Infusion Distribution is the business that started it all…
Patrick O’Malley founded Espresso Italia in 1998 after his passion for coffee led him to begin roasting coffee and curating teas. That same passion took him down a path of Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) training, becoming the 43rd person in the world to receive the SCA Diploma. This resulted in the creation of the International Barista & Coffee Academy in 2012 and later, in 2015, the creation of Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters.
As a customer of Infusion Distribution, you don’t get a basic wholesale distributor. You get a team of coffee and tea lovers who are deeply connected to the world of coffee in many ways.
International Barista & Coffee Academy
Founded in 2012, the International Barista & Coffee Academy (IBCA) was the first SCA-authorized coffee academy in the Americas. Students from all over the United States and the world have come to IBCA to learn from Patrick and his team. As an SCA Diploma holder, SCA authorized trainer, licensed Q Arabica Grader, roast master, tea sommelier, and coffee entrepreneur, Patrick imparts valuable wisdom that goes above and beyond that of the SCA Diploma or Q Grading courses alone. The primary training center is located in Tempe, Arizona in our very own SCA-certified coffee lab, one of 31 in the world. Our Infusion Distribution customers can also benefit from the training offered by IBCA, as we host staff training in many topics, including barista skills, brewing, latte art, and machine maintenance.
International Barista & Coffee Academy Dubai
The demand for quality coffee education is high, and word spread fast that IBCA’s courses went above and beyond to educate students in every facet of the coffee industry. IBCA offers on-location training at various sites around the world or at your place of business. However, the demand called for a second IBCA training center. So, in May 2019, Patrick partnered with Sanremo Coffee Machines UAE to open an IBCA location in Dubai, Deira, UAE. If you want to learn more about Sanremo Coffee Machines UAE, head over to their website.
Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters
As Infusion Distribution grew in popularity, so did the public demand for a cafe offering all of Patrick’s creations in one spot. Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters opened its doors in Tempe, Arizona in 2015 and has grown into a community of specialty coffee enthusiasts. As there are regularly no fewer than 14 single-origin coffees, each available to be brewed several different ways, even a newcomer to the world of specialty coffee quickly picks up on what goes into every cup. With a focus on quality and direct trade, Infusion has since expanded to three locations (Tempe, Queen Creek, and North Phoenix) plus a thriving online retail of their locally roasted coffees and hand-crafted teas.
3 Coffee Guys Coffee Voyages
3 Coffee Guys started with just that, three men with a passion for coffee! Infusion Distribution owner, Patrick O’Malley; barista extraordinaire and head trainer of Caffé Vergnano in Turin, Damian Burgess; and, expert specialty coffee roaster and owner of Tecnocafé in Bogotá, Ricardo Villegas, bring you coffee education at the source. On a coffee voyage with 3 Coffee Guys, you get to travel the world and learn about the coffee process from seed to cup. Want to learn more or even join them on one of their journeys? Head over to the official website!
Sanremo World Academy Team
Sanremo World Academy Team, or SWAT for short, is a research and development team made up of a curated group of coffee professionals chosen by Sanremo Coffee Machines. Infusion Distribution owner, Patrick O’Malley, along with five other leading coffee authorities collaborate with Sanremo on ideas, concepts, and designs for espresso machines and grinders. Sanremo Coffee Machines are built using the highest standards and materials, which results in the highest capability and stability in the world. Their commitment to quality is demonstrated in their selection of coffee pros to help direct them and give feedback on future machines.
Brewsed Documentary
Patrick O’Malley teamed up with SnakeByte Media to film and produce a documentary to educate more people on the impact of the coffee industry. The film covers everything from coffee festivals and expos to an up-close and personal look at the underpaid and under-recognized farmers carrying the entire industry. Because the coffee industry affects the economic livelihood of 25 million people, the documentary is aimed at bringing that awareness to consumers who have the purchasing power to influence coffee companies towards more direct trade coffee, resulting in better wages for farmers, more sustainable practices, and higher quality coffee.