Coffee conventions are great places to meet like-minded coffee professionals, but for the not-so-type-A types, these opportunities are often not as easily accessible. For this week’s Coffee Fest in Denver though, Oatly and Atlas Coffee Importers have teamed up to host Nice To Fika: A Coffee Centric Meetup. Like speed dating but for coffee friendship, Nice To Fika allows even the most reserved participant the chance to interact with many well-known names in the coffee industry.
Taking place this Friday, June 8th at Zeppelin Station, all ticketed guests will be able to spend five minutes one-on-one with six panelists, and will even receive a list of questions “to help keep each chat flowing.” According the to Facebook event page, the panelists include:
– Kayla Abe – NoCal Market Development Manager, Oatly
– Selina Peña – Manager, Caffe Figurati
– Jason Malcom – NW Direct Sales Rep, Synesso
– Elle Jensen – Owner & Barista, Amethyst Coffee Co.
– Sloane Wachob – Trainer, Commonwealth Coffee Roasters
– Miguel Vicuña – BGA Executive Council Member and Manager / Trainer, Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters
– Marilyn Dryke – President, Cafe Femenino Foundation
– Sarah Allen – Editor in Chief, Barista Magazine
– Miguel Menendez – 4th Generation Coffee Producer, Menendez Family Farms, El Salvador
– Guillermo Menendez – 4th Generation Coffee Producer, Menendez Family Farms, El Salvador
After the conclusion of the speed round, the event will be opened to the public for music, food, and drinks.
Tickets for the one-on-one meet up portion of Nice To Fika cost $10 ($12.31 with the Eventbrite service fee) and include food and beverage. The after-party is free to attend, but Atlas and Oatly ask that you RSVP by “purchasing” a free general admission ticket, also through Eventbrite. All proceeds of the ticket sales will go to the Cafe Femenino Foundation.
So if you’re going to be at Coffee Fest Denver, break out of your shell in an inviting environment and make some new friends.
Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
*images via Nice To Fika.