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By most accounts, the Specialty Coffee Association of America's (SCAA) 20th Annual Conference & Exhibition, held May 2 - 5 in Minneapolis, Minn., was a success. As the world's largest coffee trade association, SCAA assembled 7,321 specialty coffee professionals from more than 40 countries. The international conference featured the Coffee of the Year Competition and the United States Barista Championship, hosted by Krups, and more than 850 exhibit booths spotlighting the latest, most innovative coffee products available.

Caribou Coffee, the second-largest company-owned gourmet coffeehouse operator in the world, was SCAA's 2008 conference host sponsor. As the world's largest coffee event, the conference curriculum provided hours of education on topics such as growing and processing, roasting, brewing and serving, quality and standards, sustainability, industry trends, coffee cupping and agroecology. Conference attendees included coffee producers, exporters and importers, roasters, retailers, manufacturers, baristas and coffee enthusiasts.

In addition, the world coffee community visited a busy exhibition floor featuring everything coffee -- green and roasted specialty coffees, commercial and home brewing equipment, espresso machines and grinders, coffee roasting equipment, coffee drinks, mixes and flavorings and syrups, to name a few of the highlights.

The conference theme of "Roots" was fitting as the association featured Ethiopia -- the birthplace of coffee -- throughout the 4-day event. Conference attendees joined Ethiopian coffee growers, cooperatives and exporters in educational forums that looked at the achievements and progress of the Ethiopian Fine Coffee Trademarking and Licensing Initiative and how Ethiopian producers and international distributors can increase the supply of Ethiopian fine coffees while maintaining quality. The conference also featured the "experience" of Ethiopia, including music, coffee ceremonies and presentations of traditional attire and customs.