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Coop Sol opens its doors to the Green Team
In a short but productive weekend, Coop Coffees' Green Committee met in the new office space and site of the coop's future quality control lab to discuss pressing green bean issues and evaluate the next steps in getting the internal lab established.
In August, roasters from seven Coop Coffees member companies parachuted into Montreal to see and test out Coop Sol's new office and future lab. The SCAA-approved countertop is installed, the sample roaster has been tested, the ceramic cupping mugs are in place and we're getting closer and closer to launching the official in-house quality control lab. Over the next couple weeks, the Montreal staff will finish up preparing the space for our own internal needs. Eventually, we'd like to open the lab, in partnership with Coffee Labs Int'l, for private classes in cupping. We're still a little ways off from becoming an official SCAA teaching lab, but once we get the cupper and some outstanding equipment in place, we'll be ready to run the lab for in-house cupping!
One of the most important aspects, if not the most important, of any cupping lab is the cupper - the person doing the actual testing. Training a palete to detect what are often very subtle differences from one coffee to the next is no small feat. Training a palete to learn and consider the interests of 22 different roasters who each have their own palete and taste is even harder! Thankfully, Mane Alves who currently cups our coffee at Coffee Labs Int'l has offered to train our cupper candidate. Starting in September, Jean-Francois, owner of a local espresso-bar in Montreal and coffee enthusiast, will be taking cupping courses in Waterbury, Vermont under Mane's attention.
Beyond evaluating the lab space, the Green Team took advantage of the weekend retreat to discuss green bean issues. From honing in on new sources (Brazilian!) to discussing pricing structures to cupping roasted samples of various origins, the small group of roasters touched a host of important topics. Overall, it was a very productive and focused weekend.
We thank each of the roasters for taking the time out of their busy schedules to meet up in Montreal and participate in the crucial beginning stages of our cupping lab.
Coming up, on September 17, our office along with the two companies we share the space with, will be hosting a reception to celebrate the inauguration of our new collective space! If you're in the area, please stop by! 5425, Rue de Bordeaux, Bureau #500 Montréal, QC H2P1T6.
