US Brand Directory
Lincoln, Nebraska · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive
The Coffee Roaster
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Limited public info
Visit The Coffee Roaster's site The Coffee Roaster is a long-standing, family-operated specialty coffee business in Lincoln, Nebraska, that has specialized in air-roasted coffee since 1995. Using a Sivetz fluid-bed roaster, they focus on creating consistent, clean-tasting roasts while fostering a community-centered space for coffee education and events.
Ownership
The Coffee Roaster is an independent, family-owned business. It was founded by Gary Karnes and is currently owned and operated by his daughter, Sam Karnes, and her husband, Vince Ruhl.
Founded
1995
Roasting
Roasts its own coffee.
What it's known for
The brand is known for being Lincoln's only air-roastery, utilizing Sivetz fluid-bed roasting technology to produce coffee without the charred or bitter notes often associated with traditional drum roasting.
Farm-level sourcing
The brand emphasizes thoughtful sourcing and offers a variety of single-origin coffees and signature blends. However, they do not publicly list specific farm or producer names for their current offerings on their website.
Sources used in this deep dive
- https://coffeeroasterlnk.com/
- https://coffeeroasterlnk.com/pages/about
- https://www.omahamagazine.com/faces-of-lincoln/sam-karnes-amp-vince-ruhl-the-coffee-roaster-faces-of-lincoln-2025
- https://www.1011now.com/2025/06/21/coffee-roaster-celebrates-30-years-lincoln-staple
- https://www.dailynebraskan.com/culture/a-good-roast-lincoln-shop-air-roasts-coffee-beans/article_0295c802-b77b-11e6-84cc-3be5f9381979.html
- https://www.eventbrite.com/o/the-coffee-roaster-12012942052
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-09-27. It is not a review: we have not tasted this brand's coffee. Ownership, roasting and sourcing claims belong to the brand and its published materials. While the brand mentions sourcing thoughtfully, they do not provide a list of specific countries or farm-level details on their public-facing website.