The Specialty Coffee Expo kicks off this week—here are all the goings-on to know about.
COMPILED BY SARAH ALLEN
BARISTA MAGAZINE
Feature image courtesy of Specialty Coffee Association
There are so many fun and exciting parties and off-site events happening during the Specialty Coffee Expo in Chicago this week! Here is a list of every one of them we know about!
THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 11
What: The Pacific Coast Coffee Association’s (PCCA) Board of Directors invites members to the Annual PCCA get-together. Enjoy drinks, appetizers, and Chicago-style pizza. RSVP required.
When: 4–6 p.m.
Where: Pizano’s, 2106 S. Indiana St., Chicago
What: U.S.A. Comandante Championship + Leaderboard Live. Competition open to all, coffee negronis, ’80s dance party, new game to play IRL.
When: 5–9 p.m.
Where: Dayglow Coffee, 1757 N. Kimball Ave., Chicago
What: Big Shoulders Coffee Roasting Workshop, pitting guest roasters against each other to duke it out in the roasting ring and develop a small batch of coffee. The catch: Participants have no information about the coffee they will roast. The goal is to demystify the roasting process, and to learn from professionals along the way. RSVP here.
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Big Shoulders Roastery, 2415 W. 19th St., Chicago
What: Something New Is Brewing In the Wild. Join YETI for an evening of cocktails, coffee, and pizza. Note: You must RSVP via this link.
When: 6–9 p.m.
Where: YETI Chicago, 1572 N. Milwaukee Blvd., Chicago
What: Rancilio’s Welcome to Chicago Party
When: 6 p.m.-midnight
Where: Solemn Oath Still Life, 2919 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago
What: 100 years of Mahlkönig supported by 10 years of Standart
When: 6 p.m.-midnight
Where: Intelligentsia Chicago Roasting Works, 1850 W Fulton St., Chicago
FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 12
What: Café Comunion Takeover with Drip Collective
When: 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Where: Drip Collective, 172 N. Racine Ave., Chicago
Sponsors: Drip Collective, Café Comunion
What: Producer Breakfast + Panel Discussion. Cafe Imports invites you to taste coffees from multiple producers and exporters from around the world. Coffees and light breakfast will be served. Producers scheduled to attend: Félix Chambi – Bolivia; Rony Lavan – Peru; Jairo Ruiz – Colombia; Iwan Putra – Sumatra; Ujang Hasnan – Sumatra; Ashok Patre – India. Note: You must RSVP via the Eventbrite link.
When: 8:30–10 a.m.
Where: 600 West Cermak Road, Chicago
Sponsor: Cafe Imports
FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 12
What: Stronger Than Coffee Screening
When: 5-7 p.m.
Where: Morrison Family Foundation, 50 East Washington, Chicago
What: Actionable Impact
When: 5:30 p.m.: panel discussion; 7:30 p.m.: party
Where: Metric Coffee, 2021 W. Fulton St., Chicago
What: Chi-Town Wine Mixer
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Foxtrot Market, 171 North Green, Chicago
What: Espresso Throwdown & After Party
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Guinness Open Gate Brewery, 901 W. Kinzie St., Chicago
What: Elevating Dreams, Erasing Divides – A Coffee & Innovation Pitch Competition
When: 6-9 p.m.
Where: The Hatchery, 135 North Kedzie Ave., Chicago
What: Weber Workshops Brewing Competition. Drinks, snacks and swag. DJ sets by Lem Butler and Abner Roldán.
When: 6:30 p.m.: sign-up; 7 p.m.: start
Where: Dayglow Coffee, 1757 N. Kimball Ave., Chicago
What: Synesso’s 20th Anniversary Party, featuring Andrea Allen and Doyenne
When: 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Where: Middleby Residential, 350 N. Wells St., Chicago
What: Coffee Technicians Guild Party featuring food and drinks
When: 7–9 p.m.
Where: Lavazza Training Center, 444 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 3220, Chicago
SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 13
What: World of Coffee 5K Run, fundraiser for Girls Gotta Run
When: 7 a.m.
Where: 858 N. State St., Chicago
What: A Conversation about Kenya, with Dormans Coffee and Cafe Imports. Kennedy Keya, director of trading and operations for Dormans Coffee, will give a presentation about all of the changes and unique challenges surrounding the purchase and export of Kenyan coffee this year. Coffee and light breakfast will be served. Note: You must RSVP via the EventBrite link.
When: 8:30–10 a.m.
Where: 600 West Cermak Road, Chicago
SCA Expo 2024 Parties & Events
SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 13
What: Washed & Naturals: DJ Lem “Sexyfoam” Butler. wood-fired pizza, natural wines, beer
When: 5-9 p.m.
Where: Metric Coffee, 2021 W. Fulton St., Chicago
What: Coffee Is Dead
When: 6 p.m.–2 a.m.
Where: Dark Matter Coffee, 475 N. Campbell Ave., Chicago
What: Ikawa and Algrano. Two technology driven-businesses want to take you from analog to digital over local beers, natural wine, and … Chicago-style hot dogs! It’ll be an evening of great company, excellent tunes, and more.
When: 6-9 p.m.
Where: Overflow Coffee, 1449 S Michigan Ave., Chicago
What: Coffee Roasters Guild Brews & Bites
When: 7–9 p.m.
Where: FatPour Tap Works McCormick, 2206 S. Indiana Ave., Chicago
What: Simonelli Group North America Party. An evening filled with gratitude, camaraderie, food, drink, and a special moment to raise a toast in memory of our beloved Gianni Cassatini.
When: 6–10 p.m.
Where: Bar Cargo Roman Pizza, 605 N. Wells, Chicago
What: La Marzocco SCA Expo Party
When: 8 p.m.
Where: City Hall Events, 838 W Kinzie St., Chicago
SCA Expo 2024 Parties & Events
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