HAWAII, USA – The statewide Hawaii Coffee Association (HCA) is perking with an upcoming action-packed conference offering a wealth of educational opportunities and competitions headlined by keynote speaker Marc Marquez of Savor Brands.
Fun includes a new Latte Art Throwdown, plus interactive workshops on cupping, roasting, green grading, brewing, grinding and field grafting. Also on tap are seminars on coffee fermentation and roast theory.
The June 15-17 gathering is open to association members and the broader community at the Kauai Beach Resort & Spa in Lihue, Kauai.
The director of Savor Brands, Marquez is a Certified Q Grader and leads Savor’s coffee-focused initiatives throughout the world. In 2022, he launched the Pono Collective, a series of educational experiences to introduce Hawaii coffees from a holistic approach. He has partnered with the Specialty Coffee Association’s Science Foundation and served as a judge for HCA’s Cupping Competition.
In addition, HCA hosts its 14h annual Statewide Coffee Cupping Competition with winners announced 3:30 p.m. June 16. Attendees are invited to sample the top scoring coffee from each growing region.
Competition coffees will be blindly cupped using the Specialty Coffee Association’s scoring system. Qualifying entries will be accepted through May 3 and Pacific Coffee Research in Kona is overseeing the competition. Complete rules and entry forms may be found on the HCA’s website.
Local baristas will vie in the first Latte Art Throwdown competition 7 p.m. June 17 at Collab Café in Kapaa. A panel of judges will choose the best latte art pours as baristas compete toe-to-toe in a bracket competition. This event is open to the public; admission is free.
“This year’s conference offers both informative and fun activities,” says HCA Executive Director Chris Manfredi. “In addition to the dozen breakout educational opportunities, we’ll provide updates on the latest industry research, legislative issues and coffee traceability, plus panel discussions on Coffee Leaf Rust and farm profitability. Attendees will also enjoy a trade show, silent auction and plenty of networking opportunities.”
The conference speaker/activity lineup includes:
Thursday, June 15
3:00-5:00 Registration Opens
5:00-7:00 Cocktail Reception
Friday, June 16
7:30-9:00 Breakfast & Coffee
8:00-4:30 Trade Show Open
9:00-9:15 Welcome from County of Kauai
9:15-9:45 HCA President and Executive Director Reports
9:45-10:30 Keynote by Marc Marquez, director of Savor Brands
10:30-10:45 Coffee Break
10:30-12:00 Roasting Demo Workshop 1 at Outpost Café
10:45-11:15 HCA Government Affairs Update
11:15-12:00 Hawaii Department of Agriculture Update
11:30-12:00 Learn About Biostimulants
12:00-1:15 Lunch & Coffee
1:15-2:00 Panel Discussion: Coffee Leaf Rust
1:15-3:15 Coffee Cupping Workshop
1:15-3:15 Brewing & Grinding Workshop
1:30-3:00 Roasting Demo Workshop 2 at Outpost Cafe
2:00–2:45 US Dept of Agriculture/Pacific Basin Ag Research Center Update
2:45-3:30 Synergistic Hawaii Agriculture Council Update
3:30-4:30 Announcement of Cupping Winners with Tasting
5:30-6:00 Cocktail Reception
6:30-Pau Dinner, Cupping Awards Ceremony & Silent Auction
Saturday, June 17
7:30-9:00 Breakfast & Coffee
8:00 Trade Show Opens
9:00-9:45 Hawaii Agriculture Research Center Update
9:15-11:15 Coffee Cupping Workshop
9:15-11:15 Fermentation & Processing Seminar
9:45-10:30 Panel Discussion: Farm Profitability
10:30-10:45 Coffee Break
10:45-11:30 UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Update
11:30-12:45 Lunch & Coffee
12:45-1:30 Traceability News by Oritain
12:45-2:15 Coffee Tech Guild Workshop
1:15-3:15 Roast Theory Seminar
1:30-2:15 HCA Elections & Board Meeting
2:15-3:00 Hawaii Coffee Talk Story
1:30 Silent Auction Closes
2:45-4:45 Field Grafting Workshop
3:00 Trade Show Closes
5:00-7:00 Closing Event/Hotel Bar
6:00-7:00 Espresso Equipment Talk at Collab Café
7:00-Pau Latte Art Throwdown at Collab Café
Register for the conference at https://hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/event-5156263. Sponsorship and trade show exhibitor opportunities are available and silent auction donations are welcome.
Find the official rules and required entry form for the Cupping Competition at https://hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/event-5231845.
Mahalo to the 2023 Conference sponsors: State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Gowan USA, WECO-The Science of Optical Sorting, Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, Savor Brands, FedEx, Satake, KTA Super Stores, Big Island Coffee Roasters, and American AgCredit. This year’s exhibitors include WECO, FedEx, North Shore Creative Group, Gearmore, Delta Technology Corp. and American AgCredit.
The Hawaii Coffee Association’s mission is to represent all sectors of the Hawaii coffee industry, including growers, millers, wholesalers, roasters and retailers. The HCA’s primary objective is to increase awareness and consumption of Hawaiian coffees. A major component of HCA’s work is the continuing education of members and consumers. Learn more about the HCA at http://www.hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/.
