Sam has spent the last 15 years working across coffee roasting, quality control, sourcing, and operations for Intelligentsia. He joined the company in 2011 as a production roaster, and is now the Senior Director of Coffee & Operations. 

Since beginning coffee purchases in 2012, Sam has worked with coffee farmers across multiple coffee-growing countries, focusing on long-term relationships and sustainable value creation throughout the supply chain.  Sam’s approach to sourcing was shaped early in his buying career during the leaf rust crisis, when many producers experienced dramatic reductions in yield. This experience reinforced his belief that specialty coffee’s value is maximized when quality, producer viability, and consumer value are aligned. 

Sam is particularly passionate about regional and variety-driven coffees presented with transparent processing methods.  He believes coffee’s greatest opportunity lies in helping consumers understand how variety, geography, and farming practices influence cup quality.