Coffee Curious Workshops
Designer | Toni Oreck / Anthony Brenner
Location | Asheville, NC, USA
Launch Date | September 29, 2022
Coffee Curious Workshops, a coffee experiences learning lab nestled in beautiful Asheville, NC, combines the comfort of a home kitchen with the playfulness of a science laboratory. I created the concept by imagining the classroom I was looking for, but couldn’t find when I started my coffee journey. I pictured something bright, fun and welcoming. I wanted a pleasant place where I could ask a coffee expert all kinds of questions, use different devices and try a variety of coffees. I hoped to be invited to explore coffee culture on a deeper level without having to invest too much. I couldn’t find it, so I made it for everyone. I found a way to make a business where folks of all backgrounds have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the intricacies of coffee in a joyful and comfortable environment. What makes the workshop design unique is our commitment to multi-functionality. We wanted the main open space to be versatile and chose to use wheeled carts for our training tables as well as wheeled shelves for retail. Everything can be rearranged depending on the nature of any class, event or video production. Even though I did not find what my mind conjured up, I did find Specialty Coffee Association trainers. I enjoyed the rigor and professionalism I found in my SCA education and it made me the coffee professional I am today. The three main design inspirations for Coffee Curious Workshops are Greater Goods Roasting’s East Austin training center, Counter Culture Coffee’s Asheville training space in the Center for Craft as well as the AirBnb Experiences model.
