All of the parties and events happening during the 2019 Specialty Coffee Expo in Boston!
BY ASHLEY RODRIGUEZ
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Folks, it’s time! As baristas and coffee pros from around the world come together for the 2019 Specialty Coffee Expo and the World Coffee Championships, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best happenings going on around Boston this weekend, April 11-14. This list certainly isn’t complete—there are events happening at pretty much every moment during Expo—but here’s a rundown of some of our favorites.
THURSDAY, APRIL 11
Chocolate Barista: The Party
6-9 p.m.
Intelligentsia Watertown
810 Mt. Auburn St.
Free to attend
From The Chocolate Barista Instagram: “Come join us at @intelligentsiacoffee in Watertown for good vibes with coffee people of color before the Expo starts! We know how much anxiety it can cause to go to a coffee industry event and not see yourself reflected, so this party is an opportunity for us to get together, link up and network, and most of all, have a great time. Everyone’s welcome to attend! There’ll be alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, free (but limited!!) swag, and a photo booth! So come through y’all! The party is free to attend and we’ll be taking donations at the door ($5 suggested) to go to the Greater Four Corners Action Coalition, an organization dedicated to revitalizing the Four Corners/Dorchester community in Boston!”
The Official Launch Party x Pacific Barista Series
6-9 p.m.
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Level 3
Everyone welcome
Along with a party, hosted by Pacific Foods Barista Series, there will also be a latte art throwdown, consisting of three different rounds with various alternative milks. Sign up between 6-6:50 p.m. for a chance to win $1,000!
SCA Expo Opening Night Party hosted by Olam Specialty Coffee
8-11 p.m.
Harpoon Brewery
306 Northern Ave.
From their website: “Join us at Harpoon Brewery, a short 15-minute walk from the convention center, for our opening night party on Thursday, April 11! We will be serving bites and an open bar! We hope to see you there!”
FRIDAY, APRIL 12
Boston Coffee Crawl by @pourthegnar
Starting at 9 a.m.
Curio Espresso and throughout the city of Boston
441 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA
Get away from the crowds and explore Boston’s coffee scene, including spots that don’t get as much fanfare online, with @pourthegnar!
Events at the Counter Culture Training Lab
All day starting at 10 a.m.
374 Somerville Ave., Somerville, MA
Join the team at the Counter Culture training lab for a day of tasting, exploring technical issues, and an American Sign Language course for coffee folks!
Reproducible Espresso: Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics with George Howell Coffee
1:30-3:30 p.m.
The KITCHEN presented by The Trustees
Boston Public Market
100 Hanover St.
Registration required—available here
From the event page: “This talk – led by Professor Christopher H. Hendon – canvases the landscape of coffee research to date, detailing areas that require further study, as well as discussing our early efforts to better understand the key factors that determine cup quality and reproducibility. A focus will be placed on the production of espresso-based beverages, and how we can systematically improve both the flavor reproducibility and coffee efficiency using a mixture of mathematics, chemistry and physics.”
Screening of Baristas
6-8 p.m.
ShowPlace ICON Boston, 60 Seaport Blvd., ##315
Tickets required—available here
From their Instagram: “If you’re gonna be in #Boston this weekend for the #WBC you gotta come check out BARISTAS on the big screen. Friday April 12 @ 6pm. Tickets are going quick so grab one of these comfy a** chairs ASAP. Brought to you by @sanremocoffeemachines@sanremocoffeemachinesusa @puqpress_official @califiafarms”
The Barista League Flavor Wheel Feud
6 p.m.-1 a.m.
Middle East Nightclub
472-480 Massachusetts Ave.
From their website: “Join us for the biggest and best party of the SCA week as 8 all-star teams compete in the Flavor Wheel Feud Game show – hosted by Lem Butler and Erika Vonie! Collect your free drink tickets from Ally Coffee or Pacific Foods Barista Series at the SCA Expo! All people, regardless of color, orientation, gender identity, love of star wars etc. are welcome! We don’t tolerate any douchebag behavior at our events, so please come and have fun and don’t be an a**hole.”
SATURDAY, APRIL 13
Cup of Excellence: Auctions & Their Impact with George Howell Coffee
9 a.m.-12 p.m.
The KITCHEN presented by The Trustees
Boston Public Market
100 Hanover St.
Tickets required—available here
From the website: “Join George Howell, Susie Spindler, and Darrin Daniel from Cup of Excellence in a discussion about the history and future of coffee combined with tastings from CoE-winning farms.”
SUNDAY, APRIL 14
“Ask Me About Cost of Production”
6-8 p.m.
Night Shift Brewing, The Annex
87 Santilli Hwy, Everett, MA 02149
From Junior’s Roasted Coffee Instagram: “We are so excited to share that in collaboration with @bosintersectionalcoffeecol we will be hosting ‘Ask Me About Cost of Production’ Boston-edition during the SCA expo in two weeks on Sunday, 4/14 6-8pm!! This community-led event will explore the coffee pricing crisis through a panel discussion, presentation on Cost of Production, and small group discussions. It is open to the public with the goal of reaching the local Boston community and visiting coffee folx. It is made possible through the support of @oatly & host venue @nightshiftbeer and will serve as a fundraiser for @coffee.kids”
Official Barista Party hosted by the Barista Guild and World Coffee Events
9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Royale Boston, 279 Tremont St.
*Open to all Specialty Coffee Expo/Re:co badge holders!
21+ over
This party explains itself—come hang with all your friends after a long Expo!
