Excellent4.9127 reviews
 
4.9
 
Excellent127 reviews
 
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 Lixon Wang 
 
59 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
 
I was a student with Valerian Hrala for the SCA Sensory Skills Foundation, SCA Sensory Skills Intermediate, SCA Q Grader, and coffee business course.
I give my fullest recommendation for Valerian as an instructor to students who are passionate about coffee, care deeply about people, and value learning in a respectful, collaborative, and welcoming environment.

I entrust Valerian with furthering my coffee education firstly for his generosity with sharing his deep knowledge and experience. Coffee is a complicated subject, and having a professional  guide and train your skillset is an invaluable asset. A skilled and passionate teacher, Valerian explains important ideas with clarity and emphasis, taking the time to use different teaching modalities to assist all types of learners understand and internalize important lessons.
Valerian prepares and teaches with great detail and intention. As a student, you will find countless instances where his exceptional dedication and care enrich a routine exercise into a memorable learning experience. For example, to teach us how to identify roast defects, Valerian roasted cofffees himself to the standard of the SCA definition, as he found that to be higher fidelity than ready- made demonstration kits. In sensory development and olfactory description, he taught us a framework for communicating and categorizing scents and supplemented the Le Nez du Cafe kit with many other interesting scents to expand our ability to discern a wide variety of fragrances. I felt deeply moved by his dedication and commitment to our growth and success.
Valerian is also a great resource for entrepreneurs establishing a coffee business. In the business course, he shares hard-earned practical advice and experience while encouraging students to exercise their creativity and individuality in their product, packaging, and marketing. I regard his mentorship as a worthwhile time and cost-saving investment, and I would recommend it to those who are serious about pursuing a successful venture in this field.
Beyond that, Valerian is also a fantastic person to be around. He is approachable, honest, and humorous. In moments when student’s experience tension, fatigue, or fixation, he is a person that will give perspective and encouragement. As a result, class is always a joyful event, regardless how challenging the schedule or exercise may feel. I am grateful to find a gathering place for individuals who love both people and coffee.

Valerian brings out the best of you, and you will have a great experience learning from him. I depart each course with a greater appreciation for my craft and peers, and I am sure you will too.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Phuong Do 
 
127 days ago
 
 
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Usually people only write reviews when they have a really bad experience or a really good one. For me, taking classes with Valerian was such a good experience that I genuinely wanted to share it with others.

I took my first roasting class with Valerian when I knew absolutely nothing about coffee. I came in as a blank paper, and today I have my own roasting business. I feel incredibly lucky to have learned from one of the best.

Valerian is incredibly patient, never makes you feel dumb for asking questions, and somehow explains coffee in a way that just clicks. Things that felt intimidating at first became fun and exciting to learn about.

I later came back to take the Q Grader course with him for the new CVA exams. I’ve heard so many people say the Q Grader is extremely difficult and stressful, so I was honestly nervous going into it. But Valerian made the whole experience surprisingly enjoyable and memorable. The course was organized so well, and every lesson built naturally into the next. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I actually found myself really enjoying the process.

The Q Grader course was honestly one of the best classes I’ve ever taken. I cannot recommend Valerian enough, whether you are completely new to coffee or looking to deepen your professional knowledge.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Masoud 
 
164 days ago
 
 
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+4
I recently completed the Coffee Roasting course at Boot Coffee and had a great experience. It gave me a much better understanding of roasting fundamentals and improved my confidence in my work.

As someone working in coffee, I found the hands-on approach and Valerian’s guidance extremely valuable. Highly recommend
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Chris Esposo 
 
286 days ago
 
 
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This course broadened my knowledge of coffee. I have never roast coffee before so it was all new to me. Valerian was very helpful and knowledgeable about the coffee culture, trend, and business. I definitely recommend this course for those who are interested in coffee roasting business.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Brandon Arcilla 
 
288 days ago
 
 
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The course was exactly what I was looking for. I wanted to learn to roast on a larger machine with more control and software to track, learn more about some confusion I had around certain parts of roasting theory - we did that and more within the first 3 days. I wanted to get a better understanding of how to go about a roasting business - we did that and more with the rest of the week. All to say, my confidence in roasting and starting a business has grew. I feel that the ROI from the knowledge I gained through the coffee business course will return x folds. Invest in yourself and check out Boot classes!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Emma Kuhne 
 
364 days ago
 
 
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+2
My mom and I both took the COFFEE ROASTING LAB PRO BUSINESS course and had an amazing experience. We started out knowing nothing about roasting, and left knowing more than most people. Valerian is such a good and inspirational teacher. I felt comfortable to ask a plethora of questions, and have them all answered in depth. The amount of knowledge I learned about coffee, roasting, and the coffee business in just five days is incredible.
I also took the coffee foundations course and it was amazing as well. After these courses, I feel equipped to be a better coffee consumer, connoisseur, roaster, and to enter the coffee industry. I highly recommend going to Boot Coffee Campus and taking Valerians courses. I am excited to go back for more.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Yodit Semu 
 
477 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
 
+2
"Transformative Course – Worth Every Mile!"

