Barista Training at Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative Announces Barista Training
at Kona Coffee Cultural Festival


Professional barista training will be on the program of the 2007 Kona Coffee Cultural Festival for the first time in its 37-year history. A hands-on espresso workshop offered by the Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative will be held on November 8 in Kona during the 10-day Festival on the Big Island of Hawaii.


KAILUA KONA, HI (PRWEB) July 20, 2007 – For the first time in its 37-year history, the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival will include a professional espresso training workshop during its 10-day celebration of Hawaii's coffee heritage. The full-day hands-on workshop held by the Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative will teach participants how to taste espresso, prepare espresso and make popular specialty drinks using Kona coffee.

"We believe that it is in the Hawaii coffee industry's best interest to embrace the ever-increasing consumer demand for espresso and other specialty coffee drinks," says Sotero Agoot, Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative general manager. "Kona is already widely recognized as a leading world origin for fine coffee; we intend to continue that tradition in the modern marketplace of cappuccinos and café lattes."

Andrew Hetzel of Kamuela, Hawaii-based Cafemakers will lead the workshop. "Our course is designed for food and beverage professionals that want to know more about what makes great espresso," says Hetzel. "We have experienced station instructors that will work one-on-one with participants of every level -- from beginners learning basics to experienced baristas looking to polish skills, there will be something of value here for anyone serious about coffee."

The class will be held from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM on November 8, 2007 at the Hale Halawai center on Ali'i Drive in Kona for a fee of $195 per attendee. Class size is limited to 20 participants; advance registration is required. For more information or to register, contact the Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative at (808) 328-2411.

About the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

The 37th Annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival celebrates Hawaii's 179-year coffee tradition from November 2 - 11, 2007. Enjoy nearly 50 Festival events including contests, tastings, ethnic foods, parades, a scholarship pageant, farm tours, art exhibits, an outdoor concert and more! For more information about the Festival, visit http://www.konacoffeefest.com.

About Cafemakers

Cafemakers is a specialty coffee business consultancy and training firm based in Kamuela (Waimea) on the Big Island of Hawaii. Founder and president Andrew Hetzel is a frequent speaker at culinary and beverage conferences, a member of the Specialty Coffee Association of America's Training Committee, judge for the Ultimate Barista Challenge competition and a writer for Tea & Coffee Trade Journal. In 2007, Mr. Hetzel was named one of Hawaii's top young business leaders by Pacific Business News. More information is available online at http://www.cafemakers.com.

About the Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative

Known as the oldest and largest coffee cooperative in the United States, the Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative has been continuously processing coffee since 1910; now processing over 5 million pounds of beans annually supplied by 300 member farms. The coop offers education events for industry professionals and free daily tours of coffee operations for consumers. For more information, visit the KPFC website at http://www.kpfc.com.

Media Contact

Mr. Sotero Agoot
Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative
Tel: (808) 328-2411