Serving People Serving Coffee Since 2005
Issue link: http://baristamagazine.epubxp.com/i/853621
P U L L : E V E N T S More than 200 people gathered at Berkeley, Calif.ʼs Bay Area CoRoasting on a perfectly lovely early summer evening in June for The Coffeewoman, presented by Barista Magazine and supported by Pacific Barista Series. Conceived and developed by Laila Ghambari and Tracy Ging, The Coffeewoman is a grass-roots organization that promotes empowerment of women, people of color, gender nonconforming, and non-cis coffee professionals, and inclusivity, education, and awareness. With CoRoʼs floor-to-ceiling doors raised open, attendees meandered from the sunshine outside to the bright, airy space enjoying food catered by Berkeleyʼs beloved Bartavelle Coffee & Wine Bar, and local beer and wine selections, before the event began. The excited audience quieted for a keynote speech by Helen Russell, CEO and cofounder of Equator Coffees & Teas in San Rafael, Calif., then settled into two lively panel discussions about career building as well as promoting intersectionality in coffee. Clockwise from top left: Coffee professionals from across Northern California came together for The Coffeewoman, held June 2 at Bay Area CoRoasting in west Berkeley. Keynote speaker Helen Russell inspired the audience with the story of Equator Coffees & Teasʼ humble beginnings 22 years ago, to becoming the first LGBTQ-owned company to be honored with the National Small Business of the Year award in 2016, to completing the circle of excellence when Equatorʼs Talya Strader took third place at the 2017 United States Barista Championship using coffee from the Panamanian farm, Finca Sophia, of which Helen is co-owner. The audience was engaged in each segment of The Coffeewoman event, and invited to join the conversation during the panel discussions. THE COFFEEWOMAN JUNE 2, 2017 BERKELEY, CALIF. PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER STURM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED 26 barista magazine