Meet Bassel Abou Fakher - founder of Stella Coffee Bar

Join us for an interactive specialty coffee workshop with Bassel Abou Fakher, founder of Stella Coffee Bar, and Rutger Callewier, founder of Wide Awake, exploring the world of coffee from bean to cup.

The workshop will begin with an introduction to their entrepreneurial journeys — from consulting and music to building two distinctive coffee businesses in Brussels, each combining quality, creativity and a strong sense of community.

During the session, Bassel and Rutger will take you behind the scenes of the coffee industry, exploring everything from coffee as a global commodity and the economics behind it, to farming, processing methods and plant varieties — and how these factors ultimately influence taste and price.

The conversation will then move into the world of roasting and brewing, with an introduction to different techniques and the craft behind creating exceptional coffee. They will also explore how coffee shops have evolved into brands, where branding, design and creative direction play an essential role in shaping the customer experience.

The experience will culminate in a guided coffee tasting, followed by a Q&A with Bassel and Rutger.

A relaxed and immersive workshop bringing together entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, creativity and great coffee — with the opportunity to discover what goes into every cup and meet two passionate entrepreneurs shaping Brussels’ specialty coffee scene.