April 2024
Welcome to our April newsletter.
Time keeps flying by this year and we have another flurry of most exciting news to share with you this month. We’ve been hard at the work over the last few weeks, refreshing and updating our entire website ahead of the launch of one of our most ambitious project to date: the lab membership program! We’ve also recently officially welcomed Julian Loayza in the team as a freelance trainer, bringing with him bucketloads of experience in coffee education and training. Read on to find out more about his journey.
MEMBERSHIP LAUNCH
Following many months of preparation and planning, we’re pleased to announce the start of the Independent Coffee Lab membership program. Designed to support coffee producers, coffee importers and coffee roasters (we’re looking to also add a plan for coffeeshops soon...), the program offers several benefits to all stakeholders of the coffee supply chain. It also helps foster the collaborative aspect of our local coffee community by connecting members to other like-minded businesses and professionals through our online community hub and in-person events.
Neutrality and impartiality are the fundamental pillars of our London based coffee lab and consulting agency. We more than ever intend to remain in that privileged position while also providing continuous support to coffee businesses by offering an easier access to our premises, services and local network. Flexibility is another key aspect, the monthly membership plans can be paused, rotated or cancelled at an anytime and can also be tailored to meet individual needs, requirements and objectives.
WELCOMING JULIAN LOAYZA IN THE TEAM
Freelancer | SCA & CQI Trainer
We are very pleased to officially welcome Julian Loayza in the Independent Coffee Lab team as a freelance trainer, bringing with him bucketloads of experience in coffee education and training.
Originally from La Paz in Bolivia, Julian is a Specialty Coffee Association AST trainer and Coffee Quality Institute Q Arabica Assistant Instructor. After finishing university in Madrid (unrelated to coffee), he moved to Dubai and got his first job in the coffee sector. After three years living and working in the United Arab Emirates, first as a barista then as a cafe manager, his journey took him to London where he landed his first coffee roasting job at Monmouth Coffee Company. After learning the ropes and the challenges of the profession (lifting sacks, cleaning flues, etc.) he went on to work with various coffee roasting companies in the UK, including Qima, Terrone and 39Steps.
He is now Head Trainer at Beantale and teaches multiple modules of the SCA coffee skills program: Introduction to Coffee, Roasting, Barista Skills, Green Coffee and Sensory Skills. He is working towards becoming a CVA trainer (the new Coffee Value Assessment system released by the SCA) and a CQI Q Arabica Instructor.
Julian will run his first Q Arabica Combo in September at the Independent Coffee Lab, which we are all really thrilled about!
See you in May !
xx Team ICL