Come to Conversation Corner at Coffee Fest L.A.

Join Barista Magazine at the Conversation Corner to discuss hiring, retention, equipment repair, and more with industry experts at Coffee Fest Los Angeles.

BY KENNETH R. OLSON
BARISTA MAGAZINE

On August 28, from noon to 4 p.m., Barista Magazine will be hosting the first Conversation Corner at Coffee Fest Los Angeles. The Conversation Corner will feature a Q&A with specialty-coffee experts Heather Perry from Klatch Coffee, Jasmin McGinnis of Barista’s Daily Grind, and Air Perez of Black Rabbit Service.

The Conversation Corner will be on the show floor. There is no additional cost to attend, and reservations are not required. You can drop in at any time for any session.

Heather Perry at a Coffee Fest.
Heather Perry, a multi-time USBC champ from Klatch Coffee, will talk about the benefits of barista competition in building company culture and more. Image courtesy of Heather Perry.

Lessons from Competition with Heather Perry

The first session of the Conversation Corner will feature Heather Perry talking about lessons she has taken away from competition that have made her a better coffee professional. Heather won the United States Barista Championship twice and finished second at the 2007 World Barista Championship. She has worked in multiple positions at her family business, Klatch Coffee in San Dimas, Calif., and has more than two decades of experience as a frontline barista and manager.

Jasmin McGinnis posing at a table in a field.
Jasmin McGinnis of Barista’s Daily Grind will talk about hiring and retaining employees at the Conversation Corner at Coffee Fest L.A.

Staff Training and Retention with Jasmin McGinnis

At prior Coffee Fests, Barista Magazine has led panel discussions with industry experts, and one of the most common questions we’ve heard is about how to find and keep quality employees. Especially in towns and cities outside of major markets, the talent pool for employees might seem slim, but Jasmin McGinnis has built a top-rate specialty coffee business, Barista’s Daily Grind, in Kearney, Neb. You can find out all about her in the August + September ’22 issue of Barista Magazine! She has some great tips to share and will be able to answer questions in the second session of the day from 1 to 2 p.m.

Air Perez posing.
Air Perez of Black Rabbit Service will talk about best practices for keeping your equipment in shape and more. Image courtesy of Air Perez.

Equipment Questions Answered with Air Perez

Black Rabbit Service provides support for cafés, and the founders contribute the column ”High Maintenance” for Barista Magazine, where they answer reader questions. Air Perez from Black Rabbit will be joining the Conversation Corner from 2 to 3 p.m. to answer questions on machine maintenance, equipment repair, getting the most from your tech support, and more.

Happy Hour

From 3 to 4 p.m., you can join us for a happy hour of socializing. On the Rocks Cocktails will provide drinks, and you can ask the experts any lingering questions or just enjoy a drink to end the first day of Coffee Fest.

About Ken 262 Articles
Kenneth R. Olson (he/him) is co-founder and publisher of Barista Magazine the worldwide trade magazine for the professional coffee community. He has written extensively about specialty coffee, traveled near and far for stories, activities, and fun, and been invited to present on topics important to coffee culture. He is also an avid fan of the Portland Trail Blazers, the Washington Huskies, and public libraries.