Maitum, Sarangani Province – Thirsty Tongue Café and Sidenotes Coffee Co. collaborated to conduct the ‘Maitum Coffee Connections’ event in Maitum, Sarangani Province held on August 24, 2023. The event aimed to expand the knowledge of Maitum stakeholders about coffee and advocate for local quality coffee.
Thirsty Tongue Café owner-barista Mervin John Keith Reganit Sabarre emphasized the importance of this event for the people of Maitum.
"The goal is to educate them that there is more to coffee than what they know. Coffee is already a part of our lives, and it should be of high quality if we consume it," he said.
Sabarre demonstrated the coffee cupping procedure to the attendees and talked about its significance. "This event also helps farmers understand their purpose in the industry and encourages them to be more active in ensuring quality processes. I hope that Maitum will soon have a consistent supply of Fine Robusta so that it can contribute to the world of coffee quality," he added.
Q Robusta Grader Raniele Cedrik De Vera presented 'Manual Brewing Essentials' and demonstrated brewing techniques using various coffee vessels. As a new Q Professional in the coffee industry, he places great importance on educating the public about coffee.
"One of the roles of a Q Grader is to provide accurate coffee education. There are misconceptions about coffee that do not align with industry standards. As Q Professionals, it is our responsibility to educate both consumers and coffee stakeholders," he said.
A Q Grader is a certified professional who evaluates the quality of green coffee. They use the Q Program to grade coffee and share a common language of quality with producers and buyers. Many jobs in the coffee industry require employees to be certified Q Graders. There are over 7000 Q Graders worldwide.
The Q Grader certification is administered by the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI). CQI is a non-profit organization that works internationally to improve the quality of coffee and the lives of people who produce it. They offer training and certification programs for coffee professionals, including the Q Grader program, which certifies individuals in the sensory evaluation of green coffee.
After the two sessions, attendees shared their experiences participating in the event. Many expressed appreciation for the importance of consuming local quality coffee and recognized the efforts of the Maitum farmers who produced it.
The event was attended by several notable individuals, including Municipal Councilor James Basquinez Reganit (Committee on Agriculture), Q Robusta Grader Arnel Cadeliña (Tay Roming’s Coffee & Roastery), OMAg’s High-Value Crops Coordinator Elton Vincent Galima, SP Secretary and Municipal Information Officer Joylyn Ty, Ticulab Economic Development Through Tri People President Maybelline Wanan, Upo Valley Farmers Association (UVFA) Secretary Cristine Kusin, vanilla farmer Melvin Awid, and representatives from Britos Café and Roaster and Malaya Brew Café.
'Maitum Coffee Connections’ was the second coffee event series to take place in Maitum. The first was held at Malaya Brew on May 30, 2023.
(Photos contributed by Maitum MIO & 10th Digital Photography)
###
0 Comments