Unwind Cafe Rolls Out House Roasts at the University of Pittsburgh

The 5-kilo Diedrich machine powering the Unwind coffee program. Courtesy photo.

The aroma of freshly roasted coffee is mingling with the late summer breezes at the University of Pittsburgh with the launch of Unwind, a new cafe supported by an on-campus roastery. 

Unwind is opening inside The Eatery, the university’s largest dining facility. Through a window along Forbes Avenue, passersby can see a Diedrich DR-5 roaster standing tall in the Unwind kitchen, where an in-house gelato program is also underway. 

Operated by Pitt Eats — the local branch of Chartwells Higher Ed — Unwind has transitioned from sourcing roasted coffee from Pittsburgh-based The Coffee Tree Roasters to producing its own. Pitt Eats Retail Manager Tony Loukas now serves as head roaster, crafting four house blends: the light Oakland Roast, the darker Roc’s Roast, the Panther Perk espresso blend and the decaf 787 Blend.

Unwind cafe inside The Eatery. Courtesy photo.

Recognizing an educational opportunity for the on-campus operation, Loukas reached out to Coffee Tree Roasters President and CEO Jean M. Swoope for guidance and collaboration.

“Pitt had already purchased a Diedrich roaster and was looking for a partner to teach them about the roaster, to train them to roast and to help the team identify the coffees they would like to serve on campus,” Swoope told Daily Coffee News. “As a long time partner of University of Pittsburgh, this presented a great opportunity for us both.”

Keisho Akamatsu, head of coffee and lead roaster for Coffee Tree, trains and supervises Loukas, who plans to expand the program to include more workers over time. As the roasting operation expands, Loukas plans to pass his acquired knowledge onto new workers. 

The partnership holds special meaning for Swoope, whose company shares deep ties to the Diedrich brand. 

Courtesy photo.

“We opened our first Coffee Tree Roasters location in 1993 with a 25-kilo Diedrich roaster in the front window, which we love and still have and use,” Swoope said. “While Pitt’s roaster is far more advanced 32 years later, we still have a passion for this brand, and serendipitously, this sealed the deal for me.”

In The Eatery’s open food court setting, Unwind baristas prepare drinks using a Thermoplan superautomatic espresso machine and Bunn batch brewer, with milks and syrups supplied through Iron Star Roasting, Coffee Tree’s equipment and distribution sibling brand. The cafe will officially open when classes begin. 

Courtesy photo.

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