CoLab is the Barista Guild of Europeโs semi-annual conference combining education and exploration of the eventโs host city. This yearโs 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 Nรธmad Rรธasters.
CoLab really kicks into high gear on the 29th, with a lionโs share of the educational events happening throughout the day. Speakers and topics include:
- Ger OโDonohoe, owner of First Draft Coffee: โ2016, What The Worst Year Taught Me About Serviceโ
- Kim Elena Ionescu, SCAA Director of Sustainability: โSustainability Asks First and Solves Secondโ
- Francis Percival, Food Editor of World of Fine Wine: โAged, Creamy, And Stinky: What Cheese Can Teach Us About The Power Of Languageโ
- Panel discussion: โWhat’s unique about coffee in Spain?โ featuring Miguel Lamora (Atmans Coffee), Jordi Mestre (Nรธmad Coffee), Elisabet Sereno (True Artisan Cafe), and Salvador Sans (Cafรฉs El Magnรญfico)
The event concludes on the 30th with a coffee crawl and a handful of cuppings hosted by roasters around Barcelona likeย Animal Coffee, Atmans Coffee, and Right Side Coffee.
Tickets for CoLab: Barcelona is โฌ85 for SCAE members and โฌ95 for non-members and can be purchased here. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit the Barista Guild of Europeโs website.
Zac Cadwaladerย is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network.
*top image via BGE