Meet the Author | Who is Christine Rollings, author of My Barista ABCs?
Welcome to the first article in a series of getting to know the authors behind your favorite coffee books.
First up is Christine Rollings, the woman behind My Barista ABCs, a one-of-a-kind board book for toddlers to learn about their parents’ coffee obsession.
My Barista ABCs is always one of Contributor’s best sellers online and at coffee events, because it’s just so darn cute. Many a barista parent has been positively tickled at the idea of teaching their kids that “p” is for portafilter.
Christine is writing back to me from her home base in Alberta, Canada, where she self-published My Barista ABCs.
Buy My Barista ABCs
Tigger: How do you introduce yourself to someone within the coffee industry versus someone who isn’t?
Christine: To be honest, this is something that’s still evolving for me.
In the coffee world, I’ve often introduced myself in connection to my husband, Trent—he’s an Authorized SCA Trainer and a World Coffee Championships judge, and he runs Timberline Coffee School. That’s been the easiest shorthand, and for a long time it felt natural to point to that affiliation.
But more recently, I’ve been learning to say, “I wrote a coffee book.” That shift has been meaningful for me—owning my place in the industry in my own way.
That said, I don’t usually lead with that when I walk into a café. Both Trent and I are pretty aware that naming what we do can sometimes put pressure on baristas, and that’s never what we want. We really just want to enjoy the space like anyone else. Although, occasionally, it does mean we end up with a very carefully made drink.
If I’m talking to someone outside of coffee, I introduce myself quite differently. I’ll usually say I’m a writer—that’s the core of how I see myself. I love storytelling, art, music, and learning about people and places. And I am a mom, which is a huge part of my life, but not always the first thing I lead with. It’s something that shapes me deeply, but it’s also shaped by who I am as a person.
Coffee is part of my world, but storytelling is the thread that runs through everything. I drink a cup or two every day—it’s my version of self-care. I’m not someone who’s going to spend time doing my makeup in the morning, but I will take the time to make a really good cup of coffee. It’s a small daily ritual that grounds me.
What other projects or businesses do you work on, and what kinds of professional/personal hats do you wear?
At my core, I’m a writer.
Writing is how I process the world—whether that’s journaling, poetry, or longer-form storytelling. It’s how I make sense of my experiences and express things that feel complex or hard to articulate otherwise.
I’m also a mom, and I homeschool our daughter. We lean more toward an unschooling approach, which means we follow curiosity and interest as a guide. That’s been really fascinating to watch, especially in something like coffee. Both of our kids are naturally drawn to it—brewing, experimenting, asking questions—and it ends up developing so many different skills without it being forced.
I also have a background in counseling, which shows up in a more specific way through something I offer called birth story listening. It’s essentially the art of listening and helping someone process and tell the story of their birth experience and their journey into becoming a parent. That work has been incredibly meaningful to me and deeply connected to how I see people and stories.
Alongside that, I do freelance writing and some marketing work, and honestly, a lot of my roles are shaped by what’s needed in the season I’m in—whether that’s supporting my family, creative projects, or building spaces for connection, especially for kids learning about emotions and relationships.
At the center of all of it is a through-line of storytelling, curiosity, and helping people feel seen and understood.
What’s a recent book you’ve read that resonated with you?
Lately, I’ve been really enjoying The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman.
I read the first few books pretty quickly, and now I’m intentionally slowing down with the fourth because I don’t want it to end. There’s something really beautiful about stepping into the lives of these older characters—their friendships, their reflections, and the way they think about life and death.
It’s light and funny, but also surprisingly thoughtful. The way the series touches on things like aging and Alzheimer’s, in particular, has really stayed with me.
It’s been a really lovely reading experience.
What’s your current favorite home brewing device?
The Hario Switch—now and forever.
I love how simple and reliable it is, but more than that, I love how it fits into our life. My three-year-old loves being part of the process—he’ll stand there and wait to push the switch, and we count down together before he releases it.
It turns something small into a shared moment, which is really what I care about most.
If you’re curious about the process behind writing a coffee book or the world of self-publishing, read the next part in this series: Christine Rollings on the making of My Barista ABCs
