It’s hard to believe it’s been two months since we opened our doors at The Crown’s permanent location in Oakland. If you haven’t swung through yet for a cappuccino, house-made soda, Public Tasting (Thursdays at 1pm) or one of our many events yet, please do! In fact, here are a few things we’re really excited about for the month of May:

Empowering Producers with World Coffee Research

May 2 from 4-6pm

Join us for a talk about how we can empower coffee producers by getting them access to new agricultural research. Led by WCR Partnership Director Greg Meenahan. Free & open to the public. Register here.

Intro to Roasting

May 8-9

Over the course of two days, students will be exposed to crucial concepts that will shape their experience and provide the tools to practice both sample and production roasting safely and successfully. Taught by The Crown’s Director of Roasting Candice Madison. $650 for inexperienced roasters and coffee enthusiasts alike. Register here.

Introduction to Cup of Excellence: Focus on Colombia

May 10 from 2-4:30pm

Join this session to learn more about ACE and CoE from Executive Director Darrin Daniel, and taste some stellar coffees from the upcoming Colombia Cup of Excellence! Free for coffee professionals. Register here.

Blending Workshop

May 16-17

Exploring the possibilities of blends, this hands-on workshop covers inventory management, roasting, and brewing. Taught by The Crown’s Education & Lab Manager Chris Kornman and Director of Roasting Candice Madison. $250 for coffee professionals and enthusiasts alike. Register here.

Signature Drink Development Workshop

May 22 from 10am-12:30pm

Learn to make classic coffee signature beverages, and experiment with making your own balanced beverage! Taught by The Crown’s Tasting Room Director Sandra Elisa Loofbourow. $150 for coffee professionals and enthusiasts alike. Register here.

Why Vietnam Matters

May 22 from 5pm-7pm

Vietnam is the second largest coffee producer in the world yet rarely enters industry-wide conversations about promising (or prospective) origins, agricultural initiatives, or flourishing local coffee cultures. There are myriad ways we can understand Vietnam as an origin, but this talk focuses on why thinking about commodity coffee can help us understand the specialty industry. Free & open to the public. Register Here

Visual & Sensory Defects

May 30 from 10am-12:30pm

Learn to grade coffee in this class focused on identifying flaws in the green beans. This class will cover both physical defects in green coffee and primary sensory defects. Taught by The Crown’s Education & Lab Manager Chris Kornman and Director of Roasting Candice Madison. $100 for coffee professionals and enthusiasts alike. Register here.