London Coffee Festival

Phil104

I’m sorry if I’ve missed a thread about this. Is anyone going? I know there are mixed views about it, it’s busy, overheated, noisy and impossible to find your way around but I enjoy it, especially the conversations. I am going on Friday.

Jcheney

Good call Phil. I just bought tickets for Sunday morning. This will be my first time going, and I am hoping that early on a Sunday will be relatively quiet.

For others interested, here’s a link to the main website:

https://www.londoncoffeefestival.com/

Tickets are 20% off when bought online. £24 for standard admission.

I heard about this through a chocolate company ‘Bare Bones’; who are going to be serving hot chocolate and selling chocolate bars. So, there will be at least that for non-coffee-drinking family members.

Phil104

Some roasters promote it with a code although the discount is probably the same. A half-day can be a challenge. If possible arrive in good time to get it when it opens and work out where the things are you want to visit before it gets too crowded. Once it’s crowded, it’s harder to see where some stands are. I started with a half-day and thereafter went for a whole day to pace it better. I hope you have a great time. The bookable experiences are often a bonus - although they’re all booked up for Sunday morning. I’m going to one on Friday that showcases the new harvest from Central America.

Petre

Thoughts about the previous sessions? Never been there but I’m thinking to go this time around.

Grahamsphillips

I’ll be there on Sunday all day

Phil104

I’m going on Friday again - in part because I know Dave Stanton from Crankhouse coffee will be there that day. In general, I find the industry days less hectic but there are some downsides, particularly less extra events. There’s something for everyone, though, especially tasting coffee from roasters not tried before and talking all things coffee.

DavecUK

I’ve never been…I have had many Invites, but I lived in London for a while, then worked in the City for so many years…It has rather dulled my wish to ever travel there again.

1984FXSE

I went to a few of the early ones when I lived there, it was on the doorstep and I liked the cafes of some of the bigger exhibitors like Ozone. I think the last one I went to was 2016. I remember having the jitters like you wouldn’t believe due to every stand handing out free coffees.

The LM stand always used to be worth a visit but most of it seemed fairly boring, in a confused space between a trade show and consumer event. Like going to a massive weird coffee shop with no seats.

I just noticed Ozone aren’t there anymore, interesting as they used to have a huge presence.

Phil104

My main interest in going is the smaller roasters who set up in the roasters village, less so the bigger roasters, and coming across people, sometimes perched on someone else’s stand, passionate about the kit that they are developing - like the Niche grinder and the Push tamper. There is always something unexpected and wonderful conversations.