Saturday

Unlock More of Your Coffee’s Flavors

Saturday 8:30am

This discussion will talk about the importance of choosing a good grinder for your home. We will discuss different grinder options, explain the difference between blade, conical, and flat burr grinders. We will then brew coffee using each type grinder so you have an opportunity to taste for yourself the difference a grinder makes.

Jonathan Pressley – Co Founder, Ember and Bean Roasting Co
With his wife, Jessica, Jonathan is co-founder of Ember and Bean Roasting Co., a venture dedicated to discovering exceptional coffee that fosters meaningful connections within the coffee community.

Jonathan meticulously sources top-quality equipment to deliver the finest coffee.

As an SCA-certified expert in Sensory Evaluation, Brewing, Roasting, Green Coffee, and Barista skills, Jonathan possesses a well-rounded expertise in the coffee industry. His mission is to explore, test, and savor the unique experiences coffee offers.

Beanless Coffee – What Is It and Why Should I Care

Saturday 9:30am

Beanless coffees are getting a lot of attention because of the predicted coffee production crisis and are being proposed as a sustainable alternative to traditional coffee. Can these non-coffees really replace coffee? What are they made of? How do they brew? We will discuss the costs, advantages, disadvantages, and other options for a sustainable coffee culture.

Andy Whitehead, President, FigBrew
Andy Whitehead is President and Founder of FigBrew in Huntsville, AL. He holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Texas at Austin and has started several successful companies based on solutions hiding in plain sight.

Wheel Throwing Ceramic Mugs & Handle Demo

Saturday 11:00am

Ryan from RD Ceramics will be demonstrating how he throws his ceramic mugs on a pottery wheel with clay and minimal tools. He’ll also be attaching handles to a few mugs and talking more about his process as a ceramic artist. Ryan enjoys audience interaction & answering any questions you may have.

Ryan Durbin, Owner and Maker, RD Ceramics.
Ryan began his exploration into creating functional pottery in 2007 during high school in Louisville, KY. ​He has continued to improve and experiment within the clay medium by learning at various local clay studios and studying ceramics at Northern Kentucky University. His work is designed to be simple, lightweight, comfortable, and appealing to the eye.  I fire my work in an electric kiln to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. He also co-hosts a podcast with Becca Otis called Wheel Talk where they discuss life as a potter, small business owner, and interview other creative peers.

Chai Concentrate: Maintaining Authenticity in Concentrates

Saturday 12:15pm

In American food service locales, especially coffee shops, Chai tends to be one of the most oft-ordered non-coffee beverages. However, the chai industry is dominated by inauthentic blends of chai concentrates emulating – in poor fashion – the essence of traditional chai while abandoning the quality, flavor, and authenticity of this dynamic beverage. Learn how to balance quality, flavor, and authenticity.

Colin Wiseman, Founder, Chai For
Colin launched Chai For to re-shape the chai America drinks. Too often, chai is made from inauthentic ingredients that lean on sugar as a core flavor – rather than the natural dynamism of traditional chai. Founding Chai For, Colin has worked to introduce chai products that engage every core Chai-service arenas – from coffee shops to grocery stores – to put real chai in the hands of Americans.

5 Star Iced Teas – 5 Ingredients/ 5 Minutes/ 5 Stars

Saturday 1:00pm

Ready to learn a few tricks of the trade? Using 5 common ingredients and 5 minutes learn to craft delicious iced tea blends. Come to taste each iced tea and receive a recipe card. Let these classic teas inspire you to get creative in the kitchen.

Cass Ruhlman, Teamaker and Owner, Antiquity Teahouse
Cass Ruhlman is the owner of Antiquity Teahouse located in Hamilton, OH. Her love of tea began when she studied abroad in college. As an avid gardener it was only natural that she began growing her own tea blends. She works with over two dozen local farmer to help grow 80% of tea blends, right here in Ohio. Over the past decade she’s had the pleasure of educating tea lovers about the joys of growing your own ingredients. In 2023, she was the guest speaker at the World Tea Expo about the Farm to Teacup concept – a dream come true!

