Working Towards Cuppers' Alignment in Descriptive Assessment
Workshop Description: If you've become familiar with CVA through the last year and are curious about how to incorporate the idea of alignment for the Descriptive Assessment, this workshop is for you!
Using references from the WCR Lexicon to exemplify intensity - and using additional CVA specific tools to exemplify CATA Descriptors, this workshop will focus on a few alignment activities for intensities and descriptors.
Group discussion is always welcome and we'll emphasize the idea that alignment can be welcome in the (objective) Descriptive Assessment - but is still unnecessary in the Affective Assessment.
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Room Number: 360DEF
Category: Brewing/Sensory
Booking: To book your place in this Workshop, head to the Specialty Coffee Expo Registration Portal and add a session to your order. Already registered? Simply enter your email address and badge code to access your booking and add other paid events to your badge.
Instructor
Roukiat Delrue (she/her)
Consultant
World-renowned expert in professional level coffee education, development, and innovation. Detail oriented and creator and co-creator of education programs – including implementation and further quality assurance of certified individuals and instructors.
Subject matter expertise in several aspects of the coffee industry including green coffee, objective quality assessment, post-harvest processing and brewing, and competition judging.
Familiarity with diverse languages and cultures, allowing for ease of communication throughout the coffee chain as well as teaching to producers or consumers alike.
Boost Your Social Ventures: Sustainable Project Funding through Crowdfunding
Workshop Description: This workshop is designed for leaders and entrepreneurs in the coffee industry who aim to transform their ideas into impactful sustainable initiatives. Led by Olga Velásquez, CEO of Raíces Colectivo, participants will benefit from her extensive experience in sustainability and fieldwork across Central America. Olga will share insights on various initiatives and discuss critical elements that enhance project viability.
Conducted entirely in Spanish, the workshop will focus on formulating projects that attract mass funding by refining key elements that resonate with potential donors. Participants will take their own ideas, analyze their specific challenges, and access valuable background information on other producers. They will learn how to utilize Raíces Colectivo’s free crowdfunding platform to support their initiatives.
Additionally, participants can develop a sustainable investment initiative that can be funded directly through their commercial partners or submitted to the platform. Through practical exercises, attendees will create compelling proposals and effective crowdfunding campaigns. The session will be recorded and published in English, ensuring wider accessibility. By the end, participants will understand how to transition from ideas to well-structured projects ready for crowdfunding, empowering lasting change in their communities.
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Room Number: 371AB
Category: Business
Booking: To book your place in this Workshop, head to the Specialty Coffee Expo Registration Portal and add a session to your order. Already registered? Simply enter your email address and badge code to access your booking and add other paid events to your badge.
Instructor
Olga Velasquez
The Profitable Cafe: Financial Strategies for Sustainable Success
Workshop Description: What does a healthy cafe budget look like? And how do you match that to the reality of operations?
In the dynamic job of running a cafe, a solid grasp of budgeting is vital for sustainable success. This workshop is designed to empower cafe owners, managers, and aspiring entrepreneurs with the foundational tools to create, analyze, and optimize a budget that drives profitability. Attendees will dive into key areas of the P&L—like cost of goods (COGs), labor, and occupancy—to understand how each impacts the overall health of their business and how to control them ongoing via operational decisions.
Using a fill-in-the-blank workbook, attendees actively engage in analyzing financial metrics, calculating ideal expense percentages, and learning actionable methods to control costs. This workshop transforms complex financial concepts into manageable, practical steps. Plus, we’ll explore real strategies for boosting cafe sales and inspiring cafe workers to engage better with the business. Attendees will leave feeling enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and equipped with practical budgeting insights to support their cafe's growth.
This workshop would be perfect for people brand new to these concepts or even experienced cafe owners who are having a difficult time controlling expenses.
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Room Number: 370AB
Category: Business
Booking: To book your place in this Workshop, head to the Specialty Coffee Expo Registration Portal and add a session to your order. Already registered? Simply enter your email address and badge code to access your booking and add other paid events to your badge.
Instructor
Erica Escalante
Tastes Like Tropical Fruits: Understanding Fruit Flavors and Aromas from the Tropics
Workshop Description: In this hands-on workshop, attendees will explore the sensory attributes of a wide range of tropical fruits and how to use them to appropriately describe tastes and flavors found in specialty coffee. Additionally, through a series of tasting and description activities, attendees will learn valuable tools to improve their sensory memory and approach flavor description in an effective way.
After completing the workshop attendees will be able to:
• Identify and describe the distinct flavors and aromas of 15+ tropical fruits.
• Develop and improve their sensory memory to better recognize fruit-related flavor notes in coffee.
