted by Garrett Oden. Subscribe to Fresh Cup for more industry insights at freshcup.com.