We are eagerly awaiting the hoards of coffee professionals that will descend upon our city for the Specialty Coffee Expo in Seattle, from April 19-22!
As usual, Atlas Coffee Importers is hosting and participating in numerous exciting events. Now that your have planned your socializing, let’s review a round up of coffee events so that you can RSVP and mark your calendars:
Monday, April 16th, to Tuesday, April 17th, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM: Food Safety Course for the Coffee Industry
Are you physically handling coffee and unsure about how to be FSMA compliant? Atlas is hosting a course by Firedancer Coffee Consultants just for you!
New rules around Food Safety are in effect, but the specialty coffee industry is still working through its own interpretation of and compliance with the rules. This two-day Food Safety seminar is for coffee businesses of all sizes who are looking to become compliant with FSMA. Students who complete the course will be certified as Preventative Controls Qualified Individuals (PCQI).
Read the full course description here.
Cost is $795 (includes workbook, templates, and lunch).
Tickets here.
Wednesday, April 18th, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM: Introduction to Coffee Futures & Risk Management
This one-day program will focus on market fundamentals for coffee buyers and sellers. We will discuss how an improved understanding of market risk can help any size organization improve their resilience to market volatility. Atlas is excited to host Julio Sera, VP, Trading at INTL FCStone, for a condensed version of the three-day Futures & Risk Management event they host regularly at their HQ in Miami.
INTL FCStone is one of the largest U.S.- based commercial brokerage firms, working with companies across the globe. They provide commodity risk management, hedging, market intelligence and complete marketing services to traders, processors, manufacturers, elevators and end users.
For a full list of topics to be covered in this seminar, visit https://www.atlascoffee.com/intl-fcstone-introduction-coffee-futures-risk-management-seminar/
Cost is $500 (includes a light breakfast and lunch).
Tickets available here.
Wednesday, April 18th to Thursday, April 19th, Re:co, The Specialty Coffee Symposium
Re:co (Regarding: coffee) is a “unique event designed for high-level discussion, leading innovation and strategy development for those passionate and influential in the world of specialty coffee.
Through a mixture of speakers, interactive experiences and opportunities for conversation, Re:co looks at the specialty coffee market, the challenges we face and some of the solutions we have, and to shine a light on opportunities for growth and development and will delve into how these can be approached.”
Atlas supports Re:co this year as the coffee sponsor for coffee service by the Barista Guild of America. Visit with Craig and Chelsey during breaks to discuss everything Atlas and our featured coffees!
Register for Re:co here.
OUR OFFICES ARE CLOSED FRIDAY.
Friday, April 20th, 9:00 AM-noonish, Long-Distance Relationships: Atlas Producer Event
Join Atlas at our annual Producer Breakfast! This year, we'll feature a panel discussion between roasters and producers about making it work across great distances, different languages and cultures, and ways we come together over our love for coffee.
The producer and roaster panelists will represent a broad range of relationships: from brand new to long-term; from commercially-focused to socially-focused; and from very direct communication to utilization of the importer relationship.
Through conversation we will explore the many ways producers and roasters can be connected, as well as the challenges and rewards of relationship-based supply chains. After the panel discussion, stay for a social hour and more one-on-one conversation over coffee and pastries.
RSVP here, friends! FYI, Long-Distance Relationships will be hosted at the venue of our other favorite part of Expo weekend, THE ATLAS PARTY! Please get in touch to request an invitation, or come by our booth for more details.
Friday, April 20th through Sunday, April 22nd:
Specialty Coffee Expo, Booth 532
Visit us on the show floor as we brew a selection of our most well-loved coffees, including a visit from our friends at SanCoffee on Friday. Hoping to connect with your favorite Atlasian? Please reach out in advance via email so that you may coordinate!
AND
United States Coffee Championships
After two separate rounds of qualifying events in 10 different cities, the final group of competitors has been set to determine who will be the 2018 U.S. Coffee Champions!
Watch Atlas-sponsored Barista competitor Lizzie Johnson from Bluebeard Coffee compete with our Congo Muungano at 11:15 AM on Friday! Best of luck, Lizzie, and to all of the other competitors that we worked with! It was our pleasure to help you source your competition coffees.
Saturday, April 21st, Featured Cuppings during the Cupping Exchange Public Sessions
1:30-3:15 PM, FT USA Cupping, WSCC Room 618
3:45 PM-5:00 PM, CQI, WSCC Room 618
Sunday, April 22nd
10:30 AM-11:45 AM, Confronting the Healthcare Inequality Gap: Creating Care Networks for Women Coffee Farmers Using a Scalable Approach Built Upon Natural Connections
This panel discussion forms part of the SCA Expo lecture series, this panel discussion explores the current state of healthcare for smallholders, from health risks associated with the cultivation and processing of coffee, to barriers accessing healthcare in rural areas, to examining healthcare inequality as an impediment to gender equality. By highlighting collaborations built upon natural connections across the value chain and existing healthcare networks, the presenters will share their own experience collaborating with University of Washington TREE and Aga Kahn University to provide affordable care using a scalable approach.
Presenter(s): Joseph Maurey, Manager, Coffee Roasting & Training, University of Washington Housing & Food Services | Cheryl Kingan, Coffee Buyer, Cafe Grumpy | Chris Davidson, Senior Trader, Atlas Coffee Importers | Michael Chung, Doctor, University of Washington
Featured coffees at Slayer Espresso, Booth TBD
We are thrilled for a team of expert baristas to extract exceptional coffees sourced through Atlas relationships! More info to come.
We look forward to connecting with you at Expo!
Have to stay home and run the roaster or cafe this year? To experience all things Atlas from afar, including Expo experiences, follow @atlas_coffee!