Bean to Bonding: How Coffee Brings Community Together

<p>In this episode of <em>Cape Ann Conversations</em>, host Troy Scarbrough welcomed Essex resident and coffee enthusiast Rob Fitzgibbons, the founder behind a growing coffee cupping experience business. Drawing on his background as a user experience designer, Rob has transformed a simple at-home tasting with friends into a sought-after program for libraries and community centers, helping people slow down, pay attention, and truly <em>experience</em> their coffee. What started as a fun experiment shared on a local listserv quickly turned into regular invitations from libraries and organizations across the region.</p><p>Rob’s cuppings are interactive, 90-minute sessions that feel like a wine tasting—but for coffee. Participants learn how coffee is grown, processed, roasted, and labeled (think fair trade, organic, and more), then blind-taste three different coffees while using a flavor wheel to describe what they smell and taste. The result is part education, part team-building: people compare notes, laugh, and leave more connected—and caffeinated. Rob now offers cuppings for corporate teams, boards, weddings, showers, and special events, providing a memorable, non-alcoholic experience that’s both affordable and low-risk (“much safer than axes and whiskey,” as he jokes). If you’re coffee-curious or looking for a unique group experience, you can reach Rob through <a href="https://www.coffeecuppings.com/">coffeecuppings.com</a> or by calling 978-317-1640.</p><p>If you would like to experience a coffee cupping in person, a free session is being held on January 6 from 1:30 – 2:30 PM at the Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester. <a href="https://sawyerfreelibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/coffee-cupping/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Registration is required for this free event.</a></p><p></p>