CoLab is the Barista Guild of Europe’s semi-annual conference combining education and exploration of the event’s host city. This year’s final installment is taking place November 28th through the 30th in Barcelona, Spain and will feature a variety of events from both within and outside the industry.
Following the format of previous CoLabs, the Barcelona gathering features a daylong program of talks, workshops, and other coffee-related education, sandwiched in between two half-days of city exploration and less academic coffee events. The shindig starts on the Monday the 28th with a craft chocolate tasting and a tour of the Blanxart Chocolate Factory followed by drinks at Nømad Røasters.
CoLab really kicks into high gear on the 29th, with a lion’s share of the educational events happening throughout the day. Speakers and topics include:
- Ger O’Donohoe, owner of First Draft Coffee: “2016, What The Worst Year Taught Me About Service”
- Kim Elena Ionescu, SCAA Director of Sustainability: “Sustainability Asks First and Solves Second”
- Francis Percival, Food Editor of World of Fine Wine: “Aged, Creamy, And Stinky: What Cheese Can Teach Us About The Power Of Language”
- Panel discussion: “What’s unique about coffee in Spain?” featuring Miguel Lamora (Atmans Coffee), Jordi Mestre (Nømad Coffee), Elisabet Sereno (True Artisan Cafe), and Salvador Sans (Cafés El Magnífico)
The event concludes on the 30th with a coffee crawl and a handful of cuppings hosted by roasters around Barcelona like Animal Coffee, Atmans Coffee, and Right Side Coffee.
Tickets for CoLab: Barcelona is €85 for SCAE members and €95 for non-members and can be purchased here. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit the Barista Guild of Europe’s website.
Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network.
*top image via BGE
