Articles by Ken

About Ken

Kenneth R. Olson (he/him) is co-founder and publisher of Barista Magazine the worldwide trade magazine for the professional coffee community. He has written extensively about specialty coffee, traveled near and far for stories, activities, and fun, and been invited to present on topics important to coffee culture. He is also an avid fan of the Portland Trail Blazers, the Washington Huskies, and public libraries.

Barista Champions at Let’s Talk Coffee Mexico 2016

October 8, 2016 Ken 2

An All-Star Team of Mexican Barista Champions will be at Let’s Talk Coffee Mexico 2016 Next Week The popular coffee event, Let’s Talk Coffee (LTC), presented by importer Sustainable Harvest, returns for another installment […]

Ally Coffee Origin Trip

July 28, 2016 Ken Comments Off

Ally Coffee Origin Trip Brazil This year marked the first origin trip for the winners of the US Coffee Championships and World Coffee Events by new sponsor Ally Coffee. The trip kicked off this week […]

Barista & Farmer 2016: Brazil – Report from the Ground

May 12, 2016 Ken Comments Off

A Report from Barista & Farmer 2016: Brazil The third installment of the innovative educational program, reality show, and competition, Barista & Farmer began this week in Brazil. Ten baristas from around the world were […]

On the ground at the 25th Hotelex Show in Shanghai

March 30, 2016 Ken Comments Off

The 25th Hotelex Show Happens This Week With First Ever World Coffee Events Championships Held in China Hotelex the mammoth, sprawling trade show for the hospitality industry held annually in the equally mammoth and sprawling […]

Sigep Brings Coffee, Competitions, and Crowds back to Rimini, Italy

January 24, 2016 Ken Comments Off

The Sigep trade show draws huge crowds to Rimini, Italy to celebrate gelato, baked goods, confections, and coffee In the dead of winter, the beach town of Rimini, Italy can seem almost deserted. Many of […]

The Café Show in Seoul is Back and Bigger Than Ever

November 14, 2015 Ken Comments Off

The massive Café Show in Seoul, South Korea is happening this week, drawing tens of thousands of attendees to this coffee-crazy city The 14th annual Café Show in Seoul opened on Thursday, November 12 and […]

Seoul World Coffee Leaders Forum and Café Show This Week

November 9, 2015 Ken Comments Off

Seoul, the South Korean capital city, hosts two big coffee events this week: The World Coffee Leaders Forum and the Café Show Tens of thousands of coffee professionals will descend on the bustling, busy, modern […]

BARISTA the movie debuts this week – opens Friday, Nov. 6!

November 2, 2015 Ken Comments Off

Opening this Friday, Nov. 6, at select theaters and on iTunes and VOD, it’s BARISTA a new movie that delivers an intimate and interesting look behind the scenes in the run up to the 2013 […]

Stumptown and the Trail Blazers Chris McGowan

October 5, 2015 Ken Comments Off

Trail Blazers President Chris McGowan visits Stumptown Coffee Roasters At long last, the Portland Trail Blazers return to the court tonight for their first pre-season game of the 2015-2016 National Basketball Association season. The roster […]

European Barista Camp 2015

September 26, 2015 Ken Comments Off

European Barista Camp 2015 Delivers Education, Entertainment and Community The second European Barista Camp came to a close today in Riccione, Italy, with attendees spending the morning taking their certification exams before grabbing a shuttle […]