Elite Event @ Alliance for Coffee Excellence

I was very glad to be able to attend this more serious but no less delightful Unilocal event! I’d previously read about the Alliance for Coffee Excellence and remember being intrigued by the vigorous judging process, complete with slurping sounds, so it was neat to experience these very fine coffees and the coffee tasting process in real life.
I loved their coffee expert, Sherri! A highly accomplished, knowledgable coffee judge and businesswoman, she gave a fantastic presentation that was both informative and entertaining. Being more of a tea drinker myself, I don’t know much about fancy coffee but I was definitely able to appreciate the difference between the various types, from the more earthy Rwanda to the more chocolatey Columbia.
Baked goods from Waves of Grain were the perfect snack for this morning class. Many thanks to Sherri, Anna, Don and Ana for this great event!

To repeat what everyone else has said, this was such a great event!
I wasn’t sure what to expect but with Anna and Sherri leading us through the coffee wonderland, it was not only an educational but really fun experience. From learning about the difference between beans, regions, brewing and sampling techniques to the actual sniffing and slurping of the coffee, I never knew there was so much to know about selecting a delicious cup of coffee.
After the tasting of the coffee, we were treated to baked goodies from Waves of Grain and a parting gift of really good coffee. Like, the kind of coffee you would want to buy if you were going to drink it black (I’m still working on that one) because you now understand how complex the flavors are and how you shouldn’t need to add sugar and cream. Mind blown!
Now I can confidentally say that when friends are like «Oh, it doesn’t matter what kind of coffee you buy» or «It doesn’t matter how you brew your coffee,» I can say «Pish posh, it all matters!» and then give a hoity smile.
Thanks to Sherri, Anna, Ana B. and Don for such a unique experience!

My second Unilocal elite event, and I can safely say that Unilocal certainly has a lot of variety and depth in its events. This was all about cupping, thats professional speak for coffee tasters (!!). Woke up bright and early on a saturday morning to learn about the nuances and finer details about how coffee is tasted, ranked and evaluated. Sherri was a fantastic teacher and also on of the world judges in the Cup of Excellence competition. She was very knowledgeable and shared her wealth of knowledge and experience on coffee tasting with the elite squad. They had 6 coffees for us to evaluate from Colombia, Burundi, Nicaragua (2), Brazil and Rwanda. Burundi was my favorite, and now I also know how to brew a cup of black coffee properly (was doing it wrong all these years). And to wrap it all up we even got a sample of one of their prize winning coffee beans!
Thanks Don and Ana for hosting this awesome event. And special thanks to Waves of grain bakery for the treats! Will be visiting them for sure to try out some more of those cookies!

I was lucky to be able to attend this exquisite Coffee Cupping Event at ACE. The hosts, Anna and Sherri were upbeat, informative, thorough, and friendly. I have a friend in the coffee biz and was familiar with the process — but was very wowed by Sherri’s presentation.
The space was beautiful, open, sunny, and comfortable for folks to move about. Great Natural Light.
First Anna explained their role in the coffee world and how they help with quality and giving farmer’s great exposure. I didn’t quite understand everything, but they fielded questions.
We tried coffees from Nicaragua, Colombia, Burundi (have to look that one up on a map), Rwanda, & Brazil. I loved how they walked us through the cupping procedure, making it user friendly for all. The coffees were brilliant, all with subtle nuances, which I cannot pinpoint.
I didn’t get to partake of the desserts and I regret leaving early. I double booked my Sunday by an hour.
Thank you for this opportunity. Please support ACE and the coffees/​importers they work with: Oblique, Sustainable Harvest, Coava, & Nossa Familia.
Room temperature could have been a little cooler.

So amazing! I’m so honored that we were able to learn so much; and from the best! The coffee was delicious, the pastries were amazing, and everyone was very nice and knowledgeable. I can’t wait to try the coffee they gave us as a parting gift!

This was definitely one of my favorite elite events thus far. I had my own coffee awakening earlier this year, and I’ve been slowly venturing into the specialty coffee world. There are so many factors that go into cupping and scoring coffee beans, and I feel that I left the day a more educated coffee consumer.
The venue was beautiful — the large windows had sun shining through during the morning, and it was the perfect place to enjoy my scone before the event started. I loved that it was so educational and hands-​on. Sherri was the best, so informative, and it felt like an honor to be in the presence of such an expert. I learned that the aroma of the grinds and the actual taste of the coffee don’t often correlate — I loved the Burundi coffee best but thought the grounds smelled burnt when I first sniffed it.
Also, the pastries from Waves of Grain complimented the coffee so well, from the cheddar biscuit to the chocolate chip scone. An extra plus!
I just used the Brazilian beans we received as a parting gift this morning — tasted great with my aeropress!
Thanks again to the Unilocal crew and Sherri and Anna A. at ACE for putting together such an amazing event!

There are so many things to be learned while enjoying the world of good food and now we’ve come full circle. Everything from wine tasting and acquiring a healthy body, to cupping or the art of coffee tasting. Since coffee is many times the finish to a great meal, knowing about it is just as important as knowing about that glass of wine you started off with. Thanks to Unilocal we have been educated at last. Until today I didn’t realize there are as many complexities to coffee as there are to wine.
Thanks Don, for another great event. They just keep getting better. Perhaps you have mastered the art of Unilocalishness. Is that a word? OK, it is now cuz I just said it.

