In this class students go beyond the café bar to explore coffee’s long journey from seed to cup, discovering how and where it is grown, processed, roasted, and sourced. Throughout the lecture, participants learn what defines specialty coffee through its commitment to quality, transparency, sustainability, and the people who make it happen.

The class explores how terroir, elevation, processing methods, and roasting influence flavor while acknowledging the global coffee market, producer relationships, pricing, and risks involved.

Bringing these ideas and practices together the event concludes with a cupping giving students an opportunity to bring these concepts back to the front where we all drink it, allowing guests to connect what they taste with the decisions made at every stage of the coffee's journey.

Whether new to specialty coffee or looking to deepen their appreciation and knowledge, participants leave with a greater depth for the complexity of coffee and the confidence to engage more intentionally, asking thoughtful questions, and pursuing a better understanding of the industry behind the beverage we love.