Major New Barista Event Level Up to Debut in Minneapolis This Fall

All images courtesy of Raise the Bar.

A new non-competitive event for baristas called Level Up is coming to Minneapolis this fall, and it happens to feature a sparkling roster of some of the coffee industry’s most thoughtful and engaging educators.

Taking place September 27-29 at the new headquarters of Mill City Roasters, the 2.5-day event designed for baristas of all backgrounds was created by Raise the Bar, a nonprofit created by Rachel Apple, Ivana Chan and Sandra Loofbourow devoted to professional barista development, especially “for those historically left out of traditional coffee institutions.”

The organization is backed by a board of directors that includes Lauren Lathrop, Alexandra Littlejohn and Kat Melheim.

With the inaugural Level Up, the group said it is hoping to provide an immersive experience for baristas in which they can strengthen their craft, build community and “imagine their long-term future in coffee.”

The event comes as several leading support organizations for baristas — such as the Barista Guild of the Specialty Coffee Association or former U.S. nonprofits Go Fund Bean or Glitter Cat — have either halted national events or dissolved entirely.

“Baristas are doing the labor that connects every part of the value chain to the public. They are the translators, they are the frontline educators, they are the people who hold the tension of this whole thing that we do,” Apple said in an announcement of the new event shared with DCN. “We wanted to build the world we want to live in instead of relying on existing structures that aren’t serving the people we care about. It is the right time for this, not just because we need it emotionally, but because the cracks are showing in our existing systems.”

The Level Up event will feature full-day workshops, hands-on training and elective-style classes, as well as a public cafe, guest speakers, local tours and other community-building events.

The home of Mill City Roasters in Minneapolis.

Tickets, which will be capped at 80, are expected to go on sale later this month. The group is planning to offer a number of scholarships for discounted tickets, and all tickets include all the group events, lodging, meals and local transportation. According to the event’s FAQ section, full-price tickets for the event will be $775 for a ticket with a private hotel room or $550 for a shared hotel room (through a matching system).

More registration, sponsorship and other event details are available through the Level Up website.

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