Every year for the past 27 years, coffee geeks and industry professionals have gotten together in some lucky city for what’s called “The Event”. It’s a magical place full of some of the best coffees in the world, the coolest new ways to make them and make them better, and the most talented, coffee obsessed people in the country.
During this nearly week-long event you can go to symposiums, classes and lectures, browse the enormous expo floor (and get lots of swag), watch or compete in the cupping, brewing or barista championships, consume more caffeine than your body can take and learn more in a day than you’ve been able to pound out by yourself in a year. On top of all this, there are parties and hangouts and fun times to be had by all.
It’s real neat.
This year for the first time, The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) held the event in Houston, a city which has been generating a lot of buzz (see what I did there?) recently for places like Catalina, and Greenway. Not everyone gives the south a lot of respect when it comes to coffee, but thanks to cities like Atlanta, Austin and our very own Nashville, we’re definitely building our street cred and becoming more and more visible. This is the second time we’ve attended SCAA and already we’ve met tons of fantastic people who greet us with warmth and respect. People we can learn from, teach or just share a mind blowing Geisha Colombia with. It’s so much fun to be working the complimentary coffee bar and have the actual farmers of a brilliant coffee bring you some to brew up and try (this is where Sean’s fluent spanish comes in handy).
We did a lot of volunteering this year. Sean and Nathanael (of Beve) worked several shifts at Cafe BGA (Barista Guild of America), and despite not having as much time for the lectures or expo floor, they were right in the middle of the competitions and got to meet and make coffee for lots of great people. They also both took and passed their BGA Level 2 Exams, joining a small and skilled group of people in the USA (Seriously. Nathanael was the only one who passed the day he took it). Of course, they won’t be completely certified till they actually take the classes intended to prep you for the test, but they hope to be able to do that this fall at BGA’s Camp Pull-A-Shot.
Ben and Rachel spent a lot of time researching lots of roasters and getting advice and opinions from many people including our much loved Aaron Blanco (of Brown Coffee co.), and arrived at a decision for CREMA’s new roastery! More details on that soon…
We also all had time to attend a couple sponsored parties and events. Beve competed in a brew-off at Revival Market (SO cool) with a special Ethiopian from Brown and took second place! There was a huge get together and lots of great beer at St. Arnold Brewery, and the BGA wrap party was at ANVIL, a place our friends over at the Patterson House had raved to us about. Can you say 6(six!) wet bars? Dang.
Really though, for all the new toys we play with and brain stretching we experience, the best thing about these gatherings and probably even the best thing about working in coffee is the people. No other industry we’ve experienced is as open, welcoming, collaborative and passionate as these people. This goes for Nashville peeps too, and we’re so happy and proud to be a part of what’s happening at home and abroad.
Can’t wait for next year.