Every Coffee Fest we sit down with presenters and speakers to talk about their field of expertise and learn from their experience in coffee.

This last NYC Coffee Fest we were privileged to get to chat with four dynamic professionals and discuss everything from barista education and community, social media strategy, and how to run a world class bakery and coffee bar. We start with Ivana Chan and Rachel Apple of Raise the Bar! Ivana Chan is a marketing and e-commerce consultant who has spent the last seven years helping specialty coffee brands grow by bringing their hospitality online through thoughtful digital strategy.

She is also the co-founder of Raise the Bar Coffee, a nonprofit focused on accessible coffee education, mentorship, and community-building, best known for organizing Level Up, an event where baristas connect, learn, and build sustainable careers in coffee Rachel Apple is an esteemed figure in the specialty coffee industry, with over 19 years of comprehensive experience. Her extensive resume includes pivotal roles as Quality Control for George Howell Coffee, Coffee Buyer & Global Supply Chain Manager, Roaster, Educator, & Barista in addition to being a Legacy Q Grader. She is also the only woman, globally, who is a Cup of Excellence Head Judge & SET Course Instructor.

Rachel also serves as a US Barista Championship Head Judge, Sensory Lead, and Committee Member, investing years in volunteer work and leadership in the specialty coffee community – which has recently manifested in co-founding an education focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit Raise the Bar.

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/raisethebar_coffee/

Next we get to learn about winning social media strategy from Birch Coffee's Jeremy Lyman! Jeremy Lyman is the co-founder of Birch Coffee, a New York City-based coffee company. Since its first store opened in 2009, the company has grown to become one of New York City's premiere and most loved independent coffee shop chains. With more than a dozen locations throughout the city, the focus of Birch is on customer service.

Service is something Jeremy believed was lacking in the Specialty Coffee industry and being that both he and his partner Paul are consumers first and worked in bars and restaurants for years before, they realized that this was what was necessary to stand out in the industry. In order to grow the company, Jeremy has overseen the development of not only a high level of service, but methods in which to hone and develop those skills amongst his teams.

Jeremy, Paul, and their team have also figured out creative ways to stand out. From eliminating wifi and introducing conversation starters to designing extraordinarily unique napkins, they have caught the eye of the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and Forbes who have paid specific attention to these differentiators.

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/coffeedogguy/

www.birchcoffee.com

https://www.instagram.com/birchcoffee/

Finally we discuss baking, pastry, and coffee excellence with Lauren Tran! Lauren Tran is the chef-owner of Bánh by Lauren in Chinatown, New York City. She blends her Seattle upbringing and love for coffee culture with a deep-rooted passion for Vietnamese flavors and desserts. After working at fine-dining icons Canlis, Momofuku Ko, and Gramercy Tavern, Lauren started selling pastries out of her apartment during the pandemic.

Bánh by Lauren was hosted for pop-ups for four years before opening a brick and mortar bakery cafe in NYC's Manhattan Chinatown in June 2024. The New York Times ranked her shop among the top 22 bakeries in the U.S., T Magazine named her bánh bò nướng as one of the 25 essential pastries to eat in NYC, and Bánh by Lauren is a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Bakery.

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/banhbylauren/

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