On 2nd July, we held our seventh edition of Full Circle. An annual event that connects roasters and producers in the DRWakefield community. A day of in-depth coffee talks, discussions and tastings, it is a unique opportunity to network with coffee professionals working throughout the supply chain and hear diverse perspectives on coffee.
We were joined by keynote speakers from Colombia and Sumatra, as well as organisations like the SCA, Swiss Water Decaf, and Fairtrade. We also tasted some delicious single-varietal coffees from Cafe Granja La Esperanza.
If you didn’t get the chance to attend this year, you will still get an opportunity to see the presentations – we filmed them all and released them on our YouTube Channel.
On behalf of the DRWakefield team, we would like to thank everyone who attended Full Circle and a special thanks to all the speakers for sharing their insights 🙏
Genetics in Coffee
Alejandra Giron: Café Granja La Esperanza, Colombia
With over seven years of experience in the coffee industry, Alejandra Giron excels in sales, foreign trade, management, marketing, planning, and logistics. Representing Café Granja La Esperanza (CGLE), she delves into the family’s legacy in Colombian coffee cultivation since the 1930s. CGLE is renowned for its focus on genetics and innovative processing techniques, producing unique, competition-level coffees by sourcing uncommon varieties and creating their own too! Join Alejandra as she highlights these pioneering approaches and the secrets behind their award-winning coffees.
Regeneration and Adaptation
Rama Saputra: Permata Gayo, Sumatra
Rama Aulia Saputra, General Manager of the Sumatra Permata Gayo Cooperative, is a dedicated Gayo coffee processor and producer from Bener Meriah, Aceh. He champions the cooperative model over traditional companies, emphasising the importance of community building and support in business.
In his talk, “Regeneration and Adaptation,” Rama introduces the Sumatra Permata Gayo Cooperative, discussing the latest processing trends in Sumatra and how the cooperative model fosters resilience and growth in the coffee industry.
The New Coffee Value Assessment
Julia Leach: Toddy & SCA, USA
Julia Leach, President of cold brew pioneer Toddy, LLC, collaborates with cafes and roasters worldwide to develop innovative cold brew programs. With a passion for coffee brewing and education, Julia serves on the SCA Board of Directors and has presented at numerous industry events, including SCA Re and Expo, NCA Convention, and PRF Colombia.
For decades, innovation in coffee has made giant strides, while the system for scoring coffee has remained the same. There had to be a better way. So for years, the SCA has collaborated with the industry, scientists, and researchers to develop the new Coffee Value Assessment (CVA)—a complete “high-resolution” picture of a specific coffee across four assessment types, that takes into account all the attributes that make a coffee special. Julia introduces the CVA and discusses its potential for the future.
Decaf in the Consumer Market
Stacey Lyndon: SWD, Canada
Stacey Lyndon is the cupping lab manager at Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Inc., an Arabica Q Grader, and the current Canadian Coffee in Good Spirits Champion.
In her presentation, Stacey introduces Swiss Water and explores the growing role of decaf in the consumer market. She delves into current trends in decaffeinated coffee, highlighting the advantages of the Swiss Water Process, particularly its chemical-free approach, as compared to other decaffeination methods that have recently faced the negative press. Stacey also shares her unique experiences using decaf in coffee competitions, showcasing its versatility and potential in crafting exceptional coffee beverages.
Fairtrade Fit for the Future
Cat Rayner: Fairtrade, UK
Cat Rayner, Senior Partner Marketing Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation, has been with Fairtrade for 22 years, starting as a volunteer and never looking back. Throughout her career, she has worked with various commodities in account management and marketing roles, now focusing on coffee. Beyond marketing, Cat is passionate about Fairtrade’s campaigning work and often dons a banana suit for awareness events.
In her talk, Cat underscores the importance of Fairtrade as a sustainable path forward. She invites Anei, Colombian Coffee Producers, to the panel to discuss the profound impact of Fairtrade on their community and its future viability. This session promises valuable insights into the ways in which Fairtrade is growing the demand for Fairtrade in the UK and innovating its model to create even more positive impact for farmers in a way which also meets business needs.
Examining EUDR
Mark Furniss: Enveritas, UK
Mark, a former coffee trader with two decades of experience at EDF Man/Volcafe, and then joined Enveritas in 2018. Since then, he has played a pivotal role in establishing Enveritas as a leading responsible sourcing scheme.
In this presentation, Mark delves into the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), explaining its implications for roasters, traders and producers. He outlines the obligations imposed by these regulations and provides guidance on how to ensure compliance. This session offers crucial information for those navigating the complexities of EUDR requirements.
To ensure our compliance with EUDR, we have partnered with Enveritas. Learn more about our partnership here.
