One hot afternoon, Shane stepped into the cool space of a local downtown Chico cafe and ordered a cup of Ethiopia Mocha Harrar.  He describes the experience as "mind blowing." He was fourteen. With his perception altered, Shane sought out local coffee houses wherever he traveled. In the decades that followed, he worked as a baker, brewer, and as a specialized finish contractor. In 2010, an ad for a one pound San Franciscan roaster caught his attention. With the purchase of this small SF1, he began experimenting with different coffees--discovering regions around the equator through the varietals that thrived in certain soils and at certain elevations. He experimented with different roasts and how the flavor of the coffees were enhanced, nuanced, and highlighted. His notebooks sit stacked next to the little San Franciscan roaster filled with times, temperatures, percentages of air, and how those relate to the cracking and color of the beans. Shane began giving samples to his family and to customers. As he experimented further he developed several signature roasts that became the core of Rusty Roof offerings. In 2014 Shane visited San Franciscan Roaster Company in Fallon Nevada to speak with the owner, Bill, about a larger roaster. The result was a research and development project--the Golden Gate Roaster. With this larger roaster Shane expanded into coffee houses and grocery all the while keeping his 60 hour a week construction business running with his wife, Dolores, and brother Gage Wade.

Dolores had been a part of Rusty Roof Coffee, labeling, bagging, and helping with customers. The expansion of the company came when both Shane and Gage stepped away from the world of construction and decided to focus solely on coffee. Shane's step father, Dennis Wade, invested in Rusty Roof Coffee by financing the purchase of two 75 pound US Roasters built in Oklahoma City. While the expansion is filled with stumbling blocks and learning curves, we are all incredibly grateful and excited to begin this next chapter.  While we are growing we remain committed to producing the highest quality coffee possible. Our coffees have always been purchased from importers with the highest integrity. We have sought out organic coffees, women farmers, and farmers doing good things whenever possible. We believe organic makes a difference. The coffees taste better and organic is better for the communities, farmers and people working closely with the crops. Roast Master Shane's next goal for Rusty Roof Coffee is to have our facility certified organic.