This course was incredibly valuable—far more than just theoretical knowledge. Valerian brings genuine practical wisdom, drawing from his deep expertise in coffee and his own journey as a roaster and business owner. His anecdotes and real-world insights helped me manage my expectations, adapt my approach, and refine my business strategy.

I walked away truly changed after taking his roasting and coffee business course. Even though I drove 6.5 hours to attend, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Highly recommended for anyone serious about coffee!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Michael Arceneaux 
 
529 days ago
 
 
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The roasting lab Pro course was terrific. I learned so much. All very practical and useful info. And Valerian is an excellent instructor. Super knowledgeable about all aspects of the coffee business.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Angela Brown 
 
700 days ago
 
 
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I had a great experience at Boot Coffee Campus. I had previously  looked at several options for roasting classes, but the added business focus of this course made Boot's course an easy decision.  There was a very good balance between hands-on time at the roaster and more formal "classroom" instruction.  We also had ample time for discussion of our personal plans and goals amongst our group.
Everyone in our class arrived with varying backgrounds in coffee and very different plans for roasting in the future, but the class is set up with the flexibility that allowed us to personalize our experience and goals.  I also think the varied backgrounds within our group, and Valerian's encouragement to develop our plans for our businesses, created a valuable opportunity for peer to peer learning.  I look forward to coming back for another class or workshop soon!  Thank you!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 bob busick 
 
731 days ago
 
 
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This was a super class and delivered just what I had hoped.  The first 2 and 1/2 days were focused on learning to roast and the remaining days were focused on discussing the business side of the industry.  Although the roasting training portion was naturally focused on how to use the equipment (roasters, color analyzers, etc) at the school, there was plenty of exposure and discussion about other types equipment and roasting styles.

Our class had a nice mix of folks both with and without coffee roasting experience. The discussions and input from students  was particularly good.  Valerian does a great job getting everyone involved in discussions and it was great hearing the give and take throughout the week.

Bottom line:  This course is perfect if you're looking to learn how to roast and explore the myriad of factors you must consider if you're thinking of opening up a roastery or a coffee shop.  Well done, Boot Coffee.  I'll be back for other classes!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Juan Karmy 
 
926 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
 
+4
Roasting with Valerian was a fantastic experience. He is incredibly knowledgeable about roasting coffee, and the coffee business. As a seasoned coffee, roaster professional, Valerian taught the course, adding a personal touch coming from his experience as a roast master. He made sure that student always had enough time To practice and experience roasting coffee. Boot Campus It’s also well equipped with enough roaster to have plenty of time of practice for each student. I recommend taking courses and classes at Boot and with Valerian as instructor.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Omar Fawzy 
 
950 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
 
I recently had the incredible opportunity to take a coffee roasting course at Boot Coffee, and it was nothing short of transformative. From the outset, the course was engaging, deeply informative, and meticulously organized to cover all the essential aspects of coffee roasting. However, what truly set this experience apart was our instructor, Valerian.

Valerian was not just a teacher; he was a mentor who brought a wealth of knowledge and passion to every session. His approach to teaching was both attentive and inspiring, ensuring that each of us not only understood the concepts but also felt the excitement of the coffee roasting process. His expertise was evident in every lesson, as he navigated through complex topics with ease and clarity, making learning both accessible and enjoyable.

What I particularly appreciated about Valerian was his ability to customize parts of the program to suit my specific needs and interests. This personalized touch made the learning experience feel tailored just for me, allowing me to delve deeper into areas I was curious about and enhancing my understanding of the coffee roasting craft.

Valerian's dedication to his students was unmatched. He was always available for questions, going above and beyond to ensure we had the support and resources we needed to succeed. His enthusiasm for coffee roasting was contagious, and it was clear he genuinely cared about our learning and development.

I cannot recommend this course and Valerian highly enough. Whether you're new to coffee roasting or looking to deepen your existing skills, this program offers an unparalleled learning experience that is both comprehensive and deeply enriching. Valerian's expertise and personalized teaching approach will undoubtedly elevate your understanding and passion for coffee roasting.

For anyone considering a coffee roasting course, Boot Coffee, under Valerian's guidance, is an exceptional choice.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Derek Opperman 
 
1015 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
 
Spent a super informative week at Boot taking the Coffee Roasting Biz course. I liked it so much that I'm going to go back for the Sensory courses as well. Highly recommended!
  
 
 
 
 
 
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