Ant Walach

Ant began their career in the coffee industry, as many do, as a barista. Their keen attention to detail and understanding of the importance of personalized customer service quickly led them into management, café operations, and leadership training roles.

Ant holds multiple certifications from the Specialty Coffee Association of America, including Level 1 Barista and Level 1 Roaster. They particularly enjoy honing their sensory skills, which they developed further as Head of Roasting & Quality Control in their previous role.

Since 2013, Ant has been actively involved in judging US Coffee Competitions, serving as Chair of the US Roaster Championship Competition Committee most recently. They’ve also judged at the regional and national levels for the Brewer’s Cup and Roasters Championship, starting in 2012, and observed internationally at the 2013 Guatemala Cup of Excellence.

Ant’s passion for teaching shines through in their approach to training. They take pride in identifying each client’s unique learning style, making training sessions enjoyable and ensuring better information retention. Ant aspires to mentor by example, paying forward the guidance they’ve received throughout their career.

Rita Kaminsky

Rita has over 16 years of experience in the specialty coffee industry focusing primarily on operations management and training. She has also enjoyed positions on editorial advisory boards and contributing to product development projects. Since 2006, she has been involved with the Barista Competitions and has obtained experience as a judge and coach in the regional, national and international events. She currently sits as Chair of the US Coffee in Good Spirits Competition Committee.

Rita prides herself on making the environment around her more inviting, efficient and organized. After decades of management experience, she has mastered the ability to: successfully maintain cafes, retain happy employees and provide as positive and rewarding customer experience. 

Her strengths lie in creating customized operating procedures and coordinating the multiple variables of running a business. From building training guides to helping you troubleshoot equipment problems, Rita is well versed in the industry and looking to assist you toward your business goals. It is a delicate balance for café owners to provide exceptional quality in beverages and service to their customers. Rita is excited to share her knowledge and experience on how to become more systematic and prosperous.