MILAN – The Specialty Coffee Association is organising today – March 20, 2020 at 8am PDT / 3pm GMT – a webinar on health issues related to the COVID-19 with food safety expert and coffee consultant Mike Ebert and the chairs of all three guilds. The aim of this webinar is to provide an overview of the current (and ever-evolving) situation, including what we know and what we don’t know, and the direct effects on various roles within the supply chain. Mike will be joined by members of the Barista Guild, Roasters Guild, and Coffee Technicians Guild leadership, who will lead a Q&A with questions collected from their communities.
As the situation continues to rapidly evolve, the SCA is still waiting to understand the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the coffee industry. This is an unprecedented situation for all of us, but we are heartened by the way communities are coming together to support each other and to make their voices heard.
The Panelists of the webinar on Food Safety and Covid-19:
Mike Ebert, Founder of Firedancer Coffee Consultants
Mike Ebert is the founder of Firedancer Coffee Consultants, dedicated to helping clients create a personalized strategy to ensure long-term success. He works primarily with roasters, producers, and retailers, drawing from his extensive experience in all facets of the specialty supply chain to guide clients in reaching their potential. Mike is an Authorized SCA Trainer (AST) for the Specialty Coffee Association; a certified Preventative Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) and a lead trainer for food safety; and co-chairs curriculum for the SCA Educational Advisory Council, which develops new educational experiences for the specialty coffee community.
Jen Apodaca, Coffee Roasters Guild Chair
Jen Apodaca started roasting coffee in 2005 for McMenamins Inc. in Portland, Oregon. She has roasted coffee for Ecco Caffee, Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, and Blue Bottle Coffee. She is now the Director of Roasting for The Crown: Royal Coffee Lab & Tasting Room. She has experience in several styles of roasting machines and is dedicated to the craft of making coffee more delicious. She is an International Juror for the Cup of Excellence and the Chair of the Coffee Committee of the Good Food Awards for the past four years.
Jessie May Peters, Barista Guild Chair
Originally from the United Kingdom, Jessie May is the current Chair of the Barista Guild (BG). She’s a familiar face around many expositions, national and international coffee competitions, and a good few airports. You may have even spotted her co-hosting the World Barista Championships in Amsterdam 2018. Her hard work within the specialty coffee industry has brought her across both careers and continents, establishing her as a distinguishable ambassador of the community. She works for Raw Material, a green coffee company that gives 100% of profits back to producers.
Hylan Joseph, Coffee Technicians Guild Chair
Hylan has over 30 years of experience in specialty coffee, technical service, customer service, and management. He has many years in technical services working with both large corporations and small businesses where he assessed and resolved their equipment and service concerns. He has trained staff to work with equipment that requires knowledge of water pressure, electronics, and electrical theory. To do this work, technicians must have a basic knowledge of mechanics, water pressure and timing units at high temperatures, which is why he believes a sound educational program is critical to building a strong community of techs and manufacturers.
The webinar on Food Safety and Covid-19 takes place today – March 20, 2020 at 8am PDT / 3pm GMT. Register here.
Find the latest updates about COVID-19 at sca.coffee/covid19.