They had me at coffee. I puffy heart coffee and drink it daily, usually more than once a day. That said, I still felt a little intimidated about attending a coffee cupping event. As much as I like it, I don’t feel at all like a coffee expert and thought I might not be able to tell the difference. My fears were quickly eased, though, once Anna and Sherri started talking. They love what they do and it shows. Sherri is a world-​traveled coffee rockstar but still took the time to explain everything to us in ways that we understood and were able to replicate.
I loved everything about this event. From being greeted with delicious scones to the actual cupping, everything about this was fun, interesting, and informative. I now feel like I know a whole lot more about how I should be not only purchasing but also preparing my coffee. Sherri would give out tips throughout and was available to answer any questions. It’s such a treat to have be able to take a class from people who are obviously so knowledgeable in their craft. Then on top of that we still got to taste delicious brews AND take home a gift! Just…wow! Thanks, Don, Ana, Anna and Sherri!

I’ll admit it – I’m not a coffee guy. I like the smell of it mostly, I drink it on occasion too, but I“m not the kind of person that needs coffee in the morning to function the rest of the day. My wife, however, has criticized me for buying the cheap coffee at the store and keeping it for months on end. So when this opportunity came up to learn a thing or two about coffee, I figured I’d do myself a favor and learn.
My favorite Elite events are around activities. So on a Sunday morning, we all met up at the Alliance for Coffee Excellence. Anna and Sherri run the Portland branch for this organization. Sherri is a world renowned coffee judge, having traveled all over the world to bring us the finest coffee beans from South America and Africa.
I learned that I knew pretty much nothing about coffee. We learned how the Cup of Excellence awards are scored and how to really slurp like a pro. Sherri looks at everything from the smell of the bean, the smell of the cup right after water is poured, the smell of the cup after mixing, the color, the acidity, the mouth feel, how it tastes at different temperatures, etc. It’s like chemistry class smacked me upside the head and said «Hey, remember me?»
You can certainly tell they are passionate about their coffee here. Don’t let your water get to a rolling boil. Once your kettle starts making some noise, the water is ready. How many beans does a coffee tree produce you ask? Only 1 lb a year. Ya, that’s a lot of trees.
We snacked on some cookies and received a parting gift of some coffee, which undoubtedly is the best coffee I’ll ever brew in my house.
When I came home, my wife thought some coffee expert had taken control of my body, cause clearly I was not the same man that had left earlier that day. Thanks to Sherri, Anna, Ana, and Don. As always, a great event.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but since it involved coffee I figured I had to be there. The space is really neat and this interactive experience and learning all that goes into certifying a really good cup of coffee was a pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning! And I really value my sleep on a Sunday morning so this says a lot.
The baked goodies from Waves of Grain were the perfect accompaniment. It was such a treat to learn first hand from Sherri, an expert in the world of «cupping.» Thanks to all who planned and help facilitate!

I told my friends I was going to a cupping event. Blank stares.
No, actually, concerned stares. What the hell is «cupping»? That alt medicine thing involving hot glass cups and suction welts? Some kind of Fight Club focusing on groin kicks?
Relax. It’s just a coffee tasting, like a wine tasting, but coffee. And serious. The coffee samples are in little cups and you taste it with special spoons, but obviously «spooning» is already taken. (Yeah, when are we getting *that* Elite event?)
I gained new knowledge this morning — e.g. for me, a coffee’s body and mouthfeel are most important to my enjoyment — and that makes me happy. I like learning stuff.
Our guides were friendly and thorough, and made sure to offer us some coffee for drinking too, along with yummy baked goods from Waves of Grain.
Great event!

IMHO, one of the best Portland events, ever.
Definitely the most informative and educational Unilocal Events I have ever experienced.
Sherri was a wealth of knowledge on the cupping process, going through each tasting in much detail.
Waves of Grain provided the pastries – all delicious but I especially loved the cheddar green onion biscuit.
And we received complimentary bag high-​end coffee as a parting gift. It will definitely be put for good use.
Appreciate Don B. and Ana B. for all the hard work!

I am one of those people who has an emotional connection to my coffee. I French press, cold brew and go out of my way for the $ 20 per pound beans. Sometimes I fall asleep dreaming of my morning coffee. So this event was essentially my dream come true.
I didn’t expect this to be such an intellectual, hands on event, but it was and for that I was so grateful. I loved engaging with fellow elites as we sniffed, broke crusts and slurped together.
I left with the knowledge of how to properly prepare my brew and ideas for making my daily cup that much more satisfying. The flavors we experienced today were distinct and delicious. The Columbian and the Rwandan beans were my favorite and I truly enjoyed the experience of cupping.
Anna and Sherri were both incredibly kind and hospitable. Thank you for everything you taught me today and thank you for the wonderful Brazilian beans. Finishing the event off with the delicious pastries and cookies from Waves of Grain sealed this is as one of my top 3 Unilocal events of all time. Thank you to the Unilocal crew for putting it together!

My first, and hopefully not my last class about coffee tasting was truly a rewarding experience. After making my way through the Bindery Building, I was greeted by Don and Ana B. Scones were available to eat before the class started and more treats would be available after.
The coffee expert, Sherrie, gave an amazing presentation that was both informative and insightful. I learned how to properly smell, stir, and analyze what the perfect cup of coffee should be. After sniffing the various samples, the coffee was brewed and tasting began. One of the things I learned was that it takes an average of 10 days for a tongue to fully heal if burned. I think I’ll take better precaution in the future when drinking hot beverages or eating hot food. After the tasting was complete, we were treated with baked goods from Waves of Grain. The cheddar biscuits, pumpkin, bread, and the cookies paired well with the coffee.
Thanks again Sherrie, Anna A., Ana B., and Don for the opportunity to participate in this snazzy, jazzy, caffeine-​fueled event!