InterAmerican Coffee Trader Kayd Whalen recently visited her alma mater, the University of San Diego, to speak with students about the world of coffee importing. The experience, she said, was energizing! The students were fully engaged, asking thoughtful questions and diving deep into everything from roasting techniques to the global coffee supply chain.
“It’s exciting to see coffee becoming part of university curricula across California — from the UC Davis Coffee Center to USD’s roasting and coffee engineering courses,” Kayd reflected.
In one business and economics course, students explored all aspects of coffee production and roasting. They’re challenging conventions, per Kayd, even experimenting with ways to roast using minimal energy.
During Kayd’s presentation, students asked about tariffs, supply chain dynamics, the shelf life of green coffee and why specialty coffee hasn’t fully separated from the C market. Kayd guided them through discussions about the unique challenges of different coffee-producing countries, including production practices, market access and the cost of cultivation. For example, in Papua New Guinea, as well as in Indonesia’s Sumatra region, coffee is often grown in “garden” settings at people’s homes rather than on commercial farms — a striking contrast to other producing countries.
What energized Kayd most was the students’ curiosity and desire to make a positive impact. They wanted to understand how coffee affects farmers’ lives and how they might contribute to improving socio-economic conditions in producing regions. It was a powerful reminder that encouraging curiosity and responsible action in young people — and coffee drinkers! — is a key to building a thriving, sustainable society.
Kayd also noted the rapid growth of San Diego’s local coffee scene. From just a handful of roasters a decade ago, the city now boasts more than 50, giving students and residents access to fresh, locally roasted coffee everywhere — a perfect backdrop for learning about the industry firsthand.
Curious to learn more, too? Click here to view some of the slides Kayd shared with the USD students. •
