COFFEE CONVOS

learning sessions featuring

leading Bay Area coffee legends

2024 Coffee Convos Coming Soon. Below is from 2023’s SF Coffee Festival:

2023 Coffee Convos

SATURDAY

We’re still trying to figure out what we want to be when we grow up.  You’ve heard the saying from your favorite influencer self-help-course-selling guru: “If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life.”  Well, we love drinking coffee, can you make a career out of that?  Turns out you can.  Come be inspired by those who've created space for themselves in the coffee industry.  Learn about all of the different careers available in coffee, and hear the stories of how these pros continue to navigate the coffee business, their tips, and their advice on how to get involved.

Moderated by Tricia Lu of Spirit Tea

Coffee in a can.  No way, never?  Always better?  Whichever side of the conversation you fall, RTD coffee consumption is rapidly rising and is here to stay.  Hear from innovators who are pushing the boundaries of this growing segment.  Come with an open mind.  Leave with an opinion: No way, never? Or always better? 

Moderated by Susan O'Rourke of Avid Coffee

To understand coffee’s future, we have to understand coffee’s past.  Within each coffee bean lies a code that speaks of its ancestral origins, a roadmap that tells the tale of how it adapted to diverse landscapes and climates across the world. Just as families pass down traits and characteristics, coffee’s genetic makeup holds the legacy of generations of farmers who carefully cultivated and nurtured these beans.  [Neil Degrasse Tyson voice]: "And how wonderous to literally sip from a reservoir of history: a rich narrative that spans centuries and continents, a testament to the intricate dance between nature and human stewardship.  But as nature changes, will human stewardship be able to keep up, or is coffee destined to fail?"  Learn how coffee farmers are using new genetic developments and old tree cultivars alike to learn from the past and prepare for the future.

Sir Isaac Newton once said: “If I have seen further, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants”. Come join us and glean pearls of wisdom from some of our local titans of the industry as we hear their stories, and learn their perspectives on where we are today.  

Moderated by Dan Gentile of SF Gate

Coffee.AI - ok, is this worth a trillion dollars now? Is that how this works? Your daily brew might seem the same as it’s ever been, but there is so much innovation happening! Join us for a Coffee Convo that’s sure to stir up your curiosity: from new software, to new hardware, to new techniques, hear how these wizards are reimagining how we get caffeinated.

Moderated by Jesse Gonzalez from Progeny Coffee

SunDAY

SUNDAY

We all love to rise to coffee. There are also stars who rise to the occasion in the coffee industry. Meet the rising stars who are making their mark as new age coffee influencers and find out how they plan to keep rising and roasting to the top.

Moderated by Michael Rupprecht of Hero Coffee Co.

Listen to the insights of influential decision-makers from some of the Bay Area's beloved coffee brands. Discover their experiences and their perspectives while exploring strategies for how the coffee industry can enhance its support for BIPOC coffee professionals and minority-owned businesses. Join us as we delve into these important discussions and seek ways to foster greater inclusivity and diversity within the coffee community.

Moderated by Krystal Aguilera of Oatly

SPONSORED BY:

“Arabica Cadabra!”

Join Mr Black's National Brand Ambassador, Stephen Kurpinsky, and some of San Francisco's best cocktail minds as we explore how the complex flavors found in modern specialty coffee can drive a wide range of delicious cocktail applications.

The phone drinks first, but don’t spill on your screen! The taste of coffee isn’t all that matters. Ready or not, engaging online and digital marketing has become absolutely fundamental to the coffee business. Learn best practices from some of the best in the game, as they share secrets b/c if you haven't heard yet, #CoffeeisTrending.

Moderated by Wenter Shyu of Third Culture Bakery

Anaerobic fermentation. Carbonic maceration. Fruit maceration. Learn how these techniques are disrupting coffee, and whether they are passing fads or true game changers. You don’t want to miss this one.

Moderated by Hiver van Geenhoven of Chromatic Coffee

*Speakers and topics subject to change and depending on availability.