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Issue link: http://baristamagazine.epubxp.com/i/216819
coffee system for espresso, pourover, and steam power, and they crowded around the KeepCup Brew Bar, where baristas had a blast trying different coffees on AeroPress, siphon, and Chemex. I couldn't get enough of the educational sessions, which varied from a super scientific analysis of how water reacts and affects espresso and equipment by Scott Guglielmino of La Marzocco USA, to exploring philosophies behind adult learning processes by Marco Rosetti, a distinguished Italian occupational therapist. The fantastic Tim Schilling gave an enlightening presentation about his work with World Coffee Research to grow, improve, and protect supplies of quality coffee to fuel the development of the industry; and who can forget Francesco Illy himself waxing poetic about his famous family's company and his recent forays into growing grapes and making wine? (Offered in tastings throughout OOTB, the wines were damn good, too.) Among the most exciting discussions were the most informal ones: I hung on every word from Maurizio Ridolfo and Raffaele Sangiovanni as they talked about encountering coffee and La Marzocco through totally different industries. A music producer, television host, and magazine writer, Maurizio shared insights about how he sees his current passion—cycling—collide with great coffee, and how the two go hand in hand. Loveable Raffaele recounted passionately when, after working for MTV for 15 years, he chanced upon La Marzocco, fell in love, quit his job, and opened a café called Taglio. Located just a 10-minute walk from the OOTB event space, Taglio became our hangout. We would go there between sessions for the best cheeses and cocktails, amazing meats and olive oils, and espresso, of course, from a custom Strada. I adored the rapport between famous designer Luca Trazzi—you'd recognize his iconic designs for Audi, Illy, Porche, Martini, Swatch, and soon La Marzocco— and Francesco Illy, whom Luca introduced to the crowd as his "personal translator." While Francesco was in fact just there to translate for Luca, the long and entertaining history these collaborators share led the conversation to insider stories about how certain symbolic and eminent designs came about. Perhaps the most special session of all, however, was the intimate Meet the Makers event, where La Marzocco's chief engineers—the actual guys who build Mistrals, GS/3s, PBs, all of them—sat at a table in the Sala Scarperia answering questions. They talked about what it was like to work alongside La Marzocco founders Bruno and Giuseppi Bambi, the process of realizing a design dreamed up by Piero Bambi, Giuseppi's son, the chalAndrew Barnet lenges of building the Mistral. As Chris said at one point, "These guys are the heart of this company." They were shy and Cofee Roaster a little uncomfortable in front of the crowd at first, but their affinity for their work and their deep, familial relationships with each Linea Cafe Founder other were obvious when they described hammering the brass on early machines Brazil Specialy with Bruno, or fondly teasing each other. Cofee Enthusias La Marzocco is a family company even if your last name isn't Bambi; for all intents and purposes, these guys really did seem to be brothers. Rewinding to the first night, the eve of bsca.com.br OOTB officially kicking off, we gathered in the courtyard for cocktails and pasta, toasting each other and winding ourselves up about the excitement to come in the following days. As we talked we kept glancing at the white curtain surrounded a giant 48 barista magazine