Join Barista Magazine at the Conversation Corner to discuss hiring, retention, equipment repair, and more with industry experts at Coffee Fest Los Angeles.
BY KENNETH R. OLSON
BARISTA MAGAZINE
On August 28, from noon to 4 p.m., Barista Magazine will be hosting the first Conversation Corner at Coffee Fest Los Angeles. The Conversation Corner will feature a Q&A with specialty-coffee experts Heather Perry from Klatch Coffee, Jasmin McGinnis of Barista’s Daily Grind, and Air Perez of Black Rabbit Service.
The Conversation Corner will be on the show floor. There is no additional cost to attend, and reservations are not required. You can drop in at any time for any session.
Lessons from Competition with Heather Perry
The first session of the Conversation Corner will feature Heather Perry talking about lessons she has taken away from competition that have made her a better coffee professional. Heather won the United States Barista Championship twice and finished second at the 2007 World Barista Championship. She has worked in multiple positions at her family business, Klatch Coffee in San Dimas, Calif., and has more than two decades of experience as a frontline barista and manager.
Staff Training and Retention with Jasmin McGinnis
At prior Coffee Fests, Barista Magazine has led panel discussions with industry experts, and one of the most common questions we’ve heard is about how to find and keep quality employees. Especially in towns and cities outside of major markets, the talent pool for employees might seem slim, but Jasmin McGinnis has built a top-rate specialty coffee business, Barista’s Daily Grind, in Kearney, Neb. You can find out all about her in the August + September ’22 issue of Barista Magazine! She has some great tips to share and will be able to answer questions in the second session of the day from 1 to 2 p.m.
Equipment Questions Answered with Air Perez
Black Rabbit Service provides support for cafés, and the founders contribute the column ”High Maintenance” for Barista Magazine, where they answer reader questions. Air Perez from Black Rabbit will be joining the Conversation Corner from 2 to 3 p.m. to answer questions on machine maintenance, equipment repair, getting the most from your tech support, and more.
Happy Hour
From 3 to 4 p.m., you can join us for a happy hour of socializing. On the Rocks Cocktails will provide drinks, and you can ask the experts any lingering questions or just enjoy a drink to end the first day of Coffee Fest.
