We look forward to welcoming the specialty coffee community to Seattle next week for the SCAA Expo and US Coffee Championships. Here is a sneak peek at what we have planned for the weekend – we hope you will join us!
Welcome Party
Welcome to Seattle! On Thursday April 24th, in partnership with 15 other Seattle-area coffee companies, we’re hosting a welcome bash from 8:00-12:00 at Von Trapp’s on Capitol Hill, just one mile from the convention center, following opening ceremonies for the show. Bring your SCAA badge for entrance. Stop by for food, drink, and bocce to celebrate your arrival in Seattle. More info on the event’s Facebook page.
Tradeshow Presence
Be sure to stop by our booth 3031 to see a host of roasters from around the US, as well as the newest additions to the La Marzocco USA product lineup: the La Marzocco Strada EE, the La Marzocco Vulcano Swift grinder, and the Mazzer Kold grinder. Look for details about the roasters who will be joining us for the “True Artisan Café” in a blog post next week. The tradeshow floor is open Friday and Saturday 11:00-5:30, and Sunday 11:00-4:00.
Skybridge Cafe
If you’re heading to the US Coffee Championships, be sure to visit the Skybridge Café, produced in partnership with Kalita USA, Marco, Baratza, Prima Coffee, and Global Customized Water. In addition to picking up a delicious coffee prepared by one of the roasting companies on bar, guests can receive one-on-one guidance to prepare their own espresso beverages on a fleet of customized La Marzocco GS/3 espresso machines. The Skybridge Café will be open Thursday-Saturday 8:00-5:00 and Sunday 8:00-4:00.
SCAA Lectures
Members of the La Marzocco USA team will be presenting a number of lectures at the show. Be sure to catch one or all of them:
- Friday April 25th 9:00-10:15am, room 3A, CEO of La Marzocco International, Kent Bakke, will participate in a panel discussion on “The Evolution of Espresso Machines.”
- Friday April 25th 9:00-10:15am, room 307, Ryan Willbur, Coffee, Education, and Community Coordinator for La Marzocco USA will lead a panel discussion titled “Evolving the Model: Café Concepts from Forward-Thinking Retailers.” Panelists include Michael Phillips of Handsome Coffee Roasters, Stephen Morrissey of Intelligentsia Coffee, Samuel Lewontin of Everyman Espresso, Chelsey Walker-Watson of Slate Coffee Roasters, and Charles Babinski of G&B Coffee.
- Friday April 25th 10:30-11:45am, room 3A, Scott Callender, Senior Marketing Manager at La Marzocco USA will participate in a panel discussion titled “Capitalizing on Coffee at Home: Build Your Business by Supporting the Growing Interest in Specialty Coffee at Home.” Other panelists include Mark Hellweg of Clive Coffee, Nicholas Cho of Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters, and Colby Barr of Verve Coffee Roasters.
- Saturday April 26th 9:00-10:15, room 3A, Whitney Cornell, Marketing Director at La Marzocco USA presents “When Sparks Fly! Connecting With Your Customer, From First Impression to Lasting Relationship.”
Finally, if you have a chance to get out and about in Seattle during your stay, do stop by La Marzocco USA headquarters in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. Our showroom and learning lab will be open for visitors Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00 (we will not be open on Saturday or Sunday, April 26th or 27th).
We look forward to seeing you, and to a great weekend celebrating our specialty coffee community.
