My name is Heath Blackmon I am a faculty member in the Biology Department. My lab studies the evolution of genomes and sex chromosomes across the tree of life. Everyone that knows my lab knows that we could never get all of our science done without a constant supply of coffee. In fact, when I'm not in the lab I'm usually at a local coffee shop letting the caffeine fuel my writing and analyses!

Rodrigo is our coffee industry advisor, and is also the Coffee Research Center’s Project & Training Coordinator. His expertise in coffee ranges from being a coffee grower in Guatemala  to purchasing a specialty coffee roasting and commercialization facility here in College Station, Texas called What’s The Buzz (WTB). So naturally, we have teamed up with him and WTB to bring specialty coffee to our meetings and events.

“I enjoy traveling and learning about other cultures. I have had the opportunity to travel throughout most of Europe, North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean.” From each place he visits, he collects coins and bills.  Besides working with “coffee” Rodrigo enjoys cooking and mixing flavors from other cultures. Outside of the coffee industry, Rodrigo is fond of building or remodeling older homes or industrial warehouses and turning them into lofts or office space.

Lexi is our 2023-2024 president and former vice president and photographer. She is originally from Arkansas and is a Senior Mechanical Engineering major. Growing up in a small town, she wasn’t introduced to the specialty coffee scene until six years ago, when a sip of a friend’s drink quickly led to a love and obsession. Since then, she has spent lots of time researching brewing methods and accruing equipment for a small home setup. When she doesn't have a cup of coffee in her hands, Lexi can be found crocheting or playing the guitar. Lexi someday hopes to open her own Coffee Shop. 

Harrison is our Event Coordinator. He is a junior Computer Engineering major, and his favorite brewing device is the V60.  After discovering the world of specialty coffee as a freshman, he has been collecting multiple pieces of brewing equipment and trying many types of coffee, all from the comfort of his dorm!

Kristin Hamons became truly immersed in the coffee industry when she started working for What’s the Buzz Coffee Co. There she was first introduced to single origin coffee and has not looked back since. Love at first sip, Tanzania Peaberry became her all-time favorite. Kristin completed her Bachelor of Science in Horticulture in 2016 and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Entomology. You can spot her with a butterfly net in one hand and coffee in the other.