Presenting… our presenters
With the event a little more than a week away, we’ thought we’d share a little info on our outstanding presenters. There is a real wealth of coffee knowledge in our area, and we’re really happy that these volunteers have agreed to spend a weekend sharing their knowledge with us. So here are some introductions:
Lem Butler is part of the Customer Relations team at Counter Culture Coffee. He is a two-time SERBC Champion and teaches Intro Espresso, Intermediate Espresso, and Milk Chemistry as part of the Counter Intelligence program. He’s traveled to origin on several occasion, so will bring a great perspective to the single-origin coffees discussed in “Dial in In”. Lem will also be sharing some of his winning strategies as part of the “Competition Preparation” session. As a bonus, he’ll also be the DJ for the Saturday Night Throwdown event.
Brent Hall is a Customer Relations Rep for Counter Culture Coffee, and is based in Charlotte NC. As a CR, he spends his days training baristas, repairing equipment, cupping coffees, and helping to build coffee communities around the Southeast. As a former roaster, Brent has a great perspective on the flavor characteristics of different coffees, which he’ll share with us in the “Dial it In” advanced espresso session. Brent will also be sharing his knowledge of coffee extraction in the “Manual Brew” workshop.
Ben Helfen is Coffee Boss at Octane in Atlanta, and is also a BGA Executive Council member. Ben is a former Millrock Latte Art Competition Champ, former Southeast Regional Barista competitor, has helped other baristas prepare for SERBC as Octane’s coach in 2009, and has helped judge at regional competition. Ben will discuss some of his preparation strategies and judging experiences as a presenter in the “Competition Preparation” session.
Lydia Troxler Iannetti is Lead Customer Relations Rep for Counter Culture Coffee. Her focus at Counter Culture is on coffee knowledge and barista training. She is also a SCAA Certified Lead Instructor. Lydia will share some of her strategies for providing great customer service a the presenter of the “BGA Customer Service” class.
Shannon Hudgens runs the Coffee & Crema shops in Greenville SC where he’s been elevating the craft of coffee for the last five years. Well poured lattes and made-to-order coffees are Coffee & Crema’s specialty. Shannon will share his methods for brewing exceptional coffees to-order, as well as his experiences implementing these methods in a retail environment, as a presenter in the “Manual Brew Methods” workshop.
Thanks again to everyone that has volunteered their time to make this event possible. We’re looking forward to a great, fun, and educational weekend for everyone. Hope to see you all there!
