Coastal Coffee Fest Education
Session A - From Goat Herder to Global Treasure: The Journey of Coffee
Banks Thomas - Grand Strand Coffee
- 9:30 am
Reserve a seat below (1 education session per ticket holder)
Banks Thomas's passion for coffee started in high school when he first worked as a barista, sparking a lifelong love for the industry. He honed his skills as a coffee roaster with one of Charlotte's original specialty coffee roasting companies in the late 90s and early 2000s. Banks then expanded his expertise in Canada, leading the roasting, quality control, and coffee buying operations for a large specialty coffee roaster on the West Coast. Seeking to return to the U.S., he joined Starbucks, where he played a pivotal role in quality control, cupping over 600 cups a day. For the past decade, Banks has been a dedicated specialty coffee trader, traveling the world to foster relationships with top coffee farms and roasters, enhancing the offerings at Grand Strand Coffee and enriching the coffee landscape in North America.
From Goat Herder to Global Treasure: The Journey of Coffee
Join Banks Thomas for a captivating hour-long journey through the rich history of coffee, from its humble beginnings with a goat herder in Ethiopia to becoming the world's second-largest traded commodity. In this engaging talk, Banks will guide you through the transformative story of coffee, exploring its cultural, economic, and social impact across centuries. Enhancing the experience, attendees will participate in a unique coffee tasting, sampling flavors from around the globe, each telling a part of coffee's fascinating story. This talk is a must for coffee enthusiasts and history buffs alike, offering insight into how a simple bean shaped the modern world.
Session B - Planning Your Green Coffee Sourcing Program
Nathaniel Hirschler - Balzac Brothers
- 11 am
Reserve a seat below (1 education session per ticket holder)
Nathaniel Hirschler, a dedicated Sales Rep and Lab Tech at Balzac Brothers, is committed to helping roasters find the perfect coffee for their customers. He relocated to Myrtle Beach in 2017 and joined Balzac Brothers in Charleston nearly two years ago. Nathaniel is eager to share his insights from working at a family-owned specialty coffee importer and learning more about how the Myrtle Beach coffee community has grown. In his presentation, "Planning Your Green Coffee Sourcing Program," he'll be sharing a brief history of Balzac Brothers, a short list of some of the impacts that importers & roasters have in the supply chain, and offer practical tips for improving your green coffee sourcing strategies.
Session C - Coffee 101/ Coffee Myths
Rob Meadows - Birchin Lane Coffee Company
- 12:30 pm
Reserve a seat below (1 education session per ticket holder)
journey in the world of coffee began in 2012 when he and his wife’s opened there first cafe and roasting company in Kansas City, MO. From then on, he has been immersed in the world of specialty coffee.
He received his coffee tech certification from one of the SCA’s pioneering instructors and continuing to educate himself on sourcing, methods and flavor profiles.
Opening Birchin Lane Coffee Company here in Myrtle Beach, Rob is excited to share his experience with Coffee Fest and looks forward to networking with all who attend.