London Coffee Festival
On Friday, I took a trip to the 2nd industry day of the London Coffee Festival hosted at The Trueman Brewery on London’s Brick Lane. A multi-level maze of events and stall holders celebrating everything coffee.
Coffee festivals are held throughout the UK to celebrate local coffee industries. Having visited our local event, the Glasgow Coffee Festival, for a few years I decided to broaden my knowledge and experience of the industry and took a trip down to London.
Coffee festivals are a chance to network with the industry, sample some amazing coffees, and learn and discuss developments and challenges in the industry. The people behind the businesses are so open, friendly and willing to share their experiences and expertise. It is refreshing to be a part of such a welcoming industry, especially as a newcomer to it all.
If you didn’t know, speciality coffee has a range of aspects you can become skilled in, each with national and international competitions where one aims to claim the coveted title of “master” or “champion”. First stop was the “Coffee Master Championships”. I watched as two competitors who randomly selected a hand brewing method (Chemex, AeroPress, Kalita or V60) and battled against the clock in the brewing discipline explaining their every decision from water temp, grind size, etc. to the judging panel. They were judged on choice of coffee, taste, brewing method and presentation.
16 competitors participated in a series of disciplines: Cupping, Brewing, Latte Art, The Order and The Signature Drink, The Espresso Blend over 4 days for points in timed competitions and head-to-head battles to be awarded the Coffee Master 2025 title. I was fortunate to watch Kasey Headley who went on to be crowned this year’s winner!
Having never spectated any of these before it was fascinating. Coffee really can be an art and science all at once!
A wander around the “Roasters Village” and a few coffee samples later, I arrived at the “Latte Art Live” where some seriously impressive skills were on show. Across the day, I witnessed, the art of milk steaming and pouring, complex latte art patterns, beginner to professional pouring and the LCF Latte Art Throwdown Final.
I booked a session at the Brew school where I tried my hand at a pour-over. Far too much water and a spillage later, I realised the error of my ways…but that’s how we learn right? Maybe pour-over, once I’ve refined my skills, will be our next offering in the roastery. After we get a freezer for all those iced latte requests!
There were some insightful talks around what’s happening in the industry in “The Lab”. Talks about reverse osmosis and remineralising water used in coffee brewing, fundraising in coffee and the financial process of expanding your business and what the future of speciality coffee looks like in the UK. It was really helpful to hear others’ thoughts about challenges they have faced, what they would do differently and the impact of rising coffee bean prices.
Matcha, cold brews, cold brew tonic, nitro cold brew, flat white and a coffee cocktail later. The caffeine buzz was in full swing, and it was time to leave. I learned a lot and participating in a coffee festival/ future trips are on the radar for us. Thank you, London Coffee Festival, for hosting such a fun event.
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Rachel | OCR