Sunday

Chai Concentrate: Maintaining Authenticity in Concentrates

Sunday 8:30am

In American food service locales, especially coffee shops, Chai tends to be one of the most oft-ordered non-coffee beverages. However, the chai industry is dominated by inauthentic blends of chai concentrates emulating – in poor fashion – the essence of traditional chai while abandoning the quality, flavor, and authenticity of this dynamic beverage. Learn how to balance quality, flavor, and authenticity.

Colin Wiseman, Founder, Chai For
Colin launched Chai For to re-shape the chai America drinks. Too often, chai is made from inauthentic ingredients that lean on sugar as a core flavor – rather than the natural dynamism of traditional chai. Founding Chai For, Colin has worked to introduce chai products that engage every core Chai-service arenas – from coffee shops to grocery stores – to put real chai in the hands of Americans.

Brewed Awakening: Mastering Cold Brew Coffee at Home

Sunday 9:30am

Join us for an engaging class where you’ll learn the art of making delicious cold brew coffee and creamy sweet cream right in your own kitchen. We’ll guide you through each step of the brewing process, from selecting the best coffee beans to achieving the perfect extraction. You’ll also discover how to whip up a rich, velvety sweet cream to elevate your cold brew experience. By the end of the class, you’ll have the skills and confidence to enjoy barista-quality beverages at home.

David Gaines, Chief Visionary, La Terza
David is driven by a profound belief in the power of exceptional coffee to foster community and create social impact. He views coffee not just as a beverage, but as a catalyst for connection—bridging the gap between the origins of the beans and the joy of sharing a cup with friends. Through La Terza, David explores innovative ways to enhance both the quality of coffee and its role in bringing people together.

Why Organic?

Sunday 10:30am

Andy and Rachel Hopkins will explain the widespread benefits of using organic products and how this concept can vastly improve our health and environment. This affects the coffee industry, the food industry, the medical community, and the world as a whole.

Andy and Rachel Hopkins, Good Earth Good Eating
Andy- organic coffee roaster, adjunct college instructor, and event emcee.
Rachel- Holistic Nutritionist who presents a catalog of various in-person classes offered throughout the year.

Unlock More of Your Coffee’s Flavors

Sunday 11:30am

This discussion will talk about the importance of choosing a good grinder for your home. We will discuss different grinder options, explain the difference between blade, conical, and flat burr grinders. We will then brew coffee using each type grinder so you have an opportunity to taste for yourself the difference a grinder makes.

Jonathan Pressley – Co Founder, Ember and Bean Roasting Co
With his wife, Jessica, Jonathan is co-founder of Ember and Bean Roasting Co., a venture dedicated to discovering exceptional coffee that fosters meaningful connections within the coffee community.

Jonathan meticulously sources top-quality equipment to deliver the finest coffee.

As an SCA-certified expert in Sensory Evaluation, Brewing, Roasting, Green Coffee, and Barista skills, Jonathan possesses a well-rounded expertise in the coffee industry. His mission is to explore, test, and savor the unique experiences coffee offers.

Beanless Coffee – What Is It and Why Should I Care

Sunday 12:30pm

Beanless coffees are getting a lot of attention because of the predicted coffee production crisis and are being proposed as a sustainable alternative to traditional coffee. Can these non-coffees really replace coffee? What are they made of? How do they brew? We will discuss the costs, advantages, disadvantages, and other options for a sustainable coffee culture.

Andy Whitehead, President, FigBrew
Andy Whitehead is President and Founder of FigBrew in Huntsville, AL. He holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Texas at Austin and has started several successful companies based on solutions hiding in plain sight.

Unlocking Café-Quality Coffee: Simple Adjustments for Better Brews at Home

Sunday 1:30pm

Have you ever wondered why coffee from coffee shops tastes so much better than what you make at home? It’s not always about having the latest coffee gear. In this session, we’ll show you how a few simple adjustments can significantly improve your brew, focusing on key elements like water quality, grind size, and coffee-to-water ratio. By the end, you’ll be able to make delicious, café-quality coffee right from your own kitchen.

David Gaines, Chief Visionary, La Terza
David is driven by a profound belief in the power of exceptional coffee to foster community and create social impact. He views coffee not just as a beverage, but as a catalyst for connection—bridging the gap between the origins of the beans and the joy of sharing a cup with friends. Through La Terza, David explores innovative ways to enhance both the quality of coffee and its role in bringing people together..