Ah, New England. This is the time of year it’s famous for, and I personally cannot wait to escape this early, soggy winter weather we’re getting in Portland, Ore., and traipse through Providence, Rhode Island’s piles of brightly colored fall leaves under a bright sun on a cool-but-not-cold autumn day.
Foliage aside, I am STOKED to be returning to Rhode Island for the 2013 Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Coffee Conference (MANE), which begins Friday and continues through Saturday. And Barista Magazine is super excited to be the exclusive media sponsor.
I was invited to present the Keynote Address at MANE in 2010, and that’s when I fell in love with this grassroots event. Started by Troy Reynard of Cosmic Cup Coffee in Pennsylvania, and Gerra Harrigan, then of New Harvest Coffee Roasters in Rhode Island, MANE caters to the East Coast coffee contingent, which is nice because no one else does on a regular basis. It was tiny and it grew, and now is one of the most popular educational and community events of the year, attracting baristas, cafe owners, importers, and roasters from across the country, though the crowd ”usually about 250 ”is still primarily comprised of East Coasters.
I had such an amazing time at MANE in 2010 getting to know a ton of coffee professionals I’d never met before. And I can’t wait to go back.
Since Gerra left New Harvest to work for InterAmerican this past year, Rik Kleinfeldt, owner of New Harvest, has taken the reins. He’s done a fantastic job assembling incredible folks and planning intriguing and timely lecture topics. This year’s MANE looks to be the biggest and best yet, with a roster of speakers and educators of the highest caliber. And the social events will be a blast, as well ”duh.
So here’s a rundown of all things MANE. And if you’re not able to make it, check back here on Barista Magazine’s blog for photos and news from the event throughout the weekend!
Addresses:
MANE @ Hope Artiste Village
1005 Main Street
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
If driving: Parking is available in the courtyard, and street parking is available along Main Street, Warren Avenue and Dudley Street. You may also park in the parking lot across from the building on Main Street and in the 400 car lot in the back of the complex accessible by driving to the end of Warren Street and taking a left.
If taking public transport: Hope Artiste Village is located 3 blocks from the Providence bus line making it easily accessible from all of Providence.
The Hot Club
575 South Water Street
Providence, Rhode Island
THURSDAY
What? Thursday? But MANE doesn’t start until Friday, yo! Yes, you’re right, but for all the people assembling in Providence (givin’ a shout out to the Pawtucket Comfort Inn ”holla!) on Thursday so they can be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for MANE’s kickoff on Friday morning, we’ll be gathering at the Hot Club post-dinner hour. I’ll see you there!
FRIDAY
Unless you already signed up for classes on Friday morning, don’t bother getting up early. Both classes being offered on Friday at 9 a.m. ”InterAmerican’s cupping of COE Rwanda and Burundi coffees and Beth Ann Caspersen of Equal Exchange’s class on understanding the coffee flavor wheel ”are full. If you managed to snag a space in one of these classes, you know what to do.
12 “2 p.m.: Check in at Hope Artiste Village, collect attendee bag filled with swag, meet new people, chow down on food from local food trucks
2 “5:15 p.m.: Classes! Choose from the following:
¢ Latte Art Hands on Workshop
Lead Instructors: Tamara Vigil & Liz Clark
Instructors: Ana Mallozzi, Mark Hundley, Justin Enis, Teresa Von Fuchs
¢ Deconstructing Espresso Machines: How and Why They Work (Or Don’t)
Instructors: Scott Guglielmino, La Marzocco USA & Jim Connolly, New Harvest Coffee
¢ Green Grading
Instructors: Rob Stephen, InterAmerican Coffee & Todd Mackey, InterAmerican Coffee
¢ Social Responsibility at Origin
Instructors: Bill Fishbein, Paula Rodriguez and Jonathan Rosenthal
¢ Espresso Extraction
Instructors: Ana Mallozzi, New Harvest Coffee and Justin Enis, Equal Exchange
¢ Sensory Skills
Instructor: Mike Mowry, Equal Exchange
¢ The Artisans Behind the Machine
Instructor: Enrico Wurm, La Marzocco
5:30 p.m.: Cocktail hour!
7 p.m.: Keynote Address from the one and only George Howell!
After the keynote: Dance party time with DJ Born Casual
SATURDAY
8 “8:45 a.m.: Coffee and light breakfast
9 “10:30 a.m.: All-conference round table: Traveling to Origin in Today’s Current Market
Moderated by Sarah Allen, Barista Magazine
Panelists: Jorge Monge, Finca Las Palomas, Tarrazú Costa Rica; Luis Fernando Prado, ASOPROAAA; Sebastien Lafaye, STC Trading; Jaime Schoenhut, Royal New York; Woody DeCasere, One Village Coffee; Ana Mallozzi, New Harvest Coffee
10:30 “5 p.m.: Classes! Choose from the following:
¢ Deconstructing Espresso Machines: How and Why They Work (Or Don’t)
Instructors: Scott Guglielmino, La Marzocco USA & Jim Connolly, New Harvest Coffee
¢ Alternative Brewing Workshop
Lead Instructors: Jay Caragay and Todd Mackey
Instructors: Teresa Von Fuchs, Ana Mallozzi, Tamara Vigil, Justin Enis
¢ Microlots: Evolution of Success from Growers to Consumers
Instructors: the Royal Coffee NY team
¢ Sustainability: Another Angle
Instructor: David Walsh, Marco Beverage Systems
¢ Processing Experiments
Instructor: Matthew Swenson, Dallis Coffee
¢ Varieties and Cultivars
Instructor: Matt Brown, Café Imports
¢ PANEL: The Coffee Trade
Moderator: Barth Anderson, Barrington Coffee Roasters
Panelists: Rob Stephen, InterAmerican Coffee; Jenny Howell, George Howell Coffee; Matt Fury, Think Coffee/Bushwick Seed Co.; Neil Balkcom, Swing Coffee; Sebastien Lafaye, STC Trading; Todd Caspersen, Equal Exchange
¢ PANEL: How Did I Get Here?
Moderator: Gerra Harrigan, InterAmerican Coffee
Panelists: Beth Ann Casperson, Equal Exchange; Sebastien Lafaye, STC Trading; Teresa Von Fuchs, Irving Farm Coffee Roasters; Erin McCarthy, Counter Culture Coffee; Marcus Boni, Kaldi’s Coffee
12:30 “1:30 p.m.: Lunch provided
8 “11 p.m.: MANE Blow-Out Party! Music, beer, cocktails, latte art throwdown, KARAOKE!!!
