So, I haven't blogged here in quite some time, and when you wear like a dozen hats in your job, sometimes you get too busy for this kinda thing, but I wanted to let you know what's coming up, and how freaking awesome this is gonna be. For the second year in a row, I had a wild hair up my butt to host another SCAA Skill Building Workshop. The things are just so much fun, and so beneficial to the coffee and barista community as a whole! They are great ways to get baristas and shop owners started on the right foot, and eliminate bad habits from the beginning.

Another cool thing about these events is that you offer classes that count towards the BGA Certification. I can't emphasize how important the BGA Certification will be in the future, I think as we work harder to make "barista" a seriously taken profession, a certification like this will be vital, plus the benefit of a better quality coffee culture will benefit all of us in the future as we work to make sure our niche industry is sustainable long term. Especially when I think of all the lives and mouths on the other end of our chain. All of the classes that we're hosting that weekend will count towards the BGA Certification, and will again feature both cupping classes and espresso classes, as I think it's important for all baristas to have a deep understanding of coffees, their flavors, and growing regional differences.

We are also co-hosting the BGA's Southeast Regional Jam, which will feature varying classes all weekend, and include the BGA Customer Service class needed for Level One certification, and the BGA's Level One Certification test, as well as workshops on espresso methods, competition prep, brewing methods, and a community roundtable discussion on the state of coffee in the Southeast, and how we can become more successful through hosting events, and building a better coffee community. As expected, we will also be throwing the biggest barista bash and latte art throwdown you've seen. Huge spread of foods, drinks, open bar, latte art throwdown, and a unique city vs. city throwdown, and DJing by the freaking amazing Lem Butler, who again will be manning the two turntables and a microphone. Also, we're expecting a very special guest MC.

As you see, I am so stoked about this weekend. One of the things I love most about my career and life is the community element of coffee, and this weekend will be a perfect snapshot of that. So many friends, fellow baristas, shop owners, and coffeegeeks, so much love. We'll have some cool machines to play with, too. So, that's what I have going on. Lots, to make this event the biggest and best, so we can see a better coffee and espresso community in the Southeast. I look at how far we've come in the past few years, and how far we will come in the next few years, and it's exciting stuff. I've seen the caliber of barista stepped up many notches, culminating with the amazingness of Danielle Glasky winning last year's Southeast Regional Barista Competition in a blaze of glory with a level of barista perfection that set a new bar round these parts.

Info on both events can be found here: http://www.scaa.org/PDF/SESBW.pdf

http://southeastregion.wordpress.com/
Also, I need some help with the Skill Building Workshop. Wanna help as a Station Instructor, Porter, or Runner, please send a message to Melissa Bula at mbula@scaa.org. This is a great way to interact and learn from these classes and help your fellow barista and coffee community at the same time. I can't say enough how cool it is, and how important it is for all of us to help pass down what we ourselves have been passed down....