• Enhance their vocabulary for effectively communicate flavor notes, improving their ability to describe coffee.
By the end of the workshop, attendees will be better equipped to articulate the fruity nuances in specialty coffee, enriching both personal appreciation and professional evaluations.
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Room Number: 360DEF
Category: Brewing/Sensory
Booking: To book your place in this Workshop, head to the Specialty Coffee Expo Registration Portal and add a session to your order. Already registered? Simply enter your email address and badge code to access your booking and add other paid events to your badge.
Instructor
Camila Khalife
Introduction to Cupping
Workshop Description: This workshop will guide you through the standards and protocols used by cupping practitioners, giving you the skills to evaluate coffee like an expert. You'll also have the opportunity to practice cupping different coffees using the Specialty Coffee Association’s descriptive and affective evaluation forms. No prior cupping experience is needed to attend this workshop.
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Room Number: 361DEF
Category: Cupping
Booking: To book your place in this Workshop, head to the Specialty Coffee Expo Registration Portal and add a session to your order. Already registered? Simply enter your email address and badge code to access your booking and add other paid events to your badge.
Instructor
Seidy Selivanow
Programming for Flavor: Dialing in Coffee Equipment
Workshop Description: Programmable coffee equipment provides excellent control over the brewing process. Yet producing delicious results often requires going beyond factory default programs. In this class, we’ll explore batch brewer, espresso grinder, and espresso machine programs and learn how they can be used to dial in optimum coffee flavor. This class is ideal for anyone who owns or supports coffee brewing and espresso equipment, including coffee equipment technicians, café owners, lead baristas, and roasters.
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Room Number: 362DEF
Category: Espresso
Booking: To book your place in this Workshop, head to the Specialty Coffee Expo Registration Portal and add a session to your order. Already registered? Simply enter your email address and badge code to access your booking and add other paid events to your badge.
Instructor
Brady Butler (he/him)
Owner, Trail Blaze Coffee Academy
Brady Butler is an Authorized SCA Trainer who has been leading barista, brewing, and coffee technician trainings since 2009. Over his coffee career, Brady has also worked as a barista, a coffee equipment technician, and in wholesale customer support. He was also co-lead for the SCA's Brewing Content Creator Group and a Lead Author for the Coffee Technicians Program, including the Intermediate Diagnostics and Repair and Advanced Equipment Support courses. He currently owns Trail Blaze Coffee Academy, an independent training company based in Charlotte, NC.
Roast Revolution: Exploring Cutting-Edge Innovations in Coffee Roasting Techniques
Workshop Description: In the rapidly evolving world of specialty coffee, staying ahead of the curve with advanced roasting techniques is vital for both quality and sustainability. This workshop will explore pioneering innovations in coffee roasting that are transforming the industry.
Our session will showcase the latest technological advancements in roasting equipment and software, designed to enhance precision and efficiency. Attendees will learn about sustainable roasting practices that significantly reduce energy consumption and environmental impact, aligning with the growing demand for eco-friendly coffee production.
We will also explore new flavor profile developments through unique roasting techniques, offering attendees insights into creating captivating flavors that meet the nuanced preferences of the specialty coffee market.
This workshop serves as a platform for coffee roasters, shop owners, enthusiasts, farmers, and green coffee importers to network, share knowledge, and foster collaboration, driving growth and innovation across the industry.
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Room Number: 370AB
Category: Roasting
Booking: To book your place in this Workshop, head to the Specialty Coffee Expo Registration Portal and add a session to your order. Already registered? Simply enter your email address and badge code to access your booking and add other paid events to your badge.
Instructor
Arash Hassanian (he/him)
CEO, Roastronix
I am the CEO of Roastronix, where I lead a dedicated team in designing and manufacturing state-of-the-art coffee roasting equipment. We also provide collaborative co-roasting spaces, empowering roasters to innovate and perfect their craft. With a strong commitment to sustainability and community engagement, I strive to advance the specialty coffee industry through technological innovation and collaborative efforts.
Building a Better Business: Management & Leadership
Workshop Description: Foster exceptional leadership and cultivate a motivated team! In this workshop, coffee shop owners and managers will learn proven techniques in effective communication, team empowerment, and cultivating a positive work culture. Discover the secrets to nurturing a happy and engaged team, driving productivity and customer satisfaction. Elevate your business through effective management and leadership, setting the stage for continued growth and excellence.
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Room Number: 371AB
Category: Business
Booking: To book your place in this Workshop, head to the Specialty Coffee Expo Registration Portal and add a session to your order. Already registered? Simply enter your email address and badge code to access your booking and add other paid events to your badge.
Instructor
Laila Ghambari