Introduction to the 2025 Specialty Espresso Expo in Houston

Hello everybody, Chris right here, reporting reside from the ground of the Specialty Espresso Affiliation (SCA) Expo in Houston, Texas. I’m thrilled to be protecting the world’s largest specialty espresso showpiece occasion this 12 months for CoffeeGeek. It seems like a pure convergence of two long-standing pursuits of mine: a deep and enduring love for espresso (to not point out an unhealthy dependence on), and a lifelong obsession with know-how.

For some background on who I’m, my most seen work has possible been by the Hiro Report, a weekly e-newsletter I publish underneath a pseudonym. The e-newsletter focuses on surfacing compelling tech, fascinating gear, and thoughtfully curated Apple ecosystem app suggestions. Exterior of writing and the tech world, I’ve been lucky to reside and work throughout 5 continents. These alternatives have taken form in quite a lot of roles, together with a place as a sous chef in a sushi restaurant and a diplomatic posting in Latin America.

I’m additionally an avid images fanatic, and for greater than a decade, I’ve been utilizing Fujifilm and Leica cameras. Images has principally remained a private pursuit, although it has sometimes crossed over into skilled territory. I hope to showcase a few of my reportage model images work within the SCA Expo articles developing.

Regardless of the numerous instructions my profession and pursuits have taken, one of the crucial constant and rewarding elements of my day by day routine has been making espresso. Whereas I began consuming it in highschool, my deeper reference to espresso started in faculty after receiving a Chemex as a present. That have pulled me into the deep rabbit gap of handbook brewing and pour-over strategies, and I’ve by no means seemed again.

Extra not too long ago, I’ve developed a robust curiosity in espresso. That rising ardour led me to find CoffeeGeek, which I consider continues to be probably the most dependable on-line useful resource for exploring espresso gear and studying extra concerning the finer particulars of espresso.

When Mark reached out to ask if I’d be excited by protecting the SCA Expo this 12 months, I lept on the alternative. A part of the enchantment was the chance to spend a weekend immersed within the newest developments in espresso, particularly within the espresso area. It additionally helped that Houston is only a few hours from my dwelling base in Austin, making journey logistics fairly manageable.

For this 12 months’s Expo, my focus in my CoffeeGeek experiences will largely mirror the mission of the Hiro Report. I’ll be in search of progressive espresso and espresso gear, with a specific curiosity in know-how that has not but reached a broad viewers. A few of it will come from bigger, established manufacturers, however I’m equally keen to find smaller firms and newer entrants to the area. Usually, probably the most fascinating and experimental work occurs outdoors the highlight.

Along with protecting the merchandise themselves, I additionally wish to communicate with the folks behind them. I’m inquisitive about what drives them, what challenges they’ve confronted in bringing their concepts to market, and what compromises have been needed alongside the best way. The human tales behind the gear typically present a extra nuanced understanding of the improvements on show.

All through the weekend, I shall be posting same-day and next-day protection right here on CoffeeGeek. These updates will embody impressions from the present flooring, highlights of noteworthy gear, and conversations with the folks shaping the way forward for espresso. After the occasion wraps, I’ll be following up with extra in-depth reflections and evaluation in a sequence of articles that may seem over the next week.

If you’re in any respect within the newest gear, evolving know-how, and behind-the-scenes insights from the world of specialty espresso, keep tuned right here on CoffeeGeek and on our social channels. We’ll be sharing protection from the bottom and capturing as a lot of the Expo expertise as we will.

Trying ahead to seeing a few of you on the present flooring.