Current Crop Roasting Shop announces new Espresso Bar

Written By Alicia Vial

Local favorite now offering freshly brewed coffee in addition to classes and retail offerings

NEW ORLEANS – Current Crop Roasting Shop announces the opening of their new Espresso Bar. In addition to being the hub for specialty coffee beans, Current Crop now offers visitors the ability to take a freshly brewed coffee to go. Now entering their 3rd year of business, this expansion marks a turning point for the shop in their vision to bring the flavors of coffee from around the world to New Orleans.

“This has been one of our most-requested additions since we opened,” says Current Crop’s Director of Product & Programs, Catherine Mansell. “We have been sharing our love of coffee with New Orleans since we began in 2023, and this new Espresso Bar allows us to share that love with even more people who may not have the time to attend a full class.”

Current Crop is a DIY coffee roasting hub and staffs coffee specialists to guide and advise customers on what would fit their tastes. This new Espresso Bar, in addition to their classes and retail offerings, allows locals and tourists alike to experience a variety of flavors while on the go. Micro bags of beans are also available for purchase, so as visitors find blends they enjoy, they are able to take home a bag for themselves.

Current Crop will continue to offer coffee roasting and “cupping” (tasting) classes along with roasting and brewing supplies, brand merchandise, and of course, green unroasted coffee beans from a variety of more than 30 unique origins. The retail concept was originally created as an offshoot of the online business Coffee Bean Corral, which began in 1994 as the first specialty coffee bean store on the internet.

Current Crop Roasting Shop’s new Espresso Bar will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Coffee enthusiasts can follow Current Crop on Facebook and Instagram or visit https://currentcroproasting.com/ for more information.

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About Current Crop Roasting Shop

Current Crop Roasting Shop is a unique retail destination that provides coffee enthusiasts with the supplies and expertise to take unroasted green coffee beans to the perfect finished cup of specialty coffee. Customers will find a wide selection of home coffee roasting equipment alongside a curated selection of unroasted specialty coffee beans from rare origins across the world.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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