Barista Jam, modeled after a musician's jam session, is a 1-2 day informal event that allows industry experts and beginners alike to gather in one location and discuss everything that is coffee, exchange information, new ideas and techniques. Instead of music, the inspiration for a Barista jam is specialty coffee, particularly espresso.

Rather than musicians grouped together talking about riffs, scale changes, half notes and block cords, we have Baristi talking about shot times, tamping techniques, espresso blends and grinding burrs. Musical axes have been replaced with tampers, steam pitchers and beans. If this sounds like a science experiment to you, it is a little bit like one. Lab coats have given way to aprons. Loosely defined, a jam is anytime 2 or more Barista come together over an espresso machine to challenge themselves, or any time there is a gathering of several Baristi and machines all under one roof.

POSTED: Thursday, November 08, 2007