Elevate your coffee knowledge

Want to up your game from coffee drinker to coffee connoisseur? Mad Priest will give you grounds for claiming to be a cuppa joe aficionado with its upcoming coffee education series: Coffee Catechism.

Coffee Catechism is a series of six Saturday-morning classes to learn more about the complexity and intricacies of coffee. The series will include an overview of some of the different aspects of the plant, along with hands-on opportunities.

Classes will be held at The Mad Priest, 719 Cherry St. They are all limited to 10 people, and the cost is $10 per class.

Instructors will be Mark Stahlwood and Michael Rice.

Stahlwood is lead barista at The Mad Priest. He’s been a barista since 2011, working at multiple chains and independent coffee shops in Colorado as a barista, manager and educator. He’s competed in many local and regional barista competitions; most recently, the Coffee Champs Brewer’s Cup.

Rice is the founder and owner of The Mad Priest. He began his career with barista and coffee steward certifications from Counter Culture Coffee, and later completed roasting and green-buying certifications via the Specialty Coffee Association. He worked as a consultant in the coffee industry in India before moving to Chattanooga and starting Mad Priest in 2015.

A list of each month’s 10 a.m. classes are at right. Participants are asked to reserve/ confirm dates through the eventbrite link on Coffee Catechism’s Facebook page.

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