For some, drinking a coffee in the morning is the best part of their day. It wakes them up from the sluggishness of sleep and prepares them for the day ahead. Coffee as a drink comes in many forms, from a black americano to a creamy flat white. Moreover, the drink brings people together, whether in someone’s home or a communal café. From this love and sense of community, the London Coffee Festival was born, giving coffee lovers a chance to chat with their favourite coffee roasters, and meet some of the biggest coffee brands in the industry.

A Coffee Lover’s Paradise

The festival is a coffee lover’s heaven on earth, from plant-based milks to espresso machines and sweet treats. Each year, the festival is based in Shoreditch, in the Truman Brewery. The event invites well-known names in the industry, such as Nespresso, but also celebrates independent companies like Barista & Co. A guest can also watch live demonstrations and competitions between skilled baristas, listen to live music, and wander around art exhibitions.

In 2011, the London Coffee Festival began. London was becoming the global center of coffee drinking, and the festival was created out of love for the coffee scene in the UK. With over 7,000 visitors and 100 exhibitors in its first year, the creative community welcomed the festival with delight. The festival thrills crowds of coffee enthusiasts with highly skilled latte art, the opportunity to gain industry knowledge, and the representation of big brands.

Stall After Stall

Meandering through eager crowds within the roaster’s village on the main floor, guests sip at their freshly made coffee samples from each stall. They murmur about the drink’s undertones, how its compliments the milk, and its place of origin. There is coffee for everyone on each of the festival’s five floors, with an accommodating and friendly barista ready to take a guest’s order, from a latte with sweet caramel syrup to a chocolate dusted cappuccino.

Other pop-up stalls showcase cakes, pastries, and biscotti biscuits for guests to accompany with their hot coffees. For those who prefer cold drinks, on the main floor, there is a bar that serves espresso martinis, a refreshing cold drink of sweet coffee liquor and fresh espresso poured over ice, or an old-fashioned, a mixology of whisky and orange bitters. Other stalls sell beverages such as herbal teas, kombucha, and silky hot chocolate.

Latte Competitions & Live Music

The live coffee demonstrations draw crowds to watch a pair of skilled professional baristas battle each other under timed conditions to produce the best and most beautiful latte. Each barista has their own espresso machine, milk frother, and coffee apparatuses. They use their honed skills to create artisanal latte art such as love hearts and fern leaf designs.

A festival wouldn’t be a festival without live music. So the London Coffee Festival also has live music playing on the main stage. The line-up of artists features musicians from The Coffee Music Project and international stars, breakthrough artists, and DJs. The Coffee Music Project is a high-profile competition that showcases emerging musicians who share a passion for the combination of excellent music and coffee culture. The selected finalists will perform on the main stage across the festival weekend and be crowned the winner of that year’s competition. Other demonstrations and workshops guests can participate in is a food and wine pairing experience with FeelGood Kitchen and Defy Wine and a home barista workshop, where a guest can experience barista-quality coffee from the comfort of their own homes.

The London Coffee Festival is a coffee lover’s paradise. Stalls filled with coffee beans from Guatemala and Ethiopia, buttery croissants, and a bar serving espresso martini’s all day long. Guests can get lost amongst the never-ending stalls and crowds of like-minded coffee enthusiasts. The festival not only brings the coffee industry together but also eager individuals who are looking for their next coffee supplier to keep their obsession going.