COLD ROMAN - Key Persons
Donny Raus has been active in the coffee community for 18+ years. Having worked in various capacities, from barista to an educator and roaster, one thing has always rung true, coffee and people have always been his passions.
In college he worked for Starbucks and was selected to become one of the company's first certified coffee specialist with the title "Coffee Master". Later taking a job in corporate accounting and brought his coffee with him, literally. Armed with an espresso maker, drip coffee pot, and a half a dozen single origin coffees, his office became the meeting spot for company executives to get a great cup of coffee.
While still at Starbucks he started the "Free Pour Mailing List", the company's first comprehensive mailing list to include new product highlights, coffee tastings and pairing notes, equipment reviews, and subscriber Q&A. He also spent his time traveling the region presenting "Coffee Talk", an educational series on coffee and was commended by the company's President.
In 2005 he left Starbucks, as well as, the corporate world and in 2007 he founded the Connecticut Coffee Society, educating all who wanted to learn about the magic beverage through cupping. That same year he was elected President of the Northeast Regional Roasters Group, in charge of organizing the group's annual roasters retreat, where he served a term of 3-years.
Deciding there wasn't anything he'd rather do, in October 2007 took a leap of faith and started Raus Coffee Company, where he aims to make a difference by doing what he loves, coffee.
Today, Donny is a CQI Certified Q-Grader and 1 of 300 Certified Espresso Sommeliers in the world. His passion for travel brings him around the globe, exploring different brewing methodologies, as well as, training business and home enthusiast alike in the art of espresso.