It’s hard to believe that the industry’s most progressive coffee event ”Barista Nation ”is only in its second year. The non profit organization, which is the brainchild of industry vet Anastasia Chovan, has enjoyed successful workshops and community building events in Minneapolis, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, B.C., Tokyo, and more already, and this fall season will see the biggest and best Barista Nation held in the United States yet, for Barista Nation Los Angeles (Sept. 15), and its first European appearance in the form of Barista Nation Paris, on October 15.
Barista Nation Los Angeles (sign up now ”cost is only $10, which is a direct and 100% donation to CARE; if $10 is still too steep, scholarships are available) sees the emergence of fresh new instructors in the form of local experts; as Barista Nation has built its success through promoting local coffee communities through its one-day workshops, it only seemed fitting that Barista Nation involves some of each location’s regional super stars. So get ready, Los Angeles: The Barista Nation event will include presentations from Michael Phillips (2010 World Barista Champion) of Handsome Coffee Roasters in Los Angeles; Heather Perry (2007 World Barista Championship runner up) of Klatch Coffee in San Dimas, Calif.; Martin Deidrich of Kean Coffee and Mike Perry of Klatch Coffee teaching about roasting; Anne Nylander of the SCAA talking about the next step past the third wave movement, and much more! A special treat comes from Peter Giuliano of the SCAA, who will deliver the lunchtime keynote speech.
Barista Nation Los Angeles is being graciously hosted by Beyond the Grind in Anaheim (yes, that’s right, Barista Nation Los Angeles will actually take place in Anaheim), and Beyond the Grind‘s own Jonathan Sepulveda will teach a class called Beyond Barista Business Tools. Another of the many can’t-miss classes at Barista Nation Los Angeles is a panel discussion moderated by Barista Magazine’s Kenneth R. Olson called Beyond Being a Barista, in which Ken will chat with industry professionals about how they got to their present positions in the industry ”green buyer, industry liason, roaster, etc. ”and what paths are available to baristas who want to stay in coffee but might want to expand past being a barista.
Onward to Le France: I’m super stoked to be headed to Paris, France, with two amazing women ”Anastasia of UNIC, which is a French company that makes some of the most beautiful and high performing boutique espresso machines in the world; and Sonja Grant of Kaffismiðja Ãslands, a beautiful, super cool cafe in Reykjavik, Iceland. Sonja is the outgoing chair of the World Coffee Events organization, and is one of the original advocates for baristas in the world. Sonja, Anastasia and I will help lead this women-focused Barista Nation in Paris, which is being generously sponsored by Cafes Richard.
Paris has a booming specialty coffee scene these days, and I can’t wait to tour some of the great cafes that are really making strides to elevate specialty coffee in this historic city.
So it’s going to be a busy fall for Barista Nation! All coffee professionals are welcome to the community oriented events ”regarding Barista Nation Los Angeles, register early by donating $10 to CARE at www.care.org and e-mail your receipt to baristanation@gmail.com. Space is limited to 200. And if you would like to apply for a scholarship, email with your interest to baristanation@gmail.com.
As far as Barista Nation Paris goes, save the date if you’d like to attend (October 15), and stay tuned for more details!
