Coffee Travel Experience with Laurel

EVENTBRITE LINK

Last month Laurel had the privilege of visiting Rincon Toningo, a cooperative in Veracruz. The cooperative has been producing specialty coffee for 20 years and has partnered with Ombligo de Luna project for the past three harvests. Laurel's visit coincided with the beginnings of an (unseasonably early) harvest and the commmemmoration of St. Judas' Saint day. Both events were special occasions for the community and great opportunity to spend time with producers picking cherries and talking over cafecito.

In Costa Rica Laurel attended Bean voyage coffee ’s Women powered coffee summit. Alongside Abbigail from @chicabeancoffee and Fabiola from @soybaristacr they spoke on a panel about how to “shift power through roasting” and work towards a more equitable industry by “exploring alternative business models”.

The entire trip was a humbling and special experience, which beautifully book-ended Laurel’s time at Vote. At this public event we want to create space to:

-celebrate and enjoy the coffees that producers shared with us

-learn more about Rincon Toningo, Ombligo De Luna, Bean Voyage and the Women-Powered Coffee Summit

-use anecdotes from the trip as a starting point for discussions on themes such as:

-how should we (as roasters, baristas and importers) shoulder responsibility and absorb

risk within the supply chain?

-how important are “origin trips”? Can we visit coffee producers in an ethical and sustainable way?

-what might a feminist approach to coffee-buying and roasting look like?

We do not have all the answers, nor do we expect the conversation to be exhaustive within the time and context that we have.

We invite everyone (regardless of cupping experience) to join, enjoy good coffees and reflect in good company.